| Wŏnsan 원산 |
|
|---|---|
| Wŏnsan City | |
| Korean transcription(s) | |
| • Hangul | 원산시 |
| • Hanja | 元山市 |
| • McCune-Reischauer | Wŏnsan-si |
| • Revised Romanization | Wonsan-si |
| Wonsan waterfront. | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | North Korea |
| Province | Kangwŏn |
| Region | Kwandong |
| Settled | c. 1800 |
| Divisions | 40 dong, 15 ri |
| Area | |
| • Total | 269 km2 (104 sq mi) |
| Population (2000 (Est.)) | |
| • Total | 331,000 |
| • Dialect | Seoul |
| Flower | |
| Tree | |
| Bird | |
Wŏnsan is a port city and naval base in southeastern North Korea. It is the capital of Kangwŏn Province. The population of the city is estimated to have been 331,000 in 2000. Notable people from Wŏnsan include Kim Ki Nam, diplomat and Secretary of the Workers' Party.
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The original name of Wonsan was Wŏnsanjin (元山津). It opened as trade port in 1880. In the late 19th century it was known as Port Lazarev (Lazaref). In 1914 the Pyongwon Line and Gyeongwon Line railways were opened, connecting the city to Pyongyang and Seoul (then known as Kyongsong). Thus, the city gradually developed into the eastern product distribution center. Under the Japanese occupation, the city was heavily industrialized and served as an import point in the distribution of trade between Korea and mainland Japan.
Wŏnsan used to be in South Hamgyong, but when provincial borders were redrawn in 1946, it joined the northern half of Kangwŏn (which had been split at the 38th parallel north into a zone under Soviet control in the north and one of American control in the south in 1945) and became its capital, as Kangwŏn's traditional capitals Wonju (1395–1895) and Chuncheon (since 1896) both were south of the 38th parallel and south of the Military Demarcation Line that replaced the 38th parallel as a border in 1953. It was heavily bombed by the United Nations during the Korean War: Blockade of Wonsan.[1] In fact, according to the official US Navy history, Wŏnsan was under continuous siege and bombardment by the American navy from March 1951 until July 27, 1953, making it the longest siege in modern American naval history. By war's end the city was a vast shell.[2]
Wŏnsan serves as the administrative center of Kangwŏn Province.
Wŏnsan's area is 269 square kilometres (104 sq mi). It is located in Kangwŏn Province, on the westernmost part of the Sea of Japan (East Sea of Korea) and the east end of the Korean peninsula's neck. Mt. Changdok (Changdok-san) and Mt. Naphal (Naphal-san) are located to the west of the city. More than 20 small islands flank Wŏnsan's immediate coastal area, including Hwangt'o Island and Ryo Island. Wŏnsan is considered an excellent natural port location.Kŭmgang-san mountain is located near Wŏnsan.
The city has a borderline humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cwa) that is very close to a humid continental climate (Dwa).
| Climate data for Wonsan, North Korea | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 2.0 (35.6) |
4.7 (40.5) |
10.0 (50.0) |
16.5 (61.7) |
20.9 (69.6) |
24.6 (76.3) |
26.7 (80.1) |
27.3 (81.1) |
23.1 (73.6) |
18.9 (66.0) |
11.2 (52.2) |
4.6 (40.3) |
15.8 (60.4) |
| Average low °C (°F) | −5.5 (22.1) |
−3.6 (25.5) |
1.7 (35.1) |
7.7 (45.9) |
12.2 (54.0) |
17.1 (62.8) |
20.9 (69.6) |
21.4 (70.5) |
16.3 (61.3) |
10.5 (50.9) |
3.6 (38.5) |
−2.6 (27.3) |
8.3 (46.9) |
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 36.8 (1.449) |
25.3 (0.996) |
23.1 (0.909) |
40.8 (1.606) |
80.1 (3.154) |
135.1 (5.319) |
280.2 (11.031) |
211.1 (8.311) |
213.1 (8.39) |
120.1 (4.728) |
55.9 (2.201) |
27.8 (1.094) |
1,249.4 (49.189) |
| Avg. precipitation days | 5.4 | 3.8 | 4.6 | 6.8 | 8.0 | 12.1 | 15.4 | 12.5 | 10.5 | 7.0 | 5.8 | 3.5 | 95.4 |
| Sunshine hours | 185 | 190 | 230 | 235 | 240 | 195 | 160 | 165 | 175 | 215 | 170 | 175 | 2,335 |
| Source no. 1: Weather OnLine[3] | |||||||||||||
| Source no. 2: World Weather and Climate Information (sunshine only)[4] | |||||||||||||
Wŏnsan has an aquatic product processing factory, shipyard, chemistry enterprise, and a cement factory.
Wonsan Station is on the highway system and the Kangwon Line electric railway, with connections to Pyongyang and other North Korean cities.
The city has a military and civilian dual purposes air station (WON) and is equipped with 01/19 and 15/33 dual runways.
Wonsan is also the terminus of the Mangyongbong-92 ferry, the only direct connection between Japan and North Korea.
The Korean Central Broadcasting Station maintains a 250-kilowatt mediumwave transmitter broadcasting on 882 kHz AM.
Wŏnsan is home to Songdowon University, Kumgang University, Tonghae University, Jong Jun Thaek University of Economics, Wŏnsan University of Medicine, Jo Gun Sil University of Engineering, Wŏnsan First University of Education and Ri Su Dok University.
The city is home to Woonpasan Sports Group, a football (soccer) club that plays in the DPR Korea First Class Sports Group, North Korea's premier league.
Most of North Korea, including Wonsan, is not accessible to foreign tourists. However, nearby Songdowon is a famous sea bathing destination for North Koreans, as the water there is exceptionally clear. Pine trees are abundant in the surrounding area, and it has been designated a national sightseeing point.
Songdowon International Children's Union Camp was built beside Songdowon, at , and it still receives teenagers and youth for cultural exchange between North Korea and various foreign countries.
Famous scenic sites near Wŏnsan: Myongsasimni, Lake Sijung, Chongsokjon and Mt. Kumgang. Temples in the area include the Sogwangsa and Anbyon Pohyonsa Buddhist temples.
Wonsan is divided into 40 administrative districts known as dong, as wells as fifteen villages ("ri"). The largest dong, Haebang, is further divided in two parts for administrative purposes.[5]
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