Gijang County

Gijang
기장군
County
Korean transcription(s)
 • Hanja 機張郡
 • Revised Romanization Gijang-gun
 • McCune-Reischauer Kijang kun

Haedong Yonggungsa Temple

Logo
Country South Korea
Region Yeongnam
Provincial level Busan
Administrative divisions 2 eup, 3 myeon
Area
 • Total 217.9 km2 (84.1 sq mi)
Population (2011)
 • Total 103,784
 • Density 480/km2 (1,200/sq mi)
 • Dialect Gyeongsang
Website www.gijang.go.kr

Gijang County is a gun, or county, located between Haeundae-gu and Ulsan in northern Busan, South Korea.

History

Gijang first appears under its current name in the annals of the year 757, during the Unified Silla period. At that time it was made the hyeon of Gijang, part of Dongnae-gun. The Samguk Sagi records that it was known as Gaphwayanggok (甲火良谷) previously.

Historical landmarks in the county include the Buddhist temple of Jangansa, said to have been first built by Wonhyo in the 7th century.

Geography and demographics

Gijang is the most rural of Busan's districts, and consists mostly of vacant and agricultural land. Approximately 156.7 of its 217.9 square kilometers are empty and forested, mostly hilly land. The county's population has risen steadily since 1990, when it stood at 56,847.

Economy

Due to its location along the coast of the East Sea of Korea , Gijang is known as a center for the production of various kinds of seafood. These include anchovies and brown seaweed (miyeok).

Education

Gijang is also the current residence of the new Busan International Foreign School, which the Ministry of Education recently spent 46.9 Billion won.

Tourism

Apart from the culture-historical and Buddhist sites mentioned above, other points of interest in Gijang include Toam Pottery Park and Ilgwang Beach.

Administrative divisions

Administrative divisions

Gijang is divided into five parts:

References

See also

External links

Coordinates: 35°15′00″N 129°13′18″E / 35.25000°N 129.22167°E