Haeju

Haeju
해주시
Municipal City
Korean transcription(s)
 • Chosŏn'gŭl 해주시
 • Hancha 海州市
 • McCune-Reischauer Haeju-si
 • Revised Romanization Haeju-si

The Buyong Pavilion in Haeju
Haeju
Coordinates: 38°3′N 125°43′E / 38.050°N 125.717°E
Country  North Korea
Area
 • Total 206.9 km2 (79.9 sq mi)
Population (2008)
 • Total 273,300

Haeju is a city located in South Hwanghae Province near Haeju Bay in North Korea. It is the administrative centre of South Hwanghae Province. As of 2000, the population of the city is estimated to be 236,000. At the beginning of 20th century, it became a strategic port in Sino-Korean trade. Haeju has chemical-related enterprises and a cement factory.

History

The area around Haeju is known to have been inhabited since the Neolithic period, as shellmounds, pottery, and stone tools have been found at Ryongdangp'o. During the early Three kingdoms period, it was briefly governed by a small chieftain, when it was known as "Naemihol" (內米忽郡). In 757, however, it was conquered by the Goguryeo kingdom, who later lost it to Silla. It was under the Goryeo dynasty's King T'aejo that it received its current name.

Sohyon Academy (소현서원) was a Confucian academy founded near Haeju by the famous scholar Yi Yulgok (1536-84) after his retirement. It is situated in Unbyong Valley, a part of Soktamgugok (Nine valleys of pools and rocks.

Geography

Haeju City is located at western part of Korean Peninsula, 60 km north of the Military Demarcation Line,100 km south from Pyongyang. This city, being not very mountainous, most part of landforms are composed of plains. All the mountains of this city are under 1,000m.

Mountains

Climate

Climate data for Haeju
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) −0.4
(31.3)		 1.8
(35.2)		 7.8
(46)		 15.3
(59.5)		 20.5
(68.9)		 24.8
(76.6)		 27.7
(81.9)		 28.8
(83.8)		 24.8
(76.6)		 18.7
(65.7)		 11.2
(52.2)		 2.2
(36)		 15.2
(59.4)
Average low °C (°F) −8.7
(16.3)		 −6.8
(19.8)		 −1
(30)		 5.6
(42.1)		 11.0
(51.8)		 16.1
(61)		 21.2
(70.2)		 21.8
(71.2)		 16.1
(61)		 8.9
(48)		 2.3
(36.1)		 −5.6
(21.9)		 6.7
(44.1)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 16
(0.63)		 15
(0.59)		 33
(1.3)		 67
(2.64)		 81
(3.19)		 120
(4.72)		 345
(13.58)		 260
(10.24)		 113
(4.45)		 38
(1.5)		 36
(1.42)		 24
(0.94)		 1,148
(45.2)
Average relative humidity (%) 67 64 63 64 68 76 85 79 71 66 68 70 70.1
Mean monthly sunshine hours 207.7 211.8 226.3 249.0 260.4 231.0 189.1 217.0 234.0 248.0 195.0 176.7 2,646
Source: Wetter Spiegel Online[1]

Administrative divisions

Haeju is divided into several urban neighborhoods ("dong") and several rural villages ("ri").[2]

Chosŏn'gŭl Hancha
Changch'un-dong장춘동長春洞
Haech'ŏng-dong해청동海清洞
Haeun-dong해운동海運洞
Hakhyŏn-dong학현동鶴峴洞
Kuje-dong구제동九齊洞
Kwangha-dong광하동廣河洞
Kwangsŏk-dong광석동廣石洞
Kyŏlsŏng-dong결성동結城洞
Namsan-dong남산동南山洞
Okgye-dong옥계동玉溪洞
Puyong-dong부용동芙蓉洞
Ryongdang-dong룡당동龍塘洞
Saegŏri-dong새거리동새거리洞
Sami-dong사미동四美洞
Sansŏng-dong산성동山城洞
Singwang-ri신광리神光里
Sŏae-dong서애동西艾洞
Sŏkch'ŏn-dong석천동石川洞
Sŏkmi-dong석미동石美洞
Sŏnsan-dong선산동仙山洞
Sŭngma-dong승마동乘馬洞
Taegok-dong대곡동大谷洞
Ŭpp'a-dong읍파동邑波洞
Yangsa-dong양사동養社洞
Yŏnggwang-dong영광동榮光洞
Yŏnha-dong연하동煙下洞
Chakch'ŏn-ri작천리鵲川里
Changbang-ri장방리長芳里
Yŏngyang-ri영양리迎陽里

Culture and travel

Famous tourist attractions in the city center include Puyong Pavilion, the Haeju Dharani Monument, the Haeju Sokbinggo, and several trees classified as living monuments. Farther out, scenic spots include Suyangsan Falls, the Sokdamgugok scenic area, Suyangsan Fortress and the Sohyon Academy.

Economy

Haeju Special Economic Zone was announced in the Second Inter-Korean Summit meeting between the South Korean president Roh Moo-Hyun and the North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il. It was to be a Special Economic Zone centered around the Haeju port. The zone would have consisted of 16.5 km2 of development, and also the expansion of the Haeju port. This project was estimated to cost over US$4.5 billion.

This economic agreement between South Korea and North Korea would have allowed trading across the Northern Limit Line[3] between the ports of Incheon and Haeju, only 110 km apart. Recent military skirmishes make any revival of this deal unlikely for the time being.

Transportation

Haeju has a military and civilian dual purposes air station (HAE), with a 12/30 runway (Haeju Airport). Haeju also has one of the major economic and military ports in North Korea. It is connected to Sariwŏn via the Haeju Line.

Education

Haeju is home to Haeju University of Education, Haeju College of Art, and Kim Je Won Haeju University of Agriculture. Sohyon Academy (소현서원) was a Confucian academy founded by the famous scholar Yi Yulgok (1536-84). It is situated in the Unbyong Valley west of Haeju.

Media

The Korean Central Broadcasting Station airs on AM 1080 kHz using a 1.5-megawatt mediumwave transmitter.

People born in Haeju

Haeju is the home of the Haeju Choi and the Haeju Oh Clan.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Wetter im Detail: Klimadaten". Spiegel Online. 2011. Retrieved on April 11, 2012.
  2. ↑ http://nk.joins.com/map/view.asp?idx=i104.htm
  3. ↑ Rodger Baker (24 November 2010). "Importance of the Koreas' Northern Limit Line". STRATFOR. Retrieved 4 December 2010.


Further reading

External links

Coordinates: 38°02′N 125°43′E / 38.033°N 125.717°E

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Haeju.