Mount Kumgang

Mount Kumgang

Location of Mount Kumgang.
Highest point
Elevation 1,638 m (5,374 ft)
Geography
Location Mount Kumgang Tourist Region, North Korea
Korean name
Hangul 금강산
Hanja 金剛山
Revised Romanization Geumgangsan
McCune–Reischauer Kŭmgangsan
The path to Kuryoung Falls
Kuryong Falls

Kŭmgangsan (Korean pronunciation: [kɯmɡaŋsʰan]) is a 1,638-metre-high (5,374 ft) mountain in Kangwon-do, North Korea. It is about 50 kilometres (31 mi) from the South Korean city of Sokcho in Gangwon-do. It is one of the best-known mountains in North Korea.[1] It is located on the east coast of the country, in Mount Kumgang Tourist Region, formerly part of Kangwŏn Province (38°35′N 128°10′E / 38.58°N 128.17°E / 38.58; 128.17). Mount Kumgang is part of the Taebaek mountain range which runs along the east of the Korean peninsula.

Seasonal names

Mount Kumgang has been known for its scenic beauty since ancient times[2][3][4] and is the subject of many different works of art. Including its spring name, Kŭmgang (Hangul: 금강산; Hanja: 金剛), it has many different names for each season, but it is most widely known today in the Korean language as Kŭmgangsan. In summer it is called Pongraesan (봉래산, 蓬萊山: the place where a Spirit dwells); in autumn, Phung'aksan (풍악산, 楓岳山: hill of colored leaves, or 楓骨山: great mountain of colored leaves[5]); in winter, Kaegolsan (개골산, 皆骨山: stone bone mountain).

Geography

Japanese map of Kongō-san, or Mount Kumgang in 1939.

The mountain consists almost entirely of granite and diorite, weathered over centuries into a wide variety of shapes, including over 12,000 picturesque stone formations, ravines, cliffs, stone pillars, and peaks.

Mount Kumgang is commonly divided into three areas: Inner Kŭmgang, Outer Kŭmgang, and Sea Kŭmgang, each with different geological and topographical features.

Environment

Much of the mountain is covered by mixed broadleaf and coniferous forest and protected in a 60,000 ha national park. Some 25,000 ha has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA) because it supports endangered red-crowned cranes.[6]

Mount Kumgang Tourist Region

Since 1998, South Korean tourists have been allowed to visit Mount Kumgang, initially travelling by cruise ship, but more commonly of late by coach. In 2002, the area around the mountain was separated from Kangwŏn Province and organized as a separately-administered Tourist Region. The land route was opened in 2003. A rail link exists on the North Korean side up to the border, but no tracks are laid between Gangneung and the border in South Korea.

In 1998, there were 15,500 tourists in November and December, in 1999 there were 148,000, and in 2000 213,000. In 2001 tourist numbers dropped to 58,000 amidst disagreements over the access over land. As of 2002, almost 500,000 have visited the Mount Kumgang Tourist Region. Tourist numbers have since established themselves at about 240,000 a year. In June 2005, Hyundai Asan announced the one millionth South Korean visit to the area.[7]

The Mount Kumgang Tourist Region is thought to be one way for the North Korean government to receive hard currency from abroad. Therefore, the official currency of the tour is neither the South Korean won nor the North Korean won, but the US dollar. Since 2003, food and services to South Korean tourists are provided by some North Koreans. But most of the staff in the hotels are Chinese citizens of Korean heritage with Korean language skills. The area is developed by Hyundai Asan, which plans to expand the site with a proper ski resort to complement the current sleigh course, and complete golf courses. Many plans for expansion, however, are in their earliest stages.

On the morning of July 11, 2008, a 53-year-old South-Korean tourist was shot and killed while walking on the resort's beach. Wang-ja entered a military area by crossing over a sand dune and was shot twice by North Korean soldiers. North Korea claimed that sentries had no choice but to shoot her because, despite their order to stop, she fled. South Korea demanded an on-the-spot survey, but North Korea declined it, claiming all the facts were clear and all responsibilities were the victim's and South Korea's. Due to the shooting, South Korea temporarily suspended all trips to Mount Kumgang.[8] In March 2010, the DPRK government warned of "extraordinary measures" if the tourism ban were not lifted.[9] On April 23, 2010, the North Korean government seized 5 properties owned by South Korea at the resort, saying that it was done "in compensation for the damage the North side suffered due to the suspension of the tour for a long period." In seizing the properties, North Korea also alluded to the Baengnyeong incident, showing displeasure with South Korea blaming North Korea for the sinking of the ship.[10] Since April 2010, North Korea is now permitting companies to run tours from the North Korean side,[11] making it appear increasingly unlikely that tours will be resumed from the South. However, on October 1, 2010, news reports said, "Red Cross officials from the two Koreas agreed Friday to hold reunions for families separated by the Korean War amid mixed signals from North Korea on easing tensions over the sinking of a South Korean warship. One hundred families from each country will attend the meetings from Oct. 30 to Nov. 5 at a hotel and reunion center at the North's scenic Diamond Mountain resort, Unification Ministry spokeswoman Lee Jong-joo said."[12] As of September 2011 North Korea have begun operating cruises directly from Rason in north-eastern North Korea, to the port in Mount Kumgang, offering visitors the chance to stay in the resorts previously run by the south. Although they are aimed primarily at Chinese guests, western companies are also offering the tours .[13][14]

History

Koreans have perceived Geumgansan as their muse since well before the Middle Ages. [15] Practically every poet and artist who lived during the Joseon dynasty (1392-1910) made a pilgrimage to Mt. Geumgangsan. [16] The division of the Korean peninsula in 1950 resulted in the South Korean people finding themselves unable to visit this beloved mountain for the better part of 50 years. [17] The 155-mile-long (249 km) barbed-wire fence erected as part of the DMZ (Demilitarized zone) separating the two Koreas proved to be an obstacle stronger than any other barrier.[18] It was in 1894 the British writer Isabella Bird Bishop referred to it in her travelogue as "Diamond Mountain" [19]

See also

Notes and references

  1. ↑ The Associated Press (September 22, 2000). "North Korea approves Japanese tours to Mount Kumgang". CNN.
  2. ↑ "North Korea Relief". Encyclopædia Britannica. Mount Kŭmgang (5,374 feet), is renowned for its scenic beauty.
  3. ↑ Susan Chira (February 2, 1989). "The two Koreans agree to develop resort in North". New York Times.
  4. ↑ Aidan Foster-Carter (March 30, 2001). "PYONGYANG WATCH Hyundai and North Korea: What now?". Asia Times Online. Kumgangsan - the famously scenic Diamond Mountains just above the DMZ
  5. ↑ Yi I's book, 풍악행, refers to the mountain by this name.
  6. ↑ "Mount Kumgang". Important Bird Areas factsheet. BirdLife International. 2013. Retrieved 2013-05-12.
  7. ↑ Hankooki.com
  8. ↑ Chosun Ilbo
  9. ↑ "North Korea issues warning over Mount Kumgang tour ban". BBC News. 25 March 2010.
  10. ↑ "North Korea 'to seize property at Kumgang resort'". BBC News. April 23, 2010.
  11. ↑ "North Korea 'two new resorts open to public'". Young Pioneer Tours.
  12. ↑ NPR
  13. ↑ Young Pioneer Tours, DPRK
  14. ↑ KTG DPRK Tours & Information
  15. ↑ Yoo, Myeonng-jong (2008). 100 Cultural Symbols of Korea (1 ed.). 431, king’s garden office hotel 3rd complex, 72, naesoo-dong, Jongno-gu. seoul, korea: Discovery Media.
  16. ↑ Yoo, Myeonng-jong (2008). 100 Cultural Symbols of Korea (1 ed.). 431, king’s garden office hotel 3rd complex, 72, naesoo-dong, Jongno-gu. seoul, korea: Discovery Media.
  17. ↑ Yoo, Myeonng-jong (September 2008). 100 Cultural Symbols of Korea (1 ed.). 431, king’s garden office hotel 3rd complex, 72, naesoo-dong, Jongno-gu. seoul, korea: Discovery Media. p. 19.
  18. ↑ Yoo, Myeonng-jong (September 2008). 100 Cultural Symbols of Korea (1 ed.). 431, king’s garden office hotel 3rd complex, 72, naesoo-dong, Jongno-gu. seoul, korea: Discovery Media. p. 19.
  19. ↑ Yoo, Myeonng-jong (September 2008). 100 Cultural Symbols of Korea (1 ed.). 431, king’s garden office hotel 3rd complex, 72, naesoo-dong, Jongno-gu. seoul, korea: Discovery Media. p. 19.

Coordinates: 38°39′24″N 128°06′18″E / 38.65667°N 128.10500°E / 38.65667; 128.10500

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