| Gwangyang city
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|
|
| Korean name
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| Revised Romanization
| Gwangyang-si
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| McCune-Reischauer
| Kwangyang-shi
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| Hangul
| 광양시
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| Hanja
| 光陽市
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| Statistics
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| Population
| 138,012 (2003)
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| Area
| 445.77km²
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| Administrative divisions
| 1 eup, 6 myeon, 5 dong
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| Region
| Honam
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| Dialect
| Jeolla
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| Symbols
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| County Bird
| 갈매기 (Seagul)
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| County Flower
| 동백꽃 (Camellia)
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| County Tree
| 고로쇠나무 (Painted Maple)
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| Location map
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Gwangyang or Gwangyang-si (광양시, 光陽市) is a city in Jeollanam-do. It consists of 1 eup, 6 myeon, and 5 dong, and as of 2003 it has a population of 138,012. It is located in the southeastern portion of the province and enjoys an average temperature of 13.7℃, and an average temperature in July of 27.8℃. It is bordered on the north by Gurye county, to the east by Hadong county in Gyeongsangnam-do, and to the south by Gwangyang Bay.
The Gwangyang Bay Area Free Economic Zone is due for completion in 2011, and will bring with it a boom in commercial activity and population. Gwangyang is home to POSCO's Gwangyang City Steel Works, and to the K-League soccer team, the Chunnam Dragons. Baegunsan mountain is the second-largest in Jeollanam-do, and is the site of the well-known Gwangyang Maehwa Festival each year, celebrating the city's ties to the Japanese apricot (매화).
History
Administrative Divisions
This initiative began in 1987 and is scheduled for completion in 2011. There are several phases of the operation, which will foster development in shipping, industry, and cultural aspects of Gwangyang. The development plan for Gwangyang Port will expand available docking areas, provide tax exemption for shippers, and reduce fees for ship-owners. Plans for the Sindeok, Yulchon, and Hadong districts will promote and create industry, while development initiatives for the Hwayang districts aim to increase residential and cultural areas while also promoting tourism in the region. According to the commissioner of the GBAFEZ, the projects aims "are to become the new leader in Northeast Asian logistics, to take advantage of the limitless local market potential, to keep growing our great competitive industrial edge, to utilize our highly motivated and qualified local workforce, and to make the area the best possible living environment for foreigners" [1].
Education
A branch school of the Shipping and Transport College (STC), based in Rotterdam, will be set up in Gwangyang by the year 2008 to create logistics experts and increase their competitiveness. It is set to open in March, and it is hoped that it will also develop relations between South Korea and the Netherlands.
Recreation
Sightseeing
Restaurants and Bars
Restaurants
As the average Korean, Japanese, and Chinese restaurants are in abundance throughout Korea and are easy for foreigners to find, the following restaurants reflect a sampling of restaurants considered to be either popular or are western-friendly choices and other ethnic foods.
Bars
The expat community often hangs out with the foreign group in nearby Suncheon, along with the bars there.
Shopping
There is a Home Plus store in Jung-dong, open from 9:00 to midnight every day except Seollal and Chuseok.
Transportation
There are 2 bus depots in the city, with one in each section. Gwangyang-eup has a bus depot that is within walking distance of the Korean railroad train station (Jeolla line) and Hotel Phillmo(Wedding hall) just off Baegunno. Gwangyang-si has a bus depot also known as Jungmadong. It is located on Gongyeongo and Teomineol 1(il)-gil, next to a Ministop and Jungmajungano. A tourist map and (often unstaffed) tourist center are close by. Buses leave from the depots here to any major city in the Republic.
There is a city bus system that runs to all of the neighborhoods in both sections of the city, plus to the smaller towns, Hadong, and to the POSCO industrial and living zones.
External links
