Gwacheon
Gwacheon
과천시 | |
---|---|
Municipal City | |
Korean transcription(s) | |
• Hangul | 과천시 |
• Hanja | 果川市 |
• Revised Romanization | Gwacheon-si |
• McCune-Reischauer | Kwach'ŏn-si |
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Seoul | |
Website | Gwacheon City (in English) |
Gwacheon (
Various attractions usually associated with Seoul, including
History
Early history
In 475 CE, the land that would one day become Gwacheon was a part of Yulmok-
May 26, 1895 saw Gwacheon-hyeon become Gwacheon-gun, and on March 1, 1914, Gwacheon- and Ansan-gun were annexed to nearby Siheung-gun. The area containing present-day Gwacheon was deemed Gwacheon-myeon, a division of Siheung-gun.[2] Gwacheon-myeon was a large farming village just south of Seoul, as it had been for centuries, and its population had topped 6,000 by 1960.[4]
In the 1970s, the South Korean government was considering moving its capital south, to a location farther from the border with North Korea as Seoul lies within the artillery range from any North Korean attacks. A complete relocation of the capital proved financially impossible, but a compromise was reached[4] in 1975:[5] move key government agencies several kilometers south of Seoul's downtown, beyond the range of nearly all of North Korea's artillery capability. Gwacheon-myeon, south of both Seoul and the protective Gwanaksan mountain range, was chosen as the site of this new administrative city in 1978, and a groundbreaking ceremony in Gwacheon was held in 1979.[4]
Administrative city
Several government ministries were moved from Seoul to Gwacheon throughout the 1980s and 1990s,
When Seoul won the right to host the
Five stations on
In 2012, government offices in Gwacheon began relocating to Sejong City, a new administrative capital created by the Korean government in the middle of the country, around 150 kilometers south of Seoul.[8] The move had adverse effects on Gwacheon's local economy, with business such as restaurants and cafes losing considerable portions of their customer base. Fifty-four shops shut down at the end of 2012 and beginning of 2013, while others could no longer turn a profit and were forced to lay off employees. The national government hoped to counter the city's economic crisis by moving fourteen new government agencies to Gwacheon.[9]
Characteristics
Gwacheon intended to have a large importance on governmental construction. There is No.2 government building. So it keeps the position of
Seoul Grand Park and Gwanaksan occupy a large portion of the city. The presence of mountains and forests accentuate the status of Gwacheon as a destination for Korean nature lovers.[citation needed] In addition, the Seoul Race Park is also located in the city. Gwacheon has few historically preserved sites as well. Gwacheon Hyanggyo (Korean Confucianism institution built in 1389), YeonJudae (YeonJu Temple which is located at the end of cliff), three stepped pagoda of YeonJuAhm, and Portrait of HyoRyung Janggun (general HyoRyung) are listed as treasure of Gyeonggi-do (Gyeonggi Province) and map of Joseon (Old Korean Kingdom) located in History Ministry inside the governmental complex is listed as one of Korean national treasure. In history of Korea, Gwacheon has not only been known for its landscape but also as important center of education and religious practices by Kings.[citation needed]
The first foreign-language high school established in Gyeonggi-do, Gwacheon Foreign Language High School is located in Jongang-dong. Gwacheon has the Science and Technology Center and one of the biggest public libraries of Gyeonggi-do.
Climate
Gwacheon has a humid continental climate (Köppen: Dwa), but can be considered a borderline humid subtropical climate (Köppen: Cwa) using the −3 °C (27 °F) isotherm.
Climate data for Gwacheon (1996–2020 normals) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 2.7 (36.9) |
5.7 (42.3) |
11.7 (53.1) |
18.5 (65.3) |
24.2 (75.6) |
28.1 (82.6) |
29.6 (85.3) |
30.7 (87.3) |
26.6 (79.9) |
20.5 (68.9) |
12.4 (54.3) |
4.6 (40.3) |
17.9 (64.2) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | −2.3 (27.9) |
0.3 (32.5) |
5.9 (42.6) |
12.0 (53.6) |
17.9 (64.2) |
22.4 (72.3) |
25.2 (77.4) |
25.9 (78.6) |
21.0 (69.8) |
14.2 (57.6) |
7.0 (44.6) |
−0.2 (31.6) |
12.4 (54.3) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −7.1 (19.2) |
−4.5 (23.9) |
0.6 (33.1) |
6.5 (43.7) |
12.1 (53.8) |
17.5 (63.5) |
21.7 (71.1) |
22.2 (72.0) |
16.5 (61.7) |
8.9 (48.0) |
2.2 (36.0) |
−4.9 (23.2) |
7.6 (45.7) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 13.4 (0.53) |
24.1 (0.95) |
32.7 (1.29) |
67.4 (2.65) |
90.2 (3.55) |
123.8 (4.87) |
392.8 (15.46) |
313.6 (12.35) |
137.9 (5.43) |
45.3 (1.78) |
52.1 (2.05) |
19.8 (0.78) |
1,313.1 (51.70) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 3.7 | 3.9 | 5.4 | 7.0 | 7.3 | 8.2 | 13.7 | 13.3 | 7.6 | 5.2 | 7.0 | 5.0 | 87.3 |
Source: Korea Meteorological Administration[10] |
Notable people
Gwacheon's notable residents include
Noted graphic artist Dennis Hwang spent much of his childhood in Gwacheon.
Lee Hoe-taek (Hui), singer and member of K-pop group Pentagon was born in Gwacheon as well.
Lee Soo-hyuk, a model and actor, was born in Gwacheon.
Anton Hur, writer and translator's hometown is Gwacheon.
Home stay
Gwacheon city operates a home stay program for foreigners. The city sponsors this program and residents of the city host foreigners living in Korea who want to spend a night in a traditional Korean home. The program helps foreigners understand Korean culture and lifestyle.[11]
Government
The headquarters of the
The headquarters of the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning are in Building #4 of the Gwacheon Government Complex.[14]
Several government ministries and agencies formerly residing in Gwacheon are now located in
Utility facilities
- Gwacheon City Facilities Management Corporation[22]
- Gwacheon Public Library of Information & Science[23]
- The Gyeonggi Gwacheon Library of Education[24]
- Munwon Library[25]
- Gwacheon City Youth Center[26]
- Gwanmun Sports Park
- Munwon Sports Park
Symbol
- Tree: chestnut
- Flower: royal azalea
- Bird: dove
- Animal: horse
Transportation
Railroad
- (Government Complex Gwacheon → (Anyang)
Twin towns – sister cities
Burlington, United States
Nanning, China
Shirahama, Japan
Airdrie, Alberta, Canada[28]
See also
References
- ^ "About Gwacheon City: Greeting". Gwacheon City. Retrieved 2014-07-17.
- ^ a b c "About Gwacheon: History". Gwacheon City. Retrieved 2014-07-17.
- ^ a b "About Gunpo: History". Gunpo City. Archived from the original on 2012-07-08. Retrieved 2014-07-17.
- ^ a b c d Andrew Lankov (March 15, 2012). "Gwacheon Complex". The Korea Times. Retrieved 2014-07-17.
- ^ a b "Government Complex Gwacheon: History". Government Buildings Management Service. Archived from the original on 2014-07-26. Retrieved 2014-07-17.
- ^ "Purpose and History". Seoul Zoo. Retrieved 2014-07-18.
- ^ "History of Korean Horse Racing". Korean Racing Association. Archived from the original on 2010-08-16. Retrieved 2014-07-17.
- ^ "Government Complex Begins Move to Sejong City". Arirang News. November 25, 2012. Retrieved 2014-07-17.
- ^ Choi Mo-ran, Kwon Sang-soo (February 7, 2013). "Gwacheon hit by Sejong City move". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2014-07-17.
- ^ "Climatological Normals of Korea (1991 ~ 2020)" (PDF) (in Korean). Korea Meteorological Administration. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 January 2022. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
- ^ "Gwacheon, the City of Exciting Horse Racing and a Grand Amusement Park!". Archived from the original on 2012-12-27. Retrieved 2012-11-28.
- ^ "Location Archived 2014-01-01 at archive.today." (Archive) Ministry of Justice (Republic of Korea). Retrieved on January 1, 2014. "Building #1, Gwacheon Government Complex, Jungang-dong1, Gwacheon-si, Kyunggi-do."
- ^ Home page (Archive). Korea Correctional Service. Retrieved on December 23, 2015. "Building #1, Government Complex-Gwacheon, 47, Gwanmun-ro, Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, 427-700 Republic of Korea." - Korean address: "[427-700] 경기도 과천시 관문로 47 정부과천청사 5동 법무부 교정본부"
- ^ "Location Map Archived 2014-01-01 at archive.today." (Archive) Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning. Retrieved on January 1, 2014. "Government Complex-Gwacheon, 47, Gwanmun-ro, Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do 427-700, KOREA"
- ^ "img_0104.gif Archived 2013-12-31 at archive.today." (Archive) Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs. Retrieved on May 11, 2011.
- Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs. Retrieved on May 11, 2011. "Company Address : 1 Jungang-dong, Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea (427-760)"
- Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Retrieved on 31 December 2013. "3-108 Gwacheon Government Office Bldg, joongang 1, Gwacheon, Gyeonggi"
- ^ "Home" (English) (Archive). Ministry of Environment. July 16, 2011. Retrieved on December 31, 2013. "88 Gwanmoon-ro, Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, 427-729, Republic of Korea"
- Ministry of Strategy and Finance. April 9, 2011. Retrieved on December 31, 2013. "Ministry of Strategy and Finance, Government Complex II, 49 Gwanmoonro, Gwacheon City, Gyeonggi Province, 427-725, Korea"
- ^ "Location." (Archive) Ministry of Knowledge Economy. Retrieved on January 1, 2013. "Address Ministry of Knowledge Economy, 88, Gwanmoonro, Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea"
- ^ "Location." (Archive) Ministry of Employment and Labor. April 26, 2013. Retrieved on January 1, 2014. "Address 427-718 Ministry of Employment and Labor. Government Complex II, 47 Gwanmun-ro, Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea"
- ^ Gwacheon City Facilities Management Corporation
- ^ Gwacheon Public Library of Information & Science
- ^ The Gyeonggi Gwacheon Library of Education
- ^ Munwon Library
- ^ Gwacheon City Youth Center
- ^ "Sister city Affiliation". gccity.go.kr. Gwacheon. Retrieved 2020-04-14.
- ^ "Gwacheon Park - Airdrie, Alberta - Sister City Monuments on". Waymarking.com. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
External links
- City government website (in English)
- City government website (in Korean)
- City Council website (in English)