Jeongseon County Explained

Jeongseon (Jeongseon-gun) is a county in the province of Gangwon-do, South Korea. It is famous as the hometown of "Jeongseon Arirang," a traditional Korean folksong. It is also the hometown of actor Won Bin and footballer Seol Ki-hyeon.

History

It was ruled by the Goguryeo Dynasty during the Three Kingdoms period, called Ingpyae-hyeon (잉패현). After the Silla Dynasty unified the Korean peninsula, it was renamed Jeongseon-hyeon in 757. After the Goryeo Dynasty was founded, it was promoted from a hyeon to a county (gun) in 1012 or 1018.^[2]

After the Joseon Dynasty was founded and the territory was divided into 8 Provinces, the region was involved in the province of Gangwon.^[3] After the territory was divided into 23 districts in 1895 with the 8-provincial system abolished, it was included in the district of Chugju. When a 13-provincial system was enacted in 1896, it returned to Gangwon Province.^[4]

Administrative divisions

Towns (eup)

• Gohan-eup
• Jeongseon-eup
• Sabuk-eup
• Sindong-eup

Townships (myeon)

• Yeoryang-myeon
• Bukpyeong-myeon
• Hwaam-myeon
• Imgye-myeon
• Nam-myeon

Geography

A lot of coal and limestone is buried in the strata formed during the Paleozoic Era in this region. A Karst zone formed from the dissolution of the limestone is located, and many of solutional caves are found.^[5]

Natural monuments shaped from the limestone are as follows.

• Baekbongryeong Karst zone: Karst zone in baekbongryeong zone is known to be academically useful because karst is located in small area. It was designated Natural Monuments of South Korea number 440 on April 9, 2004.^[6]
• Jeongseon coral cave: few stony corals are growing in the cave, and there is big coral which is not found elsewhere. Designated as natural monuments number 509 on December 15, 2009.^[7]

Climate

Culture and tourism

Cultural heritages

There are one treasure, 6 natural monuments, 1 important folklore cultural heritage in Jeongseon. Province designated 3 tangible cultural heritages, 1 intangible cultural heritage, 5 monuments, 2 folklore heritages.^{[8] [9]}

Temple

• Jeongamsa Temple : Founded by Jajang, also known as "Galaesa". As Sumano Pagoda stores buddha's Śarīra, there is no Buddharupa.^[10]
• Sumano Pagoda in Jeongamsa Temple: Pagoda in Jeongamsa Temple. Stones are sharpen like a brick. Designated as Treasure number 410. It is assumed that it was constructed during the Goryeo Dynasty, considering other heritages found in the Jeongam temple. Records indicate it was repaired in 1653.^[11]

Natural Heritages

• Brachymystax lenok habitat: Korean Peninsula is in the southern limit of Brachymystax lenok habitat, thus academic importance is recognized and habitat is registered as natural monuments of South Korea on December 7, 1962.^[12]
• Banronsan Rhododendron schlippenbachii and Chwinamul habitat: Banronsan's rhododendron schlippenbachii is the biggest in South Korea's known rhododendron schlippenbachii, and Chwinamul is protected because it is locally grown. It was designated Natural Monuments of South Korea number 348 on April 17, 1986.^[13]
• Duwibong Taxus cuspidata habitat: Taxus cuspidata in Duwibong is protected because it is considered oldest in South Korea. Designated natural monuments of South Korea on June 29, 2004 as number 433.^[14]

Tourism

Arirang Museum, run by the county government, was opened in 2016 to promote Arirang, collecting and displaying around 600 exhibits.^{[15] [16]}

Jeongseon Arirang Festival is held annually in October, to preserve Jeongseon Arirang and promote them. In addition to Jeongseon Arirang show, Arirang from other region is also performed.^[17]

High 1 Resort, a ski resort, is located in Gohan-eup, the resort at 1,345 meters is at the highest altitude of the Korean ski resorts.^[18]

Kangwon Land, located in Jeongseon, is the only domestic casino that is open to South Korean citizens.^[19]

Sports

2018 Winter Olympic Games

The Alpine Skiing venue was located at the Jeongseon Alpine Centre in Jungbong, Bukpyeong-myeon, Jeongseon during the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Transportation

Taebaek line and Jeongseon line pass through Jeongseon county. A-train departing from Cheongnyangni operates to Auraji. There is no highway in Jeongseon County, but Yeongdong Expressway is accessible through Pyeongchang County, and national highway number 6, 31, 35, 42, 49 passes through the County.^[20]

See also

• Geography of South Korea

External links

• • Jeongseon County government home page

Notes and References

1. Web site: Population statistics . 2024. Korea Ministry of the Interior and Safety.
2. Book: 글로벌세계대백과사전. 범한.
3. Web site: 강원도 역사와 문화. www.provin.gangwon.kr. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20140601052950/http://www.provin.gangwon.kr/gw/portal/sub03_03. 2014-06-01.
4. Web site: History. jeongseon.go.kr. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180220203624/http://www.jeongseon.go.kr/en/about_jeongseon/history. 2018-02-20.
5. Book: 국토지리정보원 . ko:한국지리지 강원도. 2015. 389.
6. Web site: 정선 백봉령 카르스트 지대 . 국가문화유산포털 . . ko . 2018-02-21.
7. Web site: 정선 산호동굴 . 국가문화유산포털 . . ko . 2018-02-21.
8. Web site: http://www.heritage.go.kr/heri/cul/culSelectRegionList.do?s_kdcd=&s_ctcd=32&ccbaKdcd=&ccbaAsno=&ccbaCtcd=&ccbaCpno=&ccbaLcto=37&culPageNo=1&header=region&returnUrl=%2Fheri%2Fcul%2FculSelectRegionList.do&assetname=00 . ko:우리지역 문화재 . 2018-02-13 . . ko . Heritages in your region . 2018-02-13.
9. Web site: http://www.ariaritour.com/hb/tour/sub08_03 . ko:정선 관광문화:보물 . 2018-02-13 . Jeongseon Tour . ko . Jeongseon Culture Tour: Treasures . 2018-02-13 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180210002204/http://www.ariaritour.com/hb/tour/sub08_03 . 2018-02-10 .
10. Encyclopedia: 정암사. Encyclopedia of Korean Culture. Academy of Korean Studies. 2018-02-20. 1996. ko. Jeongamsa.
11. Encyclopedia: 수마노탑 . . . 2018-02-20 . Jeong . Yeongho . 1996 . Sumano Pagoda .
12. Web site: 정선 정암사 열목어 서식지 . 국가문화유산포털 . . ko . 2018-02-21.
13. Web site: 정선 반론산 철쭉나무 및 분취류 자생지 . 국가문화유산포털 . . ko . 2018-02-21.
14. Web site: 정선 두위봉 주목 . 국가문화유산포털 . . ko . 2018-02-21.
15. Web site: http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/bulletin/2016/05/16/0200000000AKR20160516138100062.HTML . ko:'아리랑 문화의 중심' 정선아리랑센터 19일 개관 . Ryu . Ilhyung . 2016-05-16 . . . ko . 2018-02-21 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180209182449/http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/bulletin/2016/05/16/0200000000AKR20160516138100062.HTML . 2018-02-09 .
16. Web site: http://www.elis.go.kr/newlaib/laibLaws/h1126/laws_list_new.jsp?lawsNum=42770110000036 . ko:정선군 공립 박물관·미술관 설립 및 운영 조례 . 2017-06-13 . 자치법규정보시스템 . ko . 2018-02-21 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180221122927/http://www.elis.go.kr/newlaib/laibLaws/h1126/laws_list_new.jsp?lawsNum=42770110000036 . 2018-02-21 .
17. Web site: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_2_1.jsp?cid=697441 . Jeongseon Arirang Festival . ko:정선아리랑제 . visitkorea.or.kr . 2018-02-21 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170715143225/http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_2_1.jsp?cid=697441 . 2017-07-15 .
18. News: Yoon. Chul. 7 best ski and snowboard resorts in Korea. 3 June 2012. CNN Go. 27 December 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20120511195123/http://www.cnngo.com/seoul/play/7-best-ski-resorts-korea-103896. 2012-05-11.
19. http://www.visitkorea.or.kr/ena/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=313272 "Gangwon-do » Jeongseon-gun » High 1 Ski Resort"
20. Kim . Hwansu . Eom . Jingi . Lee . Joon . Lee . Kwangsup . 평창권 철도교통망 확충(안) . PyeongChang area railway network expansion plan . 한국철도학회 학술발표대회논문집 . November 2013 . ko . 한국철도학회 . November 2013 . 169 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180210003015/http://www.dbpia.co.kr/Journal/ArticleDetail/NODE02281984 . 2018-02-10 .