GEUMGANG ECOLOGY TOURIST INFORMATION SYSTEM

General Introduction

History

Information of Gunsan City

�� Location

Gunsan is situated at the downstream of Kumkang River in latitude 36�� N, which is located in the same latitude as Pohang in Korea, Tsingtao in China and Yokohama in Japan.
The boundary forms by Seosu-myeon to the east, Eocheong-do in which has naval base and scenic lighthouse to the west, Bian-do that literally means wild goose takes wings to the south, and Wonnapo, Napo-myeon to the north.
Gunsan is a central port of the Western Seaside, which is bounded by Kumkang River to the right, Honam Plain at the back, and areas such as Iksan, Kimje, Jeonju, Buan-kun, Seocheon-kun and Boryeong-kun. Gunsan has sea and islands to the west, and plain and hills to the south and east.
Gunsan covers an area of 378,05k��, which accounts for about 0.4% of total area of Korea 99,407k�� and about 4.7% of total area of Chonbuk Province 8,047.54k��.

�� Population

Gunsan had the population of 277,680 in 2001, but it will be about 810,000 according to the Comprehensive City Plan. It is expected that the number of the potential visitors in future as well as at present will be enough because it is likely to go on increasing in the population of Grossraum of Gunsan & Janghang to 1,585,000 in 2011.

�� City History

Samhan Era
Ruled by Mahan.
Three States Era
Called Maseoryang, Misahyeon or Buburihyeon in Baekje, since Mahan was annexed to Baekje.
Unified Shilla Era
Renamed as Okkuhyeon in the 16th year of King Kyeongdeok.
Koryo Dynasty
Merged into the neighboring Impihyeon in the 6th year of King Hyeonjong.
General Choi Mu-Seon wiped out 500 warships of Japanese invaders with firearms at Kumkang River in the 6th year of King Uwang (1380).

Chosun Dynasty
Designated as a naval fortified port administered by the government position called Byeongmasa who also had jurisdiction over Hyeon in the 9th year of King Taejo.
Byeongmasa was renamed as Cheonjeoljesa while appointing Hyeonkam to the post of administering Hyeon in the 5th year of King Sejong.

1895.....	Okkuhyeon was renamed as Okkukun, while Impihyeon as Impikun.
1899.05.01.....	A port called as Kunchang that belongs to Okkukun was opened.
1906.10.01.....	In accordance to a royal mandate No. 48 (announced in September 24, 1906), Okkukun was renamed as Okkubu. Okku branch office of the Jeonbuk police station was set up (renamed as Gunsan police station in 1908).
1907.....	Nation's first pavement work of 7m wide and 46.5km long was done on the Jeonju Road (currently Beonyeongro).
1909.....	Reclaimed the riverside of the Gunsan port where 1-fixed pier was built.
1910.10.01.....	In accordance to a royal mandate No.7 (announced in October 1, 1910), Gunsanbu was found and Okkubu was renamed as Okkukun.
1912.....	No. 1 water supply reservoir was built in the Weolmyeong Park.
1913.....	Gunsan railroad line was built.
1914.03.01.....	In accordance to the departmental ordinance No. 111 (announced in December 29, 1913), Impikun, a part of Hamyeolkun, Kogunsankundo in Jeonnam, Keyado, Jukdo, Yeondo and Eocheong-do in Chungnam, and Biando in Buan were merged into Okkukun.
1914. ....	2.05 km2 was allocated as an administrative district of Gunsanbu.
1919.03.05.....	Launched the first independence movement against the rule of Japanese Imperialism in the Honam area.
1923.....	The land of 7.5 million pyong currently including Okku-kun, Okseo-myeon and Miseong-dong was reclaimed by the Buliheungeop Co.
1932.10.01.....	In accordance to the departmental ordinance No. 92 (announced in September 24, 1932), Shinpung-ri, a part of Dunyul-ri and Kyeongjang-ri in Mi-myeon and a part of Kuam-ri in Kaejeong-myeon of Okku-kun were incorporated into Gunsanbu.
1940.11.01.....	In accordance to the departmental ordinance No. 220 (announced in October 23, 1940), Jochon-ri in Kaejeong-myeon and a part of Dunyul-ri, Kuam-ri, and Shinpung-ri in Mimyeon of Okku-kun were incorporated into Gunsanbu.

After the restoration of independence

1947.05....	The 12th regiment of the national defense guards was established with the head of the department Baek In-Ki as the first regiment commander.
1949.08.15....	In accordance to the law No. 32 (announced in July 4, 1932), Gunsanbu was renamed as Gunsan-si with 37-dong.
1962.12.01 ....	In accordance to the Kun ordinance No. 21 (announced in December 1, 1962), Mimyeon branch office in Mi-myeon (10 Myeon were covered by 1 branch office) was established.
1973.07.01 ....	In accordance to the presidential decree No. 6542 (announced in December 3, 1973), Miryong-ri, Shinpung-ri, Dunyul-ri, Kyeongjang-ri in Mi-myeon, Sajeong-ri and Jokok-ri in Oksan-myeon, Kaejeong-ri in Kaejeong-myeon, and Naeheung-ri in Seongsan-myeon were incorporated into Gunsan-si with 46-dong while Shinsi-ri in Seosu-myeon was incorporated into Iksan-kun.
1974 ~ 1995....	The 1, 2, 3 pier of the outer port were built.
1978 ~ 1985....	Gunsan local industrial complex of 1.62 million pyong was constructed.
1980.12.01....	In accordance to the presidential decree No. 10050 (announced in October 21, 1980), Okku-myeon and Mi-myeon were upgraded into Okku-eup and Miseong-eup respectively (2-eup, 8-myeon and 1-branch office)
1983.02.15....	In accordance to the presidential decree No. 11027 (announced in January 3, 1983), Sanbuk-ri and a part of Naecho-ri in Miseoung-eup were incorporated into Gunsan-si.
1985.07.01....	In accordance to the Okku-kun ordinance No. 936 (announced in June 22, 1985), Okku Western branch office was established in Okku-eup (2-eup, 8-myeon and 2-branch office).
1986.04.01....	In accordance to the presidential decree No. 11874 (announced in March 27, 1986), Miseong branch office in Miseong-eup was upgraded into Okdo-myeon (2-eup, 9-myeon and 1-branch office).
1988~1994....	Gunsan local industrial complex of 2.07 million pyong was constructed.
1989.01.01....	In accordance to the presidential decree No. 12557 (announced in December 22, 1988), Miseong-eup in Okku-kun, and Oshick-do and Bieung-do in Okdo-myeon were incorporated into Gunsan-si.
1989.04.01....	In accordance to the Okku-kun ordinance No. 1139 (announced in December 22, 1988), Okku-eup Western branch office was upgraded into Okseo-myeon.
1990.10.30....	Kumkang estuary bank linking Jeonbuk and Chungnam in 1,814m long, which has 20 floodgates, was built.
1993.05....	The construction of the Kunjang national industrial complex of 4.77 million pyong was started.
1994.07.07....	In accordance to Gunsan-si ordinance No. 1566 and 1567 (announced in August1, 1994), Naun-dong was partitioned off into two dongs (1-dong and 2-dong).
1994.12.01....	In accordance to Okku-kun ordinance No. 1413 (announce in November 29, 1994), Woo-dong and Shinseong-dong in Hoihyeon-myeon were incorporated into Oksan-myeon.
1995.01.01....	In accordance to the law No. 4774 (announced in August 3, 1994), Gunsan-si and Okku-kun were merged into new Gunsan-si, an integrated city and rural areas.
1995.04.....	Candidate Kim, Gil-Jun, a member of the Peace Democratic Party, was elected as the first mayor of Gunsan.
1995.10.28....	The construction of the pier within the No. 1 section on the Gunsan side of Gunjang new port was started.
1999.05.01....	100th anniversary of Gunsan port
2001.04.27....	Kang, Keun-Ho took office as the 2nd mayor of Gunsan.
2002.07.02....	Kang, Keun-Ho took office as the 3rd mayor of Gunsan.

�� Simbolic Identity

[Corporate Identity]
	- The combination of flowery image from camellia - a city flower, 3 pillars in the center, which symbolize the Kumkang estuary banks - a typical place of interest in Gunsan, a seagull and waves, which symbolize the port city in green and blue express the human being, environment, growth and prosperity in perfect harmony, which further symbolize the city of Gunsan as a leading kingpin town of the Western Seaside.

[Emblem "Balgeumi"]
	"Balkeumi" is impersonated the camellia - a city flower - in yellow that shows the future oriented brightness. Balkeumi brings an image of Gunsan taking a big step forward towards the vital city of new era into relief in brightness and high spirit.

[Simbolic Tree(Ginko Tree)]
	Ginko is a clean tree that resists vermin damage with an eternal vitality. Its fan-shape green leaves and nuts are used as a medicine. There are many ginko trees on the road and village across Gunsan, symbolizing endless growth of the city.

[Simbolic Flower(Camellia)]
	This red petal flower with yellow stamen is also called Yeoshimhwa (means 'Woman's heart'), which prides on its elegant figure in frost and snow, growing naturally at the coast and Weolmyeong Park. It symbolizes citizenship that respects for peace and faithfulness.

[Simbolic Bird(Seagull)]
	Strong disposition of seagull taking a flight against winds and waves symbolizes the high and progressive spirit of Gunsan advancing towards the vital city of the Western Seaside.