Gangneung 강릉시 |
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Municipal City | ||
Korean transcription(s) | ||
• Hangul | ||
• Hanja | ||
• Revised Romanization | Gangneung-si | |
• McCune-Reischauer | Kangnŭng-si | |
Cherry blossoms along Gyeongpo Lake.
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Location in South Korea |
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Coordinates: 37°45′N 128°54′E / 37.750°N 128.900°E | ||
Country | South Korea | |
Region | Gwandong | |
Administrative divisions | 1 eup, 7 myeon, 13 dong | |
Area | ||
• Total | 1,040 km2 (400 sq mi) | |
Population (2006) | ||
• Total | 229,869 | |
• Density | 221/km2 (570/sq mi) | |
• Dialect | Gangwon | |
Climate | Cfa |
Gangneung (Korean pronunciation: [kaŋ.nɯŋ]) is a city in Gangwon-do, on the east coast of South Korea. It has a population of 229,869 (as of 2006). Gangneung is the economic centre of the Yeongdong region of Gangwon Province. Gangneung has many tourist attractions, such as Jeongdongjin, a very popular area for watching the sun rise, and Gyeongpo Beach. There is a ROK airbase south of downtown Gangneung which formerly doubled as a civil airport.
The city is also home to National League football club Gangneung City FC and K League football team Gangwon FC.
On 18 September 1996 a North Korean submarine ran aground near Gangneung in an attempted infiltration mission, spurring a 49-day manhunt for the escaped passengers. For more details, refer to the 1996 Gangneung submarine infiltration incident.
The flag of the city shows a red sun in the centre and blue wave in front, on a white background. The sun represents the sunrise, the wave the sea. The flower of the city is the crepe myrtle, the tree of the city is the pine tree, its bird the swan. The animal of Gangneung is the tiger.
Gangneung is considered special in that it has both access to a lake and the sea. Gyeongpodae is a pavilion overlooking a Gyeongpo lake. It is said that one can see the moon five times when at Gyeongpodae. One sees the moon once in the sky, once reflected in the lake, once reflected in the sea, once reflected in the drinking glass, and once more in the eyes of a lover. The site of Gyeongpodae is known for its location east of the centre of the city.