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Muan

Muan
무안군
County
Korean transcription(s)
 • Hangul
 • Hanja
 • Revised Romanization Muan-gun
 • McCune-Reischauer Muan-gun
Muan International Airport
Official logo of Muan
Emblem of Muan
Location in South Korea
Location in South Korea
Country  South Korea
Region Honam
Administrative divisions 2 eup, 7 myeon
Area
 • Total 436.4 km2 (168.5 sq mi)
Population (December 2011)
 • Total 75,718
 • Density 173.50/km2 (449.4/sq mi)
 • Dialect Jeolla

Muan County (Muan-gun) is a county in South Jeolla Province (Jeollanam-do), South Korea. In 2005, Muan County became the capital of Jeollanam-do following the transfer of the provincial office from its previous location, Gwangju to the village of Namak in Muan. Muan International Airport was opened here, and will eventually replace the airports in Gwangju and Mokpo.

On January 1 of 1963, several villages (ri in Korean) were incorporated into Mokpo city and huge reorganization was made by Korean government. In 1979, Muan township was promoted to a township (eup of South Korea). In 1980, Illo was also promoted into a township.

Muan County is located on the western tip of the South Western part of the Korean peninsula. It acts as the primary link between Sinan county with the rest of the Korean mainland. Numerous beaches are also found on Muan's coast.

Muan borders Yeongsan river with Naju and Hampyeong to the north, Yeongam to the east, Mokpo to the south. These surroundings have influenced the industrial and cultural structure of Muan County.

Muan was designated an enterprise city by the South Korean government for the Honam region (Southwest). The South Korean government and China have agreed to develop an industrial complex in a joint venture. It was reported that the Chinese government officially promised to invest in and help establish the complex area, which includes the construction of a college and distribution warehouses among other things such as a Chinatown for expatriates.

Muan includes a large area of mudlands. The western area of the Korean peninsula has a large amount of mud thanks to the Rias coast. However, many mudlands have been destroyed or reclaimed for expanding city areas or industrial complexes.

The mudlands of Muan were designated one of the wetlands of the Ramsar Convention.

Muan is widely known for its White Lotus Festival (무안연꽃축제) located in Illo-eup. The festival occurs in mid August when the white lotus flowers bloom fully onsite at the Hoesan White Lotus Pond (회산 백련지). Tourists can walk into the huge lotuslands via the many bridges that crisscross the water. Visitors may also ride the 'duck boats.'


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