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Yeongju is adjoining Bonghwa in the east, Danyang of Chungcheongbuk Province in the west, Andong as well as Yecheon in the south, and Yeongwol of Gangwon Province in the north. The total land size of Yeongju is accounting for about 3.5% of whole land size of North Gyeongsang Province's 19,026§´. The Yeongju land is consisted of about 66%, 442.82§´ of forests, whereas the land for farming is only 23%, 155.26§´, and others as 11%. It is 30.7km long from east to west and 41.5 km from south to north. As of December, 2005, it had the population of 119,668 with 43,914 households and is divided into 1 town, 9 subcounties and 9 dong.
Yeongju, located in the northernmost Gyeongsangbuk Province, is a cylinder-shaped city and the main peaks of Sobaek Mountain, which include Pirobong Peak(1,439m), Kukmangbong Peak(1,421m), Yeonhwabong Peak(1,383m), Chukryeong Ridge(689m) and Tosolbong Peak(1,315m) from the west to the south, play a role in its boundary line.
The Naeseongcheon Stream, which is said to be the mainstream of rich Yeongju flows through Bonghwa County from the mountainous area in the north and reaches Sudo village, Munsu County. Yeongju's fertility is also based on the Seocheon (west) Stream which encircles the whole city, where the Namwoncheon stream from Yeonhwabong Peak and Chukryeong Valley, and the Chukgyecheon Stream from Mt. Sobaek meet, flowing into the Naeseongcheon Stream, a branch of the Nakdong River.
The climate of Yeongju has four clearly distinguished seasons (spring, summer, fall and winter). The annual average temperature is 11.4 ¡É and the temperature range is highly variable the hottest being 24.5¡É in August and the coldest averaging around -2.5 ¡É in January. Annual average precipitation amounts are 1,303.3mm. The most precipitation is shown in the summer, when the northern Pacific Ocean appears, while the lowest precipitation appears in winter.
Yeongju boasts of the hub of transportation where Jungang, Yeongdong, Gyeongbuk Railways, Jungbu Expressway, and national highway No.5, No.28, No.36 conveniently connect Yeongju to all parts of the country. Especially, the opening of Dongseo Expressway will make Yeongju reborn into the truly transportation junction.
As of December, 2005, the number of companies registered in Yeongju was 8,551 and the employees numbered 29,329. Globally recognized enterprises like KT&G and Novelis Korea Co., which are the Asia¡¯s largest factories in their production categories, Cigarette and Aluminum Rolled Products respectively, are the main contributors to Yeongju¡¯s economic growth. In 2006 alone, total trade amount in Yeongju recorded US$792Million with US$301Million in exports and US$491 Million in imports.
Apples, ginseng, and peaches have a national fame for their high quality. Yeongju as the foothills of Mt. Sebaek has a good geological environment to grow apples: big temperature gap and abundant sunshine. Therefore, Yeongju honey-sweet apples are rich in sugar around the honey core and have a sweet aroma and solid texture, which are nationally popular with customers. Also, Yeungju garnered the prestige of the world-renowned Punggi Ginseng, which is full of natural substances, strong fragrance and highly effective saponin content.
Furthermore, Yeongju has been an ancient educational city, as proven by the Sosu Seowon - the first Confucian academy in Korea. There have been several old Seowons and Hyanggyo (Confucian schools & shrines) in Yeongju. In modern times, Yeongju has a reasonable basis for quality education, including 28 primary schools, 22 middle schools and 22 high schools. As part of higher education, Gyeongbuk College since its establishment in 1971 has produced a large number of graduates to become professional technicians.
Yeongju, surrounded by the panoramic Sobaek Mountains, is a fortunate successor of the physical and spiritual culture of our ancestors. Yeongju preserve ancient sites, such as Buseoksa Temple and Seowon, the Confucian Academy, as well as areas of natural beauty such as Huibang Falls, Chukryeong Ridge (with 99 curves). Puseoksa Temple is outstanding as a representative temple of Avatamska Sect of Shilla Buddhism. Sosu Seowon is the original Confucian Academy and the first to have had national financial support by way of tax exemptions. Yeongju hosts festivals which celebrate the culture of Mt. Sobaeksan and the Royal Azaleas upon this beautiful mountain. |
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Area |
668.9 km©÷ (3.5% of Gyeongbuk Province) |
| Administrative divisions |
1 town, 9 subcounties, and 9 dongs |
| Population |
119,668 (as of December, 2005) |
| Number of households |
43,914 (as of December, 2005) |
| Municipal flower |
Royal Azalea |
| Municipal tree |
Gingko Tree |
| Municipal bird |
Magpie |
| Road pavement rate |
66.7% |
| Government workers |
965 |
| Number of Teachers |
1,262 |
| Education facilities |
78 schools(28,689 students) including kindergarten, elementary, middle, and high school, and universities |
| Companies & Employees |
8,551 companies / 29,329 persons (2005) |
| Annual Budget |
KRW 277,568 Million (2005) |
| Attractions |
Buseoksa Temple, Sosu Seowon, Chukryeong Ridge |
| Specialties |
Honey-sweet Apples, Peaches, Punggi Ginseng |
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