Gumi
Encyclopedia
Gumi is the second largest city
in Gyeongsangbuk-do
, South Korea
. It is located on the Nakdong River
, half way between Daegu
and Gimcheon
, also lies on the Gyeongbu Expressway
and Gyeongbu Line
railway which are the principal traffic routes of the country.
The city is an industrial center of the country with many companies, including Samsung Electronics
and LG Display. The primary industries are electronics
, textile
s, fibers, rubber
, plastic
and metal
products. In Gumi, 1,772 companies employ over 80,000 workers. It is the largest scale in Korea. In 2009, the city exported the largest amount in the country and accounted for 96.9% of trade surplus of Korea in 2000 to 2009.
The former President of South Korea
, Park Chung-hee
was born in the city.
Gumi literally translates as 'turtle tail', not 'nine tails'.
, Gumi was territory of Silla
. The first Silla temple, Dori Temple, was constructed here.
More recently, the town was the birthplace of the South Korean president
Park Chung-Hee
. Not coincidentally, it was during his administration that the South Korean government selected Gumi as a site for major industrial development. His birth home is a museum today.
Gumi developed rapidly during the 1960s, growing from a small rural
town into a large city thanks to huge infusions of development money from the government. It was selected for development for some practical reasons such as its easy access to transportation infrastructure, and its location in the industrialized Yeongnam
region.
, former H.O.T. member Jang Woo Hyuk
, former G.O.D. member Kim Tae Woo
, and e-sports player Lee Yun-Yeol
-known as "Genius Terran", as well as Ju Hyung Ahn, a world renowned expert.
and the Geumo reservoir. There are several interesting sites on the mountain that include:
The Doesan Cave, Daehye Waterfall and HaeUn Buddhist Temple are easily reached by taking the cable car from the entrance of the park and a short hike.
Doesan Cave named after the Buddhist monk Doesan who attained a state of nirvana in the cave. He was a master of the theory of "divination based on topography" in the later Shilla dynasty.
Daehye Waterfall is 27 m high and is especially beautiful during the rainy season when there is a lot of water flowing over it. It can be completely dry during periods without rain and is frozen in winter.
The HaeUn Buddhist Temple is also near the top of the cable car route.
The YakSa Temple and the Ma Ae cliff Buddha statue are both near the summit of Geumo Mountain and require about 1 – 2 hours of hiking to reach them.
The YakSa Temple is an active Buddhist temple and is said to have been created to commemorate Saint Ulsang's attainment of nirvana. It sit near the peak of the mountain and can be reached both from the peak and by a trail from the bottom. It has a unique bell that sits on a separate spike of rock connected by a suspension bridge.
The Ma Ae Cliff Buddha (National Treasure #490) is carved into the corner of a cliff face thought to have been carved during the Goryeo dynasty.
(since 1989) Otsu
, Japan
(since 1990) Bishkek
, Kyrgyzstan
(since 1991) Shenyang
, PRC (since 1997) Changsha, PRC (since 1998) Mexicali
, Mexico
(since 1998) Eindhoven, Netherlands
(since 2003)
Administrative divisions of South Korea
||South Korea is divided into 8 provinces , 1 special autonomous province , 6 metropolitan cities , and 1 special city...
in Gyeongsangbuk-do
Gyeongsangbuk-do
Gyeongsangbuk-do or shortly Gyeongbuk is a province in eastern South Korea. The province was formed in 1896 from the northern half of the former Gyeongsang province, remained a province of Korea until the country's division in 1945, then became part of South Korea.The Gyeongsangbuk-do Office is...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. It is located on the Nakdong River
Nakdong River
The Nakdong River is the longest river in South Korea, and passes through major cities such as Daegu and Busan.-Geography:...
, half way between Daegu
Daegu
Daegu , also known as Taegu, and officially the Daegu Metropolitan City, is a city in South Korea, the fourth largest after Seoul, Busan, and Incheon, and the third largest metropolitan area in the country with over 2.5 million residents. The city is the capital and principal city of the...
and Gimcheon
Gimcheon
Gimcheon is a city in North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. It is situated on the major land transportation routes between Seoul and Busan, namely the Gyeongbu Expressway and Gyeongbu Line railway.-Administrative divisions:...
, also lies on the Gyeongbu Expressway
Gyeongbu Expressway
The Gyeongbu Expressway is the second oldest and most heavily travelled expressway in South Korea, connecting Seoul to Suwon, Daejeon, Gumi, Daegu, and Busan. It has the route number 1, signifying its role as South Korea's most important expressway...
and Gyeongbu Line
Gyeongbu Line
The Gyeongbu Line is the most important railway line in South Korea and one of the oldest. It was constructed by Japan in 1905, connecting Seoul to Suwon, Daejeon, Daegu, and Busan. The Gyeongbu Line is by far the most heavily travelled rail line in South Korea...
railway which are the principal traffic routes of the country.
The city is an industrial center of the country with many companies, including Samsung Electronics
Samsung Electronics
Samsung Electronics is a South Korean multinational electronics and information technology company headquartered in Samsung Town, Seoul...
and LG Display. The primary industries are electronics
Electronics
Electronics is the branch of science, engineering and technology that deals with electrical circuits involving active electrical components such as vacuum tubes, transistors, diodes and integrated circuits, and associated passive interconnection technologies...
, textile
Textile
A textile or cloth is a flexible woven material consisting of a network of natural or artificial fibres often referred to as thread or yarn. Yarn is produced by spinning raw fibres of wool, flax, cotton, or other material to produce long strands...
s, fibers, rubber
Rubber
Natural rubber, also called India rubber or caoutchouc, is an elastomer that was originally derived from latex, a milky colloid produced by some plants. The plants would be ‘tapped’, that is, an incision made into the bark of the tree and the sticky, milk colored latex sap collected and refined...
, plastic
Plastic
A plastic material is any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic solids used in the manufacture of industrial products. Plastics are typically polymers of high molecular mass, and may contain other substances to improve performance and/or reduce production costs...
and metal
Metal
A metal , is an element, compound, or alloy that is a good conductor of both electricity and heat. Metals are usually malleable and shiny, that is they reflect most of incident light...
products. In Gumi, 1,772 companies employ over 80,000 workers. It is the largest scale in Korea. In 2009, the city exported the largest amount in the country and accounted for 96.9% of trade surplus of Korea in 2000 to 2009.
The former President of South Korea
President of South Korea
The President of the Republic of Korea is, according to the Constitution of the Republic of Korea, chief executive of the government, commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and the head of state of the Republic of Korea...
, Park Chung-hee
Park Chung-hee
Park Chung-hee was a Republic of Korea Army general and the leader of South Korea from 1961 to 1979. He seized power in a military coup and ruled until his assassination in 1979. He has been credited with the industrialization of the Republic of Korea through export-led growth...
was born in the city.
Gumi literally translates as 'turtle tail', not 'nine tails'.
History
In the Three Kingdoms periodThree Kingdoms of Korea
The Three Kingdoms of Korea refer to the ancient Korean kingdoms of Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla, which dominated the Korean peninsula and parts of Manchuria for much of the 1st millennium...
, Gumi was territory of Silla
Silla
Silla was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, and one of the longest sustained dynasties in...
. The first Silla temple, Dori Temple, was constructed here.
More recently, the town was the birthplace of the South Korean president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
Park Chung-Hee
Park Chung-hee
Park Chung-hee was a Republic of Korea Army general and the leader of South Korea from 1961 to 1979. He seized power in a military coup and ruled until his assassination in 1979. He has been credited with the industrialization of the Republic of Korea through export-led growth...
. Not coincidentally, it was during his administration that the South Korean government selected Gumi as a site for major industrial development. His birth home is a museum today.
Gumi developed rapidly during the 1960s, growing from a small rural
Rural
Rural areas or the country or countryside are areas that are not urbanized, though when large areas are described, country towns and smaller cities will be included. They have a low population density, and typically much of the land is devoted to agriculture...
town into a large city thanks to huge infusions of development money from the government. It was selected for development for some practical reasons such as its easy access to transportation infrastructure, and its location in the industrialized Yeongnam
Yeongnam
Yeongnam is the name of a region that coincides with the former Gyeongsang Province in what is now South Korea....
region.
Administrative divisions
The city center of Gumi is divided into 19 dong, or neighborhood units. The hinterland is divided into 6 myeon, or rural areas, and 2 eup, or large villages: Seonsan-eup and Goa-eup.People
Famous people from Gumi include former South Korean president Park Chung Hee, his daughter Park Geun-hyePark Geun-hye
Park Geun-hye is a South Korean politician. She is a member of the Korean National Assembly and was the head of the conservative Grand National Party. She is now in her fourth parliamentary term, having first been elected in 1998. Her father was Park Chung-hee, president of South Korea from 1963...
, former H.O.T. member Jang Woo Hyuk
Jang Woo Hyuk
Jang Woo Hyuk is a South Korean rapper. He debuted under SM Entertainment as one of the members of the 5 member boyband H.O.T. in 1996.-H.O.T.:...
, former G.O.D. member Kim Tae Woo
Kim Tae Woo
Kim Tae-Woo is a K-pop singer, originally the lead singer of popular boy band g.o.d.. Kim was born in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, the third in a family of one son and two daughters. He attended Kyunghee University in the Post Modern Music Department.He debuted in the K-pop industry as the...
, and e-sports player Lee Yun-Yeol
Lee Yun-Yeol
Lee Yun-Yeol, , also known as '"NaDa", is a South Korean professional gamer who competitively plays StarCraft II and before that, StarCraft: Brood War...
-known as "Genius Terran", as well as Ju Hyung Ahn, a world renowned expert.
Geumo Mountain
Geumo Mountain (Geumo San) Provincial Park is a popular hiking destination. The peak at 976 m above sea level is one of the eight famous spots in the Yeongman area and is the location of the start of the nature preservation campaign in Korea. The park has an amusement area called Geumo LandGeumo Land
Geumo Land is an amusement park near the base of Geumo Mountain, near the city of Gumi, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea.Rides include a Viking ship, tagada, bumper cars and viba train. It also offers ice skating, and, in the winter, sled riding....
and the Geumo reservoir. There are several interesting sites on the mountain that include:
The Doesan Cave, Daehye Waterfall and HaeUn Buddhist Temple are easily reached by taking the cable car from the entrance of the park and a short hike.
Doesan Cave named after the Buddhist monk Doesan who attained a state of nirvana in the cave. He was a master of the theory of "divination based on topography" in the later Shilla dynasty.
Daehye Waterfall is 27 m high and is especially beautiful during the rainy season when there is a lot of water flowing over it. It can be completely dry during periods without rain and is frozen in winter.
The HaeUn Buddhist Temple is also near the top of the cable car route.
The YakSa Temple and the Ma Ae cliff Buddha statue are both near the summit of Geumo Mountain and require about 1 – 2 hours of hiking to reach them.
The YakSa Temple is an active Buddhist temple and is said to have been created to commemorate Saint Ulsang's attainment of nirvana. It sit near the peak of the mountain and can be reached both from the peak and by a trail from the bottom. It has a unique bell that sits on a separate spike of rock connected by a suspension bridge.
The Ma Ae Cliff Buddha (National Treasure #490) is carved into the corner of a cliff face thought to have been carved during the Goryeo dynasty.
Climate
Sister cities
Jhongli, TaiwanTaiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
(since 1989) Otsu
Otsu, Shiga
is the capital city of Shiga, Japan. The city was founded on October 1, 1898. As of October 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 338,629 with an average age of 40.7 years and a population density of 905.28 persons per km²...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
(since 1990) Bishkek
Bishkek
Bishkek , formerly Pishpek and Frunze, is the capital and the largest city of Kyrgyzstan.Bishkek is also the administrative centre of Chuy Province which surrounds the city, even though the city itself is not part of the province but rather a province-level unit of Kyrgyzstan.The name is thought to...
, Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan , officially the Kyrgyz Republic is one of the world's six independent Turkic states . Located in Central Asia, landlocked and mountainous, Kyrgyzstan is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the southwest and China to the east...
(since 1991) Shenyang
Shenyang
Shenyang , or Mukden , is the capital and largest city of Liaoning Province in Northeast China. Currently holding sub-provincial administrative status, the city was once known as Shengjing or Fengtianfu...
, PRC (since 1997) Changsha, PRC (since 1998) Mexicali
Mexicali
Mexicali is the capital of the State of Baja California, seat of the Municipality of Mexicali, and 2nd largest city in Baja California. The City of Mexicali has a population of 689,775, according to the 2010 census, while the population of the entire metropolitan area reaches 936,826.The city...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
(since 1998) Eindhoven, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
(since 2003)