Hamhung
Encyclopedia
Hamhŭng is North Korea
's second largest city
, and the capital of South Hamgyŏng Province. In late 2005, nearby Hŭngnam
was made a ward (kuyŏk) within Hamhŭng-si. It has a population of 768,551 as of 2008.
, founder of the Yi Dynasty, retired to the city after a successful palace coup by his son Yi Bang-won
in 1400. Though his son sent envoys to reconcile, his father had them all killed. A modern Korean expression, King's envoy to Hamheung , refers to a person who goes off on a journey but is never hear from again.
The city was heavily destroyed (80–90%) during the Korean War
. From 1955–1962, Hamhŭng was the object of a large-scale program of reconstruction and development by East Germany including the build-up of various construction-related industries and intense training measures for Korean construction workers, engineers, city planners
and architects. The project ended two years earlier than scheduled and with a low profile because of the Sino-Soviet conflict
and the opposing positions that North Korea and East Germany took on that issue.
From 1960 to 1967, Hamhŭng was administered separately from South Hamgyŏng as a Directly Governed City (Chikhalsi), but before 1960, and since 1967, the city has been part of South Hamgyŏng Province.
In 1995, Hamhŭng witnessed, thus far, one of the only documented challenges to the North Korean government
when famine
-ravaged soldiers
began a march toward Pyongyang
. The revolt was quelled and the unit of soldiers was disbanded.
The North Korean famine of the 1990s appears to have had a disproportionate effect on the people of Hamhung. Andrew Natsios, a former aid worker, USAID Administrator, and author of The Great North Korean Famine, described Hamhung as "the city most devastated by [the] famine." Contemporary published reports from The Washington Post and Reuters describe the presence of numerous fresh graves on the surrounding hillsides, and report that many of Hamhung's children were stunted by malnutrition. One survivor claimed that more than 10% of the city's population died, with another 10% fleeing the city in search of food. Despite previously being closed to foreigners, foreign nationals can now travel to Hamhung through the few approved North Korean tour operators."
There is speculation that Hamhung, with its high proportion of chemists and the site of a chemical-industrial complex built by the Japanese during World War II, is the center for North Korea's methamphetamine production.
center in the DPRK. It is an industrial
city
which serves as a major port for North Korean foreign trade. Production includes textiles (particularly vinalon
), metalware, machinery, refined oil and processed food. It is also North Korea's largest center of methamphetamine
(called philopon in North Korea) production both for export and illicitly for internal consumption.
railway.
and a branch academy of science.
Hamhŭng is home to the Hamhŭng University of Education
, Hamhŭng University of Pharmacy, Hamhŭng University of Chemistry and Hamhŭng University of Medicine. Professional colleges in Hamhǔng include the Hamhǔng College of Quality Control, the Hamhŭng Hydrographic and Power College, and the Hamhǔng College of Electronics and Automation.
Hamhŭng also hosts the biggest theatre in North Korea.
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
's second largest city
Cities of North Korea
The following is a list of cities in North Korea:-Self-governing cities with the status of provinces:Table 2: Directly-governed cities of North KoreaRomanizationHangulHanjaYear of splitProvince split from...
, and the capital of South Hamgyŏng Province. In late 2005, nearby Hŭngnam
Hungnam
Hŭngnam was the third largest city in North Korea.It is a port city on the eastern coast, in South Hamgyong Province, on the Sea of Japan . The city covers an area of 250 square kilometers...
was made a ward (kuyŏk) within Hamhŭng-si. It has a population of 768,551 as of 2008.
Geography
Hamhŭng is on the left branch of the Sŏngch'ŏn River, on the eastern part of the Hamhŭng plain , in South Hamgyŏng Province, northeast North Korea. The Tonghŭngsan is 319 m high.History
Yi Sung-keTaejo of Joseon
Taejo of Joseon , born Yi Seong-gye, whose changed name is Yi Dan, was the founder and the first king of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea, and the main figure in overthrowing the Goryeo Dynasty...
, founder of the Yi Dynasty, retired to the city after a successful palace coup by his son Yi Bang-won
Taejong of Joseon
King Taejong was the third king of the Joseon Dynasty in Korea and the father of King Sejong the Great.-Founding of Joseon:...
in 1400. Though his son sent envoys to reconcile, his father had them all killed. A modern Korean expression, King's envoy to Hamheung , refers to a person who goes off on a journey but is never hear from again.
The city was heavily destroyed (80–90%) during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. From 1955–1962, Hamhŭng was the object of a large-scale program of reconstruction and development by East Germany including the build-up of various construction-related industries and intense training measures for Korean construction workers, engineers, city planners
Urban planning
Urban planning incorporates areas such as economics, design, ecology, sociology, geography, law, political science, and statistics to guide and ensure the orderly development of settlements and communities....
and architects. The project ended two years earlier than scheduled and with a low profile because of the Sino-Soviet conflict
Sino-Soviet split
In political science, the term Sino–Soviet split denotes the worsening of political and ideologic relations between the People's Republic of China and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics during the Cold War...
and the opposing positions that North Korea and East Germany took on that issue.
From 1960 to 1967, Hamhŭng was administered separately from South Hamgyŏng as a Directly Governed City (Chikhalsi), but before 1960, and since 1967, the city has been part of South Hamgyŏng Province.
In 1995, Hamhŭng witnessed, thus far, one of the only documented challenges to the North Korean government
Government of North Korea
The North Korean government is the executive branch of the state, according to the Constitution of North Korea. In practice, the highest decisions are made by the National Defence Commission of North Korea which is led by its Chairman Kim Jong-il....
when famine
North Korean famine
'The North Korean famine was a famine in North Korea which began in the early 1990s...
-ravaged soldiers
Korean People's Army
The Korean People's Army , also known as the Inmin Gun, are the military forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Kim Jong-il is the Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army and Chairman of the National Defence Commission...
began a march toward Pyongyang
Pyongyang
Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...
. The revolt was quelled and the unit of soldiers was disbanded.
The North Korean famine of the 1990s appears to have had a disproportionate effect on the people of Hamhung. Andrew Natsios, a former aid worker, USAID Administrator, and author of The Great North Korean Famine, described Hamhung as "the city most devastated by [the] famine." Contemporary published reports from The Washington Post and Reuters describe the presence of numerous fresh graves on the surrounding hillsides, and report that many of Hamhung's children were stunted by malnutrition. One survivor claimed that more than 10% of the city's population died, with another 10% fleeing the city in search of food. Despite previously being closed to foreigners, foreign nationals can now travel to Hamhung through the few approved North Korean tour operators."
There is speculation that Hamhung, with its high proportion of chemists and the site of a chemical-industrial complex built by the Japanese during World War II, is the center for North Korea's methamphetamine production.
Economy
Hamhŭng is an important chemical industryChemical industry
The chemical industry comprises the companies that produce industrial chemicals. Central to the modern world economy, it converts raw materials into more than 70,000 different products.-Products:...
center in the DPRK. It is an industrial
Industry
Industry refers to the production of an economic good or service within an economy.-Industrial sectors:There are four key industrial economic sectors: the primary sector, largely raw material extraction industries such as mining and farming; the secondary sector, involving refining, construction,...
city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
which serves as a major port for North Korean foreign trade. Production includes textiles (particularly vinalon
Vinalon
Vinylon is a synthetic fiber produced from polyvinyl alcohol, using anthracite and limestone as raw materials. Vinalon was first developed in 1939 by Japanese scientist, Ichiro Sakurada, Yi Sung-ki [Lee. S.or Ri.Sung.Gi.] and H. Kawakami Production of this fiber was delayed for World War II. The...
), metalware, machinery, refined oil and processed food. It is also North Korea's largest center of methamphetamine
Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine is a psychostimulant of the phenethylamine and amphetamine class of psychoactive drugs...
(called philopon in North Korea) production both for export and illicitly for internal consumption.
Transportation
The city is a transportation hub, connecting various eastern ports and the northern interior area. Hamhung Station is on the Pyongra LinePyongra Line
The Pyongra Line is a railway line in North Korea, running from Pyongyang to Rajin....
railway.
Culture
It has a national museumMuseum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
and a branch academy of science.
Hamhŭng is home to the Hamhŭng University of Education
Hamhŭng University of Education
Hamhŭng University of Education is a university in Hamhung, North Korea....
, Hamhŭng University of Pharmacy, Hamhŭng University of Chemistry and Hamhŭng University of Medicine. Professional colleges in Hamhǔng include the Hamhǔng College of Quality Control, the Hamhŭng Hydrographic and Power College, and the Hamhǔng College of Electronics and Automation.
Hamhŭng also hosts the biggest theatre in North Korea.
People born in Hamhŭng
- Yi SeonggyeTaejo of JoseonTaejo of Joseon , born Yi Seong-gye, whose changed name is Yi Dan, was the founder and the first king of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea, and the main figure in overthrowing the Goryeo Dynasty...
, the founder of the Chosŏn dynastyJoseon DynastyJoseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...
, Korea's last royal line - Ahn Soo-kilAhn Soo-kilAhn Soo-kil was a Korean novelist and journalist who devoted much of his life to depicting the lives of the Korean settlers in Jiandao, Manchuria. He was born on November 3, 1911 in Hamhŭng, Hamgyŏngnamdo, in present-day North Korea...
, writer - Richard E. KimRichard E. KimRichard Eun Kook Kim was a Korean-American writer and professor of literature. He was the author of The Martyred , The Innocent , and Lost Names , and many other works. He was a Guggenheim Fellow and was a recipient of a Fulbright grant...
(1932-2009), writer - Yoon Kwang-choYoon Kwang-choYoon Kwang-cho is a South Korean ceramic artist.His works have been shown at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Seattle Art Museum Birmingham Museum of Art in Alabama, and are part of the regular collections of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the British Museum and the Smithsonian National Museum...
, ceramic artist - Yang Hyong-sopYang Hyong-sopYang Hyong-sop is a North Korean politician. He was elected chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly in 1983, and served until 1998...
(born 1925), President of the Supreme People's AssemblySupreme People's AssemblyThe Supreme People's Assembly is the unicameral parliament of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea , commonly known as North Korea...
from 1984-1998
See also
- List of cities in North Korea
- Geography of North KoreaGeography of North KoreaNorth Korea is located in east Asia on the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. North Korea shares a border with three states, including China along the Amnok River, Russia along the Duman River, and South Korea along the Korean Demilitarized Zone...
- List of Provinces of Balhae
External links
- North Korea Uncovered, (North Korea Google Earth) Maps out Hamhung's economic infrastructure, including railways, hotels, tourist destinations, cultural facilities, ports, and electricity grid on Google Earth.
- Hamhung, Haunted City, Compares newly revealed Google Earth imagery of Hamhung—imagery which reveals many of the hills around the city to be packed with graves—with published reports of severe famine in Hamhung during the 1990s.
- Young Pioneer Tours, Information on the opening up of Hamhung to tourists, and details on tours there.