Geochang County


Geochang County is a county in South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. The Geochang International Festival of Theater, which was started in 1989, is renowned as the best play festival in Korea. The District Office is located in Geochang-eup, and has jurisdiction over 1 eup and 11 myeon.

The origin of Geochang's name

Geochang County has been called Geoyeol, Geota and Arim since ancient times, in the meaning of a large bright place, a very wide field, a wide field, or a large bright one. It was first called a Geochang in the 16th year of King Gyeongdeok of Silla in 757 and was called a geochang after being divided and annexed by surrounding cities.

History

  • At the beginning of the Shilla Dynasty was referred to as Gayeol.
  • 1896 Gyeongsangnam-do, Geochang-gun
  • 1928 Gadong-myeon and Gaseo-myeon consolidated into Gajo-myeon.
  • 1931 Eupwoe-myeon renamed to Wolcheon-myeon.
  • 1937 Geochang-myeon elevated to Geochang-eup.
  • 1957 Wolcheon-myeon consolidated into Geochang-eup.

    Festivals

  • Keochang International Festival of Theatre
In Korea, it is called the four major theatrical festivals along with Ansan Street Arts Festival, Puppet Festival Chuncheon, and Andong Maskdance Festival.
It is an international theater festival that is held every July and August under the theme of "Nature, Humanity, and Drama".

Twin towns and districts

Geochang is twinned with:
Geochang has a humid continental climate, but can be considered a borderline humid subtropical climate using the isotherm.

Geography

  • Geochang-gun is situated at the far west side of Gyeongsangnam-do, and faces Gyeongsangbuk-do and Jeollanam-do. It does not have good transportation access.

    Administrative Regions

The administrative region of Geochang-gun is made up of Geochang-eup, and 11 myeons. With an area of 804.14 km2, it occupies 7.65% of Gyeongsangnam-do. As of August 2012, it has a population of 27,111 households, or 63,122 people, with 62.4% residing in Geochang-eup. Its highest ever population was 125,995, which was much higher than present day Changwon-si.
Eup/myeonHanjaNumber of householdsPopulationArea
Geochang-eup居昌邑16,53640,74656.00
Joosang-myeon主尙面8571,65550.01
Woongyang-myeon熊陽面1,0162,02658.47
Goje-myeon高梯面8071,56058.47
Buksang-myeon北上面8761,652125.30
Wicheon-myeon渭川面1,0962,16254.75
Mari-myeon馬利面1,1662,15046.62
Namsang-myeon南上面1,3242,61368.51
Namha-myeon南下面8281,52849.83
Sinwon-myeon神院面8861,59073.71
Gajo-myeon加祚面2,0393,92066.15
Gabuk-myeon加北面8311,45596.25
Geochang-gun居昌郡28,26263,057804.07

Notable people from Geochang County