Introduction
City in South Chungcheong, South Korea
Not to be confused with Karatsu, a city in Saga Prefecture, Japan, that uses the same Chinese characters for the name.
Municipal City in Hoseo, South KoreaDangjin
당진시Municipal CityKorean transcription(s) • Hangul당진 • Hanja唐津 • Revised RomanizationDangjin • McCune–ReischauerTangjinFrom the left: Dangjin City Hall, Port of Pyeongtaek-Dangjin, and Sapgyoho Amsusement Park
FlagEmblem of DangjinLocation in South KoreaCountry South KoreaRegionHoseoAdministrative divisions2 eup, 9 myeon, 3 dongArea • Total664.13 km2 (256.42 sq mi)Population (September 2024) • Total171,213 • Density176.8/km2 (458/sq mi) • DialectChungcheong
Dangjin (Korean: 당진시; Korean pronunciation: [taŋ.dʑin]) is a city in South Chungcheong Province, South Korea. It stands on the south shore of the Bay of Asan. Dangjin borders Incheon, Pyeongtaek, and Hwaseong by sea, and Seosan, Yesan, and Asan by land. Its name means "Tang ferry," and refers to the historic role of Dangjin's harbor in connecting Korea to the other side of the Yellow Sea. This role continues to be important in the city's economy, which relies on a mixture of agriculture and heavy industry. The city has the same Hanja name (唐津市) as Karatsu in Saga Prefecture, Japan.
Administrative divisions
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See also: Administrative divisions of South Korea
The city is divided into 2 eup, 9 myeon and 3 dong.
History
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The name "Dangjin" was first used to refer to this area during the Joseon period. From 1413 to 1895, it was known as Dangjin-hyeon, a division of Chungcheong Province. The city achieved its present borders in 1973, with the merger of a portion of Jeongmi-myeon into Seosan's Unsan-myeon. It was originally a county but was promoted to a city on January 1, 2012, after a rapid population boost.
Being on the Yellow Sea, the port has been important for trade with China, and since early times was defended against foreign invasion by becoming a fortress city (Eupseong). According to legend, the eupseong was built in the 16th year of King Chungyeol (1290 AD), but it is currently believed to have been built during the Baekje period and modified throughout the Joseon period to prevent foreign invasion. Mianchuan Eupseong is a city with four gates in the east, west, south, and north. It was rebuilt in the 13th year of King Taejong of the Joseon Dynasty, and it was rebuilt during the reign of King Gyeongjong.
Education
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As of March 2005, in Dangjin there were 33 elementary schools, 12 middle schools, and 38 preschools, serving 14,293 students. In addition, there were 8 high schools. All of these organs are overseen by the Dangjin Office of Education.
There are some institution of higher education in the city is Shinsung College (신성대학교), Hoseo University (호서대학교).
Economy
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Dangjin is home to a number of factories, including steel mills operated by Hyundai Hysco and Hyundai INI Steel. These factories are supplied in part by ships docking at Dangjin Harbor, a cargo port with 5 piers, two of which are dedicated to steel coil shipping.
Notable people
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Entertainment[edit]
Geum Bo-ra, actress
Taehwan (Vanner), singer
Society[edit]
Saint Andrew Kim Taegon, Catholic priest and patron saint of Korean clergy
Chong Moon Lee, entrepreneur and philanthropist
Song Young-jin, politician
Sports[edit]
Choi Yong-soo, boxer
Gim Eun-ji, curler
Han Myung-woo, wrestler and Olympic gold medalist
Kim Gi-dong, footballer and coach
Kim Gi-jung, badminton player
Lee Jong-sung, footballer
Park Sung-woo, badminton player and coach
Seo Myeong-won, footballer
Sin Hyeon-ju, sports shooter
Yoo Yong-sung, badminton player and two-time Olympic medalist
Sister cities
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Overseas Sister Cities[edit]
Snohomish County, Washington, United States
Rizhao, Shandong, China
Daisen, Akita, Japan
