Introduction
City in South Gyeongsang, South Korea
This article is about the South Korean city. For the 2007 film, see Secret Sunshine.
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Municipal City in Yeongnam, South KoreaMiryang
밀양시Municipal CityKorean transcription(s) • Hangul밀양시 • Hanja密陽市 • Revised RomanizationMiryang-si • McCune–ReischauerMiryang-si
FlagEmblem of MiryangLocation in South KoreaCountry South KoreaRegionYeongnamAdministrative divisions2 eup, 9 myeon, 5 dongGovernment • mayorAn Byeong-gu (안병구)Area • Total799.03 km2 (308.51 sq mi)Population (September 2024) • Total100,802 • Density140.9/km2 (365/sq mi) • DialectGyeongsangTime zoneUTC+9 (Korea Standard Time)Area code+82-55
Miryang (Korean: 밀양) is a city in South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. It is bordered by Changnyeong to the west, Cheongdo to the north, Ulsan to the east, and Yangsan, Gimhae, and Changwon to the south. The city's symbols include the Korean magpie, the pine tree, and the royal azalea.
The recorded history of Miryang dates back to the Samhan period, when it was known as Mirimidongguk. Due to its strategic location near the Nakdong River, it played an important role from the Silla period onward. It served as a key station on the Great Yeongnam Road during the later Joseon Dynasty and, in the 20th century, became a stop on the Gyeongbu Line railroad connecting Busan to Seoul. Today, Miryang remains an important stop on that line and is the only city between Busan and Daegu served by KTX express trains.
Miryang is renowned throughout Korea for the Arirang and for the view from the Yeongnamnu Pavilion, a subject of numerous poems from the Joseon period. Other notable landmarks include Eoreumgol and the Pyochungsa. Historical figures from the city include the 15th-century Neo-Confucian scholar Kim Chong-jik and the 16th-century warrior-monk Songun Yu Jeong. The city government actively preserves the memory of these figures, as well as other local cultural traditions such as the legend of Arang.
History
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During the Samhan period, Miryang may have been part of the territory of Mirimidongguk, one of the Byeonhan tribes mentioned in the San guo zhi. It is believed to have later come under the rule of Geumgwan Gaya before being annexed by Silla. The Samguk sagi records that Mirimidongguk was annexed by Jijeung of Silla in 505. At that time, it was known as Chuhwa-gun (推火郡). During the 8th century, as part of a general renaming reform carried out by King Gyeongdeok, the name was changed to Milseong-gun (密城郡).
In the Goryeo period, Miryang was elevated to the status of a ju by Seongjong of Goryeo. In 1194, Miryang was the site of a major battle between royal forces and a large rebel army led by Kim Sami of Cheongdo and Hyosim of Ulsan, in which more than 7,000 rebels were killed. During the late 13th century, under Chungnyeol of Goryeo, local residents led by Jo Cheon rose up against the government. In retaliation, Mil-ju was demoted to a tributary village of Gyeongju (then called Gyerim) and later became a hyeon. Under King Gongyang, it was elevated to the status of a bu.
With the beginning of the Joseon period, the area first became known by its modern name, Miryang. Initially demoted from bu to gun (county) by King Taejo, it was later raised back to bu and renamed. Under Taejo's son, Taejong of Joseon, it was again demoted to a gun. Subsequently, it became a dohobu, or military protectorate, and in 1895 it reverted to gun status, which it retained until the late 20th century.
Under the Japanese rule, Miryang was a center of resistance within the Korean independence movement. During the March First Movement of 1919, approximately 13,500 Miryang residents participated in peaceful demonstrations supporting independence, leading to the "Miryang massacre", in which 150 civilians were killed by occupation troops. In November 1920, independence activist Choe Su-bong detonated two bombs at the Miryang police station, destroying the building. He attempted suicide but survived, later being executed while his accomplices were imprisoned.
In 1989, the city center was separated from the surrounding county and designated Miryang-si (Miryang City). In 1995, it was reunited with the outlying areas, and the entire region became known as Miryang-si as part of a nationwide reorganization of local government.
Miryang later gained national attention as the location of a gang rape incident in 2004.
