Outline

Officially, This an administrative district belongs to Gangwon-do but, specifically, it limits north area of the Korean armistice line in Gangwon-do and is controlled by the North Korean Government. Sine the armistice in 1953, 9 Gun 4 Eup, 47 Myeon, and 594 Ri entered the North Government. The 9 gun(s) mean Tongcheon, Goseong, Hoiyang, Pyeonggang, Icheon, Gimhwa, Cheorwon, and Yanggu. In 1954, Oct. Geumseong-gun was divided into two, Gimhwa and Changdo-gun, and then became 1 Si 16 Gun. In 1972, Nov. Muncheon-gun was abolished and then, it belonged to Wonsan-si and Cheonnae-gun.

However, in 1976 June Muncheon-gun was partly reestablished from a part of wonsan-si. In 1981, Aug. Pungnam-ri, Jeontan-ri, Wonbong-ri, and Songhong-ri of Cheonnae-gun entered Gowon-gun of Hamkyeongnam-do. Since 1991, Jul. Muncheon-gun was raised to the status of Si, it has 2 Si and 15 Gun. North Gangwon-do consists 2 Si, Wonsan and Muncheon, 15 Gun, 15 Eup, and 440 Ri, and 7 laborer districts. North Gangwon-do has 1.68 million people in population, and it is estimated that there are 310,000 (18.4%) people living in Wonsan-si, 170,000 (10.2%) living in Gosan-gun, and 100,000 living in Muncheon-si. The whole population density of North Gangwon-do is mostly less 200 people per §´ because it is an inappropriate area to live with its mountainous areas of 92% and a movement is restricted by political sitations.

Natural Environment

In the eastern part, Taebacksan stretch from north to south and sharp peaks, ridges and deep valleys surround Taebacksan. On the other hand, in the western part, the gentle mountainous areas and plateaus slowly slope down. Cheorwon, Pyeonggang, Gimhwa, Icheon, and Hoiyang are 200 to 500 altitudinal lava areas made by basaltic extrusion. In the southwest of Pyeonggang, there is a volcano center of basaltic extrusion called Apsan having crater. This lava area connected from Seoul to Wonsan is a basin in Chugaryeongjigudae. The small field of North Gangwon-do is along the east coast, but wide and plain fields are rare in the place. The area of fields in North Gangwon-do is only 915km² and it represents 8.25% of the

entire do. Though this do is the warmest area in the North Korea due to the East sea, the regional climate characteristics influenced by various reasons including Taebaeksan are fluctuated region by region. The annual mean temperature is 6.1-11°C, and the temperature contrast between southern coastal areas and high inland mountainous areas are great differences with over 5°C. The annual precipitation is 1,100 - 1,600 mm.

Travel Guide

Geumgangsan well known as a wonderful sight is located in Goseong-gun and Geumgang-gun with 40km the East and the west long and 60km the north and south long. Geumgangsan could be divided into three parts, Naegeumgang, Oegeumgang, and Haegeumgang, and the highest peak called Birobong is 1,638m high with 12,000 peaks. Furthermore, there are about 710 sorts of plants, 68 kinds of animals, and 200 sorts of birds living,a and Guryong, Sipi, and Samil falls, Sangpaldam, Myeongkyeongdae, Cheonsundae etc. Chongseokjeong is a one of Gwandongpalkyeong and called Tongcheongeumgang in another name. It has 800m unfolded hexagonal and octagonal stone pillars, and its sunrise and a night view are very beautiful sceneries. Sijungho in Tongcheon-gun Gangdong-ri is a natural lake made by a closed bay, and its width is 2.9km², round is 11.8km. It has a pine grove and white sands, and the bottom of the lake is a 4-5m thick lime fossil. Samilpo in Haegeumgang is a natural lake and one of Gwandongpalkyeong. Its width is 0.79km², round is 4.5km, and the mean depth of water is 9 to 13m. Songdowon located in the northwestern beach from center of Wonsan-si is a internationally famous resort and a historic place.

Myeongsasipri located in the south from Wonsan-si is a famous beach with soft sands and a sweet brier near the beach.