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Gangneung

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Overview

Gangneung (Korean: 강릉; Korean pronunciation: [kaŋ.nɯŋ]) is a municipal city in the South Korean state of Gangwon, located on the east coast of South Korea. It has a population of 213,658 (as of 2017). Gangneung is the economic centre of the Yeongdong region of Gangwon State. It has many tourist attractions, such as Jeongdongjin, a very popular area for watching the sunrise, and Gyeongpo Beach. The city hosted all the ice events for the 2018 Winter Olympics and the 2024 Winter Youth Olympics.

Facts

Rank

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Coordinates

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Source

WBP almanac

External sources

Wikivoyage Wikipedia

Media

From Wikipedia2,129 words

WBP editorial3

Beyond the beaches: winter sport culture

Gangneung’s reputation for sunrise vistas masks a deeper, year‑round enthusiasm for ice sports. While the 2018 Winter Olympics left a legacy of world‑class facilities, locals treat the rinks as community hubs, with neighbourhood clubs offering affordable lessons in short‑track speed skating and curling. Visiting during the colder months, travellers can slip into a public skating session at the legacy arena, then warm up with a bowl of hotteok from a stall that has served athletes for years. The city’s winter market, tucked behind the venue, sells locally roasted chestnuts and makgeolli, giving a flavour of the regional hospitality that rarely appears in guidebooks.

A culinary itinerary through the East Coast

The city’s coastal position guarantees fresh seafood, yet the most memorable dishes arrive from an unexpected source: the inland farms of the Yeongdong plain. A day‑long itinerary can start with a sunrise walk along Gyeongpo Beach, followed by a short bus ride to a family‑run tofu shop that uses soybeans cultivated in the surrounding valleys. Evening meals at a modest hanok‑style restaurant often combine the briny tang of raw hwangtae (dried pollock) with the earthy sweetness of locally grown sweet potatoes. Pair the courses with a glass of makgeolli brewed from the same mountain water that feeds the city’s rivers.

The rhythm of local festivals

Gangneung’s calendar is punctuated by events that intertwine tradition and contemporary life. The most vivid is the annual ‘Gangneung Danoje’, a summer rite that showcases folk percussion ensembles and masked dances performed on the banks of the Namdaecheon River. Visitors who time their stay to coincide with this celebration will find streets temporarily closed to traffic, turning the city centre into a pedestrian promenade where artisans sell handcrafted paper fans and lacquerware. The ambience is less about spectacle and more about communal participation, offering a tactile glimpse into how the city's residents sustain cultural continuity while welcoming curious travellers.

Introduction

City in Gangwon, South Korea Municipal city in South KoreaGangneung 강릉시Municipal cityKorean transcription(s) • Hangul강릉시 • Hanja江陵市 • Revised RomanizationGangneung-si • McCune–ReischauerKangnŭng-siJumunjin LighthouseNamdaecheonGyeongpo BeachOjukheon FlagEmblem of GangneungLocation in South KoreaCoordinates: 37°45′10″N 128°53′30″E / 37.75278°N 128.89167°E / 37.75278; 128.89167Country South KoreaState GangwonFirst official recorded129 BCCity establishedSeptember 1, 1955As merger with Myeongju areaJanuary 1, 1995Administrative divisions1 eup, 7 myeon, 13 dongGovernment • MayorKim Hong-gyuArea • Total1,040 km2 (400 sq mi)Population (September 2024) • Total208,161 • Density200/km2 (518/sq mi) • DialectGangwonArea code+82-33ClimateCfa Gangneung (Korean: 강릉; Korean pronunciation: [kaŋ.nɯŋ]) is a municipal city in the South Korean state of Gangwon, located on the east coast of South Korea. It has a population of 213,658 (as of 2017). Gangneung is the economic centre of the Yeongdong region of Gangwon State. It has many tourist attractions, such as Jeongdongjin, a very popular area for watching the sunrise, and Gyeongpo Beach. The city hosted all the ice events for the 2018 Winter Olympics and the 2024 Winter Youth Olympics.

History

[edit] Gangneung was the home of the Yemaek people in ancient times and became the land of Wiman Joseon in 129 BC. In 128 BC, Nam Ryeo, the army officer of Yaekam, punished Wujang of Wiman Korea and became the territory of the Han dynasty. In the 14th year of Goguryeo Muchheon (313), it entered Goguryeo territory. In 639, Silla occupied this place and ruled it as a 'Sogyeong' (소경). In 658, King Moo-yeong abolished the Sogyeong and made an arsenal to send the todok, because it was adjacent to Malgal. In 757, it was renamed Sungju and restored it in 776. It was renamed Myungju again during the Goryeo period, and it was under the jurisdiction the north of Chuncheon in the 14th year of Sungjong (995). It separated the Hamgyeong-do from the Gangeung and called it Gangneung-do, but it has always been the center of administration and military. At the beginning of the Joseon Dynasty, it called to Hwadangdo and Wonchundo and rename Gangneung by the name of Gangwon Province in the 5th year of King Sejong (1423). Some areas have been incorporated into Yangyang since 1945, and Gangneung City was established in 1995 as the areas of Gangneung and Myeongju merged. On 18 September 1996 a North Korean submarine ran aground near Gangneung in an attempted infiltration mission, spurring a 49-day manhunt for the escaped passengers. For more details, refer to the 1996 Gangneung submarine infiltration incident.

Geography

[edit] Gangneung is located to the east of the Taebaek Mountains, which is the considered the 'waist' of the Korean peninsula. To the east is Sea of Japan, and to the west are the inner side of Hongcheon County, the Pyeongchang County's Jinbu-myeon and the Daegwallyeong-myeon respectively. The southern side is connected to Donghae and the Jeongseon County's critical side. The north side is adjacent to Yangyang County Hyunbuk-myeon and Hyunnam-myeon. The total area of Gangneung is about 1,040.4 km2 (401.7 sq mi) as of the end of 2015, which accounts for 6.2% of Gangwon State's 16,873 km2 (6,515 sq mi). 80.4% of the area of Gangneung, 837.36 km2 (323.31 sq mi), is forestland. Climate[edit] Gangneung experiences a humid subtropical climate (Köppen: Cfa) with cool to cold winters and hot, humid summers. Since Gangneung is a coastal city, it has generally milder winters and relatively cooler summers than the rest of Korea. It is bordered by mountains to the west and the sea to the east. Climate data for Gangneung (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1911–present) Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Record high °C (°F) 18.7(65.7) 21.4(70.5) 27.1(80.8) 33.6(92.5) 35.5(95.9) 37.0(98.6) 39.4(102.9) 38.9(102.0) 35.8(96.4) 32.8(91.0) 29.1(84.4) 21.8(71.2) 39.4(102.9) Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 5.3(41.5) 7.1(44.8) 11.7(53.1) 17.9(64.2) 22.7(72.9) 25.4(77.7) 28.1(82.6) 28.6(83.5) 24.6(76.3) 20.3(68.5) 14.0(57.2) 7.7(45.9) 17.8(64.0) Daily mean °C (°F) 0.9(33.6) 2.7(36.9) 7.0(44.6) 13.1(55.6) 17.9(64.2) 21.3(70.3) 24.7(76.5) 25.0(77.0) 20.5(68.9) 15.6(60.1) 9.5(49.1) 3.3(37.9) 13.5(56.3) Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −2.7(27.1) −1.3(29.7) 2.6(36.7) 8.2(46.8) 13.3(55.9) 17.5(63.5) 21.6(70.9) 21.9(71.4) 17.0(62.6) 11.5(52.7) 5.6(42.1) −0.5(31.1) 9.6(49.3) Record low °C (°F) −20.2(−4.4) −15.9(3.4) −11.7(10.9) −3.5(25.7) −0.8(30.6) 6.0(42.8) 11.3(52.3) 13.7(56.7) 6.3(43.3) −1.9(28.6) −9.3(15.3) −15.3(4.5) −20.2(−4.4) Average precipitation mm (inches) 47.9(1.89) 48.0(1.89) 65.1(2.56) 81.9(3.22) 79.2(3.12) 118.5(4.67) 250.2(9.85) 292.9(11.53) 229.3(9.03) 113.9(4.48) 81.1(3.19) 36.9(1.45) 1,444.9(56.89) Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 6.2 5.7 8.8 8.9 9.1 10.8 16.0 16.4 11.8 7.8 7.3 4.6 113.4 Average snowy days 6.0 6.0 4.3 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.9 2.9 20.2 Average relative humidity (%) 46.8 49.2 52.8 52.2 59.3 69.3 74.7 76.4 73.0 61.5 52.7 45.6 59.5 Mean monthly sunshine hours 190.2 182.2 199.3 209.6 218.7 176.9 148.9 151.3 162.1 192.5 175.2 189.7 2,196.6 Percentage possible sunshine 60.0 56.7 50.3 51.6 47.5 37.3 30.8 35.1 42.1 54.1 55.9 61.5 47.3 Source: Korea Meteorological Administration (snow and percent sunshine 1981–2010)

Administrative divisions

[edit] The district includes one town (eup), seven townships (myeon), 13 neighborhoods (dong). Name Korean name Area(km2) Population Households Map Jumunjin-eup 주문진읍 60.52 19,299 9,098 Seongsan-myeon 성산면 80.28 3,305 1,488 Wangsan-myeon 왕산면 245.28 1,682 881 Gujeong-myeon 구정면 42.72 3,990 1,661 Gangdong-myeon 강동면 112.48 5,090 2,435 Okgye-myeon 옥계면 148.83 4,452 2,039 Sacheon-myeon 사천면 70.89 4,255 1,971 Yeongok-myeon 연곡면 202.45 6,920 3,090 Hongjae-dong 홍제동 3.76 8,678 3,601 Jungang-dong 중앙동 0.99 6,447 3,281 Okcheon-dong 옥천동 0.58 4,246 2,162 Gyo 1-dong 교1동 2.73 29,995 11,122 Gyo 2-dong 교2동 2.57 9,723 4,078 Ponam 1-dong 포남1동 1.3 12,057 5,213 Ponam 2-dong 포남2동 2.58 16,694 6,727 Chodang-dong 초당동 2.89 5,921 2,413 Songjeong-dong 송정동 3.45 7,561 2,838 Naegok-dong 내곡동 4.96 11,970 5,066 Gangnam-dong 강남동 16.09 21,515 8,450 Seongdeok-dong 성덕동 11.41 29,357 11,043 Gyeongpo-dong 경포동 23.02 4,829 2,234 Gangneung-si 강릉시 1,040 217,986 90,891

Nature and tourism

[edit] Beaches[edit] Anmok Beach There are 20 beaches such as Anmok Beach, Gyeongpo Beach and Gangmun Beach. Jeongdongjin Beach is a popular place to visit in the New Year because the first sunrise is important in Korean culture. The TV series Sandglass was taken on the beach. Jeongdong-Simgok Badabuchae Trail is a 2.86km trail where visitors can observe the coastal terrace formed 23 million years ago. Gyeongpo Lake[edit] Gyeongpo Lake Gyeongpo Lake is the second largest lagoon in the east coast. Its size has shrunk due to continuous development since the early 20th century. It is a habitat for ducks, cormorants and egrets and migratory birds such as swans are also spotted here.

Culture

[edit] Heritage[edit] Ojukheon There are a total of 136 cultural properties in Gangneung. Among them, there are 40 state-designated heritages and 60 province-designated heritages. Main Gate of Imyeonggwan is the front gate of an official inn built in the Goryeo period. It is the only national treasure in Gangneung. Ojukheon is the birthplace of Shin Saimdang and Yi I. It was designated as treasure No. 165 because it is one of the oldest buildings in Korea. Gyeongpodae is a pavilion located north of Gyeongpo lake. Built in the Goryeo dynasty, it was designated as treasure No. 2046. Gulsansa was founded by Beomil in 851. The site of the temple was designated as historic site No. 448. Imdangdong Catholic Church, which was constructed in 1955, was designated as registered cultural heritage No. 457. Total State-designated heritage Province-designated heritage Cultural heritage material Total National Treasure Treasure Historic Site Natural monuments Intangible Cultural Property Scenic Site National Folklore Cultural Heritage Registered cultural heritage Total Tangible Cultural Heritage Intangible Cultural Heritage Monument Registered cultural heritage 136 40 1 21 3 6 1 4 2 2 60 40 6 13 1 36 Festivals[edit] Gangneung Danoje is the oldest festival in South Korea and the biggest in the east coast. It was designated as the National Intangible Cultural Heritage in 1967 and Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2005. It is a combination of several commemoration rites and traditional plays, with the highlight being the traditional Gwanno Mask Dance. There are several modern festivals in the region. The International Junior Art Festival, which began in 2002, showcases performances of international youth and provides a program on Korean culture. Gyeongpo Rock Festival offers indie bands a stage for their performances. Gangneung Coffee Festival, which began in 2009, is an annual coffee-tasting festival in which a variety of coffee vendors showcase their drinks. Food[edit] Gangneung is famous for Chodang dubu, ongsimi, mulhoe, jangkalguksu, tea ceremony and hangwa. Chodang dubu, local food of Chodang village, uses seawater instead of bittern. Anmok Coffee Street, which started to form in the 1990s, is where Gangneung Coffee Festival is held. Park I-choo, CEO of Bohemian Park I-Choo Coffee, is thought to have contributed greatly to the formation of the street. Museums[edit] There are 10 museums in Gangneung. Gangneung City Museum exhibits relics that show the history and culture of Gangneung. Daegwallyeong Museum exhibits traditional art. Hwanhui Cup Museum (Fantapia M) is South Korea's first cup museum.

Transportation

[edit] In Gangneung, Donghae Expressway connects Incheon to Gangneung and Yeongdong Expressway connects Yangyang County and Donghae. The national highway is National Route 7 (part of Asian Highway Route 6) and it connects Goseong County to Busan. It takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes to Seoul by road. The Yeongdong Line passes Yeongju to Gangneung. Before 2006, Saemaeul-ho stopped at Jeongdongjin station and Gangneung station and it took 5.5 hours at Cheongnyangni station, but now only Mugunghwa-ho is stopped, it takes 6 hours to drive. In 2017, Gyeonggang Line was opened and Gangneung station was designated as an essential-stop station. The time between Gangneung station and Cheongnyangni station has been reduced from the existing 6 hours to the minimum of 114 minutes after KTX operation. It was operated by Gangneung Airport for air traffic, but passed the passenger transportation right to Yangyang International Airport in 2002 and closed its service as an airport. Roads[edit] Yeongdong Expressway passed city west to east, Donghae Expressway passed through the city from south to north. National Route 6, 7, 35, 59 passed through city. Trains[edit] KTX-Sancheon is essential stop Jinbu and Gangneung station. On 2018 Winter Olympics period, increased frequency of KTX. Gangneung station Train Yeongdong Line Mangsang ↔ Okkye ↔ Jeongdongjin ↔ Anin↔ Gangneung Gyeonggang Line Jinbu ↔ Gangneung Buses[edit] Local transit operators connect communities in the city divided three regions. This is managed by Gangneung City Office and the operation is carried out by each transportation company. Gangneung Intercity Bus Terminal operates the intercity bus and operates six Express Bus line in the Gangneung Express Bus Terminal, the largest terminal in Gangwon State. Taxi[edit] A total of 589 units in Gangneung are operating taxi licenses. The basic fare of Gangneung taxi is 2,800 won for 2 km. After that, 100 won will be charged for 152m from 2 km to 6 km, and 200 won will be charged for 152m after 6 km. but Jumunjin area, Gangdong-meon, Okgye area are designated as exceptional areas to 45% extra charge. Sea transport[edit] Gangneung Port Passenger Terminal of Gangneung Harbor handles the Gangneung-Ulneung passenger ship.

Sports

[edit] Football[edit] Gangneung is the home of the K3 League football club FC Gangneung and is one of the two cities where K League football team Gangwon FC plays its home matches. Since 1976, Gangneung Jeil High School and Gangneung Junior high school soccer team rivalry Derby, which is held every day in the Dano Festival, have become popular. The Daemyung Killer Whales were active in Asia League Ice Hockey from 2016 to 2020. 2018 Winter Olympics[edit] The city 'Gangneung Coastal Cluster' was the venue for the indoor sports of the 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Pyeongchang. All these facilities, except for the Gangneung Curling Centre, were built for the Olympics. Gangneung Olympic Park Gangneung Hockey Centre – Ice Hockey (Olympics and Paralympics) Gangneung Curling Centre – Curling (Olympics and Paralympics) Gangneung Oval – Speed skating Gangneung Ice Arena – Short track speed skating and Figure skating Kwandong Hockey Centre - Ice Hockey (Olympics) The city also hosted an Olympic Village for the athletes and a media village.