Hongwon County

Hongwon County
홍원군
Korean transcription(s)
 • Hanja洪原郡
 • McCune-ReischauerHongwŏn kun
 • Revised RomanizationHongwon-gun
Map of South Hamgyong showing the location of Hongwon
Map of South Hamgyong showing the location of Hongwon
CountryNorth Korea
ProvinceSouth Hamgyong Province
Administrative divisions1 ŭp, 4 workers' district, 27 ri
Area
 • Total
905 km2 (349 sq mi)
Population
 (2008[1])
 • Total
142,910
 • Density160/km2 (410/sq mi)

Hongwŏn County is a county in South Hamgyŏng province, North Korea. It is flanked by the Sea of Japan (East Sea of Korea) to the south, and by the Hamgyŏng Mountains to the north.

Physical features

The northwest region is particularly mountainous. The highest peak is Palbong. The chief streams are the Tongdaech'ŏn (동대천) and Sŏdaech'ŏn (서대천). The coastal region is level. The temperature differs greatly from the coastline to the plains to the mountains. The mountains contribute to giving the county a mild climate.

Administrative divisions

Map including Hongwŏn area and surrounding region (1954)

Hongwŏn county is divided into 1 ŭp (town), 4 rodongjagu (workers' districts) and 27 ri (villages):

  • Hongwŏn-ŭp
  • Chŏnjil-lodongjagu
  • Kyŏngp'o-rodongjagu
  • Namch'ŏl-lodongjagu
  • Unp'o-rodongjagu
  • Changp'ung-ri
  • Chung'ŭl-li
  • Chungsŏ-ri
  • Haksong-ri
  • Ho'nam-ri
  • Koŭp-ri
  • Kuryong-ri
  • Kwangmyŏng-ri
  • Kwanhŭng-ri
  • Namp'ung-ri
  • Namsal-li
  • Pangdong-ri
  • Pangp'yŏng-ri
  • Pohyŏl-li
  • Ponghwa-ri
  • Pusang-ri
  • Ryongdŏng-ri
  • Ryongp'o-ri
  • Ryongsam-ri
  • Ryongsil-li
  • Samsŏng-ri
  • Sanyang-ri
  • Tongjung-ri
  • Tongsang-ri
  • Unha-ri
  • Unsang-ri
  • Wŏndŏng-ri

Economy

Agriculture and fishery

The chief local occupation is agriculture. Local crops include rice, soybeans, millet, oats, and potatoes. However, fisheries are also developed, particularly along the coast.

Mining

There is a small amount of mining, exploiting local deposits of gold, silver, limestone, fluorspar, and scaly graphite.

Transport

The county is served by road and rail. Hongwŏn Station is on the P'yŏngra line of the Korean State Railway.

Notable people from Hongwon County

See also

References