North Jeolla Province (; ''Jeollabuk-do''), also known as Jeonbuk, is a
province of
South Korea. North Jeolla has a population of 1,869,711 (2015) and has a geographic area of 8,067
km2 (3,115
sq mi) located in the
Honam
Honam (; literally "south of the lake") is a region coinciding with the former Jeolla Province in what is now South Korea. Today, the term refers to Gwangju, South Jeolla and North Jeolla Provinces. The name "Jeonla-do" is used in the names of th ...
region in the southwest of the
Korean Peninsula. North Jeolla borders the provinces of
South Jeolla to the south,
North Gyeongsang and
South Gyeongsang
South Gyeongsang Province ( ko, 경상남도, translit=Gyeongsangnam-do, ) is a province in the southeast of South Korea. The provincial capital is at Changwon. It is adjacent to the major metropolitan center and port of Busan. The UNESCO World ...
to the east,
North Chungcheong to the northeast, and
South Chungcheong to the north.
Jeonju is the capital and largest city of North Jeolla, with other major cities including
Iksan,
Gunsan, and
Jeongeup.
North Jeolla was established in 1896 from the province of
Jeolla, one of the
Eight Provinces of Korea, consisting of the northern half of its mainland territory.
History
During the
Proto-Three Kingdoms period, Jeolla region was the center of the
Mahan confederacy among
Samhan
Samhan, or Three Han, is the collective name of the Byeonhan, Jinhan, and Mahan confederacies that emerged in the first century BC during the Proto–Three Kingdoms of Korea, or Samhan, period. Located in the central and southern regions of t ...
. There were 15 tribal countries out of 54 in the region. During the period of the Three States, this region came to belong to
Baekje when it absorbed Mahan. Baekje was destroyed by the
Silla and Chinese
Tang dynasty allied force in 660 (20th year of
King Uija) and ruled by Tang. It became a part of Silla when Tang was
expelled in 676 (16th year of
King Munmu
Munmu of Silla (626–681; reigned 661–681) was the 30th king of the Korean kingdom of Silla. He is usually considered to have been the first ruler of the Unified Silla period. Munmu was the son of King Muyeol and Munmyeong, who was the youn ...
).
When there were nine states and five small capitals in
Unified Silla in 685, there were Wansan-ju (present
Jeonju) and Namwon-gyeong (present
Namwon) in Jeollabuk-do in existence.
In 892, when General
Gyeon Hwon founded
Hubaekje (later Baekje), this area was the center of the country for about 50 years. In 936, during the rule of
Singeom
Gyeon Singeom (; ? – September 936, r. 15 November 935 – 936) was the second and final king of Hubaekje, one of the Later Three Kingdoms of Korea. He came to the throne after conspiring with his two brothers, Yanggeom and Yonggeom, to overth ...
, it was attributed to
Goryeo Dynasty
Goryeo (; ) was a Korean kingdom founded in 918, during a time of national division called the Later Three Kingdoms period, that unified and ruled the Korean Peninsula until 1392. Goryeo achieved what has been called a "true national unificati ...
. From 900 to the time when Hubaekje was attributed to Goryeo, Wansan-ju (present Jeonju) had been its capital, and the country ruled the whole Jeolla-do region.
In 996 (14th year of
King Seongjong), this region was named Gangnam province and the Korean government established the four states (Jeonju-Jeonju, Yeongju-Gobu, Sunju-Sunchang, and Maju-Okgu) in the North Jeolla region.
Gangnam-do (Jeonbuk) and Haenam-do (
Jeonnam) were combined and titled as Jeolla-do in 1018 (9th year of King Hyeonjong's reign).
During the
Joseon Dynasty, as the administrative districts of the whole nation were organized in the
Eight Provinces system in 1413 (13th year of
King Taejong
Taejong of Joseon (13 June 1367 – 8 June 1422), personal name Yi Bang-won ( Korean: 이방원; Hanja: 李芳遠), was the third ruler of the Joseon dynasty of Korea and the father of King Sejong the Great. Before ascending to the throne, he ...
's reign), Jeolla-do took charge of vast areas of one prefecture, four autonomous counties, four protectorates, 12 counties, and 31 counties covering present Jeollanam-do, Jeollabuk-do and
Jeju-do.
In 1896 (33rd year of King Gojong's reign), the whole country was divided into 13 provinces. Jeolla-do was divided into Jeollanam-do and Jeollabuk-do. Jeollabuk-do consisted of 26 counties.
In 1963, Geumsan-gun was incorporated into Chungnam, and Wido-myeon of Jeonnam was incorporated into Jeonbuk. Jeongju-eup and Namwon-eup were raised to cities in 1981 and Gimje-eup was raised to city status in 1989. Wansan-gu and Deokjin-gu were established in Jeonju-city in the same year.
Due to establishment of cities in the mixed type of city-farming area in 1995, Okgu, Jeungeup, Namwon, Gimje and Iksan-Guns were combined. Gimje and Iksan-guns were merged and Gunsan, Jeonju, Namwon, Gimje and Iri cities were integrated. Through repeated reorganizations of administrative districts, now the region consists of the administrative districts of six cities and eight counties.
Geography
Jeollabuk-do is in the south-western part of Korea, bordered on the south-eastern by Hadong-gun, Hamyang-gun, and Geochang-gun of Gyeongnam, and Gimcheon-si of Gyeongbuk, Bangyabong Peak of Sobaek Mountain (), Toggibong Peak (), Myeongseungbong Peak (), Baekwoonsan Mountain (), Namdeokyusan Mountain (), and Muyongsan Mountain (), on the south by Yeongwang-gun, Jangseong-gun, Damyang-gun, Gokseong-gun, and Gurye-gun, on the north by Geumsan-gun, Nonsan-si, Buyeo-gun, and Seocheon-gun of Chungnam, and Yeongdong-gun of Chungbuk and on the west by China over the Yellow Sea.
The total area of Jeollabuk-do is , which accounts for 8.1% of the total area of South Korea.
Demographics
Festivals
Jeonju International Sori Festival
Jeonju International Sori Festival is a high-quality worldwide music art festival based on Pansori, Korea's Intangible Cultural Heritage. It is designed to promote Korean music to the world and exchange diverse musical heritages of many nations though sounds as meditation. The festival was selected as one of the "Best 25 International Festivals" by the UK music magazine ''Songlines'' in 2012 and 2013.
Jeollabuk-do World Calligraphy Biennale
The Jeollabuk-do World Calligraphy Biennale was launched in favor of popularizing and globalizing Korean calligraphy in 1997. Since then, the art of calligraphy, the quintessence of Chinese character culture in East Asia, has gained global interest among calligraphers and the public over the years.
Festivals of Jeollabuk
Transportation and industry
In the 1960s the Honam highway (which has been upgraded to the
Honam Expressway
The Honam Expressway (Korean language, Korean: 호남고속도로; Honam Gosok Doro) is an Expressways in South Korea, expressway serving the Honam region in South Korea. The freeway connects Nonsan on the Nonsan-Cheonan Expressway and Honam Exp ...
) was built. This created an industrial belt, connecting the cities of
Iri
IRI or I.R.I. refers to:
Businesses and organizations
* Iringa Airport, an airport in Tanzania serving Iringa and the surrounding Iringa Region by IATA airport code
* India Rejuvenation Initiative, an Indian anti-corruption organization forme ...
(now called
Iksan) and
Gunsan (a port city) with the provincial capital of
Jeonju.
Public transportation networks serve Jeonju and other cities in Jeollabuk-do including
Gunsan Airport.
* Jeju International Airport → Gunsan Airport: twice a day / 50-minute flight
* Gunsan Airport → Jeonju: Airport shuttle service / 1 hour running
* Gunsan intercity bus service for other cities and counties
Education
National Universities with Graduate Schools
*
Chonbuk National University
Jeonbuk National University (JBNU; Korean, , ''Jeonbuk Daehakgyo'') is one of ten Flagship Korean National Universities founded in 1947, located in Jeonju, South Korea. Jeonbuk National University has been ranked 551–560th in the world by QS ...
-
Jeonju
*
Kunsan National University
Kunsan National University is a national university located in Miryong-dong, Gunsan, Jeollabuk-do, in western South Korea. The university first opened its doors in 1947 as Kunsan Teachers' College. It gained university status in 1991.
Notable ...
-
Gunsan
*
Jeonju National University of Education
Jeonju National University of Education is a national university located in Jeonju, South Korea.
Alumni
Park Beom-shin, author.
See also
*List of national universities in South Korea
*List of universities and colleges in South Korea
*Education ...
-
Jeonju
Private Universities with Graduate Schools
*
Howon University
Howon University is a private four-year comprehensive university located in Gunsan, South Korea. It is renowned for its high employment rate for its graduates.
History
Established in 1977 as Gunsan Industrial College, it was elevated to a unive ...
–
Gunsan
*
Jeonju University
Jeonju University (JJ) is a private Christian university in South Korea. The campus is located in 1200 Hyoja-dong, Wansan-gu, Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do.
History
Jeonju University was founded on January 9, 1964, as Jeonju Youngsaeng College (an eve ...
–
Jeonju
*
Woosuk University –
Wanju County,
Jeonju Campus
*
Wonkwang University –
Iksan
*
Won Buddhism Graduate School –
Iksan
*
Yewon Arts University
Yewon Arts University is a private university located in Imsil County, North Jeolla province, South Korea. Undergraduate courses of study include painting, jewelry design, cultural product design, visual imaging, animation, music, dance, comedy, ...
–
Imsil County
Imsil County (''Imsil-gun'') is a county in North Jeolla Province, South Korea. Imsil County is a county in central South Jeolla Province, South Korea. It is an area upstream of the Seomjingang River in the Noryeong Mountains, and there is a basin ...
Campus
National Institutes of Higher Education
*
Korea National College of Agriculture and Fisheries -
Jeonju
Private Institutes of Higher Education
*
Jeonju Kijeon College
Jeonju () is the 16th largest city in South Korea and the capital of North Jeolla Province. It is both urban and rural due to the closeness of Wanju County which almost entirely surrounds Jeonju (Wanju County has many residents who work in Jeonju) ...
–
Jeonju
*
Jeonju Technical College
Jeonju () is the 16th largest Administrative divisions of South Korea, city in South Korea and the capital of North Jeolla Province. It is both urban and rural due to the closeness of Wanju County which almost entirely surrounds Jeonju (Wanju Coun ...
-
Jeonju
*
Kunsan College of Nursing -
Gunsan
*
Kunjang College –
Gunsan
*
Paekche Institute of the Arts
Baekje or Paekche (, ) was a Korean kingdom located in southwestern Korea from 18 BC to 660 AD. It was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, together with Goguryeo and Silla.
Baekje was founded by Onjo, the third son of Goguryeo's founder Jumon ...
–
Wanju County
*
Wonkwang Health Science College –
Iksan
Religion
According to the census of 2005
[census 2005 http://www.census.go.kr/dat/ysr/ysrList.do?q_menu=5&q_sub=7] of the people of North Jeolla 37.7% follow
Christianity (26.3%
Protestantism and 11.4%
Catholicism) and 12.8% follow
Buddhism. 49.5% of the population is mostly not religious or follow
Muism and other indigenous religions.
International sisterhood relationships and partnerships
* Sisterhood relationship
**
Jiangsu, People's Republic of China (27 October 1994)
**
Washington, United States (17 May 1996)
**
New Jersey, United States (19 May 2000)
* Partnership
**
Kagoshima Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyushu and the Ryukyu Islands. Kagoshima Prefecture has a population of 1,599,779 (1 January 2020) and has a geographic area of 9,187 km2 (3,547 sq mi). Kagoshima Prefecture borders Kumamoto P ...
, Japan (30 October 1989)
**
Ishikawa Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshu island. Ishikawa Prefecture has a population of 1,140,573 (31 October 2019) and has a geographic area of 4,186 km2 (1,616 sq mi). Ishikawa Prefecture borders Toyama Prefecture to ...
, Japan (10 September 2001)
**
Shanghai, People's Republic of China (17 April 2003)
**
Shandong
Shandong ( , ; ; alternately romanized as Shantung) is a coastal province of the People's Republic of China and is part of the East China region.
Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history since the beginning of Chinese civilizati ...
, People's Republic of China (2 November 2006)
Administrative divisions
Tourism
*
Jeonju —
Jeonju Hanok Village
Jeonju Hanok Village is a village in the city of Jeonju, South Korea, and overlaps with the Pungnam-dong and Gyo-dong neighborhoods. The village contains over 800 Korean traditional houses called 'Hanok'. The village is famous among Koreans and t ...
, Jeondong Catholic Church, Gyeonggijeon Shrine, Jeonju Hanji Museum, Royal Portrait Museum, Jeonju Gaeksa, Jeonjuhyanggyo Confucian School, Ajung Lake, Deokjin Park,
*
Namwon — Gwanghallu Pavilion, Chunhyang Theme Park, Manin Cemetery of Righteous Fighters,
Silsangsa Temple, Gyoryong Sanseong Fortress
*
Gochang
Gochang County (''Gochang-gun'') is a county in North Jeolla Province, South Korea. It is a rural area, and is home to only one institution of higher education: Gochang Polytechnic College.
Notable people from Gochang include the 20th-centur ...
— Gochangeupseong Fortress,
Seonunsa Temple, Pansori Museum
*
Iksan —
Mireuksaji Pagoda, Wanggungri Five-story Stone Pagoda
*
Gimje
Gimje () (''Gimje-si'') is a city in North Jeolla Province, South Korea.
History
The Gimje area is located on the "great plains" of Korea and has been cultivated since ancient times.
Nations of early date ascended in the year 200. The Baekje Kingd ...
—
Geumsansa Temple
Geumsansa (literally "Golden Mountain Temple") is a temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism standing on the slopes of Moaksan in Gimje City, Jeollabuk-do, South Korea.
History
The first Geumsansa was built during the reign of King Beop of B ...
*
Gunsan — Hirotsu House, Dongguksa Temple, Modern History Museum
*
Buan —
Tapsa Temple, Byeonsanbando National Park
*
Imsil County
Imsil County (''Imsil-gun'') is a county in North Jeolla Province, South Korea. Imsil County is a county in central South Jeolla Province, South Korea. It is an area upstream of the Seomjingang River in the Noryeong Mountains, and there is a basin ...
— Imsil Cheese Village
See also
*
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC
References
External links
*
*
North Jeolla Province newsTravel Information
{{Authority control
Provinces of South Korea