Changwon

Changwon
창원시
Korean transcription(s)
 • Hangul창원시
 • Hanja昌原市
 • Revised RomanizationChangwon-si
 • McCune–ReischauerCh'angwŏn-si
Downtown Changwon in 2010
Downtown Changwon in 2010
Flag of Changwon
Location in South Korea
Location in South Korea
Detailed map of Changwon
Detailed map of Changwon
Changwon is located in South Korea
Changwon
Changwon
Location in South Korea
Coordinates: 35°16′15″N 128°39′47″E / 35.27083°N 128.66306°E / 35.27083; 128.66306
Country South Korea
RegionYeongnam
Established1408
Administrative divisions5 Gu, 2 eup, 6 myeon
Government
 • MayorHong Nam-pyo (People Power)
 • Council chairmanLee Chi-Woo
Area
 • Total747.12 km2 (288.46 sq mi)
Elevation
2 m (7 ft)
Population
 (September 2024[1])
 • Total1,001,902
 • Density1,432/km2 (3,710/sq mi)
 • Dialect
Gyeongsang
DemonymChangwonian
Time zoneUTC+09:00
WebsiteChangwon Office

Changwon (Korean창원; Korean pronunciation: [tɕʰaŋ.wʌn]) is the capital and largest city of South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea (with a population of 1,025,702 as of 2023), and the 11th largest city of the country.[2]

A port city, Changwon is bordered by Masan Bay to the south, and the cities of Busan and Gimhae to the east. The city of Miryang lies to the northeast, and Jinju to the west.

The region has been inhabited since the Bronze Age, and its urban areas have been renamed and re-organized many times throughout history. In 1974, with the creation of the Changwon National Industrial Complex, the three historically interdependent cities of Masan, Jinhae District, and Changwon began to undergo significant economic development, growing into an important industrial centre. On 1 July 2010, the cities of Changwon, Jinhae, and Masan merged to form the current city of Changwon.[3]

As Korea's first planned city, modeled after Canberra, Australia, Changwon uses accessible urban planning including many parks and separate residential and industrial areas.[4] The city has also branded itself an "environmental capital" with the municipal government actively participating in climate change conferences and committing to the development of sustainable policies like the globally recognized bike-sharing program, Nubija.[5]

  1. ^ 주민등록 인원 통계. Ministry of the Interior and Safety. 2024.
  2. ^ "Population Census". Korean Statistical Information Service. 2015–2021.
  3. ^ "History of Changwon". eng.changwon.go.kr. Archived from the original on 4 October 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  4. ^ Webster, Edward; Lambert, Rob; Beziudenhout, Andries (2008). Grounding Globalization: Labour in the Age of Insecurity. Wiley-Blackwell. pp. chapter 6. ISBN 978-1-4051-2914-5.
  5. ^ Lee, Taedong (2014). Global Cities and Climate Change: The Translocal Relations of Environmental Governance. Routledge. p. 105. ISBN 978-0415737371.