Gimje (Korean김제; Korean pronunciation: [kim.dʑe]) is a city in North Jeolla Province, South Korea.

Gimje
김제시
Korean transcription(s)
 • Hangul김제시
 • Hanja
 • Revised RomanizationGimje-si
 • McCune-ReischauerKimje-si
From the left: Geumsansa, cityscape
Flag of Gimje
Official logo of Gimje
Location in South Korea
Location in South Korea
Coordinates: 35°48′06″N 126°53′20″E / 35.80167°N 126.88889°E / 35.80167; 126.88889
Country South Korea
RegionHonam
Administrative divisions1 eup, 14 myeon, 4 dong
Government
 • mayorSeong-ju Jeong (정성주)
Area
 • Total545.19 km2 (210.50 sq mi)
Population
 (November, 2022)
 • Total88,479
 • Density160/km2 (420/sq mi)
 • Dialect
Jeolla
Time zoneUTC+9 (Korea Standard Time)
Area code+82-63

History

edit

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 Kingdom invaded and incorporated several small mahan states in the 13th year of King Onjo's reign. The Baekje Kingdom changed its name to Byeogol, but when is not clear.

In the Joseon dynasty, Gimje first appeared in the year 1466 when Sejo of Joseon ruled. He promoted Gimje to an independent county. In 1628, Gwanghaegun of Joseon combined the nearby district of Mangyeong District into Gimje County.[1]

The Baekje Kingdom was ruined by the Tang and Silla Kingdoms, and the Unified Silla Kingdom changed the city's name to Gimje city.

The Goryeo dynasty promoted Gimje city to Gimje District in the 21st year of King Injong’s reign.

City government has always highly regarded and promoted the cultivation of rice and other crop species. From the Baekje Kingdom through the 21st century, Gimje has been one of the best areas for growing rice.

Horizon Festival

edit

Gimje is known as the region where the sky meets the ground, hence the festival of horizon or 'jipyeongseon.' It is held at Byeokgolje area, and more than one million tourists visit it each year. Gimje Horizon Festival hosts a wide range of programs including Samullori (traditional percussion quartet) contest, rural landscape drawing contest, celebratory performances, street parade, Ssireum (wrestling), and traditional weddings.[2] Gimje is the only region where Koreans can see the horizon from a landlocked area. The festival was appointed an Excellent Festival for 4 years between 2004 and 2008. It also provides city residents a chance to experience traditional farming methods.[3]

Twin towns – sister cities

edit

Gimje is twinned with:

People from Gimje

edit

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ History of Gimje county was originally from city English page. http://www.gimje.go.kr/foreign/english/sub1/sub1.jsp[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ Gimje Horizon Festival (김제 지평선축제). english.visitkorea.or.kr. Archived from the original on 2013-09-12. Retrieved 2013-08-12.
  3. ^ 김제 (2007-12-23). '지평선축제' 4년 연속 최우수축제 [The best festival in 4 years]. Yeonhap News.
edit