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Gyeonggi Province

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Gyeonggi Province is the most populous province in South Korea. Its name translates to "Seoul and the surrounding areas." This name reflects its relationship with the capital city. Seoul sits in the heart of the province. However, Seoul is managed as a separate special city. Incheon is another major city located on the coast. It has been a metropolitan city since 1981. Together, Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi are called Sudogwon. This massive region covers a huge part of the peninsula. It holds over 26 million people. That is more than 50.25% of the entire South Korean population.

Gyeonggi Municipal
Gyeonggi Municipal

The geography of the province is divided by the Han River. This river flows from east to west. The land north of the river is mostly mountainous. The Gwangju and Charyeong mountain ranges are found here. The Charyeong range forms a boundary with North Chungcheong Province. These mountains are relatively low in altitude. The area south of the Han River is mostly plain. The Gwangju, Yeonbaek, and Anseong plains create fertile fields. The province follows a pattern called Dong-go-seo-jeo. This means the land is high in the east and low in the west.

Gyeonggi-gamyeong-do
Gyeonggi-gamyeong-do

Climate in Gyeonggi follows a continental pattern. This means there are four distinct seasons. Spring is warm, while summer is hot and humid. Autumn is cool, and winter is cold and snowy. There is a large difference in temperature between seasons. The annual average temperature stays between 10 and 13 degrees Celsius. Temperatures vary based on the local terrain. The mountains in the northeast are much colder. The coastal areas in the southwest are warmer. In summer, the inland areas are hotter than the coast. Pyeongtaek is the hottest area, with an August average of 26.3 degrees Celsius.

Percentage Surviving to Certain Ages in Gyeonggi Province
Percentage Surviving to Certain Ages in Gyeonggi Province

Gyeonggi has been a political center for a very long time. It has been important since 18 BCE. During the Three Kingdoms period, different nations fought for control. The Han River Valley was once part of Baekje. Later, Goguryeo held the valley in the fifth century. Silla took control of the region in 553. The area became known as "Gyeonggi" during the Goryeo kingdom. King Taejo of Goryeo set his capital in Gaesong. Later, the Joseon dynasty set its capital in Hanyang. The administrative borders have changed many times since then. In 1967, the provincial government moved to Suwon.

Gyeonggi-gamyeong-do
Gyeonggi-gamyeong-do

The population of the province has grown very quickly. This growth happened because of modernization and urbanization. In 1960, the population was about 2.7 million. By 2020, it had reached over 13.5 million. The population density is 1,119 people per square kilometer. This is almost double the national average. Suwon is currently the most populated city in the province. It has about 1,195,000 residents. Other large cities include Yongin and Goyang. In 2023, the life expectancy in the province was 83.9 years.

Percentage Surviving to Certain Ages in Gyeonggi Province
Percentage Surviving to Certain Ages in Gyeonggi Province

Economy in Gyeonggi is very diverse and strong. It serves as a manufacturing backbone for Seoul. The province has heavy industries like electronics and steel. It also has light industries like textiles. Recently, there has been a shift toward service industries. The province invests in the IT industry and tourism. It is also a commercial hub in Northeast Asia. This is helped by the Pyeongtaek Harbor. Many famous companies are located here. Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix have their headquarters in the south. The province is also famous for local products. These include Icheon rice and Gwangju ceramics.

Suwon left
Suwon left

Transportation in the province is very well developed. It is close to two major airports. These are Incheon International Airport and Gimpo International Airport. The province also has many expressways. These roads connect the region to many other parts of Korea. The road pavement rate is 86.5 percent. People also use water transportation through Pyeongtaek. This makes it easy to move goods and people. The province is divided into 28 cities and three counties. Many counties have become cities because of new development. This keeps the region connected to the growing capital.

20150531 KT Wiz vs Doosan Bears (1)
20150531 KT Wiz vs Doosan Bears (1)
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🖼️ Images & Media (5)
File:Gyeonggi-gamyeong-do.jpg
Gyeonggi-gamyeong-do.jpg
File:Percentage Surviving to Certain Ages in Gyeonggi Province.png
Percentage Surviving to Certain Ages in...
File:Gyeonggi Municipal.svg
Gyeonggi Municipal.svg
File:Suwon left.JPG
Suwon left.JPG
File:20150531 KT Wiz vs Doosan Bears (1).jpg
20150531 KT Wiz vs Doosan Bears (1).jpg
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