Gwangju, Gyeonggi

Infobox Korean settlement
title=Gwangju
logo=Gwangju-si logo.gif
hangul=광주시
hanja=廣州市
rr=Gwangju-si
mr=Kwangju-si
area_km2=431.61
pop=214498
popyear=2006
popden_km2=497
divs=1 "eup", 3 "dong", 6 "myeon"

Gwangju is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, southeast of Seoul. The city is not to be confused with the much larger Gwangju Metropolitan City, former capital of South Jeolla Province, South Korea. The city also shares the same Hanja (Chinese characters) name as the mainland Chinese city of Guangzhou.

"Bunwon-ri" in Gwangju took an important role of ceramic production during the Joseon dynasty. There had official kilns and produced superb quality of white porcelains for use at the royal court and to export to China. [cite book|title=Atlas of World Art |author=John Onians |publisher=Laurence King Publishing |date=2004 |page=205p |isbn=1856693775 |quote=Government-sponsored kilns at punwon-ri, near Seoul, produced an exquisite and distinctive Joseon white porcelain for use at court and for export to China. Its undecorated cream-colored surfaces, and austere elegant shapes were thought to reflect a purity of mind and moral character appropriate for Neo-Confucian patrons.|]

Modern history

In 1962, 4 myuns(towns) including 5 ris(townships) were incorporated to Seoul. [Law concerning Seoul metropolitan city, provinces, counties, districts and counties(1962. 11. 21.)]

In 1973, 6 of ris were separated and these came to parts of Seongnam city. In 1979, gwangju myun promoted eup. In fact, Gwangju was county but raised the status of itself as a city in 2001. [Establishment of new cities including Hwasung.(2000. 12. 20.) ]

ister Cities

*flagicon|China Zibo, China

ee also

*Joseon white porcelain
*Korean pottery and porcelain
*List of cities in South Korea
*Geography of South Korea

References

External links

* [http://english.gjcity.go.kr/ City government website]