Jongno-gu

Jongno-gu
—  District  —
종로구 · 鐘路區
Blue House with Bukaksan Mountain in the back
Location of Jongno-gu in Seoul
Country	South Korea
Region	Sudogwon
Special City	Seoul
Administrative dong	19
Government
– Mayor	Kim Choong-Yong (김영종)
Area
– Total	23.92 km2 (9.2 sq mi)
Population (2010[1])
– Total	155,575
– Density	6,504/km2 (16,845.2/sq mi)
Time zone	Korea Standard Time (UTC+9)
Website	Jongno-gu official website

Jongno-gu is a gu, or district, in central Seoul, South Korea. It takes its name from a major local street, Jongno, which means "Bell Street". Jongno-gu has been the center of the city for 600 years, since where the Joseon dynasty established its capital city. Jongno-gu is commonly referred to as the face and heart of Korea because of its important roles in the politics, economics, culture, and history as the capital city.^[2] Jongno-gu has many palaces in which the kings used to reside and work, such as Gyeongbok Palace, Changdeok Palace, Changgyeong Palace and Unhyeon Palace. The South Korean president's current residence, the Blue House, is also located in Jongno-gu.^[2]

With the historical value and cultural properties, Jongno-gu attracts visitors' attention. These include the restored Cheonggyecheon stream, the traditional neighborhood of Insa-dong, and the Jongmyo shrine. Art Center Nabi and Gahoe Museum , a relics museum is also located in the district. A number of colleges and universities are located here; these include the main campuses of Sungkyunkwan University and Baehwa Women's College.

Jongno-gu is also home to Jogyesa, the chief temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism.

Subdivisions

Administrative dong (행정동)

Cheongun-dong (청운동 淸雲洞) Hyoja-dong (효자동 孝子洞) Sajik-dong (사직동 社稷洞) Samcheong-dong (삼청동 三淸洞) Buam-dong (부암동 付岩洞) Pyeongchang-dong (평창동 平倉洞) Muak-dong (무악동 毋岳洞) Gyonam-dong (교남동 橋南洞) Gahoe-dong (가회동 嘉會洞) Ihwa-dong (이화동 梨花洞) Hyehwa-dong (혜화동 惠化洞) Sejongno-dong (세종로동 世宗路洞) Jongno-1.2.3.4 ga-dong (종로1.2.3.4가동 鍾路) Jongno-5.6 ga-dong (종로5.6가동 鍾路5.6街洞) Myeongnyun 3 ga-dong (명륜3가동 明倫洞) Changsin 1-dong (창신1동 昌信洞) Changsin 2-dong (창신2동 昌信洞) Changsin 3-dong (창신3동 昌信洞) Sungin 1-dong (숭인1동 崇仁洞) Sungin 2-dong (숭인2동 崇仁洞)

Notable buildings

Palaces

• Gyeongbok Palace
• Changgyeong Palace
• Changdeok Palace
• Gyeonghui Palace

Museums

• National Folk Museum of Korea
• National Palace Museum of Korea
• Seoul Education Museum
• SeMa GyeongHuiGung
• Seoul Museum of History
• Artsonje Center
• Art Center Nabi
• Bukchon Art Museum
• Gahoe Museum
• Ilmin Museum of Art
• Tteok& Kitchen Utensil Museum

District Council

The mascot on a District Council Truck

The current mayor of Jong-no district is Kim Yeong-jong. The district council serves administrative functions such as Foreign Seal Registration, International Marriage, Adoption, Acknowledgement reports and Alien Registration Certificates for foreigners residing in Jongno-gu.

Economy

Kumho Asiana Group is headquartered at the Kumho Asiana Main Tower in Sinmunno 1-ga, Jongno-gu.^[3] Asiana Airlines also maintains a sales office in on the 5th floor of the Gwanghamun Building in Jongno-gu.^[4]

Gallery

• 

  Jongno during Korea under Japanese rule's period

Sister cities

• Dongcheng District, Beijing, People's Republic of China^{[citation needed]}

See also

• Geography of South Korea
• Subdivisions of South Korea

References

1. ^ Korean Statistical Information Service (Korean) > Population and Household > Census Result (2010) > Population by Adminstrative district, Sex and Age / Alien by Adminstrative district and Sex, Retrieved 2010-06-02.
2. ^ ^{a b} "About Jongno-gu". Jongno-gu Official website. http://www.jongno.go.kr/english/jongno/region.jsp. Retrieved 2008-04-23. ^{[dead link]}
3. ^ "Contact Us." Kumho Asiana Group. Retrieved on November 26, 2008.
4. ^ "Worldwide Offices Korea." Asiana Airlines. Retrieved on January 19, 2009.

External links

• District government website, in English