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Punggi

Punggi-eup () is a town (eup) in Yeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. At the 2020 census, Punggi-eup had a population of 11,546, down from 14,270 in 2005.

History

The name Punggi combines characters from Eunpung () and Gicheon (), two older place names in the area, and dates to the Goryeo dynasty. During the Joseon period, Punggi was the seat of Punggi County. In 1542, the county magistrate Chu Sebung founded Sosu Seowon, the first seowon (private Confucian academy) in Korea, in nearby Sunheung-myeon.

In 1914, the townships of Dongbu-myeon, Seobu-myeon, and Changnak-myeon were merged into Punggi-myeon under Yeongju-gun. Punggi was elevated to town (eup) status on 1 July 1973. It became part of the current Yeongju city on 1 January 1995, when Yeongju-si and Yeongpung-gun were merged.

Demographics

At the 2020 census, 28.9% of the population was aged 65 or older. The town had 11,357 Korean nationals and 189 foreign residents.

Economy

Punggi is known throughout South Korea for the cultivation of Korean ginseng. The town's ginseng market is one of the major ginseng trading centres in the country. Other local products include apples and Hanwoo beef.

Landmarks

A portion of Sobaeksan National Park lies within Punggi-eup's boundaries. The Memorial Park for the Korea Liberation Corps is also located in the town. Dongyang University has its campus in Punggi-eup. Punggi Hot Springs () is a local thermal bath facility.

Administrative subdivisions

Punggi-eup comprises 14 legal-ri ():

  • Seongnae-ri ()
  • Dongbu-ri ()
  • Sanbeop-ri ()
  • Migok-ri ()
  • Samga-ri ()
  • Ukgeum-ri ()
  • Geumgye-ri ()
  • Gyochon-ri ()
  • Seobu-ri ()
  • Baek-ri ()
  • Baeksin-ri ()
  • Changrak-ri ()
  • Sucheol-ri ()
  • Jeongu-ri ()

See also

References