Gunsan or Kunsan
[key], Jap. Gunzan, city, North Jeolla (Cholla) prov., SW
South Korea, on the Yellow Sea (or West Sea) at the Geum (Kum) River
estuary. It is a major port, especially for rice shipments, and is a
commercial center for the rice grown in the Geum basin. Rice processing,
fishing, and shipbuilding are important industries, and paper, lumber,
rubber, and plastic are also produced. The city is also an important
railroad hub. Originally a poor fishing village, Gunsan gained importance
with the development of its port, which was opened to foreign trade in 1899.
The Japanese, who ruled Korea from 1905 to 1945, further developed the city
and port.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
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