Jangyu () is an area located at the southern tip of Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. Currently, three administrative dongs (Jangyu 1, 2, and 3-dong) govern a total of 12 legal dongs. The total area spans 55.18 km2, with Jangyu 1-dong covering 13.51 km2, Jangyu 2-dong covering 19.72 km2, and Jangyu 3-dong covering 21.97 km2.
To the north, it borders Jillye-myeon and of Gimhae. To the south, it is adjacent to Jinhae District, Changwon and Gangseo District, Busan with Guramsan Mountain between them. To the west, it borders Seongsan District, Changwon across the mountain Bulmosan, and to the east, it borders Chilsanseobu-dong of Gimhae and Gangseo-gu, Busan across the Joman-gang River. The Yulha-cheon and Daecheong-cheon streams flow through the urban center of Jangyu. Ballyongsan Mountain sits in the heart of Jangyu, while Yongjibong Peak, Bulmosan Mountain, and Guramsan Mountain form a continuous mountain ridge along the western and southern boundaries.
The toponym 'Jangyu' (長遊) first appeared during the Geumgwan Gaya period, when Jangyu-chon (長遊村) village was formed at the western foot of Bulmosan Mountain. During the Goryeo dynasty, villages named Jangyu-chon (長遊村), Yuha-chon (柳下村), and Jeeulmi-hyang (齋乙彌鄕, Jeolmi-hyang) were established. In the Joseon dynasty, the area was referred to as Yuha-myeon (柳下面) and Yudeongya-myeon (柳等也面). In 1885, during the reign of Emperor Gojong, Jangyu-myeon was officially established, which was subsequently divided into 8 ris of Jangyu-myeon and 4 ris of Sunam-myeon (水南面) in 1888. It became part of (Gimhae-gun), Gyeongsangnam-do in 1896. During the Japanese colonial period in 1914, Sunam-myeon was merged into Jangyu-myeon following the administrative district reorganization ().
In 1996, the launched a project to develop the Jangyu New Town in Jangyu-myeon, Gimhae. Following the massive influx of apartment residents since the 2000s, the population experienced rapid growth. Consequently, the Gimhae Municipal Government initiated preparations in 2007 to convert Jangyu-myeon into urban dongs. The population surpassed 100,000 in 2008 and 120,000 in 2010, outgrowing the entire populations of cities like Miryang and Sacheon. On July 1, 2013, Jangyu-myeon was officially reorganized into three administrative dongs—Jangyu 1, 2, and 3-dong—and its 12 legal ris (里) were simultaneously converted into 12 legal dongs (洞).
Namhae Expressway Branch 2, which connects with National Route 58, and run through the urban center, with the located in the middle of the city providing direct connectivity between the highway and local roads. (part of Namhaean-daero), the Bulmosan Tunnel, and on Namhae Expressway Branch 3 serve as critical links connecting Gimhae Jangyu with Changwon.
Key commercial hubs in the Jangyu area include Jangyu Central Market, established in 1960, and the Gimhae Agricultural and Marine Products Wholesale Market, which opened in 2005. The Gimhae Municipal Government operates the Jangyu Branch Office to oversee the area's administration. Additionally, public safety and security are managed by the Jangyu District Office under the , while fire and rescue services are handled by the
History Gaya Period The name 'Jangyu' originates from Jangyu Hwasang (長遊和尙) Heo Bo-ok (許寶玉), who was the brother-in-law of King King Suro (Garakguk) and the older brother of Queen Heo Hwang-ok. Turning his back on wealth and honor, Jangyu Hwasang entered Bulmosan Mountain to practice asceticism. As he never returned to the secular world, people remarked that he was living in "Jangyu" (長遊, meaning enjoying great freedom). The mountain where Jangyu Hwasang built the Jangyu-sa (長遊寺) Temple was originally named Jangyu-san Mountain (長遊山, currently Taejeongsan Mountain).
Goryeo and Joseon Dynasties Following the establishment of Gimhae-bu (金海府) in 971 (the 22nd year of King Gwangjong's reign during the Goryeo dynasty), villages such as Jangyu-chon (長遊村), Yuha-chon (柳下村), and Jeeulmi-hyang (齋乙彌鄕, Jeolmi-hyang) were formed on the western slopes of Jangyu-san Mountain. According to Feng shui, Yuha-chon was named after its auspicious geography called Yuji-aengso (柳技鶯巢, resembling a nightingale's nest built on a willow branch), which was believed to grant numerous descendants and see six lineages pass the imperial civil service examinations. Jeeulmi-hyang originated from 'Jelmi Village', a special administrative village that existed in Neongdong Village, Sammun-dong (formerly Sammun-ri, Jangyu-myeon) since the late Silla period. The name is presumed to have derived from 'Jeol-myeo' or 'Jeol-mi', meaning a mountain climbing up to a temple ('Jeol' in Korean).
During the mid-Joseon period, when the area belonged to Gimhae Dohobu (金海都護府) of Gyeongsang-do, it was called Yudeongya-myeon (柳等也面), and was colloquially referred to in native Korean as 'Baedeuri', 'Baenadeuri', or 'Beodeungi'. The names 'Baedeuri' and 'Baenadeuri' stemmed from the historical period when the Joman-gang River had high water levels, allowing boats to come and go at a ferry terminal in front of the village. This was later transliterated via Chaja orthography into 'Beodeungi' and 'Yuha' (柳下), both meaning "beneath the willow trees." From 1616 (the 8th year of King Gwanghaegun's reign) to 1656 (the 7th year of King Hyojong's reign), a special military administrative outpost called Sinmun-jin (新門鎭) or Somo-jin (召募鎭, a temporary enlistment outpost) was stationed at Jingol Village (鎭谷, Jingok) in Yongsan Village, Sinmun-dong (formerly Sinmun-ri, Jangyu-myeon). In the (與地圖書), compiled between 1757 and 1765 during the reign of King King Yeongjo, Yudeongya-myeon was recorded as part of Gimhae-jin Gimhae Dohopeobu. The Hoguchongsu (戶口總數), published in 1789 during the 13th year of King King Jeongjo's reign, specified that Yudeongya-myeon governed 18 lower-level administrative ris: Bukpo (北浦), Hason (下孫), Bugok (釜谷), Yudeongya (柳等也), Naedeok (內德), Waedeok (外德), Geomulso (巨勿所), Sinmun (新門), Geonlim (件林), Daecheong (大淸), Jemyeo (濟旀), Sangjeom (上店), Sagijeom (沙器店), Deokjeong (德亭), Jeokhang (赤項), Gwandong (寬洞), Jangyu (長遊), and Taejang (台長).
The area's name was changed to Yuha-myeon (柳下面) in 1810 (the 10th year of King King Sunjo), but reverted to Yudeongya-myeon in 1879 (the 16th year of King Gojong). In 1885 (the 22nd year of King Gojong), Jangyu-myeon was officially established. Later, in 1888, it was subdivided into 8 ris of Jangyu-myeon (Bugok (釜谷), Yuha (柳下), Naedeok (內德), Mugye (茂溪), Daecheong (大淸), Sammun (三文), Sinmun (新文), Gwandong (寬洞)) and 4 ris of Sunam-myeon (水南面) (Yulha (栗下), Jangyu (長有), Eungdal (應達), Suga (水佳)). Following the introduction of the in 1895, it became part of Gimhae-gun under Jinju-bu, and was subsequently reassigned to Gyeongsangnam-do Gimhae-gun when the was implemented in 1896.
Japanese Colonial Period and Modern Era During the reorganization of in 1914, Sunam-myeon was absorbed into Jangyu-myeon through the municipal mergers. After national liberation, it remained a part of Gimhae-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, until May 10, 1995, when the consolidation of Gimhae City and Gimhae County formed the unified Gimhae City's Jangyu-myeon. Amid the development of the Busan-Gyeongnam Racecourse (now in the 1990s, Gadong Village in Suga-ri, Jangyu-myeon was integrated into Beombang-dong, Gangseo-gu, Busan on January 12, 2000; conversely, Jangjeon Village, which previously belonged to Gangseo-gu, Busan, was incorporated into Jangyu-myeon. On July 1, 2013, Jangyu-myeon was officially split into three administrative dongs (Jangyu 1, 2, and 3-dong), elevating its 12 legal ris (里) into 12 legal dongs (洞).
Geography + Extreme Cardinal Points of Gimhae Direction Legal Division Extreme Point Coordinates Easternmost Wolchon-ri Westernmost Jwagon-ri Southernmost Jangyu-dong Northernmost Doyo-ri
Jangyu-dong is situated at the southern end of Gimhae. The area of Jangyu 1-dong is 13.51 km2, Jangyu 2-dong is 19.72 km2, and Jangyu 3-dong is 21.97 km2, totaling 55.18 km2. It shares borders with Jillye-myeon and Juchon-myeon of Gimhae to the north, Jinhae-gu, Changwon and Gangseo-gu, Busan to the south across Guramsan Mountain, Seongsan-gu, Changwon to the west across Bulmosan Mountain, and Chilsanseobu-dong of Gimhae and Gangseo-gu, Busan to the east across the Joman-gang River. Within its jurisdiction, local streams such as Daecheong-cheon and Yulha-cheon flow through the urban core. The Gimhae Municipal Government is currently executing an ecological restoration initiative for these two streams. The upstream portion of Daecheong-cheon forms the Jangyu Daecheong Valley, a highly popular summer vacation spot. The Korea Tourism Organization has highlighted it as the "representative valley of Gimhae."
Ballyongsan Mountain, standing 236 meters tall, is located in the middle of the city, stretching across parts of Daecheong-dong, Gwandong-dong, and Sinmun-dong.
According to the Gimhae Urban Management Plan Decision (Modification) official gazette published by the Governor of Gyeongsangnam-do in October 2008, the designated residential zone in Jangyu-myeon at the time was 6,206,142 m2, commercial zone was 1,672,992 m2, industrial zone was 1,779,938 m2, and green zone was 44,945,184 m2, with no areas designated as managed, agricultural, or environmental conservation zones.
Administrative Divisions The legal dongs governed by the respective administrative dongs of Jangyu 1, 2, and 3-dong are listed below:
List of Legal Dongs by Administrative DongJangyu 1-dong Naedeok-dong Mugye-dong Bugok-dong Sinmun-dong Yuha-dongJangyu 2-dong Daecheong-dong Sammun-dongJangyu 3-dong Gwandong-dong Suga-dong Jangyu-dong Yulha-dong Eungdal-dong
Population and Conversion to Urban Dongs According to demographic data recorded by Gimhae City as of late December 2020, the population of Jangyu 1-dong stood at 57,416, Jangyu 2-dong at 36,753, and Jangyu 3-dong at 72,208, accumulating to a combined total of roughly 166,000 residents. Since a significant portion of Jangyu's residents commute to workplaces in other areas including Changwon, traffic conditions along the on Local Route 1020—the primary commuting corridor at the time—were heavily cited as a decisive factor capable of shifting public votes during the 2011 South Korean by-elections.
The Jangyu New Town project, initially undertaken by the Korea Land Corporation in 1996, saw massive residential move-ins throughout the 2000s. The population exceeded 100,000 in 2008 while still categorized as a myeon, and surpassed 120,000 by 2010, eclipsing the total populations of nearby administrative cities like Miryang and Sacheon. Anticipating that rural myeon-level administrations would struggle to keep up with the soaring administrative demand, Gimhae City initiated preparations for a formal transition into urban dongs in 2007, despite facing pushback from some residents concerned about the reduction of rural-area tax benefits. Initial blueprints proposed splitting the region into four dongs, which was scaled down to a two-dong plan by 2012. However, accommodating civil criticisms against the two-dong division, the city council evaluated a new plan in late 2011 to partition the area into three dongs: Jangyu 1-dong centered on Bugok-ri and Mugye-ri, Jangyu 2-dong centered on Sammun-ri, and Jangyu 3-dong centered on Yulha-ri. This three-dong proposal officially passed the city council on July 24, 2012, confirming the structural split.
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