Everything about Gongju totally explained
Gongju (
Gongju-si), also spelt
Kongju, is a city in
South Chungcheong province,
South Korea. It is located at .
History
Gongju was formerly named
Ungjin and was the capital of
Baekje from AD
475 to
538. In this period, Baekje was under threat from
Goguryeo. Goguryeo had overrun the previous capital of
Hanseong (modern-day Seoul), which forced Baekje to find a new center of strength.
In 538,
King Seong moved the capital to
Sabi (in modern-day
Buyeo County). However, Gongju remained an important center until the kingdom's fall in
667.
New capital
On
August 11,
2004, the South Korean Prime Minister
Lee Hae-chan announced that the country's capital will be moved from
Seoul to Gongju (approximately 120km south of Seoul) and
Yeongi commencing in
2007. A 72.91 km² (18,016
acre) site was chosen for the project, which was scheduled to be completed by
2030. It was envisaged that government and administrative functions will move to the new capital, along with (possibly) the National Assembly and supreme court, although no sizable relocation was expected until the first phase of the project has been completed by
2012.
The move was intended to reduce Seoul's overcrowding and economic dominance over the rest of South Korea; perhaps not coincidentally, it would have also moved the government and administration out of range of
North Korean artillery fire.
The projected cost of the project ranged from $45bn to as much as $94bn.
The plan has aroused controversy, with opposition parties calling for a
referendum to see whether it's endorsed by the population. Some civic groups have also launched a constitutional appeal, and on
October 21,
2004, the Constitutional Court ruled that the special law for the relocation of the capital is unconstitutional since the relocation is a serious national matter requiring national referendum or revision of the constitution, thus effectively ending the dispute. Opinion polls showed that a slight majority of South Koreans are opposed to the move, both before and after the ruling.
However, late in 2004, the government announced yet another plan that will allow Seoul to be a capital in name only by retaining the Executive Branch in Seoul, while moving all other branches of government to Gongju. The question remains unresolved to date.
Famous people
Famous people associated with Gongju include member of popular boy band
TVXQ, YoungWoong JaeJoong, and professional baseball player
Chan-ho Park, who were both born there.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Gongju'.
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