Editing Gyeongju (section)

{{Short description|City in North Gyeongsang, South Korea}}
{{About||the 2014 South Korean film|Gyeongju (film)|the given name|Kyung-ju (name)}}
{{redirect|Geumseong}}
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{{Infobox settlement
| name                     = Gyeongju
| native_name              = {{lang|ko|경주시}}
| settlement_type          = [[Cities of South Korea|Municipal City]]
| translit_lang1           = Korean
| translit_lang1_type1     = [[Hangul]]
| translit_lang1_info1     = {{lang|ko|경주시}}
| translit_lang1_type2     = [[Hanja]]
| translit_lang1_info2     = {{lang|ko|慶州市}}
| translit_lang1_type3     = {{nowrap|Revised Romanization}}
| translit_lang1_info3     = Gyeongju-si
| translit_lang1_type4     = {{nowrap|McCune–Reischauer}}
| translit_lang1_info4     = Kyŏngju-si
| image_skyline            = Gyeongju montage.png
| imagesize                = 250px
| image_caption            = '''Top left''': [[Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond]]; '''Top right''': [[Bell of King Seongdeok]]; '''middle left''': [[Seokguram]]; '''middle right''':[[Bulguksa]] temple; '''bottom left''': [[Yangdong Folk Village]]; '''bottom right''': [[Cheomseongdae]].
| image_alt                = A collage of six photographs of Gyeongju landmarks.
| image_map                = North Gyeongsang-Gyeongju.svg
| mapsize                  = 
| map_caption              = Location in South Korea
| map_alt                  = A region on an east coast is divided into 23 districts, with the southern coastal district highlighted.
| subdivision_type         = Country
| subdivision_name         = {{KOR}}
| subdivision_type1        = [[Regions of Korea|Region]]
| subdivision_name1        = [[North Gyeongsang Province]]
| population_blank1_title  = Dialect
| population_blank1        = [[Gyeongsang dialect|Gyeongsang]]
| population_demonym       = Gyeongjuite
| area_total_km2           = 1324.39
| population_as_of         = September 2024<ref>{{cite web |url=https://jumin.mois.go.kr/|title=Population statistics |date=2024|website=Korea Ministry of the Interior and Safety}}</ref>
| population_total         = 245,365
| population_density_km2   = 212
| established_title  = Founded
| established_date   = 57 BC
<!-- government type, leaders -->
| government_footnotes    = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| leader_party            = 
| leader_title            = mayor
| leader_name          = Ju Nak-young ({{Korean|hangul=주낙영|labels=no}})<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gyeongju.go.kr/mayor/page.do?mnu_uid=1389& |title=gyeongju mayor   |date=2024|website=gyeongju City }}</ref>
| leader_title1           =
| leader_name1            = <!-- etc., up to leader_title4 / leader_name4 -->
| parts_type               = [[Administrative divisions of South Korea|Administrative divisions]]
| parts                    = 4 ''eup'', 8 ''myeon'', 11 ''dong'', 305 ''ri''
| coordinates              = {{coord|35|51|N|129|13|E|type:city_region:KR-47|display=it}}
| image_blank_emblem       = Gyeongju logo.png
| blank_emblem_type        = Emblem of Gyeongju
| blank_emblem_alt         = A simplified crown in olive green on a nearly cube-shaped background in dark blue. White dots are scattered around the crown. Two gray green bars are both vertically and horizontally placed beside the diagram.
| website                  = [http://www.gyeongju.go.kr/open_content/eng/index.do City of Gyeongju]
| image_flag               = Flag of Gyeongju.svg
<!-- time zone(s) -------------->
| timezone1               = [[Korea Standard Time]]
| utc_offset1             = +9
| timezone1_DST           =
| utc_offset1_DST         =
| area_code                = +82-54
| founded                  = 57 BC
}}
'''Gyeongju''' ({{langx|ko|경주}}, {{IPA|ko|kjʌ̹ŋ.dʑu|pron}}), historically known as '''Seorabeol''' ({{langx|ko|서라벌|label=none}}, {{IPA|ko|sʰʌ̹.ɾa̠.bʌɭ|pron}}), is a coastal city in the far southeastern corner of [[North Gyeongsang Province]], South Korea.<ref name="EncyKorea Gyeongju 1">{{cite web|url=http://100.nate.com/dicsearch/pentry.html?s=K&i=296984&v=44 |script-title=ko:경주시 |trans-title=Gyeongju-si |publisher=[[Nate (web portal)|Nate]] / [[Encyclopedia of Korean Culture]] |language=ko |access-date=2009-08-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610070044/http://100.nate.com/dicsearch/pentry.html?s=K&i=296984&v=44 |archive-date=2011-06-10 }}</ref><ref name="Xinhua">{{cite news |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-10/18/content_3640593.htm |title=S. Korean, US presidents to meet before APEC summit |publisher=[[Xinhua News]] |date=2005-10-18 |access-date=2009-09-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102143053/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-10/18/content_3640593.htm |archive-date=2012-11-02 }}</ref> It is the second largest city by area in the province after [[Andong]], covering {{convert|1324|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} with a population of 264,091 people {{As of|2012|December|lc=y}}.<ref name="EncyKorea Gyeongju 1" /><ref name="Gyeongbuk area">{{cite web|url=http://population.city/south-korea/gyeongju/|title=Population Gyeongju|year=2015|website=Population City|language=en}}</ref> Gyeongju is {{convert|370|km|mi|abbr=on}} southeast of [[Seoul]],<ref name="Brisbane">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5kgsAQAAMAAJ&q=Gyeongju+is+an+approximate+6+hour+(37lkm)+drive+from+Seoul|title=The Expatriate Handbook: Seoul, Korea|last=De Ville-Colby|first=Jacqueline|date=2018-04-24|publisher=Hollym|isbn=9781565910461|access-date=2018-04-24}}</ref> and {{convert|55|km|mi|abbr=on}} east of [[Daegu]].<ref name="Kyŏngju">{{cite web|year=2009 |url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/326010/Kyongju |title=Kyŏngju |publisher=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]] |access-date=2009-09-15}}</ref> The city borders [[Cheongdo]] and [[Yeongcheon]] to the west, [[Ulsan]] to the south and [[Pohang]] to the north, while to the east lies the coast of the [[Sea of Japan]].<ref name="EncyKorea Gyeongju 1" /> Numerous low mountains—outliers of the [[Taebaek Mountains|Taebaek range]]—are scattered around the city.<ref name="EncyKorea Nature">{{cite web|url=http://100.nate.com/dicsearch/pentry.html?s=&i=3008021 |script-title=ko:경주시의 자연환경 |trans-title=Natural environment of Gyeongju |publisher=Nate / Encyclopedia of Korean Culture |language=ko |access-date=2009-08-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610054017/http://100.nate.com/dicsearch/pentry.html?s=&i=3008021 |archive-date=2011-06-10 }}</ref>

Gyeongju was the capital of the ancient kingdom of [[Silla]] (57 BC – 935 AD), which ruled about two-thirds of the Korean peninsula at its height between the 7th and 9th centuries, for close to one thousand years. [[Later Silla]] was a prosperous and wealthy country,<ref>{{cite book|last1=MacGregor|first1=Neil|title=A History of the World in 100 Objects|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=9780141966830|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r3mUtaSxCncC&pg=PT408|access-date=30 September 2016|language=en|date=2011-10-06}}</ref> and Gyeongju<ref>{{cite book|last1=Chŏng|first1=Yang-mo|last2=Smith|first2=Judith G.|last3=Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, N.Y.)|title=Arts of Korea|publisher=Metropolitan Museum of Art|isbn=9780870998508|page=230|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DnaiYKYmQegC&pg=PA230|access-date=30 September 2016|language=en|year=1998}}</ref> was{{When|date=August 2023}} the fourth largest city in the world.<ref>{{cite journal|first=Edward B.|last=Adams|title=The Legacy of Kyongju|journal=The Rotarian|page=28|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HjIEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA28|access-date=23 June 2018|language=en|date=April 1989}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Ross|first1=Alan|title=After Pusan|publisher=Faber & Faber|isbn=9780571299355|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bur02Vwn9jgC&pg=PT20|access-date=30 September 2016|language=en|date=2013-01-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Mason |first1=David A. |title=Gyeongju, Korea's treasure house |url=http://www.korea.net/NewsFocus/Column/view?articleId=109953 |website=[[Korea.net]] |publisher=[[Korean Culture and Information Service]] |access-date=30 September 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161003092928/http://www.korea.net/NewsFocus/Column/view?articleId=109953 |archive-date=3 October 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Adams|first1=Edward Ben|title=Korea's pottery heritage|publisher=Seoul International Pub. House|page=53|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=riLrAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Kyongju+City+became+one+of+the+most+influential+centers+of+Asia+and+fourth+largest+city+in+the+ancient+world+during+this+period%22|access-date=30 September 2016|language=en|year=1990|isbn=9788985113069}}</ref> A vast number of archaeological sites and cultural properties from this period remain in the city. Gyeongju is often referred to as "the museum without walls".<ref>Robinson et al. 2007. p.187</ref><ref name="Travel Blackboard">{{cite news|date=2005-03-04 |url=http://www.etravelblackboard.com/showarticle.asp?id=35779&nav=13&suc=&cid=&email=&news= |title=Spring into Korea's Cultural Festivals |publisher=Travel Blackboard |access-date=2009-09-15}}</ref> Among such historical treasures, [[Seokguram]] grotto, [[Bulguksa]] temple, [[Gyeongju Historic Areas]] and [[Yangdong Folk Village]] are designated as [[World Heritage]] Sites by [[UNESCO]].<ref>{{cite web|year=2009 |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/kr |title=Korea, Republic of |publisher=UNESCO World Heritage Centre |access-date=2010-08-22}}</ref><ref name="Yangdong 2010">{{cite web|title=Gyeongju Yangdong Folk Village (UNESCO World Heritage)|url=http://www.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=804281|publisher=[[Korea Tourism Organization]]|access-date=2010-08-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023060325/http://www.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=804281|archive-date=2013-10-23|url-status=dead}}</ref> The many major historical sites have helped Gyeongju become one of the most popular [[Tourism in South Korea|tourist destinations in South Korea]].<ref name="Kyŏngju" /><ref>{{cite web|date=2009-05-05 |url=http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/05/05/2009050500290.html |title=Insa-dong Rivals Jeju as Most Popular Tourist Spot |publisher=[[The Chosun Ilbo]] |access-date=2009-08-04}}</ref>

The city of Gyeongju was united with the nearby rural Gyeongju County in 1995 and is now an urban–rural complex.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Lee, Jae Won |author2=Lee, Man Hyung |year=1997 |url=http://kocer.re.kr/files/UrbanStudies/3th/US3-05.pdf |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/5jSRCuERz?url=http://kocer.re.kr/files/UrbanStudies/3th/US3-05.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2009-09-01 |title=Urban-Rural Integration Conflicts After 1994's Reform in Korea |journal=Dosi Yeongu, Korea Center for City and Environment Research |pages=103–121 |volume=3 |access-date=2009-08-31 }}</ref> It is similar to 53 other small and medium-sized cities with a population under 300,000 people in South Korea.<ref>{{cite web|author1=Yun, Daesic |author2=Hwang, Junghoon |author3=Moon, Changkeun |date=June 2008 |language=ko |url=http://168.126.177.50/pub/docu/kr/AD/BC/ADBC2008SAB/ADBC-2008-SAB-007.PDF |title=A Study on Analysis of Mode Choice Characteristics and Travel Pattern in Urban-Rural Integrated City |access-date=2009-09-15 |publisher=Korea Research Institute For Human Settlements |page=118 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120105231753/http://168.126.177.50/pub/docu/kr/AD/BC/ADBC2008SAB/ADBC-2008-SAB-007.PDF |archive-date=2012-01-05 }}</ref> As well as its rich historical heritage, Gyeongju today is affected by the economic, demographic, and social trends that have shaped modern [[Culture of South Korea|South Korean culture]]. Tourism remains the major economic driver, but manufacturing activities have developed due to its proximity to major industrial centers such as Ulsan and Pohang. Gyeongju is connected to the nationwide rail and highway networks, which facilitate industrial and tourist traffic.<ref name="Industry">{{cite web|url=http://100.nate.com/dicsearch/pentry.html?s=&i=3008027 |script-title=ko:경주시의 산업·교통 |trans-title=Industry and Transportation of Gyeongju |publisher=Nate / Encyclopedia of Korean Culture |access-date=2009-09-15 |language=ko |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610060922/http://100.nate.com/dicsearch/pentry.html?s=&i=3008027 |archive-date=2011-06-10 }}</ref><ref name="Brit Transport">{{cite web|url=http://100.nate.com/dicsearch/pentry.html?s=&i=1010600 |script-title=ko:경주시 산업과 교통 |trans-title=Industry and transport of Gyeongju |publisher=Nate / Britannica |language=ko |access-date=2009-08-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610062429/http://100.nate.com/dicsearch/pentry.html?s=&i=1010600 |archive-date=2011-06-10 }}</ref><ref name="Tamásy">Tamásy & Taylor, (2008) p.129</ref>