View source for Geochang County

{{distinguish|Gochang County}}
{{redirect|Kochang|a district in Thailand|Ko Chang}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{More citations needed|date=August 2018}}
{{expand Korean|date=November 2018|topic=geo}}
}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}

{{Infobox settlement
| name                            = Geochang
| native_name                     = {{nobold|거창군}}
| native_name_lang                = ko
| settlement_type                 = [[List of counties in South Korea|County]]
| translit_lang1                  = Korean
| translit_lang1_type1            = Hangul
| translit_lang1_info1            = 거창군
| translit_lang1_type2            = Hanja
| translit_lang1_info2            = 居昌郡
| translit_lang1_type3            = {{nowrap|Revised Romanization}}
| translit_lang1_info3            = Geochang-gun
| translit_lang1_type4            = {{nowrap|McCune-Reischauer}}
| translit_lang1_info4            = Kŏch'ang-gun
| image_skyline                   = 
| imagesize                       = 
| image_caption                   = 
| image_map                       = South Gyeongsang-Geochang.svg
| mapsize                         = 
| map_caption                     = Location in South Korea
| subdivision_type                = Country
| subdivision_name                = South Korea
| subdivision_type1               = [[Regions of Korea|Region]]
| subdivision_name1               = [[Yeongnam]]
| population_blank1_title         = Dialect
| population_blank1               = [[Gyeongsang dialect|Gyeongsang]]
| area_total_km2                  = 804.09
| 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                = 59,737
| population_density_km2          = 77.5
| parts_type                      = [[Administrative divisions of South Korea|Administrative divisions]]
| parts                           = 1 ''eup'', 11 ''myeon''
| image_blank_emblem              = Geochang logo.png
| blank_emblem_type               = Emblem of Geochang
| official_name                   = 
| image_flag                      = Flag of Geochang.svg
}}
'''Geochang County''' (''Geochang-gun,'' {{IPA|ko|kʌtɕʰaŋɡun}}) is a [[Administrative divisions of South Korea|county]] in [[Gyeongsangnam-do|South Gyeongsang]] Province, [[South Korea]].  The Geochang International Festival of Theater, which was started in 1989, is renowned as the best play festival in Korea.  The District Office is located in Geochang-eup, and has jurisdiction over 1 eup and 11 myeon.

== The origin of Geochang's name==
Geochang County has been called ''Geoyeol'', ''Geota'' and ''Arim'' since ancient times, in the meaning of a large bright place, a very wide field, a wide field, or a large bright one. It was first called a Geochang in the 16th year of King Gyeongdeok of Silla in 757 and was called a geochang after being divided and annexed by surrounding cities.{{clarify|date=January 2025}}

== History ==
*At the beginning of the Shilla Dynasty was referred to as Gayeol.
*1896 Gyeongsangnam-do, Geochang-gun
*1928 Gadong-myeon and Gaseo-myeon consolidated into Gajo-myeon.
*1931 Eupwoe-myeon renamed to Wolcheon-myeon.
*1937 Geochang-myeon elevated to Geochang-eup.
*1957 Wolcheon-myeon consolidated into Geochang-eup.

== Festivals ==

* Keochang International Festival of Theatre (KIFT)

In Korea, it is called the four major theatrical festivals along with [[Ansan Street Arts Festival]], Puppet Festival Chuncheon,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Puppet Festival Chuncheon 춘천인형극제 |url=http://cocobau.com/ |access-date=16 March 2019 |website=cocobau.com}}</ref> and [[Andong Maskdance Festival]].

It is an international theater festival that is held every July and August under the theme of "Nature, Humanity, and Drama".

==Twin towns and districts==
Geochang is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with:

* {{flagicon|South Korea}} [[Gokseong]], [[South Korea]] (1998)
* {{flagicon|South Korea}} [[Gangdong-gu]], [[South Korea]] (1999)
* {{flagicon|China}} [[Gaoyou]], [[PRC|China]] (2005)
* {{flagicon|South Korea}} [[Yeongdo-gu]], [[South Korea]] (2006)
* {{flagicon|South Korea}} [[Suseong-gu]], [[South Korea]] (2006)
* {{flagicon|South Korea}} [[Seocho-gu]], [[South Korea]] (2007)

==Climate==
Geochang has a [[humid continental climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Dwa''), but can be considered a borderline [[humid subtropical climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Cwa'') using the {{convert|-3|C}} isotherm.
{{Weather box
| location = Geochang (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1972–present)
| metric first = Y
| single line = Y

| Jan record high C = 15.5
| Feb record high C = 22.9
| Mar record high C = 26.4
| Apr record high C = 30.8
| May record high C = 34.6
| Jun record high C = 35.7
| Jul record high C = 37.8
| Aug record high C = 37.1
| Sep record high C = 34.5
| Oct record high C = 30.1
| Nov record high C = 26.7
| Dec record high C = 19.7
| year record high C = 37.8

| Jan high C = 5.4
| Feb high C = 8.1
| Mar high C = 13.3
| Apr high C = 19.5
| May high C = 24.5
| Jun high C = 27.4
| Jul high C = 29.5
| Aug high C = 29.9
| Sep high C = 25.9
| Oct high C = 21.0
| Nov high C = 14.3
| Dec high C = 7.5
| year high C = 18.9

| Jan mean C = -1.3
| Feb mean C = 0.9
| Mar mean C = 5.9
| Apr mean C = 11.9
| May mean C = 17.1
| Jun mean C = 21.2
| Jul mean C = 24.3
| Aug mean C = 24.4
| Sep mean C = 19.4
| Oct mean C = 12.8
| Nov mean C = 6.5
| Dec mean C = 0.5
| year mean C = 12.0

| Jan low C = -7.3
| Feb low C = -5.5
| Mar low C = -1.0
| Apr low C = 4.4
| May low C = 9.8
| Jun low C = 15.7
| Jul low C = 20.3
| Aug low C = 20.4
| Sep low C = 14.5
| Oct low C = 6.4
| Nov low C = 0.1
| Dec low C = -5.4
| year low C = 6.0

| Jan record low C = -18.9
| Feb record low C = -16.8
| Mar record low C = -12.1
| Apr record low C = -5.7
| May record low C = -0.3
| Jun record low C = 4.8
| Jul record low C = 10.5
| Aug record low C = 8.7
| Sep record low C = 2.7
| Oct record low C = -5.1 
| Nov record low C = -11.0
| Dec record low C = -15.8
| year record low C = -18.9

| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 23.7
| Feb precipitation mm = 34.1
| Mar precipitation mm = 55.4
| Apr precipitation mm = 84.8
| May precipitation mm = 88.7
| Jun precipitation mm = 149.4
| Jul precipitation mm = 286.2
| Aug precipitation mm = 285.3
| Sep precipitation mm = 166.2
| Oct precipitation mm = 60.8
| Nov precipitation mm = 37.8
| Dec precipitation mm = 22.3
| year precipitation mm = 1294.7

| unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 5.4
| Feb precipitation days = 5.3
| Mar precipitation days = 7.5
| Apr precipitation days = 8.4
| May precipitation days = 8.6
| Jun precipitation days = 9.7
| Jul precipitation days = 14.7
| Aug precipitation days = 14.3
| Sep precipitation days = 8.9
| Oct precipitation days = 5.4
| Nov precipitation days = 6.1
| Dec precipitation days = 5.4
| year precipitation days =

| Jan snow days = 5.6
| Feb snow days = 4.5
| Mar snow days = 2.6
| Apr snow days = 0.2
| May snow days = 0.0
| Jun snow days = 0.0
| Jul snow days = 0.0
| Aug snow days = 0.0
| Sep snow days = 0.0
| Oct snow days = 0.0
| Nov snow days = 1.2
| Dec snow days = 3.9
| year snow days = 18.2

| Jan humidity = 62.3
| Feb humidity = 59.1
| Mar humidity = 58.5
| Apr humidity = 58.8
| May humidity = 64.3
| Jun humidity = 71.7
| Jul humidity = 79.7
| Aug humidity = 80.3
| Sep humidity = 78.2
| Oct humidity = 73.4
| Nov humidity = 69.0
| Dec humidity = 64.8
| year humidity = 68.3

| Jan sun = 190.6
| Feb sun = 192.3
| Mar sun = 214.0
| Apr sun = 225.5
| May sun = 241.7
| Jun sun = 190.5
| Jul sun = 164.9
| Aug sun = 168.4
| Sep sun = 161.1
| Oct sun = 187.5
| Nov sun = 171.3
| Dec sun = 180.8
| year sun = 2288.6

| Jan percentsun = 62.0
| Feb percentsun = 62.5
| Mar percentsun = 58.3
| Apr percentsun = 59.4
| May percentsun = 56.1
| Jun percentsun = 46.6
| Jul percentsun = 39.8
| Aug percentsun = 43.8
| Sep percentsun = 46.2
| Oct percentsun = 57.3
| Nov percentsun = 56.5
| Dec percentsun = 60.1
| year percentsun = 53.3

| source = [[Korea Meteorological Administration]] (snow and percent sunshine 1981–2010)<ref name= KMA>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220129211110/https://data.kma.go.kr/resources/normals/pdf_data/korea_pdf_0106_v2.pdf
| archive-date = 29 January 2022
| url = https://data.kma.go.kr/resources/normals/pdf_data/korea_pdf_0106_v2.pdf
| title = Climatological Normals of Korea (1991 ~ 2020)
| publisher = Korea Meteorological Administration
| access-date = 4 April 2022
| language = ko}}</ref><ref name= KMAextremes>
{{cite web
| url = https://data.kma.go.kr/climate/extremum/selectExtremumList.do?pgmNo=103
| publisher = Korea Meteorological Administration
| access-date = 4 April 2022
| script-title = ko:순위값 - 구역별조회
| language = ko}}</ref><ref name= KMAnormals>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161207185450/http://www.kma.go.kr/down/Climatological_2010.pdf
| archive-date = 7 December 2016
| url = http://www.kma.go.kr/down/Climatological_2010.pdf
| publisher = Korea Meteorological Administration
| access-date = 8 December 2016
| title = Climatological Normals of Korea
| date = 2011}}</ref>
}}

==Geography==
*Geochang-gun is situated at the far west side of Gyeongsangnam-do, and faces Gyeongsangbuk-do and Jeollanam-do.  It does not have good transportation access.

== Administrative Regions ==
The administrative region of Geochang-gun is made up of Geochang-eup, and 11 myeons.  With an area of 804.14&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, it occupies 7.65% of Gyeongsangnam-do.  As of August 2012, it has a population of 27,111 households, or 63,122 people, with 62.4% residing in Geochang-eup.  Its highest ever population was 125,995, which was much higher than present day Changwon-si.

{| class="wikitable sortable"  style="font-size:99%;" align=center
! Eup/myeon !! Hanja!! Number of households!! Population !! Area
|-
|'''[[Geochang-eup]]''' ||  居昌邑 || 16,536 || 40,746 || 56.00
|-
|'''[[Joosang-myeon]]''' ||  主尙面 || 857 ||1,655 || 50.01
|-
|'''[[Woongyang-myeon]]''' ||  熊陽面 || 1,016 ||2,026 || 58.47
|-
|'''[[Goje-myeon]]''' ||  高梯面 || 807 || 1,560 || 58.47
|-
|'''[[Buksang-myeon]]''' ||  北上面 || 876||1,652 || 125.30
|-
|'''[[Wicheon-myeon]]''' ||  渭川面 || 1,096||2,162 || 54.75
|-
|'''[[Mari-myeon]]''' ||  馬利面 || 1,166||2,150 || 46.62
|-
|'''[[Namsang-myeon]]''' ||  南上面 || 1,324 || 2,613 || 68.51
|-
|'''[[Namha-myeon]]''' ||  南下面 || 828 || 1,528 || 49.83
|-
|'''[[Sinwon-myeon]]''' ||  神院面 || 886||1,590 || 73.71
|-
|'''[[Gajo-myeon]]''' ||  加祚面 || 2,039 || 3,920 || 66.15
|-
|'''[[Gabuk-myeon]]''' ||  加北面 || 831 || 1,455 || 96.25
|-
|'''Geochang-gun''' ||  居昌郡 || 28,262 || 63,057  || 804.07
|-
|}

==Notable people from Geochang County==
* [[Shin Yong-Mok]] ({{Korean|hangul=신용목|labels=no}}), [[Korean poetry|South Korean poet]]
* [[Choi Ri]] ({{Korean|hangul=최리|labels=no}}), [[South Korean actress]]
* [[Shin Mi-hwa]] ({{Korean|hangul=신미화|labels=no}}), South Korean [[bobsledder]]
* [[Kim Tae-ho (politician)|Kim Tae-ho]] ({{Korean|hangul=김태호|labels=no}}), [[Politics of South Korea|South Korean politician]]
* [[Shin Dalja]] ({{Korean|hangul=신달자|labels=no}}), [[Korean poetry|South Korean poet]]
* [[V (singer)|V]] (Real Name: ''Kim Tae-hyung'', {{Korean|hangul=김태형|labels=no}}), singer-songwriter, member of [[K-pop]] [[boygroup]] [[BTS]] (Originally from [[Seo-gu, Daegu|Seo-gu]], [[Daegu, South Korea]])

==See also==
*[[Geochang massacre]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Geochang}}
*[http://www.geochang.go.kr/eng/Index.do County government website]

{{South Gyeongsang}}
{{coord|35|41|N|127|54|E|type:city|display=title}}

[[Category:Geochang County| ]]
[[Category:Counties of South Gyeongsang Province]]