Аньянг: Город между Сеулом и природой

Anyang is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. With a population of approximately 600,000, it is the 20th largest city in South Korea. It is a satellite city of Seoul and located approximately south of Seoul, and north of Suwon. It is connected to Seoul via the Seoul Subway Line 1 and Line 4. The City motto of Anyang is "Livable city, Proud citizens". City symbols are a grape mascot named 'Podong i', Forsythia (flower), Ginkgo (tree), and eagles.

Anyang is divided into two halves for administrative purposes: the Manan district to the west and Dongan district to the east. The Manan district is an old and original downtown area centered on Anyang Station. It is dominated by a shopping area with outdoor markets, known as "ilbeonga" (first street). The Dongan district is a new, wealthy suburb of Pyeongchon. The tallest building in Anyang is the Acro Tower, which was completed in April 2007. It is a twin tower office building in the Dongan district, across the street from Anyang City Hall. Anyang is a convenient transportation center between Seoul and other major cities across the country. Anyang spans Forest and fields constitute , urban development constitutes , dry fields constitute , rice paddies constitutes , and other land use constitutes Anyang is surrounded by mountains on all four sides. These mountains are Gwanak Mountain and Samsung Mountain to the north, Suri Mountain to the southwest, and Cheongye Mountain and Morak Mountain to the other sides. There are eight streams and rivers in Anyang, with a length of
The main river is Anyang River (one of the four main tributaries of the Han River in Seoul), which is long. It has a basin area of , fed by 21 tributaries. The center of the overall elliptical basin topography is low and flat. The river runs through the center of Anyang city and is a common place for people to walk, jog, or ride bikes. The river flows through seven cities in Gyeonggi Province. This, however, has caused major issues with pollution. River banks are often covered with parking lots or athletic fields, combined with poor sewerage systems in the upper reaches of the river. As a result, the Anyang Stream Watershed Management Committee for Water Quality Improvement had been established to address some of these issues. In November 2008, the site reopened as a city park.

Anyang has a humid continental climate (Köppen: Dwa), but can be considered a borderline humid subtropical climate (Köppen: Cwa) using the isotherm. Anyang has very cold and dry in winter and hot and humid in summer. However, Anyang is cooler than Seoul in summer. The average annual temperature is 12.3 °C, while the average rainfall is 1,344 mm. Around two thirds of Anyang's rainfall occurs during monsoon season between June and August.

The name Anyang originates from Anyang mall which was established by Wang Geon, the First Emperor of the Goryeo dynasty. In the fourth year of Hyōgong, king of Silla (900), Wang Geon, a general of Gung Ye, was passing through Samsung Mountain to quell the rebellion in the Gumju (Siheung) and Gwaju (Gwacheon) areas. During their travels, the troops met an old Buddhist priest named Neungjung, and while listening to the priest, Wang Geon had the idea of building a temple at the location. Anyang itself is a Buddhist term signifying a heavenly land where unimaginable joy and freedom overflow. As with most towns and cities in South Korea, Anyang has experienced tremendous urban growth during the past few decades. Anyang was severely battered by warfare during the Korean War. Ten years after it ended, the area's population was still largely rural and its landscape agricultural. It was well known for its grape growing. Anyang was given city status in 1973 and has grown to become the 15th most populated city in the country. It is also becoming a commuter city for many workers in Seoul because of its close proximity.

1963: A ferry sank near Seoul drowning 37 children and 12 adults, the majority of whom were school children from Anyang who were returning from a picnic. 1964: Three people were killed and 100 injured in an explosion of artillery duds in an Anyang workshop. 1973: Anyang is granted city status. 1977: A flood devastates the Seoul region killing 335, including 148 in Anyang and adjacent areas. Anyang Technical College opens. 1991: Police forced their way into Anyang Prison Hospital to retrieve the body of Labour Leader Park Chang soo who they believed had committed suicide by leaping from a window. It took nine hours to get past the 1,500 protesters who were protecting the body in the belief that he had been murdered and that the police were trying to consist a cover up. 1995: Former South Korean president Chun Doo hwan was placed in Anyang Prison as he was to be indicted on charges stemming from a 1979 mutiny. 1997: Chun Doo hwan is freed from Anyang Prison. 2001: Anyang City officials tell Komachi Japan they will not accept seventeen Komachi exchange students due to distorted content of Japanese text books on the Korean War. 2007: In September, 23 Korean hostages, held captive by Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan, are freed and upon their arrival are taken to Sam Anyang Hospital. Hye jin Lee, 11, and her friend Ye seul Woo, 8, went missing on Christmas Day in Anyang. Lee's body was found on a mountain in Suwon 77 days after the children went missing. 2013: The 12th Anyang Citizens Festival was held in Pyeongchon Central Park. This festival celebrated Anyang's 40th anniversary as a city.

Like most cities in South Korea, the population is made up almost entirely of ethnic Koreans. In 2007, there were 624,197 South Koreans resident in Anyang (311,702 males and 312,495 females), and 6,491 non South Koreans (3,148 males and 3,343 females). Non South Koreans were Chinese (4,706), Vietnamese (315), Americans (283), Filipinos (168), Japanese (147), British (21), and others including Israelis (771).

The city is divided into 31 further subsidiary districts ('dong') subdivisions of cities and counties in South Korea. # Place Population(2007) Household Businesses Area(km2) # Place Population Household Businesses Area(km2)1Seoksu 1 dong19,2396,8276129.2217Bisan 1 dong28,2379,4106811.812Seoksu 2 dong33,30512,3251,9503.4318Bisan 2 dong20,0424,0486180.463Seoksu 3 dong11,1404,2834930.719Bisan 3 dong27,0189,8631,0745.564Bakdal 1 dong17,9397,5161,1740.9320Dalan dong13,7085,8596700.445Bakdal 2 dong23,8157,5726276.921Burim dong27,91610,4061,5410.866Anyang 1 dong18,8646,5172,5430.6722Buheung dong20,0426,8258120.57Anyang 2 dong25,21910,4071,7652.8523Pyeongan dong27,8048,9714740.648Anyang 3 dong19,9237,8581,0551.0224Pyeongchon dong16,8235,4329630.829Anyang 4 dong7,2352,9971,6530.3125Gwiin dong18,6155,4321,1510.6410Anyang 5 dong15,3886,3079790.526Gwanyang 1 dong28,94310,8081,9333.1911Anyang 6 dong19,5938,4041,7681.4727Gwanyang 2 dong17,4787,2972,1051.7912Anyang 7 dong16,9416,4751,8241.0428Sinchon dong15,2424,7466780.6613Anyang 8 dong13,3075,4348211.0929Hogye 1 dong18,2877,4503,1761.0314Anyang 9 dong19,6617,2045756.4230Hogye 2 dong29,03110,0691,4191.4315Galsan dong12,4154,1023850.731Hogye 3 dong25,5408,5709680.7516Beomgye dong17,5745,9651,9510.64
*Figures based on resident registration figures made available by local government offices.

In early 2010, previous Anyang mayor, Phil woon Lee announced plans to build a 100 storey city hall. It was thought that it could house a hotel, cinemas, shopping complexes and other facilities. However, the plans garnered negative responses from both central government and local residents, as several other local governments recently built new city hall at great tax payer expense. Other recent major redevelopment plans have taken down several buildings in Anyang, particularly the Manan Gu area's run down apartment buildings on highly valued land within walking distance of Anyang Station.

Many workers from Seoul are residents in Anyang, commuting daily between Anyang and Seoul. There are 1,194 companies based in Anyang City. An area encompassing a 3 km section from Myunghak Station to Indeogwon Station to Kwanak ro was appointed as 'Anyang Venture Valley' in November 2001 as a part of an effort to support venture companies. There are currently 6,300 people working in 238 company and venture company facilities including Anyang K Center and Manan Venture Center, Pyongchon IT Venture Center, Kumkang Venturetel and Delta Venture Center.

Anyang City Hall has a project named 'Anyang Art City 21 Project' which aims to create "a beautiful city, an art city and a well being city by adding virtuosity to the exterior of city buildings and harmonizing the city sight with natural environment". Anyang also has the country's only Singing Road, which is made from grooves cut into the ground, which driven over causes a tactile vibration and audible rumbling transmitted through the wheels into the car body. Drivers can hear the tune of "Mary Had a Little Lamb", and the road is intended to help motorists stay alert and awake.

As of 2007 Anyang has 84 kindergartens (6,685 students), 40 elementary schools (48,639), 24 middle schools (29,084), 22 high schools (31,259), two junior colleges (17,638), three universities (13,634) and one school for the disabled (244). The universities include Anyang University, Seonggyeol University, and Gyeongin Education University, while the colleges are Daelim College and Anyang Technical College. Gyeongin National University of Education is also nearby in the mountains. In addition there were 1,026 private educational institutions listed in 2008 with 97,289 students in attendance. These are predominantly after school academies where students go to get additional study or complete homework in a variety of subject areas such as English or Maths. The main area for these institutes is 'academy street', known locally as 'hagwon ga', which is located a few kilometres directly to the south of Anyang Central Park in Dongan Gu. Anyang has eight public libraries (Pyeongchon library, Suksoo library, Kwanak library, Bakdal library, Manan library, Hogye library, Bisan library, Children library, and Gwanyang library). Anyang also has an inline roller skating stadium which hosted the 2006 World Roller Speed Skating Championships, and an inline skate rink in Pyeongchon at Anyang Central Park. There are also numerous council run outdoor basketball courts and football fields in the city of Anyang, along with those on school land.

There are many museums, parks and ancient remains in Anyang, although due to its location and relatively low profile Anyang City does not attract many international tourists. The majority of visitors to Anyang's attractions are either domestic travelers or local residents. The main hotels in Anyang are Samwon Plaza Tourist Hotel, Sogno Hotel, Koam Tourist Hotel, the Anyang Blue Monte Resort & Youth Hostel all located in Manan Gu, and Central Tourist Hotel in Dongan Gu. The Anyang History Museum is located in Galsan dong, Dongan Gu, with the major theme of the museum being the displaying of the history and culture of the Anyang area. A site featuring the banner poles from a Joongcho temple is located in Manan Gu. They are the only banner poles in Korea from the period 827AD, and are so unique that they are designated national treasure no. 4. Anyang also hosts the collected writings of Toegye Lee Hwang (1501–1570), which were written to teach his follower Kwon Ho Mun how to write (national treasure no. 548). Anyang also possesses dozens of nationally recognised 'tangible assets' including Manan Bridge, and the Maaejong rock engraving of a bell from the end of the Silla Dynasty. In addition, Anyang contains the tombstone of Park Suh, a civil servant in the middle Joseon period, as well as dolmens in Pyeongchon, a stone chambered grave in Bisan dong, and a letter engraved in stone by Ji Woon Yong at Sammak Temple.

Anyang hosts four festivals to coincide with the four seasons. The Spring festival begins at the end of May and is focussed around Anyang River. It is made up of a series of performances and "ecological experiences" alongside the river. The Summer festival takes place at the end of August at Pyeongchon Central Park and Byeongmokan Citizen Park. It involves a festival of wind instruments with contests, invitation performances and a parade. The Fall festival is at the beginning of October and takes place at Pyeongchon Central Park. It is a celebration of life in Anyang with a citizens festival featuring plays, food and markets. The Winter festival occurs from December to February and is focused around the indoor skating rink at the Anyang sports complex. The main features are ice hockey, short track ice skating and figure skating exhibitions.

Anyang has 15 traditional markets and 4 shopping districts which include 3 department stores and 9 other large scale stores. Lotte Mart and Lotte Cinema are located next to Anyang Station. Anyang First Street is across the road from Anyang Station, and is the location of a number of restaurants, shopping, and nightlife venues. There are four movie theaters in Anyang and thirty nine movie theater screens. The CJ CGV theater is located near Anyang Station and Pyeongchon Station, DMC theater is located in New Core Outlet, and Cinus theater is located near Indeogwan. Other theaters is named Kinex 10. There are 7,617 listed restaurants in the Anyang area, along with 62 bath houses, 278 barbers, and 1,026 beauty shops. Hakwoon Park, Hogye Park, Byongmokan Civic Park, Seoksu Sports Park, Chunghun Park, and the Changbakgol water reservoir sports park. Anyang Central Park is situated between Pyeonchon Station and Beomgye Station, and contains a series of fountains that flow around the centre of the park with modern art sculptures alongside as part of the Anyang Art Project. It also contains an outdoor stage which holds aerobic classes, tennis courts, a playground, a croquet lawn and various other areas for sport. During the weekend the street dividing the park is closed for a flea market.

In 2007 there were 16,311 reported cases of crime in Anyang. There were 13,771 arrests made during the same year. In 2008, there were 20,854 crimes. The following year, there were 16,990 crimes. However, the recent installation of new CCTV has led to the crime rate decreasing.

In 2013, Anyang (along with Busan) was listed as one of the most polluted cities (in terms of air pollution) in the world's largest economies, with nearly 70 micrograms of particulate matter of less than 10 micron size per cubic meter. From 2016 to now, the construction of GS cogeneration system lead to many conflicts between GS and the residents living near Pyeongchon Dong. Many people believe that the power plant increases air pollution, which is already a heavy issue in Korea.

A huge redevelopment is proposed for the Manan Gu area, beginning in late 2010, with the focus on urban renewal. The proposal would see the building of approximately 24,000 apartment units built over an area of 1,776,000 m2 and see the destruction and redevelopment of the area around Anyang Station. The Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation at Columbia University, in conjunction with the Anyang Public Art Project 2010, has had its students working on concept plans and designs for the redevelopment of the Hogye Apartments in Dongan Gu. There were also 59,185 traffic offences recorded in 2007, the majority of which were committed by passenger vehicles (39,773).