Gyeongsangbuk-do Province (South Korea)

Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, also known as North Gyeongsang Province or Gyeongbuk, is a province in eastern South Korea. The province was formed in 1896 from the northern half of the former Gyeongsang province, remained a province of Korea until the country's division in 1945, and then became part of South Korea.

Daegu was the capital of North Gyeongsang Province between 1896 and 1981, but has not been a part of the province since 1981. In 2016, the provincial capital moved from Daegu to Andong.

The area of the province is 19,030 square kilometres (7,350 sq mi), 19.1% of the total area of South Korea. Gyeongsangbuk-do is divided into 10 cities (si) and 13 counties (gun).

Geography and climate

The province is part of the Yeongnam region, on the south by Gyeongsangnam-do, on the west by Jeollabuk-do and Chungcheongbuk-do Provinces, and on the north by Gangwon-do Province. During the summer, Gyeongsangbuk-do is perhaps the hottest province in South Korea. This is helped by the fact that the province is largely surrounded by mountains: the Taebaek Mountains in the east and the Sobaek Mountains in the west.

Culture

Gyeongsangbuk-do is the homeland of the former kingdom of Silla and has retained much of its cultural tradition. A number of artists, political leaders and scholars have come from the province.

Tourism

The province includes two national parks -- Juwangsan and Gyeongju, which includes the major Shilla historical sites around Gyeongju city. It also has several other national and provincial parks within its borders.

Most of its eastern coast remains largely indented, except for Yeonghil Bay in Pohang, which has the region's best harbor. The coastal drive has unexpected scenery that varies with sandy stretches, craggy rocks, lowlands, and isolated fishing villages. It would be one of the most scenic areas of the peninsula, except for some of the barbed wire installed between marine lookouts perched on coastal viewpoints.

Despite its eastern coastline, Gyeongbuk is oriented inland, focusing mainly on the agriculture and land of the region. The only sizable island in the province is Ulleung-do, about a 3-hour boat ride away from the mainland.