Map of Korea (3):   Chagang Province

Illustrated by Pak Chi Hon

The Province of Chagang was established in December 1949, consolidating Kanggye, Chasong, Fuchang, Chosan, Huichon and part of Changjin. Later in 1954, two other counties including Rangrim County was merged with it.

Situated in the Kanggye mountain districts, the province is rich in minerals, forestry and water resources.

Before Korea was liberated from Japan's colonial rule on Aug. 15, 1945, nearly 50 % of the local population was fire-field farmers.

During the days of Japan's colonial rule of Korea, the province fell victim to Japan's resource expropriation.

Japan set up the "Forest Administration Office of the Government General of Korea," and plundered forestry resources in the area. Later, a total of four administration offices were established, and some 20 "forestry reservation areas" were designated where forestry resources were thoroughly plundered.

In the name of "Development of Underground Resource in North Korea," Japan also deprived mineral resources of the area, including copper, granite and zinc, which were materials necessary for Japan's munitions industry. At that time, there were a timber mill, a brewery and two mines in the area, whose industrial output accounted for a mere 0.6 % of the total of northern half of the Peninsula then.

After the liberation of Korea from Japan's colonial rule, electric power, machine, technology, agricultural and light industries were developed, by utilizing its rich resources and geological conditions of the province. Modern technologies were introduced into mines and forestry industries. Rich river and lake water resources enabled the construction of the Changja River, Kanggye Youth and Unbong hydroelectric plants.

Today, more than 1,320 kinds of goods are manufactured by some 310 local factories, including some 40 food, 70 daily necessities, 40 fabric and 10 lumber factories.

Among them, the Huichon Machine Tool Plant is called a "mother plant" where "machines beget machine tools." Lathes, milling machines, drilling machines and grinders produced in the plant are highly acclaimed in foreign countries.

The Kanggye Wine, Kanggye Pencil and Chonchon Match Factories also won a good reputation for their high quality products, which are widely exported to foreign countries.

Though living distant from the capital, Pyongyang, people in the province played a model role as innovators in the days of the "arduous march," as they resolved problems in their living, such as shortage of electric power, on their own. Today, the words "Kanggye Spirit," with which the local people overcame difficulties, have become a symbol of self-reliance to the Korean people.

Sightseeing Spots

Sight seeing spots in the Province include well-known historical heritages.

Sonkomchong, consisting of a base and an upper story building, is located on the top of a precipitous cliff in Manpo City. "Son" and "kom" in Chinese kanji respectively mean "to wash" and "sword." In 1636 when foreign aggressors invaded the northern border of Korea, people bravely annihilated the invaders. Then they washed their swords with the water of the Amrok River. Their offspring, who built the house, named it "Sonkomchong" to commemorate the bravery of their ancestors.

From the Sonkomchong, tourists can see harmonious scenery of nature which is called one of the "eight best scenic places in western Korea."

A house called Inpungru, located on the precipitous cliff at the meeting point of the Changja and Puk rivers, also presents one of the "eight best scenic spots."

Inpungru

Under the Inpungru flows the Changja River, and the Rangrim mountain range shining with green pine trees stand across it. From the Inpungru people come across exceptionally fine views of mountains and rivers. The house built as part of Kanggye Castle in 1472 was burnt down in 1663, but was reconstructed in the same year.

Another representative historical heritage is a government office in Kanggye. It was first built in 1663 under the Ri Dynasty, and was reconstructed in 1888. The building and the Sonhwadang in Hamhung, South Hamgyong Province are regarded as a twin historical buildings in Korea. The building is known as a place where people in Kanggye rose up against suppression and plunder by the feudal government in 1892.

Photos of Nature in the Area around Chagang Province

Chonchon fir tree is the largest of its kind in the DPRK.

Brown bears inhabit mountains and forests in North and South Hamgyong, Ryanggang and Chagang Provinces.

Woodpecker which inhabits in the northern north Korea is designated as a natural treasure.

　  Data on Chagang Province

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