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The Characteristics of Natural Landscape of Gaesung as Reflected in the Geographical Names (지명 속에 나타난 북한 개성시의 자연경관특성)

Lee Young-Hee
- Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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- v.41 no.3 s.114
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- pp.283-300
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- 2006
Gaesung city of North Korea is meaningful because of the development of Gaesung industrial complex as a peace-building project and economical cooperation works between South Korea and North Korea. This article presents the characteristics of natural landscape of Gaesung through geographical names. This research was studied by literature analysis of North Korea, depth interview of North Korean labour and refugees, and second times fieldwork. The main results of this study are as follows. Firstly, the mountain landscape of Geasung revealed on geographical names characterized mountainousness and round shape. Especially, the places where are enclosed by mountain and streams are foggy and rocky. Next the landscape of stream characterizes sandy, unstable, and tidal river. Thirdly the fauna and flora which are reflected on geographical names are hawk, snake, tiger, homed owl, snapping turtle, chestnut tree, pine tree, pear tree, zelkova tree, and willow etcetera. The environmental conditions of habitation of these are similar to the natural environment of Gaesung. Besides, the geographical names related to soil distributed in northern mountain area of Geasung. The place names implicated cliff located on the riverside. In addition to this, the geographical name of 'Bul' implicated plain distributed in the riverside of 'Seoam' which a branch stream of 'Sacheo'. And the place names related rock located in place enclosed by mountain, river, and village. In cnclusion, Gaesung is more important to us as the Gaesung industrial complex and tourism development. But the fundamental research on Gaesung is a few because Gaesung belongs to North Korea. Therefore, this research will be useful for the control and management of Gaesung in the future.
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