Paju Challengers

Paju (; ) is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Paju was made a city in 1997; it had previously been a county (''gun'').

The city area of Paju is ,"Paju (Gyeonggi-do Province)." ''Naver Encyclopedia of Knowledge''. Naver, 2015. 4 Mar. 2016. and it is located just south of Panmunjeom on the 38th parallel. In 2024, the population of Paju was over 501,000. To defend the South Korean capital, Seoul, many U.S. and South Korean Army bases are set up in the area.
In 2002, the northernmost South Korean railway station, Dorasan, was opened, on Gyeongui Line. North Korean territory and the city Kaesong can be seen from Paju's mountain Dorasan.

Paju has seen steady residential growth due to its proximity to Seoul. The city is connected to Seoul via the Gyeongui–Jungang Line and several express bus routes, with travel times to central Seoul typically under an hour. These transportation links have contributed to Paju’s development as a commuter city. In addition to residential areas, Paju is home to cultural and tourism sites such as Heyri Art Valley, Paju Book City, and Imjingak Peace Park, attracting both residents and visitors. The city also hosts several large-scale retail complexes, includin
Shinsegae Paju Premium Outlets
an
Lotte Premium Outlet Paju
Branch, which attract significant foot traffic from nearby regions.

City symbols

Cosmos

The cosmos is a representative flower that grows during spring in Paju. It has very strong vitality, and symbolize unity and harmonious life as a citizen of Paju. The flowers have different colors, including pale pink and red.

Ginkgo

Ginkgos are usually planted as street trees. People can obtain high-quality wood from them. Also, their leaves and fruits are used as a valuable medicine.

Pigeon

Pigeons are meek and gentle with soft feathers which follow humans well. They symbolize the peace and security of mankind, and they mean to desire the unification of the Korean Peninsula and the well-being of citizens.

Badge of Paju

The badge brings the look of Paju implicitly. Semiconductors, which symbolize high-tech industry, high-quality culture and books, and life based on the shape of the rice industry have represented the badge with the symbol Paju logo.

Geography

Paju has east and west low type of geographic trait. Many mountains are located in eastern Paju, assemble to create the border with Yangju. In northern Paju, mountains form the border with Goyang. Moreover, in central Paju some lower mountains spread toward south. For the major rivers in Paju, there are Imjin River and Han River. Imjin River flows between northern west and west, and Han River flows in western south of Paju.

Climate

Paju has a monsoon-influenced humid continental climate (Köppen: ''Dwa'') with cold, dry winters and hot, rainy summers. The average annual temperature of Paju is 11 °C, the average January temperature is -4.6 °C and the average temperature is 25 °C in August. Lastly, annual precipitation of Paju is around 1,300 mm.

Tourist attractions

Heyri Art Valley

Heyri Art Valley is the largest art village in South Korea and its Korean culture and many genres of art attract visitors. The area includes residences, workrooms and galleries for artists, museums and performance spaces designed by artists. It was planned from 1998 and its name Heyri is derived from a traditional farming song of Paju. Architects tried to combine the view of nature with the valley when they make plan. The valley hosts art performances appealing to audiences of all ages. The attractive theme brings people to visit every weekend, and more people visit the valley in spring and autumn because it holds art festival during the seasons.

Imjingak

Imjingak is a park located on the banks of the Imjin River along the tracks of the former Gyeongui Train Line outside Paju. The park has many statues and monuments regarding the Korean War. There is also a restaurant, an observation deck, a pool in the shape of the Korean peninsula, and even a small amusement park.

Specialties

Jangdan bean

Jangdan beans are one of Paju's famous traditional specialties. From a long time ago, crops have been important for Korean people's livelihood because their land and environment were suited for agriculture. Therefore, two major crops, rice and bean, have been developed over time. Jangdan bean is one of these crops which have been harvested in Paju. The name Jangdan is derived from the name of a village in Paju, which existed before the Korean War. Even though the village is now gone, people still call the bean the Jangdan bean because the former village was so well known for these beans. Today, Jangdan beans are only commonly seen In Panmunjom which is located at the border between South Korea and North Korea.

Education

The city has 3 polytechnic universities including Doowon Technical University College.

Paju English Village

Paju English Village is a huge area which was constructed to teach children English and let them experience western culture. Hundreds of foreign teachers are employed in the village. The educational village pushes ahead various curriculum to provide several educational programs called "English Camp". To attend the programs, children's parents have to pay and send children to the village for several days. The length of the program is depending on the type of program. People also visit the village because of its visual and new cultural atmosphere.

Sports

Paju Challengers is an independent baseball team, has been based in the city.

Administrative divisions

Paju is divided as follows:
* Beobwon-eup ()
* Paju-eup ()
* Munsan-eup ()
* Jori-eup ()
* Wollong-myeon ()
* Papyeong-myeon ()
* Jeokseong-myeon ()
* Gwangtan-myeon ()
* Tanhyeon-myeon ()
* Gunnae-myeon ()
* Jangdan-myeon ()
* Jinseo-myeon ()
* Jindong-myeon ()
* Gyoha-dong ()
* Geumchon1(il)-dong ()
** Geumchon-dong ()
** Adong-dong ()
** Yadong-dong ()
** Geomsan-dong ()
** Maekgeum-dong ()
* Geumchon-2(ii)-dong ()
** Geumchon-dong ()
** Geumneung-dong ()
* Unjeong 1(il)-dong ()
** Gyoha-dong ()
** Dangha-dong ()
** Wadong-dong ()
* Unjeong 2(i)-dong ()
** Mokdong-dong ()
* Unjeong 3(Sam)-dong ()
** Dongpae-dong ()
** Yadang-dong ()

Military bases

* Camp Bonifas and Camp Liberty-Bell (home to US/ROKA Joint Security Area)
* Camp Dodge – closed
* Camp Edwards – closed
* Camp Garry Owen – closed
* Camp Giant – closed
* Camp Greaves – closed
* Camp Howze – closed
* Camp Irwin – closed
* Camp Pelham – closed
* Camp Semper Fidelis (home of 1st Provisional DMZ Police Co., 1st Marine Div. 1953–1956)
* Camp Stanton – closed
* Multi-Purpose Live Fire Complex (MLFC), also called Rodriguez Range or Rodriguez Live Fire Complex

Military cemetery

It was established in 1996 to hold the remains of Korean People's Army and Chinese People's Volunteer Army soldiers killed during the Korean War. In March 2014 the Chinese remains were repatriated for reburial in Shenyang, China.

Attractions

* Gloucester Valley Battle Monument ("Gloster Hill") – war memorial
* Heyri Art Valley – with 350 artists in fine arts, music, theater, photography, sculpture, crafts and literature. It aims to promote cultural interchange, education, and exhibit and sell hand-crafted works of art.
* Jayuro Road of Freedom
* Panmunjom
* Korean Demilitarized Zone
* Paju Book City
* Tongilro Road of Unification or National Road No. 1
* Yong Ju Gol – a red-light district

Notable people

* Sim Sang-jung, former leader of the Justice Party (South Korea), member of the National Assembly (South Korea) representing Gyeonggi Goyang A, and 2017 South Korean presidential election
* Kim Young-moo, poet and scholar
* Ahn Jung-Hwan, professional footballer and show host
* Cho Jae-jin, professional footballer
*Yoon Do-hyun, musician, lead singer of YB
* Kang Jiyoung, pop singer and actress, former member of South Korean girl group Kara
*Hwang Kwanghee, member of South Korean boy group ZE:A
* Choi Ji-woo, South Korean actress
* Danielle, member of South Korean girl group NewJeans
* Kim Eun-jung, children's writer
* Park Myung-keun, South Korean politician and four-time elected member of the National Assembly (South Korea)
* Paull Shin, American educator and politician

In popular culture

* It is the location of the 2009 film ''Paju'', starring by Lee Sun-kyun and Seo Woo.
* Parts of ''Burning'', South Korea's 2018 submission for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, are set in Paju.
* The Mnet survival show '' Produce 101'' were filmed at the English Village.
*The Mnet survival show '' I-Land'' were filmed at the CJ E&M Contents World.
*The '' 2020 Mnet Asian Music Awards'' were filmed at the CJ E&M Contents World.

Sister cities

Paju is twinned with the following places:

*Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada
* Cuenca, Castilla–La Mancha, Spain
*Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia
*Eskişehir, Turkey
* Hadano, Kanagawa, Japan
* Jinzhou, Liaoning, China
*Mudanjiang, Heilongjiang, China
*Pasadena, California, United States
*Stellenbosch, South Africa

See also

*List of cities in South Korea

References

External links

*
City government website

City Council website

road from DPRK to Paju

{{Authority control

Cities in Gyeonggi Province