A day before April Fool's Day, among netizens, Korea's lie-like place names are becoming a hot topic.
These names, such as 'Soju Village', 'Bali', and 'Guktojeongjungang-myeon', capture the attention of netizens with their unique names, despite their geographical features, history, and culture.
In Onyang-eup, Ulju-gun, Ulsan Metropolitan City, there is a place named 'Bali'.
This place has the same name as 'Bali', a famous resort resort. During the reign of King Seongjong of the Joseon Dynasty, a monk from the front line left while staying at a temple on Mt. Tapgol. It used to be called 'Balbang' and now has the name 'Bali'.
A place name with the same name as a familiar object stands out.
These are 'Soju-dong' and 'Soju Village' in Yangsan-si, Gyeongsangnam-do.
It is said that the name of this village where you can enjoy drinking and dancing is actually Suzhou (召周) after the name of a region called 'Suzhou' in China.
In Umyeong-ri, Sudong-myeon, Hamyang-gun, there is also a village with a rather strong name of 'Gura (九羅)'.
This is a historic village that is presumed to have existed before the Jeongyujaeran, and according to a story handed down in the village, all nine sons of the 'Ra' clan in this village during the Joseon Dynasty took the exam in the past, but they all moved to another place due to reasons such as a partisan fight. While doing so, I got the name 'Gura', meaning 'there were nine Ra clan'.
Besides, there are many interesting place names such as 'Satan' village in Muju-gun, Jeollabuk-do and 'Daegae (大佳)-ri' meaning great beauty in Pungsan-myeon, Sunchang-gun, Jeollabuk-do.
Some names are made with regional characteristics, while others are made special by local people working together.
It is 'Guktojeongjungang-myeon' located in Yanggu-gun, Gangwon-do.
This place was originally 'Nam-myeon' in Yanggu-gun, but the name was changed from January 4, 2021.
The local residents worked together to investigate the pros and cons for a month from July 21, 2020, and in November of the same year, the 'Ordinance on Name Change of Nam-myeon, Yanggu-gun' was enacted and the name was changed.
In addition to Nam-myeon in Yanggu, Pyeongchang-gun, where the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics was held, changed Doam-myeon to 'Daegwallyeong-myeon', Yeongwol-gun changed Seomyeon to 'Hanbando-myeon', Hadong-myeon to 'Kimsatgat-myeon', and Su-myeon to 'Mureungdowon-myeon', respectively. was renamed to reflect local characteristics.
This is a 'news pick'.
(Photo = Naver Map, Korean Local Culture Electronic Exhibition, Hamyang-gun/Yanggu-gun website)