Hwagang
Hwagang-sudosi
화강수도시 | |
|---|---|
Autonomous Capital City | |
 The Dalseongjeon and a portion of the Capital Esplanade | |
 Flag | |
| Nickname(s): The Square, Canal City | |
| Country |  Haesan |
| Administrative District (Province) | Hwagang Capital Zone (autonomous) |
| Founded | 1972 |
| Founded by | Henri Lagarde |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Shin Yu-geon (Free Democrats) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3,100 km2 (1,210 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1,119 m (3,671 ft) |
| Population (2015) | |
| • Total | 2,105,678 |
| • Density | 670/km2 (1,700/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+7 (CHT) |
| Website | hwagang.hn |
Hwagang is a planned city that has served as the autonomous capital city of Haesan since its construction in 1972. It is home to all three branches of Haesan's government, hosting the National Assembly, the Dalseongjeon (달성전, lit. Moon Sanctuary) the Presidential Residence of Haesan, Haesan's High Court, and the Prime Minister's residence at 7 Court Street. The city lies at an elevation of 1,119 m (3,671 ft) amongst the Maehwa Mountains and straddles the National Canal Zone, connecting the Hwa and Eun Rivers to the south with the Marchal river to the north. The city's main focus is politics and government, but other large service industries such as tech and consulting have taken root in the city, largely in support of governmental agencies, especially in economics, trade, and defence.
History
Small agricultural settlements had existed in the Hwagang region dating back millennia, and the construction of the National Canal during the 12th century generated development in the region. However, Hwagang in its current form would not be founded for centuries after the canal's construction first brought migration to the region. After the Great War, the nation's former capital Suyang was severely damaged and reconstruction was still incomplete by the time the autocrat Henri Lagarde returned to power in 1972. Seeing the need for a renovated seat of government, and swayed by Arrivée interests that wanted a more central capital location, Lagarde ordered that a new capital be built in the lowlands of the Hwagang Valley in his 1972 "National Capital Proclamation". Initially a sum of 1 billion £SCT was allotted to develop grand infrastructure projects and for the construction of grand national landmarks to serve as the seat of government.
Construction on the city center was slated to begin in September 1972, but delays in shipping the building materials upriver delayed the start until January 1973. Development progressed extraordinarily slowly as contractors were delayed by shortages, higher demand for resources in other parts of the country, and an infrastructure system still damaged from the Great War. By the end of 1973, construction on the Dalseongjeon had progressed but was far behind schedule, so when the city received abnormally severe rain storms in the winter of 1974, the entire structure was flooded, causing significant damage and leading to its west wing needing to be demolished and rebuilt. Construction on the National Esplanade was similarly delayed as the ground remained waterlogged for much of the spring as it had yet to be sufficiently graded for drainage. Meanwhile, the construction bill continued to rise and some even within the Lagarde government were increasingly doubtful about the project.
The first major success came in October 1975, when the National Assembly building was completed. The Dalseongjeon's dome was topped off in February 1976, and the building was inaugurated that June. The Capitol Esplanade and its adjacent monuments and memorials were finished in March 1977, and the High Court was completed in May. By 1978, virtually all key government operations had migrated to the new capital city. The project ultimately cost over 15 billion £SCT.
Since the arrival of government departments, the city has rapidly expanded its footprint. While only having a population of 50,000 in 1980, by 2003 Hwagang had a population of 1 million, which has more than doubled in the decades since.
Geography
The city's geographic footprint is technically rectangular, but many in Haesan refer to the capital using the misnomer "the square". The city is bisected by the National Canal, which connects Anfa and the Marchal Valley to its north with Anmi and the Eungang to the south. On the west bank of the canal lies the National Esplanade, a 1,972 m (6,470 ft) long series of parks, memorials, and stone tiled pedestrian walkways which connect many major government buildings. On the north end of the Esplanade lies the Dalseongjeon, the residency of the President of Haesan, while the National Assembly is on its southern end. On the canal's east bank runs Court Street, on which the High Court of Haesan and the residence of the Haesanite Prime Minister are located. Two major bridges cross the canal at either end of the National Esplanade, the Memorial Bridge at the north end and the Liberation Bridge at the south end. Mile 0 in Haesan was briefly located at the front steps of the Dalseongjeon, but it has since returned to Jangsa, Suyang.
Economy
Government and government related industries employ well over half of Hwagang's residents. All major government agencies are located in the city, and as such a robust network of lobbying and consulting firms has sprouted up over time. The city has become home to a growing number of finance firms in recent years. Logistics and shipping, managing trade along the National Canal, are also major industries in the city. The interchanges of three inter-province majors are located in Hwagang's city limits. The city is a stop on the Central Valley Express (CVX) high speed train line and is connected to Suyang by the National Railway, with one-stop service in Imae, Eungang. Hwagang's Capital Airport (HWA) is the 9th busiest airport in Haesan.