Hyangsan
Hyangsan-si
향산시 | |
|---|---|
Provincial Capital | |
 Hyangsan on the Su River (Sugang) | |
| Nickname(s): City of Flowers, Camellia City | |
| Country |  Haesan |
| Administrative District (Province) |  Sugang |
| Founded | 113 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Kim Ha-rin (Conservative Party) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 660 km2 (253 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 239 m (783 ft) |
| Population (2015) | |
| • Total | 4,590,341 |
| • Density | 7,000/km2 (18,000/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+6 (WHT) |
| Website | hyangsansi.hn |
Hyangsan is a city in Haesan located on the Sugang (Su River) and is the capital of Sugang Province. With a population a little over 4.5 million, Hyangsan is the fourth most populous city in Haesan, and by far the most populous in the country's interior. Originally an agricultural market town, the city is now heavily industrialized and is the historical center of the Haesanite automotive industry. It is the most ethnically homogenous of Haesan's major cities, with over 90% of citizens identifying as at least partially Haemi, and is notably socially and politically conservative.
The Sugang region has long been seen as a breadbasket for Suyang, and Hyangsan has historically been the last stop for agricultural products from the river valley before being floated by barge downriver. It was not until the United Dominion of Haesan when Hyangsan became seen as a major city in its own right, when the Great Duke Han appointed a governor to the town specifically for overseeing the Sugang valley's agricultural production. Most of the city's medieval history was as a supply link to Suyang, the city had a middling population and remained relatively poor compared to the major coastal port cities.
During Opthelian rule, the city was relatively peaceful and stable due to a cunning deal between the Opthelian governor and three key stakeholders in the agricultural, shipping, and trade sectors, giving the key economic interests general freedom while Opthelian authorities were able to seize political control. The reforms of Governor Nelson in the mid 19th century transformed the economy into one that was more heavily focused on manufacturing, adding flaxseed to the crop rotation in much of the surrounding farmland and creating large scale linen weaving operations in the city. The arrival of the Belford Steel Mill in 1884 started the full conversion of the economy into an industrial one.
Hyangsan was largely controlled by a cartel of industry titans during the First Commonwealth, who often dictated the results of their employees at the ballot box. Hyangsan generally welcomed the April Coup in 1942, as many thought it would bring change to the system. However, the successive dictatorships entrenched the system of corporate governance, and dissent was generally minimized by the risk of becoming unemployable. During the Great War, the city was bombed and seiged by Coalition forces during the 11 months the Daryans occupied the city. It was later used as a logistics depot for the Coalition during the remainder of the Reclamation of Haesan and was a perpetual target for Daryan forces during the middle phase of the campaign.
Post-war, industrial interests have continued to dominate the city's politics, up until the present day. The city is the hometown of Pak Ye-ju, and voted overwhelmingly for her with an 86% margin in the pivotal 1985 election, the first of the Second Commonwealth. The rapid growth of Haesanite manufacturing has benefited the city immensely as the manufacturing sector driven by the automotive industry has expanded to contribute upwards of 60% of the city's GDP. The city now has a high concentration of middle-class blue collar workers and has been the subject to a brain drain with many well educated youth moving to Seowon and Suyang.
Suri Motors is headquartered in Hyangsan, as is Seollim Automotive, Jinsu Motors, and the Jeongyong Motor Company. It is estimated the automotive industry, either in manufacturing or the business side, employs about a third of Hyangsan's workforce. The city is a major interchange for the inter-province highway system, with H4, H5, H7 and H12 running through the city. It is a major stop on the Trans-Haesan Express high speed rail line. Hyangsan is served by a five line metro system with commuter connections to the broader Sugang Province region. Its primary airport, Hyangsan Pak Ye-ju International Airport (HYN), is the sixth busiest airport in Haesan.
Hyangsan has a fair number of colleges and universities, 17 overall, headlined by Chunghwa University, a member of the prestigious National Conference. Although nightlife is uncommon, Hyangsan has a pronounced drinking culture, with Haean barbecue joints and other forms of cheap food and drink common throughout the city. Hyangsan is also historically a hub of traditional ceramics craftsmanship in Haesan.
Hyangsan has a diverse sporting heritage. The association football team Hyangsan Athletic has regularly qualified for Hesperidan competition in recent years as one of the best teams in the Commonwealth League. In baseball, the Hwagang Jinsu Blossoms have acheived success in the Haesanite National League, winning back to back Astral Cups in 2007 and 2008. Hyangsan is also the hub for Haesanite motor sports, with its Yeosan Circuit hosting the Haesan Grand Prix and serving as the home track for Seollim Racing.
Notable places[edit | edit source]
- Baekseol-ro, a pedestrian walkway known for its many ceramics galleries
- Jeonggyesa, a 13th century Celestine temple complex known for its intricate painted roof designs and still home to one of the largest active Celestine congregations
- Pak Ye-ju Library and Museum, a monumental museum containing the records of Haesan's first prime minister of the Second Commonwealth
- Yeosan Circuit, a historic racetrack home to the Haesan Grand Prix and the Haesanite Racing Hall of Fame