Hadong County

The county of Hadong was called Dasachon (Korean: 다사촌; Hanja: 大沙县, "county of much sand") when it was a part of the Jin state, later becoming a part of Nangnoguk (Korean: 낙노국; Hanja: 樂奴國), one of twelve statelets of the Byeonhan confederacy. According to the History of the Three Kingdoms, the region was called Handasa-gun (Korean: 한다사군), then changed into Hadong-gun in 757 CE, during the reign of King Gyeongdeok of Silla. During the Goryeo dynasty, the area was known as Hadong-hyeon (Korean: 하동현). In 1414, during the reign of the Joseon-era King Taejong, it became known as Hanamhyeon (Korean: 하남현) with Namhaehyeon (Korean: 남해현). It was raised to the status of Hadongdohobu (Korean: 하동도호부) in 1740, in the thirtieth year of King Sukjong's reign.^[2] During the Korean War the region was the site of a North Korean attack on US Army forces, the Hadong Ambush.

• 1702: Agyang-myeon (악양면, 岳陽面) added to Hadong-gun
• April 1, 1914: Seo-myeon (Korean: 서면) and Geumyang-myeon (Korean: 금양면) added
• January 1, 1915: Part of Seomjin-ri (Korean: 섬진리), Daap-myeon (Korean: 다압면), Gwangyang-gun (광양군, 光陽郡), South Jeolla Province added
• 1917: Naehoengbo-myeon (Korean: 내횡보면) renamed to Hoengcheon-myeon (Korean: 횡천면); Deokyang-myeon (Korean: 덕양면) renamed to Jingyo-myeon (Korean: 진교면)
• January 1, 1933: Geumyang-myeon (Korean: 금양면) was abolished and incorporated into Jingyo-myeon (Korean: 진교면) and Geumnam-myeon (Korean: 금남면), formerly Nam-myeon (Korean: 남면)
• October 1, 1938: Hadong-myeon (Korean: 하동면) elevated to Hadong-eup (Korean: 하동읍)

Nestled between the Seomjin River and Mount Jiri, the county is a popular destination for both domestic and foreign tourists who enjoy nature.^[3] Parts of the Jirisan National Park lie within the county and form the county's notable hilly, mountainous landscape.^[4]

The Ssanggyesa (Ssangye Temple) is a notable historic temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism and is a designated National Treasure.

Pak Gyeongni's 16-volume novel Land is partly set in the village of Pyeongsa-ri (Korean: 평사리; Hanja: 平沙里) in Agyang-myeon, Hadong County. A replica of the fictional Choi family's home was built there to commemorate the author's legacy.^[3][5]

While much of Korea has experienced an explosion of industrial development, Hadong remains a destination for those who wish to escape the bustle of city living.^{[original research?]} However, a lack of activity in the industrial sector has left the government with little incentive to expanding the sometimes inadequate existing road infrastructure.^{[original research?]} A petition for the allocation of funds for new road construction was signed by a number of Hadong residents.^[7]

Former South Korean president Lee Myung-bak has recently^[when?] announced plans for the construction of a Gyeongsangnam-do leisure resort palace in Hadong.^[8]

• Jeong Gi-ryong
• Yi Byeong-ju, a novelist, journalist, and reporter
• Jeong Ho-seung
• Kang Man-soo
• Jeong Gongchae, who won the 1960 Contemporary Literature (Hyundae Munhak) Award for poetry for "Coal" (石炭) and "Freedom" (自由)^[9]

• • High schools
• • Middle schools
• Agyang Middle School

Hadong is twinned with:

• Anyang, South Korea
• Gwangyang, South Korea
• Geoje, South Korea
• Seongdong-gu, South Korea
• Haeundae-gu, South Korea
• Zhangqiu, China
• Ya'an, China
• Zhangjiajie, China