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Pohang : A Global City of Hopes and Dreams
Over the past century, Pohang has undergone numerous changes and achieved remarkable development. It has transformed itself into the world's leader in steelmaking, a center of education, culture and the arts, an environmentally friendly city of science and technology, a maritime transportation center for the Pacific Rim, and a highly advanced city of the new era.
Pohang aims to become a global city of hopes and dreams leading the world into the 21st century
Pohang, the city where the sun first rises on the Korean Peninsula, is the biggest port on the east coast. It is also a transportation center linking the sea and the inland areas.
Named after Pohangchang, a Joseon Dynasty grain warehouse, Pohang saw its administrative status rise from Pohang-myeon to Pohang-eup in 1931 and to Pohang city in 1941, on the way to its emergence as the largest city in North Gyeongsang Province.
As the world's leading steelmaking city built on what used to be a desolate tidal flat along Yeongil Bay, Pohang has led the nation's economic development over the past half century. It is now being developed into a city that boasts cutting-edge science and technology, and is fast becoming a maritime transportation center for Northeast Asia.
Pohang vibrates with the ceaseless pioneering spirit of its citizens who have fought and triumphed over rough waters and winds. With a burning passion resembling an iron furnace and marked by a unique tenacity, the city is soaring into the future and opening itself to the world.
Now, Pohang will realize the hopes and dreams for prosperity of its 520,000 citizens transforming into an international city through its global science industry, environmental efforts, as a hub for tourism in Northeast Asia and a strategic point for international trade leading the future of North Gyeongsang Province.
Lying on the east coast, Pohang has long been blessed by enviable natural surroundings. It's a city endowed with beautiful nature all year round as well as a long history steeped in tradition.
With a land area twice the size of Seoul and enjoying a harmonious relationship with the boundless sea, Pohang offers a nature-friendly and leisurely living environment.
The city's 162-kilometer-long coast is lined with beautiful beaches and other superb attractions such as Mt. Naeyeon, Mt. Unje and Yeonsan Falls.
Pohang is a modern city that has kept Korea's unique traditions, history and culture intact.
Pohang is a city famous for the ancient tale of Yeonorang and Seonyeo, which symbolizes the spirit of its citizens. Homi Cape is the place where the sun first rises on the Korean Peninsula. Historical relics including the Janggi Town Castle make Pohang a living museum, revealing its true face as a city of culture.
It's also a city rich in modern cultural infrastructure.
A variety of festivals take place year round, including the National Sunrise Festival, Pohang International Fireworks and Lights Festival , and Pohang BADA International Theater Festival.
A new museum, a new sports center, the new Millennium Hall and a baseball stadium are on the way, along with a new tourism development project that includes the Homee Goet tourism site. Together, they will transform Pohang into a top-notch sports and leisure center --- a city that brings people together in harmony with nature, the arts and culture.
Pohang promises to be reborn as a city of healthy living and prosperity.
Formerly known as "the steel city," Pohang is also a city of world-class education that is essential in the age of globalization.
High-quality human resources are fundamental to enhancing a city's competitiveness. Global leaders of the 21st century are produced here at POSTECH, a leading university of science and technology, Handong University and Gyeongsangbukdo Institute of Science Education.
At these schools and universities, future leaders are working hard to realize their dreams and become the future leaders of Pohang.
Pohang is building an English education center to cultivate human resources with an international sense to meet with the requirements of the global age.
Pohang also has established an adult education system, providing educational opportunities to all citizens as the nation's top-ranking educational city.
Established in the early 1970s, POSCO has led the nation's industrialization through what is known as the miracle of Yeongil Bay, securing for the city a solid reputation as the world's leading center for steel manufacturing.
Building on the achievements of the steel industry, Pohang is now pushing to transform itself into a world-class technopolis that will lead future growth industries like nanotechnology, biotechnology, environmental technology and information technology.
Pohang City has been building a network of cutting-edge research centers including the Pohang Accelerator Laboratory, the National Center for Nanomaterials Technology, Pohang Institute of Intelligent Robotics Research, and the POSTECH Biotech Center. These facilities will catapult Pohang into the ranks of the world's leading high-tech centers.
The Pohang Institute of Intelligent Robotics Research and the 4th Generation Pohang Accelerator Laboratory, in particular, will play a key role in making Pohang a world-leading center for technology.
Pohang aims to diversify its industrial structure beyond the steel industry. POSTECH, a leading institute of science and technology, is at the forefront of this endeavor with research on high-tech materials, low-carbon green growth and the renewable energy industry, robots and medical equipment. Through such efforts, Pohang will once again lead the nation's economic development, emerging as the world's leading center of science and technology.
Pohang Techno Park, the best techno park in Korea, will be developed into a Korean type Silicon Valley called Pohang Techno Valley which will be an international, state-of-the-art area created through the latest technologies and R&D that are connected to an excellent science infrastructure.
In just half a century Pohang has emerged as the global center for steel manufacturing. It is now taking a leap to become a distribution hub for Northeast Asia as well as a leader of North Gyeongsang Province. The Yeongil Bay harbor construction project is at the heart of this effort.
The Yeongil Bay Harbor opened in August, 2009 and is the gateway to the Daegu area and North Gyeongsang Province. It will play a pivotal role as a strategic harbor for trade with Japan, Russia and North Korea. The harbor will elevate Pohang into a major transportation center for regions surrounding the East Sea. It will also become a distribution hub for Northeast Asia.
Pohang has also launched Terranova Pohang Project, an ambitious project to redesign Pohang into a new eco city of culture and the arts, a new land of opportunity.
Pohang is also working to restore the ecosystem of the Dongbinnaehang area, which has suffered from the environmental effects of industrialization. The project calls for building a canal linking Dongbinnaehang and the Hyeongsan River. It is a manifestation of Pohang's ambitious plan to realize an environmentally friendly city where people can live in harmony with nature.
All these are only the modest beginning of Pohang's efforts to make itself into the nation's most livable city. The city of Pohang will pour all its energy into making itself a place full of vitality that provides healthy living for all its citizens.
Pohang is now changing anew. It will transform itself into a city of culture, the arts and world-class education, a scientific and technological center and a distribution hub on the East Sea. Pohang will become a leader for North Gyeongsang Province, Korea and the world. It will become a global city of hopes and dreams where all citizens can lead happy, prosperous lives.
