Namyang-dong in Hwaseong City Elevated to Namyang-eup

Namyang-eup in Hwaseong City, elevated from a dong to an eup, officially began operations on the 20th.

Namyang-eup has a total area of 67㎢, which is larger than Bucheon City (53㎢) and Anyang City (58㎢), but most of it is rural area, and over 30% of the total area is designated as a development restriction zone.

Despite being a rural agricultural area, following the conversion to a dong, residents have experienced reduced support for rural areas, increased taxes, and exclusion from agricultural and fishing village special provisions. Residents have therefore been demanding conversion to Namyang-eup since 2012 for regional and educational development.

The Ministry of Public Administration and Security accepted residents' and Hwaseong City's requests, approved the establishment of an eup on July 7, and through legal and ordinance amendments, began operations of Namyang-eup Office starting from the 20th.

Typically, through urban growth, population increases and urban development in rural areas lead to elevation from myeon to eup status, and eups are generally subdivided into several dongs. However, Namyang-eup is the first case in Korea where the entire area underwent such a reversal—when Hwaseong-gun was elevated to Hwaseong City in March 2001, the entire Namyang-myeon was converted to a dong, and now the entire Namyang-dong has been converted back to an eup.

Meanwhile, Namyang-eup held a plaque unveiling ceremony on the 20th celebrating its new beginning as an eup, attended by Hwaseong City Mayor Chae In-seok and local residents. Starting at 4 p.m., a celebratory concert was held, featuring a performance by the Marine Corps Honor Guard and performances by invited singers.