Muan County (Korean: 무안군) is a county in Jeonnam-Gwangju, South Korea. In 2005, Muan County became the capital of the former South Jeolla following the transfer of the provincial office from its previous location in Gwangju to the village of Namak in Muan. Muan International Airport was opened here and will eventually replace the airport in Gwangju (it already replaced Mokpo Airport).
Modern history
On 1 January 1963, several villages (ri in Korean) were incorporated into Mokpo city and huge reorganization was made by the South Korean government. In 1979, Muan township was promoted to a township (eup of South Korea). In 1980, Illo was also promoted into a township.
On 29 December 2024, a Jeju Air Boeing 737–800 passenger aircraft operating as Flight 2216 overshot the runway at Muan International Airport and crashed into a barrier. Out of the 181 occupants, 179 people (all 175 passengers and 4 of 6 crew members) were confirmed to have been killed and at least two were injured in the worst aviation accident to have occurred on South Korean soil.
Administrative divisions
Muan County administers three towns (eup) and six townships (myeon).
| Name | Hangul | Hanja | Area (km2) |
Population (2024-12) |
Households |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muan-eup | 무안읍 | 務安邑 | 35.67 | 10,776 | 5,651 |
| Illo-eup | 일로읍 | 一老邑 | 67.05 | 21,135 | 8,504 |
| Samhyang-eup | 삼향읍 | 三鄕邑 | 45.16 | 38,338 | 16,826 |
| Mongtan-myeon | 몽탄면 | 夢灘面 | 63.1 | 2,765 | 1,751 |
| Cheonggye-myeon | 청계면 | 淸溪面 | 57.8 | 6,319 | 3,895 |
| Hyeongyeong-myeon | 현경면 | 玄慶面 | 55.35 | 4,306 | 2,681 |
| Mangun-myeon | 망운면 | 望雲面 | 19.12 | 1,795 | 1,113 |
| Haeje-myeon | 해제면 | 海際面 | 64.48 | 4,528 | 2,791 |
| Unnam-myeon | 운남면 | 雲南面 | 34.93 | 2,725 | 1,656 |
Namak-ri, where the provincial government of South Jeolla is located, is in Samhyang-eup.
Location
Muan County is located on the western tip of the southwestern part of the Korean peninsula. It acts as the primary link between Sinan County with the rest of the Korean mainland. Numerous beaches are also found on Muan's coast.
Muan borders Yeongsan River with Naju and Hampyeong to the north, Yeongam to the east, Mokpo to the south. These surroundings have influenced the industrial and cultural structure of Muan County.
Enterprise city
Muan was designated an enterprise city by the South Korean government for the Honam region (Southwest). The South Korean government and China have agreed to develop an industrial complex in a joint venture. It was reported that the Chinese government officially promised to invest in and help establish the complex area, which includes the construction of a college and distribution warehouses among other things such as a Chinatown for expatriates.
Mud
Muan includes a large area of mudlands. The western area of the Korean peninsula has a large amount of mud thanks to the Rias coast. However, many mudlands have been destroyed or reclaimed for expanding city areas or industrial complexes.
The mudlands of Muan were designated one of the wetlands of the Ramsar Convention.
In the Muan mudflats, tourists cannot enter the sea without permission to protect the mudflats. But tourists can see the road that opens like the "Miracle of Moses" to reveal its face when the tide falls twice a day.
Festival
Muan is widely known for its White Lotus Festival (무안연꽃축제) located in Illo-eup. The festival occurs in mid-August when the white lotus flowers bloom fully onsite at the Hoesan White Lotus Pond (회산 백련지). Tourists can walk into the huge lotuslands via the many bridges that crisscross the water. Visitors may also ride the 'duck boats.'
Products
Muan is known for several famous products characteristic of the area. They are largely farming goods from onions to lotus products. Muan puts out 16% of the national onion production making its production volume the largest in Korea.
Muan county officially reported to host farming cluster of sweet potato, onion and lotus plants. The powder of lotus plants is used for making noodles.
Education
Muan County is the site of Mokpo National University, situated in Cheonggye township.
