๐ฐ๐ท Gyeongju (๊ฒฝ์ฃผ, historically known as Seorabeol, is a coastal city in the far south-eastern corner of North Gyeongsang Province in South Korea. It is the second largest city by area in the province. Gyeongju is 370ย km (230ย mi) south-east of Seoul, and 55ย km (34ย mi) east of Daegu. The city borders Cheongdo and Yeongcheon to the west, Ulsan to the south and Pohang to the north, while to the east lies the coast of the Sea of Japan. Numerous low mountainsโoutliers of the Taebaek rangeโare scattered around the city.
Gyeongju was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Silla (57 BC โ 935 AD), which ruled about two-thirds of the Korean Peninsula at its height between the 7th and 9th centuries, for close to one thousand years. Later Silla was a prosperous and wealthy country, and its metropolitan capital of Gyeongju was the fourth largest city in the world. A vast number of archaeological sites and cultural properties from this period remain in the city. Gyeongju is often referred to as "the museum without walls". Among such historical treasures, Seokguram grotto, Bulguksa temple, Gyeongju Historic Areas and Yangdong Folk Village are designated as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. The many major historical sites have helped Gyeongju become one of the most popular tourist destinations in South Korea. The city of Gyeongju was united with the nearby rural Gyeongju County in 1995 and is now an urbanโrural complex. As well as its rich historical heritage, Gyeongju today is affected by the economic, demographic, and social trends that have shaped modern South Korean culture. Tourism remains the major economic driver, but manufacturing activities have developed due to its proximity to major industrial centres such as Ulsan and Pohang. Gyeongju is connected to the nation-wide rail and highway networks, which facilitate industrial and tourist traffic.
Gyeongju has a population of over 264,100 people.
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