Paju, Gyeonggi Province, Sudogwon, South Korea

🇰🇷 Paju is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. The city of Paju is located just south of Panmunjeom on the 38th parallel. To defend the South Korean capital, Seoul, many U.S. and South Korean Army bases are set up in the area. In 2002, the northernmost South Korean railway station, Dorasan, was opened. North Korean territory and Kaesong City can be seen from Mount Dora in the city.

Geography Paju has east and west low type of geographic trait. Many mountains are located in eastern Paju, assemble to create the border with Yangzhou. In northern Paju, mountains form the border with Goyang. Moreover, in central Paju some lower mountains spread toward south. For the major rivers in Paju, there are Imjin River and Han River. Imjin River flows between northern west and west, and Han River flows in western south of Paju.

Heyri Art Valley Heyri Art Valley is the largest art village in South Korea and its Korean culture and many genres of art attract visitors. The area includes residences, workrooms and galleries for artists, museums and performance spaces designed by artists. It was planned from 1998 and its name Heyri is derived from a traditional farming song of Paju. Architects tried to combine the view of nature with the valley when they make plan. The valley hosts art performances appealing to audiences of all ages. The attractive theme brings people to visit every weekend, and more people visit the valley in spring and autumn because it holds art festival during the seasons.

Jangdan bean Jangdan beans are one of Paju’s famous traditional specialties. From a long time ago, crops have been important for Korean people’s livelihood because their land and environment were suited for agriculture. Therefore, two major crops, rice and bean, have been developed over time. Jangdan bean is one of these crops which have been harvested in Paju. The name Jangdan is derived from the name of a village in Paju, which existed before the Korean War. Even though the village is now gone, people still call the bean the Jangdan bean because the former village was so well known for these beans. Today, Jangdan beans are only commonly seen In Panmunjom which is located at the border between South Korea and North Korea.

Education The city has 3 polytechnic universities including Doowon Technical University College.

Paju English Village Paju English Village is a huge area which was constructed to teach children English and let them experience western culture. Hundreds of foreign teachers are hired in the village. The educational village pushes ahead various curriculum to provide several educational programs called "English Camp". To attend the programs, children's parents have to pay and send children to the village for several days. The length of the program is depending on the type of program. People also visit the village because of its visual and new cultural atmosphere.

Sport Paju Challengers, an independent baseball team, has been based in the city.

Administrative divisions Paju is divided as follows: • Beobwon-eup (법원읍) • Paju-eup (파주읍) • Munsan-eup (문산읍) • Jori-eup (조리읍) • Wollong-myeon (월롱면) • Papyeong-myeon (파평면) • Jeokseong-myeon (적성면) • Gwangtan-myeon (광탄면) • Tanhyeon-myeon (탄현면) • Gunnae-myeon (군내면) • Jangdan-myeon (장단면) • Jinseo-myeon (진서면) • Jindong-myeon (진동면) • Gyoha-dong (교하동) • Geumchon1(il)-dong (금촌1동) ◦ Geumchon-dong (금촌동) ◦ Adong-dong (아동동) ◦ Yadong-dong (야동동) ◦ Geomsan-dong (검산동) ◦ Maekgeum-dong (맥금동) • Geumchon-2(ii)-dong (금촌2동) ◦ Geumchon-dong (금촌동) ◦ Geumneung-dong (금능동) • Unjeong 1(il)-dong (운정1동) ◦ Gyoha-dong (교하동) ◦ Dangha-dong (당하동) ◦ Wadong-dong (와동동) • Unjeong 2(i)-dong (운정2동) ◦ Mokdong-dong (목동동) • Unjeong 3(Sam)-dong (운정3동) ◦ Dongpae-dong (동패동) ◦ Yadang-dong (야당동)

Military bases • Camp Bonifas and Camp Liberty-Bell (home to US/ROKA Joint Security Area) • Camp Dodge – closed • Camp Edwards – closed • Camp Garry Owen – closed • Camp Giant – closed • Camp Greaves – closed • Camp Howze – closed • Camp Irwin – closed • Camp Pelham – closed • Camp Semper Fidelis (home of 1st Provisional DMZ Police Co., 1st Marine Div. 1953–1956) • Camp Stanton – closed • Multi-Purpose Live Fire Complex (MLFC), also called Rodriguez Range or Rodriguez Live Fire Complex

Military cemetery The Cemetery for North Korean and Chinese Soldiers was established in 1996 to hold the remains of Korean People's Army and Chinese People's Volunteer Army soldiers killed during the Korean War. In March 2014 the Chinese remains were repatriated for reburial in Shenyang, China.

Attractions • Gloucester Valley Battle Monument ("Gloster Hill") – war memorial • Heyri Art Valley – with 350 artists in fine arts, music, theater, photography, sculpture, crafts and literature. It aims to promote cultural interchange, education, and exhibit and sell hand-crafted works of art. • Jayuro Road of Freedom • Panmunjom • Korean Demilitarized Zone • Paju Book City • Tongilro Road of Unification or National Road No. 1 • Yong Ju Gol – a red-light district.