Sinchon, South Hwanghae Province, North Korea

🇰🇵 Sinch'ŏn County is a county in South Hwanghae Province, North Korea.

Geography Sinch'ŏn is bordered to the north by Anak, to the west by Samch'ŏn and T'aet'an, to the south by Pyŏksŏng and Sinwŏn, and to the east by Chaeryŏng. Most of the land in Sinch'ŏn is composed of flat plains, with mountains forming its borders. The highest point is Mt. Ch'ŏnbong, at 627 meters.

There are several famous hot springs in Sinch'ŏn, including the Sinch'ŏn and Kŭlloja Springs. The county is also home to the famous Chahyesa Buddhist temple, founded in 1572.

History The Koryo dynasty named the area occupied by Sinch'ŏn as Sinju. It received its current name under the Yi dynasty in 1413. In 1909 Sinch'ŏn was annexed to Munhwa, now no longer extant. The county's current form was settled in the 1952 redistricting changes, in which its eastern part was annexed to newly formed Samch'ŏn county.

At the beginning of the Korean War in 1950, the town of Sinch'ŏn was allegedly the site of a massacre of civilians by occupying U.S. forces (see Sinchon Massacre). North Korean sources claim the number of civilians killed over the 52-day period at more than 35,000 people, equivalent to one-fourth of the population then of Sinchon county. The North Korean government has operated the Sinchon Museum of American War Atrocities in Sinch'ŏn Town since 1958, displaying relics and remains from the incident. South Korean historians dispute this account, saying the deaths were at the hands of right-wing security forces. No evidence has been found to support North Korean allegations that an American general directed the massacre.

Transport The county is served by the Ŭllyul Line of the Korean State Railway, with stations at Paeksŏk, Sinch'ŏn Onch'ŏn, Sinch'ŏn, and Hwanghae Ryongmun stations. There is also a highway which runs through Sinch'ŏn-ŭp.

Divisions The county is divided into one town (ŭp) and 31 villages (ri).

Chosŏn'gŭl Hancha

Sinch'ŏn-ŭp 신천읍 信 川 邑

Changjae-ri 장재리 長 財 里

Chinam-ri 지남리 指 南 里

Ch'ŏngsal-li 청산리 青 山 里

Hoam-ri 호암리 虎 岩 里

Hwasal-li 화산리 花 山 里

Kŏnsal-li 건산리 乾 山 里

Kŭlloja-ri 근로자리 勤 勞 者 里

Myŏngsa-ri 명사리 明 沙 里

Myŏngsŏng-ri 명석리 明 石 里

Onch'ŏl-li 온천리 溫泉 里

Paeksŏng-ri 백석리 白 石 里

Palsal-li 발산리 鉢 山 里

Panjŏng-ri 반정리 泮 亭 里

Pog'u-ri 복우리 福 隅 里

Raengjŏng-ri 랭정리 冷 井 里

Ri'mong-ri 리목리 梨 木 里

Ryongdang-ri 룡당리 龍 塘 里

Ryongsal-li 룡산리 龍 山 里

Sach'ang-ri 사창리 司 倉 里

Saegil-li 새길리 새길 里

Saenal-li 새날리 새날 里

Sŏkdang-ri 석당리 石 塘 里

Sŏkkyo-ri 석교리 石 橋 里

Song'o-ri 송오리 松 梧 里

Sŏwŏl-li 서원리 書院 里

Tongryŏng-ri 동령리 東 嶺 里

Torang-ri 도락리 道 樂 里

Uryong-ri 우룡리 牛 龍 里

Usal-li 우산리 牛 山 里

Wŏlsŏng-ri 월성리 月 城 里

Wŏnam-ri 원암리 猿 岩 里.