Onsŏng is a county (kun) in North Hamgyong Province, North Korea, located near the border with China. The administrative center is the town (ŭp) of Onsong. Onsong is the site of the former Onsong concentration camp, now closed.
History Onsong was one of the six post/garrisons () established under the order of Sejong the Great of Joseon (1418–1450) to safeguard his people from the hostile Chinese Ming dynasty and Manchurian/Jurchen nomads living in Manchuria.
Geography Onsong lies along the Tumen River, which forms the border with China. To the north of Onsong is Jilin Province, China. Onsong also contains the northernmost point in Korea, at 43°0'39″ N. Liangshui (), in Tumen prefecture, is the closest Chinese town across the river.
The land of Onsong is mainly mountainous, although a part is flatland. It has a continental climate, and is the region of Korea with the longest winter, except the Kaema Plateau. The highest peak is Yŏndubong.
Economy Being mountainous in nature, Onsong is not well suited to agriculture. Ironically, however, it has the highest ratio of rice paddies to dry fields of any district in North Hamgyong Province. Logging is prevalent in the Tumen River basin. Lignite coal is also produced.
Transportation Onsong is served by roads and railroads. In winter, it is also possible to cross the frozen Tumen River into China.
Onsong has a 4 km long, single overhead bidirectional trolleybus line linking from the railway station to the Wangjaesan Grand Monument, although no trolleybuses are observed on the line since at least 2004. The overhead is nonetheless at least appearing to be in a good condition. The system formerly had two Jipsan 88 trolleybuses, though they were converted from the similar, but unrelated Jipsan 88 bus.
Administrative divisions Onsŏng County is divided into 1 town ("Ŭp"), 10 workers' districts ("Rodongjagu") and 15 villages ("Ri"):
Chosŏn'gŭlHanchaOnsŏng-ŭp온성읍穩城邑Chongsŏng-rodongjagu종성로동자구鍾城勞動者區Chuwŏl-lodongjagu주원로동자구周原勞動者區Ch'angp'yŏng-rodongjagu창평로동자구蒼坪勞動者區Namyang-rodongjagu남양로동자구南陽勞動者區Ont'al-lodongjagu온탄로동자구穩炭勞動者區P'ung'il-lodongjagu풍인로동자구豊仁勞動者區Sambong-rodongjagu삼봉로동자구三峰勞動者區Sanghwa-rodongjagu상화로동자구上和勞動煮區Sansŏng-rodongjagu산성로동자구山城勞動者區Tongp'o-rodongjagu동포로동자구東浦勞動者區Chungsal-li증산리甑山里Hasambong-ri하삼봉리下三峰里Hyangdang-ri향당리香堂里Kangal-li강안리江岸里Misal-li미산리美山里P'ungch'ŏl-li풍천리豊川里P'unggye-ri풍계리豊溪里P'ungha-ri풍하리豊利里P'ungsŏ-ri풍서리豊西里Ryongnam-ri룡남리龍南里Sesŏl-li세선리世仙里Turubong-ri두루봉리Un'am-ri운암리雲岩里Wangjaesal-li왕재산리Yŏnggang-ri영강리永江里
Notable personalities Shin Rip, the prefect of Onsong before the Imjin War Hyok Kang, the author of the autobiographical This is Paradise!: My North Korean Childhood.
O jung hup, korean Partisan
References
External links
Location of the four forts and the six posts Map of Onsong