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. and South Korean 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.KCNA, 27 November 2008 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.
Transportation 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 station. 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'gŭlHanchaSinch'ŏn-ŭp신천읍Changjae-ri장재리Chinam-ri지남리Ch'ŏngsal-li청산리Hoam-ri호암리Hwasal-li화산리Kŏnsal-li건산리Kŭlloja-ri근로자리Myŏngsa-ri명사리Myŏngsŏng-ri명석리Onch'ŏl-li온천리Paeksŏng-ri백석리Palsal-li발산리Panjŏng-ri반정리Pog'u-ri복우리Raengjŏng-ri랭정리Ri'mong-ri리목리Ryongdang-ri룡당리Ryongsal-li룡산리Sach'ang-ri사창리Saegil-li새길리새길Saenal-li새날리새날Sŏkdang-ri석당리Sŏkkyo-ri석교리Song'o-ri송오리Sŏwŏl-li서원리Tongryŏng-ri동령리Torang-ri도락리Uryong-ri우룡리Usal-li우산리Wŏlsŏng-ri월성리Wŏnam-ri원암리
See also Administrative divisions of North Korea Geography of North Korea No Gun Ri massacre Sinchon Massacre
References