Onsong County
title: "Onsong County" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["onsong-county", "counties-of-north-hamgyong-province", "china–north-korea-border-crossings"] topic_path: "arts/music" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onsong_County" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Onsong County |
| native_name | 온성군 |
| native_name_lang | ko |
| settlement_type | County |
| translit_lang1 | Korean |
| translit_lang1_type1 | Hanja |
| translit_lang1_info1 | 穩城郡 |
| translit_lang1_type2 | McCune-Reischauer |
| translit_lang1_info2 | Onsŏng kun |
| translit_lang1_type3 | Revised Romanization |
| translit_lang1_info3 | Onseong-gun |
| image_map | DPRK2006 Hambuk-Onsong.PNG |
| map_caption | Map of North Hamgyong showing the location of Onsong |
| subdivision_type | Country |
| subdivision_name | North Korea |
| subdivision_type1 | Province |
| subdivision_name1 | North Hamgyong Province |
| area_total_km2 | 430 |
| population_as_of | 2008 census |
| population_total | 127,893 |
| population_density_km2 | auto |
| parts_type | Administrative divisions |
| parts | 1 ŭp;, 10 workers' districts, 15 ri |
| :: |
| name = Onsong County | native_name = 온성군 | native_name_lang = ko | settlement_type = County | translit_lang1 = Korean | translit_lang1_type1 = Hanja | translit_lang1_info1 = 穩城郡 | translit_lang1_type2 = McCune-Reischauer | translit_lang1_info2 = Onsŏng kun | translit_lang1_type3 = Revised Romanization | translit_lang1_info3 = Onseong-gun | image_skyline = | imagesize = | image_caption = | image_map = DPRK2006 Hambuk-Onsong.PNG | map_caption = Map of North Hamgyong showing the location of Onsong | mapsize = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = North Korea | subdivision_type1 = Province | subdivision_name1 = North Hamgyong Province | area_total_km2 = 430 | population_as_of = 2008 census | population_total = 127,893 | population_density_km2 = auto | parts_type = Administrative divisions | parts = 1 ŭp;, 10 workers' districts, 15 ri
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"):
::data[format=table]
| Chosŏn'gŭl | Hancha |
|---|---|
| Onsŏng-ŭp | 온성읍 |
| Chongsŏng-rodongjagu | 종성로동자구 |
| Chuwŏl-lodongjagu | 주원로동자구 |
| Ch'angp'yŏng-rodongjagu | 창평로동자구 |
| Namyang-rodongjagu | 남양로동자구 |
| Ont'al-lodongjagu | 온탄로동자구 |
| P'ung'il-lodongjagu | 풍인로동자구 |
| Sambong-rodongjagu | 삼봉로동자구 |
| Sanghwa-rodongjagu | 상화로동자구 |
| Sansŏng-rodongjagu | 산성로동자구 |
| Tongp'o-rodongjagu | 동포로동자구 |
| Chungsal-li | 증산리 |
| Hasambong-ri | 하삼봉리 |
| Hyangdang-ri | 향당리 |
| Kangal-li | 강안리 |
| Misal-li | 미산리 |
| P'ungch'ŏl-li | 풍천리 |
| P'unggye-ri | 풍계리 |
| P'ungha-ri | 풍하리 |
| P'ungsŏ-ri | 풍서리 |
| Ryongnam-ri | 룡남리 |
| Sesŏl-li | 세선리 |
| Turubong-ri | 두루봉리 |
| Un'am-ri | 운암리 |
| Wangjaesal-li | 왕재산리 |
| Yŏnggang-ri | 영강리 |
| :: |
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
References
References
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