Chinju

Jinju was an ancient city of Goryeonggaya in the Gaya Era. This city was called 'Geoyeolseong' of Baekje during the Three Kingdom Era, and was called 'Geoyeolju', 'Cheongju', and 'Gangju' during the Unified Silla Era. Name of this city was changed into 'Jinju' for the first time in 940, the 23rd year of King Taejo of the Goryeo Dynasty. It became 'Jinju-mok', one of 12 moks (local administrative units in Goryeo and Joseon Dynasty) in the 2nd year of King Seongjong (983). The second siege of Jinju during the Japanese invasion of Korea ended in the deaths of the entire garrison and a substantial portion of the population. Korean accounts mention that the death toll at Jinju was 60,000. According to Japanese accounts, they had sent 20,000 heads back to Japan after their victory. …

There are cultural events held in Jinju every year. Among these are the Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival which is held in October for approximately ten days, involving lanterns floating on the Nam River to commemorate the deaths of Koreans in the Imjin War (1592–1598). Other major festivals include: the Nongae Festival, the Korea Drama Festival, the Gaecheon Arts Festival and the Jinju National Bullfighting Contest. The annual Nongae Festival, held in May commemorates and celebrates the legend of the patriotic gisaeng (professional Korean entertainer) Nongae's patriotic suicide-assassination of a Japanese general together with the deaths in the battle of Jinju Castle during the Imjin War. The festival features a reenactment of Nongae's suicide below Chokseongnu (Jinju castle pavilion) on the banks of the Nam River. …

Jinju was named as one of several 'enterprise cities' by the South Korean government which had supported Jinju as a hub of bio-industrial technological innovation since December 2000. The government provided 5 billion won in support from 2000 to 2004 for biological and chemical material industries. There are 618 manufacturing companies (11,806 employees), 1 local industrial complex and 4 rural industrial complexes as part of an integrated urban and rural city. Jinju Hyeoksin Dosi (New Innovation City) established by President Roh Moo-hyun with headquarters of vast LH Corporation (State-run Land & Housing corp Toji Jutaek gongsa) and Namdong Thermal Power. Namdong Thermal Power is one of 5 thermal power subsidiaries: Nambu (Southern) Thermal in Busan, Dongseo Thermal in Ulsan, Seobu (Western) in Taean, Jungbu (Central) in Boryeong, Chungnam of Korea Monopoly Utility Co. …