Chungmu Province

Chungmu Province
Province
Flag
Location of Chungmu Province in Zhenia.
Country	Zhenia
Largest city	Hansan
Establishment	June 4, 1868
Capital	Arisu
Government
• Governor	Suho Cho (U)
Area
• Total	127,179.53 km2 (49,104.29 sq mi)
• Land	117,310.4 km2 (45,293.8 sq mi)
• Water	9,869.13 km2 (3,810.49 sq mi)  7.76%
• Rank	19th
Population  (2020)
• Total	44,588,238
• Density	350.6/km2 (908/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+8 (ZEST)
Federal Postal Code	07001-07999
Provincial Code	CM
Website	www.chungmu.cm.zhen

Chungmu Province (Zhenian: 충무도), formerly referred to as Gyeongju Province (Zhenian: 경주도) is a Zhenian province located in the center of the Danguk Peninsula, facing the Gulf of Danguk to the west. Being home to almost 44 million residents, it is the second most populous province in the nation, mostly due to the proximity to Daedo; almost a third of the province's residents live within 80 kilometers of the Daedo Special City, adding up to become one of the major nodes of the Danguk Peninsula Megalopolis.

Even before it got its current name, Chungmu was considered as a key node of agriculture in the Danguk Peninsula, situated at the center of the Central Danguk Plain as well as the Danbon River basin. For such reasons, it was coined with its former name, Gyeongju Province, especially after the designation of modern-day Daedo as the capital of Gaewon; although only the areas surrounding the city were initially designated 'Gyeongju Province', or 'Capital Province', the area expanded to include much of what is now Chungmu Province. It was renamed Chungmu Province in 1878 in honor of Cho Junhyeok, a revolutionary and military leader of the Shindan dynasty, whose posthumous name was 'Chungmu-gong'. Although already a major agricultural and population center of the Danguk Peninsula before the 19th century, it saw extensive population growth since the Empire of Zhenia amid rapid industrialization of the Danguk Peninsula. The province has since then been the center of growth in the Danguk Peninsula, amid increased migration from other parts of the Danguk Peninsula and the mainland.

Today, Chungmu Province remains a major population and economic center of Zhenia, being situated at the eastern core of the Golden Arc region. As the second-most populous province in the nation after Balhae Province, it has the single largest total purchasing power parity in the nation at around $1.5 trillion, contributing to almost 10 percent of the entire nation's economy. Chungmu Province and Daedo Special City together are often referred to as the Greater Capital Area, being home to almost a third of the population in the Danguk Peninsula.

Etymology

The former name of Chungmu Province, Gyeongju Province (Zhenian: 경주도/京州都: literally 'capital province'), was assigned during the early days of the Daehwa dynasty, when King Gojo designated modern-day Daedo as the new dynasty's capital and areas surrounding its perimeters, including most rural areas at the time, separately from the previously-existent Gyoju and Jinsan provinces during the administrative reforms during his rule. Although the area assigned as Gyeongju Province does overlap with today's Chungmu Province, Gyeongju Province during the Gaewon dynasty was administratively closer to modern-day Daedo Special City, having been centrally administered directly by the King.

Economy

The economy of Chungmu Province is the single largest economy in the nation measured among province-level administrative areas; as of 2020, the provincial economy by gross domestic product was around $1.508 trillion ($34,612.55 per capita), or over $6,000 above the national average for provinces. The province alone contributes to almost 10% of the nation's total gross domestic product, both nominal and by purchasing power parity.

While the GDP per capita was $33,836.55 in 2020, per capita income varies considerably by region and profession: some new towns surrounding Daedo, as well as areas around Hansan and the northern shores of Lake Daejin are among the most affluent, while those in the southern shores of Lake Daejin and rural areas in the southern and eastern parts of the province are among the most impoverished. The unemployment rate for the province in 2019 was 4.9%, the second-lowest in the nation, due to booms in the manufacturing sector.

Infrastructure

Energy

Being the second most populous as well as the economically largest province in the nation, Chungmu Province also ranks first in the nation for energy demand and consumption.

Transportation

Chungmu Province's proximity to Daedo, as well as its stance as the second-most populous province in the nation, has allowed for highly developed transportation infrastructure. A series of Federal Expressway and National Highways connects the province's vast terrain, while an integrated network of intercity and high-speed rail, as well as commuter rail from Daedo and Hansan expand throughout the province.

Situated just north of the border between Daedo Special City and Chungmu Province, Daedo Capital International Airport primarily serves the province as its primary international hub as well as Daedo, even though it is part of the Special City. Other airports, including Hansan International Airport and Arisu International Airport, augment the province's access to air transportation, offering both domestic and international connections.

See Also

• Administrative Areas of Zhenia
• Provinces of Zhenia