Yeongam County

Yeongam

영암군
Yeongam 영암군
County
Korean transcription(s)
• Hangul	영암군
• Hanja	靈巖郡
• Revised Romanization	Yeongam-gun
• McCune-Reischauer	Yŏng'am-gun
	Yeongam Symbolic herdboy Statue
	Flag Emblem of Yeongam
	Location in South Korea
Country	South Korea
Region	Honam
Administrative divisions	2 eups, 9 myeons
Area
• Total	544.48 km2 (210.22 sq mi)
Population (September 2024)
• Total	51,573
• Density	104.77/km2 (271.4/sq mi)
• Dialect	Jeolla

Yeongam ([jʌŋam]) is a city and county in South Jeolla Province, South Korea. Bordered with Mokpo and Naju to the north, Jangheung County to the east, and Haenam and Gangjin to the south, Yeongam County comprises two eups and nine myeons, populated with about 57,000 people, and its county hall is seated in Yeongam-eup.

The Korean Grand Prix was held along the harbor side, at the Korea International Circuit from 2010 to 2013. The track has been designed by the famous race track designer Hermann Tilke. The circuit is part permanent, part temporary. Construction began in 2007, and was completed in September/October 2010. The circuit had a contract to host the Grand Prix until 2016.^[2] After that, a 5-year option would have to be picked up to keep the race until at least 2021. However the race was cancelled after 2013.

History

Many Bronze Age relics, including cut stone tools, were excavated in the current Yeongam area, and it appears that people have lived in groups since the Bronze Age. This area was a village named Wolnagun, which was part of the Baekje. It was renamed Yeongam-gun in 758.^[3]

Industry

Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries (HSHI), world's 5th largest ship builder and the largest company in South Jeolla Province, is located in Samho Eup. Not only the company itself but also numerous cooperative firms of HSHI are headquartered in Daebul Industrial District in Samho Eup.