Geum River
The Geum River (Keum river)
The Geum River is the thick blue line.
Native name	금강 (Korean)
Location
Country	South Korea
Provinces	North Jeolla, North Chungcheong, Daejeon, Sejong, South Chungcheong
Physical characteristics
Source	Sobaek Mountains
• location	Sinmusan Mountain, Jangsu, North Jeolla[a]
Mouth	Yellow Sea
• location	Esturay bank, Seocheon, South Chungcheong
Length	397 km (247 mi)[1]
Basin size	9,912 km2 (3,827 sq mi)[1]
Discharge
• location	Gongju Bridge, Gongju[b][2]
• average	132 m3/s (4,700 cu ft/s)[c][2]
Basin features
Tributaries
• left	Gapcheon, Ganggyeongcheon
• right	Miho River

The Geum River^[d] is a major river of South Korea that originates in Jangsu-eup, North Jeolla Province. It flows northward through North Jeolla and North Chungcheong Provinces and then changes direction in the vicinity of Greater Daejeon and flows southwest through South Chungcheong Province before emptying into the Yellow Sea near Gunsan city.

The river is 397 kilometres (247 mi) long,^[4] making it the third longest in South Korea. The area of the Geum River Basin is 9,859 square kilometres (3,807 sq mi).^[5] The upper part of the river flows slowly through part of the Noryeongsanmaek Mountains and is marked by extensive stream meandering. On the other hand, river curves on middle and lower parts of the river are more gradual and there is comparatively less stream meandering.

Tributary streams of the Geumgang include the Gap-cheon, Yugu-cheon, Miho-cheon, Unsan-cheon, Seokseong-cheon, and Nonsan-cheon. Several small alluvial plains including the Honam and Nonsan Plain have been formed by the flow of the Geumgang and its tributaries.

History and Culture

In the area of Buyeo County, the river bears the name Baengma-gang river, which means White Horse River. Numerous legends associate the ancient kingdom of Baekje with the Baengma. The Baengma River is the subject of a well-known song of the sin minyo tradition, Kkumkkuneun Baengma-gang (꿈꾸는 백마강, "Dreaming Baengma-gang").

The Geumgang River and its tributaries were a means of cultural contact from prehistoric times (see Mumun Pottery Period) and into the Three Kingdoms of Korea through their ancient function as a transportation route that begins on the west coast and penetrates deep in the interior of the Peninsula. Bronze Culture flourished in this area from c. 850 B.C.-A.D. 100 (see Liaoning bronze dagger culture). Archaeological evidence suggests that some of the very first complex societies in southern Korea briefly flourished in the valleys formed by tributaries of this river.^[6]

The Geumgang River Basin contained the chiefdoms of Mahan, and a former centres of the early kingdom of Baekje such as Ungjin (AD 475–525) and Sabi (AD 525–660) are located along the Baengma portion of the river.^[7]

The river's Korean name ("Silk River") is a homonym of the word for "diamond" (금강; 金剛) and should not be confused with Kŭmgang Mountain (금강산; 金剛山; "Diamond Mountain") in North Korea.

Economy

Dams have been built on the Middle and Upper Geumgang to facilitate water for agriculture and industry. They include the Daecheong Dam and the Yongdam Dam. The city of Greater Daejeon and the farms and industries of South Chungcheong Province rely heavily on the Geum River and its tributaries.

The alluvial plains formed by the Geumgang and its tributaries are the locations of significant agricultural production in Korea.