Gyeongju City Selects Silla Era 'Geumgyo' Name as 'Hwanggeum Bridge' ... Construction to Begin by Year-End

Connecting Hwangseong-dong and Na-won-ri, Hyeongok... Large Bridge 370m Long, 20m Wide

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Dong-wook] The bridge over the Seocheon River, called 'Geumgyo,' which must be crossed to enter the Gyeongju city fortress from outside during the Silla period, is being reborn under the name 'Hwanggeumdaegyo' (Golden Bridge).

Gyeongju City announced on the 28th that the name of the bridge was selected as such through a naming contest for the tentatively named 'Second Geumjanggyo,' which is being promoted to alleviate traffic congestion in the existing Hyeongok area and for balanced regional development.

The Gyeongju City Naming Committee, after a preliminary review of 317 submissions received during the contest period from April 27 to May 11, resolved and selected 'Hwanggeumdaegyo' (黃金大橋) on the 22nd. After going through procedures with the Gyeongsangbuk-do Naming Committee and the National Naming Committee, it will be finalized as the official name.

The 'Hwanggeumdaegyo,' a large bridge 20 meters wide and 370 meters long connecting Hwangseong-dong and Nawon-ri, Hyeongok-myeon, is scheduled to begin construction around the end of the year with a total project cost of 41 billion KRW.

The Gyeongju City Naming Committee explained the reason for the name selection, stating, "The 'Geumgyo' recorded in historical documents (Samguk Yusa) probably means a bridge through which gold (黃金) came from outside, and it was also called 'Songgyo,' meaning a bridge made of pine wood. Considering the meaning of these historical records, it seems appropriate to call the newly constructed bridge 'Hwanggeumgyo' (黃金橋, Golden Bridge)."

Mayor Joo Nak-young of Gyeongju said, "Hwanggeumdaegyo means connecting Hwangseong-dong and Geumjang-ri (Hyeongok-myeon), and the name was decided through various opinions and verification of historical documents, including the revival of the reputation of Golden City Gyeongju (Silla) and the restoration of the name 'Geumgyo' mentioned in Samguk Yusa. I hope it will become a landmark of the region that opens a new history shining like gold, encapsulating a thousand years of history."

Meanwhile, in the Samguk Yusa, a historical anecdote written by the monk Il-yeon (1206?89) during the reign of King Chungnyeol of Goryeo, the following lines are passed down: '?曰. 雪擁金橋凍不開, ?林春色未全?, 可怜?帝多才思, 先著毛?宅裏梅' (It is said: The snow piled on Geumgyo has not yet melted, / The spring colors have not fully returned to Gyelim; / How pitiful the spring god’s abundant talents, / Who made the plum blossoms bloom first at Morang’s house).'

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.