Paju
Paju is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Paju was made a city in 1997; it had previously been a county (gun).
Some of the key events about Paju
- 1950The city was heavily damaged during the Korean War
- 1953Paju became part of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), restricting development
- 1968North Korean commandos infiltrated the area in an assassination attempt
- 1972Establishment of the first planned city in South Korea
- 1976The Axe Murder Incident occurred in the Joint Security Area near Paju
- 1983A North Korean bombing attempt targeted South Korean officials visiting Burma
- 1996North Korean submarine infiltration incident occurred near the DMZ
- 1997Opening of Heyri Art Valley, a cultural complex for artists and creative professionals
- 2002Completion of the Dorasan Station, the northernmost railway station in South Korea
- 2002Two U.S. soldiers were killed in a vehicle accident, sparking anti-American protests
- 2005Inauguration of the Paju Book City, a publishing and cultural hub
- 2009Opening of the Paju Premium Outlets, a major shopping destination
- 2010North Korea shelled Yeonpyeong Island, increasing tensions in the border region
- 2011Launch of the Paju English Village, an immersive language learning facility
- 2014Hosting of the Asian Games football tournament
- 2015Land mine explosions in the DMZ injured two South Korean soldiers
- 2016Opening of the Paju Jangneung UNESCO World Heritage site to the public
- 2018Establishment of the DMZ Peace Trail for eco-tourism
- 2020Completion of the Paju Smart City project, enhancing urban technology and sustainability
- 2020COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted tourism and local economy in Paju
Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.