Andong

Andong
안동시
Korean transcription(s)
  Hangul안동시
  Hanja安東市
  Revised RomanizationAndong-si
  McCune–ReischauerAndong-si
An aerial view of Hahoe Folk Village
Location in South Korea
Coordinates: 36°33′33″N 128°43′44″E / 36.55917°N 128.72889°E / 36.55917; 128.72889
Country South Korea
RegionYeongnam
First mention930
City status1963
Administrative divisions1 eup, 13 myeon, 10 dong
Government
  mayorKi Chang Kwon (권기창)
Area
  Total
1,590.91 km2 (614.25 sq mi)
Elevation
139 m (456 ft)
Population
 (September 2024)
  Total
153,348
  Density96/km2 (250/sq mi)
  Dialect
Gyeongsang
DemonymAndongite
Time zoneUTC+9 (Korea Standard Time)
Postal code
760003-760944
Area code(+82) 054
WebsiteOfficial website

Andong (Korean: 안동; pronounced [an.doŋ]) is a city in South Korea, and the capital of North Gyeongsang Province. It is the largest city in the northern part of the province with a population of 167,821 as of October 2010. The Nakdong River flows through the city. Andong is a market centre for the surrounding agricultural areas.

Since the 1970s Andong has developed rapidly, although the population has fallen by nearly seventy thousand as people have moved away to Seoul, Busan, Daegu and other urban centres. In the late 1990s and early 2000s it became a tourism and cultural center.

Andong is known as a centre of culture and folk traditions. The surrounding area maintains many types of traditions and the Andong Folk Festival is held in mid October every year. One of the most famous aspects of these cultural festivities are the Andong masks.

Andong National University, specialising in education and Korean folklore, has grown rapidly since the 1970s. Other tertiary institutions include Andong Science College and Catholic Sangji College.