“Welcome!” echoes from the Jeongbalsan-dong Community Information Board. Jeongbalsan-dong is where Ilsan’s essence resides. It sits on the northwest side of Jeongbalsan Mountain. People say the mountain’s shape resembles a furnace and foot so they named it that.
With about 22,000 residents in an area of 1.5 square kilometers Jeongbalsan-dong is mainly a quiet low-rise residential area. There are no tall apartments here. Imagine quaint detached houses. Picture parks and streets lined with trees like a scene from a movie.
Back when they developed the new city they preserved the original village form. The Banne Gasi house serves as a small folk resource. It also acts as a space for locals to gather.
The Jeongbalsan-dong Community Information Board offers residents a range of cultural health and educational programs. These enrich lives and boost community spirit. Both Jeongbalsan-dong and its Community Resident Center strive for a pleasant and comfortable environment. They are working to create a neighborhood full of love and laughter.
The history of this place goes way back. To understand Jeongbalsan-dong we should explore the Banne Gasi village. It is one of Ilsan’s oldest villages with a rich history. Records from the Joseon Dynasty mention Yul-Yak Bugok here.
The name Banne Gasi comes from the chestnuts grown here. For at least 250 years people cultivated chestnuts as a local specialty. So Banne Gasi got its name from the many chestnut trees on Jeongbalsan Mountain.
Unlike other areas Jeongbalsan-dong mainly features low-rise villa-style apartments. These are no more than five stories high. You can find detached houses and commercial-residential buildings too. Jeongbalsan’s northern end meets the Gyeongui Central Line railroad. Ilsan-ro and Mugunghwa-ro pass through the village center. This makes transportation convenient. Educational facilities and specialized restaurants thrive.
The Banne Gasi Choga folk exhibition hall is a cultural landmark. Looking closely at the village you will see a mix of building styles. The Gyeongui Central Line runs to the north. High-end villas stand on the east side. Near the Haengjeong Welfare Center there are commercial-residential buildings.
Many residents moved here from other areas. They actively use Jeongbalsan as a park. Before the new city development this area included parts of Ilsan 9-ri and Janghang 1-ri. These were farming villages located on the slopes of Jeongbalsan Mountain.
The Banne Gasi village had a large hill called Banne Gasi Gogae. It was between Madu-dong and the village. Today only the height of the Banne Gasi Choga hints at its past scale. Chestnut trees still grow around the Banne Gasi Choga. The Daktang village is now partly the site of Jeodong Middle School.
Once a rural area with mountains and fields this area transformed into the modern urban landscape we see today. The Community Information Board stands as a testament to this change.