Geum River

Geum River, river, southwestern South Korea. It rises east of Jeonju in North Jeolla do (province) and flows north-northwest through North Chungcheong do, where it turns southwest and empties into the Yellow Sea at Gunsan. One of the three largest rivers in the country, the Geum River is 249 miles (401 km) long and is navigable for 81 miles (130 km; as far as Buyeo). It is located in an area of fertile plains and gold deposits. The 1,624-foot- (495-meter-) long Daecheong multipurpose dam, on a branch of the Geum River, was completed in 1980. It supplies the cities around its middle course (Cheongju, Nonsan, and Ganggyeong) with water and with electricity.