What is "kwanbuk"

Kwanbuk is a region in North Hamgyong and South Hamgyong Provinces of North Korea. The region may once have been occupied by the Okjeo people. It was later controlled by Goguryeo and then Balhae, and subsequently contested by Goryeo and the Jin dynasty.

Kwanbuk was also used to denote the northern area of Hamgyong, mainly North Hamgyong, with Kwannam referring to South Hamgyong.

Its literal meaning is "North of the Ridge", the ridge (Korean, kwan) in question being Mach'ŏnnyŏng ( Chosŏn'gŭl: 마천령, Hancha: 摩天嶺).

The term Kwanbuk is no longer widely used.