Dongdo

Dongdo (Seomun: 東都, Jinmun: 동도), formally the City of Dongdo (Seomun: 東都市, Jinmun: 동도시), is the provincial capital and most populous city in the Haedong Special Administrative Region. Situated on the southwestern coast of Seondo Island, the largest of the islands that constitute the Haedong Archipelago and home to almost 1.4 million residents, it is one of the most densely populated cities in Zhenia, with an average of 12,925 residents per square kilometer. It is home to over half of the population of the Haedong Archipelago as a whole.

Originally established as a hub for Haedong pirates in antiquity, Dongdo rose to become the heart of sea trade in the North Zhenian Sea after Jinhyuk Chang established the Dongdojin in modern-day eastern Dongdo, around 889 AD - the eastern node of the global sea trade routes at the time. Its stance as a trading hub enabled the independence of the Republic of Haedong from 904 to 1355, until it was annexed by the Shindan dynasty. Under the Shindan dynasty, it crumbled from a trading hub to a backwater port city as the Shindan's priorities shifted to the southern coasts. The city's revitalization, however, happened with the construction of Port Donghaejin, the largest military shipyard and port in Zhenian history, in 1915 and the legalization of gambling during the Third Republic by Kim Shimin. Since then, the city has seen unprecedented economic growth amid the influx of private capital for entertainment, tourism and gambling.

Dongdo today is the economic center of the Haedong Special Administrative Region, while also hosting the administrative capital of the SAR as well. It is also home to the highest GDP per capita in Zhenia at over $64,000 as of 2019. It is also one of the most visited tourist destinations in Zhenia, with over 12 million international tourists visiting the city in 1609. Due to its booming tourism and gambling industry, 7 of the 10 largest hotels in Zhenia by the number of rooms are located in Dongdo. It remains the easternmost major city in Zhenia with a metropolitan population of over 1 million to this day.

Economy
As the largest and most populous city in the Haedong Islands, Dongdo remains the primary gateway to the islands' tourism and business, the former which accounts for over 20 percent of the local economy. As the first Zhenian city to have legalized gambling, the primary industries that drive Dongdo's economy are tourism, gambling, finance and conventions, although the city has been pivoting to other industries amid the proliferation of legalized gambling in select locations throughout the nation. Many major businesses originating in the Haedong Islands are headquartered in Dongdo, while some tech companies, in favor of lower property taxes and fewer regulations, have partially relocated their regional headquarters to Dongdo. Other major industries present in the city include military defense, manufacturing and medical services.

Transportation


Dongdo International Airport, located around 13 kilometers from downtown Dongdo, is the primary air gateway into Dongdo and partially the Haedong Islands. Built on an artificial island around 1.7 kilometers away from the southwestern coast of the city, the airport remains a major gateway for those entering and exiting the islands. The airport is also home to a seaplane port connecting Dongdo with other islands in the archipelago. Partially shared with the Republic of Zhenia Navy Air Warfare Command, it is subject to restrictions in nighttime flights between 23:00 and 6:00 AM the next day. Although mainly offering domestic and regional flights throughout East Tarsis, it offers a smaller number of flights to Dyria, Veharia and Azora.