Provinces of Korea

File:위만조선 세력지도.png

The ancient country, Old Chosŏn

Korea has had administrative districts that can be considered provinces since the 7th century. These divisions were initially called ju (Korean: ; Hanja: Template:Category handler) in Unified Silla and Later Baekje, and there were nine in total. After Goryeo conquered these states in the 10th century, twelve divisions called mok (; Template:Category handler) were established, although they were reorganized into ten do (; Template:Category handler) in the 11th century.

After Joseon's conquest of Goryeo, it established the Eight Provinces in 1413. These provincial boundaries closely reflected major regional and dialect boundaries, and are still significant in contemporary Korea. In 1895, as part of the Gabo Reform, the country was redivided into 23 districts (Bu; 부; ), which were replaced a year later by thirteen new provinces. The thirteen provinces of 1896 included three of the original eight provinces, with the five remaining original provinces divided into north and south halves (Bukdo (북도; ) and Namdo (남도; ) respectively). The thirteen provinces remained unchanged throughout the Japanese colonial period.

With the liberation of Korea in 1945, the Korean peninsula was divided into North Korea and South Korea, with the dividing line established along the 38th parallel. Three provinces—Hwanghae, Gyeonggi, and Gangwon (Kangwŏn)—were modified or split as a part of this. The special cities of Seoul (South Korea) and P'yŏngyang (North Korea) were formed in 1946. Between 1946 and 1954, five new provinces were created: Jeju in South Korea, and North and South Hwanghae, Chagang, and Ryanggang in North Korea. With the freezing of the Korean War in 1953, provincial boundaries were again modified between the two Koreas, and have since remained mostly unchanged; new cities and special administrative regions have since been created in their provinces.

Provinces of Balhae

Although southern part of Korean peninsula was took over by Silla, northern part was not fully conquered by nor Tang dynasty and Silla. Under the leadership of Tae Joyŏng, Parhae was founded. The country was divided into 5 capitals, 15 provinces; and 62 prefectures. Its territory covered former regions of Goguryeo while added territories of Outer Manchuria.

File:Balhae-Territory in 830.JPG

Hanja	Hangul	RR, Pinyin	Modern location
上京/龍州	상경/용주	Sanggyeong/Yongju Shangjing/Longzhou	Ning'an (寧安市) (Manchu: Ninguta 寧古塔)
中京/顯州	중경/현주	Junggyeong/Hyeonju Zhongjing/Xianzhou	Helong/Dunhua (和龍市/敦化市)
東京/慶州	동경/경주	Donggyeong/Gyeongju Dongjing/Qingzhou	Hunchun
南京/沃州	남경/옥주	Namgyeong/Okju Nanjing/Wozhou	Hamheung
西京/神州	서경/신주	Seogyeong/Sinju Xijing/Shenzhou	Linjiang
瑕州	하주	Haju Xiazhou	Jingyu (靖宇县)
扶州	부주	Buju Fuzhou	Kaiyuan
鄚州	막주	Makju Mozhou	Acheng (阿城)
定州	정주	Jeongju/Dingzhou	Partizansk
安州	안주	Anju Anzhou	Olga
華州	화주	Hwaju Huazhou	Ussuriysk/Shuaibin
伊州	이주	Iju Yizhou	Dangbi (密山市/当壁鎮)
德理鎮	덕리진	Deongnijin/Delizhen	Yilan (依蘭郷)
達州	달주	Dalju	Tongjiang (同江市)
寧州	영주	Yeongju Ningzhou	Dalnerechensk

Provinces of Unified Silla

File:9주 5소경.png

Map of 9 districts of Unified Silla with their 5 sub capitals.

The Korean peninsula was mostly unified for the first time by the state Silla in the 7th century. Silla's capital was Geumseong (now Gyeongju). It had five sub-capitals (; ; Template:Category handler) at Geumgwan-gyeong (Template:Category handler, now Gimhae), Namwon-gyeong (남원경, Namwon), Seowon-gyeong (Template:Category handler, Cheongju), Jungwon-gyeong (Template:Category handler, Chungju), and Bugwon-gyeong (Template:Category handler, Wonju).

The country was divided into nine provinces (; Template:Category handler): three in the pre-660 territory of Silla, and three each in the territories of the former kingdoms Baekje and Goguryeo.

Provinces of Silla

Province	Hangul	Hanja	Capital	Modern equivalent	Former kingdom
Template:Ill	양주		Yangju	Eastern Gyeongsang	Silla
Template:Ill	강주		Gangju	Western South Gyeongsang
Template:Ill	상주		Sangju	Western North Gyeongsang
Template:Ill	무주		Muju	South Jeolla	Baekje
Template:Ill	전주		Jeonju	North Jeolla
Template:Ill	웅주		Gongju	South Chungcheong
Template:Ill	한주		Hanju	North Chungcheong, Gyeonggi, Hwanghae	Goguryeo
Template:Ill	삭주		Sakju	Western Gangwon
Template:Ill	명주		Myeongju	Eastern Gangwon

Provinces of Goryeo

File:여말 행정구역.png

Provinces of Goryeo during the Late Goryeo period

Goryeo was established in the 10th century, and had its capital at Gaegyeong (now Kaesong). It conquered Silla and Later Baekje, and also conquered parts of the former territory of Goguryeo. Goryeo had three subcapitals: Donggyeong (now Gyeongju), Namgyeong (now Seoul), and Seogyeong (now Pyongyang).

Goryeo reorganized its provinces several times. Originally, the country had one royal district (; ; Template:Category handler) around Gaegyeong and twelve administrative districts (; ; Template:Category handler). In 995, the twelve districts were redivided into ten provinces (; ; Template:Category handler). In 1005, the ten provinces were again redivided, this time into five provinces and two frontier districts (; ; Template:Category handler). Gyojudo later became its own province after 1178, making it six provinces and two frontier districts.

Provinces of Goryeo over time

Provinces (pre-995)	Provinces (995–1005)	Provinces (post-1005)	Modern equivalent	Silla equivalent
Yangju-mok ()	Gwannae-do (관내도)	Seohae-do (西海道,서해도)	Hwanghae	Hanju
Hwangju-mok ()			North Hwanghae
Haeju-mok ()			South Hwanghae
Gwangju-mok ()		Yanggwang-do(楊廣道,양광도)	Gyeonggi
Chungju-mok ()	Jungwon-do (중원도)		North Chungcheong
Cheongju-mok				Ungju
Gongju-mok	Hanam-do (하남도)		South Chungcheong
Jeonju-mok ()	Gangnam-do (강남도)	Jeolla-do(전라도)	Jeonbuk	Jeonju
Naju-mok	Haeyang-do (해양도)		South Jeolla	Muju
Seungju-mok
Sangju-mok	Yeongnam-do (영남도)	Gyeongsang-do(경상도)	North Gyeongsang	Sangju
Jinju-mok	Sannam-do (산남도)		Western South Gyeongsang	Gangju
	Yeongdong-do (영동도)		Eastern South Gyeongsang	Yangju
—	Sakbang-do (삭방도)	Gyoju-do(교주도,交州道),also known as gyoju gangneungdo(交州江陵道,교주강릉도)Template:Efn	Gangwon	Sakju
—		Donggye(東界,동계),also known as Dongbukmyeon(東北面,동북면)		Myeongju
—	Paeseo-do (패서도)	Bukgye(北界,북계),Also known as Seobukmyeon(西北面,서북면))	Pyeongan	—

Provinces of Joseon

File:Eight provinces of Korea-en.svg

The Eight Provinces (Paldo)

File:23부제.gif

23 Districts (Isipsambu)

File:Thirteen provinces of Korea-en.svg

13 Provinces (Sipsamdo)

In 1413, Korea (at that time called Joseon) was divided into eight provinces: Chungcheong, Gangwon, Gyeonggi, Gyeongsang, Jeolla, Hamgyŏng (originally called Yeonggil), Hwanghae (originally called P'unghae), and P'yŏngan.

RR Romaja	M–R Romaja	Hangul	Hanja	Name origin	Capital	Region	Korean dialect	Post-1896 Provinces
Chungcheong	Ch'ungch'ŏng			Chungju (), Cheongju ()	Gongju	Hoseo	Chungcheong dialect	North Chungcheong South Chungcheong
Gangwon	Kangwŏn			Gangneung (), Wonju ()	Wonju	Gwandong (Yeongseo, YeongdongTemplate:Efn	Gangwon dialect	Gangwon
Gyeonggi	Kyŏnggi			(See note)	Hanseong (Seoul)	GijeonTemplate:Efn	Seoul dialect	Gyeonggi
Gyeongsang	Kyŏngsang			Gyeongju (), Sangju ()	Daegu	Yeongnam	Gyeongsang dialect	North Gyeongsang South Gyeongsang
Hamgyeong	Hamgyŏng			Hamhung (), Kyongsong ()	Hamhung	Kwanbuk, KwannamTemplate:Efn	Hamgyŏng dialect	North Hamgyong South Hamgyong
Hwanghae	Hwanghae			Hwangju (), Haeju ()	Haeju	Haeso	Hwanghae dialect	HwanghaeTemplate:Efn
Jeolla	Chŏlla			Jeonju (), Naju ()Template:Efn	Jeonju	Honam	Jeolla dialect; Jeju languageTemplate:Efn	North Jeolla South Jeolla
Pyeongan	P'yŏngan			Pyongyang (), Anju ()	Pyongyang	Kwanso	Pyongan dialect	North Pyongan South Pyongan

Districts of Late Joseon period

In 1895, Korea was redivided into 23 districts (Bu; 부; ), each named for the city or county that was its capital. The districts were short-lived, however, as the following year, the provincial system was restored.

• Andong
• Chuncheon
• Chungju
• Daegu
• Dongnae
• Gangneung
• Gongju
• Haeju
• Hamhŭng
• Hanseong
• Hongju
• Incheon
• Jeju
• Jeonju
• Jinju
• Kaesŏng
• Kanggye
• Kapsan
• Kyŏngsŏng
• Naju
• Namwon
• P'yŏngyang
• Ŭiju

Provinces of the Korean Empire

In 1896, the former eight provinces were restored, with five of them (Chungcheong, Gyeongsang, Jeolla, Hamgyŏng, and P'yŏngan) being divided into North and South Provinces (Bukdo (북도; ) and Namdo (남도; ) respectively). The resulting system of thirteen provinces lasted until the Division of Korea in 1945.

The thirteen provinces were: North and South Chungcheong, Gangwon, Gyeonggi, North and South Gyeongsang, North and South Hamgyŏng, Hwanghae, North and South Jeolla, and North and South P'yŏngan.

Provinces of Chōsen

File:Provinces of Chosen Korea.png

Provinces of Korea during Japanese rule

Under Colonial Japanese rule, Korean provinces of Korean Empire, remained much the same, only taking on the Japanese reading of the hanja. The Provinces of Chōsen were:

Japanese name	Kanji	Kana	Korean name	Hangul
Chūseihoku-dō			Chungcheongbuk-do
Chūseinan-dō			Chungcheongnam-do
Keishōhoku-dō			Gyeongsangbuk-do
Keishōnan-dō			Gyeongsangnam-do
Heianhoku-dō			Pyeonganbuk-do
Heian'nan-dō			Pyeongannam-do
Kōgen-dō			Gangwon-do
Kōkai-dō			Hwanghae-do
Kankyōhoku-dō			Hamgyeongbuk-do
Kankyōnan-dō			Hamgyeongnam-do
Zenranan-dō			Jeollanam-do
Zenrahoku-dō			Jeollabuk-do
Keiki-dō			Gyeonggi-do

Provincial divisions since the division of Korea

File:Provinces of Korea-en.svg

Provinces of North and South Korea

At the end of World War II in 1945, Korea was divided into Northern Korea and Southern Korea under trusteeship of the Soviet Union and the United States. The peninsula was divided at the 38th parallel in 1945. In 1948, the two zones became the independent countries of North Korea and South Korea.

Three provinces—Hwanghae, Gyeonggi, and Gangwon—were divided by the 38th parallel.

• Most of Hwanghae Province belonged to the Northern zone. The southern portion became part of Gyeonggi Province in the south.
• Most of Gyeonggi Province belonged to the Southern zone. In 1946, the northern portion became part of Hwanghae Province in the north.
• Gangwon Province was divided roughly in half, to form modern-day Gangwon Province in South Korea and Kangwon Province in North Korea. The northern province is expanded in 1946 to include some area around the city of Wonsan (Originally part of South Hamgyong Province)

Also in 1946, the cities of Seoul in the south and Pyongyang in the north separated from Gyeonggi and South Pyongan Provinces respectively to become Special Cities. Both North Korea and South Korea have subsequently upgraded other cities to a level equal to a province, and these cities (special cities of North Korea and special cities of South Korea [qq.v.]) are sometimes counted along with provinces.

Finally, the new provinces of Jeju Province (in the south, in 1946) and Chagang Province (in the north, 1949) were formed, from parts of South Jeolla and North Pyongan respectively. In 1954, Ryanggang Province was split from South Hamgyong and Hwanghae was divided into North and South Hwanghae Provinces.

The following table lists the present provincial divisions in the Korean Peninsula.

RR Romaja	M–R Romaja	Hangul/Chosongul	Hanja	ISO	Type	Area	Capital	Region	Country
Busan	Pusan			KR-26	City	767	Yeonje	Yeongnam	South Korea
ChungcheongbukNorth Chungcheong	ChungchongbukNorth Ch'ungch'ŏng			KR-43	Province	7,436	Cheongju	Hoseo	South Korea
ChungcheongnamSouth Chungcheong	ChungchongnamSouth Ch'ungch'ŏng			KR-44	Province	8,352	Hongseong	Hoseo	South Korea
Daegu	Taegu			KR-27	City	884	Jung	Yeongnam	South Korea
Daejeon	Taejŏn			KR-30	City	539	Seo	Hoseo	South Korea
Gangwon	Kangwŏn			KR-42	Province	16,894	Chuncheon	Gwandong	South Korea
Gangwon	Kangwŏn			KP-07	Province	11,091	Wonsan	Gwandong	North Korea
Gwangju	Kwangju			KR-29	City	501	Seo	Honam	South Korea
Gyeonggi	Kyŏnggi			KR-41	Province	10,131	Suwon	Sudogwon	South Korea
GyeongsangbukNorth Gyeongsang	KyongsangbukNorth Kyŏngsang			KR-47	Province	19,440	Andong	Yeongnam	South Korea
GyeongsangnamSouth Gyeongsang	KyongsangnamSouth Kyŏngsang			KR-48	Province	11,859	Changwon	Yeongnam	South Korea
HamgyongbukNorth Hamgyeong	HamgyongbukNorth Hamgyŏng			KP-09	Province	15,980	Chongjin	Kwanbuk	North Korea
HamgyongnamSouth Hamgyeong	HamgyongnamSouth Hamgyŏng			KP-08	Province	18,534	Hamhung	Kwannam	North Korea
HwanghaebukNorth Hwanghae	HwanghaebukNorth Hwanghae			KP-06	Province	8,154	Sariwon	Haeso	North Korea
HwanghaenamSouth Hwanghae	HwanghaenamSouth Hwanghae			KP-05	Province	8,450	Haeju	Haeso	North Korea
Incheon	Inch'ŏn			KR-28	City	1,029	Namdong	Sudogwon	South Korea
Jagang	Chagang			KP-04	Province	16,765	Kanggye	Kwanso	North Korea
Jeju	Cheju			KR-49	Province	1,846	Jeju City	Jejudo	South Korea
JeollabukNorth Jeolla	JeollabukNorth Chŏlla			KR-45	Province	8,043	Jeonju	Honam	South Korea
JeollanamSouth Jeolla	ChollanamSouth Chŏlla			KR-46	Province	11,858	Muan	Honam	South Korea
Nampo	Namp'o			KP-??	City	829	Kangsŏ	Kwanso	North Korea
Naseon	Rasŏn			KP-13	City	746	Rajin	Kwanbuk	North Korea
PyeonganbukNorth Pyeongan	PyonganbukNorth P'yŏngan			KP-03	Province	12,680	Sinuiju	Kwanso	North Korea
PyeongannamSouth Pyeongan	PyongannamSouth P'yŏngan			KP-02	Province	11,891	Pyongsong	Kwanso	North Korea
Pyeongyang	P'yŏngyang			KP-01	City	1,100	Chung	Kwanso	North Korea
Gaeseong	Kaesŏng			none	City	442	Kaepung	Haeso	North Korea
Yanggang	Ryanggang			KP-10	Province	13,880	Hyesan	Kwannam	North Korea
Sejong	Sejong			KR-50	City	465	Hansol	Hoseo	South Korea
Seoul	Sŏul		[1]	KR-11	City	605	Jung	Sudogwon	South Korea
Ulsan	Ulsan			KR-31	City	1,057	Nam	Yeongnam	South Korea

Notes

¹ See Names of Seoul.

See also

• List of South Korean regions by GDP
• List of provinces of Balhae
• Goguryeo#Government

References

Sources

• Nahm, Andrew C. (1988). Korea: Tradition and Transformation - A History of the Korean People. Elizabeth, NJ: Hollym International.
• Nahm 1988 (in Korean).

External links

• Template:Webarchive
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