Korea has had administrative districts that can be considered provinces since the 7th century. These divisions were initially called ju () 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 () were established, although they were reorganized into ten do () 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 the southern part of the Korean peninsula was taken over by Silla, the northern part was not fully conquered by the Tang dynasty or 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.
HanjaHangulRR, PinyinModern location上京/龍州상경/용주Sanggyeong/Yongju Shangjing/LongzhouNing'an (寧安市) (Manchu: Ninguta 寧古塔)中京/顯州중경/현주Junggyeong/Hyeonju Zhongjing/XianzhouHelong/Dunhua (和龍市/敦化市)東京/慶州동경/경주Donggyeong/Gyeongju Dongjing/QingzhouHunchun南京/沃州남경/옥주Namgyeong/Okju Nanjing/WozhouHamheung西京/神州서경/신주Seogyeong/Sinju Xijing/ShenzhouLinjiang瑕州하주Haju XiazhouJingyu (靖宇县)扶州부주Buju FuzhouKaiyuan鄚州막주Makju MozhouAcheng (阿城)定州정주Jeongju/DingzhouPartizansk安州안주Anju AnzhouOlga華州화주Hwaju HuazhouUssuriysk/Shuaibin伊州이주Iju YizhouDangbi (密山市/当壁鎮)德理鎮덕리진Deongnijin/DelizhenYilan (依蘭郷)達州달주DaljuTongjiang (同江市)寧州영주Yeongju NingzhouDalnerechensk
Provinces of Unified Silla
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 () at Geumgwan-gyeong (, now Gimhae), Namwon-gyeong (남원경, Namwon), Seowon-gyeong (, Cheongju), Jungwon-gyeong (, Chungju), and Bugwon-gyeong (, Wonju).
The country was divided into nine provinces (): 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 양주 Yangju Eastern Gyeongsang Silla 강주 Gangju Western South Gyeongsang 상주 Sangju Western North Gyeongsang 무주 Muju South Jeolla Baekje 전주 Jeonju North Jeolla 웅주 Gongju South Chungcheong 한주 Hanju North Chungcheong, Gyeonggi, Hwanghae Goguryeo 삭주 Sakju Western Gangwon 명주 Myeongju Eastern Gangwon
Provinces of Goryeo
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 () around Gaegyeong and twelve administrative districts (). In 995, the twelve districts were redivided into ten provinces (). In 1005, the ten provinces were again redivided, this time into five provinces and two frontier districts (). 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 equivalentSilla equivalent Yangju-mok () Gwannae-do (관내도) Seohae-do (西海道,서해도) HwanghaeHanju 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) 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
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 RomajaM–R RomajaHangulHanjaName originCapitalRegionKorean dialectPost-1896 ProvincesChungcheongCh'ungch'ŏngChungju (),Cheongju ()GongjuHoseoChungcheong dialectNorth ChungcheongSouth ChungcheongGangwonKangwŏnGangneung (),Wonju ()WonjuGwandong(Yeongseo, YeongdongGangwon dialectGangwonGyeonggiKyŏnggi(See note)Hanseong(Seoul)GijeonSeoul dialectGyeonggiGyeongsangKyŏngsangGyeongju (),Sangju ()DaeguYeongnamGyeongsang dialectNorth GyeongsangSouth GyeongsangHamgyeongHamgyŏngHamhung (),Kyongsong ()HamhungKwanbuk, KwannamHamgyŏng dialectNorth HamgyongSouth HamgyongHwanghaeHwanghaeHwangju (),Haeju ()HaejuHaesoHwanghae dialectHwanghaeJeollaChŏllaJeonju (),Naju ()JeonjuHonamJeolla dialect;Jeju languageNorth JeollaSouth JeollaPyeonganP'yŏnganPyongyang (),Anju ()PyongyangKwansoPyongan dialectNorth PyonganSouth 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
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 nameKanjiKanaKorean nameHangulChūseihoku-dōChungcheongbuk-doChūseinan-dōChungcheongnam-doKeishōhoku-dōGyeongsangbuk-doKeishōnan-dōGyeongsangnam-doHeianhoku-dōPyeonganbuk-doHeian'nan-dōPyeongannam-doKōgen-dōGangwon-doKōkai-dōHwanghae-doKankyōhoku-dōHamgyeongbuk-doKankyōnan-dōHamgyeongnam-doZenranan-dōJeollanam-doZenrahoku-dōJeollabuk-doKeiki-dōGyeonggi-do
Provincial divisions since the division of 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 RomajaM–R RomajaHangul/ChosongulHanjaISOTypeAreaCapitalRegionCountryBusanPusanKR-26City767YeonjeYeongnamSouth KoreaChungcheongbukNorth ChungcheongChungchongbukNorth Ch'ungch'ŏngKR-43Province7,436CheongjuHoseoSouth KoreaChungcheongnamSouth ChungcheongChungchongnamSouth Ch'ungch'ŏngKR-44Province8,352HongseongHoseoSouth KoreaDaeguTaeguKR-27City884JungYeongnamSouth KoreaDaejeonTaejŏnKR-30City539SeoHoseoSouth KoreaGangwonKangwŏnKR-42Province16,894ChuncheonGwandongSouth KoreaGangwonKangwŏnKP-07Province11,091WonsanGwandongNorth KoreaGwangjuKwangjuKR-29City501SeoHonamSouth KoreaGyeonggiKyŏnggiKR-41Province10,131SuwonSudogwonSouth KoreaGyeongsangbukNorth GyeongsangKyongsangbukNorth KyŏngsangKR-47Province19,440AndongYeongnamSouth KoreaGyeongsangnamSouth GyeongsangKyongsangnamSouth KyŏngsangKR-48Province11,859ChangwonYeongnamSouth KoreaHamgyongbukNorth HamgyeongHamgyongbukNorth HamgyŏngKP-09Province15,980ChongjinKwanbukNorth KoreaHamgyongnamSouth HamgyeongHamgyongnamSouth HamgyŏngKP-08Province18,534HamhungKwannamNorth KoreaHwanghaebukNorth HwanghaeHwanghaebukNorth HwanghaeKP-06Province8,154SariwonHaesoNorth KoreaHwanghaenamSouth HwanghaeHwanghaenamSouth HwanghaeKP-05Province8,450HaejuHaesoNorth KoreaIncheonInch'ŏnKR-28City1,029NamdongSudogwonSouth KoreaJagangChagangKP-04Province16,765KanggyeKwansoNorth KoreaJejuChejuKR-49Province1,846Jeju CityJejudoSouth KoreaJeollabukNorth JeollaJeollabukNorth ChŏllaKR-45Province8,043JeonjuHonamSouth KoreaJeollanamSouth JeollaChollanamSouth ChŏllaKR-46Province11,858MuanHonamSouth KoreaNampoNamp'oKP-??City829KangsŏKwansoNorth KoreaNaseonRasŏnKP-13City746RajinKwanbukNorth KoreaPyeonganbukNorth PyeonganPyonganbukNorth P'yŏnganKP-03Province12,680SinuijuKwansoNorth KoreaPyeongannamSouth PyeonganPyongannamSouth P'yŏnganKP-02Province11,891PyongsongKwansoNorth KoreaPyongyangP'yŏngyangKP-01City1,100ChungKwansoNorth KoreaGaeseongKaesŏngnoneCity442KaepungHaesoNorth KoreaYanggangRyanggangKP-10Province13,880HyesanKwannamNorth KoreaSejongSejongKR-50City465HansolHoseoSouth KoreaSeoulSŏulKR-11City605JungSudogwonSouth KoreaUlsanUlsanKR-31City1,057NamYeongnamSouth Korea
Notes 1 See Names of Seoul.
See also List of South Korean regions by GDP List of provinces of Balhae Goguryeo#Government
Notes