South Korea is divided into 17 top-level administrative subdivisions including 1 special city, 1 special self-governing city, 6 metropolitan cities, 8 provinces, and 1 special self-governing province. Seoul is the capital and largest city located in the northwest. Sejong is a planned city in the center that hosts many government agencies and was proposed to become the new national capital. The provinces and metropolitan cities cover most of the mainland while Jeju is a popular island province located 130 km south of the mainland.

1. PROVINCES
KOREAN
SOUTH

2. The Republic of Korea 대한민국 is subdivided
into 17 top-level administrative subdivisions.

3. There are 5 types of provincial-level subdivision:
• 1 Special City 특별시
• 1 Special Self-governing City 특별자치시
• 6 Metropolitan Cities 광역시
• 8 Provinces 도
• 1 Special Self-governing Province 특별자치도

4. Seoul Special City 서울특별시（特別市）is the
capital of South Korea. It is located in the
northwest and has a population of over 10
million.

5. Sejong Special Self-governing City 세종특별자치
시（世宗特別自治市）is a planned city in the
center of the country. Many government
agencies have moved or are planning to move
there, and it was proposed that this would be
the new national capital.

6. The 6 Metropolitan Cities are:
• Busan 부산광역시（釜山廣域市）
• Daegu 대구광역시（大邱廣域市）
• Incheon 인천광역시（仁川廣域市）
• Daejeon 대전광역시（大田廣域市）
• Gwangju 광주광역시（光州廣域市）
• Ulsan 울산광역시（蔚山廣域市）
부산 대전 인천

7. The 8 Provinces are:
• Gyeonggi 경기도（京畿道）
• Gangwon 강원도（江原道）
• North Chungcheong 충청북도（忠清北道）
• South Chungcheong 충청남도（忠清南道）
• North Jeolla 전라북도（全羅北道）
• South Jeolla 전라남도（全羅南道）
• North Gyeongsang 경상북도（慶尚北道）
• South Gyeongsang 경상남도（慶尚南道）
전라남도 경상북도 강원도

8. Jeju Special Self-governing Province 제주특별자치
도（濟州特別自治道）is an island 130 km south
of mainland Korea, which split from South Jeolla
in 1948. It is a popular holiday destination for
mainland Koreans.

9. In this course, you can learn the capital,
location, logo and Hanja of each division.
If you can read Korean, click the link
below to try the Korean version of this
course, where you learn the above, and
more.