Korean Cities & Provinces // A Complete Guide

Get to Know Korea | An Introduction to Korea’s Cities and Provinces

Want to come to Korea but don’t know where to go? Then this guide to Korean Cities and Provinces is just what the doctor ordered!

The Korean peninsula is divided into several regions and each of these regions have their own unique characters.

For example, you’ll hear different dialects while travelling through them.

A quick Korean lesson to start you off though…

The highest administrative divisions in South Korea take shape of these regions and are called provinces ( Play 도 in Korean).

South Korea is divided into 9 provinces which are:

• Gyeonggi
• Gangwon
• North Chungcheong
• South Chungcheong
• North Gyeongsang
• South Gyeongsang
• North Jeolla
• South Jeolla
• Jeju

All of these provinces have their own distinctive features, so let’s look into them.

Check out the map of South Korea to know exactly where are located the provinces and cities we mention in this article:

Gyeonggi-do (경기도)

👉 Play 경기도

Literally meaning ‘province surrounding the capital’ Gyeonggi province is the most populous in South Korea with more than one-fifth of the entire population living there.

It is located in the west-central area of the Korean Peninsula.

In the north it borders the cease-fire line and the demilitarised zone, therefore it is a destination for many tourists.

Gyeonggi-do is the centre of South Korea’s politics, economy, and culture too.

Around the capital Seoul, many satellite cities are located which creates the biggest metropolitan area in the country.

Since the housing prices in Seoul are very expensive, many workers prefer to live in cities located around it.

Some of these cities include Bucheon, Seongnam, Suwon and so on. Gyeonggi-do is also famous for being the home to South Korea’s high tech industry.

The companies representing South Korea on the worldwide scene such as Samsung and SK have their headquarters located in this exact province!

Gangwon-do (강원도)

👉 Play 강원도

Located in the north-eastern part of South Korea Gangwon-do is the mountainous region of the country.

The high mountains of Taebaek and the beautiful views of the East Sea come together in harmony that charms tourists from around the world.

DID YOU KNOW | Pyeongchang the host of 2018 Winter Olympics is located here. Therefore if you enjoy winter sports, you’ll also enjoy Gangwon-do. 

Chungcheong-do (충청도)

👉 Play 충청도

Chungcheong-do is located in the central-western part of the country and is divided into Northern and Southern provinces.

Chungcheong borders the Western or Yellow Sea, which is the home to wide mudflat.

Due to this,충청도 province is currently actively working on land reclamation technologies.

Chungcheong-do is also famous for being the home to the capital of an ancient Korean kingdom, Baekje.

Therefore this region is rich with royal tombs, temples, towers and other cultural assets.

For tourists we’d also recommend the Gyeryongsan National Park, as well as Taeanhaean National Park which is famous for beautiful views of the sea. 

Jeolla-do (전라도)

👉 Play 전라도

Located in the southwestern part of the peninsula, Jeolla-do is also divided into Northern and Southern provinces.

This region is filled with wide plains and rivers. The climate is also very warm and pleasant, therefore Jeolla has always been the centre of rice cultivation.

Koreans call this region the breadbasket of the country, since it produces most of the rice in South Korea.

Jeolla is also a very important region for Korea’s international relations and commerce.

Being closest to the Chinese mainland, throughout history Jeolla has always been responsible for connecting Korea with the Chinese market.

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Gyeongsang-do (경상도)

👉 Play 경상도

One of the most famous regions of South Korea is the Gyeongsang province located in the south-eastern part of the country.

It is also divided into North and South.

Since this region borders the South and East seas, many of the most important ports of the country are located here.

The South Sea is famous for its warm waters throughout the whole year, therefore the marine industry is the most developed in this region.

Gyeongsang-do has also been the home to South Korea’s chemical industry since the 1970’s.

Ships, cars, machines, and most steel products are produced in big cities such as Pohang and Changwon.

Therefore this region plays an important role in the rapid growth of the country. 

Jeju-do (제주도)

👉 Play 제주도

You have probably heard of this name as the most popular holiday destination in South Korea.

Jeju-do is the biggest island in the country as well as an autonomous province.

FUN FACT | Did you know that the air route from Seoul to Jeju is the busiest route in the whole world?

The Island of Jeju, which was formed by a volcanic eruption, is one whole tourist attraction.

Here you can see the highest mountain in South Korea, Halla, as well as beautiful seas and green plains.

Because Jeju is somewhat isolated from the mainland, people here have developed their own culture and a dialect that is so different from those of mainland Korea that some people might even call it a separate language.

Koreans often call this island Samdado – which means that it’s an island abundant in wind, rocks, and women.

A vacation to this beautiful island is a dream to all! 

Since we’ve already covered the topic of Korean provinces, let’s now take a look into the 8 cities of South Korea that aren’t part of any province.

Cities that govern themselves are divided in three categories:

• Special Cities (특별시)
• Special Self-Governing Cities (특별자치시)
• Metropolitan Cities (광역시)

Seoul (서울특별시)

👉 Play 서울특별시

The one and only Special City in South Korea is the capital itself – Seoul.

Seoul is the largest metropolis in the country with a population of almost 10 million people.

Seoul is an influential city on a worldwide level and was founded in 18 BC and has held the title of the capital for the last 700 years.

It is a home to many historic sites, among them are five UNESCO World Heritage sites such as Jongmyo Shrine and Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty.

Seoul is located on both sides of the Han river.

On the south bank or Gangnam you’ll be able to enjoy the modern experiences of the city. The north side or Gangbuk is home to historical palaces, traditional architecture and much more. 

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Sejong (세종특별자치시)

👉 Play 세종특별자치시

The next category, Special Self-Governing Cities also has a single member – Sejong.

Unlike other cities, Sejong is not an ancient one.

It was founded in 2007 with a plan for the balanced development of the country’s regions.

The name Sejong – comes from the fourth king of the Joseon Dynasty, who created Hangul – the Korean alphabet.

Some of the important institutions such as ministries, have been relocated from Seoul to Sejong.

The construction of this city is expected to be completed in 2030 when all the government institutions are moved there. 

Incheon (인천광역시)

👉 Play 인천광역시

Aside from Seoul and Sejong, there are 6 cities in South Korea that don’t belong to any province and they are called Metropolitan Cities or 광역시.

At the end of the 19th century, only around 5,000 people lived in Incheon.

But after becoming an international port its population began to increase and now it has a population of 3 million people!

As a coastal city, Incheon has been a mediator between Korea and the outside world.

Today it is a major transportation hub in Asia since the busy Incheon International Airport and Incheon Port are both located here. 

Gwangju (광주광역시)

👉 Play 광주광역시

Located in South Jeolla Province, Gwangju was promoted to a metropolitan city and gained independence from Jeolla in 2005.

As one of the oldest cities in Korea, Gwangju played an important role in Baekje (one of the three ancient Korean kingdoms).

This city is famous among Koreans for its rich cuisine.

But Gwangju went under the spotlight in 1980 when local civilians started protesting against Korea’s military government.

After this incident the Gwangju Uprising is considered the root of South Korean democracy.  

Daejeon (대전광역시)

👉 Play 대전광역시

Located in Chungcheong region, Daejeon is one of the most developed cities in South Korea with its technology sector. It proudly holds its nickname of ‘high technology city’.

Daejeon is home to many universities, including KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) and is often regarded as the Asian Silicon Valley.

Aside from its modern atmosphere Daejeon is famous for preserving its natural beauty in its urban environment.

In Daejeon, you can enjoy forests, rivers and mountains without leaving the city.

Daegu (대구광역시)

👉 Play 대구광역시

Daegu, Ulsan and Busan are all Metropolitan cities in the Gyeongsang region.

Daegu is also one of the most important regions for economic development.

Since this city has been responsible for textile-making, it’s not surprising that Daegu is the centre of Korea’s modern fashion industry.

Daegu is also notorious for its hot climate, especially during summers.

It is often nicknamed as the Korean Africa by locals!  

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Ulsan (울산광역시)

👉 Play 울산광역시

Ulsan and Busan are neighbouring coastal cities, the biggest in Korea.

Therefore it’s not surprising that the marine industry is flourishing here.

Ulsan is responsible for Korea’s shipbuilding and automobile industries with big conglomerates such as Hyundai and SK Group actively working here.    

Busan (부산광역시)

👉 Play 부산광역시

The second largest city in South Korea, Busan is also the largest port of the country (and also the 6th largest in the world)!

It is the biggest economic and cultural centre of the southern part of South Korea.

The longest river in Korea, Nakdong, also flows through this city.

Busan is very popular among tourists, as this lively city is home to Korea’s famous beaches, therefore many people like to spend their summer vacations here. 

All nine provinces and metropolitan cities in South Korea have their own charm, with their thousand-year history and unique cultures. 

Which region would you like to visit first? 

Let us know in the comments!

Korean Cities // FAQ’s

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