Cities of South Korea

The largest cities of South Korea have self-governing status equivalent to that of provinces. Seoul, the largest city and capital, is classified as a teukbyeolsi (Special City), while the next 6 largest cities (see the list below) are classified as gwangyeoksi (Metropolitan Cities; see Special cities of Korea). Smaller cities are classified as si ("cities") and are under provincial jurisdiction, at the same level as counties (see Administrative divisions of South Korea).

elf-governing cities with the status of provinces

Table 2: Special Cities and Metropolitan Cities of South Korea

"Note: South Korea uses the Revised Romanisation of Korean."

Romanization	Hangul	Hanja	Year of Split	Province split from
Seoul Teukbyeolsi	서울 특별시	"See note below"	December, 1067	Yangju (then Namgyeong)
Busan Gwangyeoksi	부산 광역시	釜山廣域市	January 1, 1963	S. Gyeongsang
Daegu Gwangyeoksi	대구 광역시	大邱廣域市	July 1, 1981	N. Gyeongsang
Incheon Gwangyeoksi	인천 광역시	仁川廣域市	July 1, 1981	Gyeonggi
Gwangju Gwangyeoksi	광주 광역시	光州廣域市	November 1, 1986	S. Jeolla
Daejeon Gwangyeoksi	대전 광역시	大田廣域市	January 1, 1989	S. Chungcheong
Ulsan Gwangyeoksi	울산 광역시	蔚山廣域市	July 15, 1997	S. Gyeongsang

Notes

*The name "Seoul" does not originate from hanja. In China, it is written as 首爾/首尔, which is a transcription based on the pronunciation of "Seoul". As a suffix, the character "gyeong" (京) is used, which means "capital".
*Seoul was designated a "Special Free City" ("Teukbyeol Jayusi;" 특별 자유시; 特別自由市) separate from Gyeonggi Province on August 15, 1946; it became a "Special City" on August 15, 1949.
*All of the above cities except Ulsan have metro (subway) systems either in operation or under construction.

Provincial Cities of Gyeonggi-do

*Suwon (수원시, 水原市, capital)
*Ansan (안산시, 安山市)
*Anseong (안성시, 安城市)
*Anyang (안양시, 安養市)
*Bucheon (부천시, 富川市)
*Dongducheon (동두천시, 東豆川市)
*Gimpo (김포시, 金浦市)
*Goyang (고양시, 高陽市)
*Gunpo (군포시, 軍浦市)
*Guri (구리시, 九里市)
*Gwacheon (과천시, 果川市)
*Gwangju (광주시, 廣州市)
*Gwangmyeong (광명시, 光明市)
*Hanam (하남시, 河南市)
*Hwaseong (화성시, 華城市)
*Icheon (이천시, 利川市)
*Namyangju (남양주시, 南楊州市)
*Osan (오산시, 烏山市)
*Paju (파주시, 坡州市)
*Pocheon (포천시, 抱川市)
*Pyeongtaek (평택시, 平澤市)
*Seongnam (성남시, 城南市)
*Siheung (시흥시, 始興市)
*Uijeongbu (의정부시, 議政府市)
*Uiwang (의왕시, 儀旺市)
*Yangju (양주시, 楊州市)
*Yongin (용인시, 龍仁市)

Other Provincial Cities

Chungcheongnam-do
* Asan (아산시, 牙山市)
* Boryeong (보령시, 保寧市)
* Cheonan (천안시, 天安市)
* Gongju (공주시, 公州市)
* Nonsan (논산시, 論山市)
* Seosan (서산시, 瑞山市)
* Gyeryong (계룡시, 鷄龍市)Gangwon-do
* Chuncheon (춘천시, 春川市, capital)
* Donghae (동해시, 東海市)
* Gangneung (강릉시, 江陵市)
* Samcheok (삼척시, 三陟市)
* Sokcho (속초시, 束草市)
* Taebaek (태백시, 太白市)
* Wonju (원주시, 原州市)Gyeongsangbuk-do
*Andong (안동시; 安東市)
*Gimcheon (김천시; 金泉市)
*Gyeongju (경주시; 慶州市)
*Gyeongsan (경산시; 慶山市)
*Gumi (구미시; 龜尾市)
*Mungyeong (문경시;聞慶市)
*Pohang (포항시; 浦項市)
*Sangju (상주시; 尙州市)
*Yeongcheon (영천시; 永川市)
*Yeongju (영주시; 榮州市)Gyeongsangnam-do
*Changwon (창원시; 昌原市, capital)
*Geoje (거제시; 巨濟市)
*Gimhae (김해시; 金海市)
*Jinhae (진해시; 鎭海市)
*Jinju (진주시; 晋州市)
*Masan (마산시; 馬山市)
*Miryang (밀양시; 密陽市)
*Sacheon (사천시; 泗川市)
*Tongyeong (통영시; 統營市)
*Yangsan (양산시; 梁山市)

Chungcheongbuk-do
*Cheongju (청주시, 淸州市, capital)
*Chungju (충주시, 忠州市)
*Jecheon (제천시, 堤川市)Jeollabuk-do
*Jeonju (전주시; 全州市, capital)
*Gimje (김제시; 金堤市)
*Gunsan (군산시; 群山市)
*Iksan (익산시; 益山市)
*Jeongeup (정읍시; 井邑市)
*Namwon (남원시; 南原市)Jeollanam-do
* Mokpo (목포시, 木浦市)
* Yeosu (여수시, 麗水市)
* Suncheon (순천시, 順天市)
* Gwangyang (광양시, 光陽市)
* Naju (나주시, 羅州市)Jeju Teukbyeoljachi-do
* Jeju City (제주시, 濟州市, capital)
* Seogwipo (서귀포시, 西歸浦市)

Most populous South Korean cities

ources

* [http://www.citypopulation.de/KoreaSouth.html The Principal Cities of South Korea]

ee also

*List of cities in South Korea by population

External links

* [http://www.mongabay.com/igapo/South%20Korea.htm Largest cities in South Korea]