Korea has traditionally been divided into a number of unofficial regions that reflect historical, geographical, and dialect boundaries within the peninsula. Many of the names in the list below overlap or are obsolete today, with Honam, Yeongdong, Yeongnam, and the modern term Sudogwon being the only ones in wide use.
The names of Korea's traditional Eight Provinces are often also used as regional monikers.
List of eight regions
| Name | RR | MC | Hangul | Hanja | Cities and provinces | Divisions today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haeso | Haeseo | Haesŏ | 해서 | 海西 | N. Hwanghae and S. Hwanghae | North |
| Kwanso | Gwanseo | Kwansŏ | 관서 | 關西 | Pyongyang, Nampo, N. Pyongan, S. Pyongan, and Chagang | North |
| Kwanbuk | Gwanbuk | Kwanbuk | 관북 | 關北 | Rason, N. Hamgyong, S. Hamgyong, and Ryanggang | North |
| Gwandong | Gwandong | Kwandong | 관동 | 關東 | Gangwon (South), and Kangwon (North) | Both |
| Gyeonggi | Gyeonggi | Kyŏnggi | 경기 | 京畿 | Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi, and Kaesong | Both |
| Hoseo | Hoseo | Hosŏ | 호서 | 湖西 | Daejeon, Sejong, N. Chungcheong, and S. Chungcheong | South |
| Honam | Honam | Honam | 호남 | 湖南 | Gwangju, N. Jeolla, S. Jeolla, and Jeju | South |
| Yeongnam | Yeongnam | Ryŏngnam | 영남(령남) | 嶺南 | Busan, Daegu, Ulsan, N. Gyeongsang, and S. Gyeongsang | South |
Extra regions
| Name | RR | MC | Hangul | Hanja | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kwannam | Gwannam | Kwannam | 관남 | 關南 | Southern part of Kwanbuk |
| Kwanbuk | Gwanbuk | Kwanbuk | 관북 | 關北 | Northern part of Kwanbuk |
| Yeongseo | Yeongseo | Ryŏngsŏ | 영서(령서) | 嶺西 | Western part of Gwandong |
| Yeongdong | Yeongdong | Ryŏngdong | 영동(령동) | 嶺東 | Eastern part of Gwandong |
| Giho | Giho | Kiho | 기호 | 畿湖 | Gyeonggi and Hoseo |
| Jeju | Jeju | Cheju | 제주 | 濟州 | Jeju Island (part of Honam) |
See also
- Eight Provinces of Korea
- Korean dialects
- Provinces of Korea
- Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in Jilin, Northeast China
References
- "지역 구분". The National Atlas of Korea: Comprehensive Edition (in Korean). National Geographic Information Institute. March 2023.
| Regions and administrative divisions of North Korea | |
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| Provinces | |
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| Special administrative regions (abolished) | |
| Regions and administrative divisions of South Korea | |
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| Regions | |
| Provinces | |
| Special self-governing province and States | |
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| Special self-governing city | |
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