Committee for the Five Northern Korean Provinces


The Committee for the Five Northern Korean Provinces is a South Korean government body which is de jure responsible for governing the provinces controlled by North Korea, and de facto responsible for providing support to North Korean defectors living in South Korea.
WWW ibuk5do.go.kr

History

The committee was established in 1949, when President Syngman Rhee appointed governors to the five northern provinces, highlighting the need of functioning local governments ready to step in in case of Korean reunification. The body is placed under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.
The South Korean government formally claims to be the sole legitimate government of the entirety of the Korean Peninsula. The South Korean government does not officially recognize any changes to the borders of the northern provinces made by the North Korean government since its establishment in 1949.

Role

The committee operates as a government-in-exile officially responsible for the administration of the five Korean provinces located entirely north of the 38th Parallel, also known as the Military Demarcation Line. The President of South Korea appoints governors for each of the five provinces. The district and counties of the provinces have advisory committees and appointed township officials. The governors office coordinates with advisers and committee members tasked with writing policy plans for education, public health, religious freedom and local governance in these provinces.
However, their role is largely symbolic, as the territory is under the effective jurisdiction of North Korea. The committee's main practical function is to provide support to North Korean defectors living in South Korea, including organizing resettlements and social events.
Despite its name, the committee plays no part in North Korea–South Korea relations; North Korean affairs are handled by the Ministry of Unification. In the event of a North Korean collapse, contingency plans call for a new government body to be set up to administer the North under the leadership of the Unification Minister. In that case, the five governors would have to resign and the committee would be disbanded.

North Hamgyeong

North Hamgyeong Province or Hamgyeongbuk-do corresponds to North Korea's North Hamgyong Province, Rason Special City and part of Ryanggang Province.
Hamgyeongbuk-do is divided into 3 cities and 11 counties :
Cities:
Counties:
  • Gyeongseong '
  • * 2 eup : Jueul, Eodaejin
  • * 4 myeon : Gyeongseong, Eorang, Jubuk, Junam
  • Myeongcheon '
  • * 10 myeon : Sangwubuk, Dong, Sangga, Sanggo, Sangwunam, Seo, Agan, Haga, Hago, Hawu
  • Gilju
  • * 1 eup : Gilju
  • * 5 myeon : Deoksan, Donghae, Yangsa, Ungpyeong, Jangbaek
  • Hakseong '
  • * 5 myeon : Hakseo, Hakdong, Hakjung, Haknam, Haksang
  • Buryeong
  • * 8 myeon : Buryeong, Gwanhae, Bugeo, Samhae, Seosang, Seokmak, Yeoncheon, Cheongam
  • Musan
  • * 1 eup : Musan
  • * 9 myeon : Dong, Samjang, Samsa, Seoha, Eoha, Yeonsa, Yeonsang, Yeongbuk, Punggye
  • Hoenyeong
  • * 1 eup : Hoenyeong
  • * 6 myeon : Byeokseong, Boeul, Yongheung, Changdu, Paleul, Hwapyeong
  • Jongseong
  • * 6 myeon : Jongseong, Namsan, Yonggye, Punggok, Haengyeong, Hwabang
  • Onseong
  • * 6 myeon : Onseong, Namyang, Mipo, Yeongwa, Yeongchung, Hunyung
  • Gyeongwon
  • * 6 myeon : Gyeongwon, Dongwon, Asan, Annong, Yongdeok, Yudeok
  • Gyeongheung '
  • * 2 eup : Unggi, Aoji
  • * 3 myeon : Gyeonghung, Punghae, Noseo

South Hamgyeong

South Hamgyeong Province corresponds to North Korea's South Hamgyong Province, as well as parts of Ryanggang Province, Chagang Province, Kangwon Province and China's Jilin Province.
Hamgyeongnam-do is divided into 3 cities and 16 counties :
Cities:
Counties:
  • Hamju '
  • * 16 myeon : Gigok, Deoksan, Dongcheon, Sampyeong, Sanggicheon, Sangjoyang, Seondeok, Yeonpo, Jubuk, Juseo, Juji, Cheonseo, Cheonwon, Toejo, Hagicheon, Hajoyang
  • Sinheung
  • * 8 myeon : Sinheung, Gapyeong, Sangwoncheon, Seogocheon, Yeonggo, Wonpyeong, Hawoncheon, Dongsang
  • Jeongpyeong
  • * 8 myeon : Chongpyong, Gosan, Gwangdeok, Gwirim, Munsan, Sinsang, Jangwon, Jui
  • Yeongheung
  • * 1 eup : Yeongheung
  • * 11 myeon : Goryeong, Deokheung, Seonheung, Sunryeong, Eokgi, Yodeok, Inheung, Jangheung, Jinpyeong, Hodo, Heongcheon
  • Gowon
  • * 1 eup : Gowon
  • * 5 myeon : Gunnae, Sangok, Sangsan, Sudong, Ungok
  • Muncheon '
  • * 1 eup : Cheonnae
  • * 7 myeon : Muncheon, Deokwon, Myeonggu, Bukseong, Unrim, Pungsang, Pungha
  • Anbyeon
  • * 7 myeon : Anbyeon, Ando, Seokwangsa, Baehwa, Seogok, Singosan, Sinmo
  • Hongwon
  • * 1 eup : Hongwon
  • * 6 myeon : Gyeongwun, Bohyeon, Samho, Yongwon, Yongpo, Unhak
  • Bukcheong
  • * 3 eup : Bukcheong, Sinpo, Sinchang
  • * 11 myeon : Gahoe, Geosan, Deokseong, Sanggeoseo, Seongdae, Sokhu, Sin-Bukcheong, Yanghwa, Igok, Hageoseo, Huchang
  • Iwon
  • * 1 eup : Chaho
  • * 3 myeon : Iwon, Dong, Namsong
  • Dancheon
  • * 1 eup : Dancheon
  • * 8 myeon : Gwangcheon, Damduil, Bokgwi, Bukdoil, Suha, Sinman, Ijung, Hada
  • Jangjin
  • * 7 myeon : Jangjin, Dongmun, Dongha, Buk, Sangnam, Seohan, Jungnam
  • Pungsan
  • * 5 myeon : Pungsan, Ansan, Ansu, Ungyi, Cheonnam
  • Samsu
  • * 7 myeon : Samsu, Geumsu, Gwanheung, Samseo, Sinpa, Jaseo, Hoin
  • Gapsan
  • * 5 myeon : Gapsan, Dongin, Jindong, Sannam, Hoerin
  • Hyesan
  • * 1 eup : Hyesan
  • * 5 myeon : Daejin, Byeoldong, Bocheon, Bongdu, Unheung

Hwanghae

Hwanghae Province or Hwanghae-do corresponds to North Korea's North Hwanghae Province and South Hwanghae Province.
Hwanghae-do is divided into 3 cities and 17 counties :
Cities:
Counties:
  • Byeokseong '
  • * 20 myeon : Gajwa, Geomdan, Gosan, Nadeok, Daegeo, Donggang, Miyul, Seoseok, Songrim, Unsan, Wolrok, Janggok, Haenam, Geumsan, Naesong, Dongun, Yeongcheon, Ilsin, Cheongryong, Chuhwa
  • Yeonbaek
  • * 1 eup : Yeonan
  • * 19 myeon : Gwaegung, Geumsan, Dochon, Mokdan, Bongbuk, Bongseo, Seoksan, Songbong, Onjeong, Yongdo, Unsan, Yugok, Euncheon, Haeryong, Haeseong, Haewol, Honam, Hodong, Hwaseong
  • Ongjin
  • * 1 eup : Ongjin
  • * 10 myeon : Gacheon, Gyojeong, Dongnam, Bonggu, Bumin, Buk, Seo, Yongyeon, Yongcheon, Heungmi
  • Jangyeon
  • * 1 eup : Jangyeon
  • * 9 myeon : Nakdo, Daegu, Mokgam, Sokdal, Suntaek, Sinhwa, Yongyeon, Haean, Hunam
  • Geumcheon
  • * 12 Myeon : Geumcheon, Godong, Gui, Sanoe, Seobuk, Seocheon, Oeryu, Ubong, Ungdeok, Jwa, Tosan, Habtan
  • Singye
  • * 8 myeon : Singye, Go, Dami, Dayul, Maseo, Saji, Jeokyeo, Chon
  • Pyeongsan
  • * 1 eup : Namcheon
  • * 13 myeon : Pyongsan, Goji, Geumam, Masan, Munmu, Sangwol, Seobong, Segok, Sinam, Anseong, Yongsan, Insan, Jeokam
  • Bongsan '
  • * 13 myeon : Guyeon, Gicheon, Deokjae, Dongseon, Mancheon, Munjeong, Sain, Sansu, Seojeong, Ssangsan, Yeongcheon, Chowa, Toseong
  • Seoheung
  • * 1 eup : Sinmak
  • * 10 myeon : Seoheung, Gupo, Naedeok, Do, Maeyang, Mokgam, Sepyeong, Sosa, Yongpyeong, Yulri
  • Jaeryeong
  • * 1 eup : Jaeryeong
  • * 10 myeon : Namryul, Bukryul, Samgang, Sangseong, Seoho, Sinwon, Eunryong, Jangsu, Cheongcheon, Haseong
  • Sincheon
  • * 1 eup : Sincheon
  • * 14 myeon : Garyeon, Gasan, Gungheung, Nambu, Nowol, Dura, Munmu, Munhwa, Bukbu, Sancheon, Oncheon, Yongmun, Yongjin, Chori
  • Songhwa
  • * 13 myeon : Songhwa, Punghae, Dowon, Bongrae, Sangri, Yeonbang, Yeonjeong, Unyu, Yulri, Jangyang, Jinpung, Cheondong
  • Eunyul
  • * 7 myeon : Eunyul, Nambu, Bukbu, Seobu, Ildo, Ido, Jangryeon
  • Anak
  • * 1 eup : Anak
  • * 8 myeon : Daewon, Daehaeng, Munsan, Seoha, Angok, Yongmun, Yongsun, Eunhong
  • Hwangju
  • * 1 eup : Hwangju
  • * 11 myeon : Gurak, Guseong, Dochi, Samjeon, Yeongpung, Ingyo, Junam, Cheonju, Cheongryong, Cheongsu, Heukgyo
  • Suan
  • * 9 myeon : Suan, Gongpo, Daeseong, Daeo, Doso, Sugu, Yeonam, Yulgye, Cheongok
  • Goksan
  • * 12 myeon : Goksan, Dohwa, Dongchon, Myeokmi, Bongmyeong, Sangdo, Seochon, Unjung, Iryeong, Cheonggye, Hado, Hwachon

North Pyeongan

North Pyeongan Province or Pyeonganbuk-do corresponds to North Korea's North Pyongan Province, almost all of Chagang Province and a small part of Ryanggang Province.
Pyeonganbuk-do is divided into 1 cities and 19 counties :
Cities:
Counties:
  • Euiju
  • * 1 eup : Uiju
  • * 12 myeon : Gasan, Gogwan, Goryeongsak, Goseong, Gwangpyeong, Bihyeon, Songjang, Sujin, Oksang, Wolhwa, Wiwon, Wihwa
  • Yongcheon
  • * 1 eup : Yongampo
  • * 11 myeon : Dongha, Naejung, Dongsang, Bura, Bukjung, Yangseo, Yanggwang, Yangha, Oesang, Oeha, Sindo
  • Cheolsan
  • * 6 myeon : Cheolsan, Baekryang, Buseo, Cham, Seorim, Yeohan
  • Seoncheon
  • * 1 eup : Seoncheon
  • * 8 myeon : Gunsan, Nam, Unjong, Dong, Sucheong, Sinbu, Simcheon, Yongyeon, Taesan
  • Jeongju
  • * 1 eup : Jeongju
  • * 12 myeon : Galsan, Godeok, Goan, Gwaksan, Gwanju, Namseo, Daejeon, Deokeon, Masan, Anheung, Okcheon, Impo
  • Sakju '
  • * 1 eup : Cheongsu
  • * 7 myeon : Sakju, Gugok, Namseo, Sudong, Supung, Oenam, Yangsan
  • Guseong
  • * 10 myeon : Guseong, Gwanseo, Nodong, Dongsan, Banghyeon, Sagi, Seosan, Obong, Ihyeon, Cheonma
  • Yeongbyeon
  • * 14 myeon : Yeongbyeon, Goseong, Namsong, Namsinhyeon, Doksan, Baekryeong, Bongsan, Buksinhyeon, Sorim, Yeonsan, Ori, Yongsan, Taepyeong, Palwon
  • Bakcheon
  • * 1 eup : Bakcheon
  • * 7 myeon : Gasan, Deokan, Dongnam, Seo, Yangga, Yonggye, Cheongryong
  • Taecheon
  • * 9 myeon : Taecheon, Gangdong, Gangseo, Nam, Dong, Seo, Seoseong, Won, Jangrim
  • Unsan '
  • * 1 eup : Bukjin
  • * 4 myeon : Unsan, Dongsin, Seong, Wiyeon
  • Changseong
  • * 5 myeon : Changseong, Daechang, Dongchang, Sinchang, Cheongsan
  • Byeokdong
  • * 7 myeon : Byeokdong, Gabyeol, Gwonhoe, Seongnam, Songseo, Obuk, Usi
  • Chosan
  • * 9 myeon : Chosan, Gang, Go, Nam, Dowon, Dong, Song, Pan, Pung
  • Wiwon
  • * 7 myeon : Wiwon, Daedeok, Seotae, Bongsan, Sungjeong, Wisong, Hwachang
  • Heuicheon
  • * 1 eup : Heuicheon
  • * 7 myeon : Nam, Dong, Dongchang, Buk, Seo, Sinpung, Jangdong, Jin
  • Ganggye
  • * 2 eup : Ganggye, Manpo
  • * 15 myeon : Ganbuk, Gosan, Gokha, Gongbuk, Seonggan, Sijung, Eoroe, Oegwi, Yongrim, Iseo, Ipgwan, Jeoncheon, Jongnam, Jongseo, Hwagyeong
  • Jaseong
  • * 6 myeon : Jaseong, Sampung, Ipyeong, Jaha, Jangto, Junggang
  • Huchang
  • * 5 myeon : Huchang, Namsin, Dongheung, Dongsin, Chilpyeong

List of historic governors

  1. Baek Yeong-eop
  2. Lee Ha-young
  3. Lee Seok-bong
  4. Ahn Chi-soon
  5. Kim Sa-seong
  6. Jang Jung-ryol
  7. Shim Gi-cheol
  8. Paik Hyong-rin
  10. Paik Do-woong
  11. Paik Young-chul
  12. Paik Gu-seop
  13. Kim Young-chol
  14. Oh Yeong-chan
  15. Yi Se-oong

South Pyeongan

South Pyeongan Province or Pyeongannam-do corresponds to North Korea's South Pyongan Province, Pyongyang Directly Governed City and Nampo Special City.
Pyeongannam-do is divided into 2 cities and 14 counties :
Cities:
Counties:
  • Daedong
  • * 14 myeon : Gopyeong, Yongsan, Gimje, Daebo, Namhyeongjesan, Jaegyeongri, Yongak, Busan, Sijok, Imwon, Cheongryong, Yulri, Yongyeon, Namgot
  • Junghwa
  • * 11 myeon : Junghwa, Gandong, Dangjeong, Dongdu, Sangwon, Susan, Sinheung, Yangjeong, Cheongok, Pungdong, Haeap
  • Gangseo
  • * 14 myeon : Gangseo, Dongjin, Banseok, Borim, Seongam, Seongtae, Susan, Sinjeong, Ssangryong, Ingcha, Jeokseong, Jeungsan, Chori, Hamjong
  • Gangdong
  • * 1 eup : Seungho
  • * 5 myeon : Gangdong, Gocheon, Bongjin, Samdeung, Wontan
  • Yonggang
  • * 13 myeon : Yonggang, Gwiseong, Geumgok, Dami, Daedae, Samhwa, Seohwa, Sinnyeong, Ynaggok, Osin, Yongwol, Jiun, Haeun
  • Suncheon
  • * 1 eup : Suncheon
  • * 8 myeon : Seonso, Sain, Hutan, Jasan, Naenam, Bukchang, Eunsan, Sinchang
  • Anju
  • * 1 eup : Anju
  • * 7 myeon : Daeni, Dong, Sin-Anju, Yeonho, Yonghwa, Ungok, Ipseok
  • Pyeongwon
  • * 16 myeon : Pyongwon, Geomsan, Gongdeok, Noji, Deoksan, Dongsong, Dongam, Seohae, Sukcheon, Sunan, Yanghwa, Yongho, Joun, Cheongsan, Hancheon, Haeso
  • Gaecheon
  • * 1 eup : Gaecheon
  • * 5 myeon : Bongdong, Buk, Joyang, Jungnam, Jungseo
  • Deokcheon
  • * 6 myeon : Deokcheon, Seongyang, Ilha, Jamdo, Jamsang, Pungdeok
  • Yeongwon
  • * 9 myeon : Yeongwon, Daehung, Deokhwa, Seongryong, Sobaek, Sinseong, Yeongrak, Onhwa, Taegeuk
  • Maengsan
  • * 8 myeon : Maengsan, Dong, Bongin, Aejeon, Okcheon, Wonnam, Jideok, Hakcheon
  • Yangdeok
  • * 1 eup : Yangdeok
  • * 6 myeon : Dongyang, Daeryun, Ssangryong, Ogang, Oncheon, Hwachon
  • Seongcheon
  • * 12 myeon : Seongcheon, Guryong, Neungjung, Daegok, Daegu, Saga, Samdeok, Samheung, Sungin, Ssangryong, Yeongcheon, Tongseon

Southern provinces with territory in North Korea

Two South Korean provinces, Gyeonggi and Gangwon, officially have parts of their territory in North Korea. The South Korean government considers the governors of these two provinces the head of their entire province, including the parts in the North.