Eight Provinces of Korea
During most of the Joseon dynasty, Korea was divided into eight provinces. The eight provinces' boundaries remained unchanged for about 480 years from 1413 to 1895, and formed a geographic paradigm that is still reflected today in the Korean Peninsula's administrative divisions, dialects, and regional distinctions. The names of all eight provinces are still preserved today, in one form or another. These eight historical provinces form both North and South Korea, and are not to be confused with the North Korea|modern provinces that make up North Korea] or South Korea|South Korea].
History
Provinces before 1895
In 1413, the north-eastern boundary of Korea was extended to the Tumen River. The country was reorganized into eight provinces: Chungcheong, Gangwon, Gyeonggi, Gyeongsang, Jeolla, P'unghae, P'yŏngan, and Yŏnggil.Districts of 1895–96
For almost 500 years, the eight-province system remained virtually unchanged. In 1895, the five-century-old provincial system was abolished. On May 26 of that year—as part of the Gabo Reform—the country was redivided into 23 districts, each named for the city or county that was its capital.Each district name in the following list links to the article on the province from which the district was formed, and where more detailed information on the district is provided:
- Andong
- Chuncheon
- Chungju
- Daegu
- Dongnae
- Gangneung
- Gongju
- Haeju
- Hamhŭng
- Hanseong
- Hongju
- Incheon
- Jeju
- Jeonju
- Jinju
- Kaesŏng
- Kanggye
- Kapsan
- Kyŏngsŏng
- Naju
- Namwon
- P'yŏngyang
- Ŭiju
Restored provinces of 1896
The new system of districts did not last long, however, as one year later, on August 4, 1896, the former eight provinces were restored, with five of them, being divided into north and south halves, to form a total of 13 provinces. This structure remained unchanged through the entire lifetime of the Korean Empire and the Japanese Colonial Period. Since the end of World War II and the division of Korea in 1945, special cities and administrative regions and a handful of new provinces have been added in both the South and North.Cultural significance
The boundaries between the eight provinces for the most part followed rivers, mountain chains, and other natural boundaries, and consequently corresponded closely to dialect and cultural divisions. Due to the correspondence between provincial boundaries and Korean geography, most provincial boundaries and names have mostly survived to the present day; most Koreans are keenly aware of the regional and dialect distinctions that still exist.For example, a regional rivalry exists between Gyeongsang and Jeolla residents due to historic, social, economic, and political differences, some of which have continued into the present day in more muted form. Most of the traditional provinces also had alternative regional names which are still used today informally if not on paper.
Modern-day usage
The term Paldo is itself often used as a shorthand to denote Korea as a whole, or to describe the traditional folk culture of Korea's regions. Thus, one sometimes finds such expressions as:- Paldo kimchi in reference to the many varieties of kimchi unique to particular regions of Korea;
- Paldo Arirang to denote the hundreds of regional versions of the popular folk song Arirang; and
- Paldo sori to broadly refer to the diversity of folk music across Korea.