Provinces of Korea
has had administrative districts that can be considered provinces since the 7th century. These divisions were initially called ju in Unified Silla and Later Baekje, and there were nine in total. After Goryeo conquered these states in the 10th century, twelve divisions called mok were established, although they were reorganized into ten do in the 11th century.
After Joseon's conquest of Goryeo, it established the Eight Provinces in 1413. These provincial boundaries closely reflected major regional and dialect boundaries, and are still significant in contemporary Korea. In 1895, as part of the Gabo Reform, the country was redivided into 23 districts, which were replaced a year later by thirteen new provinces. The thirteen provinces of 1896 included three of the original eight provinces, with the five remaining original provinces divided into north and south halves and Namdo. The thirteen provinces remained unchanged throughout the Japanese rule|Japanese colonial period].
With the liberation of Korea in 1945, the Korean peninsula was divided into North Korea and South Korea, with the dividing line established along the 38th parallel. Three provinces—Hwanghae, Gyeonggi, and Gangwon —were modified or split as a part of this. The special cities of Seoul and P'yŏngyang were formed in 1946. Between 1946 and 1954, five new provinces were created: Jeju in South Korea, and North and South Hwanghae, Chagang, and Ryanggang in North Korea. With the freezing of the Korean War in 1953, provincial boundaries were again modified between the two Koreas, and have since remained mostly unchanged; new cities and special administrative regions have since been created in their provinces.
Provinces of Balhae
Although southern part of Korean peninsula was took over by Silla, northern part was not fully conquered by nor Tang dynasty and Silla. Under the leadership of Tae Joyŏng, Parhae was founded. The country was divided into 5 capitals, 15 provinces; and 62 prefectures. Its territory covered former regions of Goguryeo while added territories of Outer Manchuria.| Hanja | Hangul | RR, Pinyin | Modern location |
| 上京/龍州 | 상경/용주 | Sanggyeong/Yongju Shangjing/Longzhou | Ning'an |
| 中京/顯州 | 중경/현주 | Junggyeong/Hyeonju Zhongjing/Xianzhou | Helong/Dunhua |
| 東京/慶州 | 동경/경주 | Donggyeong/Gyeongju Dongjing/Qingzhou | Hunchun |
| 南京/沃州 | 남경/옥주 | Namgyeong/Okju Nanjing/Wozhou | Hamheung |
| 西京/神州 | 서경/신주 | Seogyeong/Sinju Xijing/Shenzhou | Linjiang |
| 瑕州 | 하주 | Haju Xiazhou | Jingyu |
| 扶州 | 부주 | Buju Fuzhou | Kaiyuan |
| 鄚州 | 막주 | Makju Mozhou | Acheng |
| 定州 | 정주 | Jeongju/Dingzhou | Partizansk |
| 安州 | 안주 | Anju Anzhou | Olga |
| 華州 | 화주 | Hwaju Huazhou | Ussuriysk/Shuaibin |
| 伊州 | 이주 | Iju Yizhou | Dangbi |
| 德理鎮 | 덕리진 | Deongnijin/Delizhen | Yilan |
| 達州 | 달주 | Dalju | Tongjiang |
| 寧州 | 영주 | Yeongju Ningzhou | Dalnerechensk |
Provinces of Unified Silla
The Korean peninsula was mostly unified for the first time by the state Silla in the 7th century. Silla's capital was Geumseong. It had five sub-capitals at Geumgwan-gyeong, Namwon-gyeong, Seowon-gyeong, Jungwon-gyeong, and Bugwon-gyeong.The country was divided into nine provinces : three in the pre-660 territory of Silla, and three each in the territories of the former kingdoms Baekje and Goguryeo.
| Province | Hangul | Hanja | Capital | Modern equivalent | Former kingdom |
| 양주 | 良州 | Yangju | Eastern Gyeongsang | Silla | |
| 강주 | 康州 | Gangju | Western South [Gyeongsang Province|South Gyeongsang] | Silla | |
| 상주 | 尙州 | Sangju | Western North Gyeongsang | Silla | |
| 무주 | 武州 | Muju | South [Jeolla Province|South Jeolla] | Baekje | |
| 전주 | 全州 | Jeonju | North Jeolla | Baekje | |
| 웅주 | 熊州 | Gongju | South [Chungcheong Province|South Chungcheong] | Baekje | |
| 한주 | 漢州 | Hanju | North Chungcheong, Gyeonggi, Hwanghae | Goguryeo | |
| 삭주 | 朔州 | Sakju | Western Gangwon | Goguryeo | |
| 명주 | 溟州 | Myeongju | Eastern Gangwon | Goguryeo |
Provinces of Goryeo
Goryeo was established in the 10th century, and had its capital at Gaegyeong. It conquered Silla and Later Baekje, and also conquered parts of the former territory of Goguryeo. Goryeo had three subcapitals: Donggyeong, Namgyeong, and Seogyeong.Goryeo reorganized its provinces several times. Originally, the country had one royal district around Gaegyeong and twelve administrative districts. In 995, the twelve districts were redivided into ten provinces. In 1005, the ten provinces were again redivided, this time into five provinces and two frontier districts. Gyojudo later became its own province after 1178, making it six provinces and two frontier districts.
| Provinces | Provinces | Provinces | Modern equivalent | Silla equivalent |
| Yangju-mok | Gwannae-do | Seohae-do | Hwanghae | Hanju |
| Hwangju-mok | Gwannae-do | Seohae-do | North Hwanghae | Hanju |
| Haeju-mok | Gwannae-do | Seohae-do | South Hwanghae | Hanju |
| Gwangju-mok | Gwannae-do | Yanggwang-do | Gyeonggi | Hanju |
| Chungju-mok | Jungwon-do | Yanggwang-do | North Chungcheong | Hanju |
| Cheongju-mok | Jungwon-do | Yanggwang-do | North Chungcheong | Ungju |
| Gongju-mok | Hanam-do | Yanggwang-do | South Chungcheong | Ungju |
| Jeonju-mok | Gangnam-do | Jeolla-do | Jeonbuk | Jeonju |
| Naju-mok | Haeyang-do | Jeolla-do | South Jeolla | Muju |
| Seungju-mok | Haeyang-do | Jeolla-do | South Jeolla | Muju |
| Sangju-mok | Yeongnam-do | Gyeongsang-do | North Gyeongsang | Sangju |
| Jinju-mok | Sannam-do | Gyeongsang-do | Western South Gyeongsang | Gangju |
| Jinju-mok | Yeongdong-do | Gyeongsang-do | Eastern South Gyeongsang | Yangju |
| — | Sakbang-do | Gyoju-do,also known as gyoju gangneungdo | Gangwon | Sakju |
| — | Sakbang-do | Donggye,also known as Dongbukmyeon | Gangwon | Myeongju |
| — | Paeseo-do | Bukgye,Also known as Seobukmyeon) | Pyeongan | — |
Provinces of Joseon
In 1413, Korea was divided into eight provinces: Chungcheong, Gangwon, Gyeonggi, Gyeongsang, Jeolla, Hamgyŏng, Hwanghae, and P'yŏngan.Districts of Late Joseon period
In 1895, Korea was redivided into 23 districts, each named for the city or county that was its capital. The districts were short-lived, however, as the following year, the provincial system was restored.- Andong
- Chuncheon
- Chungju
- Daegu
- Dongnae
- Gangneung
- Gongju
- Haeju
- Hamhŭng
- Hanseong
- Hongju
- Incheon
- Jeju
- Jeonju
- Jinju
- Kaesŏng
- Kanggye
- Kapsan
- Kyŏngsŏng
- Naju
- Namwon
- P'yŏngyang
- Ŭiju
Provinces of the Korean Empire
The thirteen provinces were: North and South Chungcheong, Gangwon, Gyeonggi, North and South Gyeongsang, North and South Hamgyŏng, Hwanghae, North and South Jeolla, and North and South P'yŏngan.
Provinces of Chōsen
Under Colonial Japanese rule, Korean provinces of Korean Empire, remained much the same, only taking on the Japanese reading of the hanja. The Provinces of Chōsen were:| Japanese name | Kanji | Kana | Korean name | Hangul |
| Chūseihoku-dō | 忠清北道 | ちゅうせいほくどう | Chungcheongbuk-do | 충청북도 |
| Chūseinan-dō | 忠淸南道 | ちゅうせいなんどう | Chungcheongnam-do | 충청남도 |
| Keishōhoku-dō | 慶尚北道 | けいしょうほくどう | Gyeongsangbuk-do | 경상북도 |
| Keishōnan-dō | 慶尚南道 | けいしょうなんどう | Gyeongsangnam-do | 경상남도 |
| Heianhoku-dō | 平安北道 | へいあんほくどう | Pyeonganbuk-do | 평안북도 |
| Heian'nan-dō | 平安南道 | へいあんなんどう | Pyeongannam-do | 평안남도 |
| Kōgen-dō | 江原道 | こうげんどう | Gangwon-do | 강원도 |
| Kōkai-dō | 黃海道 | こうかいどう | Hwanghae-do | 황해도 |
| Kankyōhoku-dō | 咸鏡北道 | かんきょうほくどう | Hamgyeongbuk-do | 함경북도 |
| Kankyōnan-dō | 咸鏡南道 | かんきょうなんどう | Hamgyeongnam-do | 함경남도 |
| Zenranan-dō | 全羅南道 | ぜんらなんどう | Jeollanam-do | 전라남도 |
| Zenrahoku-dō | 全羅北道 | ぜんらほくどう | Jeollabuk-do | 전라북도 |
| Keiki-dō | 京畿道 | けいきどう | Gyeonggi-do | 경기도 |
Provincial divisions since the division of Korea
At the end of World War II in 1945, Korea was divided into Northern Korea and Southern Korea under trusteeship of the Soviet Union and the United States. The peninsula was divided at the 38th parallel in 1945. In 1948, the two zones became the independent countries of North Korea and South Korea.Three provinces—Hwanghae, Gyeonggi, and Gangwon—were divided by the 38th parallel.
- Most of Hwanghae Province belonged to the Northern zone. The southern portion became part of Gyeonggi Province in the south.
- Most of Gyeonggi Province belonged to the Southern zone. In 1946, the northern portion became part of Hwanghae Province in the north.
- Gangwon Province was divided roughly in half, to form modern-day Gangwon Province in South Korea and [Kangwon Province (North Korea)|Kangwon Province in North Korea]. The northern province is expanded in 1946 to include some area around the city of Wonsan
Finally, the new provinces of Jeju Province and Chagang Province were formed, from parts of South Jeolla and North Pyongan respectively. In 1954, Ryanggang Province was split from South Hamgyong and Hwanghae was divided into North and South Hwanghae Provinces.
The following table lists the present provincial divisions in the Korean Peninsula.
;Notes: 1 See Names of Seoul.