Provinces of South Korea

Province
Hanja
Revised Romanization	do
McCune–Reischauer	to
Autonomous district
Hangul
Hanja
Revised Romanization	teukbyeol-jachido
McCune–Reischauer	teukbyeol-chach’ido

Provinces are the first-level division within South Korea. There are 9 provinces in South Korea: North Chungcheong, South Chungcheong, Gangwon, Gyeonggi, North Gyeongsang, South Gyeongsang, Jeju, North Jeolla, South Jeolla.

Although the details of local administration have changed dramatically over time, the basic outline of the current three-tiered system was implemented under the reign of Gojong in 1895. A similar system also remains in use in North Korea.

There are two types of provinces: provinces, special autonomous province. A province (도, 道) are the highest-ranked administrative divisions in South Korea. Provinces have equal status to the special cities.

A special autonomous province (특별자치도, 特別自治道) is a province with more autonomy over its economy and more powers are given to the provincial government. Jeju is the only special autonomous province.

Governors for these provinces are elected every four years. Current governors are listed at List of governors of South Korea.

South Korea claims five provinces on the territory controlled by North Korea. These claimed provinces are managed by The Committee for the Five Northern Korean Provinces (Hangul: 이북5도위원회; Hanja: 以北五道委員會). These provinces are based on the divisions of Japanese era and are different from the present North Korean provinces.

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