Eight Provinces of Korea

Eight Provinces of Korea

During the Joseon Dynasty, Korea was divided into eight provinces (Paldo (팔도; 八道)). The boundaries reflected geographic and cultural divisions and corresponded closely to the boundaries between dialects. Because of the natural fit between the provincial boundaries and the "real world," most of the provincial boundaries and names survive in one form or another down to today. Most of the traditional provinces also had alternative regional "nicknames" which are still used today (especially Honam, Yeongdong, and Yeongnam). Below is a table listing the eight provinces, their dialects, regional names, and the modern administrative divisions that replaced them. (Note that provinces and cities now in North Korea are romanized using the McCune-Reischauer system, while South Korean provinces and cities use the Revised Romanization of Korean.)

Province Hangeul Hanja Regional Name Dialect Modern divisions

Chungcheong 충청도 忠靑道 Hoseo Chungcheong Daejeon, North & South Chungcheong

Gangwon
Kangwŏn) 강원도 江原道 Gwandong,
Yeongseo, Yeongdong
(See note 1 below) Seoul Kangwŏn (North Korea), Gangweon (South Korea), Kŏmgang-san

Gyeonggi 경기도 京畿道 Sudogweon
(See note 2 below) Seoul Seoul, Incheon, Kaesŏng, Gyeonggi

Gyeongsang 경상도 慶尙道 Yeongnam Gyeongsang Busan, Daegu, Ulsan, North & South Gyeongsang

Hamgyeong 함경도 咸鏡道 Gwanbuk (North half), Gwannam (South half) Hamgyeong Rasŏn (Rajin-Sŏnbong), North & South Hamgyŏng, Yanggang

Hwanghae 황해도 黃海道 (none) Seoul North & South Hwanghae

Jeolla 전라도 全羅道 Honam Jeolla, Jeju Gwangju, North & South Jeolla, Jeju

P'yŏngan 평안도 平安道 Gwanseo P'yŏngan P'yŏngyang, Namp'o, Shinŭiju, North & South P'yŏngan, Jagang

Note 1

"Gwandong" was applied to the entire province, while "Yeongseo" and "Yeongdong" were names for the western and eastern parts of the province respectively. "Yeongdong" is the only one of the three names used today, and applies to Gangweon Province as a whole.

Note 2

"Sudogweon" is most likely a 20th-century name. The first two Hanja of the province's name (京畿) literally mean "capital region."

Province	Hangeul	Hanja	Regional Name	Dialect	Modern divisions
Chungcheong	충청도	忠靑道	Hoseo	Chungcheong	Daejeon, North & South Chungcheong
Gangwon Kangwŏn)	강원도	江原道	Gwandong, Yeongseo, Yeongdong (See note 1 below)	Seoul	Kangwŏn (North Korea), Gangweon (South Korea), Kŏmgang-san
Gyeonggi	경기도	京畿道	Sudogweon (See note 2 below)	Seoul	Seoul, Incheon, Kaesŏng, Gyeonggi
Gyeongsang	경상도	慶尙道	Yeongnam	Gyeongsang	Busan, Daegu, Ulsan, North & South Gyeongsang
Hamgyeong	함경도	咸鏡道	Gwanbuk (North half), Gwannam (South half)	Hamgyeong	Rasŏn (Rajin-Sŏnbong), North & South Hamgyŏng, Yanggang
Hwanghae	황해도	黃海道	(none)	Seoul	North & South Hwanghae
Jeolla	전라도	全羅道	Honam	Jeolla, Jeju	Gwangju, North & South Jeolla, Jeju
P'yŏngan	평안도	平安道	Gwanseo	P'yŏngan	P'yŏngyang, Namp'o, Shinŭiju, North & South P'yŏngan, Jagang