Administrative divisions of North Korea
Encyclopedia
The administrative divisions of North Korea
are organized into three hierarchical levels. Many of the units have equivalents in the system
of South Korea
. At the highest level are nine provinces, two directly governed cities, and three special administrative divisions. The second-level divisions are cities, counties, wards, and districts. These are further subdivided into third-level entities: towns, neighborhoods, villages, and workers' districts.
The three-level administrative system used in North Korea was first inaugurated by Kim Il-sung
in 1952, as part of a massive restructuring of local government. Previously, the country had used a multi-level system similar to that still used in South Korea
.
(The English translations are not official, but approximations. Names are romanized according to the McCune-Reischauer
system as officially used in North Korea; the editor was also guided by the spellings used on the 2003 National Geographic map of Korea).
The nine provinces (Do; 도
) derive from the traditional provinces of Korea
, but have been further subdivided since the division of Korea
. They are large areas including cities, rural and mountainous regions. The two directly governed cities (Chikhalsi; 직할시
) are large metropolitan cities that have been separated from their former provinces to become first-level units. Four other cities have been directly governed in the past, but were subsequently reunited with their provinces or otherwise reorganized.
The three special administrative regions were all created in 2002 for the development of collaborative ventures with South Korea
and other countries. One of them, the Sinŭiju Special Administrative Region
, was intended to draw Chinese
investment and enterprise, but as of 2006 appears never to have been implemented. The special administrative regions do not have any known second- and third-level subdivisions.
The most common second-level division is the county (Kun; 군
), a less urbanized area within a province or directly governed city. The more populous districts within provinces are cities (Si; 시
), and the city of Nampho is a special city (T'ŭkkŭpsi; 특급시
). Some provinces also have two types of districts (Ku, Chigu).
The city centers of the directly governed cities are organized into wards (Kuyŏk, equivalent to South Korea
n Gu).
), and a populous part of a county forms a town (Ŭp). Some counties also have worker's districts (Rodongjagu).
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
are organized into three hierarchical levels. Many of the units have equivalents in the system
Administrative divisions of South Korea
||South Korea is divided into 8 provinces , 1 special autonomous province , 6 metropolitan cities , and 1 special city...
of South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. At the highest level are nine provinces, two directly governed cities, and three special administrative divisions. The second-level divisions are cities, counties, wards, and districts. These are further subdivided into third-level entities: towns, neighborhoods, villages, and workers' districts.
The three-level administrative system used in North Korea was first inaugurated by Kim Il-sung
Kim Il-sung
Kim Il-sung was a Korean communist politician who led the Democratic People's Republic of Korea from its founding in 1948 until his death in 1994. He held the posts of Prime Minister from 1948 to 1972 and President from 1972 to his death...
in 1952, as part of a massive restructuring of local government. Previously, the country had used a multi-level system similar to that still used in South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
.
(The English translations are not official, but approximations. Names are romanized according to the McCune-Reischauer
McCune-Reischauer
McCune–Reischauer romanization is one of the two most widely used Korean language romanization systems, along with the Revised Romanization of Korean, which replaced McCune–Reischauer as the official romanization system in South Korea in 2000...
system as officially used in North Korea; the editor was also guided by the spellings used on the 2003 National Geographic map of Korea).
First-level divisions
- See Provinces, Special administrative regions, Directly governed cities, and Former directly governed cities below for a complete list.
The nine provinces (Do; 도
Hangul
Hangul,Pronounced or ; Korean: 한글 Hangeul/Han'gŭl or 조선글 Chosŏn'gŭl/Joseongeul the Korean alphabet, is the native alphabet of the Korean language. It is a separate script from Hanja, the logographic Chinese characters which are also sometimes used to write Korean...
) derive from the traditional provinces of Korea
Provinces of Korea
This article describes the historical development of Korea's provinces . For detailed information on current administrative divisions, please see Administrative divisions of North Korea and Administrative divisions of South Korea....
, but have been further subdivided since the division of Korea
Division of Korea
The division of Korea into North Korea and South Korea stems from the 1945 Allied victory in World War II, ending Japan's 35-year colonial rule of Korea. In a proposal opposed by nearly all Koreans, the United States and the Soviet Union agreed to temporarily occupy the country as a trusteeship...
. They are large areas including cities, rural and mountainous regions. The two directly governed cities (Chikhalsi; 직할시
Hangul
Hangul,Pronounced or ; Korean: 한글 Hangeul/Han'gŭl or 조선글 Chosŏn'gŭl/Joseongeul the Korean alphabet, is the native alphabet of the Korean language. It is a separate script from Hanja, the logographic Chinese characters which are also sometimes used to write Korean...
) are large metropolitan cities that have been separated from their former provinces to become first-level units. Four other cities have been directly governed in the past, but were subsequently reunited with their provinces or otherwise reorganized.
The three special administrative regions were all created in 2002 for the development of collaborative ventures with South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
and other countries. One of them, the Sinŭiju Special Administrative Region
Sinuiju Special Administrative Region
Sinŭiju Special Administrative Region was a proposed special administrative region of North Korea, on the border with China. It was established in September 2002 in an area including parts of Sinŭiju and the surrounding area, in an attempt to introduce market economics, and is directly governed as...
, was intended to draw Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
investment and enterprise, but as of 2006 appears never to have been implemented. The special administrative regions do not have any known second- and third-level subdivisions.
| M-C Romaja | KPS Romaja | Chosŏn'gŭl | Hanja | Type | Capital | Region | ISO ISO 3166-2:KP ISO 3166-2:KP is the entry for North Korea in ISO 3166-2, part of the ISO 3166 standard published by the International Organization for Standardization , which defines codes for the names of the principal subdivisions of all countries coded in ISO 3166-1.Currently for North Korea, ISO 3166-2 codes... |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pyongyang Pyongyang Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was... |
Phyeongyang | 평양시 | 平壤市 | Directly governed city | (Chung-guyok Chung-guyok Chung-guyŏk is one of the 19 guyok which constitutes the city of Pyongyang, North Korea. The district is located in the center of the city, between the Potong and Taedong Rivers, and is bordered to the north by Moranbong-guyok, to the northwest by Potonggang-guyok, and to the south by... ) |
Kwanso Pyongan P'yŏngan was one of the Eight Provinces of Korea during the Joseon Dynasty. P'yŏngan was located in the northwest of Korea. The provincial capital was P'yŏngyang.-History:P'yŏngan Province was formed in 1413... |
KP-01 |
| 2 | Rasŏn | Raseon | 라선시 | 羅先市 | Directly governed city | (Rajin-guyok) | Kwanbuk Kwanbuk Kwanbuk is a region in North Hamgyong and South Hamgyong Provinces of North Korea. The region may once have been occupied by the Okjeo people... |
KP-13 |
| 3 | Pyongannam | Phyeongannam | 평안남도 | 平安南道 | Province | Pyongsong Pyongsong P'yŏngsŏng is a city in North Korea, the capital city of the province South Pyongan in western North Korea. The city is located about 32 kilometres northeast of Pyongyang, and was formally established in December 1969. It has a population over 100,000.... |
Kwanso Pyongan P'yŏngan was one of the Eight Provinces of Korea during the Joseon Dynasty. P'yŏngan was located in the northwest of Korea. The provincial capital was P'yŏngyang.-History:P'yŏngan Province was formed in 1413... |
KP-02 |
| 4 | Pyonganbuk | Phyeonganpuk | 평안북도 | 平安北道 | Province | Sinuiju Sinuiju Sinŭiju is a city in North Korea, neighboring with Dandong City, China via international border and is the capital of North P'yŏngan Province... |
Kwanso Pyongan P'yŏngan was one of the Eight Provinces of Korea during the Joseon Dynasty. P'yŏngan was located in the northwest of Korea. The provincial capital was P'yŏngyang.-History:P'yŏngan Province was formed in 1413... |
KP-03 |
| 5 | Chagang | Jakang | 자강도 | 慈江道 | Province | Kanggye Kanggye Kanggye is the provincial capital of Chagang, North Korea and has a population of 209,000. Because of its strategic importance, derived from its topography, it has been of military interest from the time of the Joseon Dynasty .-Geography:... |
Kwanso Pyongan P'yŏngan was one of the Eight Provinces of Korea during the Joseon Dynasty. P'yŏngan was located in the northwest of Korea. The provincial capital was P'yŏngyang.-History:P'yŏngan Province was formed in 1413... |
KP-04 |
| 6 | Hwanghaenam | Hwanghainam | 황해남도 | 黃海南道 | Province | Haeju Haeju Haeju is a city located in South Hwanghae Province near Haeju Bay in North Korea. It is the administrative centre of South Hwanghae Province. As of 2000, the population of the city is estimated to be 236,000. At the beginning of 20th century, it became a strategic port in Sino-Korean trade... |
Haeso Hwanghae Hwanghae was one of the Eight Provinces of Korea during the Joseon Dynasty. Hwanghae was located in the northwest of Korea. The provincial capital was Haeju.The regional name for the province was Haesŏ .-History:... |
KP-05 |
| 7 | Hwanghaebuk | Hwanghaipuk | 황해북도 | 黃海北道 | Province | Sariwon Sariwon Sariwŏn is the capital of North Hwanghae Province, North Korea. The city's population is estimated to be 310,100 people.-Healthcare:Sariwon has the only pediatric hospital in the entire region; it serves 16 districts and 500,000 children and teens annually.... |
Haeso Hwanghae Hwanghae was one of the Eight Provinces of Korea during the Joseon Dynasty. Hwanghae was located in the northwest of Korea. The provincial capital was Haeju.The regional name for the province was Haesŏ .-History:... |
KP-06 |
| 8 | Kangwon | Kangweon | 강원도 | 江原道 | Province | Wonsan Wonsan Wŏnsan is a port city and naval base in southeastern North Korea. It is the capital of Kangwŏn Province. The population of the city is estimated to have been 331,000 in 2000. Notable people from Wŏnsan include Kim Ki Nam, diplomat and Secretary of the Workers' Party.- History :The original name of... |
Kwandong | KP-07 |
| 9 | Hamgyongnam | Hamkyeongnam | 함경남도 | 咸鏡南道 | Province | Hamhung Hamhung Hamhŭng is North Korea's second largest city, and the capital of South Hamgyŏng Province. In late 2005, nearby Hŭngnam was made a ward within Hamhŭng-si. It has a population of 768,551 as of 2008.-Geography:... |
Kwannam Kwannam Kwannam is a traditional Korean term used to refer to the southern region of Hamgyong province, including portions of modern-day North Hamgyong and South Hamgyong, North Korea. Its literal meaning is "South of the Ridge", the ridge in question being Mach'ŏnnyŏng 마천령 摩天嶺... |
KP-08 |
| 10 | Hamgyongbuk | Hamkyeongpuk | 함경북도 | 咸鏡北道 | Province | Chongjin Chongjin Ch'ŏngjin is the capital of North Korea's North Hamgyŏng Province and the country's third largest city. From 1960 to 1967 and again from 1977 to 1985, Ch'ŏngjin was administered separately from North Hamgyŏng as a Directly Governed City... |
Kwanbuk Kwanbuk Kwanbuk is a region in North Hamgyong and South Hamgyong Provinces of North Korea. The region may once have been occupied by the Okjeo people... |
KP-09 |
| 11 | Ryanggang Hyesan Hyesan Hyesan is a city in the northern part of the northern Ryanggang province of North Korea. It is a hub of river transportation as well as a product distribution centre. It is also the administrative centre of Ryanggang Province... |
Kwannam Kwannam Kwannam is a traditional Korean term used to refer to the southern region of Hamgyong province, including portions of modern-day North Hamgyong and South Hamgyong, North Korea. Its literal meaning is "South of the Ridge", the ridge in question being Mach'ŏnnyŏng 마천령 摩天嶺... |
KP-10 |
Former Directly Governed Cities
- Ch'ŏngjinChongjinCh'ŏngjin is the capital of North Korea's North Hamgyŏng Province and the country's third largest city. From 1960 to 1967 and again from 1977 to 1985, Ch'ŏngjin was administered separately from North Hamgyŏng as a Directly Governed City...
City (청진시; ) used to be a Directly Governed City, but is now part of North Hamgyŏng Province. - HamhŭngHamhungHamhŭng is North Korea's second largest city, and the capital of South Hamgyŏng Province. In late 2005, nearby Hŭngnam was made a ward within Hamhŭng-si. It has a population of 768,551 as of 2008.-Geography:...
City (함흥시; ) was a Directly Governed City in the 1960s, but is now part of South Hamgyŏng Province. - KaesŏngKaesongKaesŏng is a city in North Hwanghae Province, southern North Korea , a former Directly Governed City, and the capital of Korea during the Koryo Dynasty. The city is near Kaesŏng Industrial Region and it contains the remains of the Manwoldae palace. It was formally named Songdo while it was the...
City (개성시; ) (distinct from Kaesŏng Industrial Region) was a Directly Governed City until 2003, but is now part of North Hwanghae Province. - Namp'oNampoNamp'o is a city and seaport in South P'yŏngan Province, North Korea. It was a provincial-level Directly Governed City from 1980 to 2004, when it was designated a "Special City" and made a part of South P'yŏngan...
Special City (Namp'o T'ŭkkŭpsi; 남포 특급시; ) was a Directly Governed City until 2004, but is now part of South P'yŏng'an Province.
Second-level divisions
- See List of second-level administrative divisions of North Korea for a complete list.
The most common second-level division is the county (Kun; 군
Hangul
Hangul,Pronounced or ; Korean: 한글 Hangeul/Han'gŭl or 조선글 Chosŏn'gŭl/Joseongeul the Korean alphabet, is the native alphabet of the Korean language. It is a separate script from Hanja, the logographic Chinese characters which are also sometimes used to write Korean...
), a less urbanized area within a province or directly governed city. The more populous districts within provinces are cities (Si; 시
Hangul
Hangul,Pronounced or ; Korean: 한글 Hangeul/Han'gŭl or 조선글 Chosŏn'gŭl/Joseongeul the Korean alphabet, is the native alphabet of the Korean language. It is a separate script from Hanja, the logographic Chinese characters which are also sometimes used to write Korean...
), and the city of Nampho is a special city (T'ŭkkŭpsi; 특급시
Hangul
Hangul,Pronounced or ; Korean: 한글 Hangeul/Han'gŭl or 조선글 Chosŏn'gŭl/Joseongeul the Korean alphabet, is the native alphabet of the Korean language. It is a separate script from Hanja, the logographic Chinese characters which are also sometimes used to write Korean...
). Some provinces also have two types of districts (Ku, Chigu).
The city centers of the directly governed cities are organized into wards (Kuyŏk, equivalent to South Korea
Administrative divisions of South Korea
||South Korea is divided into 8 provinces , 1 special autonomous province , 6 metropolitan cities , and 1 special city...
n Gu).
Third-level divisions
Rural parts of cities and counties are organized into villages (Ri). The downtown areas within cities are divided into neighborhoods (DongDong (administrative division)
A dong is the lowest administrative unit of districts and of those cities which are not divided into wards throughout Korea...
), and a populous part of a county forms a town (Ŭp). Some counties also have worker's districts (Rodongjagu).
Sources
The sources for this article are Chosun Ilbo's pages 행정구역 현황 ("Haengjeong Guyeok Hyeonhwang") and 행정구역 개편 일지 ("Haengjeong Guyeok Gaepyeon Ilji") (Korean only; updated 2004).See also
- ISO 3166-2:KPISO 3166-2:KPISO 3166-2:KP is the entry for North Korea in ISO 3166-2, part of the ISO 3166 standard published by the International Organization for Standardization , which defines codes for the names of the principal subdivisions of all countries coded in ISO 3166-1.Currently for North Korea, ISO 3166-2 codes...
, ISO codes for cities, regions, and provinces in North KoreaNorth KoreaThe Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea... - Administrative divisions of South KoreaAdministrative divisions of South Korea||South Korea is divided into 8 provinces , 1 special autonomous province , 6 metropolitan cities , and 1 special city...
- Provinces of KoreaProvinces of KoreaThis article describes the historical development of Korea's provinces . For detailed information on current administrative divisions, please see Administrative divisions of North Korea and Administrative divisions of South Korea....
- Special cities of KoreaSpecial cities of KoreaIn both North and South Korea, a special city, a metropolitan city, or a directly governed city is a city that has a status equivalent to that of a province...
External links
- Administrative regions map, World Food ProgrammeWorld Food ProgrammeThe World Food Programme is the food aid branch of the United Nations, and the world's largest humanitarian organization addressing hunger worldwide. WFP provides food, on average, to 90 million people per year, 58 million of whom are children...
