 | Provinces of Korea: Encyclopedia II - Provinces of Korea - Historical summary
Provinces of Korea - Historical summary
During the Unified Silla Period (AD 668-935), Korea was divided into nine Ju (주; 州), an old word for "province" that was used to name both the kingdom's provinces and its provincial capitals. (The editor's Cantonese-English dictionary translates 州 variously as "prefecture" or "department.")
After Goryeo defeated Silla and Later Baekje in 935 and 936 respectively, the new kingdom "was divided into one royal district [(Ginae; 기내; 畿內)] and twelve administrative districts [(Mok; 목; 牧)]" (Nahm 1988), which were soon redivided into ten provinces (Do). In 1009 the country was again redivided, this time into one royal district, five provinces (Do) and two frontier districts (Gye; 계; 界?). The name and concept of Do originated from the Chinese Dao.
After the Joseon Dynasty's rise to power and the formation of Joseon in 1392, the country was redivided into eight new provinces (Do) in 1413. The provincial boundaries closely reflected major regional and dialect boundaries, and are still often referred to in Korean today simply as the Eight Provinces (Paldo). In 1895, as part of the Gabo Reform, the country was redivided into 23 districts (Bu; 부; 府), 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 (Bukdo (북도; 北道) and Namdo (남도; 南道) respectively). The thirteen provinces remained unchanged throughout the Japanese Colonial Period.
With the surrender of Japan in 1945, the Korean peninsula was divided into Soviet (northern) and American (southern) zones of occupation, with the dividing line established along the 38th parallel. (See Division of Korea for more details.) As a result, three provinces—Hwanghae, Gyeonggi, and Gangwon (Kangwŏn)—were divided into Soviet- and American-occupied sections.
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.
Since 1954, provincial boundaries in both the North and South have remained unchanged. New cities and special administrative regions have been created, however: see Special cities of Korea for their history. For a comprehensive description of Korea's provinces and special cities today, please see Administrative divisions of North Korea and Administrative divisions of South Korea.
Other related archives(Kangwŏn), 1009, 11th century, 1392, 1413, 1895, 1896, 1945, 1946, 1948, 1954, 38th parallel, 660, 668, 721, 7th century, 892, 918, 935, 936, Dao, Administrative divisions of North Korea, Administrative divisions of South Korea, American, Andong, Baekje, Barhae (Bohai), Chagang, Cheongju, China, Chuncheon, Chungcheong, Chungju, Daegu, Division of Korea, Do, Donggyeong, Dongnae, Eight Provinces, Eight Provinces (Korea), Gabo Reform, Gangneung, Gangwon, Gimhae, Goguryeo, Gongju, Goryeo, Gyeon Hwon, Gyeonggi, Gyeongju, Gyeongsang, Haeju, Hamgyŏng, Hamhŭng, Hanam, Hangul, Hanja, Hanseong, Hongju, Hwanghae, Incheon, Japan, Japanese Colonial Period, Jeju, Jeolla, Jeonju, Jinju, Joseon, Joseon Dynasty, Ju, Kaesŏng, Kanggye, Kapsan, King Taejo, Korea, Kyŏngsŏng, Later Baekje, List of Korea-related topics, Nahm 1988, Naju, Namgyeong, Namwon, North, P'yŏngan, P'yŏngyang, Roman alphabet, Ryanggang, Sea of Japan, Seoul, Silla, South Chungcheong, South Gyeongsang, South Hamgyŏng, South Hwanghae, South Jeolla, South Korea, South P'yŏngan, Soviet, Special cities of Korea, Taedong River, Tang Dynasty, Three Kingdoms of Korea, Unified Silla, Wanggeon, Wonju, World War II, Wŏnsan, Yalu River, Yeongdong, Yeongnam, dialect, provinces, regional, special cities, Ŭiju
 Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Historical summary", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki |
