A number of the largest cities in  SouthKorea, 7 actually, have self-governing status equivalent to a local government which is usually offered to a province. Seoul, capital and the largest city at the same time, is classified as a Special City, while the next 6 largest cities are classified as Metropolitan Cities. Smaller cities are classified as cities and are under provincial jurisdiction.

Administrative Map of South Korea >

Special & Metropolitan cities in South Korea

Seoul Special City

Busan Metropolitan City, also known as Pusan

Daegu Metropolitan City, also known as Daegu

Incheon Metropolitan City, also known as Inchon

Gwangju Metropolitan City, also known as Kwangju or Kwangjoo

Daejeon Metropolitan City, also known as Taejeon or Taejon

Ulsan Metropolitan City, also known as Woolsan in som maps

Cities in South Korea

Andong, Ansan, Anseong, Anyang, Asan, Boryeong, Bucheon, Changwon, Cheonan, Cheongju, Chuncheon, Chungjun, Dongducheon City, Donghae,  Gangneung, Geoje, Gimcheon, Gimhae, Gimje, Gimpo, Gongju, Goyang, Gumi, Gunpo, Gunsan, Guri, Gwacheon, Gwangmyeong, Gwangyang, Gyeongsan, Gyeongju, Hanam, Hwaseong, Icheon, Iksan, Jecheon, Jeju, Jeongeup, Jeonju, Jinhae, Jinju, Masan, Miryang, Mokpo, Mungyeong, Naju, Namwon, Namyangju, Nonsan, Osan, Paju, Pohang, Pyeongtaek, Sacheon, Samcheok, Sangju, Seogwipo, Seongnam, Seosan, Siheung, Sokcho, Suncheon, Suwon, Taebaek, Tongyeong, Uijeongbu, Uiwang, Wonju, Yangsan, Yeongcheon, Yeongju, Yeosu, Yongin

Provinces of South Korea

South Korea is divided into 9 provinces called 'Do' and 7 urban units of the same level, Special and Metropolitan cities as previously mentionaed. These are further subdivided into a variety of smaller entities, including cities 'si', counties 'gun', wards 'gu', towns 'eup', districts 'myeon', neighborhoods 'dong' and villages 'ri'.

North Chungcheong Province, also called Chungbuk

South Chungcheong Province, also called Chungnam

Gangwon Province, also called Gangwondo

Gyeonggi Province, also called Gyeonggido

North Gyeongsang Province, also called Gyeongbuk

South Gyeongsang Province, also called Gyeongnam

North Jeolla Province, also called Jeonbuk

South Jeolla Province, also called Jeonnam

Jeju Province, also called Jejudo, Chejudo.