List of special cities of South Korea
Name Hangul Hanja Type ISO Population ( 2017 ) Area ( km² ) Density ( /km² ) City seat Region Province split from Year of Split
Busan 부산광역시 釜山廣域市 Metropolitan city KR-26 3,416,918 769.89 4,438.18 Yeonje Yeongnam South Gyeongsang 1963
Daegu 대구광역시 大邱廣域市 Metropolitan city KR-27 2,453,041 883.56 2,776.31 Jung Yeongnam North Gyeongsang 1981
Incheon 인천광역시 仁川廣域市 Metropolitan city KR-28 2,925,967 1,062.60 2,753.59 Namdong Sudogwon Gyeonggi 1981
Gwangju 광주광역시 光州廣域市 Metropolitan city KR-29 1,496,172 501.24 2,984.94 Seo Honam South Jeolla 1986
Daejeon 대전광역시 大田廣域市 Metropolitan city KR-30 1,525,849 539.35 2,829.05 Seo Hoseo South Chungcheong 1989
Sejong 세종특별자치시 世宗特別自治市 Special self-governing city KR-50 276,589 465.23 594.52 Boram-dong Hoseo South Chungcheong 2012
Seoul 서울특별시 서울 特別市 * Special city KR-11 9,741,381 605.21 16,095.86 Jung Sudogwon Gyeonggi 1946
Ulsan 울산광역시 蔚山廣域市 Metropolitan city KR-31 1,157,077 1,060.79 1,090.76 Nam Yeongnam South Gyeongsang 1997
List of metropolitan cities
SeoulBusanDaeguIncheonGwangjuDaejeonUlsanSejong Special cites in South Korea
Special cities are one of the first-level administrative divisions within South Korea. There are 8 first-level cities in South Korea: Busan, Daegu, Daejeon, Gwangju, Incheon, Sejong, Seoul and Ulsan.