List of cities in South Korea
The list of cities in South Korea provides an overview of the development of the population of the larger cities and municipalities of the East Asian state of South Korea .
Agglomerations by population
The largest agglomerations in South Korea are (2016):
- Seoul : population 24,800,000
- Busan : 4,200,000 inhabitants
- Daegu : 2,775,000 inhabitants
- Daejeon : 1,610,000 inhabitants
- Gwangju : 1,590,000 inhabitants
48 percent of the country's people live in the capital region of Seoul alone.
Urban settlements by population
The following table contains the urban settlements with more than 100,000 inhabitants, their names in German transcription and in Korean ( Hangeul and Hanja ), as well as the results of the censuses (VZ) from 1995, 2000, 2005 and 2015 (November 1st). The higher-level administrative unit ( province ) to which the city belongs is also listed. The capital Seoul and the cities of Busan , Daegu , Daejeon , Gwangju , Incheon and Ulsan are independent and do not belong to any province. The population figures refer to the respective urban settlement - the geographical urban area - not to the city or municipality in the political sense.
(VZ = census)
rank | transcription | Hangeul | Hanja | VZ 1995 | VZ 2000 | VZ 2005 | VZ 2015 | Administrative unit |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Seoul | 서울 | no | 10.231.217 | 9,853,972 | 9,762,546 | 9,904,312 | Seoul |
2. | Busan | 부산 | 釜山 | 3,745,784 | 3,587,562 | 3,439,916 | 3,448,737 | Busan |
3. | Incheon | 인천 | 仁川 | 2,230,818 | 2,392,745 | 2,447,714 | 2,890,451 | Incheon |
4th | Daegu | 대구 | 大邱 | 2,332,398 | 2,326,118 | 2,306,695 | 2,466,052 | Daegu |
5. | Daejeon | 대전 | 大田 | 1,272,121 | 1,365,961 | 1,438,551 | 1,538,394 | Daejeon |
6th | Gwangju | 광주 | 光州 | 1,257,636 | 1,350,948 | 1,413,644 | 1,502,881 | Gwangju |
7th | Suwon | 수원 | 水 原 | 755,550 | 944.239 | 1,039,233 | 1,194,313 | Gyeonggi-do |
8th. | Ulsan | 울산 | 蔚山 | 782.291 | 851.751 | 880.788 | 1,166,615 | Ulsan |
9. | Changwon | 창원 | 昌 原 | 1,048,933 | 1,079,359 | 1,079,837 | 1,059,241 | Gyeongsangnam-do |
10. | Goyang | 고양 | 高 陽 | 518.282 | 762,598 | 864.402 | 994.313 | Gyeonggi-do |
11. | Yongin | 용인 | 龍 仁 | 55.505 | 76,689 | 686.842 | 971.327 | Gyeonggi-do |
12. | Seongnam | 성남 | 城南 | 869.094 | 912.222 | 931.019 | 948.757 | Gyeonggi-do |
13. | Beech | 부천 | 富川 | 779.412 | 757.832 | 833.931 | 843.794 | Gyeonggi-do |
14th | Cheongju | 청주 | 淸 州 | 531.376 | 585,622 | 640,631 | 833.276 | Chungcheongbuk-do |
15th | Ansan | 안산 | 安 山 | 510.314 | 554.998 | 669.839 | 747.035 | Gyeonggi-do |
16. | Jeonju | 전주 | 全 州 | 563.153 | 615.804 | 622.092 | 658.172 | Jeollabuk-do |
17th | Cheonan | 천안 | 天 安 | 330.259 | 417.835 | 521.887 | 629.062 | Chungcheongnam-do |
18th | Masan | 마산 | 馬 山 | 385.983 | 357.973 | 426.784 | 629.061 | Gyeongsangnam-do |
19th | Hwaseong | 화성 | 華 城 | 158,590 | 189,467 | 288.718 | 608.725 | Gyeonggi-do |
20th | Anyang | 안양 | 安 養 | 591.106 | 578,845 | 609,886 | 585.177 | Gyeonggi-do |
21st | Gimhae | 김해 | 金海 | 256.370 | 331,979 | 431.778 | 534.124 | Gyeongsangnam-do |
22nd | Pohang | 포항 | 浦項 | 508.899 | 515.714 | 489,698 | 511,804 | Gyeongsangbuk-do |
23. | Pyeongtaek | 평택 | 平 澤 | 205.310 | 230.265 | 244,761 | 457.873 | Gyeonggi-do |
24. | Jeju | 제주 | 濟 州 | 258,511 | 279,529 | 310.713 | 451.758 | Jeju-do |
25th | Siheung | 시흥 | 始興 | 133,443 | 304.260 | 384,304 | 425.184 | Gyeonggi-do |
26th | Uijeongbu | 의정부 | 議 政府 | 276.111 | 354.422 | 397.694 | 421,579 | Gyeonggi-do |
27. | Gumi | 구미 | 龜 尾 | 248.994 | 264,686 | 315,868 | 421.075 | Gyeongsangbuk-do |
28. | Paju | 파주 | 坡 州 | 163.379 | 178,434 | 242.241 | 415,345 | Gyeonggi-do |
29 | Gimpo | 김포 | 金 浦 | 107,684 | 150.194 | 195,776 | 352,683 | Gyeonggi-do |
30th | Jinju | 진주 | 晋州 | 329,886 | 339.791 | 337.242 | 349,788 | Gyeongsangnam-do |
31. | Gwangmyeong | 광명 | 光明 | 350.914 | 333,596 | 319,452 | 338.509 | Gyeonggi-do |
32. | Wonju | 원주 | 原 州 | 184,378 | 209,606 | 224,651 | 330,854 | Gangwon-do |
33. | Asan | 아산 | 牙山 | 154,663 | 180.763 | 208,415 | 319.929 | Chungcheongnam-do |
34. | Gwangju | 광주 | 廣州 | 86,156 | 125.943 | 206304 | 310.278 | Gyeonggi-do |
34. | Iksan | 익산 | 益 山 | 322,685 | 323,687 | 308.144 | 301.723 | Jeollabuk-do |
36. | Yangsan | 양산 | 梁山 | 163.351 | 191.975 | 217.154 | 297,532 | Gyeongsangnam-do |
37. | Gunpo | 군포 | 軍 浦 | 235.233 | 262,593 | 268.917 | 285,721 | Gyeonggi-do |
38. | Chuncheon | 춘천 | 春川 | 234,528 | 252,547 | 260,887 | 281,596 | Gangwon-do |
39. | Gyeongsan | 경산 | 慶 山 | 173,746 | 228.206 | 242.297 | 278,500 | Gyeongsangbuk-do |
40. | Yeosu | 여수 | 麗水 | ... | 303.233 | 277.995 | 273,761 | Jeollanam-do |
41. | Suncheon | 순천 | 順天 | 249.263 | 265.930 | 262.120 | 265,390 | Jeollanam-do |
42. | Gyeongju | 경주 | 慶州 | 273,968 | 275,842 | 267,872 | 262.310 | Gyeongsangbuk-do |
43. | Geoje | 제시 | 濟 市 | 147,562 | 168.022 | 196.481 | 261,371 | Gyeongsangnam-do |
44. | Mokpo | 목포 | 木浦 | 247,452 | 250,336 | 244,543 | 239,524 | Jeollanam-do |
45. | Gangneung | 강릉 | 江陵 | 220.403 | 228.232 | 221,329 | 215,677 | Gangwon-do |
46. | Osan | 오산 | 烏山 | 70,488 | 102.287 | 132,532 | 213.840 | Gyeonggi-do |
47. | Chungju | 충주 | 忠州 | 205.206 | 217,927 | 204,800 | 211.005 | Chungcheongbuk-do |
48. | Yangju | 양주 | 楊 州 | 94.507 | 110,299 | 152.007 | 205,988 | Gyeonggi-do |
49. | Sejong City | 종 특별 자치 | 宗 特別 自治 | ... | 80.031 | 80,818 | 204.088 | Sejong |
50. | Anseong | 성시 | 城市 | 120,133 | 133,421 | 159.198 | 194.765 | Gyeonggi-do |
51. | Guri | 구리 | 九 里 | 141.173 | 160,485 | 187.414 | 180.063 | Gyeonggi-do |
52. | Seosan | 서산 | 瑞 山 | 134,746 | 143.154 | 144.091 | 169.221 | Chungcheongnam-do |
53. | Andong | 안동 | 安 東 | 188,443 | 182,098 | 169,788 | 168,581 | Gyeongsangbuk-do |
54. | Dangjin | 당진 | 唐 津 | ... | 117,652 | 113.267 | 163,762 | Chungcheongnam-do |
55. | Pocheon | 포천 | 抱 川 | 118,558 | 138,654 | 142.189 | 163,388 | Gyeonggi-do |
56. | Uiwang | 의왕 | 義 王 | 108,788 | 117,821 | 143.987 | 154,879 | Gyeonggi-do |
57. | Hanam | 하남 | 河南 | 115.812 | 120,149 | 122,337 | 154,838 | Gyeonggi-do |
58. | Seogwipo | 서귀포 | 西歸浦 | ... | 145.896 | 139.971 | 153,861 | Jeju-do |
59. | Gwangyang | 광양 | 光 陽 | 122.052 | 132,639 | 135.881 | 144.414 | Jeollanam-do |
60. | Gimcheon | 김천 | 金泉 | 147.027 | 147,855 | 135.923 | 137,540 | Gyeongsangbuk-do |
61. | Tongyeong | 통영 | 統 營 | 131,717 | 123,842 | 121,555 | 137.208 | Gyeongsangnam-do |
62. | Jecheon | 제천 | 堤 川 | 137.070 | 143.710 | 132,864 | 136,350 | Chungcheongbuk-do |
63. | Nonsan | 논산 | 論 山 | 146.619 | 137,452 | 125,332 | 124.246 | Chungcheongnam-do |
64. | Gongju | 공주 | 公 州 | 131,229 | 130.376 | 127.076 | 113,542 | Chungcheongnam-do |
65. | Thingon | 사천 | 泗 川 | 113.494 | 111,078 | 106,851 | 113,335 | Gyeongsangnam-do |
66. | Jeongeup | 정읍 | 井 邑 | 139.111 | 129,152 | 115.760 | 110,627 | Jeollabuk-do |
67. | Yeoju | 여주 | 金 浦 | 92,050 | 97.612 | 98.905 | 109,937 | Gyeonggi-do |
68. | Yeongju | 영주 | 榮 州 | 131.097 | 126.507 | 114.081 | 109,266 | Gyeongsangbuk-do |
69. | Miryang | 밀양 | 密 陽 | 121.501 | 115,962 | 105,966 | 103.069 | Gyeongsangnam-do |
70. | Boryeong | 보령 | 保 寧 | 122.604 | 109,535 | 97.176 | 101,852 | Chungcheongnam-do |
Source: National Statistical Office of the Republic of Korea
Municipalities by population
The following table contains the communities with more than 100,000 inhabitants, their names in German transcription and in Korean ( Hangeul and Hanja ) as well as the results of the censuses (VZ) from 1995, 2000 and 2005 (November 1st). The higher-level administrative unit ( province ) to which the city belongs is also listed. The capital Seoul and the cities of Busan , Daegu , Daejeon , Gwangju , Incheon and Ulsan are independent and do not belong to any province. The population figures refer to the municipality within its political limits, without politically independent suburbs.
(VZ = census)
rank | transcription | Hangeul | Hanja | VZ 1995 | VZ 2000 | VZ 2005 | Administrative unit |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Seoul | 서울 | no | 10.231.217 | 9,895,217 | 9.820.171 | Seoul |
2. | Busan | 부산 | 釜山 | 3,814,325 | 3,662,884 | 3,523,582 | Busan |
3. | Incheon | 인천 | 仁川 | 2,308,188 | 2,475,139 | 2,531,280 | Incheon |
4th | Daegu | 대구 | 大邱 | 2,449,420 | 2,480,578 | 2,464,547 | Daegu |
5. | Daejeon | 대전 | 大田 | 1,272,121 | 1,368,207 | 1,442,856 | Daejeon |
6th | Gwangju | 광주 | 光州 | 1,257,636 | 1,352,797 | 1,417,716 | Gwangju |
7th | Ulsan | 울산 | 蔚山 | 967.429 | 1,014,428 | 1,049,177 | Ulsan |
8th. | Suwon | 수원 | 水 原 | 755,550 | 946.704 | 1,044,113 | Gyeonggi-do |
9. | Seongnam | 성남 | 城南 | 869.094 | 914,590 | 934.984 | Gyeonggi-do |
10. | Goyang | 고양 | 高 陽 | 518.282 | 763.971 | 866.846 | Gyeonggi-do |
11. | Beech | 부천 | 富川 | 779.412 | 761.389 | 838.801 | Gyeonggi-do |
12. | Yongin | 용인 | 龍 仁 | ... | 386.124 | 689.691 | Gyeonggi-do |
13. | Ansan | 안산 | 安 山 | 510.314 | 562.920 | 681,590 | Gyeonggi-do |
14th | Cheongju | 청주 | 淸 州 | 531.376 | 586,700 | 642,805 | Chungcheongbuk-do |
15th | Jeonju | 전주 | 全 州 | 563.153 | 616.468 | 623.298 | Jeollabuk-do |
16. | Anyang | 안양 | 安 養 | 591.106 | 580,544 | 612.423 | Gyeonggi-do |
17th | Cheonan | 천안 | 天 安 | 330.259 | 417.835 | 521.887 | Chungcheongnam-do |
18th | Changwon | 창원 | 昌 原 | 481,694 | 517.410 | 501.705 | Gyeongsangnam-do |
19th | Pohang | 포항 | 浦項 | 508.899 | 515.714 | 489,698 | Gyeongsangbuk-do |
20th | Gimhae | 김해 | 金海 | 256.370 | 331,979 | 431.778 | Gyeongsangnam-do |
21st | Masan | 마산 | 馬 山 | 441.242 | 434.371 | 428.069 | Gyeongsangnam-do |
22nd | Namyangju | 남양주 | 南 楊 州 | 229.060 | 340.932 | 426.087 | Gyeonggi-do |
23. | Uijeongbu | 의정부 | 議 政府 | 276.111 | 355.380 | 398.870 | Gyeonggi-do |
24. | Siheung | 시흥 | 始興 | 133,443 | 305.268 | 389,638 | Gyeonggi-do |
25th | Gumi | 구미 | 龜 尾 | 311,431 | 341,550 | 383,786 | Gyeongsangbuk-do |
26th | Pyeongtaek | 평택 | 平 澤 | 312,927 | 345.306 | 378,438 | Gyeonggi-do |
27. | Jinju | 진주 | 晋州 | 329,886 | 339.791 | 337.242 | Gyeongsangnam-do |
28. | Gwangmyeong | 광명 | 光明 | 350.914 | 334.089 | 320.268 | Gyeonggi-do |
29 | Jeju | 제주 | 濟 州 | 258,511 | 279.996 | 311.281 | Jeju-do |
30th | Iksan | 익산 | 益 山 | 322,685 | 323,687 | 308.144 | Jeollabuk-do |
31. | Hwaseong | 화성 | 華 城 | ... | 189,467 | 288.718 | Gyeonggi-do |
32. | Wonju | 원주 | 原 州 | 237,460 | 268,352 | 284,360 | Gangwon-do |
33. | Yeosu | 여수 | 麗水 | ... | 303.233 | 277.995 | Jeollanam-do |
34. | Gunpo | 군포 | 軍 浦 | 235.233 | 263,760 | 270.042 | Gyeonggi-do |
35. | Gyeongju | 경주 | 慶州 | 273,968 | 275,842 | 267,872 | Gyeongsangbuk-do |
36. | Suncheon | 순천 | 順天 | 249.263 | 265.930 | 262.120 | Jeollanam-do |
37. | Chuncheon | 춘천 | 春川 | 234,528 | 252,547 | 260,887 | Gangwon-do |
38. | Gunsan | 군산 | 群山 | 266,569 | 272.715 | 250.011 | Jeollabuk-do |
39. | Mokpo | 목포 | 木浦 | 247,452 | 250,480 | 244,888 | Jeollanam-do |
40. | Gyeongsan | 경산 | 慶 山 | 173,746 | 228.206 | 242.297 | Gyeongsangbuk-do |
41. | Paju | 파주 | 坡 州 | ... | 178,434 | 242.241 | Gyeonggi-do |
42. | Gangneung | 강릉 | 江陵 | 220.403 | 228.232 | 221,329 | Gangwon-do |
43. | Yangsan | 양산 | 梁山 | ... | 191.975 | 217.154 | Gyeongsangnam-do |
44. | Asan | 아산 | 牙山 | 154,663 | 180.763 | 208,415 | Chungcheongnam-do |
45. | Gwangju | 광주 | 廣州 | ... | 125.943 | 206304 | Gyeonggi-do |
46. | Chungju | 충주 | 忠州 | 205.206 | 217,927 | 204,800 | Chungcheongbuk-do |
47. | Geoje | 거제 | 巨 濟 | 147,562 | 168.022 | 196.481 | Gyeongsangnam-do |
48. | Gimpo | 김포 | 金 浦 | ... | 150.194 | 195,776 | Gyeonggi-do |
49. | Icheon | 이천 | 利川 | ... | 179.719 | 188,556 | Gyeonggi-do |
50. | Guri | 구리 | 九 里 | 142.173 | 160,839 | 187.414 | Gyeonggi-do |
51. | Andong | 안동 | 安 東 | 188,443 | 182,098 | 169,788 | Gyeongsangbuk-do |
52. | Anseong | 안성 | 安 城 | ... | 133,421 | 159.198 | Gyeonggi-do |
53. | Yangju | 양주 | 楊 州 | ... | 110,299 | 152.007 | Gyeonggi-do |
54. | Jinhae | 진해 | 鎭 海 | 125.997 | 127,578 | 150.063 | Gyeongsangnam-do |
55. | Seosan | 서산 | 瑞 山 | 134,746 | 143.154 | 144.091 | Chungcheongnam-do |
56. | Uiwang | 의왕 | 儀 旺 | 108,788 | 117,821 | 143.987 | Gyeonggi-do |
57. | Pocheon | 포천 | 抱 川 | ... | ... | 142.189 | Gyeonggi-do |
58. | Gimcheon | 김천 | 金泉 | 147.027 | 147,855 | 135.923 | Gyeongsangbuk-do |
59. | Gwangyang | 광양 | 光 陽 | 122.052 | 132,639 | 135.881 | Jeollanam-do |
60. | Jecheon | 제천 | 堤 川 | 137.070 | 143.710 | 132,864 | Chungcheongbuk-do |
61. | Osan | 오산 | 烏山 | 70,488 | 102,697 | 132,532 | Gyeonggi-do |
62. | Gongju | 공주 | 公 州 | 131,229 | 130.376 | 127.076 | Chungcheongnam-do |
63. | Nonsan | 논산 | 論 山 | ... | 137,452 | 125,332 | Chungcheongnam-do |
64. | Hanam | 하남 | 河南 | 115.812 | 120,513 | 122,337 | Gyeonggi-do |
65. | Tongyeong | 통영 | 統 營 | 131,717 | 123,842 | 121,555 | Gyeongsangnam-do |
66. | Jeongeup | 정읍 | 井 邑 | 139.111 | 129,152 | 115.760 | Jeollabuk-do |
67. | Yeongju | 영주 | 榮 州 | 131.097 | 126.507 | 114.081 | Gyeongsangbuk-do |
68. | Thingon | 사천 | 泗 川 | 113.494 | 111,078 | 106,851 | Gyeongsangnam-do |
69. | Miryang | 밀양 | 密 陽 | 121.501 | 115,962 | 105,966 | Gyeongsangnam-do |
70. | Sangju | 상주 | 尙 州 | 124.116 | 116,493 | 105.937 | Gyeongsangbuk-do |
71. | Yeongcheon | 영천 | 永川 | 113,511 | 111,392 | 104.012 | Gyeongsangbuk-do |
Source: National Statistical Office of the Republic of Korea