Dong (administrative division)
Encyclopedia
A dong is the lowest administrative unit of district
s (gu; 구) and of those cities (si) which are not divided into wards throughout Korea
. The unit is often translated as neighbourhood
and has been used in both administrative divisions of North Korea
and South Korea
.
1-dong and Myeongjang 2-dong).
The primary division of a dong is the tong (통; ), but divisions at this level and below are seldom used in daily life. Some populous dong are subdivided into ga (가; ), which are not a separate level of government, but only exist for use in addresses. Many major thoroughfares in Seoul
, Suwon
, and other cities are also subdivided into ga.
District
Districts are a type of administrative division, in some countries managed by a local government. They vary greatly in size, spanning entire regions or counties, several municipalities, or subdivisions of municipalities.-Austria:...
s (gu; 구) and of those cities (si) which are not divided into wards throughout Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
. The unit is often translated as neighbourhood
Neighbourhood
A neighbourhood or neighborhood is a geographically localised community within a larger city, town or suburb. Neighbourhoods are often social communities with considerable face-to-face interaction among members. "Researchers have not agreed on an exact definition...
and has been used in both administrative divisions of North Korea
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...
and 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...
.
In South Korea
A dong is the smallest level of urban government to have its own office and staff in South Korea. In some cases, a single legal dong (법정동, beopjeong-dong) is divided into several administrative dong (행정동, haengjeong-dong). In such cases, each administrative dong has its own office and staff. Administrative dongs are usually distinguished from one another by number (as in the case of MyeongjangMyeongjang-dong
Myeongjang is a dong in Dongnae-gu, Busan, South Korea. It is divided into two administrative dong, Myeongjang 1-dong and Myeongjang 2-dong. The total area is 1.78 km², with a population of 39,656. It borders Geumjeong-gu on the north...
1-dong and Myeongjang 2-dong).
The primary division of a dong is the tong (통; ), but divisions at this level and below are seldom used in daily life. Some populous dong are subdivided into ga (가; ), which are not a separate level of government, but only exist for use in addresses. Many major thoroughfares in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, Suwon
Suwon
Suwon is the provincial capital of Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. A major city of over a million inhabitants, Suwon lies approximately south of Seoul. It is traditionally known as "The City of Filial Piety"....
, and other cities are also subdivided into ga.