Gwangyeoksi

Gwangyeoksi is a term originating from Korean that translates to "metropolitan city." It designates a specific administrative status within South Korea, granting these cities a greater degree of autonomy and a larger budget compared to regular cities or counties. There are currently six designated metropolitan cities in South Korea: Busan, Daegu, Incheon, Gwangju, Daejeon, and Ulsan. These cities are typically large urban centers with significant populations and economic importance, often serving as regional hubs. The designation of a metropolitan city is meant to reflect their substantial scale and the complexity of their governance needs. They have their own mayors elected by popular vote and are directly supervised by the central government, rather than by a provincial government. This elevated status allows them to manage their own urban planning, public transportation, education, and other local affairs with more independence. The establishment of gwangyeoksi reflects South Korea's strategy of decentralizing some administrative powers and empowering major urban areas to foster regional development and efficient governance.