South Jeolla Province (), formerly South Chŏlla Province, also known as Jeonnam (), is a province in the Honam region, South Korea, and the southernmost province in mainland Korea. South Jeolla borders the provinces of North Jeolla to the north, South Gyeongsang to the northeast, and Jeju to the southwest in the Korea Strait.

Suncheon is the largest city in the province, closely followed by Yeosu. Other major cities include Mokpo, Gwangyang and Naju.

Jeolla-do, including both North and South Jeolla, was the first province out of the Eight Provinces system to have its 1000th year anniversary in 2018, as the name 'Jeolla-do' was established in 1018, during Hyeonjong of Goryeo's 9th year in power.

History

Proto Three Kingdoms period

During the Samhan period, South Jeolla belonged to Mahan ()

Three Kingdoms period

In the Three Kingdoms period, it belonged to Gujihakseong () of the southern five regions of Baekje (), with Mujinju () as its center.

Demographics

  • Source: SOUTH KOREA: South Jeolla Province – Further information about the population structure<br />(CITY POPULATION)

Administrative divisions

Jeollanam-do is divided into 5 cities (si) and 17 counties (gun). Listed below is the name of each entity in English, hangul, and hanja.

200px|right|Yeosu

{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" align="center" style="text-align: center;"

|-

! Map

! Name

! Hangul

! Hanja

! Population (2024)

!Area <br>(km<sup>2</sup>)

!Population density <br> 2021 (per km<sup>2</sup>)

! Subdivisions

|-

|

100px|Yeosu

|Yeosu

|<span style="font-size:125%;"></span>

|<span style="font-size:125%;"></span>

|268,823

|510.08 km2

|526.75/km<sup>2</sup>

|1 eup, 6 myeon, 20 haengjeong-dong

|-

|

100px|Mokpo

|Mokpo

|<span style="font-size:125%;">목포시</span>

|<span style="font-size:125%;">木浦市</span>

|210,806

|51.58 km2

|4,288.06/km<sup>2</sup>

|23 haengjeong-dong

|-

|

100px|Suncheon

|Suncheon

|<span style="font-size:125%;">순천시</span>

|<span style="font-size:125%;">順天市</span>

|276,375

|907.43 km2

|301.76/km<sup>2</sup>

|1 eup, 10 myeon, 13 haengjeong-dong

|-

|

100px|Gwangyang

|Gwangyang

|<span style="font-size:125%;">광양시</span>

|<span style="font-size:125%;">光陽市</span>

|154,226

|458.89 km2

|314.29/km<sup>2</sup>

|1 eup, 6 myeon, 5 haengjeong-dong

|-

|

100px|Naju

|Naju

|<span style="font-size:125%;">나주시</span>

|<span style="font-size:125%;">羅州市</span>

|116,891

|608.45 km2

|189.23/km<sup>2</sup>

|1 eup, 12 myeon, 7 haengjeong-dong

|-

|

100px|Muan County

|Muan County

|<span style="font-size:125%;">무안군</span>

|<span style="font-size:125%;">務安郡</span>

|92,009

|448.95 km2

|200.68/km<sup>2</sup>

|3 eup, 6 myeon

|-

|

100px|Haenam County

|Haenam County

|<span style="font-size:125%;">해남군</span>

|<span style="font-size:125%;">海南郡</span>

|63,457

|1,013.8 km2

|62.38/km<sup>2</sup>

|1 eup, 13 myeon

|-

|

100px|Goheung County

|Goheung County

|<span style="font-size:125%;">고흥군</span>

|<span style="font-size:125%;">高興郡</span>

|60,385

|807.23 km2

|72.93/km<sup>2</sup>

|2 eup, 14 myeon

|-

|

100px|Hwasun County

|Hwasun County

|<span style="font-size:125%;">화순군</span>

|<span style="font-size:125%;">和順郡</span>

|60,886

|786.9 km2

|76.42/km<sup>2</sup>

|1 eup, 12 myeon

|-

|

100px|Yeongam County

|Yeongam County

|<span style="font-size:125%;">영암군</span>

|<span style="font-size:125%;">靈巖郡</span>

|55,998

|604.24 km2

|92.68/km<sup>2</sup>

|2 eup, 9 myeon

|-

|

100px|Yeonggwang County

|Yeonggwang County

|<span style="font-size:125%;">영광군</span>

|<span style="font-size:125%;">靈光郡</span>

|48,981

|473.69 km2

|103.40/km<sup>2</sup>

|3 eup, 8 myeon

|-

|

100px|Wando County

|Wando County

|<span style="font-size:125%;">완도군</span>

|<span style="font-size:125%;">莞島郡</span>

|47,210

|396.13 km2

|119.18/km<sup>2</sup>

|3 eup, 9 myeon

|-

|

100px|Damyang County

|Damyang County

|<span style="font-size:125%;">담양군</span>

|<span style="font-size:125%;">潭陽郡</span>

|44,034

|455.12 km2

|96.75/km<sup>2</sup>

|1 eup, 11 myeon

|-

|

100px|Boseong County

|Boseong County

|<span style="font-size:125%;">보성군</span>

|<span style="font-size:125%;">寶城郡</span>

|36,981

|663.35 km2

|55.75/km<sup>2</sup>

|2 eup, 10 myeon

|-

|

100px|Jangseong County

|Jangseong County

|<span style="font-size:125%;">장성군</span>

|<span style="font-size:125%;">長城郡</span>

|40,604

|518.65 km2

|78.29/km<sup>2</sup>

|1 eup, 10 myeon

|-

|

100px|Jangheung County

|Jangheung County

|<span style="font-size:125%;">장흥군</span>

|<span style="font-size:125%;">長興郡</span>

|34,268

|618.2 km2

|55.43/km<sup>2</sup>

|3 eup, 7 myeon

|-

|

100px|Gangjin County

|Gangjin County

|<span style="font-size:125%;">강진군</span>

|<span style="font-size:125%;">康津郡</span>

|31,941

|500.28 km2

|63.85/km<sup>2</sup>

|1 eup, 10 myeon

|-

|

100px|Sinan County

|Sinan County

|<span style="font-size:125%;">신안군</span>

|<span style="font-size:125%;">新安郡</span>

|34,000

|663.59 km2

|51.24/km<sup>2</sup>

|2 eup, 12 myeon

|-

|

100px|Hampyeong County

|Hampyeong County

|<span style="font-size:125%;">함평군</span>

|<span style="font-size:125%;">咸平郡</span>

|29,369

|392.43 km2

|74.84/km<sup>2</sup>

|1 eup, 8 myeon

|-

|

100px|Jindo County

|Jindo County

|<span style="font-size:125%;">진도군</span>

|<span style="font-size:125%;">珍島郡</span>

|29,013

|440.1 km2

|65.92/km<sup>2</sup>

|1 eup, 6 myeon

|-

|

100px|Gokseong County

|Gokseong County

|<span style="font-size:125%;">곡성군</span>

|<span style="font-size:125%;">谷城郡</span>

|26,781

|547.44 km2

|48.92/km<sup>2</sup>

|1 eup, 10 myeon

|-

|

100px|Gurye County

|Gurye County

|<span style="font-size:125%;">구례군</span>

|<span style="font-size:125%;">求禮郡</span>

|23,543

|443.2 km2

|53.12/km<sup>2</sup>

|1 eup, 7 myeon

|}

Sister cities and provinces

  • State of Arizona, United States
  • State of Maryland, United States
  • Gyeongsan, South Korea
  • Ipswich, Queensland, Australia
  • Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu province, Vietnam
  • Bình Phước province, Vietnam
  • State of Oregon, United States
  • Sichuan Province, China
  • Alcochete, Portugal

Religion

According to the census of 2005, of the people of South Jeolla 30.5% follow Christianity (21.8% Protestantism and 8.7% Catholicism) and 16.1% follow Buddhism.

In February 2025, South Korea announced plans for a $35 billion Artificial Intelligence data center with a 3GW capacity to be built in the South Jeolla province. An agreement with the province will ensure the data center has access to energy, water, and other essential resources.

Transportation

Rail

  • KTX Honam Line: Seoul station to GwangjuSongjeong station
  • KTX Honam Line: Seoul station to Mokpo station

Roads

  • Expressway No.10
  • Expressway No.15

Airports

thumb|right|[[Yeosu Airport in Yeosu]]

  • Muan International Airport
  • Yeosu Airport
  • Gwangju Airport
  • Source: Investment Attractiveness<br/>(Jeolla Namdo)

Tourism

thumb|[[Naganeupseong|Nagan Eupseong Folk Village in Suncheon]]

  • Yeosu – Jinnamgwan Hall, Hyangiram, Yi Sun Shin Square
  • Suncheon – Songgwangsa Temple, Seonamsa Temple, Nagan Eupseong Folk Village
  • Mokpo – Mokpo Modern History Museum, Gatbawi Rock, Yudal Mountain
  • Haenam – Ttanggut (End of the Land) Village, Mihwangsa Temple
  • Gurye – Hwaeomsa Temple
  • Damyang – Damyang Juknokwon, Metasequoia-lined Road, Soswaewon Garden
  • Boseong – Boseong Green Tea Field Daehan Dawon
  • Dochodo – Seonggaksa

<gallery mode="packed" style="text-align: center;" caption="Tourism" heights="120px" perrow="3">

File:Yeosu, Jeollanamdo, South Korea - Art Gallery, October 2021.jpg|Art Gallery in Yeosu

File:Tafoni and Sandstone, Gatbawi Mokpo South Korea 08.jpg|Mokpo|Gatbawi

File:Chueotang, Gangjin, Jeollanam-do.jpg|Chueotang

</gallery>

See also

  • North Jeolla Province

References

Sources