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Most Korean place names derive either from the Korean language and its predecessors on the Korean peninsula, or from Chinese.

Geographical generics

commonly found in Korean place names:

Romanized Hangul Hanja Meaning

• cheon  – - 천  – - 川  – - river
• san  – - 산  – - 山  – - mountain
• ju  – - 주  – - 州  – - province

Place names

For the countries themselves, see Names of Korea

For names of provinces, see Korea under List of etymologies of country subdivision names

City names

• Busan 부산 釜山
• Daejeon 대전 大田 Big rice-field
• Gangneung 강릉시 江陵 River – hill
• Gongju 공주시 公州 Public province
• Gwangju 광주시 廣州 Wide province