Jeolla Province

Jeolla Province (Hangul: 전라도; RR: Jeollado, [tɕʌlːado]) was a province in southwestern Korea, one of the historical Eight Provinces of Korea during the Joseon. It consisted of the modern South Korean provinces of North Jeolla Province, South Jeolla Province and the Special City of Gwangju as well as Jejudo. The provincial capital was Jeonju, the current capital of Northern Jeolla. The entire inland region was formerly called Honam ("South of the Lake").

History

Samhan and Samguk

During the Samhan era of Korean history, the area of Jeolla was controlled by the Mahan confederacy. Fifteen of the 45 Korean tribes had their bases in this region. When Baekje overtook Mahan by the 5th century, the Three Kingdoms era began and the region became part of southern Baekje. Jungbang was the center of the province during this period.

Unified Silla

When Silla conquered Baekje with the help of Tang China in 660, it became a territory of Later Silla during the 16th year of the reign of Munmu of Silla. Silla reorganized this territory into 9 "ju" (주) and 5 "gyeong" (경), 3 of the ju belonging to the former Baekje. The northern territory of former Baekje, Ung (Ungju; hanja: 熊州 ), corresponds to modern-day South Chungcheong Province.