South Korea City Question

[JohnnyMCE]

I am reviewing a list of data from a site our company works with in South Korea and i keep seeing discrepancies like Ansan and then on the next like a different company with Ansan-si. My question is is there a difference between the two and if so why the addition of -si to alot of the city names.

 

[Lonyo]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cities_in_South_Korea
"Smaller cities are classified as si ("cities") and are under provincial jurisdiction, at the same level as counties (see Administrative divisions of South Korea)."

Ansan = Ansan
Ansan-si = Ansan City

Different conventions I guess for the companies.

 

[JohnnyMCE]

But Ansan is already considered a city in the province of Gyeonggi-do. Still not making sense almost like saying Boston, Ma. and then Boston City, Ma but they are the same thing.

Any idea what the convention is whether most Koreans use the with or without the -si

 

[bolomite]

if I remember correctly, Korea uses 4 suffix-like classifications:

-si, essentially 'city', used for the largest areas
-geun
-eup
-myun

from largest to smallest. I think it's expected that you tack on the correct one, obviously difficult for non-Koreans