"Why does Korea have two address systems?" is a common question. The answer lies in over a century of address history — from Japanese colonial land surveys to the sweeping 2014 road name reform.
1. The Joseon Era: Village-Based Location
Before modern times, Koreans used administrative districts and village names to identify locations. There were no building numbers — communities simply knew each other's whereabouts.
2. Japanese Colonial Era: The Lot Number System (1910s)
During Japan's land survey project (1910–1918), every plot of land was assigned a lot number (지번) for tax and ownership purposes. This system remained Korea's official address system for over 70 years after independence.
3. Problems with Lot Numbers
As Korea urbanized rapidly, lot numbers became increasingly chaotic. Land divisions and mergers created situations where lot 1 might sit next to lot 350 on the same street. Emergency responders couldn't find addresses, and international deliveries were unreliable.
4. The Road Name Address Reform (1996–2014)
The government began planning a new system in 1996, but the transition took nearly two decades due to cost and public resistance. On January 1, 2014, road name addresses became the official system nationwide.
5. How Road Name Addresses Work
Building numbers are assigned based on distance from the road's starting point — odd numbers on the left, even on the right. This makes navigation intuitive: a higher number means farther along the road.
6. Why Both Systems Still Exist
Lot numbers haven't disappeared entirely — they're still used in land registry documents and in areas without named roads. But for everyday use, delivery, and international mail, the road name address is the standard.