direct-controlled municipality
An administrative division directly under the central government, used in China (直辖市), South Korea (광역시), North Korea, and Taiwan. Not a standard Japanese administrative unit; used in reference to these foreign systems.
China's direct-controlled municipalities include Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, and Chongqing.
South Korea's direct-controlled municipalities are also called metropolitan cities.
A special city; in some contexts similar to a direct-controlled municipality, but the term varies by country. 直轄市 specifically implies direct central government control.
From 直轄 (direct control) + 市 (city). A modern administrative term, likely coined in the early 20th century to translate foreign concepts of centrally-administered cities.