special city; special municipality; direct-controlled municipality
Administrative term for a city with special status, often used for cities like Seoul, or historically for certain Japanese cities under the Local Autonomy Law.
Seoul is a special city of South Korea.
Under Japan's Local Autonomy Law, there was once a system of special cities.
A 'special ward', such as the 23 wards of Tokyo, which are a different type of special local entity.
Compound of 特別 (tokubetsu, 'special') and 市 (shi, 'city'). The term is used in administrative contexts, notably for cities with special status in South Korea and historically in Japan.