In the U.S., the concept can be a bit confusing if you think of it like a "dong office" as in Korea.

Especially since Long Beach is a large city, knowing just a bit about the administrative districts can make life much easier. Don't overthink it; I'll just share what you need to know.

First, Long Beach is divided into 9 City Council Districts. Simply put, like the electoral districts in Korea, each district has one city council member representing the residents. Above them is the Mayor, who represents the entire city.

District 1 includes downtown and the harbor area. It's close to the Port of Long Beach, so there are many logistics and commercial facilities, along with some older buildings. District 2 covers the eastern part of downtown and the East Village Arts District, making it a popular spot for young people and artists.

District 3 is home to the popular Belmont Shore and Naples Island. Being close to the beach, housing prices are high, and it's a great place for walks. When people say, "I want to live in Long Beach," many think of this area first.

Districts 4 and 5 are relatively quiet residential areas with many families living there.

District 6 is located in the heart of Long Beach, while District 7 is around El Dorado Park, known for its many parks and good living conditions. Districts 8 and 9 are in the northern part, where industrial facilities and residential areas coexist.

However, residents rarely say, "I live in District 3."

Instead, they often say, "I live in Belmont Shore," "I live in Bixby Knolls," or "I live in Los Altos."

Notable neighborhoods include Belmont Shore, known for its beaches and great restaurants, and Naples Island, famous for its beautiful canals.

Bixby Knolls has many older single-family homes, while Los Altos is a popular residential area for families. Lakewood Village is also convenient for living and remains consistently popular.

Another thing to note is that Long Beach is part of LA County but operates as a Charter City. This means it has its own police department, the Long Beach Police Department, and operates its own fire department. However, some welfare and health services are run in conjunction with LA County, which can be a bit confusing at first.

If you encounter issues like a broken streetlight, road problems, or garbage collection complaints, you can contact the Long Beach 311 service. In the U.S., people use these 311 services more than you might think.

If you're curious about which district your home is in, you don't need to search too hard. You can simply enter your address on the Long Beach city website to find out.

In fact, it's not necessary for the average resident to memorize Districts 1 and 2. However, when looking for a home or real estate, knowing "which neighborhood it is" is really important. Even within Long Beach, the atmosphere and housing prices can vary significantly between Belmont Shore and the northern areas. So, when getting to know Long Beach, it's much easier to familiarize yourself with the neighborhood names rather than the district numbers, which will greatly help you in understanding American life.