New York City is an independent city located in the state of New York, and it has a very unique administrative structure that encompasses five counties. The five counties that make up New York City are New York County (Manhattan), Kings County (Brooklyn), Queens County (Queens), Bronx County (Bronx), and Richmond County (Staten Island). Unlike other U.S. cities, the five boroughs correspond exactly one-to-one with the five counties, which often confuses newcomers from Korea who wonder whether they are dealing with a borough, city, or county.

The total population of New York City exceeds 8 million, making it the largest city in the United States, and the population of the Greater New York Metropolitan Area, including nearby regions, surpasses 20 million. It is not just a single city but serves as the economic hub of the entire eastern United States.

Let's take a closer look at the five boroughs. Manhattan is an island located between the Hudson River and the East River, serving as the heart of finance, culture, and commerce in New York. It has a population of about 1.6 million and boasts the highest population density relative to its size. Most of the skyscraper scenes we see in movies and dramas are filmed in Manhattan.

Brooklyn is the most populous borough of New York City, with approximately 2.6 million residents. In recent years, it has been redefined as a hip and trendy neighborhood, growing into a borough with influence comparable to Manhattan.

Queens is the largest borough by area, with a population of about 2.3 million. It is well-known for its diverse languages and cultures coexisting, and it is also home to the largest Korean population among the boroughs in New York City. The Flushing area has effectively become another Koreatown.

The Bronx is the only borough connected to the mainland north of Manhattan, with a population of about 1.4 million. It is also famous for being the home of Yankee Stadium, where the New York Yankees play.

Staten Island has the smallest population among the five boroughs, with about 500,000 residents, and it has the most independent character compared to the other boroughs. It is connected to Manhattan by the free Staten Island Ferry.

Each borough is further divided into smaller units called Community Districts. There are 12 in Manhattan, 18 in Brooklyn, 14 in Queens, 12 in the Bronx, and 3 in Staten Island, totaling 59 Community Districts. Each district has a Community Board that serves as a channel for local residents to convey their opinions to the city administration.

At the federal political level, New York City is divided into multiple congressional districts, and it also comprises several electoral districts in the New York State Senate and Assembly. At the city level, the City Council is divided into 51 electoral districts distributed across the five boroughs. Ultimately, New York City is a single city that consists of five counties, with dozens of smaller administrative units intricately woven within it.