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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 BPcq3BPU+cdTP/PccZmoAAFH0Ou2lvqkUwKYQST2u/tb8evJonCEwIrPWIozdi2H
 r3wsK9+wtEc3rST2aP5DbA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001019892-03-000135.txt : 20030922
<SEC-HEADER>0001019892-03-000135.hdr.sgml : 20030922
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030922154916
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001019892-03-000135
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030917
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030922

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CROTZER ALEX
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001264239

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15083
		FILM NUMBER:		03904283

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		102 S. MAIN STREET
		CITY:			GREENVILLE
		STATE:			SC
		ZIP:			29601

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SOUTH FINANCIAL GROUP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000797871
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				570824914
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			SC
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		102 S MAIN ST
		CITY:			GREENVILLE
		STATE:			SC
		ZIP:			29601
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8642557900

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		102 S MAIN STREET
		CITY:			GREENVILLE
		STATE:			SC
		ZIP:			29601

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CAROLINA FIRST CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>cro61.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
	<periodOfReport>2003-09-17</periodOfReport>
	<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000797871</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SOUTH FINANCIAL GROUP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TSFG</issuerTradingSymbol>
	</issuer>
	<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001264239</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CROTZER ALEX</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>102 S. MAIN STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GREENVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>SC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>29601</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
			<isDirector>0</isDirector>
			<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
			<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
			<isOther>0</isOther>
			<officerTitle>Executive Vice President</officerTitle>
		</reportingOwnerRelationship>
	</reportingOwner>
	<derivativeTable>
		<derivativeTransaction>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<conversionOrExercisePrice>
				<value>25.37</value>
			</conversionOrExercisePrice>
			<transactionDate>
				<value>2003-09-17</value>
			</transactionDate>
			<deemedExecutionDate>
			</deemedExecutionDate>
			<transactionCoding>
				<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
				<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
				<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
			</transactionCoding>
			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
					<value>10000</value>
				</transactionShares>
				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>25.37</value>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>A</value>
				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
			</transactionAmounts>
			<exerciseDate>
				<value>2004-09-17</value>
				<footnoteId id="F1"/>
			</exerciseDate>
			<expirationDate>
				<value>2013-09-17</value>
			</expirationDate>
			<underlyingSecurity>
				<underlyingSecurityTitle>
					<value>Common Stock, $1.00 Par Value</value>
				</underlyingSecurityTitle>
				<underlyingSecurityShares>
					<value>10000.00</value>
				</underlyingSecurityShares>
			</underlyingSecurity>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>10000.00</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</derivativeTransaction>
	</derivativeTable>
	<footnotes>
		<footnote id="F1">The option vests in five equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the date of grant.</footnote>
	</footnotes>
	<remarks>
	</remarks>
	<ownerSignature>
		<signatureName>By: William P. Crawford, Jr., POA</signatureName>
		<signatureDate>2003-09-22</signatureDate>
	</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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