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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,
 AAPbnSdSDeNi84S3RjTLJNWe1MKPwQoLaeEmTdW4YPk67kN1KzNrs0txap6aBqKe
 qTwUawmW+KpXsaKGevbExQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001019892-05-000112.txt : 20050411
<SEC-HEADER>0001019892-05-000112.hdr.sgml : 20050411
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050411164613
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001019892-05-000112
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050401
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050411
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050411

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RUSSELL H EARLE JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001195526

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15083
		FILM NUMBER:		05744395

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O GREENVILLE SURGICAL ASSOCIATES
		STREET 2:		10 MEMORIAL MEDICAL DR
		CITY:			GREENVILLE
		STATE:			SC
		ZIP:			29605

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>rus340.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-04-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000797871</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SOUTH FINANCIAL GROUP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TSFG</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001195526</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RUSSELL H EARLE JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>10 MEMORIAL MEDICAL DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GREENVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>SC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>29605</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $1.00 Par Value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-04-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>270</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>9082.31</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $1.00 Par Value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>208.51</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Custodian For Child</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: William P. Crawford, Jr., POA</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-04-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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