Seoul , officially the
Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest
cityA city is a relatively large and permanent settlement, particularly a large urban settlement. Although there is no agreement on technical definitions distinguishing a city from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status...
of
South KoreaSouth Korea, officially the Republic of Korea and often simply referred to as Korea, is a country in East Asia, located on the southern half of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by China to the west, Japan to the east, and North Korea to the north. Its capital is Seoul, the second largest...
. With a population of over 10 million, it is one of the world's largest cities. The
Seoul National Capital AreaThe Seoul National Capital Area is a region located in the north-west of South Korea. It is generally referred to as Sudogwon in Korean, and contains three different administrative districts; Seoul, Incheon and a large part of Gyeonggi-do....
, which includes the major port city of
IncheonIncheon, officially the Incheon Metropolitan City, is South Korea's third largest metropolis, after Seoul and Busan. As the largest seaport on the west coast and home to the country's largest airport, Incheon International Airport, Incheon is South Korea's most important transport hub...
and most of
Gyeonggi-doGyeonggi-do is the most populous province in South Korea. The provincial capital is located at Suwon. Seoul—South Korea's largest city and national capital—is located in the heart of the province, but has been separately administered as a provincial-level special city since 1946...
, has 24.5 million inhabitants, and is the world's
second largest metropolitan area. Almost half of South Korea's population live in the Seoul National Capital Area, and nearly a quarter in Seoul itself, making it the country's foremost economic, political, and cultural center. It is an important destination for
immigrants to South KoreaImmigration is a growing force influencing the demographics of South Korea. Immigration policy is overseen by the Ministry of Justice through the Bureau of Immigration....
, with a rapidly growing
international populationIn law, an alien is a person in a country who is not a citizen of that country.-Categorization:Types of "alien" persons are:* An alien who is legally permitted to remain in a country which is foreign to him or her. On specified terms, this kind of alien may be called a legal alien of that country...
of over 255,000.
Located on the
Han RiverThe Han River is a major river in South Korea and the fourth longest river on the Korean peninsula after the Amnok, Tumen, and Nakdong rivers. It is formed by the confluence of the Namhan River , which originates in Mount Daedeok, and the Bukhan River , which originates on the slopes of Mount...
in the center of the
Korean PeninsulaThe Korean Peninsula is a peninsula in East Asia. It extends southwards for about 684 miles from continental Asia into the Pacific Ocean and is surrounded by the Sea of Japan on the east, the East China Sea to the south, and the Yellow Sea to the west, the Korea Strait connecting the first two...
, Seoul has been a major settlement for over 2,000 years, with its history dating back to 18
BCBC or B.C. may refer to:* Before Christ, from the Latin Ante Christum, an epoch based on the traditionally reckoned year of the conception or birth of Jesus.-Places:* Baja California, Mexico's northernmost state...
, when
BaekjeBaekje or Paekche was a kingdom located in southwest Korea. It was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, together with Goguryeo and Silla....
, one of the
Three Kingdoms of KoreaThe Three Kingdoms of Korea refer to the ancient Korean kingdom of Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla, which dominated the Korean peninsula and parts of Manchuria for much of the 1st millennium CE...
, established its capital in what is now south-east Seoul. The city then became the capital of
KoreaKorea is a civilization and formerly unified nation currently divided into two states. Located on the Korean Peninsula, it borders China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the east by the Korea Strait....
during the
Joseon DynastyJoseon , was a Korean sovereign state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo Kingdom at what is today the city of Kaesong...
and the
Korean EmpireThe Greater Korean Empire was a former empire of Korea that succeeded the Joseon Dynasty that had ruled the nation for 500 years.In 1897, Emperor Gojong proclaimed the new entity at Gyeongungung Palace and oversaw the partially successful modernization of the military, economy, real property laws,...
. As the center of Korean history over the past millennia, the Seoul National Capital Area is home to four UNESCO World Heritage Sites:
ChangdeokgungChangdeokgung, also known as Changdeokgung Palace or Changdeok Palace, is set within a large park in Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea. It is one of the "Five Grand Palaces" built by the kings of the Joseon Dynasty and because of its location east of Gyeongbok Palace, Changdeokgung, with...
,
Hwaseong FortressHwaseong , the wall surrounding the centre of Suwon, the provincial capital of Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, was built in the late eighteenth century by King Jeongjo of the Joseon Dynasty to honour and house the remains of his father Prince Sado, who had been murdered by being locked alive inside a...
,
Jongmyo ShrineJongmyo is a Confucian shrine dedicated to the memorial services for the deceased kings and queens of the Korean Joseon Dynasty. According to UNESCO, the shrine is the oldest royal Confucian shrine preserved and the ritual ceremonies continue a tradition established since the 14th century...
and the
Royal Tombs of the Joseon DynastyThe Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty are a group of tombs of members of the Korean Joseon Dynasty . The tombs have been registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2009.-The tombs:...
.
Seoul's influence in
businessA business is a legally recognized organization designed to provide goods and/or services to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, most being privately owned and formed to earn profit that will increase the wealth of its owners and grow the business itself...
,
international tradeInternational trade is exchange of capital, goods, and services across international borders or territories. In most countries, it represents a significant share of gross domestic product . While international trade has been present throughout much of history , its economic, social, and political...
,
politicsPolitics is a process by which groups of people make decisions. The term is generally applied to behavior within civil governments, but politics has been observed in all human group interactions, including corporate, academic and religious institutions...
,
technologyTechnology is a broad concept that deals with human as well as other animal species' usage and knowledge of tools and crafts, and how it affects a species' ability to control and adapt to its environment...
,
educationEducation in its broadest sense is any act or experience that has a formative effect on the mind, character or physical ability of an individual...
and
entertainmentAn entertainment is any activity which provides a diversion or permits people to amuse themselves in their leisure time.Entertainment is typically passive - as in watching opera or a movie. Activities which involve participating in games or sports are more often considered to be recreation...
all contribute to its role as a prominent
global cityA global city is a city deemed to be an important node point in the global economic system. The concept comes from geography and urban studies and rests on the idea that globalization can be understood as largely created, facilitated and enacted in strategic geographic locales according to a...
. It is considered to be an
Alpha World CityA global city is a city deemed to be an important node point in the global economic system. The concept comes from geography and urban studies and rests on the idea that globalization can be understood as largely created, facilitated and enacted in strategic geographic locales according to a...
, ranking 9th in the
2008 Global Cities IndexA global city is a city deemed to be an important node point in the global economic system. The concept comes from geography and urban studies and rests on the idea that globalization can be understood as largely created, facilitated and enacted in strategic geographic locales according to a...
. Seoul is the iconic city of the
Miracle on the Han RiverMiracle on the Han River refers to the period of highly accelerated economic growth, industrialization, technological achievement, urbanization, skyscraper boom, modernization, globalization and successful transformation from the ashes of the Korean War to a wealthy developed country that took...
and hosted landmark international events such as the
1988 Summer OlympicsThe 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics held in Tokyo, Japan...
and the
2002 FIFA World CupThe 2002 FIFA World Cup, the 17th staging of the World Cup, was held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. The two countries were chosen as hosts by FIFA in May 1996 and was the first tournament in its history to be hosted by two countries. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia...
. It is one of the world's top ten
financialFINANCIAL is the weekly English-language newspaper with offices in Tbilisi, Georgia and Kiev, Ukraine. Published by Intelligence Group LLC, FINANCIAL is focused on opinion leaders and top business decision-makers; It's about world’s largest companies, investing, careers, and small business. It is...
and
commercialCommerce is a division of trade or production which deals with the exchange of goods and services from producer to final consumer. It comprises the trading of something of economic value such as goods, services, information, or money between two or more entities...
centers, home to some of the world's largest
conglomeratesA conglomerate is a combination of two or more companies engaged in entirely different businesses together into one overarching company . Conglomerates are often large...
such as Samsung,
LGLG may refer to:* LG Group, a South Korean electronics and petrochemicals conglomerate** LG Electronics, an affiliate of the South Korean LG Group which produces electronic products* Lateral giant interneuron, an interneuron in crayfish...
and
Hyundai-KiaThe Hyundai Kia Automotive Group is South Korea's largest automobile manufacturer, the second largest automaker in Asia after Toyota and the world's fourth largest automaker after Toyota, GM and Volkswagen...
. Seoul was Asia's most expensive city to live in 2007, and the third most expensive city worldwide. With a GDP per capita of $31,095 in 2007, Seoul has a living standard comparable to
FranceFrance , officially the French Republic , is a country located in Western Europe, with several overseas islands and territories located on other continents. Metropolitan France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean...
and
ItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic , is a country located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe and on the two largest islands in the Mediterranean Sea, Sicily and Sardinia. Italy shares its northern, Alpine boundary with France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia...
. In 2008, Seoul was named the world's sixth most economically powerful city by
Forbes.com, ahead of
ParisParis is the capital of France and the country's most populous city. It is situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and
Los AngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the municipality of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123.445 inhabitants...
.
Seoul is the
2010 World Design CapitalThe World Design Capital is a city promotion project by the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design to recognize and award accomplishments made by cities around the world in the field of design.-World Design Capitals by year:...
and has one of the world's most technologically advanced infrastructures. It is ranked first on the Digital Opportunity Index, with the highest
broadband internet penetrationBroadband Internet access, often shortened to just broadband, is a high data rate Internet access—typically contrasted with dial-up access using a 56k modem....
of any city. Seoul's Digital Media City is the world's first complex for high-tech technologies and a test-bed for futuristic
ITInformation technology , as defined by the Information Technology Association of America , is "the study, design, development, implementation, support or management of computer-based information systems, particularly software applications and computer hardware." IT deals with the use of electronic...
and
multimediaMultimedia is media and content that uses a combination of different content forms. The term can be used as a noun or as an adjective describing a medium as having multiple content forms. The term is used in contrast to media which only use traditional forms of printed or hand-produced material...
applications. Seoul is the only city in the world featuring
DMBDigital Multimedia Broadcasting is a digital radio transmission technology developed by South Korea as part of the national IT project for sending multimedia such as TV, radio and datacasting to mobile devices such as mobile phones...
, a digital
mobile TVMobile TV is television which is watched on a small handheld device. It may be a pay TV service delivered to subscribers via mobile telecommunications networks, such as the mobile phone carriers, or received free-to-air via terrestrial television stations operating either in regular mode or a...
technology and
WiBroWiBro is a wireless broadband Internet technology developed by the South Korean telecoms industry. WiBro is the South Korean service name for IEEE 802.16e international standard....
, a wireless high-speed mobile internet service, as well as a 100Mbps fibre-optic broadband network, which is being upgraded to 1Gbps by 2012.
Seoul StationSeoul Station is a major railway station in Seoul, South Korea. The station is served by the Gyeongbu Line, its high-speed counterpart and the Gyeongui Line, with frequent high-speed, express, and local services to various points in South Korea.- Services :...
houses the 350 km/h
KTXThe Korea Train eXpress is South Korea's high-speed rail system, which connects the capital Seoul to Busan and Mokpo. Operated by Korail, the train's technology is largely based on the French TGV system, and has a top speed of 350 km/h, limited to 300 km/h during regular service for...
high-speed railHigh-speed rail is a type of passenger rail transport that operates significantly faster than the normal speed of rail traffic. Specific definitions include 200 km/h and faster — depending on whether the track is upgraded or new — by the European Union, and above 90 mph by the United...
and the Seoul Subway is the third largest in the world, with over 2 billion passengers every year. Seoul is connected to
Incheon International AirportIncheon International Airport is the largest airport in South Korea, and one of the largest and busiest in the world. Since 2005, it has been consecutively rated as the best airport in the world by the Airports Council International and received the full 5-star ranking by Skytrax, the...
via
AREXLieutenant Arex, voiced by James Doohan, was a recurring character on Star Trek: The Animated Series which ran on NBC from 1973 to 1974.Arex was a Starfleet officer assigned to the U.S.S. Enterprise as navigator. Arex was a member of a tripodal species and had three arms and legs...
, which is rated as the world's best airport by
ACIAirports Council International , based in Geneva, Switzerland, is a non profit organisation, whose prime purpose is to advance the interests of airports and to promote professional excellence in airport management and operations...
since 2005.
Name
The city has been known in the past by the names
Wirye-seongWiryeseong was the name of two early capitals of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. Both are believed to have been in the modern-day Seoul area...
(위례성; 慰禮城,
BaekjeBaekje or Paekche was a kingdom located in southwest Korea. It was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, together with Goguryeo and Silla....
era), Hanju (한주; 漢州,
SillaSilla was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, and the longest sustained dynasty in Asian history. Although it was founded by King Park Hyeokgeose, who is also known to be the originator of the Korean family name Park , the dynasty was to see the Kyungju Kim clan hold rule for most of its...
era), Namgyeong (남경; 南京,
GoryeoThe Goryeo Dynasty or Koryŏ was a sovereign state established in 918 by King Taejo. It united the Later Three Kingdoms in 936 and ruled most of the Korean peninsula until it was removed by the Joseon dynasty in 1392...
era), Hanseong (한성; 漢城,
BaekjeBaekje or Paekche was a kingdom located in southwest Korea. It was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, together with Goguryeo and Silla....
and
JoseonJoseon , was a Korean sovereign state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo Kingdom at what is today the city of Kaesong...
era), Hanyang (한양; 漢陽,
JoseonJoseon , was a Korean sovereign state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo Kingdom at what is today the city of Kaesong...
era), Gyeongseong (경성; 京城, Japanese occupation era). Its current name originated from the
KoreanKorean is the official language of North Korea and South Korea. It is also one of the two official languages in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China. There are about 78 million Korean speakers. It was formerly written using Hanja, borrowed Chinese characters pronounced in the Korean...
word meaning "capital city," which is believed to be derived from
Seorabeol (서라벌; 徐羅伐), which originally referred to
GyeongjuGyeongju is a coastal city in the far southeastern corner of North Gyeongsang province in South Korea. It is the second largest city by area in the province after Andong, covering with a population of 269,343 people according to the 2008 census. Gyeongju is southeast of Seoul, and east of the...
, the capital of
SillaSilla was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, and the longest sustained dynasty in Asian history. Although it was founded by King Park Hyeokgeose, who is also known to be the originator of the Korean family name Park , the dynasty was to see the Kyungju Kim clan hold rule for most of its...
.
Unlike most place names in Korea, "Seoul" has no corresponding
hanjaHanja is the Korean name for Chinese characters. More specifically, it refers to those Chinese characters borrowed from Chinese and incorporated into the Korean language with Korean pronunciation...
(Chinese characters used in the
Korean languageKorean is the official language of North Korea and South Korea. It is also one of the two official languages in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China. There are about 78 million Korean speakers. It was formerly written using Hanja, borrowed Chinese characters pronounced in the Korean...
). The recently chosen Chinese name for Seoul is 首尔 (simplified), 首爾 (traditional) (Shǒuěr), which sounds somewhat similar to "Seoul" when pronounced in Mandarin Chinese.
History
The history of Seoul can be traced back as far as 18 BC, when it was established as a settlement in
BaekjeBaekje or Paekche was a kingdom located in southwest Korea. It was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, together with Goguryeo and Silla....
,
Wirye-seongWiryeseong was the name of two early capitals of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. Both are believed to have been in the modern-day Seoul area...
. It's believed that the
Wirye-seongWiryeseong was the name of two early capitals of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. Both are believed to have been in the modern-day Seoul area...
site is in the boundaries of modern day Seoul and Present
Pungnap ToseongPungnap Toseong is a flat earthen wall built at the edge of the Han River, with a circumference of 3.5km. It is located in modern-day Pungnap-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul, and previously was included in the neighboring city of Gwangju. It has a long oval shape, spreading to north and south, and leaning...
or Mongchon Toseong remains believed as the site. It has thereafter been the capital of the
Joseon DynastyJoseon , was a Korean sovereign state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo Kingdom at what is today the city of Kaesong...
. Seoul as a capital of
South KoreaSouth Korea, officially the Republic of Korea and often simply referred to as Korea, is a country in East Asia, located on the southern half of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by China to the west, Japan to the east, and North Korea to the north. Its capital is Seoul, the second largest...
, has a history of more 610 years since 1394 the year it was designate as a capital of
Joseon DynastyJoseon , was a Korean sovereign state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo Kingdom at what is today the city of Kaesong...
. In the Japanese colonization period in the early 20th century, many historical and traditional parts of Seoul were changed. The city was almost entirely destroyed in the
Korean WarThe Korean War is a war that started between North Korea and South Korea on 25 June 1950 and paused with an armistice signed 27 July, 1953...
, but an aggressive economic policy in the 1960s and 1970s helped to rebuild the city very rapidly. In the 1990s, some important historical buildings were restored, including
GyeongbokgungGyeongbokgung, also known as Gyeongbokgung Palace or Gyeongbok Palace, is a royal palace located in northern Seoul, South Korea. First constructed in 1394 and reconstructed in 1867, it was the main and largest palace of the Five Grand Palaces built by the Joseon Dynasty...
, one of the most royal palaces and the king's dwelling of the Joseon dynasty.
Geography
Seoul is in northwest South Korea. Seoul proper comprises 605.39 km² of area, roughly bisected into northern and southern halves by the
Han RiverThe Han River is a major river in South Korea and the fourth longest river on the Korean peninsula after the Amnok, Tumen, and Nakdong rivers. It is formed by the confluence of the Namhan River , which originates in Mount Daedeok, and the Bukhan River , which originates on the slopes of Mount...
. The Han River and its surrounding area played an important role in Korean history. The
Three Kingdoms of KoreaThe Three Kingdoms of Korea refer to the ancient Korean kingdom of Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla, which dominated the Korean peninsula and parts of Manchuria for much of the 1st millennium CE...
strove to take control of this land, where the river was used as a trade route to China (via the
Yellow SeaThe Yellow Sea is the name given to the northern part of the East China Sea, which is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean. It is located between mainland China and the Korean peninsula. Its name comes from the sand particles from Gobi Desert sand storms that turn the surface of the water golden...
). However, the river is no longer actively used for navigation, because its estuary is located at the borders of the two Koreas, barred for entrance by any civilian. The city is bordered by eight mountains, as well as the more level lands of the Han River plain and western areas.
Climate
In common with the rest of South Korea, Seoul has a
humid continental climateThe humid continental climate is a climate found over large areas of landmasses in the temperate regions of the mid-latitudes where there is a zone of conflict between polar and tropical air masses. The humid continental climate is marked by variable weather patterns and a large seasonal...
(
Köppen climate classificationThe Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by the Russian climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself notably in 1918 and 1936...
Dwa), despite the fact that the country is surrounded on three sides by water. Summers are generally hot and humid, with
East Asian monsoonThe East Asian monsoon is a monsoonal flow that carries moist air from the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean to East Asia. It affects approximately one-third of the global population, and the countries China, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Taiwan, etc. It is driven by temperature differences...
taking place from June until July. August, the hottest month, has an average temperature of 72 °F to 86 °F (22°C to 30°C) with higher temperatures possible. Winters are often very cold with an average January temperature of 19 °F to 33 °F (-7°C to 1°C) and are generally much drier than summers, although there are 28 days of
snowSnow is a type of precipitation in the form of crystalline water ice, consisting of a multitude of snowflakes that fall from clouds. Since snow is composed of small ice particles, it is a granular material. It has an open and therefore soft structure, unless packed by external pressure. Snowflakes...
in Seoul in each year on average.
Administrative divisions
Seoul is divided into 25
gu (구; ) (district). The gu vary greatly in area (from 10 to 47 km²) and population (from less than 140,000 to 630,000). Songpa has the most people, while Seocho, the largest area. The government of each gu handles many of the functions that are handled by city governments in other jurisdictions. Each gu is divided into "
dong" (동; ) or neighbourhoods. Some gu have only a few dong while others like Jongno-gu have a very large number of distinct neighborhoods. Gu of Seoul consist of 522 administrative dongs (행정동) in total.
Dong are also sub-divided into 13,787
tong (통; ), which are further divided into 102,796
ban in total.
- Dobong District
Dobong-gu is one of the 25 districts of Seoul, South Korea. It is located on the north side of the Han River.-Mountain:Donbong Mt. is nearby and actually its area is in charge of dobong-gu....
(도봉구; )
- Dongdaemun District
Dongdaemun-gu is one of the 25 gu of Seoul, South Korea. It is located to the north of the River Han. Its district office is in Yongdu-dong where is close to the underground station of branch of Line 2....
(동대문구; )
- Dongjak District
Dongjak-gu is one of the 25 gu which make up the city of Seoul, South Korea. Its name was derived from the Dongjaegi Naruteo Ferry, located on the Han River which borders the district to the north...
(동작구; )
- Eunpyeong District
Eunpyeong-gu is one of the 25 gu which make up the city of Seoul, South Korea.The mayor of this district is Jaedong NOH since July 2006.-Administrative divisions:*Bulgwang-dong *Daejo-dong *Eungam-dong...
(은평구; )
- Gangbuk District
Gangbuk-gu is one of the 25 gu which make up the city of Seoul, South Korea. Its name is derived from the fact that it is located at the north of Han river. It was created from neighbouring Dobong-gu in 1995...
(강북구; )
- Gangdong District
Gangdong-gu is one of the 25 gu which make up the city of Seoul, South Korea. It is located on the east side of the city....
(강동구; )
- Gangnam District
Gangnam-gu is one of the 25 gu which make up the city of Seoul, South Korea. It is one of the most affluent areas of Seoul and is located in the southeast of the city...
(강남구; )
- Gangseo District
Gangseo-gu is one of the 25 wards of Seoul, South Korea. It is located on the south side of the Han River. In the west of this district, there are many flats for low-level families...
(강서구; )
- Geumcheon District
Geumcheon-gu is one of the 25 gu of Seoul, South Korea. It is located on the southwest side of the Han River. It was created from neighboring Guro-gu in 1995. Its district office is located in Siheung-dong where is on the road to city of Anyang...
(금천구; )
- Guro District
Guro is a district of Seoul, South Korea, which was separated from Yeongdeungpo on April 1, 1980. Located in the southwestern part of the city, Guro has an important position as a transport link from the rest of Seoul to the south of the country. The Gyeongbu and Gyeongin railway lines connect...
(구로구; )
- Gwanak District
Gwanak District, or Gwanak-gu is an administrative subdivision of Seoul, South Korea. It lies on southern skirt of Seoul, bordering Seoul and Anyang of Gyeonggi Province. Craggy ridgeline of Mt...
(관악구; )
- Gwangjin District
Gwangjin-gu is one of the 25 wards of Seoul, South Korea. It is located on the north side of the Han River. It was created from neighboring Seongdong-gu in 1995.Gwangjin-gu is home to Konkuk University and Sejong University...
(광진구; )
- Jongno District
Jongno-gu is a gu, or district, in central Seoul, South Korea. It takes its name from a major local street, Jongno, which means "Bell Street". Jongno-gu has been the center of the city for 600 years, since where the Joseon dynasty established its capital city...
(종로구; ) |
Jung DistrictJung-gu is one of the 25 gu which make up the city of Seoul, South Korea. It is located on the north side of the Han River, and is the historical center of the city .- Overview :...
(중구; )
Jungnang DistrictJungnang-gu is one of the 25 gu, or districts, of Seoul, South Korea. It is located on the north side of the Han River.The mayor of this district is Byungkwon MOON since his election in July 2006.-Administrative divisions:...
(중랑구; )
Mapo DistrictMapo-gu is a gu, or district, within Seoul, South Korea. It lies northwest of the Han River. Several universities and government buildings are located here. Mapo is especially well-known for the Hongdae club district. Seoul Metropolitan Subway Line 1, Line 5, and Line 6 pass through this district...
(마포구; )
Nowon DistrictNowon-gu is a residential district of Seoul, South Korea, Located in the northeastern part of the metropolitan city. It has the highest population density in Seoul, with 619,509 people living in the area of 35.44 km²....
(노원구; )
Seocho DistrictSeocho-gu is a gu of Seoul, South Korea. It is a ritzy, upper-class ward located in the south of the city. Seocho-gu is home to the majority of Seoul's French population, as well as many other foreign residents including diplomats. As a result, it has a number of fancy cafes, restaurants and hotels...
(서초구; )
Seodaemun DistrictSeodaemun-gu is a gu located in northwestern Seoul, South Korea. Seodaemun-gu incorporates residential and historical areas. It is home to several prominent universities, including Yonsei and Ewha, Bongwon Temple and the notorious Seodaemun Prison....
(서대문구; )
Seongbuk DistrictSeongbuk-gu is one of the 25 gu which make up the city of Seoul, South Korea. It is located in the mid-north part of the city.-Administrative divisions:...
(성북구; )
Seongdong DistrictSeongdong-gu is one of the 25 gu which make up the city of Seoul, South Korea. It is situated on the north bank of the Han River. It is divided into 20 dong .The mayor of this district is Hojo Lee since July 2006....
(성동구; )
Songpa DistrictSongpa-gu is a district of Seoul, South Korea. Often it is denoted as one of the three gus of Seoul that belong to the Gangnam region , along with Gangnam-gu and Seocho-gu. It is located in the southeast of the city...
(송파구; )
Yangcheon DistrictYangcheon-gu is a gu, or district, of Seoul, South Korea. Located on the southwest side of the Han River. It was known as 'Jechapaui-hyun' during the Goguryeo age, And has gone through several name-changes since....
(양천구; )
Yeongdeungpo DistrictYeongdeungpo-gu is an administrative district in southwest Seoul, Korea. Although the origin of the name is uncertain, the first two syllables are thought to be from "yeongdeung" or "divine ascent", a shamanic rite. The third syllable is "po", representing water , referring to the district's...
(영등포구; )
Yongsan DistrictYongsan-gu is a district of Seoul, South Korea. Its name means "Dragon Hill", derived from the hanja characters for dragon and hill/mountain . It sits to the North of the Han River under the shadow of Seoul Tower. It is home to roughly 250,000 people, and is divided into 20 dong, or neighborhoods...
(용산구; ) |
Demographics
Nearly all of Seoul's residents are
KoreanThe Korean people are an ethnic group originating in East Asia. Most Koreans speak the Korean language.-Names:South Koreans call Koreans Han-guk-in —or simply 한인/Han-in for South Koreans living abroad—or informally Hanguk saram , while North Koreans call Koreans Chosŏn-in or Chosŏn saram...
, with some small
ChineseOverseas Chinese are people of Chinese birth or descent who live outside the territories administered by the rival governments of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China...
and
JapaneseThe are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries are referred to as...
minorities. A rapidly growing population of international residents now represent about 2% of the total population. The city’s population surpassed 10,421,000 as of the end of 2007 and the number of foreigners was 229,000, constituting 2.2 percent of the population.
The two major religions in Seoul are
BuddhismBuddhism, as traditionally conceived, is a path of salvation attained through insight into the ultimate nature of reality. It encompasses a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha...
and
ChristianityChristianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented by the revelations in the New Testament....
. Other religions include
ShamanismShamanism comprises a range of traditional beliefs and practices concerned with communication with the spirit world. It is a prominent term in anthropological research. A practitioner of shamanism is known as a shaman, , noun...
and
ConfucianismConfucianism is a Chinese ethical and philosophical system developed from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius . It is a complex system of moral, social, political, philosophical, and quasi-religious thought that has had tremendous influence on the culture and history of East Asia...
, the latter seen more as a pervasive social philosophy rather than a religion.
Economy
As the headquarters for Samsung,
LGLG may refer to:* LG Group, a South Korean electronics and petrochemicals conglomerate** LG Electronics, an affiliate of the South Korean LG Group which produces electronic products* Lateral giant interneuron, an interneuron in crayfish...
,
HyundaiHyundai is a group of companies founded by Chung Ju-yung in South Korea. The first Hyundai company was founded in 1947 as a construction company, and eventually became South Korea's largest conglomerate company ....
,
KiaKia may refer to:* Kia, Kia is a Persian male name meaning "The Great King". It was also the name of the ruler of the ancient northern Persian state of Tabarestan.* Kia Motors, Automobile manufacturer...
and
SKSK Group is the fourth largest conglomerate in South Korea.The SK Group is composed of 92 subsidiary and affiliate companies that share the SK brand and culture. In 2007, SK Group recorded combined revenues of $88.0 billion, with exports contributing $26.0 billion of that total...
, Seoul has become a major business hub in Asia. Although Seoul accounts for only 0.6 percent of South Korea's land area, it generates 21 percent of the country's entire GDP with a GDP per capita of $31,095 in 2007, Seoul has a living standard comparable to
FranceFrance , officially the French Republic , is a country located in Western Europe, with several overseas islands and territories located on other continents. Metropolitan France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean...
and
ItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic , is a country located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe and on the two largest islands in the Mediterranean Sea, Sicily and Sardinia. Italy shares its northern, Alpine boundary with France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia...
Financial hub
As a major business and financial center, Seoul ranks sixth in the world in terms of the number of transnational companies headquartered there. Many international banks have branches in Seoul, including
CitigroupCitigroup Inc. , is a major American financial services company based in New York, NY. Citigroup was formed from one of the world's largest mergers in history by combining the banking giant Citicorp and financial conglomerate Travelers Group on April 7, 1998.Citigroup Inc...
,
Deutsche BankDeutsche Bank AG is an international Universal bank with its headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany. The bank employs more than 81,000 people in 76 countries, and has a large presence in Europe, the Americas, Asia Pacific and the emerging markets.Deutsche Bank has offices in major financial centers,...
,
HSBCHSBC Holdings plc is a public limited company incorporated in England and Wales in 1990, and headquartered in London since 1993. As of 2009, it is both the world's largest banking group and the world's 6th largest company according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine.Hong Kong which served as...
. One of the largest exchange banks, the
Korea Exchange BankKorea Exchange Bank is a specialized foreign exchange bank in South Korea. It is headquartered in Seoul, and was established in 1967....
, is also headquartered in Seoul.
Shopping
Since Seoul is the center of commerce in South Korea, there are many notable shopping areas attracting consumers.
The largest market in South Korea, the
Dongdaemun MarketDongdaemun Market or Tongdaemun is a market and shopping center in Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea. It is the largest shopping center in South Korea...
, is located in Seoul.
MyeongdongMyeong-dong or Myong-dong is a dong in Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea and is located between Chungmu-ro, Eulji-ro, and Namdaemun-ro. It covers 0.91 km² with a population of 2986, and is mostly a commercial area....
is a shopping and entertainment area in downtown Seoul which contains some of the city's top stores and fashion boutiques. It has mid to high priced retail stores and international brand outlets. Nearby is the
Namdaemun MarketNamdaemun Market is a large market in Seoul, South Korea. The market is located next to Namdaemun, which means "Great South Gate," and was the main southern gate to the old city...
named after the Namdaemun Gate, which is the oldest continually running and the largest retail market in Seoul.
SinchonSinchon or Sinchon-dong is a neighbourhood and a judicial dong in Seodaemun-gu in Seoul, South Korea....
is a shopping area that caters mainly to a young crowd and university students.
On the other hand,
InsadongInsadong is a dong, or neighborhood of the Jongno-gu district of the South Korean city of Seoul. The main street is Insadong-gil, which is connected to a multitude of alleys that lead deeper into the district...
is the cultural art market of Seoul, where traditional and modern Korean artworks, such as paintings, sculptures and calligraphy are sold.
Hwanghak-dong Flea MarketHwanghak-dong Flea Market is a market located in the neighborhood of Hwanghak-dong, Jung-gu, South Korea to sell second-hand goods. It has over 500 shops and stalls near Dongdaemun Market supplying a wide range of used products such as electronic appliances, clothes, and other items. The market is...
and Janganpyeong Antique Market also offer antique products.
ItaewonItaewon is a dong, or city district, in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea. It is served by Seoul Subway Line 6 via Itaewon, Noksapyeong and Hanganjin stations. About 22,000 people reside in the district and it is a popular area for residents of Seoul, tourists, and U.S...
is another notable shopping district in the city lined with boutiques and stores, mainly catering to foreign tourists and American soldiers based in the city. The
Gangnam districtGangnam, Seocho and Songpa are three "gu" in Seoul, South Korea, individually known as Gangnam-gu, Seocho-gu and Songpa-gu and often collectively referred to as "Gangnam". These districts are known for their expensive real estate. Media reports frequently refer to this area when they cover stories...
is one of the most affluent areas in Seoul and has popular modern shopping spots such as the fashionable and upscale Apgujeong-dong area and the
COEX MallCOEX Mall is an underground shopping mall located in Gangnam-gu Seoul, South Korea It is the largest shopping centre in Seoul. It is the largest underground mall in Asia with an area of about 85,000 square metres...
. As for wholesale markets, there are
Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale MarketNoryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market or shortly Noryangjin Fish Market is an extensive farmers fish market in the neighborhood of Noryangjin-dong in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, South Korea...
,
Garak MarketGarak Fish Market or Garak-dong Agricultural Market is an extensive farmers fish market in the neighborhood of Garak-dong in Songpa-gu, Seoul, South Korea. It is served by Garak Market Station.-See also:*Noryangjin Fish Market*Jagalchi Market...
and many others.
Yongsan Electronics MarketYongsan Electronics Market is a retail area in Seoul, South Korea, comprising over 20 buildings housing 5,000 stores that sell appliances, stereos, computers and peripherals, office equipment, telephones, lighting equipment, electronic games and software, videos and CDs. A variety of electronic...
is the largest electronics market in Asia. Gasan Digital Complex also serves an extensive variety electronic products.
Architecture
The traditional heart of Seoul is the old
Joseon DynastyJoseon , was a Korean sovereign state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo Kingdom at what is today the city of Kaesong...
city, which is now the downtown area, where most palaces, government offices, corporate headquarters, hotels, and traditional markets are located.
CheonggyecheonCheonggyecheon is a nearly 6 km long, modern public recreation space in downtown Seoul, South Korea. The massive urban renewal project is on the site of a stream that flowed before the rapid post-war economic development required it to be covered by transportation infrastructure...
, a stream that runs from west to east through the valley before emptying into the Han River. For many years, the stream had been covered by concrete, but was recently restored through an urban revival project. The most historically significant street in Seoul is
JongnoJongno is one of the oldest major east-west thoroughfares in central Seoul, South Korea, connecting Sejongno to Dongdaemun. It remains one of Seoul's most important financial and cultural areas to this day...
, meaning "Bell Street," on which one can find
BosingakBosingak is a large bell pavilion on Jongno in Seoul, South Korea. The bell in Bosingak gives Jongno its name, which literally means "bell street." It was originally constructed in 1396 but destroyed many times by both war and fire...
, a pavilion containing a large bell. The bell signaled the different times of the day and therefore controlled the four major gates to the city. The only time it is normally rung nowadays is at midnight on New Year's Eve, when it is rung thirty-three times. It was, however, rung on the day that President Kim Dae-jung took office. To the north of downtown is
Bukhan MountainBukhansan, or Bukhan Mountain, is a mountain on the north side of Seoul, South Korea. A significant section of Seoul is bordered by Bukhansan, which is a major landmark easily visible from most of the city....
, and to the south is the smaller
NamsanNamsan is a 262-meter peak in the Jung-gu district of south central Seoul, South Korea. Although known as Mount Mongmyeok, or 목멱산, in the past, it is now commonly referred to as Namsan. It offers some hiking, recreation and views of downtown Seoul's skyline...
. Further south are the old suburbs of
Yongsan-guYongsan-gu is a district of Seoul, South Korea. Its name means "Dragon Hill", derived from the hanja characters for dragon and hill/mountain . It sits to the North of the Han River under the shadow of Seoul Tower. It is home to roughly 250,000 people, and is divided into 20 dong, or neighborhoods...
and
Mapo-guMapo-gu is a gu, or district, within Seoul, South Korea. It lies northwest of the Han River. Several universities and government buildings are located here. Mapo is especially well-known for the Hongdae club district. Seoul Metropolitan Subway Line 1, Line 5, and Line 6 pass through this district...
, and the
Han RiverThe Han River is a major river in South Korea and the fourth longest river on the Korean peninsula after the Amnok, Tumen, and Nakdong rivers. It is formed by the confluence of the Namhan River , which originates in Mount Daedeok, and the Bukhan River , which originates on the slopes of Mount...
. Across the Han River are the newer and wealthier areas of
Gangnam-guGangnam-gu is one of the 25 gu which make up the city of Seoul, South Korea. It is one of the most affluent areas of Seoul and is located in the southeast of the city...
,
Seocho-guSeocho-gu is a gu of Seoul, South Korea. It is a ritzy, upper-class ward located in the south of the city. Seocho-gu is home to the majority of Seoul's French population, as well as many other foreign residents including diplomats. As a result, it has a number of fancy cafes, restaurants and hotels...
and surrounding neighborhoods.
Historical architecture
Seoul has a lot of historical and cultural landmarks. In
Amsa-dong Preshistoric Settlement SiteAmsa-dong is a dong, neighbourhood of Gangdong-gu in Seoul, South Korea. The dong is well-known for the Amsa-dong Preshistoric Settlement Site in which Neolithic remains were excavated after a large number of diagonal-line patterned earthenware underneath the earth were accidentally discovered by a...
,
Songpa-guSongpa-gu is a district of Seoul, South Korea. Often it is denoted as one of the three gus of Seoul that belong to the Gangnam region , along with Gangnam-gu and Seocho-gu. It is located in the southeast of the city...
, Neolithic remains were excavated and accidentally discovered by a flood in 1925 in
Amsa-dongAmsa-dong is a dong, neighbourhood of Gangdong-gu in Seoul, South Korea. The dong is well-known for the Amsa-dong Preshistoric Settlement Site in which Neolithic remains were excavated after a large number of diagonal-line patterned earthenware underneath the earth were accidentally discovered by a...
.
Urban and civil planning was a key concept when Seoul was first designed to serve as a capital in the late 14th century. The
Joseon DynastyJoseon , was a Korean sovereign state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo Kingdom at what is today the city of Kaesong...
built "Five Grand Palaces" in Seoul such as
ChangdeokgungChangdeokgung, also known as Changdeokgung Palace or Changdeok Palace, is set within a large park in Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea. It is one of the "Five Grand Palaces" built by the kings of the Joseon Dynasty and because of its location east of Gyeongbok Palace, Changdeokgung, with...
,
ChanggyeonggungChanggyeong Palace is a palace located in Seoul, South Korea. Originally the Summer Palace of the Goryeo Emperor, it later became one of the Five Grand Palaces of the Joseon Dynasty....
,
DeoksugungDeoksugung, also known as Gyeongun-gung, Deoksugung Palace, or Deoksu Palace, is a walled compound of palaces that was inhabited by various Korean royalties until the Japanese occupation of Korea around the turn of the 20th century. The buildings are of varying construction, including some of...
,
GyeongbokgungGyeongbokgung, also known as Gyeongbokgung Palace or Gyeongbok Palace, is a royal palace located in northern Seoul, South Korea. First constructed in 1394 and reconstructed in 1867, it was the main and largest palace of the Five Grand Palaces built by the Joseon Dynasty...
and
GyeonghuigungGyeonghui Palace was a palace located in Seoul, South Korea. It was one of the "Five Grand Palaces" built by the Joseon Dynasty....
, all of which are located in the district of
Jongno-guJongno-gu is a gu, or district, in central Seoul, South Korea. It takes its name from a major local street, Jongno, which means "Bell Street". Jongno-gu has been the center of the city for 600 years, since where the Joseon dynasty established its capital city...
and
Jung-guJung-gu , or "Central District," is the name of a gu in several South Korean cities:*Jung-gu, Busan*Jung-gu, Daegu*Jung-gu, Daejeon*Jung-gu, Incheon*Jung-gu, Seoul*Jung-gu, Ulsan...
. Among them, Changdeokgung was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997 for "outstanding example of Far Eastern palace architecture and garden design". The main palace,
GyeongbokgungGyeongbokgung, also known as Gyeongbokgung Palace or Gyeongbok Palace, is a royal palace located in northern Seoul, South Korea. First constructed in 1394 and reconstructed in 1867, it was the main and largest palace of the Five Grand Palaces built by the Joseon Dynasty...
currently being restored to its original form. The palaces are referred to as exemplary architecture of the Joseon period. Beside the palaces,
UnhyeongungUnhyeon Palace is a former Korean royal residence located at 114-10 Unni-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Korea. It was formerly the residence of Prince Regent Daewon-gun, ruler of Korea during the Joseon Dynasty in the 19th century, and father of Emperor Gojong. Gojong himself also lived in this palace...
is known for the royal residence of Regent Daewongun, the father of Emperor Gojong at the end of the Joseon Dynasty.
Seoul has been surrounded by walls that had built to regulate visitors from other regions and protect the city in case foreigners' invasions.
Pungnap ToseongPungnap Toseong is a flat earthen wall built at the edge of the Han River, with a circumference of 3.5km. It is located in modern-day Pungnap-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul, and previously was included in the neighboring city of Gwangju. It has a long oval shape, spreading to north and south, and leaning...
is a flat earthen wall built at the edge of the Han River which is widely believed to be the site of
WiryeseongWiryeseong was the name of two early capitals of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. Both are believed to have been in the modern-day Seoul area...
. Mongchon Toseong (몽촌토성; 蒙村土城) is also an earthen wall built during the
BaekjeBaekje or Paekche was a kingdom located in southwest Korea. It was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, together with Goguryeo and Silla....
period which is now located inside the
Olympic ParkThe Seoul Olympic Park or shortly Olpark is an Olympic Park built to host the 1988 Summer Olympics. Olympic Park is located in Songpa-gu, Bangi-dong.- Competition Facilities :*Olympic Velodrome, Seoul*Olympic Fencing Gymnasium...
. Castle Walls of Seoul (서울성곽; 서울城郭) are remaining walls of Seoul during
Joseon DynastyJoseon , was a Korean sovereign state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo Kingdom at what is today the city of Kaesong...
.
Although many walls and fortresses were demolished, some of gates of the palaces and fortresses have played a role of the city's heart such as
SungnyemunSungnyemun or more commonly known as Namdaemun is a historic gate located in the heart of Seoul, the capital of South Korea. The landmark is officially called Sungnyemun, literally "Gate of Exalted Ceremonies," as written in hanja on a plaque on the wooden structure...
and Heunginjimun. The gates are more commonly known as Namdaemun (South Great Gate) and Dongdaemun (East Great Gate) in regards to the directions. Namdaemun was the oldest wooden gate until the 2008 fire incident and has been currently under reconstruction. Nearby the gates, traditional markets and largest shopping center,
Namdaemun MarketNamdaemun Market is a large market in Seoul, South Korea. The market is located next to Namdaemun, which means "Great South Gate," and was the main southern gate to the old city...
and
Dongdaemun MarketDongdaemun Market or Tongdaemun is a market and shopping center in Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea. It is the largest shopping center in South Korea...
are situated with the names from the gates.
There are also many buildings founded in the end of the 19th century and early 20th century with western styles. The
Independence GateThe Independence Gate is a memorial gate located in Seoul, South Korea. The gate was built following the first Sino-Japanese war to inspire a spirit of independence away from previous Korean arrangement as a Chinese protectorate...
was built in 1897 to inspire an independent spirit from
SinosphereSinosphere, also known as East Asian Cultural Sphere, Chinese world, Chinese cultural sphere or Chinese-character cultural sphere , a term coined by linguist James Matisoff, is a grouping of countries and regions that are currently inhabited with a majority Chinese population or were historically...
.
Seoul StationSeoul Station is a major railway station in Seoul, South Korea. The station is served by the Gyeongbu Line, its high-speed counterpart and the Gyeongui Line, with frequent high-speed, express, and local services to various points in South Korea.- Services :...
was opened in 1900 as "Gyeongseong Station.
Modern architecture
Major modern
landmarkThis is a list of landmarks around the world.Landmarks may be split into two categories: natural phenomena and man-made features, like buildings, bridges, statues, public squares, and so forth...
s include the Korea Finance Building,
N Seoul TowerN Seoul Tower is a communication and observation tower located in central Seoul, South Korea. Built in 1969, and opened to the public in 1980, the tower has been a symbol of Seoul and measures in height and tops out at above sea level. It has also been known as the Namsan Tower or Seoul Tower...
, the
World Trade CenterThe World Trade Center Seoul is a building complex comprising six buildings, and centered around the COEX Convention & Exhibition Center on Teheranno in the Gangnam-gu district of Seoul.-Trade Tower:...
, the
63 BuildingThe KLI 63 Building is a landmark skyscraper on Yeouido Island, overlooking the Han River in Seoul, South Korea. At 249 meters high, it is the 3rd tallest building in South Korea and was the tallest building in Asia when it completed construction in 1985...
and the six-skyscraper residence Tower Palace. These and various high-rise office buildings, like the Seoul Star Tower and Jongno Tower, dominate the city's skyline. Due to its high density, Seoul has been equipped with a grand appearance of
skyscraperA skyscraper is a tall, continuously habitable building. There is no official definition or height above which a building may clearly be classified as a skyscraper...
s and the city council is now planning on building a series of high-rises, including 580-meter business center in Sangam Digital Media City district and an 800-meter Lotte World 2 Tower in the
JamsilJamsil may refer to:* Jamsil Arena, an indoor sporting venue in Seoul, South Korea* Jamsil Baseball Stadium, in Seoul, South Korea* Jamsil Station, a station on the Seoul Metropolitan Subway...
(pronounced "Jam-shil") district of
Songpa-guSongpa-gu is a district of Seoul, South Korea. Often it is denoted as one of the three gus of Seoul that belong to the Gangnam region , along with Gangnam-gu and Seocho-gu. It is located in the southeast of the city...
and
Gangdong-guGangdong-gu is one of the 25 gu which make up the city of Seoul, South Korea. It is located on the east side of the city....
.
The World Trade Center of Korea is located in
Gangnam-guGangnam-gu is one of the 25 gu which make up the city of Seoul, South Korea. It is one of the most affluent areas of Seoul and is located in the southeast of the city...
which hosts various expositions and conferences. Also in Gangnam-gu is the
COEX MallCOEX Mall is an underground shopping mall located in Gangnam-gu Seoul, South Korea It is the largest shopping centre in Seoul. It is the largest underground mall in Asia with an area of about 85,000 square metres...
, a large indoor shopping and entertainment complex. Downstream from Gangnam-gu is
YeouidoYeouido is a large island next to the Han River in Seoul, South Korea. It is Seoul's main business and investment banking district. Its 8.4 square kilometers are home to some 30,988 people. The island is located in the Yeongdeungpo-gu district of Seoul, and largely corresponds to the precinct of...
, a large island that is home to the National Assembly, major broadcasting studios, and a number of large office buildings, as well as the Korea Finance Building and the world's largest Pentecostal church. The Olympic Stadium, Olympic Park, and
Lotte WorldLotte World is a recreation complex in Seoul, South Korea. It consists of a large indoor theme park, an outdoor amusement park, an island linked by monorail, shopping malls, a hotel, a Korean folk museum, sports facilities and movie theaters in one area...
are located in Songpa-gu, on the south side of the Han River, upstream from Gangnam-gu.
Museums
Seoul is home to over 100 museums including three national and nine official municipal museums.
National Museum of KoreaThe National Museum of Korea is the flagship museum of Korean history and art in South Korea and is the cultural organization that represents Korea. It was first established in 1945. In October 2005, the museum opened in a new building in Yongsan Family Park in Seoul, South Korea. The museum...
is the most representative of museums in not only Seoul and South Korea. Since its establishment in 1945, the museum exhibits 150,000 artifacts. In October 2005, the museum opened in a new building in Yongsan Family Park. The
National Folk MuseumThis National Folk Museum of Korea is a national museum of South Korea. It is situated on the grounds of the Gyeongbokgung in Jongno-gu, Seoul, and uses replicas of historical objects to illustrate the folk history of the Korean people....
is situated on the grounds of the Gyeongbokgung Palace) in the district of Jongno-gu and uses replicas of historical objects to illustrate the folk history of the Korean people.
Bukchon Hanok VillageBukchon Hanok Village is a Korean village located between Gyeongbok Palace, Changdeok Palace, and Jongmyo in Seoul, South Korea where hanok or Korean traditional houses have been preserved.-See also:*Namsangol Hanok Village*Korean Folk Village...
and
Namsangol Hanok VillageNamsangol Hanok Village, also known as "A Village of Traditional Houses in the Namsan Valley", is a Korean village located in the area of Pil-dong neighborhood in Jung-gu, a central district of Seoul, South Korea where hanok or Korean traditional houses have been restored to preserve the original...
are old residential districts consisting of
hanokHanok is a term to describe Korean traditional houses. Korean architecture lends consideration to the positioning of the house in relation to its surroundings, with thought given to the land and seasons. The interior structure of the house is also planned accordingly...
- Korean traditional houses, parks, and museums that allows visitors to experience traditional Korean culture. The
War MemorialOpened in 1994, the largely museum-like War Memorial of Korea in Yongsan-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea offers visitors an educational, yet emotional experience of the many wars in which Korea was involved. Many documents and war memorabilia have been collected and are displayed...
, one of nine municipal museums in Seoul, offers visitors an educational and emotional experience of various wars in which Korea was involved including
Korean WarThe Korean War is a war that started between North Korea and South Korea on 25 June 1950 and paused with an armistice signed 27 July, 1953...
themes. The
Seodaemun PrisonSeodaemun Prison is a museum and former prison in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, South Korea. It was constructed beginning in 1907 while Korea was considered a protectorate of Japan. The prison was opened on October 21, 1908, under the name Gyeongseong Gamok...
is a former prison built during Japanese occupation and is currently used as a history museum.
The
Seoul Museum of ArtThe Seoul Museum of Art is an art museum operated by Seoul City Council and located in central of Seoul, South Korea. It was opened in the Gyeonghuigung Palace area, a royal palace of Joseon dynasty, with six exhibition rooms and an outdoor sculpture park.. However, in 2002 a larger main branch was...
and
Ilmin Museum of ArtIlmin Museum of Art is a private art museum of South Korea, located on Sejongno street in Jongno-gu, a central district of Seoul, known for exhibiting mainly Korean art...
have preserved the appearance of the old building that distinguishes it visually from the neighboring tall, modern buildings in the urban area. The former is operated by Seoul City Council and was opened adjacent to Gyeonghuigung Palace, a Joseon dynasty royal palace. The
Tteok & Kitchen Utensil MuseumTteok & Kitchen Utensil Museum is a museum located in Waryong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea. Founded by Yoon Sookja, the chief director of the Institute of Traditional Korean Food , it opened in December, 2002...
and
Kimchi Field MuseumThe Kimchi Field Museum in Seoul, Korea is a museum whose mission is to inform the world about one of the major items of Korean cuisine, kimchi. Exhibitions focus exclusively on kimchi’s history, its varieties, and its importance to Korean culture and cuisine. It is open to anyone who is willing...
provide information regarding Korean culinary history.
Religion
There are also religious buildings that take important roles in Korean society and politics. The
WongudanWongudan Altar was built in 1897 in Korea to serve as a site for the performance of the rite of heaven. The site was also known by other names, such as Hwangudan , Jecheondan and Wondan . It could be seen as the Korean equivalent of the Chinese Temple of Heaven...
altar had been a sacrificial place where Korean rulers held heavenly rituals since the Three Kingdoms period. Since the Joseon Dynasty adopted Confucianism as the national ideology in 14th century, the state built many Confucian shrines. The descendants of the Joseon royal family still continue to hold ceremonies to commemorate ancestors at
JongmyoJongmyo is a Confucian shrine dedicated to the memorial services for the deceased kings and queens of the Korean Joseon Dynasty. According to UNESCO, the shrine is the oldest royal Confucian shrine preserved and the ritual ceremonies continue a tradition established since the 14th century...
. It is the oldest royal Confucian shrine preserved and the ritual ceremonies continue a tradition established since the 14th century.
MunmyoMunmyo is Korea's primary Confucian shrine...
and
DongmyoDongmyo is a shrine in metropolitan Seoul built in honour of the 3rd century Chinese military commander, Guan Yu....
were built during the same period. Although Buddhism was suppressed by the Joseon state, it has continued its existence.
JogyesaJogyesa is the chief temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. It thus plays a leading role in the current state of Seon Buddhism in South Korea...
is the headquarters of the Jogyeo Order of
Korean BuddhismKorean Buddhism is distinguished from other forms of Buddhism by its attempt to resolve what it sees as inconsistencies in Mahayana Buddhism. Early Korean monks believed that the traditions they received from foreign countries were internally inconsistent. To address this, they developed a new...
. Hwagyesa and
BongeunsaBongeunsa is a Buddhist temple in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea. It was first founded in 794 during the reign of King Wonseong by the monk Yeon-hoe, then the highest ranking monk of Silla, and originally named Kyongseoungsa...
are also major Buddhist temples in Seoul.
The
Myeongdong CathedralThe Cathedral Church of the Virgin Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Myeongdong, commonly known as Myeongdong Cathedral, is the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Seoul, South Korea, located in the Myeongdong neighborhood of Jung-gu, Seoul...
is a landmark of the
MyeongdongMyeong-dong or Myong-dong is a dong in Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea and is located between Chungmu-ro, Eulji-ro, and Namdaemun-ro. It covers 0.91 km² with a population of 2986, and is mostly a commercial area....
district and is the first Catholic church established in Korea. It is a symbol of Christianity in Korea as well as political dissidents in the late 20th century.
Parks
Namsan ParkNamsan is a 262-meter peak in the Jung-gu district of south central Seoul, South Korea. Although known as Mount Mongmyeok, or 목멱산, in the past, it is now commonly referred to as Namsan. It offers some hiking, recreation and views of downtown Seoul's skyline...
offers some hiking, recreation and views of the downtown Seoul skyline. The
N Seoul TowerN Seoul Tower is a communication and observation tower located in central Seoul, South Korea. Built in 1969, and opened to the public in 1980, the tower has been a symbol of Seoul and measures in height and tops out at above sea level. It has also been known as the Namsan Tower or Seoul Tower...
is located here.
Seoul Olympic ParkThe Seoul Olympic Park or shortly Olpark is an Olympic Park built to host the 1988 Summer Olympics. Olympic Park is located in Songpa-gu, Bangi-dong.- Competition Facilities :*Olympic Velodrome, Seoul*Olympic Fencing Gymnasium...
is located in
Songpa-guSongpa-gu is a district of Seoul, South Korea. Often it is denoted as one of the three gus of Seoul that belong to the Gangnam region , along with Gangnam-gu and Seocho-gu. It is located in the southeast of the city...
and was built to host the 1988 Summer Olympics. In
Tapgol ParkTapgol Park, formerly Pagoda Park, is a small public park located at 97 Jongno-gil , Seoul, South Korea. This park was once a site of Wongaksa...
, a small public park with an area of 19,599 m², the
Wongaksa PagodaWongaksa Pagoda is a twelve meter high ten-story marble pagoda in South Korea, once on the grounds of the Gyeongbokgung palace but now held at Tapgol Park in a protective glass case. The Korean name literally means "ten storied stone pagoda of Wongaksa Temple site."The pagoda is considered by art...
10 tier pagoda is situated. Areas around streams serves as public places for relaxation and recreation.
TancheonTancheon, a tributary of Seoul's Han River, is a stream beginning in the city of Yongin in Gyeonggi-do and flowing through Seongnam and then between the districts of Songpa-gu and Gangnam-gu in Seoul before entering flowing into the Han River...
stream and the nearby area serves as a large park with paths for both walkers and cyclists.
CheonggyecheonCheonggyecheon is a nearly 6 km long, modern public recreation space in downtown Seoul, South Korea. The massive urban renewal project is on the site of a stream that flowed before the rapid post-war economic development required it to be covered by transportation infrastructure...
is a stream that runs nearly 6 km through downtown Seoul and a popular place to visit among Seoul residents and tourists.
The Seoul
metropolitan areaA metropolitan area is a large population center consisting of a large metropolis and its adjacent zone of influence, or of more than one closely adjoining neighboring central cities and their zone of influence...
accommodates six major parks, including the
Seoul ForestSeoul Forest is a large park in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea. It is open year-round, and admission is free. Seoul Forest opened in June 2005. The city government spent 235.2 billion won in development....
, which opened in mid-2005. The
Seoul National Capital AreaThe Seoul National Capital Area is a region located in the north-west of South Korea. It is generally referred to as Sudogwon in Korean, and contains three different administrative districts; Seoul, Incheon and a large part of Gyeonggi-do....
also contains a
green beltA green belt or greenbelt is a policy and land use designation used in land use planning to retain areas of largely undeveloped, wild, or agricultural land surrounding or neighbouring urban areas. Similar concepts are greenways or green wedges which have a linear character and may run through an...
aimed at preventing the city from
sprawlingUrban sprawl, also known as suburban sprawl, is the spreading outwards of a city and its suburbs over rural land and to its outskirts. The problem of urban sprawl is that it is costly to initiate the development of new infrastructure adequate enough to support its residents...
out over the neighboring
GyeonggiGyeonggi-do is the most populous province in South Korea. The provincial capital is located at Suwon. Seoul—South Korea's largest city and national capital—is located in the heart of the province, but has been separately administered as a provincial-level special city since 1946...
Province||South Korea is divided into 8 provinces , 1 special autonomous province , 6 metropolitan cities , and 1 special city...
. These areas are frequently sought after by people looking to escape from urban life on weekends and during vacations.
In addition, Seoul is also home to the world's largest indoor amusement park,
Lotte WorldLotte World is a recreation complex in Seoul, South Korea. It consists of a large indoor theme park, an outdoor amusement park, an island linked by monorail, shopping malls, a hotel, a Korean folk museum, sports facilities and movie theaters in one area...
. Other recreation centers include the former
OlympicThe Olympic Games are a major international event of summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes compete in a wide variety of events. The Games are currently held every two years, with Summer and Winter Olympic Games alternating. Originally, the ancient Olympic Games were held in...
and
World CupThe Seoul World Cup Stadium, also known as Sangam Stadium, is located in Seongsan, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea and has been home of K-League club FC Seoul since 2004. The stadium opened in 2001...
stadiums and the City Hall public lawn.
International Competition
Seoul hosted the
1986 Asian GamesThe 10th Asian Games were held from September 20, 1986 to October 5, 1986 in Seoul, South Korea. The venues and facilities of the 10th Asiad were the same venues and facilities used in the 1988 Summer Olympics because this was considered a test event....
,
1988 Olympic GamesThe 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics held in Tokyo, Japan...
and
Paralympic GamesThe 1988 Summer Paralympics were the first Paralympics in 24 years that were held concurrently with the Olympic Games. They took place in Seoul, South Korea.- Sports :...
. It also served as one of the host cities of the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
Seoul World Cup StadiumThe Seoul World Cup Stadium, also known as Sangam Stadium, is located in Seongsan, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea and has been home of K-League club FC Seoul since 2004. The stadium opened in 2001...
hosted the opening ceremony and first game of the tournament.
TaekwondoTaekwondo is a Korean martial art and the national sport of South Korea. In Korean, tae means "to strike or break with foot"; kwon means "to strike or break with fist"; and do means "way," "method," or "art." Thus, "taekwondo" may be loosely translated as "the way of the foot and fist" or "the...
is Korea's national sport and Seoul is the location of the
KukkiwonKukkiwon, also known as the World Taekwondo Headquarters, is an organization in the Gangnam-gu district of Seoul, South Korea. It was established on 1972-11-30. The Kukkiwon serves as the issuing body for taekwondo dan rank promotion and certification...
, also known as the
World Taekwondo FederationThe World Taekwondo Federation is the International Federation member of the International Olympic Committee for the competition events of the martial art of Taekwondo. International Federations are international non-governmental organisations recognised by the IOC as administering one or more...
(WTF), the world headquarters of taekwondo.
Football
- Men's Football
| Level |
League |
Club |
Home Stadium |
| Top Tier |
K-LeagueThe Korea Professional Football League is South Korea's only fully professional football league.At the top of the South korean football league system, it is the country's highest and most prestigious level of football competition currently contested by 15 clubs.-Establishment:The K-League was...
|
FC SeoulFC Seoul is a professional football club based in Seoul, South Korea. It is currently owned by GS Sports, a subsidiary of GS Group. The club is usually considered a powerhouse in the K-League, with the well-known financial backing of the GS Group...
|
Seoul World Cup StadiumThe Seoul World Cup Stadium, also known as Sangam Stadium, is located in Seongsan, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea and has been home of K-League club FC Seoul since 2004. The stadium opened in 2001...
, North Seoul |
| 2nd Tier |
National League |
Nowon Hummel FC |
Madeul Stadium, North Seoul |
| 3rd Tier |
K3 LeagueThe K3 League is an top amateur football competition in South Korea. Created in 2007, it is the third tier of South korean football league system-History:2007 was the inaugural season of the K3 League, and ten teams competed in the competition....
|
Seoul United Seoul United is a South Korean amateur football club based in Seoul. It currently competes in the third tier of the South Korean football league system, the K3 League.- History :...
|
Seoul Olympic Main Stadium, South Seoul |
- Women's Football
| Level |
League |
Club |
Home Stadium |
| Top Tier |
WK-League WK-League is women's football competition in South Korea. It will be run by Korea Women's Football League since 2009 season.Strictly, first season of WK-League was 2008, but 2008 season was run as exhibition league.-Members :...
|
Seoul City Women's FC Seoul Metropolitan Government Amazones founded in March 2004, is a South Korean women's football club based in Seoul.-Current squad:The players in bold have senior international caps.-Staff:...
|
To Be Determined |
Other Sports
The Seoul is home to three
baseballBaseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The goal is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot square, or diamond...
teams in the
KBOThe Korea Baseball Organization of South Korea is the country's professional baseball league. KBO was originally founded with six teams in 1982 and currently has eight teams...
:
LG TwinsThe LG Twins are a South Korean baseball team based in Seoul. The Twins are a member of the Korean Baseball Organization. The club was known as the MBC Blue Dragons owned by the Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation until , when they were taken over by the LG Group...
,
Doosan BearsThe Doosan Bears are a professional baseball team based in Seoul, South Korea. The Bears are a member of the Korean Baseball Organization....
and Heroes. Seoul is also home to two
basketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of 5 players try to score points against one another by placing a ball through a
10 foot high hoop under organized rules...
clubs in the
KBLThe Korean Basketball League or KBL is the professional basketball league of South Korea. Its inaugural season was in 1997. The season starts in October and ends in April the following year. KBL is consisted of 10 teams. Each team plays 54 games . Each team is allowed to have 2 foreign players...
:
Seoul Samsung ThundersSeoul Samsung Thunders have been in the KBL since its inception 10 years ago. The Seoul Samsung Thunders received their name from Samsung Electronics. They are the Thunders because of their electricity that they emit. Originally based in Suwon, they are now located in the heart of South Korea's...
and
Seoul SK KnightsThe Seoul SK Knights is a professional basketball club in the Korean Basketball League.- Famous Players :-External links:**...
.
Seoul also has a professional volleyball club Seoul Woori Capital Dream Six, which will debut in 2009-2010 season.
Transportation
Seoul's transportation dates back to the era of the
Korean EmpireThe Greater Korean Empire was a former empire of Korea that succeeded the Joseon Dynasty that had ruled the nation for 500 years.In 1897, Emperor Gojong proclaimed the new entity at Gyeongungung Palace and oversaw the partially successful modernization of the military, economy, real property laws,...
, when the first streetcar lines were laid and a railroad linking Seoul and Incheon was completed. Seoul's most important streetcar line ran along Jongno until it was replaced by Line 1 of the subway system in the early 1970s. Other notable streets in downtown Seoul include
EuljiroEuljiro is a street in Seoul named after Eulji Mundeok, the general who saved Korea from the invading Sui Dynasty Chinese.-Transportation links:Euljiro has several links to Seoul Subway Line 2:*Euljiro 1-ga Station*Euljiro 3-ga Station...
,
TeherannoTeheranno is a street in the Gangnam district of Seoul, South Korea. It runs from Gangnam Station through Yeoksam-dong and into Samseong-dong...
,
SejongnoSejongno is a street that cuts through Jongno-gu in downtown Seoul. It is named after King Sejong. The street is only 600 meters in length, but thanks to its central location it is of great symbolic importance. It points north to Gwanaksan and Bukhansan , and the Joseon Dynasty palace,...
,
ChungmuroChungmuro refers to a road 1.75km in length and 10∼20m in width and the area nearby the street, located in Jung-gu, central Seoul of South Korea. Since 1960s, Chungmuro has been known as the street of culture, artists, and film industry. Dansungsa, the first movie theaters of Korea is also situated...
, Yulgongno, and Toegyero. There are eight major subway lines stretching for more than 250 kilometers, with a ninth and tenth line being planned, and also some other miscellaneous lines.
Seoul hosts more than three million registered vehicles and widespread traffic congestion is common.
Bus
Seoul's bus system is operated by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, with four primary bus configurations available servicing most of the city. Seoul has many big intercity/express bus terminals. These buses connect Seoul and cities all around Korea. The Seoul Express Bus Terminal, Central City Terminal, and Seoul Nambu Terminal are located in the district of
Seocho-guSeocho-gu is a gu of Seoul, South Korea. It is a ritzy, upper-class ward located in the south of the city. Seocho-gu is home to the majority of Seoul's French population, as well as many other foreign residents including diplomats. As a result, it has a number of fancy cafes, restaurants and hotels...
. In addition, East Seoul Bus Terminal in
Gwangjin-guGwangjin-gu is one of the 25 wards of Seoul, South Korea. It is located on the north side of the Han River. It was created from neighboring Seongdong-gu in 1995.Gwangjin-gu is home to Konkuk University and Sejong University...
and Sangbong Terminal in
Jungnang-guJungnang-gu is one of the 25 gu, or districts, of Seoul, South Korea. It is located on the north side of the Han River.The mayor of this district is Byungkwon MOON since his election in July 2006.-Administrative divisions:...
operate in the east of the city. To reduce air pollution in the city, the municipal government is planning to change over seven thousand of Seoul's diesel engine buses with natural gas by 2010.
Subway
Seoul has a comprehensive subway network that interlinks every district of the city with one another and the surrounding area. With more than 8 million passengers a day, Seoul has one of the
busiest subway systems in the worldThe most-used metro systems in terms of passenger rides per year:# Tokyo Subway 3.174 billion [# Moscow Metro 2.573 billion...]
. The Seoul Metropolitan Subway has 12 lines which serves Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi province and northern Chungnam province. In addition, in order to cope with all of these transportation modes, Seoul's metropolitan government employs several mathematicians to coordinate the subway, bus, and traffic schedules into one timetable. The various lines are run by
KorailKorea National Railroad , promoted as Korail , is the national railroad operator in South Korea.Korail operates passenger and freight trains throughout South Korea. The railroad's headquarters are located in Daejeon....
,
Seoul MetroSeoul Metro is a public corporation which runs the Seoul Subway Lines 1 to 4.During 1970-2006, it was called Seoul Metropolitan Subway Corporation.- See also :* Korail* Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Corporation* List of rapid transit systems...
and
Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit CorporationSeoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Corporation was established in 1994 to operate the Seoul Subway lines 5, 6, 7, 8 in Seoul, South Korea....
.
Train
Seoul is connected to every major city in Korea by railroad. Seoul is also linked to most major Korean cities by the
KTXThe Korea Train eXpress is South Korea's high-speed rail system, which connects the capital Seoul to Busan and Mokpo. Operated by Korail, the train's technology is largely based on the French TGV system, and has a top speed of 350 km/h, limited to 300 km/h during regular service for...
high-speed train, which has a normal operation speed of more than 300 km/h. Major railroad stations include:
- Seoul Station
Seoul Station is a major railway station in Seoul, South Korea. The station is served by the Gyeongbu Line, its high-speed counterpart and the Gyeongui Line, with frequent high-speed, express, and local services to various points in South Korea.- Services :...
, Jung-guJung-gu is one of the 25 gu which make up the city of Seoul, South Korea. It is located on the north side of the Han River, and is the historical center of the city .- Overview :...
- Gyeongbu line (KTX/Saemaul/Mugunghwa-hoThe Mugunghwa-ho or Mugunghwa is a class of train operated by Korail, the national railroad of South Korea. Mugunghwa trains are the cheapest class of trains to operate cross-country. Prior to the introduction of the KTX in 2004, they were the most common passenger train along most railroad lines...
), Gyeongui line (Saemaul/Commuter)
- Yongsan Station
Yongsan Station is a major railway station in Seoul, South Korea. It is located in Yongsan Gu, and adjoins the Yongsan Electronics Market. The station is the terminus for high-speed and long-distance trains on a number of railway lines, including most trains on the Honam Line, its high-speed...
, Yongsan-guYongsan-gu is a district of Seoul, South Korea. Its name means "Dragon Hill", derived from the hanja characters for dragon and hill/mountain . It sits to the North of the Han River under the shadow of Seoul Tower. It is home to roughly 250,000 people, and is divided into 20 dong, or neighborhoods...
- Honam line (KTX/Saemaul/Mugunghwa), Jeolla/Janghang lines (Saemaul/Mugunghwa)
- Yeongdeungpo Station
Yeongdeungpo Station is a ground-level railway station in Seoul, South Korea. The station is located in Yeongdeungpo Dong, Yeongdeungpo Gu, and is a stop on the Gyeongbu Line, Honam Line and Seoul Subway Line 1...
, Yeongdeungpo-guYeongdeungpo-gu is an administrative district in southwest Seoul, Korea. Although the origin of the name is uncertain, the first two syllables are thought to be from "yeongdeung" or "divine ascent", a shamanic rite. The third syllable is "po", representing water , referring to the district's...
- Gyeongbu/Honam/Janghang lines (Saemaul/Mugunghwa)
- Cheongnyangni Station, Dongdaemun-gu
Dongdaemun-gu is one of the 25 gu of Seoul, South Korea. It is located to the north of the River Han. Its district office is in Yongdu-dong where is close to the underground station of branch of Line 2....
- Gyeongchun/Jungang/Yeongdong/Taebaek lines (Mugunghwa)
Airports
There are two international
airportAn airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
s that serve Seoul.
Gimpo International AirportGimpo International Airport , commonly known as Gimpo Airport , is located in the far western end of Seoul and was the main international airport for Seoul and South Korea before it was replaced by Incheon International Airport in 2001...
, formerly in
GimpoGimpo is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. It borders on Incheon, with which it shares the South Korean side of the Han River estuary, as well as Seoul and the lesser cities of Paju and Goyang. It also looks across the Han River at North Korea. The current mayor is Gyeonggu Kang...
but annexed to Seoul in 1963, was the only international airport for Seoul since its original construction during the
Korean WarThe Korean War is a war that started between North Korea and South Korea on 25 June 1950 and paused with an armistice signed 27 July, 1953...
. Other domestic airports were built around the time of the war, including at
YeouidoYeouido is a large island next to the Han River in Seoul, South Korea. It is Seoul's main business and investment banking district. Its 8.4 square kilometers are home to some 30,988 people. The island is located in the Yeongdeungpo-gu district of Seoul, and largely corresponds to the precinct of...
.
Upon opening in March 2001,
Incheon International AirportIncheon International Airport is the largest airport in South Korea, and one of the largest and busiest in the world. Since 2005, it has been consecutively rated as the best airport in the world by the Airports Council International and received the full 5-star ranking by Skytrax, the...
on Yeongjong island in
IncheonIncheon, officially the Incheon Metropolitan City, is South Korea's third largest metropolis, after Seoul and Busan. As the largest seaport on the west coast and home to the country's largest airport, Incheon International Airport, Incheon is South Korea's most important transport hub...
changed the role of Gimpo Airport significantly. Incheon is now responsible for almost all international flights and some domestic flights, while Gimpo serves only domestic flights with the exception of flights to
Tokyo International Airport, located in Ōta, Tokyo, south of Tokyo Station, Japan, is one of the two primary airports serving the Greater Tokyo Area. It is commonly known as ....
(Haneda) in
Tokyo, officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan and is located on the eastern side of the main island Honshū. The twenty-three special wards of Tokyo, each governed as a city, cover the area that was once the city of Tokyo in the eastern part of the prefecture, totaling over 8 million people....
, Osaka Kansai International Airport and Hongqiao Airport in
ShanghaiShanghai is the largest city in China, and one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world, with over 20 million people. Located on China's central eastern coast at the mouth of the Yangtze River, the city is administered as a municipality of the People's Republic of China with province-level...
. This has led to a significant drop in flights from Gimpo Airport.
Meanwhile, Incheon International Airport has become, along with
Hong KongHong Kong International Airport is the main airport in Hong Kong, People's Republic of China. It is colloquially known as Chek Lap Kok Airport , because it was built on the island of Chek Lap Kok by land reclamation, and also to distinguish it from its predecessor, the closed Kai Tak Airport.The...
and
SingaporeSingapore Changi Airport or simply Changi Airport is a major aviation hub in Asia, particularly in the Southeast Asian region, and is the main airport in Singapore...
, a major transportation center for
East AsiaEast Asia or Eastern Asia is a subregion of Asia that can be defined in either geographical or cultural terms. Geographically and geo-politically, it covers about , or about 28 percent of the Asian continent, about 15 percent bigger than the area of Europe, though some categorize Tibet, Xinjiang,...
. The 2005 AETRA passenger survey, jointly administered by the
IATAThe International Air Transport Association is an international industry trade group of airlines headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, where the International Civil Aviation Organization is also headquartered. IATA's mission is to represent, lead and serve the airline industry. IATA...
and
Airports Council InternationalAirports Council International , based in Geneva, Switzerland, is a non profit organisation, whose prime purpose is to advance the interests of airports and to promote professional excellence in airport management and operations...
, voted it the best airport in the world. It was named by
SkytraxSkytrax is a United Kingdom-based consultancy, the public face of Inflight Research Services. It conducts research for commercial airlines. It carries out international-traveller surveys to find the best cabin staff, airport, airline, airline lounge, in-flight entertainment, on-board catering, and...
as the world's 5th best airport for 2006.
Incheon and Gimpo are linked to Seoul by highways, and Gimpo is also linked by subway (line #5). The
Incheon International Airport RailroadAREX is a South Korean railway line that links Incheon International Airport and Gimpo Airport, with a future section extending to Seoul Station. The line is operated by the Airport Railroad Co. Ltd., whose largest shareholder is Korail ....
, a rail line connecting Incheon Airport to Gimpo Airport opened in March 2007, but the line to Seoul Station in central Seoul will take at least a year more to open. Shuttle buses transfer passengers between Incheon and Gimpo airports.
Education
- See also: Education in South Korea
Education in South Korea is important for success and competition is consequently very heated and fierce. A centralized administration oversees the process for the education of children from kindergarten to the third and final year of high school. Mathematics, science, Korean, social studies, and...
, List of universities in Seoul
There are a large number of
universitiesA university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
in Seoul, including most of the country's most prestigious universities.
Sister cities
Seoul has many sister cities. The year each relationship was formed is shown in parentheses below.
TaipeiTaipei is the largest city in Taiwan and has served as the de facto capital of the Republic of China since the Chinese Civil War in 1949. It is situated on the Danshui River, almost at the northern tip of the island, about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
, Republic of ChinaThe Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan, is a state in East Asia that has evolved from a single-party state with full global recognition and jurisdiction over China into a democratic state with limited international recognition and jurisdiction only over Taiwan and minor islands, though it...
(1968) AnkaraAnkara is the capital of Turkey and the country's second largest city after Istanbul. The city has a mean elevation of , and as of 2007 the city had a population of 4,751,360, which includes eight districts under the city's administration...
, TurkeyTurkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country that stretches across the Anatolian peninsula in Western Asia and Thrace in the Balkan region of southeastern Europe...
(1971) GuamGuam is an island in the western Pacific Ocean and is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. The island's capital is Hagåtña...
, U.S.The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
territory (1973) Honolulu, United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(1973) San Francisco, United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(1976) São PauloSão Paulo is the largest city in Brazil and the world's 7th largest metropolitan area. The city is the capital of the state of São Paulo, the most populous Brazilian state. It is also the richest city in Brazil. The name of the city honors Saint Paul. São Paulo exerts strong regional influence in...
, BrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is a country in South America. It is the fifth largest country by geographical area, occupying nearly half of South America, the fifth most populous country, and the fourth most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Atlantic Ocean...
(1977) TehranTehran is the capital and largest city of Iran, and the administrative center of Tehran Province. Tehran is a sprawling city at the foot of the Tochal mountain range with an immense network of highways unparalleled in Western Asia...
, IranIran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran is a country in Western Asia. The name Iran has been in use natively since the Sassanid period and came into international use from 1935, before which the country was known internationally as Persia...
(1977) BogotaBogotá – officially named Bogotá, D.C. , formerly called Santa Fe de Bogotá – is the capital city of Colombia, as well as the most populous city in the country, with 6,776,009 inhabitants...
, ColombiaColombia , officially the Republic of Colombia , is a constitutional republic in northwestern South America. Colombia is bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the northwest by Panama; and to the west by the Pacific Ocean...
(1982) JakartaJakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. It also has a greater population than any other city in Southeast Asia. It was formerly known as Sunda Kelapa , Jayakarta , Batavia , and Djakarta . Located on the northwest coast of Java, it has an area of and a population of 8,489,910...
, IndonesiaThe Republic of Indonesia is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia comprises 17,508 islands. With an estimated population of around 237 million people, it is the world's fourth most populous country, with the world's largest population of Muslims.Indonesia is a republic, with an...
(1984) Tokyo, officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan and is located on the eastern side of the main island Honshū. The twenty-three special wards of Tokyo, each governed as a city, cover the area that was once the city of Tokyo in the eastern part of the prefecture, totaling over 8 million people....
, Japanis an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, People's Republic of China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
(1988) MoscowMoscow is the capital and the largest city of Russia. It is also the largest metropolitan area in Europe, and ranks among the largest urban areas in the world. Moscow is a major political, economic, cultural, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the world, a...
, RussiaRussia , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia . It is a semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
(1991) New South WalesNew South Wales is Australia's most populous state, located in the south-east of the country, north of Victoria, south of Queensland and east of South Australia...
, AustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the continental mainland , the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans...
n state (1991) ParisParis is the capital of France and the country's most populous city. It is situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, FranceFrance , officially the French Republic , is a country located in Western Europe, with several overseas islands and territories located on other continents. Metropolitan France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean...
(1991) BeijingBeijing is a metropolis in northern China and the capital of the People's Republic of China...
, People's Republic of ChinaThe People's Republic of China , commonly known as China, is the largest country in East Asia and the most populous in the world with over 1.3 billion people, approximately one-fifth of the world's population...
(1992) CaracasCaracas is the capital and largest city of Venezuela. It is located in the north of the country, following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range . The valley's temperatures are springlike. Terrain suitable for building lies between 760 and 910 m above...
, VenezuelaVenezuela , officially titled Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It is a continental mainland with numerous islands located off its coastline in the Caribbean Sea...
(1992) |
Mexico CityMexico City is the capital city of Mexico. It is the economic, industrial, and cultural center in the country, and the most populous city, with about 8,836,045 inhabitants in 2008...
, MexicoThe United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
(1993) UlaanbaatarUlan Bator, or Ulaanbaatar , is the capital and largest city of Mongolia. The city is an independent municipality not part of any province, and its population as of 2008 is just over 1 million....
, MongoliaMongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It borders Russia to the north and the People's Republic of China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only 24 miles from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator,...
(1995) HanoiHanoi , estimated population 6.232.940 , is the capital and second-largest city of Vietnam. From 1010 until 1802, with a few brief interruptions, it was the political centre of an independent Vietnam. It was eclipsed by Huế during the Nguyen Dynasty as the capital of Vietnam, but Hanoi served as...
, VietnamVietnam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam , is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea to the east...
(1996) WarsawWarsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River roughly from both the Baltic Sea coast and the Carpathian Mountains. Its population as of 2009 was estimated at 1,709,781, and the Warsaw metropolitan area at approximately 2,785,000...
, PolandPoland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe . Poland is bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
(1996) CairoCairo is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab World. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a center of the region's political and cultural life...
, EgyptEgypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Western Asia...
(1997) OttawaOttawa is the capital of Canada and a municipality within the Province of Ontario. Located in the Ottawa Valley in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario, the city lies on the southern banks of the Ottawa River, a major waterway forming the local boundary between the Provinces of Ontario and...
, CanadaCanada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
(1997) RomeRome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated municipality , with over 2.7 million residents in , while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat to be 3.46 million. The metropolitan area of Rome is estimated by OECD to have a population of 3.7 million...
, ItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic , is a country located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe and on the two largest islands in the Mediterranean Sea, Sicily and Sardinia. Italy shares its northern, Alpine boundary with France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia...
(2000) AstanaAstana , is the capital and second largest city of Kazakhstan, with an officially estimated population of 750,700 as of November 2008....
, KazakhstanKazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a country situated in Eurasia that is ranked as the ninth largest country in the world. It is also the world's largest landlocked country. Its territory of 2,727,300 km² is greater than Western Europe...
(2004) AthensAthens , the capital and largest city of Greece, dominates the Attica periphery; as one of the world's oldest cities, its recorded history spans around 3,400 years....
, GreeceGreece , officially the Hellenic Republic , is a country in southeastern Europe, situated on the southern end of the Balkan Peninsula....
(2006) BangkokBangkok is the capital, largest urban area and primary city of Thailand. Known in Thai as Krung Thep Mahanakhon , or กรุงเทพฯ Krung Thep for short, it was a small trading post at the mouth of the Chao Phraya River during the Ayutthaya Kingdom. It came to the forefront of Siam when it was given the...
, ThailandThe Kingdom of Thailand is an independent country that lies in the heart of Southeast Asia.It is bordered to the north by Laos and Burma, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the west by the Andaman Sea and Burma...
(2006) Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C. , formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States, founded on July 16, 1790...
, United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(2006) VancouverVancouver is a coastal city and major seaport located in the Lower Mainland of southwestern British Columbia, Canada. The city is bounded by English Bay, Burrard Inlet, the Fraser River, the city of Burnaby, and the University Endowment Lands. Vancouver is named after Captain George Vancouver, a...
, CanadaCanada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
(2007) Buenos AiresBuenos Aires is the capital, and largest city, of Argentina, currently the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the eastern shore of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, ArgentinaArgentina, officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America, constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires. It is the eighth largest country in the world by land area and the largest among Spanish-speaking nations, though Mexico,...
IslamabadIslām ābād is the capital of Pakistan, and is the tenth largest city in Pakistan with an estimated population of over 673,766 in 2009...
, PakistanPakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located at the crossroads of South Asia, the Middle East, and Central Asia...
TiranaTirana is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Albania. It was founded in 1614 by Sulejman Pasha and became Albania's capital city in 1920. The Municipality of Tirana lies on the river Ishëm, about inland and is located at in Tirana District, Tirana County...
, AlbaniaAlbania , officially the Republic of Albania , is a Mediterranean country in South Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Montenegro to the north, Kosovo to the northeast, Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south-east...
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See also
- Geography of South Korea
South Korea is located in East Asia, on the southern half of the Korean Peninsula jutting out from the far east of the Asian land mass.The only country with a land border to South Korea is North Korea, lying to the north with 238 km of border running along the DMZ. South Korea is mostly...
- Mayor of Seoul
The mayor of Seoul is the head of government for Seoul, the capital and largest city of South Korea. The position is traditionally considered one of the most powerful in the country. Many Seoul mayors have gone on to hold ministerial office...
- List of Korea-related topics
- List of cities in South Korea
Official sites
Maps