Seoul National Capital Area

{{contains Korean text}} The '''Seoul [[Capital region|National Capital Area]]''' (SNCA) 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 [[Gyeonggi-do]]. The SNCA is technically distinct from the '''Seoul Metropolitan Area''' (SMA), as the former is a fixed entity, while the latter refers to places currently considered under the economic, industrial and cultural influence of Seoul. Since the extension of the [[Seoul Metropolitan Subway]] ([[Korail]] commuter) to [[Asan]], [[Chungcheongnam-do]] and [[Chuncheon]], [[Gangwon-do]], some have classified Asan, Cheonan, Chuncheon as now within the SMA, but not within the SNCA. However, the terms SNCA, SMA and Sudogwon are largely analogous and used interchangeably. The Seoul National Capital Area has a [[population]] of 24.5 million (as of 2007){{ref|ppl}} and is ranked as the [[List of metropolitan areas by population|second largest metropolitan area]] in the world. It forms the cultural, commercial, financial, industrial, and residential center of South Korea. The largest city is Seoul, with a population of approximately 10.2 million people, followed by Incheon, with 2.6 million. ==Geography and climate== {{See also|Geography of South Korea}} The National Capital Area occupies a broad area of relatively flat land around the [[Han River (Korea)|Han River]] valley. It contains some of the most fertile land on the [[Korean peninsula]], although relatively little of it is now used for agriculture. The [[Gimpo Plain]], one of the country's larger expanses of level arable land, covers much of the area of the cities of [[Gimpo]] and [[Bucheon]]. ==History== {{See also|History of South Korea|History of Seoul}} [[File:Seoul, nighttime.jpg|thumb|left|Satellite image of [[Seoul]] and greater area]] The National Capital Area has been home to a Korean capital for around 2,000 years. Its central location and relatively gentle landscape have given it a central role in the country's affairs. The first capital to be constructed in the region was that of [[Baekje]], one of the [[Three Kingdoms of Korea]]. The country's first capital was built in 19 BC and was named [[Wiryeseong]]. This is believed to have been constructed near the modern-day boundary of [[Seoul]] and [[Gwangju (Gyeonggi)|Gwangju City]]. However, Baekje was unable to hold this territory, and surrendered the Han River valley to [[Goguryeo]] in the 5th century. The land was then taken over by [[Silla]] in the 6th century, at which point it came to play a critical role in helping Silla to establish ties with [[China]]. After the fall of [[Silla]], [[Taejo of Goryeo]] established the capital of his kingdom in [[Kaesŏng]], now just north of the [[Demilitarized Zone (Korea)|Demilitarized Zone]]. During the [[Mongol invasions of Korea]] in the 12th century, the seat of government briefly shifted to [[Ganghwa Island]], now just south of the DMZ in [[Incheon]] metropolitan city, where the Mongol naval attacks were repelled for about a decade before the king voluntarily surrendered to stop the carnage the Mongols committed in the peninsula, in order to lure the king out. After the fall of Goryeo in 1394, the capital moved to Seoul (then called Hanseong or Hanyang), staying within the same region. During the new dynasty's rule, extensive road systems, administrative buildings, royal palaces, and new ports were built, quickly attracting wealth from all over the kingdom. During the [[Korean Empire]] period, Hanseong's public transportation was improved with the installation of streetcars and manually-drawn trolleys similar to taxis. Horse carriage systems similar to the ones in Europe were also established. Following the Japanese annexation of Korea in 1910, Hanseong was renamed Keijo (Gyeongseong) and served as colonial Korea's capital. Upon Korea's liberation from Japan in 1945, the former colonial capital was renamed Seoul and became capital of South Korea. In the [[Korean War]] (1950–1953), the Capital Metropolitan Area became the focus of battles so destructive that most of Seoul and the surrounding regions were eradicated. Seoul was especially hit hard, since it exchanged hands four times during the course of the war. During the latter half of the 20th century, the Capital Metropolitan Area began to rapidly develop as South Korea's economic wealth expanded. Population expanded fourfold since the Korean War. In 2001, the new [[Incheon International Airport]] took over all international flights to Seoul. ==Demographics== {{See also|Demographics of South Korea}} Covering only about 12% of the country's area, the Seoul metropolitan area is home to more than 48.2% of the national population, and is the world's [[List of urban areas by population|7th largest urban area]]. This percentage has risen steadily since the mid-20th century, and the trend is expected to continue. Currently more than half of the people who move from one region to another are moving to the capital area.{{ref|trend1}} By 2020, it is projected that more than 52% of South Korea's population will live within the area, or 25,520,000 people.{{ref|trend2}} ==Government== {{See also|Government of South Korea}} Various agencies have been set up to deal with the intergovernmental problems of the region. Proposals for consolidating some or all of the cities of the capital area into a handful of metropolitan cities have thus far not been implemented. Development in the area is currently governed by the [[Capital Region Readjustment Planning Act]] (수도권정비계획법), first passed in 1982 and last revised in 1996. ==Subdivisions== {{See also|Subdivisions of South Korea}} The Seoul national capital area is divided among the special city of [[Seoul]], the metropolitan city of [[Incheon]], and province of [[Gyeonggi-do]]. Seoul has 25 gu (local government wards), Incheon has 8 gu and 2 counties, and Gyeonggi-do has 27 cities and 4 counties as the subdivisions. ===Seoul=== {{Main|Gu of Seoul}} {{see|Seoul}} The 25 gu of Seoul. {{col-begin}} {{col-break}} *[[Dobong-gu]] (도봉구; 道峰區) *[[Dongdaemun-gu]] (동대문구; 東大門區) *[[Dongjak-gu]] (동작구; 銅雀區) *[[Eunpyeong-gu]] (은평구; 恩平區) *[[Gangbuk-gu]] (강북구; 江北區) *[[Gangdong-gu]] (강동구; 江東區) *[[Gangnam-gu]] (강남구; 江南區) *[[Gangseo-gu, Seoul|Gangseo-gu]] (강서구; 江西區) *[[Geumcheon-gu]] (금천구; 衿川區) {{col-break}} *[[Guro-gu]] (구로구; 九老區) *[[Gwanak-gu]] (관악구; 冠岳區) *[[Gwangjin-gu]] (광진구; 廣津區) *[[Jongno-gu]] (종로구; 鍾路區) *[[Jung-gu, Seoul|Jung-gu]] (중구; 中區) *[[Jungnang-gu]] (중랑구; 中浪區) *[[Mapo-gu]] (마포구; 麻浦區) *[[Nowon-gu]] (노원구; 蘆原區) {{col-break}} *[[Seocho-gu]] (서초구; 瑞草區) *[[Seodaemun-gu]] (서대문구; 西大門區) *[[Seongbuk-gu]] (성북구; 城北區) *[[Seongdong-gu]] (성동구; 城東區) *[[Songpa-gu]] (송파구; 松坡區) *[[Yangcheon-gu]] (양천구; 陽川區) *[[Yeongdeungpo-gu]] (영등포구; 永登浦區) *[[Yongsan-gu]] (용산구; 龍山區) {{col-end}} ===Incheon=== {{Main|Wards of Incheon}} {{see|Incheon}} The 8 gu and 2 counties of Incheon. {{col-begin}} {{col-break}} * [[Bupyeong-gu]] (부평구; 富平區) * [[Dong-gu, Incheon|Dong-gu]] (동구; 東區) * [[Gyeyang-gu]] (계양구; 桂陽區) * [[Jung-gu, Incheon|Jung-gu]] (중구; 中區) {{col-break}} * [[Nam-gu, Incheon|Nam-gu]] (남구; 南區) * [[Namdong-gu]] (남동구; 南洞區) * [[Seo-gu, Incheon|Seo-gu]] (서구; 西區) * [[Yeonsu-gu, Incheon|Yeonsu-gu]] (연수구; 延壽區) {{col-break}} * [[Ganghwa County]] (강화군; 江華郡) * [[Ongjin County, Incheon|Ongjin County]] (옹진군; 甕津郡) {{col-end}} ===Gyeonggi-do=== {{Main|Cities and Counties of Gyeonggi-do}} 27 cities and 4 counties of Gyeonggi-do. {{col-begin}} {{col-3}} ====Suwon==== {{see|Suwon}} The 4 gu of Suwon (수원; 水原). * [[Paldal-gu]] (팔달구; 八達區) * [[Yeongtong-gu]] (영통구; 霊通區) * [[Jangan-gu]] (장안구; 長安區) * [[Gwonseon-gu]] (권선구; 勸善區) ====Ansan==== {{see|Ansan}} The 2 gu of Ansan (안산; 安山). * [[Danwon-gu]] (단원구; 檀園區) * [[Sangnok-gu]] (상록구; 常綠區) {{col-3}} ====Anyang==== {{see|Anyang, Gyeonggi}} The 2 gu of Anyang (안양; 安養). * [[Dongan-gu]] (동안구; 東安區) * [[Manan-gu]] (만안구; 萬安區) ====Bucheon==== {{see|Bucheon}} The 3 gu of Bucheon (부천; 富川). * [[Ojeong-gu]] (오정구; 梧亭區) * [[Wonmi-gu]] (원미구; 遠美區) * [[Sosa-gu]] (소사구; 素砂區) {{col-3}} ====Seongnam==== {{see|Seongnam}} The 3 gu of Seongnam (성남; 城南). * [[Bundang|Bundang-gu]] (분당구; 盆唐區) * [[Jungwon-gu]] (중원구; 中原區) * [[Sujeong-gu]] (수정구; 壽井區) ====Yongin==== {{see|Yongin}} The 3 gu of Yongin (용인; 龍仁). * [[Cheoin-gu]] (처인구; 處仁區) * [[Giheung-gu]] (기흥구; 器興區) * [[Suji-gu]] (수지구; 水枝區) {{col-end}}
----
{{col-begin}} {{col-break}} *[[Anseong]] (안성; 安城) *[[Dongducheon]] (동두천; 東豆川) *[[Gimpo]] (김포; 金浦) *[[Goyang]] (고양; 高陽) *[[Gunpo]] (군포; 軍浦) *[[Guri]] (구리; 九里) *[[Gwacheon]] (과천; 果川) {{col-break}} *[[Gwangju (Gyeonggi)|Gwangju]] (광주; 廣州) *[[Gwangmyeong]] (광명; 光明) *[[Hanam]] (하남; 河南) *[[Hwaseong, Gyeonggi|Hwaseong]] (화성; 華城) *[[Icheon]] (이천; 利川) *[[Namyangju]] (남양주; 南楊州) *[[Osan]] (오산; 烏山) {{col-break}} *[[Paju]] (파주; 坡州) *[[Pocheon]] (포천; 抱川) *[[Pyeongtaek]] (평택; 平澤) *[[Siheung]] (시흥; 始興) *[[Uijeongbu]] (의정부; 議政府) *[[Uiwang]] (의왕; 儀旺) *[[Yangju]] (양주; 楊州) {{col-break}} *[[Gapyeong County]] (가평군; 加平郡) *[[Yangpyeong County]] (양평군; 揚平郡) *[[Yeoju County]] (여주군; 驪州郡) *[[Yeoncheon County]] (연천군; 漣川郡) {{col-end}} ==Transportation== {{See also|Transportation in South Korea}} The cities of the capital area are tightly interconnected by road and rail. Many of the country's railroad lines, most notably the [[Gyeongbu Line]], terminate in the region. In addition, the needs for commuter rail are served by the [[Seoul Metropolitan Subway]], which passes not only through Seoul and Incheon, but also through most of the outlying cities. In addition, the region is a nexus for travel by air and water. The country's two largest airports, [[Incheon International Airport]] and [[Gimpo Airport]], are both located in the metropolitan area. International and domestic ferries depart from Incheon's various ferry terminals several times a day; in addition, massive volumes of international freight pass through the container terminals of Incheon (primarily bound to and from [[China]]). [[Seoul Ring Expressway]] (Expressway No.100) connects satellite cities around Seoul, [[Ilsan]], Toegyewon, [[Hanam]], [[Pyeongchon]], Songnae, [[Bundang]], [[Pangyo]] and [[Gimpo]]. ==See also== * [[Geography of South Korea]] * [[Demographics of South Korea]] * [[Capital Region]] * [[List of metropolitan areas by population]] * [[List of metropolitan areas in Asia by population‎]] * [[Subdivisions of South Korea]] * [[List of Korea-related topics]] * [[Seoul Ring Expressway]] == External links == * [http://english.seoul.go.kr Official website of Seoul Metropolitan government ] * [http://mamo.me.go.kr Metropolitan Air Quality Management Office, in Korean] * [http://credi.anyang.ac.kr Capital Region Development Institute, in Korean] * [http://www.chosun.com/metro Chosun Ilbo metro news, in Korean] * [http://www.algoga.go.kr] {{Public transport in the Seoul Metropolitan Area}} {{Regions and administrative divisions of South Korea}} {{World's most populated urban areas}} {{World's most populated metropolitan areas}} {{coord missing|South Korea}}