Seoul
Yeouido Island, Seoul
Korean name
Hangul 서울특별시 Hanja 서울特別市 Revised Romanization Seoul Teukbyeolsi McCune-Reischauer Sŏul T'ŭkpyŏlsi
Short name
Hangul 서울 Revised Romanization Seoul McCune-Reischauer Sŏul
Statistics
Area 605. Yeouido is a large island next to the Han River in Seoul, South Korea. Hanja is the Korean name for Chinese characters. More specifically it refers to those Chinese characters borrowed from Chinese and incorporated The Revised Romanization of Korean is the official Korean language Romanization system in South Korea. McCune-Reischauer romanization is one of the two most widely used Korean language Romanization systems along with the Revised Romanization of Korean, which The Revised Romanization of Korean is the official Korean language Romanization system in South Korea. McCune-Reischauer romanization is one of the two most widely used Korean language Romanization systems along with the Revised Romanization of Korean, which Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. 33 km² (233. 72 sq mi) [1] Population (2006) 10,356,000 (Metropolitan area 23 million) [1] Population density 17,108 /km² (44,310 /sq mi) Government Seoul Metropolitan Government Mayor Oh Se-hoon Administrative divisions 25 gu Region Seoul National Capital Area Dialect Seoul dialect
Location map
Map of location of Seoul. In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume For the government of parliamentary systems see Executive (government. Seoul Metropolitan Government is the administrative organization of Seoul. The mayor of Seoul is the head of government for Seoul, the capital and largest city of South Korea. Oh Se-hoon (born January 4, 1961, Seoul, South Korea) is the current Mayor of Seoul. |||} South Korea is divided into 8 Provinces ( do) 1 special autonomous province ( teukbyeol jachido) 6 metropolitan cities ( gwangyeoksi Korea has traditionally been divided into a number of unofficial regions that reflect historical geographical and dialect boundaries within the peninsula. The Seoul National Capital Area (SNCA is a region located in the north-west of South Korea. Korean is spoken in a number of different Dialects in the Korean peninsula. The Seoul dialect is the basis of the Standard language of Korean in South Korea.

Seoul (listen (help·info) IPA: [sʌul]) is the capital and largest city of South Korea. A city is an Urban area with a large Population and a particular Administrative, Legal, or Historical status South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea and often referred to as Korea ( Korean: 대한민국 tɛː With over ten million people, and 23 million in the wider metropolitan area, Seoul is one of the world's largest cities proper and metropolitan cities. ----The term city limits (or city boundary) refers to the defined boundary of a City. The question of which are the World's largest cities is a complex one to which there is no single correct answer simply because there are many different ways of defining a "city" As a Special City, it is administered directly by the national government. In North and South Korea, Special Cities Metropolitan Cities and Directly Governed Cities are cities that have a status equivalent to that of Provinces

The city is located on the basin of the Han River in the country's northwest. Han River is in South Korea is the confluence of the Namhan River (South Han River which originates in Mount Daedeok, and the Bukhan River The North Korean border is about 50 km to the north. North Korea is the commonly used short form name for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (or DPRK) a State located in East Asia,

Seoul first appears in history in 18 BC, when the Baekje kingdom established its capital Wiryeseong in what is now around Songpa-gu, southeastern Seoul. Baekje (18 BCE – 660 CE or Paekche, was a kingdom located in southwest Korea Wiryeseong or Michuhol was the name of two early capitals of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. Songpa-gu is a gu of Seoul, South Korea. It is located in the southeast of the city Modern Seoul descends from the Goryeo-era city called Namgyeong, which then became the capital of Korea during the Joseon dynasty. The Goryeo Dynasty ( 918 - 1392) (also spelled Koryŏ was a Sovereign state established in 918 by Taejo Wang Kon. Korea is a geographic area composed of two sovereign countries a civilization and a former state situated on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia.

The Seoul National Capital Area - which includes the major port city of Incheon and many satellite towns in Gyeonggi-do - has almost 23 million inhabitants, making it the second most populous metropolitan area in the world. The Seoul National Capital Area (SNCA is a region located in the north-west of South Korea. Incheon is a metropolitan city and a major seaport on the west coast of South Korea, near Seoul. Gyeonggi-do is the most populous province in South Korea. The provincial capital is located at Suwon. The question of which are the World's largest cities is a complex one to which there is no single correct answer simply because there are many different ways of defining a "city" ^[2] Almost half of South Korea's population lives in the Seoul National Capital Area, and nearly one quarter in Seoul itself, making it the country's political, cultural, and economic centre. As of 2007, Seoul became the third most expensive city in the world and the most expensive in Asia. This is a list of the World 's most expensive cities, according to the Mercer Human Resource Consulting Cost of Living Surveys ^[3]

In recent years, the metropolitan government has undertaken major environmental projects, including the restoration of Cheonggyecheon. Cheonggyecheon ( Hangul: 청계천 is a nearly 6km long modern public recreation space in downtown Seoul, South Korea.

Name

See also: Names of Seoul

National Museum of Korea in Yongsan-gu

The city has been known in the past by the successive names Wirye-seong (위례성; 慰禮城, Baekje era), Namgyeong (남경; 南京, Goryeo era), Hanseong (한성; 漢城, Joseon era), and Hanyang (한양; 漢陽). The city has been known in the past by the successive names Wirye-seong (위례성 慰禮城 Baekje era Namgyeong (남경 南京 Goryeo era Hanseong (한성 漢城 Joseon era or Hanyang The National Museum of Korea is the flagship museum of Korean history and art in South Korea and is the cultural organization that represents Korea. Baekje (18 BCE – 660 CE or Paekche, was a kingdom located in southwest Korea The Goryeo Dynasty ( 918 - 1392) (also spelled Koryŏ was a Sovereign state established in 918 by Taejo Wang Kon. Its current name,Seoul originated from the Korean word "seo'ul" meaning "capital city". This article is mainly about the spoken Korean language See Hangul for details on the native Korean writing system It is presumed that the origin of the native word "seo'ul" derives from the native name Seorabeol (서라벌; 徐羅伐), which originally referred to Gyeongju, the capital of Silla. Gyeongju is an administrative division of South Korea and one of the most popular tourist destinations in South Korea Silla (57 BC – 935 AD was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea.

Unlike most place names in Korea, "Seoul" has no corresponding hanja (Chinese characters used in the Korean language). Hanja is the Korean name for Chinese characters. More specifically it refers to those Chinese characters borrowed from Chinese and incorporated A Chinese character, also known as a Han character ( is a Logogram used in writing Chinese (hanzi Japanese ( This article is mainly about the spoken Korean language See Hangul for details on the native Korean writing system The Chinese name for Seoul is 首爾 ("Shǒu'ěr" in Chinese pronunciation). The city has been known in the past by the successive names Wirye-seong (위례성 慰禮城 Baekje era Namgyeong (남경 南京 Goryeo era Hanseong (한성 漢城 Joseon era or Hanyang

History

Gyeongbokgung against Bugaksan. Gyeongbok Palace (경복궁 Gyeongbokgung) is a palace located in northern Seoul, South Korea.

Old Seoul in the late Joseon period.

Main article: History of Seoul

The history of Seoul can be traced back as far as 18 BC, when it was established as a settlement in Baekje. The History of Seoul can be traced back as far as 18 BC Counting from now it has a history of over 2000 years Baekje (18 BCE – 660 CE or Paekche, was a kingdom located in southwest Korea It's believed that the Wiryeseong site is in the boundaries of modern day Seoul. Wiryeseong or Michuhol was the name of two early capitals of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. It has thereafter been the capital of the Joseon Dynasty. 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 War, but an aggressive economic policy in the 1960s and 1970s helped to rebuild the city very rapidly. The Korean War refers to a period of military conflict between North Korean and South Korean regimes with major hostilities lasting from June 25 1950 until the The Fourth Republic of South Korea was the government of the country from 1972 to 1979 replacing the Third Republic of South Korea. In the 1990s, some important historical buildings were restored, including Gyeongbokgung, one of the royal palaces of the Joseon dynasty. Gyeongbok Palace (경복궁 Gyeongbokgung) is a palace located in northern Seoul, South Korea.

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 River. Han River is in South Korea is the confluence of the Namhan River (South Han River which originates in Mount Daedeok, and the Bukhan River The Han River and its surrounding area played an important role in Korean history. The Three Kingdoms of Korea strove to take control of this land, where the river was used as a trade route to China (via the Yellow Sea). The Three Kingdoms of Korea ( refer to the ancient Korean kingdoms of Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla, which dominated the Korean peninsula The Yellow Sea is the name given to the northern part of the East China Sea, which is a Marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean. 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 monsoon-influenced humid continental climate, despite the fact that South Korea is surrounded on three sides by water. The humid continental climate is a Climate found over large areas of land masses in the temperate regions of the mid-latitudes where there is a zone of conflict between ^[4] Summers are generally hot and humid, with monsoons taking place from June until September. A monsoon is a seasonal prevailing wind which lasts for several months 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 when compared to places of a similar latitude, with an average January temperature of 19 °F to 33 °F (-7°C to 1°C). Winters are generally much drier than summers, although there are 28 days of snow in Seoul in each year on average. "Snowfall" redirects here For other uses see Snow (disambiguation or Snowfall (disambiguation.

Cityscape

A view of Teheranro, looking west. Teheranno (alternatively Teheran-ro, translation “ Tehran Street” is a street in the Gangnam district of Seoul, South Korea.

The traditional heart of Seoul is the old Joseon Dynasty city, which is now the downtown area, where most palaces, government offices, corporate headquarters, hotels, and traditional markets are located. This area occupies the valley of Cheonggyecheon, a stream that runs from west to east through the valley before emptying into the Han River. Cheonggyecheon ( Hangul: 청계천 is a nearly 6km long modern public recreation space in downtown Seoul, South Korea. For many years, the stream had been covered by concrete, but was recently restored through an urban revival project. To the north of downtown is Bukhan Mountain, and to the south is the smaller Namsan. Bukhansan, or Bukhan Mountain, is a Mountain on the north side of Seoul, South Korea. Namsan (lit "South Mountain" is a 262-meter peak in the Jung-gu district of south central Seoul, South Korea. Further south are the old suburbs of Yongsan-gu and Mapo-gu, and the Han River. Yongsan-gu is a district of Seoul, South Korea. Its name means "Dragon Hill" derived from the Hanja characters for dragon (龍 yong and hill/mountain Mapo-gu is a gu, or district within Seoul, South Korea. It lies northwest of the Han River. Han River is in South Korea is the confluence of the Namhan River (South Han River which originates in Mount Daedeok, and the Bukhan River Across the Han River are the newer and wealthier areas of Gangnam-gu,Seocho-gu and surrounding neighborhoods. Gangnam-gu is one of the 25 gu (local government districts which make up the city of Seoul, South Korea. Seocho-gu is a gu of Seoul, South Korea. It is a ritzy upper-class ward located in the southeast of the city The World Trade Center of Korea is located in Gangnam-gu and this is where many expositions and conferences are held. Also in Gangnam-gu is the COEX Mall, a large indoor shopping and entertainment complex. COEX Mall is an underground Shopping mall located in the Gangnam-gu of Seoul, South Korea, and is the largest shopping centre in Seoul Bamseom is an island in the middle of the Han River near Yeouido, downstream from Gangnam-gu, and 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. Bamseom is a pair of islets in the River Han in Seoul, South Korea. Yeouido is a large island next to the Han River in Seoul, South Korea. The Olympic Stadium, Olympic Park, and Lotte World are located in Songpa-gu, on the south side of the Han River, upstream from Gangnam-gu. Lotte World is a recreation complex in Seoul, South Korea. It consists of a large indoor Theme park, an outdoor Amusement park, an island linked South of the sprawling Gangnam area are Namhan Mountain,Cheonggye Mountain and Gwanak Mountain. Gangnam refers to various areas and places south of the Han River in Seoul: Gangnam-gu, a local government district of Seoul, Namhan Mountain is a 460 m peak in Gyeonggi province South Korea. Gwanaksan (632 m is a small mountain in southern Seoul, South Korea.

The beginning of the recently restored Cheonggyecheon stream. Cheonggyecheon ( Hangul: 청계천 is a nearly 6km long modern public recreation space in downtown Seoul, South Korea.

Major modern landmarks include the Korea Finance Building, N Seoul Tower, the World Trade Center, the 63 Building and the six-skyscraper residence Tower Palace. Originally a landmark literally meant a Geographic Feature used by explorers and The DLI ( Daehan Life Insurance) 63 Building ( 63 빌딩 or 육삼 빌딩) is a Skyscraper on Yeouido Island overlooking the N Seoul Tower is a communication tower located Seoul, South Korea. The World Trade Center Seoul (WTC Seoul is a building complex comprising six buildings and centered around the COEX Convention & Exhibition Center on Teheranno The DLI ( Daehan Life Insurance) 63 Building ( 63 빌딩 or 육삼 빌딩) is a Skyscraper on Yeouido Island overlooking the The Samsung Tower Palace is a group of 7 Towers lettered A-G They are located in Dogok-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea. These and various high-rise office buildings, like the Seoul Star Tower and Jongno Tower, dominate the city's skyline. An office is generally a room or other area in which people work, but may also denote a position within an Organization with specific duties attached Due to its high density, Seoul has been equipped with a grand appearance of skyscrapers and the city council is now planning on building a series of high-rises, including 580-metre business center in Sangam Digital Media City district and an 800-metre Lotte World 2 Tower in the Jamsil (pronounced "Jam-shil") district of Songpa-gu and Gangdong-gu. A skyscraper is a tall continuously habitable Building. There is no official definition or a precise cutoff height above which a building may clearly be classified as a skyscraper Songpa-gu is a gu of Seoul, South Korea. It is located in the southeast of the city Gangdong-gu (literally "district east of the river" is one of the 25 gu which make up the city of Seoul, South Korea.

Samsung Tower Palace. The Samsung Tower Palace is a group of 7 Towers lettered A-G They are located in Dogok-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea.

Urban and civil planning was a key concept when Seoul was first designed to serve as a capital in the late 14th century. The Royal Palaces of the Joseon Dynasty still remain in Seoul, with the main palace, Gyeongbokgung currently being restored to its original form. Gyeongbok Palace (경복궁 Gyeongbokgung) is a palace located in northern Seoul, South Korea. Today, 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.

The most historically significant street in Seoul is Jongno, meaning "Bell Street," on which one can find Bosingak, a pavilion containing a large bell. Jongno ("Bell Street" is one of the oldest major east-west thoroughfares in central Seoul, South Korea, connecting Sejongno to Dongdaemun Bosingak is a large bell pavilion on Jongno in Seoul, South Korea. 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. Kim Dae-jung (Born December 3, 1925, kim tɛdʑuŋ is a former South Korean president and the 2000 Nobel Peace Prize recipient

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 Euljiro (을지로; 乙支路), Teheranno (테헤란路, Tehran Street), Sejongno (세종로; 世宗路), Chungmuro (충무로; 忠武路), Yulgongno (율곡로; 栗谷路), and Toegyero (퇴계로; 退溪路). Euljiro is a street in Seoul named after Eulji Mundeok, the general who saved Korea from the invading Sui Dynasty Chinese Teheranno (alternatively Teheran-ro, translation “ Tehran Street” is a street in the Gangnam district of Seoul, South Korea. Tehran (or Teheran) ( Persian: تهران Tehrān) is the capital and largest City of Iran, and the administrative center of Sejongno is a street that cuts through Jongno-gu in downtown Seoul Chungmuro refers to a road 175km in length and 10∼20m in width and the area nearby the street located in Jung-gu, central Seoul of South Korea.

Administrative divisions

Main article: Gu of Seoul

Seoul Districts

Seoul is divided into 25 gu (구; 區) (district)^[5]. The Gu of Seoul, South Korea. There are twenty-five Gu ("Districts" 구 ko 區 in Seoul |||} South Korea is divided into 8 Provinces ( do) 1 special autonomous province ( teukbyeol jachido) 6 metropolitan cities ( gwangyeoksi 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; 洞) or neighbourhoods. |||} South Korea is divided into 8 Provinces ( do) 1 special autonomous province ( teukbyeol jachido) 6 metropolitan cities ( gwangyeoksi 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. ^[5] Dong are also sub-divided into 13,787 tong (통; 統), which are further divided into 102,796 ban in total.

Demographics

Nearly all of Seoul's residents are Korean, with some small Chinese and Japanese minorities. Dobong-gu is one of the 25 districts ( gu) of Seoul, South Korea. Dongdaemun-gu is one of the 25 ''gu'' (districts of Seoul, South Korea. Dongjak-gu is one of the 25 gu which make up the city of Seoul, South Korea. Eunpyeong-gu is one of the 25 gu which make up the city of Seoul, South Korea. Gangbuk-gu (lit River-north gu is one of the 25 gu which make up the city of Seoul, South Korea. Gangdong-gu (literally "district east of the river" is one of the 25 gu which make up the city of Seoul, South Korea. Gangnam-gu is one of the 25 gu (local government districts which make up the city of Seoul, South Korea. Gangseo-gu is one of the 25 wards ( gu) of Seoul, South Korea. Geumcheon-gu is one of the 25 ''gu'' (districts of Seoul, South Korea. Guro is a district of Seoul, South Korea, which separated from Yeongdeungpo on April 1, 1980. Gwanak District, or Gwanak-gu is an administrative subdivision ( gu) of Seoul, South Korea. Gwangjin-gu is one of the 25 wards ( gu) of Seoul, South Korea. Jongno-gu is a ''gu'', or district in central Seoul, South Korea. Jung-gu is one of the 25 gu which make up the city of Seoul, South Korea. Jungnang-gu is one of the 25 ''gu'', or districts of Seoul, South Korea. Mapo-gu is a gu, or district within Seoul, South Korea. It lies northwest of the Han River. Nowon-gu is a residential district of Seoul, South Korea, Located in the northeastern part of the metropolitan city Seocho-gu is a gu of Seoul, South Korea. It is a ritzy upper-class ward located in the southeast of the city Seodaemun-gu is a gu located in northwestern Seoul, South Korea. Seongbuk-gu is one of the 25 gu which make up the city of Seoul, South Korea. Seongdong-gu is one of the 25 gu which make up the city of Seoul, South Korea. Songpa-gu is a gu of Seoul, South Korea. It is located in the southeast of the city Yangcheon-gu is a gu, or district of Seoul, South Korea. Located on the southwest side of the Han River. Yeongdeungpo-gu is an administrative district in southwest Seoul, Korea. Yongsan-gu is a district of Seoul, South Korea. Its name means "Dragon Hill" derived from the Hanja characters for dragon (龍 yong and hill/mountain The Korean people are an East Asian Ethnic group. Most Koreans speak the Korean language. The are the dominant Ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent of these approximately 127 million are residents of Japan A rapidly growing population of international residents now represent about 2% of the total population ^[6]. Seoul’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. [1]

The crime rate in Seoul is very low. Two major religions in Seoul are Buddhism and Christianity. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices Other religions include Shamanism and Confucianism, the latter seen more as a pervasive social philosophy rather than a religion. Confucianism ( is a Chinese ethical and philosophical system originally developed from the teachings of the fifth century B

Economy

COEX and the World Trade Center. COEX Convention & Exhibition Center in Gangnam district, Seoul one of South Korea 's largest convention and exhibition center. The World Trade Center Seoul (WTC Seoul is a building complex comprising six buildings and centered around the COEX Convention & Exhibition Center on Teheranno

As headquarters for some of the world’s largest corporations, such as Samsung, LG Group, Hyundai, Kia Motors,and Daewoo Corporation, the service sector in Seoul has thrived, benefiting the national economy and development. The Samsung Group ( Korean:, Samsung Guerup) is South Korea 's largest company or Chaebol and the world's largest conglomerate Hyundai refers to a group of companies and related organizations founded by Chung Ju-yung in South Korea. Kia Motors, a subsidiary of Hyundai Kia Automotive Group, is South Korea 's 2nd largest automobile manufacturer with headquarters in Seoul, This article is about the Chaebol Daewoo Group For the Korean auto company Daewoo Motors that is associated with Chevrolet, see GM Daewoo. South Korea derives 63. 2% of its GDP from the service sector, above the average for the upper income nations (World Bank 2004). The major exports are electronics, automobiles, and machinery. This economic development has also helped keep unemployment at around 3. 4% and ensured that the informal economy of Seoul is negligible. Foreign direct investment is also high at around $2 billion ^[7]; however, South Korea was expected to be threatened with a slowing economy which could hurt it and its development.

Financial hub

As a major business and financial center, Seoul ranks fifth in the world in terms of the number of Fortune 500 transnational companies headquartered there ^[8]. Please do not add the complete list of fortune 500 companies The list is copyrighted by Fortune which makes money by selling the content After the 1988 Summer Olympics and the 2002 FIFA World Cup, Seoul became a global city. The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an International Multi-sport event staged in 1988 in The 2002 FIFA World Cup, the 17th staging of the World Cup, was held in South Korea and Japan from May 31 to June 30. Major banks have branches in Seoul: Mizuho Financial Group, Citigroup, HSBC. abbreviated as MHFG, or simply called Mizuho is a Banking Holding company headquartered in the Ōtemachi district of Chiyoda Tokyo HSBC Holdings plc ( (,,,) is a Public limited company incorporated in England and Wales, headquartered in London. One of the biggest exchange banks, the Korea Exchange Bank is also headquarted in Seoul. '''Their activity constituted a grave fraud activity and severely damaged the interest of minority shareholders of KEB Credit Service Korea Exchange Bank' (KEB ( is

Shopping

A view of Myeongdong. Myeong-dong or Myong-dong is a dong in Jung-gu Seoul, South Korea and is located between Chungmu-ro, Eulji-ro, and

Main article: Shopping in Seoul

The largest market is the Dongdaemun Market which is the largest in South Korea. Seoul in South Korea has many Shopping centres and markets throughout the city Dongdaemun Market or Tongdaemun is a Market and shopping center in Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea. Myeongdong is a shopping and entertainment area in downtown Seoul which contains some of the city's top stores and fashion boutiques. Myeong-dong or Myong-dong is a dong in Jung-gu Seoul, South Korea and is located between Chungmu-ro, Eulji-ro, and The area has been subject to much investment and many of the financial institutions such as banks and investment companies have major branches in the area. Nearby is the Namdaemun Market named after the Namdaemun Gate. Namdaemun Market is a large market in Seoul, South Korea. The market is located next to Namdaemun, which means "Great South Gate" and was the Sungnyemun or more commonly known as Namdaemun is a historic gate located in the heart of Seoul, the capital of South Korea. Insadong is the cultural art market of Seoul, where you can buy traditional and modern Korean artworks, such as paintings, sculptures and calligraphy. Insadong is a ''dong'' or neighborhood of the Jongno-gu district of the South Korean city of Seoul. Itaewon is another notable shopping district in the city lined with boutiques and stores. Itaewon is a ''dong'', or city district in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea. The area contains some of city's up market tailors, leather and shoes stores, and antiques such as brassware and jewelry and specialist shops dealing in Korean art and calligraphy. Shinchon is particularly popular with the youth perhaps due to proximity to Seoul's universities. Sinchon or Sinchon-dong is a neighbourhood and a judicial (as opposed to administrative) dong ( in Seodaemun-gu Gangnam district one of the most affluent area in Seoul, also contains popular modern shopping spots such as Apgujeong-dong and the COEX Mall, which is another popular hang out spot for trendy youth. Gangnam-gu is one of the 25 gu (local government districts which make up the city of Seoul, South Korea. COEX Mall is an underground Shopping mall located in the Gangnam-gu of Seoul, South Korea, and is the largest shopping centre in Seoul

Education

See also: Education in South Korea, List of universities in Seoul

There are a large number of universities in Seoul. Education in South Korea is seen as the most important key to success and competition is consequently very heated and fierce A list of universities in Seoul, South Korea: Chungang University Chugye University for the Arts Dongguk University A university is an institution of Higher education and Research, which grants Academic degrees in a variety of subjects Most of the country's most prestigious universities are located in Seoul, including the so-called "SKY" schools: Seoul National University, Korea University, and Yonsei University. Seoul National University ( SNU) is a national Research university in Seoul, South Korea. Korea University is a major Private university located in Seoul, South Korea with a secondary campus in Jochiwon and is regarded as one of the top

Culture

Bongeunsa in Southern Seoul.

Changgyeonggung. Changgyeonggung 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

The interior of Injeongjeon in Changdeokgung before renovation. Changdeokgung ( Changdeok Palace) is a palace set within a large park in Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea.

Bongeunsa. Bongeunsa is a Buddhist temple in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea.

The inside of Lotte World. Lotte World is a recreation complex in Seoul, South Korea. It consists of a large indoor Theme park, an outdoor Amusement park, an island linked

Historical structures and museums

The Joseon Dynasty built "Five Grand Palaces" in Seoul:

• Changdeokgung (창덕궁; 昌德宮)
• Changgyeonggung (창경궁; (昌慶宮)
• Deoksugung (덕수궁; 德壽宮)
• Gyeongbokgung (경복궁; 景福宮)
• Gyeonghuigung (경희궁; 慶熙宮)

Museums

Main article: List of museums in Seoul

• National Museum of Korea(국립중앙박물관; 國立中央博物館)
• National Folk Museum(국립민속박물관; 國立民俗博物館)
• War Memorial(전쟁기념관; 戰爭紀念館)

Outside the metropolitan area:

• Namhan sanseong(남한산성; 南漢山城)
• Bukhan sanseong(북한산성; 北漢山城)
• Namsan Park(남산공원; 南山公園)

Temples and shrines

• Jongmyo(종묘; 宗廟)
• Dongmyo(동묘; 東廟)
• Munmyo(문묘; 文廟)
• Jogyesa(조계사; 曹溪寺)
• Hwagyesa(화계사; 華溪寺)
• Bongeunsa (봉은사; 奉恩寺)

Parks and outdoor attractions

See also: List of parks in Seoul

Seoul's metropolitan area accommodates six major parks, including Seoul Forest, which opened in mid-2005. Changdeokgung ( Changdeok Palace) is a palace set within a large park in Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea. Changgyeonggung 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 Deoksugung ( Deoksu Palace) is a walled compound of Palaces that was inhabited by various Korean royalty until the Japanese occupation Gyeongbok Palace (경복궁 Gyeongbokgung) is a palace located in northern Seoul, South Korea. Gyeonghuigung was a palace located in Seoul, South Korea. It was one of the " Five Grand Palaces " built by the Joseon Dynasty. There are over 100 museums in Seoul. National museums Municipal museums Private museums See also List The National Museum of Korea is the flagship museum of Korean history and art in South Korea and is the cultural organization that represents Korea. This National Folk Museum of Korea is a national museum of South Korea. Opened in 1994 the largely museum-like War Memorial of Korea in Yongsan-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea offers visitors an educational Namhansanseong (literally "South Han Mountain Fortress" is a park at an elevation of 480m above sea level immediately to the southeast of Seoul. Namsan (lit "South Mountain" is a 262-meter peak in the Jung-gu district of south central Seoul, South Korea. This article is about the traditional culture of Korea. For the modern culture see Culture of North Korea and Culture of South Korea Dongmyo (which literally means "Eastern Shrine" is a shrine in metropolitan Seoul built in honour of the 3rd century Chinese military commander Munmyo (also called Seonggyungwan Munmyo) is Korea 's primary Confucian shrine Jogyesa is the chief temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. Bongeunsa is a Buddhist temple in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea. This is a list of parks in Seoul, South Korea. A 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 Seoul Forest ( Korean: 서울숲 is a large park in Seongdong-gu, Seoul. The Seoul National Capital Area also contains a green belt aimed to prevent the city from sprawling out over the neighboring Gyeonggi Province. The Seoul National Capital Area (SNCA is a region located in the north-west of South Korea. A green belt or greenbelt is a policy or land use designation used in Land use planning to retain areas of largely undeveloped wild or agricultural land Urban sprawl, also known as suburban sprawl, is the spreading of a city and its Suburbs over rural land at the fringe of an urban area Gyeonggi-do is the most populous province in South Korea. The provincial capital is located at Suwon. |||} South Korea is divided into 8 Provinces ( do) 1 special autonomous province ( teukbyeol jachido) 6 metropolitan cities ( gwangyeoksi These areas are frequently sought after by people resting on the weekend and during vacations.

In addition, Seoul is also home to the world's largest indoor amusement park, Lotte World. Lotte World is a recreation complex in Seoul, South Korea. It consists of a large indoor Theme park, an outdoor Amusement park, an island linked Other recreation centres include the former Olympic and World Cup stadiums and the City Hall's public lawn. The Olympic Games is an international Multi-sport event established for both summer and winter games The Seoul World Cup Stadium is located in Seongsan Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea and has been home to K-League club FC Seoul since A city hall or town hall is the chief administrative building of a City or Town 's administration and usually houses the city or

Sports

Seoul hosted the 1986 Asian Games, 1988 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. The 10th Asian Games were held from September 20, 1986 to October 5, 1986 in Seoul, South Korea. The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an International Multi-sport event staged in 1988 in 1988 Summer OlympicsThe 1988 Summer Paralympics were the first Paralympics in 24 years that were held concurrently with the Olympic Games. It also served as one of the host cities of the 2002 FIFA World Cup. The 2002 FIFA World Cup, the 17th staging of the World Cup, was held in South Korea and Japan from May 31 to June 30. Seoul World Cup Stadium hosted the opening ceremony and first game of the tournament. The Seoul World Cup Stadium is located in Seongsan Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea and has been home to K-League club FC Seoul since

Taekwondo is Korea's national sport and Seoul is the location of the Kukkiwon, also known as the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF), the world headquarters of taekwondo. Taekwondo (Korean태권도thɛʔkwʌndo Englishˈteɪˈkwɒnˈdoʊ is a Korean Martial art and the National sport of South Korea Kukkiwon, also known as the World Taekwondo Headquarters is an organization in the Gangnam-gu district of Seoul, South Korea. The World Taekwondo Federation (WTF is the International Federation (IF member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC for the competition events of the

The city is home to three baseball teams in the KBO: the Doosan Bears, the LG Twins, and Woori Heroes & two basketball teams in the KBL: the Seoul Samsung Thunders and Seoul SK Knights. Baseball is a Bat-and-ball Sport played between two teams of nine players each The Korea Baseball Organization ( KBO) of South Korea is the country's Professional baseball league Doosan Bears ( are a Korean professional Baseball team founded in. The LG Twins (LG 트윈스 are a South Korean Baseball team based in Seoul. The Korean Basketball League or KBL is the professional Basketball league of South Korea. Seoul Samsung Thunders ( Korean: 서울 삼성 썬더스 have been in the KBL (Korean Basketball League since its inception 10 years ago The Seoul SK Knights is a professional Basketball club in the Korean Basketball League.

There is one professional football club in Seoul, FC Seoul, which plays in the K-League. Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a Team sport played between two teams of eleven players and is widely considered FC Seoul is a football club based in Seoul, South Korea. It is currently owned by GS Sports a subsidiary of GS Group. Establishment The K-League was founded in 1983 as the Korean Super League, with five member clubs Two K3 League teams are based in the capital, Seoul United and Eungpyeong Chung-goo FC. History 2007 was the inaugural season of the K3 League and ten teams competed in the competition Seoul United is a South Korean soccer club based in the city of Seoul. At first they participated in K3 League by Eunpyeong Chung-goo Sungshim Hospital FC Seoul Pabal FC is a South Korean soccer club based in

Transportation

Main article: Transportation in Seoul

Seoul's transportation boom dates back to the era of the Korean Empire, when the first streetcar lines were laid and a railroad linking Seoul and Incheon was completed. Seoul 's transportation boom dates back to the era of the Korean Empire, when the first streetcar lines were laid and a railroad linking Seoul and Incheon was completed The Korean Empire was a former small empire of Korea that lasted from the Gwangmu Restoration of 1897 until Japan 's annexation of Korea in 1910 Today, as a result of the diversification of Seoul's transportation network, it has become a great transportation hub for Asia.

Seoul hosts more than three million registered vehicles and widespread traffic congestion is common.

Airports

Incheon International Airport. Incheon International Airport (IIA (인천국제공항 is the largest Airport in South Korea, and one of the largest and busiest in Asia.

There are two international airports that serve Seoul. An airport is a location where Aircraft such as airplanes, Helicopters and blimps take off and land Gimpo International Airport, formerly in Gimpo but annexed to Seoul in 1963, was the only international airport for Seoul since its original construction during the Korean War. Gimpo International Airport (김포국제공항 commonly known as Gimpo Airport (formerly Kimpo International Airport) is located in the far western end of Seoul Gimpo is a city in Gyeonggi Province South Korea. It borders on Incheon, with which it shares the South Korean side of the Han River The Korean War refers to a period of military conflict between North Korean and South Korean regimes with major hostilities lasting from June 25 1950 until the Other domestic airports were built around the time of the war, including at Yeouido. Yeouido is a large island next to the Han River in Seoul, South Korea.

Upon opening in March 2001, Incheon International Airport on Yeongjong island in Incheon changed the role of Gimpo Airport significantly. Incheon International Airport (IIA (인천국제공항 is the largest Airport in South Korea, and one of the largest and busiest in Asia. Yeongjong Island is an island off the west coast of the city of Incheon, South Korea. Incheon is a metropolitan city and a major seaport on the west coast of South Korea, near Seoul. 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 Haneda Airport in Tokyo and Hongqiao Airport in Shanghai. located in Ōta Tokyo, Japan, is one of the two primary Airports serving the Greater Tokyo Area. officially, is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan and located on the eastern side of the main island Honshū. Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport ( Simplified Chinese: 上海虹桥国际机场 Traditional Chinese: 上海虹橋國際機場 Pinyin: Shànghǎi Shanghai ( 上[[wikt 海|海]] is the largest city in China in terms of population and one of the largest urban areas in the world with over 20 million This has led to a significant drop in flights from Gimpo Airport.

Meanwhile, Incheon International Airport has become, along with Hong Kong and Singapore, a major transportation centre for East Asia. Hong Kong International Airport is the main airport in Hong Kong. The 2005 AETRA passenger survey, jointly administered by the IATA and Airports Council International, voted it the best airport in the world. Airports Council International (ACI based in Geneva, Switzerland, is a Non profit organisation, whose prime purpose is to advance the interests of airports ^[9] It was named by Skytrax as the world's 5th best airport for 2006. Skytrax is a United Kingdom -based consultancy the public face of Inflight Research Services ^[10]

Incheon and Gimpo are linked to Seoul by highways, and Gimpo is also linked by subway (line #5). The Incheon International Airport Railroad, 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. Lieutenant Arex, voiced by James Doohan, was a recurring character on Star Trek The Animated Series which ran on NBC from 1973 to 1974 Shuttle buses transfer passengers between Incheon and Gimpo airports.

AREX train running between Incheon and Gimpo Airport. Lieutenant Arex, voiced by James Doohan, was a recurring character on Star Trek The Animated Series which ran on NBC from 1973 to 1974

Bus

Main article: Seoul Buses

Seoul's bus system is operated by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, with four primary bus configurations available servicing most of the city. Seoul Buses are public transit buses operated by the Seoul Metropolitan Government

New Super Aero City for B144

Seoul has many big intercity/express bus terminals. These buses are connecting Seoul and cities all around Korea. Major bus terminals are

• Seoul Express Bus Terminal in Seocho-gu
• Central City in Seocho-gu
• Seoul Nambu Terminal, also in Seocho-gu
• Dongseoul Bus Terminal in Gwangjin-gu
• Sangbong Terminal in Jungnang-gu

Subway

Subway station in Seoul. Seocho-gu is a gu of Seoul, South Korea. It is a ritzy upper-class ward located in the southeast of the city Gwangjin-gu is one of the 25 wards ( gu) of Seoul, South Korea. Jungnang-gu is one of the 25 ''gu'', or districts of Seoul, South Korea.

Main article: Seoul Metropolitan Subway

Seoul has eight subway lines that interlink every district of the city with one another and with the surrounding area. The Seoul Metropolitan Subway is one of the most heavily used Rapid transit systems in the world with well over 8 million trips daily on the system's ten lines (total figures The majority of the population now uses the public transportation system due to its convenience and low cost. With more than 8 million passengers a day, Seoul has one of the busiest subway systems in the world. 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 10 lines are run by Korail, Seoul Metro and SMRT. Korail is the national railroad operator in South Korea. Korail operates passenger and freight trains throughout South Korea Seoul Metro is a Public corporation which runs the Seoul Subway Lines 1 to 4 Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Corporation (SMRT was established in 1994 to operate the Seoul subway lines 5, 6, 7, and

Train

KTX. The Korea Train eXpress ( KTX) is South Korea 's High-speed rail system

Seoul is connected to every major city in Korea by railroad. Seoul is also linked to most major Korean cities by the KTX bullet train which features a normal operation speed of more than 300 km/h, making commuting between cities extremely convenient for commuters and tourists. The Korea Train eXpress ( KTX) is South Korea 's High-speed rail system Major railroad stations include:

• Seoul Station, Jung-gu - Gyeongbu line (KTX/Saemaul/Mugunghwa-ho), Gyeongui line (Saemaul/Commuter)
• Yongsan Station, Yongsan-gu - Honam line (KTX/Saemaul/Mugunghwa), Jeolla/Janghang lines (Saemaul/Mugunghwa)
• Yeongdeungpo Station, Yeongdeungpo-gu - Gyeongbu/Honam/Janghang lines (Saemaul/Mugunghwa)
• Cheongnyangni Station, Dongdaemun-gu - Gyeongchun/Jungang/Yeongdong/Taebaek lines (Mugunghwa)

Sister cities

Seoul has many sister cities. Seoul Station is a major railway station in Seoul, South Korea. Jung-gu is one of the 25 gu which make up the city of Seoul, South Korea. The Korea Train eXpress ( KTX) is South Korea 's High-speed rail system The Mugunghwa-ho or Mugunghwa is a class of Train operated by Korail, the national railroad of South Korea. Commuting is the process of Travelling between one's place of residence and regular place of work Yongsan Station is a major railway station in Seoul, South Korea. Yongsan-gu is a district of Seoul, South Korea. Its name means "Dragon Hill" derived from the Hanja characters for dragon (龍 yong and hill/mountain Yeongdeungpo-gu is an administrative district in southwest Seoul, Korea. Cheongnyangni Station is the Seoul terminus for passenger trains serving the eastern part of South Korea. Dongdaemun-gu is one of the 25 ''gu'' (districts of Seoul, South Korea. The year each relationship was formed is shown in parentheses below.

See also

• Geography of South Korea
• Large Cities Climate Leadership Group
• Mayor of Seoul

• List of Korea-related topics
• List of cities in South Korea
• Names of Asian cities in different languages
• Seoul National Capital Area
• Seoul gallery at Wikimedia Commons

References

External links

Official sites

• Seoul Metropolitan Government

Tourism and living information

• Seoul travel guide from Wikitravel
• Highlights of Seoul: by Korean National Tourism Organization

Maps and images

• Seoul Map Browser (from Seoul Metropolitan Government web site)
• Seoul Photo Album
• Seoul subway map (pdf in zip format)
• Photos of Seoul, South Korea

Others

• Seoul at the Open Directory Project