Introduction
The capital and largest city of South Korea is Seoul. Except for a brief period, Seoul was the capital of all of Korea from 1394 until the formal division of the country into North and South Korea in 1948. The city's name itself has come to mean “capital” in the Korean language.
Seoul is on the Han River in the northwestern part of South Korea, about 37 miles (60 kilometers) from the Yellow Sea. It lies close to the border with North Korea. Seoul sits on both banks of the Han.
Cityscape
Much of the city was rebuilt after the Korean War (1950–53). Parts of Seoul are very modern. The crowded central district has skyscrapers, luxury hotels, and rebuilt and restored historic structures. Downtown Seoul also has palaces, gates, and other structures from the royal families of the city's past. Some palaces have been turned into museums. To the north is the old commercial and entertainment area.
Yoido Island in the Han River is Seoul's business district. Many government offices and private businesses are there. Parks and recreational areas are located along both banks of the Han River.
People and culture
Most of the people in Seoul are Koreans. The city has one of the highest population densities in the world, meaning that it has many residents living in a relatively small area. Both traditional Korean arts and Western entertainment flourish in Seoul, including plays, symphonies, ballet, cinema, and popular music. Among the city's cultural institutions are the National Academy of Arts, the National Academy of Sciences, the Sejong Cultural Center, and the National Theater of Korea.
Economy
Seoul is an important industrial, commercial, and banking center of South Korea. Its industries include textiles, clothing, machinery, and chemicals. Many banks and the major stock exchanges have their headquarters in Seoul. Many trade shows take place in the city every year.
History
Settlement on the site of Seoul can be traced back at least to the 1st century BC. Not until a royal summer palace was built there in 1068 AD, however, did a fairly large settlement grow on the site. In 1394, in the early years of the Yi, or Choson, Dynasty (1392–1910), Seoul was selected as the national capital. It has been capital ever since.
Chinese culture had great influence on the design of Seoul. An 11-mile (18-kilometer) defensive wall with gates, in Chinese style, was built around the city in 15th century. Remnants of the wall and the gates can still be seen.
Japan controlled Korea from 1910 to 1945 and used Seoul as its colonial capital. During that time Seoul was called Kyongsong. The city was devastated during the Korean War but was then rebuilt. The city hosted the Summer Olympic Games in 1988. Population (1995 estimate), 10,229,262.
