¡¡About Seoul

  

 

 

¡¡The Heart of Korean People
 
Seoul, its capital city, has been the socioeconomic and political center since 1392 when the founder of the Joseon dynasty chose the strategic Han-river basin as its capital city. Then called Hanyang, Seoul was planned along the metaphysics of Neo-Confucianism and the ancient beliefs of geomancy. Surrounded by lush mountains and endowed with abundant water supply, the capital city was built in harmony with the natural surroundings.

Since then no other Korean city has ever approached the size of Seoul. Seoul has maintained its integrity and development despite numerous foreign invasions and internal turmoil throughout its history. Today the city is a megalopolis with well over 10 million residents, about a quarter of the Korean population.

More than ever, Seoul is at the center of Korea¡¯s dynamic drive towards the future. The recent opening of the Incheon International Airport, and the upcoming completion of the Seoul-Busan highspeed railway system will reinforce Seoul¡¯s position as the center of trade and cooperation in East Asia and the world. Recently, Seoul has adopted policies that will reinvigorate traditional urban areas and guide development towards a more humane environment.

Furthermore, with developments such as the Digital Media City, Seoul is taking initiatives towards maintaining its competitiveness in the information society. More than anything else, the enthusiasm of its citizens toward work and education, their open attitude toward innovation, and their respect for cultures old and new, provide Seoul with the strength and will to meet a future of continuous change.
 
 

 

 

 
¡¡Seoul at a Glance
 

Location
Seoul is located at 126 degrees 59 minutes longitude and 37 degrees 34 minutes latitude and is at the central western part of the Korean peninsula. The Han River flows through the center from east to west. Seoul is shaped as a round valley, surrounded by mountains. Seoul is not only the transport hub of the nation but also a geographic hub of Northeast Asia. Domestically, every other city is within 500 kilometers from Seoul and as a result, Seoul provides easy access to Asia, and major cities, such as Tokyo, Osaka, Beijing, Shanghai and Vladivostok. All are within a three-hour flight from Seoul.

 

Area
Seoul, the capital of the Republic of Korea, occupies 605 square kilometers or 0.6 percent of the nation¡¯s territory. The Han River bisects the city. The area north to the river (called ¡°Gangbuk¡±) is 298 square kilometers (49.2%) and the area south to the river (¡°Gangnam¡±) is 309 square kilometers (50.8%).

 

Population and Foreign Residents
Seoul has a population of approximately 10 million, accounting for more than a quarter of the nation¡¯s total population. There are 100,000 foreign residents in Seoul, the number continuously rising.


Today¡¯s Seoul
Workplace to over 12 million citizens, Seoul is the political, social, and economic hub of the nation, as well as the heart and brain of the Republic of Korea. It has been the engine of the nation¡¯s rapid growth over the past 40 years. Today it has become a world-class city of North East Asia. Many domestic conglomerates have their headquarters in Seoul and there are also a large number of multi-national companies. Seoul enjoys advanced urban infrastructures as the hub of transport, logistics and information technologies, and thus everyone has easy access to information.


In addition to this, Seoul boasts highly skilled manpower, allowing foreign investors to enhance business efficiency. Seoul is rapidly emerging as one of the best cities to do business amongst other international cities in Asia. Currently, Seoul is trying to improve its human face as a pedestrian-oriented city, and a place where tradition and modernity co-exist. It is also growing to be a modern city with rich culture and a clean environment.