SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
Date Modified: 06.28.2008
Content: Seoul - General Info and Links
Source: Wikipedia
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Population: 9,747,972
(2005)
Area: 607 km2
Seoul is the capital of South Korea (the Republic
of Korea) and is one of the most populous cities in the world,
located in the northwestern part of the country on the Han River.
It is a designated special city. On the establishment of South
Korea in 1948 it became the capital of the country, except for
a short time during the Korean War. Seoul is located at 37°35?N
127°0?E.
Seoul is located in the northwest of the country, south of the
DMZ, on the Han River. The city is the political, cultural, social
and economic centre of South Korea. It is also an international
centre for business, finance, multinational corporations, and
global organizations. This, along with its position as the capital
of one of the world's largest economies, has continued to raise
its global status. Today, it is one of the most visible symbols
of the Korean economic Miracle on the Han River.
According to UN Population Division figures, Seoul's Urban Area
contained 10.3 million people in 2003, making it the 22nd most
populous such area in the world. This ranking can vary from different
independent sources, where the metropolitan area surroundings
and suburbs can make differences. Its density has allowed it to
become one of the most digitally-wired cities in today's globally
connected economy. It also has more than 1 million registered
vehicles which cause widespread traffic-jams beyond midnight.
The larger Seoul metropolitan area and commuter belt, which includes
the major harbour city Incheon and the largely residential city
of Seongnam, is one of the world's most heavily populated. In
recent years, the metropolitan government has carried out an extensive
cleanup of the city's heavy air and water pollution, transforming
the previously murky atmosphere into a cleaner one, though air
pollution is still problematic.
>>Names
The city of Seoul was originally known as Wiryeseong, the capital
of Baekje from its legendary founding in 18 BC to 475 AD, when
the city fell to Goguryeo, and subsequently to Silla. It was known
as Hanseong during the Goryeo period, and (a fortified city (seong)
on the Han River) when it became the capital of the Joseon Dynasty(Hanyang)
in 1394. It was renamed Gyeongseong (Keijo¯ in Japanese)
during the Japanese Colonial Period, and finally given the name
Seoul after the 1945 liberation.
Seoul derives from the archaic Korean seobeol or seorabeol ("capital
city") since the Silla period, when it referred to present-day
Gyeongju. The hanja gyeong also means "capital" and
represents Seoul in the names of railway lines and freeways, such
as the Gyeongbu (Seoul-Busan) railway line and the Gyeongin (Seoul-Incheon)
freeway.
Chinese transcription
Unlike most place names in Korea, "Seoul" has no corresponding
Hanja (Chinese characters used in the Korean language). In 1950's
Mainland Chinese writings, the city name is sometimes written
in Chinese, which is phoenetically similar to the English name
for the city. To many Chinese speakers, however, the name Hànchéng
(in Chinese, Hanseong in Korean), which the city's name during
the Joseon Dynasty, is much more well known.
In January 2005, the Seoul Metropolitan Government requested that
the Chinese name of the city be changed to shou-er, a close transliteration
of Seoul, where shou-er can also mean "first" or "capital".
The People's Republic of China (PRC) officially adopted the new
transcription in October 2005. The government in Taiwan also officially
recognized the change shortly after the South Korean government
made its wishes known to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The
Hong Kong Government adopted the new Chinese name soon after the
change was announced, and news reports use the new name predominantly
after a brief transition period when the old name was used in
brackets, following the new name.
On the mainland, school geography books and texts about Korea
continue to use the old name. Taiwan is an exception where the
new Chinese name is commonly used, especially in the media and
among youth. It is used in Taiwan's textbooks and is thus taught
in all Taiwanese schools. Like the Chinese, many Koreans seem
relatively unaware of the change, as they do not speak Chinese,
but those that do seem to be overwhelmingly under the false impression
that the old name was used during the Japanese occupation.
>>History
The history of Seoul can be traced back as far as 18 BC. In that
year the newly established kingdom of Baekje built its capital
Wiryeseong in the Seoul area. There are several city wall remains
in the area dating from this time, and Pungnap Toseong, an earthen
wall just outside Seoul, is widely believed to be the main Wiryeseong
site. During the time when the Three Kingdoms fought for hegemony
in Korea, the Seoul area was often contested. Control passed from
Baekje to Goguryeo in the fifth century, and from Goguryeo to
Silla in the sixth.
It was thought that only the kingdom that controlled the Han River
valley would be able to control the whole of the peninsula, because
it was a centre of transportation. This was the reason why in
the 11th century the ruler of the Goryeo Dynasty built a palace
in Seoul, which was referred to as the "Southern Capital".
At the beginning of the Joseon Dynasty, the capital was moved
to Seoul (also known as Hanyang and later as Hanseong), where
it remained until the fall of the dynasty.
Originally, the city was entirely surrounded by a massive circular
wall (a 20-foot-high circular stone fortress) to provide its citizens
security from wild animals such as the tiger, thieves and attacks.
The city has grown beyond those walls and although the wall no
longer stands (except in the mountains north of the downtown area),
the gates remain near the downtown district of Seoul, including
most notably Sungnyemun (commonly known as Namdaemun) and Honginjimun
(commonly known as Dongdaemun). During the Joseon dynasty, the
gates were opened and closed each day, accompanied by the ringing
of large bells.
During the Korean War, Seoul changed hands between the Chinese-backed
North Korean forces and the UN-backed South Korean forces several
times, leaving the city heavily damaged after the war. One estimate
of the extensive damage states that after the war, at least 191,000
buildings, 55,000 houses, and 1,000 factories lay in ruins. In
addition, a flood of refugees had entered Seoul during the war,
swelling the population of Seoul and its metropolitan area to
an estimated 2.5 million, more than half of them homeless.
Following the war, Seoul was the focus of an immense reconstruction
and modernization effort due mainly to necessity, but also due
in part to the symbolic nature of Seoul as the political and economic
centre of Korea. Today, the population of the Seoul area makes
up 24% of the total population of South Korea, and Seoul ranks
seventh in the world in terms of the number of Fortune 500 transnational
companies headquartered there.
Seoul was the host city of the 1988 Summer Olympics as well as
one of the venues of the Football World Cup 2002.
Relocation of the capital
On August 11, 2004, the South Korean Government announced that
the capital city would be located in the Gongju area, approximately
120km south of Seoul, as of 2007, to ease the population pressure
on Seoul and to get the government to a safer distance from North
Korea. The Government estimated that the move would probably not
be completed before 2012. Although part of the election manifesto,
this plan ignited nationwide controversy. On October 21, 2004,
the Constitutional Court ruled that the special law for the relocation
of the capital is unconstitutional since the relocation is a serious
national matter requiring national referendum or revision of the
constitution, at which point most people thought the debate was
over.
However, the South Korean Government later announced plans to
move almost all national government branches, except the Executive
Branch, to Gongju, thus avoiding violation of the Constitutional
Court ruling and still allow Seoul to be a National Capital in
name only. The plan has yet to go forward and no new announcements
have arisen since then.
>>People
Inhabitants of Seoul are called Seoulites.
>>Geography
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. For many years the stream had been
covered by concrete but it has recently restored. To the north
of downtown is Bukhan Mountain, and to the south is the smaller
Namsan.
Yeouido island with highest building in Korea called Building
63.
Further south are the old suburbs of Yongsan-gu and Mapo-gu, and
the Han River. Across the Han River are the newer and wealthier
areas of Gangnam-gu and surrounding neighbourhoods. 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 famous indoor mall area. Yeouido is a large
island in the middle of the Han River, downstream from Gangnam-gu,
and is home to the National Assembly, the 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 World are located in Songpa-gu,
on the south side of the Han River, upstream from Gangnam-gu.
South of the sprawling Gangnam area are Namhan Mountain and Gwanak
Mountain.
In addition to the many districts, the skyline of Seoul is also
quite amazing. Notable buildings include the Korea Finance Building,
Namsan Tower, the World Trade Center, the six-skyscraper residence
Tower Palace, and I-Park Apartments. These and various high-rise
office buildings, like the Star Tower, and Jongro Tower, dominate
Seoul's skyline. The number of high-rise buildings in Seoul is
among the highest in Asia, after cities like Hong Kong and Singapore.
Urban and civil planning was a key concept when Seoul was first
designed to serve as a capital in the 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. Today, there are nine major subway lines stretching for
more than 250 kilometres, with a tenth line being planned.
There are many significant streets to Seoul, but the most historically
significant is Jongno, meaning "Bell Street." This bell
signaled the different times of the day and therefore controlled
the four gates to the city. It is still intact in its original
form, and hit ceremonially at 0:00 every New Year's Day. Seoul's
most important streetcar line ran along Jongno until it was replaced
by Line 1 of the Seoul subway system in the early 1970s. Other
notable streets in downtown Seoul include Euljiro, Sejongno, Chungmuro,
Yulgongno, and Toegyero.
>>Historic sites and tourism
The Joseon Dynasty built
the "Five Grand Palaces" in Seoul, namely:
Changdeokgung
Changgyeonggung
Deoksugung
Gyeongbokgung
Gyeonghuigung
There is also a minor palace:
Unhyeongung
Temples and shrines:
Jongmyo
Dongmyo
Munmyo
Jogyesa
Hwagyesa
Museums and galleries:
National Folk Museum
War Memorial
Outside the metropolitan area:
Samjeondo Monument
Namhansanseong
Bukhansanseong
Namsan Park
Sung Joon Park
>>Higher education
There are a large number of universities in Seoul. 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.
The other universities of the city include:
Chungang University
Chugye University for the Arts
Dankuk University
Dongduk University
Dongduk Women's University
Duksung Women's University
Ewha Womans University
Hankuk University of Foreign Studies
Hansung University
Hanyang University
Hanyang Women's University
Hongik University
Induk University
Kang-woon University
Konkuk University
Kookmin University
Korea National Open University
Korean National University of Physical Education
Korean National University of Arts
Korea University
Kyunggi University
Kyunghee University
Myongji University
Sahmyook University
Sangmyung University
Sejong University (named after King Sejong the Great of Joseon)
Seogyeong University
Seoul National University
Seoul Women's University
Sogang University
Songshin Women's University
Sookmyung Women's University
Soongsil University
Sung Kyun Kwan University
University of Seoul
Yonsei University
>>Transportation
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 Shinuiju was completed. Ever since then, Seoul's
transportation has greatly diversified, allowing it to become
one of the greatest transportation hubs in Asia. Seoul has nine
subway lines, nearly 200 bus routes and six major highways that
interlink every district of the city with one another and with
the neighbouring metropolitan area, which is the world's most
populous. The majority of the population now uses the public transportation
system due to its convenience. Seoul is also linked to several
other major South Korean cities by the KTX bullet train, one of
Asia's fastest high-speed train, making commuting between cities
extremely convenient for commuters and domestic tourists. 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.
Airports
There are two airports that serve Seoul. Gimpo Airport, formerly
in Gimpo but now annexed to Seoul, was the only airport for Seoul
from its original construction during the Korean War. Multiple
airports were built in and around Seoul immediately before, during,
and after the war. The most famous was on Yoido; that airport
is long gone, but the area occupied by the runway of that airport
makes up the large mall on Yoido where annual military reviews
take place. It long served as the country’s gateway to the
world.
Upon opening in March, 2001, Incheon International Airport in
Incheon has changed the role of Gimpo Airport significantly. Incheon
is now responsible for almost all international flights, while
Gimpo serves mostly domestic flights (with the exception of flights
to Haneda Airport in Tokyo). 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. It was recently voted by
IATA as the number one airport in the world. The two airports
are linked to Seoul by a highway.
>>Recreation
Due to the efforts of the government in regard with the environment,
Seoul's air pollution levels are now on par with those of Tokyo
and far lower than those of Beijing. Seoul's metropolitan area
accommodates six major parks, including Seoul Forest, that opened
in mid-2005. The Seoul Metropolitan Area is also surrounded by
a green belt aimed to prevent the city from sprawling out over
the neighbouring Gyeonggi Province. These lush green areas are
frequently sought after by people resting on the weekend and during
vacations. In addition, the Seoul area is also home to three amusement
parks: Lotte World, Seoul Land, and Everland, located in the nearby
suburb of Yongin. Of these, Lotte World is the most frequently
visited. Other recreation centres include the former Olympic and
World Cup stadium the Korea Finance Building, and the City Hall
public lawn.
>>Sports
Seoul hosted the 1988 Olympic Games and was one of the host cities
of the 2002 Football World Cup.
Seoul is the home of 2 baseball teams in the KBO: the Doosan Bears
and the LG Twins
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MORE INFO
Seoul City Government Website
http://english.seoul.go.kr/
TEACHING ENGLISH ABROAD INFORMATION
Currency Converter
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World Time
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International Calling
Find international calling codes to make international
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Banking
Banking information on how to setup an account in Asia.
Find how to start an account in China, Korea, Japan and
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http://www.esljobproject.com/esl_info/banking.html
Flights
Find Asian travel Agents while teaching overseas. ESL
Job Project. Find ESL teaching jobs in Korea, China, Taiwan,
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http://www.esljobproject.com/esl_info/flights.html
Things to Bring
ESL Teacher suggestions on what to bring to Asia. What
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http://www.esljobproject.com/esl_info/things_to_bring.html
Links
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