©Seoul Metropolitan Government
Seoul
Miracle on the Hangang River
Seoul, a city encompassed by the mountains and split down the middle by the Hangang River, is nestled in the central western region of the Korean Peninsula. With its vast river and geographical advantage, Seoul has always been a strategic and central city of many dynasties of the Korean Peninsula and thus, Seoul has been the capital city of South Korea for more than 600 years. Although it suffered through the pain of war and division in the 1950s, Seoul made its best effort to rebuild itself and has developed greatly since the 1960s, making differences beyond imagination across the fields of politics, economy, society, and culture. Seoul, which has now turned into one of the world’s largest metropolises, continues to evolve in order to reinvent itself as a city of international brand value.
A City of Tradition and Modernity
Seoul is a city that seeks the beauty of both tradition and modernity. While Seoul features sleek high-rise buildings and fabulous skylines, the city is home to many royal palaces and cultural heritage sites, creating a unique urban landscape. Not only can tourists get a taste of Seoul’s olden days at the royal palaces and traditional markets, but they also can feel the city’s modernity from beautiful night sceneries in which the lights never sleep, even late at night.
An International Sports City
The 1986 Asian Games and the 1988 Summer Olympics were successfully held in Seoul despite difficult circumstances, including the division of North and South Korea, and served as opportunities to present Seoul to the world as a rapidly developed city. In the 2002 FIFA World Cup, Korea made it to the semifinals, surprising the world yet again. At that time, with passionate cheering of Red Devils, the official fan club of the South Korean national football team, in Gwanghwamun Square, Seoul made a deep impression on people around the world. Seoul citizens’ passion for sports led Seoul to host various international sporting events and Seoul is now ready to host the 2032 Summer Olympic Games.
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Country: South Korea
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Population: 9,751,415 inhab.
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Mayor: Mr. Oh Se-hoon
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Area: 605,21 km2
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Official language: Korean
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Official website: http://english.seoul.go.kr/
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Olympic events: Summer Olympic Games 1988
