Seoul, the capital of South Korea, used to be called Seoul. It is located in the Han River basin in the northwest of Korea, in the middle of the Korean Peninsula.
The name of Seoul as the capital of Korea is very young as it started only in January 2005. Its former name, Seoul, has a long history, as it was changed to Seoul in 1394 when King Yi Seong-gye of Joseon moved the capital to Hanyang for more than 600 years.
Although the city was severely damaged during the Japanese colonial period and the Korean War, modern buildings have sprung up in Seoul since the 1960s, including skyscrapers, the Seoul Tower, and various museums.
The Cheonggyecheon River, located in the center of the city, is more than 10 kilometers long, and its clear water leaps forward with a joyful note, finally flowing into the Han River. It is shaded with thick trees on both sides, making every moment here enchanting. Such a hidden scenery keeps the modern city in balance with nature and makes people enjoy a rare leisure after a busy work day, which is loved by the public.
Located in Namsan, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Seoul Tower was built in 1975 and is a famous tourist spot in Seoul. It was built at a cost of 15 billion won and is equipped with lighting for different seasons and different events. At night, six searchlights create the "Seoul Flower" pattern in the sky, which was famous at that time.
The builders of Seoul created the city with its history in mind, combining ancient architecture with modern art to create a unique atmosphere.
Gyeongbokgung Palace was the main palace of the Lee Dynasty, the last unified dynasty in the history of the Korean Peninsula, and is located at 161 Sajik-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, the first of the five major palaces in Seoul, and the political center of the early Joseon Dynasty. Gyeongbokgung Palace was restored in 1995 to remove traces of Japanese rule, and in 2010 the Chinese plaque was restored to the Gwanghwamun Gate.
Located between Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace, and Jongmyo, Bukchon Hanok Village is a dense concentration of traditional Hanok houses and the most representative place to live in Seoul, known as a street museum in the center of the city.
It is narrow and low, but it is cohesive with the structured and beautiful Korean houses, and the Bukchon Hanok has continued to develop as a new type of urban housing with a human touch.
The Ewha Stairs, which lead to the Ewha Mural, is a characteristic street in Seoul, known for having appeared in Korean dramas many times. The mural village is lined with stone walls and walls painted with graffiti, giving the impression that Seoul is a city full of art under the artist's brush.
The fusion of history and modernity has become a recurring theme and an important piece of the city that has become timeless in Seoul. This combination of historically inspired and modern elements will give Seoul a futuristic style for many years to come.
Many famous companies emerged in Seoul in the last century: Samsung Group, LG Group, Hyundai Group, etc.
Founded in 1938, Samsung Group is one of the four largest Korean conglomerates ranked by strength and extensive business scope, with offices in more than 70 countries and regions around the world.
LG Group is an international conglomerate based in Seoul. The group is involved in various fields such as electronics, skiing, finance, and telecommunications, and has more than 300 offices in more than 170 countries worldwide.
Hyundai Group, with sales of $158 billion, is still the pride of Koreans and is a pivotal player in the national economy of Korea, making it the rightful number one company.
Thanks to these outstanding companies, Korea's economy took off in the 1970s from a backward and poor base, and was known as the "Miracle of the Han River".
At the end of 2005, the total output of the Seoul region reached $198.4 billion, accounting for 22-82% of Korea's total GDP of $869.6 billion, and if all of the Seoul metropolitan area were included, the figure would reach $412 billion, accounting for 47-39% of the national total.
In the same year, exports amounted to more than $20 billion, accounting for 8-6% of the national total, and imports were more than $50 billion, accounting for 19-5% of the national total, rising at an alarming rate.
In 2018, Seoul's GDP accounted for 21% of the country's GDP, or about $332 billion, while Shanghai's GDP reached $47 billion in the same period, but in terms of per capita GDP, Seoul reached more than $30,000 in 2018, while Shanghai's per capita is more than $20,000, a difference of 10,000. This of course is inseparable from the ingenuity plus diligence of Koreans, especially Seoul, and the large population of Shanghai.
In the process, for example, they really gave Korea a once-in-a-lifetime rise by hosting the 1988 Seoul Olympics and the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan. Even though there were regrettable incidents such as the disgraceful "black whistle" at the Olympics, it could not overshadow the take-off it brought to Seoul and Korea as a whole. Its impact, like the "Hand in Hand" Olympic anthem, took the world by storm and touched everyone's heart. Seoul became the second city to host the Olympic Games after Tokyo.
The 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup opening ceremony held in Seoul (Seoul) raised Seoul's international image and status, especially the Korean team's performance on the field, which achieved unprecedented results and boosted the morale of Koreans. Since then, Korean soccer has been among the world's top teams.
The average price in 2019 is 40,000 to 50,000 per square foot. So there is also a large number of young people fleeing Seoul to develop abroad. But no matter what, it cannot shake its position as a first-tier city in the world. Today Seoul is a highly digital city, with the highest internet speed and digital opportunity index in the world.
Seoul is a veritable city of universities, with institutions of higher learning such as Seoul National University, Hanyang University, and Sungkyunkwan University.
Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Kim Young-sam, Yoon Seok-yeol and many other Korean presidents came from Seoul National University, which is known as the cradle of Korean presidents. It was ranked fourth in the 2013 and 2014 QS Asian University Rankings and 36th in the 2022 QS World University Rankings.
When in Seoul, the local cuisine is not to be missed.
"Kimchi is a typical Korean fermented food made from red chili peppers and is usually eaten with rice or cooked with kimchi and other ingredients.
"Cold noodles, especially known as "watery cold noodles" and "mixed cold noodles" flavored with chili sauce, are a popular substitute for rice in any season. Cold Noodles Cold noodles" are available at various popular restaurants, and a representative one is "Yoraiya" in Jung-gu, Seoul, where a lot of people dine there.
"Stone bowl bibimbap" is a dish that originated in Korea. The rice is covered with bean sprouts, meat, or eggs and mixed with chili sauce, making it the best food. It is one of the highest traditional foods in Korea. You can find it everywhere in Seoul's food courts.
Seoul's 'yakiniku' is a delicious dish made by soaking beef or pork in a sauce made of soy sauce, sugar, onion, garlic, salt and pepper.
There is much more to Seoul's cuisine, and you can only appreciate its wonders if you try it for yourself.
So, although there are some unsatisfactory things about Seoul, it is still worth visiting and experiencing in general, don't you think?
