5 Facts You Didn’t Know About Seoul, South Korea’s Capital City

Seoul is an important city for cultural, political, and musical reasons. Any fan of K-pop needs to understand at least a little bit about Seoul: what it is, where it is, and why it’s so important. It’s pretty much the Hollywood of K-pop. Here are 10 facts you didn’t know about Seoul, South Korea.

 

1.Seoul is over 2,000 years old

 

Seoul, with a history spanning over 2,000 years, became a capital under Baekje in 18 BC, one of Korea’s Three Kingdoms. It maintained its role as a pivotal center of governance for subsequent Korean kingdoms like Goryeo and Joseon. It was formally designated as the capital of the Joseon dynasty in 1394, then known as Hanseong. Seoul endured the aftermath of the Korean War in the mid 1900s, undergoing extensive reconstruction and emerging as a modern, technologically advanced capital city.

 

2.Seoul Has a Living Historical District 

 

Bukchon Hanok Village in Central Seoul’s Jongno District has 900 houses called hanoks. Traditional Korean houses with wooden frames and tiled roofs, they’ve been preserved over their 600-year history. Despite being historical buildings, they’re still inhabited. 

 

3.Seoul is Considered a Megacity

 

To be classified as a megacity, a city must have a population exceeding 10 million people. Soul meets that classification. Seoul is by far South Korea’s biggest city and is comparable to Tokyo. Around 20% of all South Koreans live in and around the Seoul metropolitan area (dubbed the Seoul Capital Area, or SCA). Seoul’s population, combined with its neighbors Incheon and Gyeonggi Province, balloons its number of citizens to over 26 million.

 

4.Seoul Is Important in the E-Sports Industry

 

In addition to K-dramas and K-pop, South Korea is considered by the gaming industry as the pioneer of e-sports organizations and competitions. Boasting numerous professional teams and tournaments, fans and professional gamers alike flock to Seoul regularly.  as we know it today. Its capital is a hub for e-sports and online games with numerous professional teams, high-profile tournaments, and avid fans.

 

 

5.Seoul Has 5 Historic Palaces

 

Build during the Joseon Dynasty (which lasted from 1392-1910), 5 of Seoul’s most iconic historical sites are actually palaces: 

 

Gyeongbokgung Palace (경복궁) is the largest and was built in 1395. 

 

Changdeokgung Palace (창덕궁) was built in 1405 and has a gorgeous Secret Garden. 

 

Changgyeonggung Palace (창경궁) was built in 1483 for King Sejong, the fourth king of the dynasty. 

 

Deoksugung Palace (덕수궁) was built in 1610 and incorporates both Korean and Western architecture. 

 

Gyeonghuigung Palace (경희궁) was built in 1623 as a royal retreat.