Seoul, the Capital of Korea
Seoul, which means “capital”, was founded in 18 BC by the kingdom of Baekje and since then it has been the capital of different kingdoms. The one which took possession of Seoul was always the dominant state in the Korean peninsula. In 1394 Seoul again became the capital under the Joseon Dynasty (1392 – 1910) and Seoul remains the capital of Korea to this day.
Miracle on the Han River
After the Korean War (1950-1953), the country was completely destroyed. Most people had next to nothing and there was no infrastructure and no resources. However, Korea achieved economic growth and improved living standard with transformation from dictatorship to democracy. This rapid improvement in economy was called “Miracle on the Han River”, which named after the phrase, “Miracle on the Rhine” of Germany. Han River flows across Seoul and it is used as a symbol of Korea. Indeed, the Han River was the center of reconstruction and modernization.
1988 Summer Olympic Games and the 2002 FIFA World Cup
It was the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympic Games which brought Korea the first international attention since Korean War. Then in 2002 Korea successfully co-hosted the World Cup with Japan. These two events were the opportunity for Korea to earn international recognition and to create a better image of Korea around the world.
A Mega City Worthy for Visiting
Today, Seoul is one of the largest cities in the world with nearly 25 million citizens in the metropolitan area and 10 million in the city area. Seoul is the hub of fashion, art, culture, history and commerce. Seoul offers the cosmopolitan buzz and vibe to anyone who visits and it has very good infrastructure and high security.
