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SEOUL, REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Seoul is the capital of South Korea and the economic and
cultural center of the Republic of Korea. Situated on the lower Han River the
capital is only 35 miles from the Demilitarized Zone established with North
Korea in 1953. The heart of Seoul is dominated by a city center that dates to
the Yi dynasty state, which began in the 14th Century. Although skyscrapers now
exist, the central city retains the layout of the royal capital which was
designed according to traditional Chinese principles of city panning -- main
streets running north-south and east-west. City Hall Plaza is the hub of much
of the economic activity in Seoul, with two subway lines converging in this
area, and many corporate office buildings, hotels, banks, and department
stores. Seoul also achieved international recognition when it hosted the 1988
Summer Olympics.
It is estimated that Seoul was founded over two thousand years
ago, with three warring kingdoms battling for control of Seoul because of its
strategic location in the Han River valley. What is today modern-day Seoul was
first occupied in 554 and called "Hanyang" -- a name used for Seoul ever since.
In 1068, King Munjong made Hanyang one of several regional sub-capitals, and
when the Yi Dynasty overthrew the Koryo ruling house in 1392, Hanyang was
renamed and became the capital two years later. |
