Seoul, Korean Soul officially the Soul-t’ukpyolsi Special city in Seoul. City and capital city of South Korea the Republic of Korea. It is situate in the Han River Han-gang in the northwestern portion of the country. And the city’s center about 37 miles away from to the Yellow Sea. Seoul is the economic, cultural, and political center for South Korea.

In addition to an interregnum of a short duration (1399-1405). Seoul was the capital of Korea from 1394 until the official division of the nation in 1948. The name itself is now believe to refer to capital in the Korean language.

The city was refer to as Seoul in Korean in as well as during the Choson the dynasty (1392-1910). As well as the time during the period of Japanese administration (1910-45). But the official names during the latter period included Hansong or Kyongsong respectively.

Seoul was also popularly throughout the 14th century, was officially refer to as Hanyang. Seoul was officially adopted as the name for the city when the city was officially name South Korea in 1948. The area is 2.34 square miles.

Seoul Landscape

The region along the Han River that is now being occupied by Seoul. Lived in by people since the beginning of time. And was of strategic significance for the different kingdoms who ruled the Korean peninsula. It developed into an urban area in the early historical period. Seoul was establish as the capital city of the nation of unified nations at the time of 1394 under the Gen. Yi Song-gye who was one of the founding members of the Choson dynasty.

The site was a protected natural redoubt which was also a perfect location for a capital town located in the middle of the peninsula. And abutting to the navigable Han River, one of the major rivers that flowed through the peninsula to the Yellow Sea.

The connection this riverine location with both the inland waterways as well as the coastal sea route was significant to Yi. Since they the main routes through which grains, taxes, and other goods were move. Apart from the practical benefits this site was place in accordance with the p’ungsujirisol the ancient beliefs in geomancy.

Center Of Seoul

The location selected by Yi is, over 500 years on, the center of Seoul. It lies immediately to the to the north along the Han River in the lowland of the topographic basin which is surround by low mountains with a height of around 1000 meters in the height. The natural defense benefits in the area were bolster just two years after the city’s establishment with the building of an 11.2-mile wall that ran along the hills that surround it.

Today, the remains of fortifications have become a popular tourist attraction. In the same way, the Ch’onggye River tiny tributary of Han that flows through the old city center but was later cover by expressways and streets during the 20th century, has been discover and restore. it was once the center of daily activities for many of the city’s residents but is now a river park as well as it is a popular tourist destination.

The original city district was design to house the majority expansion of the city through the mid 20th century. Although the city’s population had increased to about 100,000 in 1429, it had increased to 250,000 at the date of the Japanese incorporation in the year 1910, which was nearly five centuries after.

First Of A Series Of Expansion Cycles

The modernization plan that was initiate by the Japanese start the first of a series of expansion cycles in the 20th century. They expanded the city’s boundaries through successive phases, so that they now include two banks on the Han River, as well as the banks of a number of tributary rivers.

The city’s borders now form an irregular circle that’s 8-12 miles (13 to 20 kilometers) away from the initial site with the exception of the northwest which is where they cut to a half distance. The northwestern border is only 25 miles (40 km) south-east within the demilitarized zone that separates North as well as South Korea.

Seoul has seen rapid growth since the end of the Korean War (1950-53). The current border of Seoul is mostly that which was formed in 1963 and comprises an area of about twice that of the area it had in 1948. Suburbs have developed within the countryside around the city. Moreover, satellite cities such as Songnam (Seongnam), Suwon (Suweon) Suwon (Suweon), and Inch’on (Incheon) have experienced significant expansion as Seoul has expanded.

Han River Extensively Developed

Since the 1970s, the region that lies to the south of Seoul that lies south of the Han River has been extensively developed. The area is referred to in the region as Kangnam (Gangnam, South River) (also known as South City as contrasted from Kangpuk (Gangbuk, North River) as well as North City, north of the Han.

The wealthy region is home to about half of the city’s inhabitants and, in turn, provides 50% of the tax revenues for the local government. Kangnam is distinguished by high-rise apartments as well as new office buildings and is located through Teheran Street. Kangnam is growing to become a second business district in Seoul and is a magnet for business activity in areas such as design, tourism, design, fashion and information technology and other emerging technology industries.

A greenbelt surrounding a substantial portion of the city’s boundaries was first created in the 1970s, restricts further expansion of the urban area. This has led to the urbanization process has spread to places beyond the greenbelt, resulting in new suburban areas and satellite cities, mostly on the Seoul Pusan (Busan) expressway to the south, and in the Han River to the east and west.

Urbanization as a phenomenon started in the mid-1980s when people from the upper middle class started moving to isolated suburbs in rural areas and extending their commutes each day for one hour or more.

Climate Of Seoul

Seoul’s climate is characterized by the wide variation in temperature. The coldest month, January has an average temperature of 26°F and the hottest month is August. It has an average temperature of 78 degrees.

The annual rainfall within the city ranges from about 54 inches (1,370 millimeters) with a significant amount during summer. The air polluting the river, and within Yongdung-p’o (Yeongdeungpo) the industrial zone in the southwest, to the to the south of the river, is now a significant issue that is largely caused due to the increased quantity of factories and automobiles. For a long time, the Han was a highly polluted area, however, since the beginning of the 1980s, pollution levels have decreased substantially through measures to regulate the water levels of the river as well as through the construction of massive processing facilities.

Seoul City Design

The street patterns of the city’s central area in the north are based built on a rectangular grid. Buildings and streets extend from the site of the city’s former wall’s four main gates: Bukdaemun situated near the summit of Mount Pugak (Bugak) in the northern region in the center of Seoul, Tongdaemun Namdaemun is classified as a national treasure, that was destroyed by a wooden structure through a fire in the year 2008. The renovated gate opened in 2013 as well as Sodaemun.

From these gates, the city extends to the suburbs (dong) of Mia and Suyu to the north, Ch’ongnyangni in the east. and the neighbourhoods (gu) of Yongsan and Yongdung-p’o to the south, and the Map’o district and the Hongje neighborhood in the West. Main streets, including Ulchi-ro (Euljiro) or Chong-no (Jongno) and Chong-no (Jongno) are located east-west however. Towards the crest of the hills surrounding them there are topographic irregularities that have an influence on the layout.

Outside of the basin zone of the central city however there are many of radiating streets. That are connect by a set connect circular streets. The majority of government office buildings are located on Sejong-no although Sejong-no is the location of the National Assembly building. Situate on Youi (Yeoui) Island, Department stores, banks as well as other offices for business are situate along Namdaemun-no as well as the T’aep’yong No (Taehyeong).

Opposite Side Of The Han River

The two areas of Seoul that are located on the opposite side of the Han River show its past growth. The old city, often call the North City, found in 1394. The year it chosen as the capital city of the Choson dynasty. The central district, which is locate inside its four gates was design and is a rectangular street layout.

Kyong Bok (Gyeong Bok) Palace, the principal Palace that belonged to the dynasty. Located in the north-central portion of the district. Chongmyo’s royal temple Chongmyo (Jongmyo) along with The Sajikdan (the Royal altar) are situate to the west and east, respectively. The city that was not enclose by the walls and four gates has been growing slowly. And to a lesser extent up to the start at the turn of the century. In 1934, the Japanese regime introduced a new city-plan system, but it targeted primarily the Japanese neighborhoods near the railways.

The significant increase in population after World War II led the city to expand the roads system of the city. However the foundation of the previous city-plan system remains.

In the late 1960s, a plan was formulate to modernize and expand Seoul. Which include the purchase of farmland to the south of the Han River from neighboring provinces. But, with the exception of those in the Yongdung-p’o district located in southwestern Seoul. The land that was to the south of the Han River remained green until the 1970s. Thanks to the financial backing from the central government, South City was able to grow. South City grew to a number of five million within just one generation.

Health And Municipal Services

The facilities for water and sewage disposal being constructed to serve the majority of constructed areas. The medical facilities are decent and there are numerous general hospitals. As well as small clinics, along with a number of pharmacies and drugstores. Traditional doctors who practice herbal medicine are the alternative of Western medical practices.

Seoul Education

Legally, compulsory education is applicable only to the elementary school. However, in practice, the majority of elementary school graduates are award the benefit of secondary education. About half of South Korea’s major universities and research institutes including Seoul National University. Yonsei University, Sook Myung Women’s University, and Ewha Womans University are located in Seoul.

Life In The Cultural Sphere

Seoul is the country’s main cultural center. It is home to Seoul’s National Academy of Arts, the National Academy of Arts. The National Academy of Sciences and a majority of the learned societies in the country and libraries. It is home to the National Classical Music Institute, involved in conserving traditional court music. From Korea and the development of musicians and musicians, is and is complement by two orchestras that are Western style.

Additionally, there is two national theatres as well as an opera house, as well as numerous museums. Rhat are both private and public. Which include the principal section of the National Museum of Korea. On the grounds of the Kyong Bok (Gyeong Bok) Palace. It is also home to the Sejong Center for Performing Arts is located southwest of the palace. A venue for performances, concerts as well as exhibitions. It is also the home of an academy for arts.