Seoul Introduction

City Introduction

Seoul, short for Seoul City, was called Hansung in the past. It is the capital of the Republic of Korea, the largest city in the Korean peninsula and one of the major financial capitals in Asia. It is also the center of politics, economics, technology, and culture in the Republic of Korea.

Seoul is located in the middle of Korean peninsula, around the Han River area, in the northwest of the Republic of Korea. Covering a land of 605 square kilometers, it is a city composed of 25 districts and with high population density.

The main ethnicity is Korean, and the general language is Korean.

Historical Culture

Southeast of Seoul in ancient times was the capital of the Paekche Kingdom, named as Wiryeseong city or Hansanseong city. After the demise of the kingdom, the area was taken up by Shilla, and the name then changed to Hansanseong State or Hanyag State.

In 1392, founder Yi Sung Gye established the Korean dynasty in Kaesong, and moved to Hanyag in 1394, which is present day Seoul. After the Civil War, the economy of Seoul developed rapidly; in the 1988 the city hosted the Olympic Games and jointly hosted the World CUP with Tokyo in 2002.


Natural Environment

Seoul is located in the middle of the Korean Peninsula, nestled in a basin, and downstream of Hangang River, which divides the city into two parts. Surrounding the city are low mountains and hills, around 500 meters in above sea level.

Climate Change

Seoul is classed as having a temperate monsoon climate with four distinct seasons; the average temperature is around 11.8℃. Spring and autumn are suitable for tourism with warm climate and little rain. Average temperature in summer is around 20℃- 27℃, while, in winter, the average temperature is about -5℃~0℃.

Holiday Arrangements:

New Year's Day: January 1st

Spring Festival: January 1st in lunar calendar

Trinity Sunday: March 1st

Children's Day: May 5th

Buddha Day: April 8th in lunar calendar

Memorial Day: June 6th

Independence Day: August 15th

Mid-Autumn Festival: August 15th in lunar calendar

Foundation Day: October 3rd

Christmas Holiday: December 25th