Seoul

Seoul (/soʊl/; Korean: [sʰʌul] (listen); lit. 'Capital'), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.[9] According to the 2020 census, Seoul has a population of 9.9 million people, and forms the heart of the Seoul Capital Area with the surrounding Incheon metropolis and Gyeonggi province. Considered to be a global city and rated as an Alpha – City by Globalization and World Cities Research Network (GaWC),[10] Seoul was the world's fourth largest metropolitan economy in 2014, following Tokyo, New York City and Los Angeles.

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Seoul 서울
Special city
Seoul Special City 서울특별시
Clockwise from top: Seongsan Bridge over the Han River; Deoksugung; Gangnam District; skyline at night; Gyeongdong Market; Cheonggyecheon; and Gyeongbokgung Palace
Flag Seal Coat of arms Wordmark
Motto:  "I • Seoul • U"[1]
Anthem: none[2]
Seoul Seoul (South Korea) Show map of South Korea Seoul Seoul (Asia) Show map of Asia Seoul Seoul (Earth) Show map of Earth
Coordinates: 37°33′36″N 126°59′24″E
Country	South Korea
Area	Seoul Capital
Founded by	Gen. Yi Sŏng-gye
Districts	25 districts
Government
• Type	Mayor–council
• Body	Seoul Metropolitan Government Seoul Metropolitan Council
• Mayor	Oh Se-hoon (People Power)
• National Assembly	49
Area [3]
• Special city	605.21 km2 (233.67 sq mi)
• Metro	12,685 km2 (4,898 sq mi)
Elevation	38 m (125 ft)
Highest elevation (Bukhan Mountain)	836.5 m (2,744.4 ft)
Lowest elevation (Yellow Sea)	0 m (0 ft)
Population  (October 2022)[4]
• Special city	9,443,722
• Rank	1st
• Density	16,000/km2 (40,000/sq mi)
• Metro	26,037,000[5]
• Metro density	2,053/km2 (5,320/sq mi)
• Demonym	Seoulite
• Dialect	Gyeonggi
Time zone	UTC+9 (Korean Standard Time)
Bird	Korean magpie
Color	Seoul Red[6]
Flower	Forsythia
Font	Seoul fonts (Seoul Hangang and Seoul Namsan)[7]
Mascot	Haechi
Tree	Ginkgo
Nominal GDP (Special City)	US$384 billion[8]
Nominal GDP per capita (Special City)	US$39,558[8]
Website	seoul.go.kr

Seoul was rated Asia's most livable city with the second highest quality of life globally by Arcadis in 2015, with a GDP per capita (PPP) of around $40,000. With major technology hubs centered in Gangnam and Digital Media City,[11] the Seoul Capital Area is home to the headquarters of 15 Fortune Global 500 companies, including Samsung,[12] LG, and Hyundai. Ranked seventh in the Global Power City Index and Global Financial Centres Index, the metropolis exerts a major influence in global affairs as one of the five leading hosts of global conferences.[13] Seoul has hosted the 1986 Asian Games, 1988 Summer Olympics, and the 2010 G20 Seoul summit.

Seoul was the capital of various Korean states, including Baekje, Joseon, the Korean Empire, Goryeo (as a secondary capital), and presently South Korea. It is strategically located along the Han River. Seoul's history stretches back over two thousand years, when it was founded in 18 BC by the people of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. The city was later designated the capital of Korea under the Joseon dynasty. Seoul is surrounded by a mountainous and hilly landscape, with Bukhan Mountain located on the northern edge of the city. The Seoul Capital Area contains five UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Changdeok Palace, Hwaseong Fortress, Jongmyo Shrine, Namhansanseong and the Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty.[14] More recently, Seoul has been a major site of modern architectural construction – major modern landmarks include the N Seoul Tower, the 63 Building, the Lotte World Tower, the Dongdaemun Design Plaza, Lotte World, Trade Tower, COEX, IFC Seoul, and the Parc1. Seoul was named the 2010 World Design Capital. It is the birthplace of K-pop and the Korean wave, as it is the heart of Korean culture and massive medias, entertainment firms, and broadcasters.