41 Facts About Seoul

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, and presently South Korea.

Seoul is surrounded by a mountainous and hilly landscape, with Bukhan Mountain located on the northern edge of the city.

Seoul is first recorded as Wiryeseong, the capital of Baekje in the northeastern area of modern Seoul.

Pungnaptoseong, an earthen wall located southeast Seoul, is widely believed to have been at the main Wiryeseong site.

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The city has grown beyond those walls and although the wall no longer stands, the gates remain near the downtown district of Seoul, including most notably Sungnyemun and Heunginjimun .

Seoul became the first city in East Asia to introduce electricity in the royal palace, built by the Edison Illuminating Company and a decade later Seoul implemented electrical street lights.

Seoul is within measurable distance of becoming the highest, most interesting and cleanest city in the East.

Until 1972, Seoul was claimed by North Korea as its de jure capital, being specified as such in Article 103 of the 1948 North Korean constitution.

Seoul has become the economic, political and cultural hub of the country, with several Fortune Global 500 companies, including Samsung, SK Holdings, Hyundai, POSCO and LG Group headquartered there.

Seoul was the host city of the 1986 Asian Games and 1988 Summer Olympics as well as one of the venues of the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

Seoul has a humid continental climate influenced by the monsoons .

The suburbs of Seoul are generally cooler than the center of Seoul because of the urban heat island effect.

Seoul is the strongest hotspot of greenhouse gas emissions in the country and according to satellite data, the persistent carbon dioxide anomaly over the city is one of the strongest in the world.

Seoul proper is noted for its population density, which is almost twice that of New York City and eight times greater than Rome.

The population of Seoul has been dropping since the early 1990s, the reasons being the high costs of living, urban sprawling to Gyeonggi region's satellite bed cities and an aging population.

Seoul is home to the world's largest modern university founded by a Buddhist Order, Dongguk University.

The Gangnam district is one of the most affluent areas in Seoul and is noted for the fashionable and upscale Apgujeong-dong and Cheongdam-dong areas and the COEX Mall.

Seoul has been described as the world's "most wired city", ranked first in technology readiness by PwC's Cities of Opportunity report.

Seoul is among the world leaders in Internet connectivity, being the capital of South Korea, which has the world's highest fiber-optic broadband penetration and highest global average internet speeds of 26.

Since 2015, Seoul has provided free Wi-Fi access in outdoor spaces through a 47.

Traditional heart of Seoul is the old Joseon dynasty city, now the downtown area, where most palaces, government offices, corporate headquarters, hotels, and traditional markets are located.

Urban and civil planning was a key concept when Seoul was first designed to serve as a capital in the late 14th century.

Seoul has been surrounded by walls that were built to regulate visitors from other regions and protect the city in case of an invasion.

The Fortress Wall of Seoul was built early in the Joseon dynasty for protection of the city.

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World Trade Center Seoul, located in Gangnam District, hosts various expositions and conferences.

In 2010 Seoul was designated the World Design Capital for the year.

Seoul is home to 115 museums, including four national and nine official municipal museums.

War Memorial, one of nine municipal museums in Seoul, offers visitors an educational and emotional experience of various wars in which Korea was involved, including Korean War themes.

Seoul is home to the world's largest indoor amusement park, Lotte World.

Seoul is home of the major South Korean networks KBS, SBS, and MBC.

Seoul is a major center of South Korean sports, and has the largest number of professional sports teams and facilities in the country.

Seoul hosted the 1986 Asian Games, known as Asiad, 1988 Olympic Games, and Paralympic Games.

Taekwondo is South Korea's national sport and Seoul is the location of the Kukkiwon, the world headquarters of taekwondo, as well as the World Taekwondo Federation.

The Seoul Express Bus Terminal, Central City Terminal and Seoul Nambu Terminal are located in the district of Seocho District.

Seoul has a comprehensive urban railway network of 21 rapid transit, light metro and commuter lines that interconnects every district of the city and the surrounding areas of Incheon, Gyeonggi province, western Gangwon province, and northern Chungnam province.

Seoul is connected to every major city in South Korea by rail.

Seoul is served by two international airports, Incheon International Airport and Gimpo International Airport.

Seoul is home to the majority of South Korea's most prestigious universities, including Seoul National University, Yonsei University, Korea University.

Seoul is home to various specialized schools, including three science high schools, and six foreign language High Schools.

Seoul is a member of the Asian Network of Major Cities 21 and the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group.