Welcome to Seoul!

Seoul – officially the Seoul Special City – is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea, forming the heart of the Seoul Capital Area, which includes the surrounding Incheon metropolis and Gyeonggi province, the world's 15th largest city and fourth largest metropolitan area. It is home to over half of all South Koreans along with 678,102 international residents.
Situated on the Han River, Seoul's history stretches back more than two thousand years when it was founded in 18 BCE by Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. It continued as the capital of Korea under the Joseon Dynasty. 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. Seoul is surrounded by mountains, the tallest being Mt. Bukhan, the world's most visited national park per square foot. Modern landmarks include the iconic N Seoul Tower, the gold-clad 63 Building, the neofuturistic Dongdaemun Design Plaza, Lotte World, the world's second largest indoor theme park, Moonlight Rainbow Fountain, the world's longest bridge fountain and the Sevit Floating Islands. The birthplace of K-pop and the Korean Wave, Seoul received over 10 million international visitors in 2014, making it the world's 9th most visited city and 4th largest earner in tourism.

Seoul hosted the 1986 Asian Games, 1988 Summer Olympics, 2002 FIFA World Cup, the Miss Universe 1980 pageant, and the 2010 G-20 Seoul summit. A UNESCO City of Design, Seoul was named the 2010 World Design Capital.

Attraction

The city of Seoul cherishes its heritage and carefully maintains its historical monuments, royal palaces and temples. In addition, Seoul is a city on the move, constantly revitalizing itself, balancing ultra-modern renewal with careful restoration of its ancient buildings and preservation of the environment. The mountains surrounding Seoul are breathtaking and the Hangang River flowing through the center of the city offers scenic recreational escapes.

Shopping

Seoul is a shopper’s heaven. The city has numerous shopping malls, department stores, duty free shops, and traditional markets, making shopping available 24/7 all year-round. The streets of Gangnam, Cheongdam, and Shinsadong offer world famous brands and designer shops; Insadong and Namdaemun sell traditional handmade crafts and affordable products; and the Coex Mall, Myeongdong and Dongdaemun areas are among the most popular shopping spots in the city.

Food

Korea is a country abundant with interesting and delicious eats. Wherever you go, you are destined to meet commonly found Korean food or local specialties to the region. In addition, Korea’s dining experience has not only remained true to its tradition but also becoming more diverse, encompassing many international recipes and exotic looks.

Seoul’s food does wonders in attracting people to the city. Whatever you have, wherever you are, the food will never fail to satisfy you. From fine dining to casual street food, you will find traditional Korean food, a variety of western cuisine, and fusion cuisine served all throughout the city at restaurants that make you feel like eating at home.