Five out of the 25 "gu" or wards have more than 500,000 residents. Songpa-gu has the biggest population of 668,421. In contrast, Chung-gu has a population of only 129,061. In the past 600 years since Seoul became the capital of the nation in 1394, the population of Seoul has grown 110 times.

It has one of the highest population densities in the world of 17,157 persons/km2.

The number of foreign residents in Seoul as of the end of 1999 is 57,189 or about 0.55 % of Seoul's total population. They include 18,763 Americans, 12,283 Chinese, and 6,332 Japanese. There are people of more than 90 different nationalities currently residing in Seoul, forming a small global village.

ATTRACTIONS

The National Museum of Korea
Located in front of Kyongbokkung(palace), the National Museum of Korea displays Korea's historic treasures and priceless cultural legacies. It contains a total of 120,000 relics of historical value ranging from the prehistoric era to contemporary times, including cultural assets from nearby countries such as Japan and China. It contains a Social Training Center, souvenir shops and other convenience facilities.

The War Memorial
The War Memorial is located in the old site of the Korean Army Headquarters. It is a six-story building with seven exhibition halls. Over 13,000 items related to the Korean and the Vietnam Wars are exhibited in the halls. The outdoor exhibition hall displays more than 100 weapons from other nations. If you go to the war simulation room, you might think that you are in a real war. It gives you the same feeling you would have in a real war with special effects. The names of the soldiers, who died in the Korean and the Vietnam Wars, are carved on two statues standing on both sides of the memorial. In the center of the square "The Statue of Brothers" symbolizes the tragedy of the separation of North and South Korea.

Seoul Olympic Museum
The Olympic commemorative monuments and the Seoul Olympic Museum are preserved well in the park, giving us the inspiration of the Seoul Olympics. World Peace Gate, "Rendezvous in Seoul", "Wall of Glory" and various items in the Seoul Olympic Museum will remain as a great legacy to our descendants.

Royal Museum Located in the Sokchojon Hall of the Toksu-gung Palace, the museum contains more than 600 items of the treasures such as furniture, pottery, accessories, metallic handicrafts, and musical instruments, which were used by the royal family.

Folklore Museum in Lotte World
Major relics were restored and assorted by period focusing on living history of Korea. The exhibits help teach about each period's living conditions and the cultural aspects of Korea.

Taekwondo Memorial Hall
It is located within the National Sports Hall. Three thousand different items related to Taekwondo, such as trophies from major international and national meets including the Olympics, written tributes, medals, victory flags, badges, pendants, newspaper articles, and sounds are exhibited here. Historical significance is very important because it will serve as the mother of the Taekwondo Museum and become historic materials and memories on Taekwondo.

Kyongbokkung(palace)
In 1394, when Seoul was established as the capital of the Choson Dynasty, King Taejo had the Kyongbok Palace constructed as the main palace.

Surrounded by Namsan, Mt. Inwang, and Mt. Bukak, the site of the Palace was regarded the most auspicious according to the then geomantic philosophy. It had 390 halls at the time of the first completion, and other structures were added later, until all the palace buildings were burnt down by invading forces, during the Korean-Japanese War (1592-1599). The Prince Regent Taewon-gun, father of King Kojong, restored the Palace to its current state in the 19th century.

A promenade through the palace also shows you the Amisan and the Chimneys with the Ten Symbols of Longevity in the backyard of the Gyotae hall and the Jagyung hall, respectively, both of which are decorated with beautiful patterns. The symbolical or mythical objects like the Ten Symbols of Longevity and the unicorn and unicorn-lion tell much about things that the Korean forefathers considered important for the prosperity of the country and the dynasty.

Ch'anggyonggung(palace)
Tragically, the Japanese colonists at one time transformed the Changgyong (Palace), one of the five main palaces of the Choson Dynasty, into a leisure facility, including a zoo, botanical garden, etc. But due to the extensive restoration of the original royal residential and governmental structures since 1983, the palace revived again. The cherry trees, which were planted all around the compound in the colonial days, were eliminated entirely. Instead, there grow over 50,000 plants of pine trees, royal azaleas, apricot trees and other Korean native trees.

Han-Gang(River)
The City of Seoul is situated on the lower reaches of the Han River which flows through the central part of the Korean peninsula. The Han River, the fourth longest in Korea only after the Amnok (Yalu), Tuman (Tumen), and Nakdong Rivers, is 497,5 km long. Abundant in water sources, it accounts for about a third of the water supply for both households and industries in the capital area. Rivers in Seoul are comprised mainly of the Han River flowing from east to west and many tributaries flowing into the Han River. Major tributaries include Ch'onggye-ch'on ("ch'on" means stream), Chungnang-ch'on and Moraenae to the north of the Han River; and Songnae-ch'on, Tan-ch'on, and Anyang-ch'on to the south of the Han River.

Seoul Grand Park
There are not only over 366 kinds of animals, but also a botanical garden, thick forest, National Museum of Contemporary Art, and a camp for the youth in Seoul Grand Park. Seoul Land, a part of the park, is an amusement park, and is divided into 5 zones. It features Black Hole 2000, which is the fastest and longest roller coaster in Korea. Taking either the Elephant Train or King Kong Bus from the main entrance of the park to Seoul Land is a unique experience you can have only here.