With a variance of culture, Sports, cuisine, or economy, South Korea has landmarked its name over the world. K-pop is storming the music from around the globe through the fame of BTS or PSY. We talk about the city where the dreams take their shape- Seoul, the soul of South Korea and its capital city. If you ever plan to go there, let us be enlightened about Seoul:
Image: Flickr
1. Even Larger Than London & Paris
Seoul is the largest metropolis in South Korea. It is ranked as the fourth largest metropolitan economy of the world, even larger than London and Paris.
Source: Wikipedia, Image: Flickr
2. No Chinese Characters
Unlike the names of other cities in Korea, Seoul has no corresponding hanja (Chinese characters used in the Korean language).
Source: Wikipedia
3. From Wiryeseong To Seoul
During the Baekje era, Seoul was called Wiryeseong; during the Goryeo era, it was called Hanyang; during the Joseon era, the area was called Hanyang; while during the colonial era, it was called Keijo. The name Seoul was officially adopted after the partition of Korea in 1948.
Source: britannica.com, Image: Wikimedia
4. City For The Workaholics
South Korea developed massively after the Korean War; becoming one of the largest economies of the world. The credit goes to its work culture. With the most populated city of South Korea, Seoulites are the biggest workaholics. Moreover, the government had to force the law to reduce the working hours of the employees.
Source: Forbes
5. Happy Birthday Seoul
Seoul has its birthday celebration known as “Seoul Street and Art Festival,” originally named as “Hi Seoul Festival” in 2013. It is the festival celebrating 600 years of Seoul as the capital city.
Source: theseoulguide.com, Image: Wikimedia
6. The Wall Of Defence
One of the scenic and favorite walking trails of Seoul, the Seoul Fortress wall was constructed by King Taejo, founder of Joseon Dynasty in 1396. The wall was built with eight entry gates to the kingdom, which was designed to protect the city behind the enemies.
Source: koreaherald.com, Image: Wikimedia
7. In Guinness Talks
Bukhansan Mountain is a mountain in northern Seoul and was designated as the National Park in 1983. It holds the Guinness Book Of World Records for being the national park with the highest number of visitors in per square foot.
Source: visitkorea.or.kr, Image: PixaBay
8. World’s Largest Indoor Theme Park
Seoul is also distinguished to have the world’s largest indoor theme park “Lotte World.”
Source: archive.org, Image: Wikimedia
9. Fed-up Of Buffering? Visit Seoul!
If you kill your time on the internet and then buffering kills your mood; here’s a suggestion, go to Seoul. It serves with the world’s fastest internet speed.
Source: timesfreepress.com
10. The Tech Capital
With the headquarters of the big companies like LG, Samsung, and Hyundai, Seoul is surely a techno-city. If lost in the airport, its robots will guide you; they have also introduced 5G, which is 1000 times faster than LTE and self-driven buses or smart homes.
Source: cnbc.com, Image: Wikimedia
11. The City of Festivals
When in Seoul, visit in month October to walk in the park in Seoul Eulalia Fest or in spring to see the cherry gardens in full bloom in Seoul Flower Fest. You can visit in October and September in the International Firework Festival, or you can light the lanterns in November in Lanterns Festival.
Source: Wikipedia, Image: Flickr
12. World Heritage Sites
Changdeokgung Palace Complex and Jongmyo Shrine in Seoul, are listed in UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Source: unesco.org, Image: Flickr
13. Largest Underground Mall
Seoul is home to Starfield COEX Mall, Asia’s largest underground mall.
Source: tripadvisor.in, Image: Wikimedia
14. World’s Largest Fountain Bridge
In Guinness Book of World Record, “Banpo Bridge” in Seoul, is listed as World’s largest fountain bridge.
Source: guinnessworldrecords.com, Image: Flickr
15. Lock Your Love
Have you heard of locking your love? Namsan Tower, Korea’s first integrated transmission tower; beaming television and radio broadcasts across the capital, is one of the main attractions in Seoul. The fascinating thing is that there is a wooden deck situated at the top of Namsan Tower, famous amongst lovers. There, couples attach their padlocks to the fence in the portrayal of their affection; much akin to that of the Pont de l’Archevêché in Paris.
Source: visitkorea.or.kr, Image: Flickr
16. The City of Side Dishes
When in Seoul, you would get more side dishes than main dishes. A typical Korean meal comes with seven or eight separate side dishes including the squash soup and kimchies.
Source: tripadvisor.in, Image: Wikimedia
17. World’s Best Airport Is Here
Incheon International Airport is often termed as the world’s best airport. Equipped with a skating rink, golf course, Museum of Korean Culture, casino, high-end spa, and restaurants, Incheon International Airport has everything that an air passenger can think of.
Source: edition.cnn.com
18. The Sleepless City
Well, all the nocturnals out there, Seoul is like heaven to you all; as Cafes, PC bangs, restaurants, spas, shopping centers, and fast food chains in Seoul are open any hour of any night.
Source: edition.cnn.com, Image: Flickr
19. Meet The Queen of Korea
Well, she is not exactly a queen, but she is treated not less than a queen in Korea, here, we are talking about the figure skater Yuna Kim. She is a hugely popular figure known in South Korea as “Queen Yuna.” Kim is a household name there who won the gold medal at the Vancouver Games in 2010, before winning silver in Sochi in 2014.
Source: time.com, Image: Flickr
20. A Special City
Although there are many things which make Seoul a special city, its official name is even more special- Seoul Special City.
Source: Wikipedia
21. Most Visited City
Seoul is the most visited city in Korea. The Special City is also often ranked among global top ten destination cities. Since 2014, Seoul has been receiving more than 10 million international visitors.
Source: mastercard.com, Image: Pixabay
22. Seoul Is Ahead Of New York
Well, in terms of population density, Seoul’s is almost twice that of New York and eight times greater than Rome.
Source: oecd-ilibrary.org, Image: goodfreephotos.com
23. World’s Largest Christian Congregation
Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul is ranked as the largest Christian congregation in the world, with over one million members.
Source: economist.com, Image: Wikimedia
24. World’s Largest Buddhist University
Seoul is home to the world’s largest Buddhist university. Founded in 1906, Dongguk University is attended by thousands of students every year.
Source: dongguk.edu, Image: Wikimedia
25. Wall Street Of South Korea
Seoul’s Yeouido (Yeoui Island) is often called “South Korea’s Wall Street,” where most bank headquarters and the Korea Exchange are located.
Source: britannica.com, Image: Wikimedia
26. Korea’s Largest Wholesale & Retail Market
With more than 26 shopping malls, 30,000 specialty shops, and 50,000 manufacturers, Dongdaemun Market is the largest wholesale and retail market in Korea.
Source: visitseoul.ne, Image: Wikimedia
27. Design Capital Of The World
The South Korean Capital is known world-over for its designs, and in 2010, Seoul was designated the World Design Capital for the year.
Source: bloomberg.com
28. The Oldest Confucian Shrine
Jongmyo, a Confucian shrine dedicated to the deceased kings and queens of the Korean Joseon Dynasty (1392–1897), is considered the oldest royal Confucian shrine preserved in the world.
Source: Wikipedia, Image: Wikimedia
29. Unique Cycling Initiative
Amid the growing concerns about climate change and global warming, Seoul has introduced a green initiative called Seoul Bike “Ddareungi,” a bicycle-sharing system. Cycling is becoming very popular in Seoul, and its bicycle-sharing system is paving a way to lesser carbon emission.
Source: seoul.go.kr, Image: Wikimedia
30. Get The 360-degree View Of Seoul
Well, if you want to see the entire Seoul city in one go, then you must join one of Seoul’s popular hiking trails, which start at Inwangsan on the northwestern side of Seoul often referred as “Benevolent King Mountain” and White Tiger Mountain. While reaching the top, you would get a 360-degree view of Seoul.
Source: siwakorea.com, Image: Wikimedia
More from OhFact!
10 Interesting facts about Shenzhen
31 Interesting Facts About South Korea
13 Interesting Facts About Beijing
15 Interesting Facts About Busan
14 Interesting Facts About Bangladesh
27 Interesting Facts About Kolkata
12 Interesting Facts About Metropolitan Museum Of Art, New York City
11 Interesting Facts About Boryeong Mud Festival
