Seoul National Capital Area

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Seoul National Capital Area
Hangul:	수도권
Hanja:	首都圈
Revised Romanization:	Sudogwon
McCune-Reischauer:	Sudokwŏn

The Seoul National Capital Area is a region located at the center of the Korean peninsula and is home to the capital of South Korea, Seoul. This metropolitan area has a population of 22.8 million (as of 2005). It forms the cultural, commercial, financial, industrial, and residential center of South Korea.

The traditional borders encompass Seoul, Incheon, Kaesong, and the satellite cities of Gyeonggi-do Province. Since the Korean War, Kaesong has been a part of North Korea. Since the extension of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway to Cheonan, it now arguably extends beyond Gyeonggi province as well.

1 Geography and climate
2 History
3 Demographics
4 Government
5 Subdivisions
6 Transportation
7 Notes
8 See also
9 External links

[edit] Geography and climate

See also: Geography of South Korea

The National Capital Area occupies a broad area of relatively flat land around the Han River valley. It contains some of the most fertile land on the Korean peninsula, although relatively little of it is now used for agriculture. The Gimpo Plain, one of the country's larger expanses of level arable land, covers much of the area of the cities of Gimpo and Guri.

The climate is mild, due to the area's location on the banks of the Yellow Sea, but somewhat colder and drier than most of South Korea.

[edit] History

The National Capital Area has been home to a Korean capital for around 2,000 years. Its central location and relatively gentle landscape have given it a central role in the country's affairs.

The first capital to be constructed in the region was that of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. The country's first capital, which according to legend was built in 19 BCE, was Wiryeseong. This is believed to have been constructed near the modern-day boundary of Seoul and Gwangju City. However, Baekje was unable to hold this territory, and surrendered the Han River valley to Goguryeo in the 5th century. The land was then taken over by Silla in the 6th century, at which point it came to play a critical role in helping Silla to establish ties with China.

After the fall of Silla, Taejo of Goryeo established the capital of his kingdom in Kaesŏng, now just north of the Demilitarized Zone. During the Mongol invasions of Korea in the 12th century, the seat of government briefly shifted to Ganghwa Island, now just south of the DMZ in Incheon metropolitan city.

After the fall of Goryeo in 1394, the capital moved to Seoul (then called Hanseong or Hanyang), staying within the same region. During the new dynasty's rule, extensive road systems, administrative buildings, royal palaces, and new ports were built, quickly attracting wealth from all over the kingdom. During the Korean Empire period, Hanseong's public transportation was improved with the installation of streetcars and manually-drawn trolleys similar to taxis. Horse carriage systems similar to the ones in Europe were also established.

Following the Japanese annexation of Korea in 1910, Hanseong was renamed Keijo (Gyeongseong) and served as colonial Korea's capital. Upon Korea's liberation from Japan in 1945, the former colonial capital was renamed Seoul and became capital of South Korea.

In the Korean War (1950-1953), the Capital Metropolitan Area became the focus of battles so destructive that most of Seoul and the surrounding regions were eradicated. Seoul was especially hit hard, since it exchanged hands four times during the course of the war.

During the latter half of the 20th century, the Capital Metropolitan Area began to rapidly develop as South Korea's economic wealth expanded. Population expanded fourfold since the Korean War. In 2001, the new Incheon International Airport took over all international flights to Seoul.

[edit] Demographics

See also: Demographics of South Korea

Covering only about 12% of the country's area, the Seoul metropolitan area is home to more than 48.2% of the national population. This percentage has risen steadily since the mid-20th century, and the trend is expected to continue. Currently more than half of the people who move from one region to another are moving to the Sudogwon.^[1] By 2020, it is projected that more than 52% of South Korea's population will live within the Sudogwon.^[2]

[edit] Government

See also: Government of South Korea

Various agencies have been set up to deal with the intergovernmental problems of the region. Proposals for consolidating some or all of the cities of the Sudogwon into a handful of metropolitan cities have thus far not been implemented.

Development in the area is currently governed by the Capital Region Readjustment Planning Act (수도권정비계획법), first passed in 1982 and last revised in 1996.

[edit] Subdivisions

See also: Subdivisions of South Korea

The exact boundaries of the Seoul metropolitan area are not clearly defined, although they generally include all cities directly adjacent to Seoul. The Sudogwon is often divided among the special city of Seoul, the metropolitan city of Incheon, and the following 19 cities:

[edit] Transportation

The cities of the Sudogwon are tightly interconnected by road and rail. Many of the country's railroad lines, most notably the Gyeongbu Line, terminate in the region. In addition, the needs for commuter rail are served by the Seoul Metropolitan Subway, which passes not only through Seoul and Incheon, but also through most of the outlying cities.

In addition, the region is a nexus for travel by air and water. The country's two largest airports, Incheon International Airport and Gimpo Airport, are both located in the metropolitan area. International and domestic ferries depart from Incheon's various ferry terminals several times a day; in addition, massive volumes of international freight pass through the container terminals of Incheon (primarily bound to and from China).

Seoul Ring Expressway (Expressway No.100) connects satellite cities around Seoul, Ilsan, Toegyewon, Hanam, Pyeongchon, Songnae, Bundang, Pangyo and Gimpo.