(Stripes Korea)
Since 1394, Seoul has remained the capital of Korea, serving as the country’s cultural, political and economic hub for over six centuries. The city beautifully blends historical landmarks such as the Five Royal Palaces, Jongmyo Shrine, and Namdaemun Traditional Market with modern icons like COEX and Lotte World Tower. Though Seoul occupies only 0.6% of South Korea’s land, it’s home to 18% of the nation’s population with 9.33 million residents. During the Joseon Dynasty, Seoul was known as Hanseong (or Hanyang), and during the Japanese occupation, it was called Gyeongseong. After liberation in 1945, it was officially named Seoul. The name “Seoul” comes from a native Korean word meaning “capital of the country.”
Sudo (Capital) (Hyemin Lee, Stripes Korea)
