19 Fun Facts About Seoul That Will Have You Leaping on the Next Flight

In this article I’ll share the 19 best fun facts about Seoul, based on my experience living in Korea’s capital for the last decade and a half. 

Fourteen years ago, I packed my bags and moved from the United Kingdom to South Korea. I started in Iksan, a small town in Jeolla-do Province. However, as a Londoner, I quickly learned I’d be better suited to one of the major South Korean cities.

I traveled around the southern half of the Korean Peninsula and decided that Seoul Special City, to use its official name, would be best for me. I couldn’t resist the 24-hour culture of South Korea’s capital.

I’ve spent over a decade in this nation and I don’t regret my decision. I’ve been able to learn so much about the history of North and South Korea, the Korean War, the Korean Empire and more.

Here are some key facts about Seoul:

There is so much to love about present day Seoul. It’s a very livable city, which is just one of the reasons so many Koreans and foreigners alike want to move here. The Korean capital offers so much, whether you’re here for a few days, a few decades, or a lifetime.

Let’s learn a few fun facts about Seoul, the city I call home!

2. More than 50% of South Korea’s population lives in the Seoul Capital Area

More than half of South Korea’s population lives in the Seoul Capital Area, according to the Hankyoreh. Around 26 million people live in the Seoul Capital Area, which includes Seoul, Gyeonggi-do Province and Incheon. South Korea’s total population is 51.7 million.

Seoul Area: The Seoul metropolitan area is roughly equivalent to the size of the countries of Bhutan and Trinidad and the cities of Metro Tokyo and Paris.

Key Cities within the Seoul capital area:

• Seoul: The largest city, with about 10 million residents.
• Incheon: Second largest city, with 2.87 million people, as of 2024.
• Suwon: Third largest city with 1.2 million people, known for Hwaseong Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Other cities include: Ansan, Anyang, Goyang, Seongnam (home to Pangyo Techno Valley, the Korean answer to Silicon Valley), Bucheon, and Yongin.

Seoul has so many entertainment options, it’s no surprise that everyone wants to live here! See Rustic Pathways travelers learning to play a traditional Korean drum.

3. Seoul has been a capital city since 1394, during the Joseon Dynasty

Seoul was first settled in 554 and was originally known as Hanyang. It was renamed Hanseong in 1392 and became the capital of the Yi Dynasty in 1394.

Seoul was also a capital in 18 BC under the Baekje Kingdom. Over the years, Seoul has had several names, including Wiryeseong, Namgyeong and Gyeongseong, but the city became known as Seoul after World War II.

The name Seoul comes from a Korean word that originally meant “capital city.” It likely evolved from Seorabeol, the name of Silla’s capital.

4. You can work as a professional gamer in Seoul

In Seoul, being a professional gamer is a viable and lucrative career. Players in the League of Legends Champions Korea league earn an average of $132,000 annually, according to the JoongAng Daily.

High school students aspiring to this career often attend specialized cram schools focused on online gaming.

5. Seoul is only 35 miles from the border with North Korea

Seoul is located only 35 miles from the border with North Korea, near the Joint Security Area. Despite the proximity, most South Koreans don’t think much about the situation with North Korea in their daily lives.

Tourists can take trips from Seoul to the Joint Security Area and other important spots along the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), including underground tunnels built by North Korea, which are now open for exploration.

Travel between Seoul (South Korea) and Pyongyang (North Korea) is not possible due to political and military tensions between North and South Korea after the Korean War.

Korean War (June 1950 – July 1953)

The Korean War was a proxy conflict after Korean independence from Japan.

At the conclusion of World War II, Korea had been a Japanese colony for 35 years. The Soviet Union and the United States divided the nation into two occupation zones at the 38th parallel. The zones formed their own governments, and each made plans to unite, but under their respective methods of governance.

The 625 War, as it’s known in South Korea, pitted North Korea, backed by China and the Soviet Union, against South Korea, supported by the United States and a coalition of United Nations forces.

The war ended with an armistice, or agreement to end hostilities and a demarcation at the 38th parallel.

Rustic Pathways travelers after their K-pop makeovers on the Seoul Searching program.

6. Seoul is the center of the Korean Wave

Seoul is the hub of the Korean Wave, home to major K-pop labels like YG Entertainment, SM Entertainment, JYP Entertainment, and HYBE. Famous dance studios such as 1 Million are also located here.

Visitors can immerse themselves in Korean pop culture by taking K-pop dance classes or trying a K-pop idol makeover.

For fans of Korean dramas and movies, Seoul offers many filming locations to explore, such as Noksapyeong Bridge from “Itaewon Class” and Jahamun Tunnel, featured in “Parasite.”

7. Seoul has 25 sister cities around the world

Seoul has 25 sister cities around the world, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government. The full list is as follows:

8. Seoul’s Moonlight Rainbow Fountain is the longest bridge fountain in the world

The Moonlight Rainbow Fountain on Banpo Grand Bridge is the longest bridge fountain in the world. From April to October, it features a 20-minute show with LED lights and music. It is one of the most famous landmarks along the Han River.

The Moonlight Rainbow Fountain is the longest bridge fountain in the world.

9. The flight from Seoul to Jeju is the busiest domestic route in the world

The busiest domestic flight route in the world is between Seoul’s Gimpo International Airport and Jeju Island’s Jeju International Airport, with 13.7 million seats in 2023. The second-busiest route, between Hokkaido’s Chitose Airport and Tokyo Haneda, had 11.9 million seats.

The top five busiest routes (by number of seats) are:

1. Jeju International – Seoul Gimpo: 13,728,786
2. Sapporo New Chitose – Tokyo Haneda: 11,936,302
3. Fukuoka – Tokyo Haneda: 11,264,229
4. Hanoi – Ho Chi Minh City: 10,883,555
5. Melbourne – Sydney: 9,342,312

For international travel to Seoul, most people fly into Incheon International Airport, which handles the majority of international flights.

10. Seoul is truly the city that never sleeps

Seoul is truly the city that never sleeps. Almost anything you can think of has a 24-hour option, from restaurants and cafes to bathhouses and karaoke rooms.

This trend has expanded with the rise of unmanned stores, offering 24-hour access to pet stores, print shops, and even vintage clothing stores, so you can pick up a secondhand flannel shirt at 3 a.m. if needed.

11. The Seoul National Capital Area has five UNESCO World Heritage Sites

The Seoul Capital Area is also home to five UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including:

• Changdeokgung Palace Complex
• Hwaseong Fortress
• Jongmyo Shrine
• Namhansanseong
• A number of the Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty

12. The Han River divides central Seoul into two halves

The northern half of the river is called Gangbuk, or North of the Han River. The southern half of the river is Gangnam, or South of the Han River. Or so you would think.

Confusingly for non-Koreans, Seoul is divided into 25 districts; the wealthiest and third largest district is named Gangnam. When using the term Gangnam, most Koreans are referring to the specific affluent district, or the aesthetic memorialized by Psy, rather than the half of Seoul.

13. There are probably over 30,000 karaoke rooms in South Korea’s capital

There are an estimated 30,000 karaoke rooms in South Korea’s capital, though the exact number remains uncertain. Known as “noraebang,” karaoke is a cornerstone of South Korean culture.

14. Seoul’s fortress wall was built for protection during the Joseon Dynasty

Seoul’s City Wall was built by King Taejo to defend the Korean capital from invaders. The wall encircles central Seoul, following the ridges of four mountains: Baegak (Bugaksan), Naksan, Namsan (Mongmyeoksan) and Inwangsan.

It was designated as a Historic Site of South Korea in 1963.

15. Seoul’s street food culture has entire alleys dedicated to specific dishes

Seoul boasts a strong street food culture, with some areas devoted to key dishes.

Location	Dish	Image
Gwangjang Market (Seoul)	Mung Bean Pancakes	(Korean Culture and Information Service, KOGL Type 1, via Wikimedia Commons)
Sindang-dong Tteokbokki Town (Sindang, Seoul)	Spicy Tteokbokki
Namsan (Seoul)	Pork Cutlet	(些細な日常, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
Suwon Chicken Street (Suwon)	Fried Chicken	(happy o’ne, CC BY 2.0 KR, via Wikimedia Commons)
Dongdaemun Dak-Hanmari Alley (Seoul)	Dak-Hanmari (Whole Chicken Soup)	(Larry, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons)
Namdaemun Kalguksu Street	Kalguksu (Knife-Cut Noodles)	(Mobius6, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
Sillim-dong Sundae Town (Seoul)	Sundae (Blood Sausage)	(SauceSupreme, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
Myeongdong Street Food Alley (Seoul)	Street Food (Various Snacks)	(by thelearnr, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

16. Seoul preserves hanok against a sprint to modernity

Seoul preserves Hanok to maintain cultural identity amid rapid modernization. The city invests to restore and protect traditional Korean houses, prohibiting demolitions and excluding them from major development projects.

Seoul (along with private investors) has restored hundreds of Hanok turning some into museums, cafes and cultural hubs.

Some areas to see hanok include:

1. Bukchon Hanok Village Address: 37, Gyedong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea.
2. Namsangol Hanok Village Address: 28, Toegye-ro 34-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea.
3. Ikseon-dong Hanok Village Address: Ikseon-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea.

17. Bike paths and parks along Seoul’s Han River streams make for beautiful picnic settings in tv dramas and in real life

Han River Park is a central attraction in Seoul, a la Central Park in New York or the Seine in Paris. It’s a popular spot for picnics, fireworks and festivals, making it a must-visit spot.

Visitors can rent picnic supplies like mats, tables, and Bluetooth speakers from shops and convenience stores.

Food Recommendations for a Han River picnic:

• Chimaek (fried chicken and beer) being a local favorite.
• Tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes)
• Subway sandwiches, made famous by Korean dramas

18. There is a Tehran Boulevard in Seoul (and a Seoul Street in Tehran)

In 1977, the Seoul Metropolitan Government proposed an exchange of street names with Tehran to honor the visit of Tehran’s mayor, Gholamreza Nikpey.

In 1978, Samneungno Street in Seoul was renamed Teheran-ro. Tehran-ro in present-day Seoul is a major street through Gangnam.

19. A tree in Seoul still shows bullet holes from an assassination attempt

A 200-year-old pine tree on the Baegak Mountain Trail along the Seoul City Wall bears bullet holes from the 1968 assassination attempt on South Korean President Park Chung-hee.

The tree is known as the “January 21 Incident Pine Tree.”

The January 21st Incident / Blue House Raid

On January 21, 1968, 31 North Korean operatives infiltrated Seoul in a raid on the Blue House to assassinate President Park. This event is known as the “January 21 Incident” to Koreans or the Blue House Raid overseas.

Outcome:

• North Korea: 29 deaths, 1 escapee, and 1 surrender. The surrendering soldier later assimilated to life in South Korea, becoming a pastor at a church in the Seoul area.
• South Korea: 26 deaths, 66 injuries.
• USA: 4 deaths.
• President Park remained unharmed.

References:

• Hankyoreh: Greater Seoul population exceeds 50% of S. Korea for first time
• JoongAng Daily: Gaming in Korea is a real career path, not for the short of temper
• Korean War Veterans Association: Korean War History
• National Institute of Korean History: NIKH
• OAG Aviation Worldwide Limited: The Busiest Flight Routes of 2023
• Seoul Metropolitan Government: Seoul.go.kr
• South Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism: MCST
• UNESCO: Republic of Korea
• Visit Korea: Visit Korea
• Worldometers: South Korea population