Seoul Vacation and Trip Information

Seoul is the capital of South Korea[destination/KR/00-south-korea], as well as its largest city. Located on the Han River at the Korean Peninsula, Seoul dates back more than 600 years and has a rich and complicated history. The city was designated the capital of the Joseon Dynasty in 1394 and has since remained the political, economic and cultural core of South Korea. Seoul was gravely damaged by the Korean War and was unable to serve as the capital for many months; however, post-war reconstruction was aggressive and enabled the city to rebuild quickly.

Today, Seoul is often called the “tech capital of the world” and in 2008, forbes.com named it the sixth most economically powerful city in the world. As advanced as the city is, Seoul is firmly rooted in its past. Take a walk through Bukchon Hanok Village to learn more about hanoks, traditional Korean houses. The Changdeokgung Palace, one of the Five Grand Palaces built by the kings of the Joseon Dynasty, is another worthwhile destination to explore: It was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997.

The National Museum of Korea, Olympic Park and the War Memorial of Korea are all essential stops to make for those looking to do some first-class sightseeing. The tourist hub of Seoul is Myeong-dong, a popular fashion district and a great place to find a traditional Korean meal, such as jabchae (Korean-style chop suey) or kimchi (spicy pickled vegetables).