According to abbreviationfinder, Seoul or Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest city of South Korea. A megacity with a population of more than 10 million, Seoul is one of the largest cities in the world. The Seoul National Capital Area is the second largest metropolitan area in the world with more than 24.5 million residents, which includes the metropolis Incheon and the majority of Gyeonggi province. Almost half of South Korea’s population lives in the Seoul National Capital Area and almost a quarter in Seoul itself, making it the main economic, political and cultural center of the country.

Geography

Seoul is located in the northwest of South Korea. Seoul comprises 605.25 km², with a radius of approximately 15 km, roughly bisected into two halves, north and south by the Han River. The Han River and its surroundings have played an important role in Korean history.. The Three Kingdoms of Korea strove to take control of this land, where the river is used as a trade route to China (via the Yellow Sea). The river is no longer actively used for navigation, because its estuary is located on the borders of the two Koreas, with the entry of civilians prohibited. The city is surrounded by eight mountains, as well as the highest lands of the Han River Plain and western areas.

Climate

Seoul is located in the border region between a humid subtropical and humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Cwa / DWA), depending on the definition. Summers are generally hot and humid, with the East Asian monsoon occurring between June and July. August is the hottest month, with an average temperature of 22.4 to 29.6 ° C with the highest possible temperatures. Winters are usually relatively cold with an average temperature in January of -5.9 to 1.5 ° C and are generally much drier than summers, with an average of 28 days of snow per year.

Economy

As the headquarters of Samsung, LG, Hyundai, Kia and SK, Seoul has become a major commercial center. Despite accounting for only 0.6 percent of South Korea’s land area, Seoul generates 21 percent of the country’s GDP.

Finance

A relatively large number of TNCs are based in Seoul. International banks with branches in Seoul include Citigroup, Deutsche Bank, HSBC, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Barclays, Grupo Santander, UBS, Credit Suisse, Unicredit, Société Générale, Calyon, BBVA, Macquarie Group, ING Bank, and Standard Chartered. The Korea Exchange Bank is also based in the city.

Shopping

The most modern shopping center is Times Square, which also has a Starium CGV cinema with the largest screen in the world of cinema, certified by Guinness World Records. South Korea’s largest market, Dongdaemun Market, is located in Seoul. Myeongdong is a shopping and entertainment center in central Seoul, with medium and high-end stores, boutiques, and international brand stores. The nearby Namdaemun Market, named after the Namdaemun Gate, is the oldest market in Seoul. Sinchon is a commercial area that caters mainly to a young audience and university students.

Insadong is the cultural art market of Seoul, Korea, where modern and traditional works of art such as paintings, sculptures and calligraphies are sold. Hwanghak-dong Flea Market and Janganpyeong Old Market also offer vintage goods. Some local designer shops have opened in Samcheong-dong, where many small art galleries are located. Itaewon is mainly geared towards foreign tourists and American soldiers based in the city. Gangnam District is one of the most prosperous areas in Seoul and is characterized by the Apgujeong-dong and Cheongdam-dong areas of fashion and luxury and the COEX mall. Wholesale markets include the Noryangjin Wholesale Fishing Market and the Garak Market. Yongsan Electronics market is the largest electronics market in Asia. The Gasan Digital complex also has an extensive variety of electronic products.

Religion

There are also religious buildings that have an important role in Korean society and politics. The Wongudan altar was a sacrificial site where the rulers of Korea held celestial rituals since the Three Kingdoms period. Since the Joseon dynasty adopted Confucianism as a national ideology in the 14th century, the state built many Confucian temples. The descendants of the Joseon royal family still hold ceremonies to commemorate the ancestors in Jongmyo., the oldest preserved Confucian royal sanctuary where ritual ceremonies follow a tradition established in the 14th century. Munmyo and Dongmyo were built during the same period. Although Buddhism was suppressed by the Joseon state, it has continued its existence. Jogyesa is the headquarters of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. Hwagyesa and Bongeunsa are also the main Buddhist temples in Seoul. See population of South Korea.

Myeongdong Cathedral is a landmark of the Myeongdong district and the largest established Catholic church in Korea. It is a symbol of Christianity in Korea. It was also a focus of political dissent in the late 20th century.

There are many Protestant churches in Seoul. The largest number are Presbyterian, but there are also Methodists, Baptists, and Lutheran churches.

The Seoul Central Mosque, which is located in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu was the first mosque built in Korea after the Korean War. It remains the only mosque in Seoul, and is a tourist attraction for Koreans who visit on weekends to listen to talks about Islam.

LITERATURE

After the Second World War, two literary currents were formed. The first was formed by authors from the North, such as Im Hwa (1908-1953), who remained faithful to the motifs of the proletarian literature of the early twentieth century. The other instead tends to safeguard the traditional values ​​of Korean culture, according to a concept of “pure literature” free from political alignments. After the civil war of 1950-53, Korean poets and writers also found themselves divided between North and South, some by ideological choice, others by necessity. In South Korea it certainly presented more varied aspects. In the fifties, in full reconstruction, the national tragedy was naturally the favorite theme of poets and writers, who now returned to gather around literary circles, including that of the “Green Deer” founded by Pak Tujin (1916-1998) with Cho Chihun (1920-1968) and Pak Mogwol (1916-1978). Regarding the prose, Hüngnam ch’ŏ isu (The Retreat from Hüngnam) by Kim Tongni, is one of the most significant novels; but also writers such as Yi Pǒmsǒn (1920-1982), Sun Ch’angsŏp (b.1922), Pak Kyŏngni (b.1927) and Hwang Sunwon (1915-2000) deserve to be mentioned as among the busiest in this period. In particular, the latter achieved notoriety with the novel K’ain-ui huye (Descendants of Cain). In the 1960s, a literary genre based on psychological introspection and inner reflection emerged. Kim Suyŏng (1921-1968), Kim Ch’unsu (b.1941) and Kim Namjo were certainly among the most active poets in those years.

In the following two decades, Ko Ǔn (b.1933), Hwang Tonggyu (b.1938), Kim Chiha (b.1941), Hwang Chiu (b.1952), Ch’oe Sŭngho (b.1954). Among the novelists, Yi Mungu (b. 1941), Kim Wonil (b. 1942), Cho Sehüi (b. 1942) and Hwang Sŏgyŏng (b. 1943); new names such as the writer O Chŏn ghŭi (b.1947) and, above all, Yi Munyol, were then brought to the attention of critics (no. 1948). After decades of intense political passions and painful moments of repression, the last decade of the twentieth century saw the affirmation of greater cultural freedom and an opening towards North Korea. With the authors almost eager to allow themselves a pause for reflection aimed at a serene and critical examination of the whirling historical-political events experienced since the post-war period, South Korean literature appeared rich in retrospective works and analyzes of sociological, political and cultural events of previous years. While waiting for a decisive generational change, it was the most successful poets and writers who occupied the first places in the charts of the titles sold. Cho Chongnae and Pyon’gyong (Changes) by the aforementioned Yi Munyol. Even the fascination of the everyday found those who knew how to illustrate it admirably, and this was the case of Yi Kyunyong (1951-1996) and his Noja-wa Changja-ui nara (The Country of Laozi and Zhuangzi), while political-existential reminiscences characterized the works by other authors, such as Ch’oe Yun (b. 1953). Centered on science and Korean nationalism are the works of Bok Geo-il. A very important strand within Korean literature is fantasy, with works such as Lee Yeongdo’s Dragon Raja, Jeon Min-Hee’s The Rune Children, and Lee Woo-hyouk’s The Soul of the Guardians. As for poetry, there was a revival by no longer young authors, whose works, juxtaposed with those of the younger generation, helped to enhance that climate of reflection on the past typical of the period. Since the end of the twentieth century, according to itypeauto, Korean literature has enjoyed a certain response from the international public (there are specialized series in Korean literature from French, German and Italian publishers), on the one hand thanks to the new translations of the classics, such as Hŏ Kyun (1569-1618), and of the great writers of the post-war generation, such as the autobiographical novel Mr. Han by the aforementioned Hwang Sŏgyŏng or The Shaman of Chatsil by Kim Tong-ni, who tackles the crucial theme of the meeting of the most atavistic indigenous tradition with the new Western spirituality. On the other hand, Korean literature returned to international attention in 2005 when South Korea was the host country of the Frankfurt Book Fair; narrators such as EUN Heekyung (b.1959) and JO Kyung Ran (b.1969), and, among poets, Hwang Ji-U (b.1952), whose multifaceted interests they also turn to theater and sculpture.

CINEMA

The first decades of the twentieth century saw the beginnings of Korean film art under Japanese domination, which greatly influenced productions and artists. Government conditioning was a widespread practice, which, under another sign remained, and still is present, in the art and culture of North Korea. The division of the country into two areas was consequently followed by the formation of two distinct cinemas. South Korea, which suffered strong US penetration, was experiencing a period of considerable development and expansion in the decade between the 1960s, with an annual production of over 200 films; among the names of some ambitions of the time, we remember Kim Song Min, Ri Hwa Sam, An Jong Hwa, Kim Tae Soo (Patate, 1969),, 1965). Over all, however, dominated Shin Sang Ok, the most important director of the Sixties, known as “the Korean Kurosawa” for his mastery in period films as well as in contemporary films (The guest and my mother, 1961, considered his masterpiece; The dream, 1967; Eunuch, 1968, to name just a few titles by an author who was also active in the following decades). South Korean cinema declined in the seventies and eighties, to then experience the start of a great recovery thanks above all to the work of Jang Sun Woo (The age of success, 1988; The lovers of Woomuk-Baemi, 1991; Un petalo, 1996) and Park Kwang Su, which debuted in 1988 with Chil-Su and Man-su. In the following years, directors such as Park Ki-Yong (Motel Cactus, 1997; Camel (s), 2001), Lee Chang-dong (Green Fish, 1997; Peppermint Candy, 2000; Oasis, presented at the Venice International Film Festival, established themselves in the following years. of 2002). Among the directors who emerged in the 1990s, Kim Ki-Duk (b.1960) (Birdcage Inn, 1998; Bad Guy, 2001; Samaritan Girl, 2004; Time, 2006) deserves a particular mention. dissemination and international recognition of South Korean cinema. A determining role was played by Hong Sang-soo (b. 1961), director of Turning Gate (2002), Woman Is the Future of Man (2004) and Woman on the Beach (2006), winner of international awards and formed thanks to important experiences abroad (USA). The new millennium has also seen the rebirth of an important line of independent productions, a natural counterpoint to national works that have been too seduced by Western canons. A note that testifies to the importance of the South Korean film movement is the Pusan ​​International Film Festival, which reached its twelfth edition in 2007 with 271 works and more than 198,000 spectators, which undoubtedly attest to the very first places among film festivals in Asia. In 2020 the South Korean film Parasite by director Bong Joonho, was awarded the Oscar for Best Picture. Parasite was the first non-English language film to win this award in Academy Award history. The film also won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 2019, a Golden Globe (2020) for best foreign film, and four other Oscars (2020) for best international film, best director and best original screenplay.