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Seoul

Capital of South KoreaSeoul is in the northwest of South Korea. The Han River cuts the city into northern and southern halves, and it is bordered by eight mountains.

Why it's the capital

Yi Seong-gye, who founded the Joseon dynasty, chose Seoul as his planned capital, and building began in October 1394. Much earlier, Wiryeseong, the capital of the Baekje kingdom, stood within the area of modern Seoul.

Fun facts

  1. "Seoul" is a native Korean word that simply means "capital city".
  2. The royal palace of Gyeongbokgung was among the first major buildings of the new capital and was finished in 1395.
  3. Seoul hosted the 1988 Summer Olympics and was one of the venues of the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

Finding it on the globe

Look at the northwest corner of South Korea, just south of the border with North Korea; Pyongyang is to the north-northwest.

Sources: Wikipedia: Seoul