Seoul - 2.1 Seoul Before It Became the Capital

Understanding Korea Series No.4
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2) Seoul as the Capital and a Local City	1) Seoul Before It Became the Capital	2) The Principle Behind the Establishment of the Capital, Hanseong

There has been a long history of settlements in the flatland of the Han River that goes back to the prehistoric times. This downstream flatland of the Han River is the convergence of two waterways (North Han River and South Han River) flowing from the Taebaek Mountains, the heart of Baekdu Mountain Ranges. It was a key strategic location that Baekje, Goguryeo and Silla battled over since the days of the Three Kingdoms. Wiryeseong situated on the shore of the Han River (Refer to <photo 2>) was named the capital during the Hanseong Baekje Era (From 18 BC to AD 475), but was renamed as Bukhansanju, Nampyeongyang in the year 475 when Goguryeo took over. It was once again changed to Hanju, Hanyang during the Silla Dynasty.

Figure 3 Hanseong’s Location in Daedongyeo Map

Seoul began to take its shape as a city when Namgyeong was established during the Goryeo Dynasty (1067), and the city’s foundation was finally laid as people began to migrate into the city after the completion of Namgyeong Temporary Palace in 1104. Seoul’s history as a city, not as ‘the capital,’ can retraced back 900 years. ‘Goryeosa (the History of Goryeo) records the attempt to relocate the capital (Gaegyeong) to Namgyeong towards the end of the Goryeo Dynasty and King Sukjong’s visit that involved the construction of a temporary palace. Unlike Hanseong of Baekje, which was situated near water (on the shore of the Han River), Namgyeong of the Goryeo Dynasty was built on the foot of a mountain according to the philosophy system of geomancy. Seoul finally obtained its appearance as ‘the capital’ in full-scale when the Joseon Dynasty designated it as its capital in 1394 (Refer to <Figure 3>).

Photo 2 Mongchontoseong, Wiryeseong of Baekje

Understanding Korea Series No.4 Seoul

Foreword · Acknowledgments 1. A City Called Seoul · 1.1 Introduction · 1.2 Seoul as the Capital and a Local City 2. The Capital of Joseon, Hanseong · 2.1 Seoul Before It Became the Capital · 2.2 The Principle Behind the Establishment of the Capital, Hanseong · 2.3 Population Changes in Hanseong 3. Modern City Gyeongseong · 3.1 Transformation of the City Prototype · 3.2 Transformation of the Urban Space · 3.3 Expansion of Gyeongseong’s Urban Area 4. The Growth of Seoul and Transformation of the Urban Space · 4.1 Population Growth and Expansion of the Urban Center · 4.2 Redevelopment of Gangbuk’s Original Urban Center · 4.3 New Development of Gangnam · 4.4 Differentiation of the Urban Space, the Way to a Polycentric City · 4.5 Megalopolitanization of Seoul Metropolitan Area: Megacity Seoul 5. Shadow of Growth and Regeneration and Healing of the City · 5.1 The Miracle on the Han River: Accomplishments and Shortcomings · 5.2 Apartment Nation and Economic Imbalance between Gangnam and Gangbuk · 5.3 Disappearance and Regeneration of the Traditional Urban Residences · 5.4 Waterways and Reviving Stream that have Disappeared · 5.5 Restoration of the Destructed Ecological Environment · 5.6 Congested Streets and Rising Environmental Pollution 6. Historical and Cultural City, Culture of Seoul · 6.1 Seoul’s Symbolic Space and the Emblem of Seoul, Haechi · 6.2 Diverse Cultural Areas and Streets · 6.3 Culture of Recreation and Past Time · 6.4 Consumer Culture of the Subway Station Vicinity Areas · 6.5 Education-oriented Culture 7. Global City Seoul’s Present · 7.1 Global City Seoul · 7.2 Policies Geared Toward a Global City Sources · About the Author