Seoul - 2.3 Population Changes in Hanseong

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Understanding Korea Series No.4
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2) The Principle Behind the Establishment of the Capital, Hanseong 3) Population Changes in Hanseong 1) Transformation of the City Prototype


Hanseongbu’s jurisdiction was divided into two major parts for better public administration and security, namely the five districts within the city and Sangjeosimni (the outer city). Military officers and merchants who serviced the king and the royal family resided in the 5 districts, and Sangjeosimni supplied produces and various goods from around the country to the residents of the city. Hanseong’s population record of 1428 (10th year of King Sejong’s reign) in the early Josoen Dynasty shows that 103,328 (94.5%) people out of 109,372 total population resided within the city, and only 6,044 (5.5%) people resided in Sangjeosimni. In 1789 during the late Joseon Dynasty the population within the city remained relatively constant while the population of Sangjeosimni dramatically increased (by 1,170.4%), and the growth rate of the number of houses (1,263.9%) was also prominent.


Table 1 Population Growth Comparison of the Inside and Outer-side the City
Year Number of Houses Population
Inside of the City Outerside of the City Total Inside of the City Outerside of the City Total
1428 (A) 16,921 1,601 18,522 103,328 6,044 109,372
1789 (B) 22,094 21,835 43,929 112,371 76,782 189,153
Increase in Number (B-A) 5,173 20,234 25,407 9,043 70,738 79,781
Increase Rate (%) 30.5 1,263.8 137.2 8.7 1,170.4 72.9


There were two main causes behind the rapid growth in Hanseong’s population. First, Hanseong developed into the commercial center of the country due to the enforcement of Daedongbeop (Standard Tax Law) in the 17th century, and the circulation of metal currency began. Second, because of natural disasters influenced by the Little Ice Age, migrants and farmers came into the city at an accelerated rate. The Gyeonggang area, which used to be the center of maritime transportation, grew into a commercial center that connected the core commercial authorities of the city with the markets around the country. Areas near Hanseong such as Gwangju (Songpajang), Yangju (Nuwonjeom) and Gwacheon emerged as the new distribution hubs that connected all local cities of the country.


Table 2 Cities with Population of more than 5,000 in 1789(13th Year of King Jeongjo’s Reign) [Source: Go Donghwan, 2011 The Capital Hanyang of Joseon Period: Focused on the Order and Spatial Expressions, Sahakbo 209]
Area Population Area Population Area Population Area Population
Hanyang 189,153 Gilju 8,641 Gyeongju 6,263 Jeongan 5,488
Gaeseong 27,769 Hwangju 8,123 Myeongcheon 5,978 Gwangju 5,467
Pyeongyang 21,869 Geoje 7,839 Changseong 5,963 Cheongju 5,436
Sangju 18,296 Yeongyu 7,754 Uiseong 5,948 Sangwon 5,431
Jeonju 16,694 Gongju 7,139 Dongrae 5,946 Hamheung 5,418
Daegu 13,734 Seongcheon 7,085 Milyang 5,818 Cheolsan 5,272
Chungju 11,905 Jeju 6,761 Chosan 5,769 Deokcheon 5,255
Uiju 10,837 Jeongju 6,536 Ganghwa 5,704 Heungwon 5,225
Jinju 10,000 Anju 6,401 Naju 5,638 Onyang 5,417
Haeju 9,958 Andong 6,334 Asan 5,607 Buyeo 5,144
Gyeongseong 9,102 Dangjin 6,316 Taein 5,601 Gasan 5,081
Busan 9,047 Dancheon 6,308 Gwangju 5,525 Yangju 5,031


Fifty cities around the country had population of more than 5,000 at that time (1789), and the total population of 49 cities, exclusive of Hanseong, was 571,663. Hanseong was the main city of Joseon where 30% of all city population resided. Satellite cities such as Gwangju and Yangju served as distribution hubs with populations that equaled major cities in other areas of country and together formed the greater metropolitan area. Hanseong’s status as the central city was strengthened as the monetary economic system developed and population increased in the late Joseon Dynasty. In short, it was not only the political, military and administrative center but it also became the number one city in economic sense.


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