Seoul - geography.

« Major arts centers include Sejong Cultural Center, the largest performing arts center in South Korea located in Sejongno in central Seoul.

The Korea Traditional PerformingArts Center, which showcases traditional Korean music and dance, is in the Seocho district. VI RECREATION Biwon, or the Secret Garden, formerly a retreat for the Yi rulers of the Chosŏn dynasty, is now a public park occupying 32 hectares (80 acres) just north of ChangdeokPalace.

Namsan Park, located on Namsan Mountain south of downtown, is topped by the Namsan Tower, which houses a restaurant and observation deck.

Sajik Park is thesite of altars formerly used by the Yi kings as well as a shrine to Tangun, legendary ancestor of the Korean people.

Pagoda Park was the gathering place for a reading of theKorean Declaration of Independence on March 1, 1919, which sparked a nationwide wave of protests against Japanese colonial rule.

Seoul Children’s Park is an amusementpark, and Seoul Grand Park contains the city zoo, which houses more than 4000 animals of 187 different species. Dongdaemun Stadium in eastern Seoul hosts soccer and baseball games, as well as other sports.

However, the largest center for sports is in the Jamsil district in thesoutheast part of the city, site of the main sports complexes built for the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics.

These include the Olympic Stadium, a gymnasium, an indoorswimming pool, a baseball stadium, and other sports facilities.

East of the Olympic sports complexes is Olympic Park, covering about 3 sq km (about 1 sq mi) withMongch’on Fortress at its center.

The park contains facilities for sports, public gatherings, and the performing arts. VII HISTORY The earliest known human settlement in the area of what is now Seoul began in the Han River basin between 3000 and 4000 BC.

Approximately 2000 years ago a town called Wiryes ŏng was founded on the south bank of the Han River, eventually becoming the capital of the Paekche (Baekche) kingdom (3rd to 7th century AD).

After Paekche (Baekche) was conquered by Silla in the mid-7th century, Wiryes ŏng was renamed Hans ŏng.

Under the Kory ŏ (Goryeo) dynasty (918-1392) the city was called Yangju, andin 1067 it became one of Kory ŏ’s three secondary capitals with the designation Namgy ŏng, or “southern capital.” The city was known as Hanyang at the beginning of theChos ŏn (Joseon) dynasty (1392-1910).

In 1394 King Taejo moved his court to the city and renamed it Hans ŏng; it remained the capital until the end of the Chos ŏn dynasty. In 1910 Japan annexed Korea as a colony of the Japanese Empire, and in 1911 the city was renamed Ky ŏngs ŏng.

The Japanese built an extensive railway network in Koreawith the main railroad station in Seoul.

The city was also developed for commerce, trade, and military activity.

Shortly before the end of World War II (1939-1945), theUnited States and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) agreed to divide Korea at the 38th parallel for the purpose of accepting the surrender of Japanese troops.The city was renamed Seoul in 1945 and made capital of South Korea in 1948.

Seoul was severely damaged during the Korean War (1950-1953) between North Korea andSouth Korea.

The city was captured and retaken four times, and by the war’s end few buildings were left standing.

After the war the city was rapidly rebuilt, and many newstreets, bridges, and skyscrapers were built in the economic boom years of the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s. Contributed By:Charles K.

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