Seoul Capital Area

"Seoul–Incheon" redirects here. Not to be confused with Incheon International Airport.

Metropolitan area in South Korea

Place in South Korea 
-

Seoul Capital Area

수도권

Seoul, the largest city in the metropolitan area

Country| South Korea

* * *

Major cities| Seoul
Incheon
Suwon
Ansan
Anyang
Goyang
Seongnam
Bucheon
Yongin
Area

• Capital area| 12,685 km2 (4,898 sq mi)
Population

(2020)

• Metro

| 26,037,000[1]
• Metro density| 2,053/km2 (5,320/sq mi)
• Percentage of South Korea's total population

| ~50%
(52 million)
GDP

[2]

• Seoul Capital Area| KR₩1,137 trillion
US$909.6 billion (2022)
HDI (2021)| 0.952[3]
very high · 1st
Seoul Capital Area

Hangul|

수도권

Hanja|

首都圈

Revised Romanization| Sudogwon
McCune–Reischauer| Sudokwŏn
Gyeonggi Region
Hangul|

경기 지방

Hanja|

京畿地方

Revised Romanization| Gyeonggi jibang
McCune–Reischauer| Kyŏnggi chibang

The Seoul Capital Area (SCA; Korean: 수도권, [sʰu.do.k͈wʌ̹n]) or Gyeonggi region (경기 지방), is the metropolitan area of Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi Province, located in north-west South Korea. Its population of 26 million (as of 2024)[1] is ranked as the fourth largest metropolitan area in the world. Its area is about 12,685 km2 (4,898 sq mi). It forms the cultural, commercial, financial, industrial, and residential center of South Korea. The largest city is Seoul, with a population of approximately 10 million people, followed by Incheon, with 3 million inhabitants.

## Geography and climate[edit]

Satellite image of Seoul and greater area (2020)

See also: Geography of South Korea

The Capital Area occupies a plain in the Han River valley.[4]

## History[edit]

See also: History of South Korea and History of Seoul

## Demographics[edit]

See also: Demographics of South Korea

Covering only about 12% of the country's area, the Seoul Capital Area is home to more than 48.2% of the national population, and is the world's ninth largest urban area. This percentage has risen steadily since the mid-20th century, and the trend is expected to continue. Currently more than half of the people who move from one region to another are moving to the capital area.[2] In 2020, it was reported that the Seoul Capital Area's population had exceeded 50% of the country's total population, with 25,925,799 people living in the area (50.002% of the total 51,849,861).[5]

## Economy[edit]

See also: Economy of South Korea and Category:Companies based in Seoul

Subdivision  | Area km2 | Population  | GDP (KR₩)[2] | GDP (US$)[6]

|
|
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Gyeonggi Province | 10,184 | 13,511,676 | ₩ 547 trillion | US$ 437.6 billion
Seoul | 605 | 9,586,195 | ₩ 486 trillion | US$ 388.8 billion
Incheon | 1,063 | 2,945,454 | ₩ 104 trillion | US$ 83.2 billion
Seoul Capital Area | 11,852 | 26,043,325 | ₩ 1,137 trillion | US$ 909.6 billion

In 2020, Seoul Capital Area's Gross Regional Product was around US$900 billion, generating around half of the country's total GDP.[2] It is the fourth largest urban economy in the world after Tokyo, New York and Los Angeles but ahead of Paris and London.[7] The region hosts headquarters of 59 Forbes Global 2000 companies.[8] As the economy of Seoul Capital Area transformed to knowledge economy from the manufacturing-based economy of the 20th century, there are a number of high-tech business parks in Seoul Capital Area, such as Digital Media City and Pangyo Techno Valley.[citation needed]

Industrial Clusters in Seoul Capital Area

The Seoul Capital Area is home to the most affluent and livable cities and apartments in Korea but there are significant discrepancies between cities and districts, particularly between those built in the older and newer generations. Newer areas with more modern and luxurious apartments and infrastructure are more expensive, along with proximity to Gangnam District, the commercial center of the region.[9]

## Government[edit]

See also: Government of South Korea

Various agencies have been set up to deal with the intergovernmental problems of the region. Proposals for consolidating some or all of the cities of the capital area into a handful of metropolitan cities have thus far not been implemented.[citation needed]

Development in the area is currently governed by the Capital Region Readjustment Planning Act (수도권정비계획법), first passed in 1982 and last revised in 1996.[citation needed]

## Subdivisions[edit]

See also: Administrative divisions of South Korea

The Seoul Capital Area is divided among the special city of Seoul, the metropolitan city of Incheon, and province of Gyeonggi. Seoul has 25 gu (local government wards),[10] Incheon has 8 gu and 2 counties, and Gyeonggi Province has 28 cities and 3 counties as the subdivisions.

Bundang, Seongnam Anyang, Gyeonggi Province

### Seoul[edit]

Main article: List of districts of Seoul

Further information: Seoul

The 25 districts of Seoul.

* Dobong District (도봉구; 道峰區)
* Dongdaemun District (동대문구; 東大門區)
* Dongjak District (동작구; 銅雀區)
* Eunpyeong District (은평구; 恩平區)
* Gangbuk District (강북구; 江北區)
* Gangdong District (강동구; 江東區)
* Gangnam District (강남구; 江南區)
* Gangseo District (강서구; 江西區)
* Geumcheon District (금천구; 衿川區)
* Guro District (구로구; 九老區)
* Gwanak District (관악구; 冠岳區)
* Gwangjin District (광진구; 廣津區)
* Jongno District (종로구; 鍾路區)
* Jung District (중구; 中區)
* Jungnang District (중랑구; 中浪區)
* Mapo District (마포구; 麻浦區)
* Nowon District (노원구; 蘆原區)
* Seocho District (서초구; 瑞草區)
* Seodaemun District (서대문구; 西大門區)
* Seongbuk District (성북구; 城北區)
* Seongdong District (성동구; 城東區)
* Songpa District (송파구; 松坡區)
* Yangcheon District (양천구; 陽川區)
* Yeongdeungpo District (영등포구; 永登浦區)
* Yongsan District (용산구; 龍山區)

### Incheon[edit]

Main article: List of districts and counties of Incheon

Further information: Incheon

The 8 districts and 2 counties of Incheon.

* Bupyeong District (부평구; 富平區)
* Dong District (동구; 東區)
* Gyeyang District (계양구; 桂陽區)
* Jung District (중구; 中區)
* Michuhol District (미추홀구; 彌鄒忽區) (Former Nam District(남구; 南區)
* Namdong District (남동구; 南洞區)
* Seo District (서구; 西區)
* Yeonsu District (연수구; 延壽區)

* Ganghwa County (강화군; 江華郡)
* Ongjin County (옹진군; 甕津郡)

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### Gyeonggi-do[edit]

Main article: List of cities and counties of Gyeonggi Province

28 cities and 3 counties of Gyeonggi-do. Below are seven of the largest cities, sorted by their population size:

#### Suwon[edit]

Further information: Suwon

The 4 gu of Suwon (수원; 水原).

* Paldal-gu (팔달구; 八達區)
* Yeongtong-gu (영통구; 霊通區)
* Jangan-gu (장안구; 長安區)
* Gwonseon-gu (권선구; 勸善區)

#### Goyang[edit]

Further information: Goyang

The 3 gu of Goyang (고양; 高陽).

* Deogyang-gu (덕양구; 德陽區)
* Ilsandong-gu (일산동구; 一山東區)
* Ilsanseo-gu (일산서구; 一山西區)

#### Yongin[edit]

Further information: Yongin

The 3 gu of Yongin (용인; 龍仁).

* Cheoin-gu (처인구; 處仁區)
* Giheung-gu (기흥구; 器興區)
* Suji-gu (수지구; 水枝區)

#### Seongnam[edit]

Further information: Seongnam

The 3 gu of Seongnam (성남; 城南).

* Bundang-gu (분당구; 盆唐區)
* Jungwon-gu (중원구; 中原區)
* Sujeong-gu (수정구; 壽井區)

#### Bucheon[edit]

Further information: Bucheon

#### Ansan[edit]

Further information: Ansan

The 2 gu of Ansan (안산; 安山).

* Danwon-gu (단원구; 檀園區)
* Sangnok-gu (상록구; 常綠區)

#### Anyang[edit]

Further information: Anyang, Gyeonggi

The 2 gu of Anyang (안양; 安養).

* Dongan-gu (동안구; 東安區)
* Manan-gu (만안구; 萬安區)

* * *

* Anseong (안성; 安城)
* Dongducheon (동두천; 東豆川)
* Gimpo (김포; 金浦)
* Goyang (고양; 高陽)
* Gunpo (군포; 軍浦)
* Guri (구리; 九里)
* Gwacheon (과천; 果川)

* Gwangju (광주; 廣州)
* Gwangmyeong (광명; 光明)
* Hanam (하남; 河南)
* Hwaseong (화성; 華城)
* Icheon (이천; 利川)
* Namyangju (남양주; 南楊州)
* Osan (오산; 烏山)

* Paju (파주; 坡州)
* Pocheon (포천; 抱川)
* Pyeongtaek (평택; 平澤)
* Siheung (시흥; 始興)
* Uijeongbu (의정부; 議政府)
* Uiwang (의왕; 儀旺)
* Yangju (양주; 楊州)

* Yeoju (여주; 驪州)
* Gapyeong County (가평군; 加平郡)
* Yangpyeong County (양평군; 揚平郡)
* Yeoncheon County (연천군; 漣川郡)

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## Transportation[edit]

See also: Transport in South Korea and Transportation in Seoul

Incheon International Airport Seoul Metropolitan subway, Line 3 Map of Seoul Ring Expressway

The cities of the capital area are tightly interconnected by road and rail. Many of the country's railroad lines, most notably the Gyeongbu Line, terminate in the region. In addition, rapid transit is provided by the Seoul Metropolitan Subway, which has lines that serve all districts of Seoul, as well as the city of Incheon and other surrounding cities within Gyeonggi Province.[11][12]

The region is a nexus for travel by air and water. The country's two largest airports, Incheon International Airport and Gimpo International Airport, are in the metropolitan area.[11] International and domestic ferries depart from Incheon's ferry terminals several times a day.[13]

Seoul Ring Expressway (Expressway No. 100) connects satellite cities around Seoul.[14]

## See also[edit]

* Geography of South Korea
* Regions of Korea
* Demographics of South Korea
* Capital Region
* List of metropolitan areas by population
* List of metropolitan areas in Asia by population
* Subdivisions of South Korea
* Seoul Ring Expressway
* Greater Tokyo Area
* Jing-Jin-Ji

## Notes[edit]

1. ^ http://kostat.go.kr/portal/korea/kor_nw/1/13/2/index.board?bmode=read&bSeq=&aSeq=379534&pageNo=1&rowNum=10&navCount=10&currPg=&searchInfo=&sTarget=title&sTxt=|title=2018년 지역소득(잠정).
2. ^ a b c "2022년 지역소득(잠정)". www.kostat.go.kr.
3. ^ "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 2018-09-13.
4. ^ Chase, David (1960). "A Limited Archæological Survey of the Han River Valley in Central Korea". Asian Perspectives. 4 (1/2): 141–149. ISSN 0066-8435. JSTOR 42927497.
5. ^ "Greater Seoul population exceeds 50% of S. Korea for first time". english.hani.co.kr. Retrieved 2023-08-20.
6. ^ "South Korean Won to US Dollar Spot Exchange Rates for 2022". www.exchangerates.org.uk.
7. ^ "Global Wealth GDP Nominal Distribution: Who Are The Leaders Of The Global Economy? - Full Size". www.visualcapitalist.com. Retrieved 2022-03-27.
8. ^ "The World's Largest Public Companies". Forbes.
9. ^ "미군 잔류로 낙후된 동두천, 특별법 제정해야". www.yonhapnews.co.kr. 2014-12-23.
10. ^ "The Statistic of Seoul". Seoul Solution. 2023. Retrieved 2023-08-20.
11. ^ a b "Getting around Seoul is easy for first-timers with these simple tips". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 2023-08-20.
12. ^ "Seoul public transportation - Seoul metro maps |". Official Website of the. Retrieved 2023-08-20.
13. ^ "Incheon Port International Passenger Terminal". www.icferry.or.kr. Retrieved 2023-08-20.
14. ^ "First DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel coming to Korea". koreatimes. 2018-07-05. Retrieved 2023-08-20.

1. ^ Korea National Statistical Office (2008-07-22). e나라지표:수도권 인구 집중 현황 (in Korean).
2. ^ Ryu Boseon (류보선) (2005-08-23). 수도권 인구 편중현상 계속 (in Korean). Korea National Statistical Office (KNSO) News. Archived from the original on 2007-09-28.류보선Category:Articles+containing+Korean-language+text)&rft_id=http://nso.news.go.kr/warp/webapp/news/view?section_id=p_sec_1&id;=d5ef9a6abd2f2cbdd1fc5171&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Seoul+Capital+Area" class="Z3988">
3. ^ Hong, Yong-deok (홍용덕) (2005-06-01). 각종 분산정책 불구하고 수도권은 ‘인구 블랙홀’ (in Korean). The Hankyoreh.홍용덕Category:Articles+containing+Korean-language+text)&rft_id=http://www.hani.co.kr/section-005000000/2005/06/005000000200506011903259.html&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Seoul+Capital+Area" class="Z3988">

## External links[edit]

* Official website of Seoul Metropolitan government
* Metropolitan Air Quality Management Office, in Korean
* Capital Region Development Institute, in Korean
* Chosun Ilbo metro news, in Korean Archived 2014-10-12 at the Wayback Machine
* [3]

* v
* t
* e

Public transportation  in Seoul Metropolitan Area

Railways|

| Main|

* Gyeongbu
* Gyeongwon
* Gyeongui
* Jungang
* Gyeongchun
* Gyeongin
* AREX

|

High-speed rail|

* Gyeongbu HSR
* Honam HSR
* Suseo–Pyeongtaek HSR

Metropolitan Subway|

* Line 1
* Line 2
* Line 3
* Line 4
* Line 5
* Line 6
* Line 7
* Line 8
* Line 9
* Incheon Line 1
* Incheon Line 2

Suburban railways|

* Gyeongui–Jungang Line
* Gyeongchun Line
* Suin–Bundang Line
* Gyeonggang Line
* Seohae Line
* Shinbundang Line
* AREX
* Incheon Airport Maglev

Light Metro|

* U Line
* EverLine
* Ui LRT
* Gimpo Goldline
* Sillim Line

Under construction|

* GTX A (2023)
* Sinansan (2023)
* Dongbuk (S3) (2024)

Planned|

* Seoul LRT lines
* Myeonmok (S4) (2028)
* Seobu (S5) (2026)
* Mok-dong (S6) (2028)
* Wirye–Sinsa (S7) (2024)
* Dongtan–Indeogwon (2021)
* Wirye (2024)
* Gangbukhoengdan (2027)
* GTX B
* GTX C
* Incheon 3

Main stations|

* Seoul
* Yongsan
* Yeongdeungpo
* Cheongnyangni
* Suseo
* Sangbong

Roads|

| Expressways|

* Gyeongbu (1) ()
* Seohaean (15)
* Pyeongtaek-Paju (17)
* Sejong-Pocheon (29)
* Seoul-Yangyang (60)
* Seoul Ring (100)
* Gyeongin (120)
* Incheon International Airport (130)
* Yongin-Seoul (171)

|

National roads|

* #1
* #3
* #6
* #39
* #43
* #46
* #47
* #48
* #77

Local roads|

* #23
* #78

Urban expressways|

* Bukbu
* Dongbu
* Gangbyeon
* Gangnam
* Nambu
* Naebu
* Olympic
* Seobu

City routes|

* #20
* #21 ()
* #30
* #31
* #41 ()
* #50
* #51
* #60
* #61
* #70
* #71
* #88
* #90
* #92
* #94

Buses|

| Areas|

* Seoul
* Gyeonggi-do [ko]
* Incheon [ko]

|

Major terminals|

* Seoul Express Bus Terminal
* Central City
* Dong Seoul Bus Terminal
* Sangbong Intercity Bus Terminal [ko]
* Seoul Nambu Bus Terminal [ko]

Airports|

* Incheon International
* Gimpo International
* Seoul Airfield

Related topics|

* T-money
* Upass
* Mybi
* KTX Family Card
* hi-pass
* CashBee [ko]

* v
* t
* e

Regions and administrative divisions of South Korea

Regions|

* Gyeonggi
* Capital area
* Gwandong
* Yeongdong
* Yeongseo
* Hoseo
* Daejeon–Sejong–Chungnam
* Chungbuk
* Honam
* Yeongnam
* Daegu–Gyeongbuk
* Busan–Ulsan–Gyeongnam
* Southeastern MIR
* Jeju

Provinces|

* North Chungcheong
* South Chungcheong
* Gyeonggi
* North Gyeongsang
* South Gyeongsang
* South Jeolla
* (Claimed five Northern Korean Provinces)

Special self-governing province and States|

* Jeju
* Gangwon
* Jeonbuk

Special city|

* Seoul

Special self-governing city|

* Sejong

Metropolitan cities|

* Busan
* Daegu
* Daejeon
* Gwangju
* Incheon
* Ulsan

* v
* t
* e

World's 50 most-populous urban areas

|  |

1. Tokyo
2. Jakarta
3. Delhi
4. Guangzhou–Foshan
5. Mumbai
6. Manila
7. Shanghai
8. Seoul
9. Cairo
10. Mexico City

11. Kolkata
12. São Paulo
13. New York
14. Karachi
15. Dhaka
16. Bangkok
17. Beijing
18. Moscow
19. Shenzhen
20. Buenos Aires

21. Los Angeles
22. Johannesburg-Pretoria
23. Bangalore
24. Chengdu
25. Ho Chi Minh City
26. Osaka–Kobe–Kyoto
27. Lagos
28. Istanbul
29. Lahore
30. Kinshasa–Brazzaville

31. Tehran
32. Chongqing
33. Rio de Janeiro
34. Xi'an
35. Chennai
36. Paris
37. Zhengzhou
38. Luanda
39. London
40. Dongguan

41. Lima
42. Wuhan
43. Bogotá
44. Tianjin
45. Hyderabad
46. Taipei
47. Hangzhou
48. Nagoya
49. Surabaya
50. Bandung

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Authority control databases: National |

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