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Busan

Seoul is the capital city of Korea, located at a longitude of 126 degrees east and latitude of 37 degrees north. The city lies at the center of the Korean peninsula. It is 605,522 square kilometers in size and covers 0.61% of South Korea. The population of Seoul was 10,320,000 in 2000. Seoul consists of a total of 25 wards (gu) and 522 dongs (a smaller municipal division) and is classified as a special municipality, with the local government being directly controlled by the central government.

The Hangang River flows east to west through Seoul, and the mountain range stretching from the north contributes to the city landscape. The center of the city is mostly flat, but beautiful, spectacular mountains are situated in the suburbs and serve as a refuge for Seoul citizens. Since Seoul is the capital city of Korea, there are plenty of great cultural establishments and government offices, including the first integrated Government Building, the constitutional court, the National Assembly, various courts of law and Cheongwadae (the Presidential residence).

It is presumed that the Amsa-dong Prehistoric Settlement Site and the Misari Prehistoric Remains from about 6,000 years ago (B.C. 4000) are what is left of the initial establishment of what is now Seoul. After Lee Seong-Gye, who established the Joseon Dynasty, determined to settle down in the Hangang River basin, this area began to develop as the capital of the country. In the late 17th Century, Seoul played a central role for the rapid development of commerce around the Hangang River and went through significant changes including a gravitation of the population to the area. Seoul was finally designated as the capital when the Korean Government was established in 1948 after independence was declared on August 15, 1945. The rapid industrialization accompanied by economic growth in the 1960s and 70s helped the city establish itself as one of the centers for international commerce and trade in East Asia. The Seoul Asian Games and the Seoul Olympics were held in 1986 and in 1988 respectively.

Gyeongju contains some of the most precious treasures from the Korea's 5000-year history. A historic city with a population of 291,000 as of January 2001, Gyeongju is located 370 kilometers southeast of Seoul on an area of 1,323 square kilometers. The city belongs to Gyeongsangbuk-do administratively and is composed of 4 towns (eup), 8 townships (myeon) and 13 districts (dong). The offices of the city hall are located at Nodong-dong and Dongcheon-dong.

Gyeongju is known to have been the capital of Silla when Park Hyeokgeose founded the nation in 57 B.C. A birthplace of Silla, it had been the political and cultural center of the kingdom for 990 years since its establishment. The outstanding cultural assets remaining across the city such as Buddhist temples, gold crowns and sculptures still mesmerize visitors. Called by a number of names including Seorabeol and Geumseong in earlier days, it began to be called by the today's name, Gyeongju, in 935 during the Goryeo Dynasty. Administratively, the name was changed to Gyeongju-bu in 1413, then Gyeongju-gun in 1895 during the Joseon Dynasty. Gyeongju became a city (si) in 1995.

Located on the southwest seas off the Korean peninsula, Jeju Island is Korea's largest island, covering 1,845km2 in area (73km long and 41km wide). With its unspoiled natural beauty, unique cultural traditions, mild climate and well-developed infrastructure such as world-class hotels, Jeju Island has become one of Korea's most cherished tourist destinations. The island has recently hosted many important international meetings including Korean-Japanese and Korean-American summit talks.

Korean people like to compare Jeju Island with Hawaii. Like Hawaii, Jeju was created by a volcanic eruption and many parts of the island are covered with dark volcanic rocks, sands and soil. On this egg-shaped island offshore waters are of the same aqua-turquoise color as Hawaii's. And these colors in turn lap against the same type of black lava shelves, jagged outcroppings and steep cliffs rimming the islands of Hawaii. Simply, Jeju Island has more exotic natural surroundings and scenic splendors than anywhere in Korea.

Geography of Jeju Island: At north latitude 33 degrees 00' to 36 degrees 06' and east longitude 126 degrees 08' to 58', the island is located 452km to the south from Seoul, 301km to the southwest from Busan, 989km to the west from Osaka in Japan, 499km to the east from Shanghai, and 1,030km from Hong Kong.

Approximately 450 kilometers southeast of Seoul, Busan is located at a longitude of 129 degrees east and a latitude of 35 degrees north. As of 2000, a population of 3,830,000 lives in a 758.21 km2 area. Bordered with the blue sea of Pacific Ocean to the south and the estuary of Nakdonggang River to the west, Busan has a number of exquisite beaches and hot springs along its coastlines, attracting millions of tourists every year.

Although Busan is one of the most industrialized modern cities in Korea, the archeological evidence shows that the area has been inhabited since the Old Stone Age, approximately 15,000 years ago. History left many treasures to the city including Geumjeong Fortress, Beomeosa Temple and Chungnyeolsa Shrine. Most of all, however, it is the role Busan takes for Korea's international trade and commerce that gives Busan the vibrant and dynamic urban culture it enjoys today. Busan is one of the top five port cities in the world.

The Busan City Hall is located at Jungang-dong 7-ga of Jung-gu.

Archeological evidence shows that people began to live in the Busan area during the New Stone Age. However, Busan had remained a tiny fishing village until the Joseon court decided to open it as an international commercial port in 1876. In 1905 when the construction of Gyeongbuseon, or Seoul-Busan Railroad, saw its completion, the city began to rapidly grow as a trade port with modern port facilities built including wharfs. It was in 1925 that Busan became the seat of provincial administration, then during the Korean War the city was briefly designated as the provisional capital of Korea when its central government had to withdraw from Seoul. After the government's decision in 1963 to place Busan under its direct control, the city played a key role in the economic growth of the country in the 1960s to 1970s. In 1995, Busan was designated as a metropolitan city.

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