100 Cities for Kids
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Seoul, South Korea

City: ้ฆ–็ˆพ(sau2 ji5)
Country: ้Ÿ“ๅœ‹(hon4 gwok3)

Where Is Seoul? ๐Ÿ“

Seoul is located in the northwestern part of South Korea, quite close to the border with North Korea ๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ. It sits along the Han River ๐Ÿž๏ธ, which divides the city into two halves. If you look at a map, you can find Seoul at these coordinates: 37.532600, 127.024612.

How Many People Live There? ๐Ÿ‘ฅ

Seoul is HUGE! About 10,025,800 people live in Seoul as of 2025. That's a lot of people in one city! In fact, more than half of South Korea's entire population lives in the Seoul Capital Area.

Special Places to See ๐Ÿฏ

One of the most amazing places to visit in Seoul is Gyeongbokgung Palace. This is one of five ancient royal palaces in the city. The palace was built hundreds of years ago during the Joseon Dynasty and shows the beautiful traditional Korean architecture. Kings and queens once lived here! ๐Ÿคด๐Ÿ‘ธ

Language and Food ๐Ÿœ

People in Seoul speak Korean ๐Ÿ—ฃ๏ธ. If you visit, you might want to learn a few Korean phrases! Seoul is also famous for its delicious food. One of the most famous Korean foods is kimchi, which is spicy fermented cabbage ๐ŸŒถ๏ธ๐Ÿ›. Recently, the Seoul city government started a campaign to help visitors understand Korean food better by making sure the names of dishes are correctly translated into other languages.

A Famous Musician from Seoul ๐ŸŽค

Have you ever heard the song "Gangnam Style"? The singer PSY (whose real name is Park Jae-sang) was born in Seoul on December 31, 1977. His funny dance video became super famous in 2012 and was the first YouTube video ever to reach one billion views! ๐Ÿ“บ๐Ÿš€ Gangnam is actually a district in Seoul that PSY sings about in his song.

A Seoul Scientist ๐Ÿง‘โ€๐Ÿ”ฌ

Professor Sang-Mook Lee is an amazing scientist from Seoul who studies the ocean floor! ๐ŸŒŠ Born in 1962, he works at Seoul National University where he researches underwater earthquakes, volcanoes, and the movement of tectonic plates. What makes Professor Lee especially inspiring is that after a car accident in 2006 left him unable to move his arms and legs, he returned to teaching and research in less than a year. People call him the "Stephen Hawking of Korea" because, like the famous physicist, he continues to do important scientific work despite physical challenges. Professor Lee also helps develop technology that makes it easier for people with disabilities to use computers and smartphones ๐Ÿ“ฑ๐Ÿ’ป.

Fun Fact About Seoul ๐ŸŒˆ

Did you know that Seoul's Moonlight Rainbow Fountain is the longest bridge fountain in the world? At night, it lights up with colorful lights and water sprays, creating a beautiful rainbow effect over the Han River! ๐ŸŒ‰

Seoul has been the capital city of Korea since 1394, which means it has over 600 years of amazing history to explore. If you ever get a chance to visit, you'll discover a city where ancient palaces stand next to modern skyscrapers, creating a unique mixture of old and new! ๐Ÿ›๏ธ๐Ÿข