Timeline of Seoul

The following is a of the history of the city of Seoul, South Korea.

Prior to 14th century

• 18 BCE – Baekje, Wirye-seong, settled. Seoul started functioning as the royal capital of Baekje until 475.
• 475 – Seoul changed hands from Baekje to Goguryeo.
• 551 – Seoul changed hands from Goguryeo to Baekje.
• 553 – Seoul changed hands from Baekje to Silla.
• 901 – Seoul under control of Taebong as Silla became divided into three kingdoms.
• 918 – Seoul became a part of newly founded Goryeo as the prior regime Taebong was overthrown.
• 1104 – Sukjong of Goryeo builds a palace in Seoul and declared it the second capital 'Namgyeong' meaning 'Southern Capital'.

14th-18th century

• 1394
• Capital of the Joseon dynasty relocates to Seoul from Kaesong.
• Jongmyo (shrine) built.
• 1395
• Gyeongbokgung Palace built.
• Jogyesa temple established.
• 1396 – Fortress Wall construction begins.
• 1398
• Eight Gates built.
• Sungkyunkwan founded.
• 1412 – Changdeokgung Palace built.
• 1414 – Namdaemun Market active.
• 1447 – Namdaemun rebuilt.
• 1467 – Wongaksa Pagoda constructed.
• 1592 – April: City taken by Japanese forces.

18th-19th century

• 1711 – Donuimun and Gwanghuimun (gates) rebuilt.
• 1741 – Changuimun (gate) rebuilt.
• 1796 – Hwaseong Fortress built.
• 1867 – Gwanghwamun (gate) reconstructed.
• 1897
• Kurisudo sinmun newspaper begins publication.
• Independence Gate erected.
• 1898 – Myeongdong Cathedral consecrated.
• 1899 – Gwallim Middle School established.
• 1900
• Gyeongseong Station opens.
• Incheon-Seoul and Chemulpo-Seoul railways begin operating.

20th century

1900s-1950s

• 1901 – Busan-Seoul railway begins operating.
• 1905
• Uiju-Seoul railway begins operating.
• Dongdaemun Market in business.
• 1906 – Keijō Nippō newspaper established.
• 1907 – Seoul Sanitation Association founded.
• 1908 – Gyeongseong Gamok (prison) in operation.
• 1910
• Japanese in power; city renamed "Keijō"
• Population: 200,000 (approximate).
• 1914 – Outer parts of Gyeongseongbu were ceded to Goyang County.
• 1915 – Joseon Industrial Exhibition held in Gyeongbokgung
• 1920 – Chosun Ilbo and Dong-a Ilbo newspapers begin publication.
• 1922 – Namsan Public Library established.
• 1924 – Keijō Imperial University founded.
• 1925 – Seoul Station opens.
• 1926 – Japanese General Government Building constructed.
• 1927 – Noryangjin Fish Market in business.
• 1936 – The expansion of Gyeongseongbu was implemented absorbing Cheongnyangni, Anam, Sincheon, etc.
• 1940 – Joseon Grand Exposition held in Seoul
• 1945 – National Library of Korea and National Museum of Korea established.
• 1946
• City renamed "Seoul" (approximate date).
• Kim Hyongmin becomes mayor.
• Seoul National University established.
• 1947 – Samsung Sanghoe in business.
• 1948
• City becomes capital of Republic of Korea.
• Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra founded.
• 1949
• Seoul designated a special city (administrative division).
• Expended to today's Gangbuk-gu to the north and Guro-dong, Sindorim-dong(including today's Daerim dong) to the south.
• Population: 1,446,019.
• 1950
• 28 June: Hangang Bridge bombing; city taken by North Korean army.
• 16 July: Yongsan bombing.
• 22–25 September: Second Battle of Seoul.
• 1951
• January: Third Battle of Seoul.
• 14 March: City taken by United Nations forces.
• 1953 – Korean Republic newspaper begins publication.
• 1954 – Hankook Ilbo newspaper begins publication.
• 1958 – Gimpo International Airport in operation.

1960s-1990s

• 1960 – Gyeongdong Market in business.
• 1963 – The great expansion was implemented, incorporating parts of counties of Gimpo, Gwangju, Siheung, Yangju, and Bucheon.
• 1965 – Population: 3,793,280.
• 1969 – N Seoul Tower built.
• 1970
• Gyeongbu Expressway constructed.
• Population: 5,433,198.
• 1973
• Jingwan-dong (Gupabal) was incorporated to Seoul from Goyang County.
• World Taekwondo Headquarters established.
• 1974
• Seoul Metropolitan Subway begins operating.
• Korean Film Archive and Chugye University for the Arts established.
• 1975 – Sister city relationship established with San Francisco, USA.
• 1977 – Jeongdok Public Library opens.
• 1978 – Sejong Center built.
• 1980 – Population: 8,364,379.
• 1982 – Banpo Bridge constructed.
• 1983
• Lucky-Goldstar Football Club formed.
• Bukhansan National Park established.
• 1985
• 63 Building constructed.
• Population: 9,639,110.
• 1986 – Asian Games held.
• 1988
• Goh Kun becomes mayor.
• Summer Olympics held.
• Seoul Museum of Art and Calligraphy Museum open.
• Trade Tower built.
• 1989 – Lotte World recreation complex opens.
• 1990 – Population: 10,612,577.
• 1991
• Blue House (government residence) built.
• KBS Hall opens.
• 1993
• Korea National University of Arts established.
• Opera House opens.
• War Memorial of Korea constructed.
• 1994 – Hi! Seoul Festival begins.
• 1995
• The city boundary between Seoul and Gwangmyeong was rearranged, absorbing a very tiny part of Cheolsan-dong.
• The city boundary between Seoul and Goyang was rearranged, absorbing a very tiny part of Jichuk-dong.
• 29 June: Sampoong Department Store collapse.
• Population: 10,776,201 (approximate estimate).
• 1999 – Jongno Tower built.
• 2000
• Bukchon Preservation and Regeneration Project established.
• Kumho Art Hall opens.

21st century

• 2001
• Incheon International Airport begins operating.
• Seoul World Cup Stadium opens.
• ETP music festival begins.
• 2002
• FIFA World Cup held.
• Lee Myung-bak becomes mayor.
• Seoul Museum of History established.
• 2003 – Hyperion Tower built.
• 2004
• Samsung Tower Palace built.
• Seoul Station renovated.
• Seoul Metropolitan Government Amazones football club formed.
• 2005 – Seoul Forest opens.
• 2006 – Oh Se-hoon becomes mayor.
• 2009
• Moonlight Rainbow Fountain installed.
• West Seoul Lake Park opens.
• 2010 – November: G-20 summit held.
• 2011
• June: Floods.
• October: Asian Network of Major Cities 21 meeting held.
• Park Won-soon becomes mayor.
• Population: 10,581,728.
• Shinbundang Line opens
• 2012
• International Finance Center Seoul opens
• ABU Radio Song Festival held.
• Seoul City Hall rebuilt.
• 2014 – Dongdaemun Design Plaza opens
• 2015 – Gocheok Sky Dome opens
• 2016 – March: AI AlphaGo versus Lee Sedol match played.
• 2018 – Population: 9,962,393
• 2022
• 29 October: Seoul Halloween crowd crush
• 2024
• 2024 South Korean martial law crisis

See also

• History of Seoul
• List of districts of Seoul
• List of neighbourhoods of Seoul
• Names of Seoul
• List of mayors of Seoul
• List of museums in Seoul
• List of Buddhist temples in Seoul
• List of universities and colleges in Seoul
• Timeline of Korean history
• List of cities by population density

References

Bibliography

External links