Seocho District

Seocho District was once the capital of the Baekje Kingdom which existed between 18 BC and 660 AD. At the time, the area was named Wiryesong (Fortress Castle) and was located in the western area of present-day Seocho-gu. Located next to the Hangang River, the area which present Seocho-gu currently occupies is sometimes considered the cradle of Korean civilization, having been inhabited since prehistoric times. Development of the area first began in 1965 with plans to turn the land into a secondary hub of the metropolis. Over the course of 20 years, the area was transformed from its rural beginnings into an urban center with a population of around 400,000. Seocho District was officially established in January 1988, separating from the Gangnam District jurisdiction. == Geography ==

• Umyeonsan (mountain) • Guryongsan (mountain) • Cheonggyesan (mountain) • Yangjaecheon (stream) == Economy ==

Legal district According to the Korean Bar Association, more than one third of the practicing attorneys in Seoul work out of Seocho-dong, a southern neighborhood in Seocho District. Sometimes referred to as "Seocho Judicial Town," the area is also home to many of the country's most important legal institutions, including the Supreme Court, the Supreme Public Prosecutors' Office, the Seoul Central District Court, and the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency. Samsung, the country's largest conglomerate, has many of its important buildings in the area in an office park called Samsung Town. Income Due to the high concentration of residents with specialty occupations in Seocho District, the area is known to be one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Seoul. In 2021, the average monthly income for residents in Seocho District was 3,770,000 KRW; this figure is only second to Gangnam District–at the district level–and is higher than the city of Seoul's average monthly income of 2,980,000 KRW. == Administration ==

In South Korea, there are two types of dong or neighborhoods, one of which is called Beopjeong-dong (법정동 ) denoting "dong designated by law." The other is called Haengjeong-dong (행정동 ) referring to "dong assigned for administrative purpose." As the population of residents in a beopjeong-dong increases or decreases, the administration in charge divides the dong into several haengjeong-dong, or integrates several beopjeong-dong into one haengjeong-dong. ;Neighborhood • Seocho-dong (Seocho 1~4 dong)(서초동 ) • Jamwon-dong (잠원동 ) • Banpo-dong (Banpo Bon (Basically 0)~4 dong)(반포동 ) • Bangbae-dong (Bangbae Bon (Basically 0)~4 dong) (방배동 ) • Yangjae-dong (Yangjae 1~2 dong (양재동 ) • Umyeon-dong (우면동 ) • Wonji-dong (원지동 ) • Naegok-dong (내곡동 ) • Yeomgok-dong (염곡동 ) • Sinwon-dong (신원동 ) == Transportation ==

Railroad • Seoul Metro ;*Seoul Subway Line 2 Circle Line ;;;(Gangnam-gu) ← Seoul National Univ. of Education – Seocho – Bangbae → (Dongjak-gu) ;*Seoul Subway Line 3 ;;;(Gangnam-gu) ← Jamwon – Express Bus Terminal – Seoul National Univ. of Education – Nambu Bus Terminal – Yangjae (Seocho-gu Office) → (Gangnam-gu) • Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Corporation ;*Seoul Subway Line 7 ;;;(Gangnam-gu) ← Banpo – Express Bus Terminal – Naebang → (Dongjak-gu) • Seoul Metro Line 9 Corporation ;*Seoul Subway Line 9 ;;;(Dongjak-gu) ← Gubanpo – Sinbanpo – Express Bus Terminal – Sapyeong → (Gangnam-gu) • Shinbundang Railroad Company ;*Shinbundang Line ;;;Gangnam – Yangjae – Yangjae Citizen's Forest (Maeheon) – Cheonggyesan → (Bundang-gu) == Education ==

Gangnam 8 District Gangnam School District 8 is a school district (administered by the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education) that encompasses the Seocho and Gangnam districts of Seoul. The district is known for its high-quality education and features some of Korea's most elite and competitive high schools such as Whimoon and Kyunggi high school. Graduating classes from high schools in Gangnam School District 8 boast high admission rates to Korea's top universities. Seoul National University's freshman class in 2022 had 10% of its students come from schools in Gangnam School District 8. International schools in the district: • French School of Seoul • Dulwich College Seoul Libraries The district has a large public library system with 21 public libraries. In addition to libraries, Seocho District is home to 24 elementary schools, 15 middle schools, 11 high schools, 1 school for the disabled, and 2 universities. == Tourism ==

The district is referred to as the "City of Corporation and IT" and is home to many restaurants, hotels, and cafes. Seoul Arts Center The Seoul Arts Center is located in Seocho District, Seoul. The arts center includes five main buildings: the Opera House, the Music Hall, the Hangaram Art Museum, the Hangaram Design Museum, and the Seoul Calligraphy Art Museum. The Music Hall and Seoul Calligraphy Museum were built in 1988. The library contains over 10 million volumes and numerous foreign books. National Gugak Center The National Gugak Center, located in Bangbae 3-dong of Seocho District, was founded in 1951 with the purpose of preserving Korean court and folk music. The institute aims to promote traditional Korean music by hosting and engaging in workshops, research, and live performances. • Sebitseom • Banpo Bridge • Supreme Court of Korea • Citizen Park • Heonilleung (Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty) == Notable events ==

Collapse of Sampoong Department Store Sampoong Department Store, constructed in the Seocho-dong area of the district, collapsed on June 29, 1995, due to structural failures and regulatory negligence. The disaster resulted in 502 deaths and over 900 injuries. Woomyeon Mountain avalanche Woomyeon Mountain is a mountain terrain that stretches along the borders of the Seocho, Bangbae, Yangjae, and Woomyeon neighborhoods of Seocho District. In 2011, unprecedented levels of rain in greater Seoul– over 587 mm in just 3 days– triggered an avalanche in Woomyeon mountain. Gangnam station flood On August 8, 2022, Seoul experienced one of its heaviest rainfalls of the last century. The greater Seoul area experienced over 381.5 mm of precipitation– beating the single-day precipitation record of 354.7 mm in 1920. == Notable areas ==

Seorae Village Seorae Village, commonly referred to as the French district or "Little France", is an enclave located in Banpo 4-dong of Seocho district. In the 1980s, with the construction of high-end, luxury residential villas, Seorae Village emerged as an affluent, residential neighborhood. Today, approximately 40% of the French population living in Korea reside in Seorae Village. After the release of PSY's hit song, "Gangnam Style", it also became a major tourist attraction. The station has a variety of outlets including restaurants, theaters, record stores, beauty salons, and massage specialists. It serves as an important hub for transportation and is interconnected with the bus system. Acrovista Acrovista is a famous Mixed-use building located in Seocho-gu. It was built on the site after the collapse of Sampoong Department Store. It is mostly inhabited by legal professionals such as judges, lawyers, and prosecutors. Yoon Suk Yeol, the 20th president of Korea, also lived here. == Sister cities ==

International • Suginami, Tokyo, Japan • Hongkou District, Shanghai, China • Laoshan District, Qingdao, China • Çankaya District, Ankara, Turkey • Perth, Western Australia, Perth, Australia • Irvine, California, United States • Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City, Mexico Domestic • Cheongyang • Haenam • Hoengseong • Hwacheon • Icheon • Jecheon • Nam District, Ulsan • Namwon • Nonsan • Sancheong • Seocheon • Taean • Yesan == Notable people from Seocho District ==

• Bom Kim, founder and CEO of Coupang. Graduated from Harvard University. Born in Banpo-dong, Gangnam District (before the separation and establishment of Seocho District) and owns an apartment in Banpo Xi. • Lee Se-young, actress • Jaehyun, member of the K-pop boy band NCT and its sub-units NCT 127 and NCT DoJaeJung • Lee Da-in, actress • Namjoo, member of girlgroup Apink • Youngjae, former member of boygroup B.A.P • Eunbin, member of girlgroup CLC • Koo Jung Mo, member of boygroup Cravity • Park Soobin, member of girlgroup WJSN • Koo Jun-yup, member of CLON • Ko So-young, actress • Kim Jin-pyo, singer • Bae Sung-jae, former broadcaster from South Korea • Sung Si-kyung, singer • PSY, singer • Lee Seo-jin, actor • Lee Juck, singer • Cha Tae-hyun, actor • Ha Jung-woo, actor • LEESEO, member of IVE • Cho Seung-woo, actor • SOYEON, member of T-ara • Lee Ki-woo, actor == See also ==