In 1935, Bumingwan, the country’s first multi-purpose performance venue, was built opposite the Gyeongseong-bu Office (present-day Seoul City Hall). The building, which is currently used as the Seoul City Council building, was an ultra-modern building equipped with heating and air-conditioning systems, a 1,800-seat auditorium, and ancillary halls. The opening of a municipal facility dedicated...   Read more

  Old-fashioned rice cake eateries were opened one after another before and after the Korean War in Nagwon-dong, close to the royal palaces Changdeokgung and Changgyeonggung. Some of them were opened about 100 years ago. These stores are kept busy making rice cakes from several days before the Seollal (lunar New Year’s day) and Chuseok...   Read more

  The Seobuk Academic Society was organized in Nagwon-dong in 1908 by a group of scholars including Ahn Chang-ho, Park Eun-sik, Yu Dong-yeol, and Lee Dong-hui, with the aim of enlightening grassroots people, at a time when the country’s fortunes were in rapid decline. The society and the associated Oseong School were handed over to...   Read more

  This museum was opened in Sogyeok-dong, Jongno-gu opposite Gyeongbokgung Palace in November 2013. It contains part of the buildings of the Jongchinbu (Office for the Keeping of Royal Pedigrees) (Seoul City Tangible Cultural Heritage No. 96), Gyeongseong Medical School, and the Defense Security Command (Registered Cultural Heritage No. 375). The red-brick building which serves...   Read more

  Jungangtang, a two-story public bathhouse, is located among a number of small old stores in Gyedong-gil, Bukchon, Jongno-gu . Initially it was used as a shower room by athletes of Jungang High School. It started business as a public bathhouse in 1969. Although it had more than 150 customers in the early days, it...   Read more

  With the signing of the Korea-France Treaty in 1886, the country’s 100-year-long persecution of Catholics came to an end. Seoul’s three main cathedrals, Yakhyeon Cathedral (1892), Myeongdong Cathedral (1898), and Wonhyoro Cathedral (1902) were all built shortly thereafter. The Gothic-style Wonhyoro Cathedral (or Youngsan Catholic Seminary) is located within the compound of Seomshim Girls...   Read more

  This park is the site where the nationwide independence movement began in March 1919. It was also the site of Heungboksa Temple during the Goryeo Period (877-1394). The temple was renovated by King Sejo, who mobilized 2,000 troops for the task, and expanded into the largest temple in the capital by purchasing 200 nearby...   Read more

  Following the completion of the new Seoul City Hall in October 2012, it was decided that the old Seoul City Hall should be used as Seoul Library. Upon the annexation of Joseon as a Japanese colony in 1910, the colonists changed the name Hanseong-bu (present-day Seoul) to Gyeongseong-bu, making it part of Gyeonggi-do. To...   Read more

  The country’s oldest bank building, located in Namdaemun-ro, Jung-gu, was named Gwangtonggwan, as it was located close to Gwangtongyo Bridge. Built in 1909, it is still used as a bank branch. The building was restored after its destruction by fire in 1914, but its appearance has changed considerably in parts. The two-story building (total...   Read more

  Following Japan’s victory in the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905), Japanese imperialists concretized their plan to annex Joseon. During the war, the Japanese military started taking steps to turn Yongsan into a railroad base. As many workers were injured, temporary clinics were installed at the worksites. Yongsan Station was completed in 1906. In 1913, Yongsan Dongin...   Read more

        2013年10月以后，人们将在明洞、梨泰院、东大门、仁寺洞、弘大入口、清溪川、市厅周边等区域，遇见和蔼可亲、精通外语的旅游警察。         本次出台的旅游警察共计100多名，具备了出色的英语、汉语、日语能力，能与海外游客进行流畅的沟通。在韩国旅游发展局的协助下，他们在上岗前接受了为期一个月的旅游基础素养及外语教育。         旅游警察的主要任务是△预防旅游地犯罪及维护基础秩序△管制、调查以外来游客为对象的违法行为△处理外来游客的旅游相关不便事项等，旅游警察计划与相关机构联系，提供旅游治安服务。         今后，外来游客遇到宰客行为、拒绝退款等情况时，可以提请临近的旅游警察提供帮助，或访问各地区旅游警察服务中心，即可获得用英语、汉语、日语提供的帮助。

        与首尔市的交往历史达40余年的姐妹城市——美国旧金山市今后将与首尔就文化․旅游、城市规划及开发等优秀政策事例进行共享，互派员工，提供市政学习机会等，强化实质性交流合作。         为此，首尔市长朴元淳21日（周一）与旧金山市长Edwin M. Lee会面，签署了《加强两座城市间友好合作的谅解备忘录》。         此次签署的谅解备忘录是针对首尔市1976年与旧金山市签署的《缔结姐妹城市共同宣言》进行更具体的交流方案协商，计划今后在现有友好关系基础上更进一步发展，加强实质性、持续性交流合作。         两座城市今后将促进文化․旅游、城市规划及开发、电子政府及信息技术、可持续性政策、公有经济等优秀政策事例共享；相互加入、参加两座城市主办的国际机构和国际会议等，构建实质性交流关系；增进两座城市教育和文化机关之间的交流合作；相互派遣员工，提供市政学习机会，共享政策及知识等。         其第一步就是旧金山市长Edwin M. Lee于21日（周一）在首尔市政府，以首尔市长团、投资․出资机构领导、首尔市员工等为对象，举办了“希望首尔学院”特讲。         Edwin M. Lee市长以平时作为市政管理哲学的“革新”(题目: 《Innovation is the past, present and future of San Francisco》)为主题进行了演讲。         Edwin M. Lee市长为第二代移民，其父母来自中国。他是当选旧金山市长的首位亚裔，于2012年就任。当选市长之前，他曾担任为亚洲和南美等少数民族代言的人权律师，拥有超过20年的公务员经历。现在与纽约市长Michael Bloomberg一起，堪称美国公共领域最具革新精神的人物。