Timeline of Seoul

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

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries.

Prior to 14th century

• 17 BCE - Baekje, Wirye-seong, settled.
• 392 - Goguryeo in power.
• 551 - Silla-Baekje alliance in power.
• 1104 - Sukjong of Goryeo builds palace.

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.

20th century

• 1900
  • Gyeongseong Station opens.
  • Incheon-Seoul and Chemulpo-Seoul railways begin operating.
• 1901 - Busan-Seoul railway begins operating.
• 1905
  • Uiju-Seoul railway begins operating.
  • Dongdaemun Market in business.
• 1906 - Keijo nippo newspaper established.
• 1907 - Seoul Sanitation Association founded.
• 1908 - Gyeongseong Gamok (prison) in operation.
• 1910
  • Japanese in power; city renamed "Keijo."
  • Population: 200,000 (approximate).
• 1914 - Outer parts of Gyeongseongbu were ceded to Goyang County.
• 1920 - Chosun Ilbo and Dong-a Ilbo newspapers begin publication.
• 1922 - Namsan Public Library established.
• 1924 - Keijo 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
  • 29 June: Sampoong Department Store collapse.
• 1999 - Jongno Tower built.

21st century

• 2000
  • Bukchon Preservation and Regeneration Project established.
  • Kumho art hall opens.
• 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.
• 2013
• 2014
  • Dongdaemun Design Plaza opens
• 2015
  • Gocheok Sky Dome opens

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 colleges and universities in Seoul
• Timeline of Korean history
• List of cities by population density