Seoul - A Capital city

As the capital city of Korea for over 600 years, Seoul is a fascinating city with a unique blend of modern excellence and cultural legacies. Seoul is a beautiful city, surrounded by mountains, of which the most notable is Mt Namsan, can be seen from almost any point in the city.

Korea has been host to numerous international sporting events including the Seoul Olympic Games in 1988. Today, Seoul has grown into a true cosmopolitan city complete with a variety of modern facilities and world-renowned shopping areas such as Namdaemun Market, Dongdaemun Market, Itaewon and Insa-dong. The Seoul City Tour Bus was recently established to allow tourists to visit every nook and cranny of the city. As befitting the Internet age, those who want a jumpstart on their visit can also visit the website www.visitseoul.net and discover all the famous sites, cultural festivals and tour and shopping information.

In Seoul, there are over 300 theaters, art galleries and museums. For those who have never experienced Korean culture the re-enactments of traditional cultural rites such as Changing of the Royal Guard, the Reenactment of Joseon Dynasty Civil Servants Exam and the Royal Marriage of Emperor King Gojon and Empress Myeongseong reflect Korean tradition and values. In addition, traditional cultural performances such as the pansori (singing), talchum and madangnori (singing and dancing) can be seen regularly. There are also other traditional events such as the Hangang Fireworks Festival and the Seoul Drum Festival. Various cultural events are being planned during the FIFA World Cup period to entertain first-time vivitors to this part of the world.

The infrastructure for international sporting events is well established here. World-class convention centers,well-developed aports centers, deluxe and budget hotels and efficient rail and bus facilities all ensure a smooth staging of the FIFA World Cup.

Due to its success in in hosting the Asian Games in 1986 and the Olympic Games in 1988, Seoul is confident that the 2002 FIFA World Cup, the first ever to be held jointly with another country, will exceed all expectations.

We hope that you will take the opportunity to personally visit this city which blends 600 years of history together with leading edge modernity. The citizens of Seoul are ready to share their unique warmth and friendship with the citizens of the world.