Seoul Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ==Architecture== {{See also|List of tallest buildings in Seoul|Architecture of South Korea}} [[File:북촌 한옥 마을(Bukchon Hanok Village) 2011년 11월 대한민국 서울특별시 명소 (Seoul best attractions) 10.jpg|thumb|[[Bukchon Hanok Village]], a traditional Seoul village built during the Joseon era]] The traditional heart of Seoul is the old Joseon dynasty city, now the [[Downtown Seoul|downtown area]], where most palaces, government offices, corporate headquarters, hotels, and traditional markets are located. [[Cheonggyecheon]], a stream that runs from west to east through the valley before emptying into the Han River, was for many years covered with concrete, but was recently restored by an urban revival project in 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.korea.net/NewsFocus/Culture/view?articleId=85750|title=Seoul's Cheonggyecheon Stream symbolizes Korea's past, present and tomorrow|publisher=[[Korea.net]]|access-date=12 February 2014|archive-date=22 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222142757/http://www.korea.net/NewsFocus/Culture/view?articleId=85750|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Jongno]] street, meaning "Bell Street", has been a principal street and one of the earliest commercial streets of the city,<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M8Xj7pHu1jEC|title=The Emerging Asian City: Concomitant Urbanities and Urbanisms|editor=Vinayak Bharne|page=59|publisher=Routledge|year=2013|isbn=9780415525978|access-date=9 November 2015|archive-date=25 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160125042515/https://books.google.com/books?id=M8Xj7pHu1jEC|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/opinon/2012/06/137_68203.html|title=Jongno walk|date=24 June 2010|newspaper=[[The Korea Times]]|author=Andrei Lankov|access-date=12 February 2014|archive-date=1 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001120702/http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/opinon/2012/06/137_68203.html|url-status=live}}</ref> on which one can find [[Bosingak]], a pavilion containing a large bell. The bell signaled the different times of the day and controlled the four major gates to the city. North of [[Downtown Seoul|downtown]] is [[Bukhan Mountain]], and to the south is the smaller Namsan. Further south are the old suburbs, [[Yongsan District]] and [[Mapo District]]. Across the Han River are the newer and wealthier areas of [[Gangnam District]], [[Seocho District]] and surrounding neighborhoods. ===Historical architecture=== [[File:Sungryemun of seoul.jpg|thumb|right|[[Namdaemun|Sungnyemun]] (commonly known as Namdaemun)]] Seoul has many historical and cultural landmarks. In [[Amsa-dong|Amsa-dong Prehistoric Settlement Site]], [[Gangdong District]], neolithic remains were excavated and accidentally discovered by a flood in 1925.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=264111 |title=Amsa-dong Prehistoric Settlement Site |publisher=[[Korea Tourism Organization]] |access-date=12 February 2014 |archive-date=22 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222135311/http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=264111 |url-status=live }}</ref> Urban and civil planning was a key concept when Seoul was first designed to serve as a capital in the late 14th century. The Joseon dynasty built the "Five Grand Palaces" in Seoul—[[Changdeokgung]], [[Changgyeonggung]], [[Deoksugung]], [[Gyeongbokgung]] and [[Gyeonghuigung]]—all of which are located in the Jongno and Jung Districts. Among them, Changdeokgung was added to the UNESCO [[World Heritage]] List in 1997 as an "outstanding example of Far Eastern palace architecture and garden design". The main palace, Gyeongbokgung, underwent a large-scale restoration project.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.royalpalace.go.kr/html/eng/data/data_01.jsp?dep1=2&dep2=1|title=About the Palace|publisher=Gyeongbokgung Palace|access-date=12 February 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080614221413/http://www.royalpalace.go.kr/html/eng/data/data_01.jsp?dep1=2&dep2=1|archive-date=14 June 2008}}</ref> The palaces are considered exemplary architecture of the Joseon period. Beside the palaces, [[Unhyeongung]] is known for being the royal residence of Regent [[Heungseon Daewongun|Daewongun]], the father of [[Gojong of Korea|Emperor Gojong]] at the end of the Joseon Dynasty. Seoul has been surrounded by walls that were built to regulate visitors from other regions and protect the city in case of an invasion. [[Pungnap Toseong]] is a flat earthen wall built at the edge of the Han River, which is widely believed to be the site of [[Wiryeseong]]. [[Mongchontoseong|Mongchon Toseong]] is another earthen wall built during the Baekje period that is now located inside the [[Olympic Park, Seoul|Olympic Park]].<ref name="toseong"/> The [[Fortress Wall of Seoul|Fortress Wall]] of Seoul was built early in the Joseon dynasty for protection of the city. After many centuries of destruction and rebuilding, about {{frac|2|3}} of the wall remains, as well as six of the original [[The Eight Gates of Seoul|eight gates]]. These gates include the south gate [[Namdaemun]] and the east gate Dongdaemun. Namdaemun was the oldest wooden gate until a 2008 arson attack, and was re-opened after complete restoration in 2013.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sungnyemun to open to great fanfare after more than five years of renovation|url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20130430000738|access-date=1 May 2013|publisher=[[The Korea Herald]]|date=30 April 2013|archive-date=30 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130430200528/http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20130430000738|url-status=live}}</ref> Located near the gates are the traditional markets and largest shopping center, [[Namdaemun Market]] and [[Dongdaemun Market]]. ===Modern architecture=== [[File:Lotte World morning view 8.jpg|thumb|[[Lotte World Tower]]]] Various high-rise office buildings and residential buildings, like the Gangnam Finance Center, the [[Samsung Tower Palace|Tower Palace]], Namsan Seoul Tower, and the [[Lotte World Tower]], dominate the city's skyline. The tallest building is Lotte World Tower, reaching a height of 555m. It opened to the public in April 2017. It is also the 6th highest building in the world. [[File:Dongdaemun Design Plaza at night, Seoul, Korea.jpg|thumb|left|[[Dongdaemun Design Plaza]]]] The [[World Trade Center Seoul]], located in Gangnam District, hosts various expositions and conferences. Also in Gangnam District is the [[Starfield COEX Mall|COEX Mall]], a large indoor shopping and entertainment complex. Downstream from Gangnam District is Yeouido, an island that is home to the National Assembly, major broadcasting studios, and a number of large office buildings, as well as the Korea Finance Building and the [[Yoido Full Gospel Church]]. The [[Olympic Stadium (Seoul)|Olympic Stadium]], Olympic Park, and [[Lotte World]] are located in [[Songpa District]], on the south side of the Han River, upstream from Gangnam District. Three new modern landmarks of Seoul are [[Dongdaemun Design Plaza & Park]], designed by [[Zaha Hadid]], the new wave-shaped [[Seoul City Hall]], by [[Yoo Kerl]] of [[iArc]], and the Lotte World Tower, the 6th tallest building in the world designed by [[Kohn Pedersen Fox]]. In 2010 Seoul was designated the [[World Design Capital]] for the year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2008-02-27/the-seoul-of-world-designbusinessweek-business-news-stock-market-and-financial-advice|title=The Seoul of World Design|date=27 February 2008|access-date=12 February 2014|publisher=Bloomberg Businessweek|archive-date=18 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140418211436/http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2008-02-27/the-seoul-of-world-designbusinessweek-business-news-stock-market-and-financial-advice|url-status=dead}}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. 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