Seodaemun District (, "Great West Gate") is one of the 25

district A district is a type of administrative division that, in some countries, is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or county, counties, several municipality, municipa ...

s of

Seoul Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) as stated iArticle 103 of ...

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and sharing a land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed by the Yellow Sea, while its eas ...

. Seodaemun has a population of 313,814 (2010) and has a geographic area of 17.61 km² (6.8

sq mi The square mile (abbreviated as sq mi and sometimes as mi2)Rowlett, Russ (September 1, 2004) University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved February 22, 2012. is an imperial and US unit of measure for area. One square mile is an are ...

), and is divided into 14 '' dong'' (administrative neighborhoods). Seodaemun is located in northwestern Seoul, bordering the city districts of Eunpyeong to the northwest,

Mapo MAPO - the Moscow Aircraft Production Association (russian: Московское авиационное производственное объединение, Moskovskoye aviatsionnoye proizvodstvennoye obyedineniye) was a major Russian state-owne ...

to the southwest, Jung to the southeast, and

Jongno Jongno or Jong-ro ( ko, 종로), literally meaning "Bell Street", is a trunk road and one of the oldest major east–west thoroughfares in Seoul, South Korea. Jongno connects Gwanghwamun Plaza to Dongdaemun. The area surrounding Jongno is a p ...

to the east. Seodaemun is part of the '' Seongjeosimni'' (Outer old Seoul) area and is named after

Donuimun Donuimun (Hangul 돈의문, Hanja 敦義門; also known as West Gate) was one of the Eight Gates of Seoul in the Fortress Wall of Seoul, South Korea, which surrounded the city in the Joseon Dynasty. The gate's historical location is also know ...

, one of the Eight Gates of Seoul which was formerly located within the district. Seodaemun is home to

Seodaemun Independence Park Seodaemun Independence Park ( ko, 서대문독립공원) is an educational and cultural park located in Hyunjeo-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, South Korea. The park contains various monuments and buildings, most notably the Seodaemun Prison Museum. T ...

, which contains several historic monuments and buildings such as the

Seodaemun Prison Seodaemun Prison History Hall is a museum and former prison in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, South Korea. It was constructed beginning in 1907. The prison was opened on October 21, 1908, under the name Gyeongseong Gamok. During the early part of the Japa ...

museum and the

Independence Gate Dongnimmun () or Independence Gate is a memorial gate at Seoul, built by Soh Jaipil in late 19th century, as a symbol of Korea's commitment to independence around the world. It is designated as Historic Sites of South Korea in 1963, and reloc ...

. Moon Seok-Jin (문석진) of the Democratic Party has been the mayor of Seodaemun since July 2010.

Administrative divisions

Seodaemun District consists of 14 "administrative dong"s (''haengjeong-dong'' 행정동). * Sinchon-dong (신촌동 新村洞) ** Daesin-dong (대신동 大新洞) **

Bongwon-dong Bongwon-dong is a legal '' dong'', neighbourhood of the Seodaemun-gu district in Seoul, South Korea and is governed by its administrative dong, Sinchon-dong's office. Bongwon-dong has the Bongwon-Temple(Bongwonsa) built by Great master Doseon (8 ...

(봉원동 奉元洞) ** Daehyeon-dong (대현동 大峴洞) ** Changcheon-dong (창천동 滄川洞) * Bukgajwa-dong (북가좌동 北加佐洞) 1∼2 * Bugahyeon-dong (북아현동 北阿峴洞) *

Cheonyeon-dong Cheonyeon-dong is a '' dong'', neighbourhood of Seodaemun-gu in Seoul, South Korea. See also * Administrative divisions of South Korea South Korea is made up of 17 first-tier administrative divisions: 6 metropolitan cities (''gwangyeoksi'' ...

(천연동 天然洞) ** Hyeonjeo-dong (현저동 峴底洞) ** Naengcheon-dong (냉천동 冷泉洞) ** Yeongcheon-dong (영천동 靈泉洞) ** Okcheon-dong (옥천동 玉川洞) * Chunghyeon-dong (충현동 忠峴洞) **

Chungjeongno-dong Chungjeongno-dong is a '' dong'', neighbourhood of Seodaemun-gu in Seoul, South Korea. Chung Jeung No Chung Jeung No is a Road that is located in Seoul, Seodaemun-gu chungjeungno 2 ga 8-2 through chungjeungno 3 ga 44 The Road is 40 meters wide an ...

(충정로동 忠正路洞) **

Hap-dong Hap-dong is a legal '' dong'', neighbourhood of the Seodaemun-gu district in Seoul, South Korea and is governed by its administrative dong, Chungjeongno-dong's office. See also * Administrative divisions of South Korea South Korea is made ...

(합동 蛤洞) **

Migeun-dong Migeun-dong is a legal ''dong'', neighbourhood of the Seodaemun-gu district in Seoul, South Korea and is governed by its administrative dong, Cheonyeon-dong's office. The Korean National Police Agency has its headquarters in the neighbourhood.

(미근동 渼芹洞) * Hongeun-dong (홍은동 弘恩洞) 1∼2 * Hongje-dong (홍제동 弘濟洞) 1∼3 * Namgajwa-dong (남가좌동 南加佐洞) 1∼2 * Yeonhui-dong (연희동 延禧洞)

Infrastructure

* Total length of roads: 308 km * Pavement area: 2,641 km * Waterworks system: 589 km * Sewerage system: 396 km

Government and infrastructure

At one time the

Korean Maritime Safety Tribunal The Korean Maritime Safety Tribunal (KMST, ko, 해양안전심판원) is an agency of the government of South Korea that investigates maritime accidents. Its head office is in the in Sejong City. It is subordinate to the Ministry of Land, Infra ...

(KMST) had its headquarters in the district.

Education

Seobu District Office of Education under the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education operates public schools in Seodaemun District. * Hansung Science High School - 279–79, Tongil-ro ( Hyeonjeo-dong) **Hongeun Middle School - 94, Yeonhui-ro 41-gil ( Hongeun 2-dong) **Inwang Middle School - 69, Segeomjeong-ro 4-gil ( Hongje-dong) **Seoyun Middle School - 9–6, Yeonhui-ro 11ma-gil ( Yeonhui-dong) **Sinyeon Middle School - 408, Moraenae-ro ( Yeonhui-dong) **Yeonbuk Middle School - 32, Yeonhui-ro 36-gil ( Yeonhui-dong) **Yonhi Middle School - 170, Jeungga-ro ( Namgajwa-dong) ***Ansan Elementary School - 321, Tongil-ro ( Hongje-dong) ***Bukgajwa Elementary School - 20, Geobukgol-ro 19-gil ( Bukgajwa-dong) ***Buksung Elementary School - 84, Bugahyeon-ro 5na-gil ( Bugahyeon-dong) ***Changsea Elementary School - 30–3, Yonsei-ro 5na-gil ( Changcheon-dong) ***Daesin Elementary School - 27, Ewhayeodae 2-gil ( Daesin-dong) ***Geumhwa Elementary School - 165, Tongil-ro (

) ***Goeun Elementary School - 441, Moraenae-ro ( Hongje-dong) ***Hongeun Elementary School - 105, Segeomjeong-ro ( Hongje-dong) ***Hongje Elementary School - 13, Hongeunjungang-ro ( Hongeun-dong) ***Hongyeon Elementary School - 55, Baekryeonsa-gil ( Hongeun-dong) ***Inwang Elementary School - 33–9, Semuseo-gil ( Hongje-dong) ***Midong Elementary School - 52, Chungjeong-ro (

) ***Yeonga Elementary School - 49–50, Jeungga-ro 12ga-gil ( Namgajwa-dong) ***Yeonhui Elementary School - 136, Yeonhui-ro ( Yeonhui-dong) There are also numerous private institutions in Seodaemun District offering education for primary and secondary levels. *

Ewha Womans University Ewha Womans University () is a private women's university in Seoul founded in 1886 by Mary F. Scranton under Emperor Gojong. It was the first university founded in South Korea. Currently, Ewha is one of the world's largest female educational inst ...

High School * Hanseong High School * Inchang High School * Jungang Girls High School * Myongji High School **Dongmyung Girls Middle School **

Middle School **Hanseong Middle School **Inchang Middle School **Jungang Girls Middle School **Jungwon Girls Middle School **Myongji Middle School ***Chugye Elementary School ***Ewha Womans University Elementary School ***Kyonggi Elementary School ***Myongji Elementary School Private primary and secondary schools: * Seoul Overseas Chinese High School * Seoul Foreign School Private institutions offering higher education in Seodaemun District are

Chugye University for the Arts Chugye University for the Arts is a South Korean institute of higher education in the fine arts. The campus is in Seodaemun-gu in central Seoul, the country's capital. Academics Undergraduate courses are offered toward Bachelor of Arts, Bachelo ...

Kyonggi University Kyonggi University (KGU; ) is an accredited, private higher education institution, established in 1947. KGU has over 17,000 students in majors in undergraduate and graduate programs on two campuses. The main campus is in Suwon, located 30 miles f ...

, Methodist Theological University, Myongji College, Myongji University, Seoul School of Integrated Sciences & Technologies, Seoul Women's College of Nursing, and

Yonsei University Yonsei University (; ) is a private research university in Seoul, South Korea. As a member of the " SKY" universities, Yonsei University is deemed one of the three most prestigious institutions in the country. It is particularly respected in th ...

. Seodaemun District also has a public library called Lee Jin Ah Memorial Library. The construction of the library was made possible through a generous donation by the parents of the namesake Lee. Lee's Parents, after losing Lee in a tragic lethal accident, wanted to commemorate the life of their daughter who enjoyed reading. Since the opening on Lee's anniversary in 2005, the main library now has approximately over 76,000 books.

Facilities

* Public Institutions - total 84 (1 Seodaemun-gu Office, 21 Dong offices, 1 Korean National Police Agency, 1 police station, 16 police boxes, 4 fire stations, 10 post offices, 30 others) * Schools - total 46 (8 universities, 6 high schools, 12 middle schools, 18 elementary schools, 2 foreign schools) * Medical Facilities- total 402 (2 General Hospitals, 317 hospitals and clinics including dental clinics, 83 oriental clinics) * Official Cultural Assets: total 32 (1

national treasure The idea of national treasure, like national epics and national anthems, is part of the language of romantic nationalism, which arose in the late 18th century and 19th centuries. Nationalism is an ideology that supports the nation as the funda ...

, 10 treasures, 6 historic sites, 4 important intangible cultural properties, 3 folklore materials, 8 tangible and intangible cultural properties * Welfare facilities: total 308 (3 social welfare centers, 173 childcare centers, 86 facilities for the aged, 36 others including study rooms)

Government and infrastructure

The Korean National Police Agency has its headquarters in

, Seodaemun District.

Attractions

The district covers 17.6 square kilometers, approximately 2.9% of the total area of

. Seodaemun District is populated by middle and upper-income families. Seodaemun District incorporates residential areas and historical areas including

Bongwon Temple Bongwon Temple (or Bongwonsa) is a South Korean Buddhist temple in Bongwon-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, near Yonsei University. Situated to the northeast of the university on the hillside of Ahn Mountain, this is the head temple of the Taego Order ...

, Sinchon Railway Station (the oldest train station in Seoul) and Seodaemun Prison History Hall. Also it has a historic culture site "Seodaemun Independence Park." This place located at Dongnimmun station, includes a 3.1 independence memorial statue,

and more. This educational park is a major tourist attraction of Seodaemun District. Seodaemun District is a Rest Place together with nature surrounded by Mt. Ansan, Mt. Baengnyeonsan and Hongjecheon stream in the city. Also known as Mt. Muaksan, Mt. Ansan has many steep slopes, but because it has an altitude of only 295.5m, it is a favorite hiking trail among locals. There are about ten climbing courses. At the summit, there is Ansan Beacon Mound, with views of Mt.

Bukhansan Bukhansan (, ), or Bukhan Mountain, is a mountain on the northern periphery of Seoul, South Korea. There are three major peaks, Baegundae , Insubong , Mangyeongdae . Because of its height and the fact that it borders a considerable portion of the ...

, Mt.

Inwangsan Inwangsan is a mountain with a height of 338 meters, located in Jongno-gu and Hongje-dong, Seodaemun-gu, central areas of Seoul, South Korea. The name literally means "mountain of generous king" in Korean. The mountain covers an area of 1,086,69 ...

, Haegjusanseong Fortress and Hangang River. Mt. Ansan is a highly popular tourist attraction of Seodaemun District. Also, on the Mt. Ansan path, the Seodaemun Museum of Natural History, built by the local governing body, exhibits various geological and biological relics and records. Named after Hongjewon, which was where Chinese envoys were greet and entertained, Hongjecheon Stream was where the women who were forcefully taken to the

Qing Dynasty The Qing dynasty ( ), officially the Great Qing,, was a Manchu-led imperial dynasty of China and the last orthodox dynasty in Chinese history. It emerged from the Later Jin dynasty founded by the Jianzhou Jurchens, a Tungusic-spea ...

cleansed their bodies upon returning home. The once dried stream was restored and today there is a musical fountain, a water mill, a man-made waterfall and hiking trails. There are shopping streets for the young, "Walking street" in Sinchon and "Fashion street" near Ewha Womans University. The area has a 66m² store of Korean

cosmetics Cosmetics are constituted mixtures of chemical compounds derived from either natural sources, or synthetically created ones. Cosmetics have various purposes. Those designed for personal care and skin care can be used to cleanse or protect ...

brand

Skin Food Skin Food () is South Korean skincare and cosmetics manufacturer and retailer, headquartered in Seoul. Company Its headquarters is located in the DaeRyung Scecho Tower in Seocho-dong, Seocho-gu. It has 895 stores throughout Korea and 5000 sto ...

, which has been opened since June 2004 in Changcheon-dong and it also sells

Traditional Korean medicine Traditional Korean medicine (known in North Korea as Koryo medicine) refers to the forms of traditional medicine practiced in Korea. History Korean medicine traditions originated in ancient and prehistoric times and can be traced back as far a ...

or hanbang. * Bongwonsa Buddhist temple *

Dongnimmun Dongnimmun () or Independence Gate is a memorial gate at Seoul, built by Soh Jaipil in late 19th century, as a symbol of Korea's commitment to independence around the world. It is designated as Historic Sites of South Korea in 1963, and relocat ...

* Dream Cinema * Seodaemun Prison History Hall * Sinchon-dong * Seodaemun Museum of Natural History

Sister cities

* Haidian, China *

Mokpo Mokpo (; ''Mokpo-si'') is a city in South Jeolla Province, South Korea, located at the southwestern tip of the Korean Peninsula, close to Yudal mountain. Mokpo has frequent high-speed train services to Seoul, and is the terminus for a number of f ...

Notable people from Seodaemun District

Kim Jae-kyung Kim Jae-kyung (born December 24, 1988), formerly known mononymously as Jaekyung, is a South Korean actress and singer. Before transitioning to acting full-time, she was a member and leader of the South Korean girl group Rainbow. Early life and ...

(

Hangul The Korean alphabet, known as Hangul, . Hangul may also be written as following South Korea's standard Romanization. ( ) in South Korea and Chosŏn'gŭl in North Korea, is the modern official writing system for the Korean language. The le ...

: 김재경), singer, dancer, model, actress and

K-pop idol An idol () refers to a type of celebrity working in the field of K-pop in fandom culture in South Korea, either as a member of a group or as a solo act. K-pop idols are characterized by the highly manufactured star system that they are produced by ...

, leader and member of K-pop girlgroup

Rainbow A rainbow is a meteorological phenomenon that is caused by reflection, refraction and dispersion of light in water droplets resulting in a spectrum of light appearing in the sky. It takes the form of a multicoloured circular arc. Rainbows c ...

and its sub-unit Rainbow Blaxx * Yoon Seok-youl, South Korean lawyer, prosecutor and the current Prosecutor General of South Korea *

Kim Tae-won Kim Tae-won (, April 12, 1965) is a Korean guitarist with over 30 years of experience in Korean music industry, currently leading one of the most successful rock bands in Korean music history, Boohwal. His life was dramatised in a four episode ...

, South Korean

rock musician Rock music is a broad genre of popular music that originated as "rock and roll" in the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s, developing into a range of different styles in the mid-1960s and later, particularly in the United States and ...

, leader and member of K-rock band Boohwal *

Bobby Bobby or Bobbie may refer to: People * Bobby (given name), a list of names * Bobby (actress), from Bangladesh * Bobby (rapper) (born 1995), from South Korea * Bobby (screenwriter) (born 1983), Indian screenwriter * Bobby, old slang for a constabl ...

, born Kim Ji-win, South Korean rapper and member of K-pop group

IKon iKon (), stylized as iKON, is a South Korean boy band formed in 2015 by YG Entertainment, consisting of six members: Jay, Song, Bobby, DK, Ju-ne and Chan. Originally a seven-piece band, leader B.I departed from the group in June 2019. Ini ...

References

External links

Seodaemun-gu Office
{{Authority control Districts of Seoul