Seoul is the capital of South Korea, a country located in East Asia. Seoul is near the northwestern part of Korea, close to the Han River. It has a wide population of 9.7 million people and is known to be a popular tourist place. In fact, over 13 million foreign tourists from all over the world visited Seoul last year. It is the center of Korea's economy and revolves around a lot of the mainstream culture. It contains the biggest metropolis in South Korea. Since the city is so big, it is divided in 25 divisions called the gu. In addition, it is also one of the countries to have the fastest internet in the world.
History
Seoul's history dates back to 2,000 years ago. It was founded by the people of Baekje in 18 BC. They belonged to one of the three kingdoms of Korea at the time. When King Munjong of the Joseon Dynasty created a palace, it then became a crucial piece of land. Koreans then started building and constructing a city up until Japan annexed Korea in 1910 and started making their own changes within the capital. When the Japanese stopped controlling Korea in 1945, they took back the capital and officially named it Seoul.
Traditions
In South Korea, there are many common traditions within their culture. For instance, a hanbok, which is considered the national dress, is worn during special events like during a festival or a ceremony to embrace their culture. Furthermore, it is fairly common to have a ritual called the dolijabi. This occurs when a child turns one. A variety of items will be placed in front of them that symbolize different things. The object that the child chooses foresees their future. Ex: If they choose a pencil, they will be smart.
Clothing
Fashion in South Korea has become a way to express your personality. Streetwear has become more trendy these days, especially in youth. A typical streetwear outfit includes chunky shoes, a long coat, and straight leg pants with lots of accessories like a chain or a belt. Monochrome oufits like a track suit are also a common outfit. Also, layering many different pieces together is also widely popular. Thus, wearing simply leggings and a plain t-shirt would actually make you stand out in Seoul.
