Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
It's a travelers' cliché that you have to get outside of the big cities to really experience a
country, but in South Korea, arguably, that doesn't apply. For most intents and purposes,
Seoul is South Korea. It has been the capital for almost seven centuries, and the metropol-
itan area houses almost half of the nation's population. It has shrugged off multiple gov-
ernment attempts to distribute the country's spoils more equitably, and stubbornly domin-
ates the national economic and political scene in a way few other world capitals can match.
The president's residence and the seat of government are here, as are virtually all corporate
headquarters, the most prestigious schools, the vast majority of the country's wealth, and
the largest museums and concert halls. It's South Korea's chief international gateway, main
engine of commerce, and top reservoir of artistic talent. While other cities' fortunes ebb and
flow, over the past few decades Seoul has only gotten bigger and (bar the odd hiccup) more
prosperous, spilling well beyond its historical borders as locals and overseas visitors alike
pour in to seize the opportunities it presents.
With so many things concentrated here, Seoul has clear advantages for foreign residents.
It has by far the largest expatriate population in the country, so it's relatively easy to meet
up with like-minded people or tap into support networks. The city's government and a good
many citizens are accustomed to dealing with non-Koreans, so services such as English-lan-
guage education, banking, and medical care are better developed and more readily available
than elsewhere. Seoul boasts a greater breadth of cuisine and a more varied—and hedon-
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