GAW Report No. 205 - IGAC Project

CHAPTER 3 - ASIA3.11 SEOUL, KOREAIntroduction and Specific Features of the CitySeoul is a megacity located at the heart of the Korean Peninsula. It stretches from 37° 41’ Nto 37° 25’ latitude and from 126° 47’ E to 127° 11’ longitude at the level of the temperate zone. Thecity is also located in the middle of several major Northeast Asian Metropolises, such as Tokyo,Beijing, and Shanghai. It is at the eastern end of the Asian land mass and therefore experiencescoastal climate as well. Several mountain peaks of historical significance surround the city of up to500 meters or more above sea level. The major river that bisects Seoul into a North and Southregion is the Hangang River, the location of post-Korean War economic development.Surrounding Seoul are Incheon Metropolitan City and Gyeonggi province, which areemerging megacities as well (Figure 44). Combined, this region comprises 12 % of the area ofKorea, yet holds 47% of Korea’s population, ranking as the second most populated megacity in theworld (next to Tokyo, Japan), with a combined population of approximately 24 million as of 2008.The population explosion in Seoul was due to the city’s rapid urbanization and can be traced backto before Seoul hosted the 1988 Summer Olympics. South Korean Industry was already in the gripof a technological revolution before it hosted the Olympics. GDP expanded by around 10% per yearfrom the mid 1980’s to the early 1990s due to the creation of one of the largest steel plants in theworld (POSCO), drastic demand in foreign and local car sales (Hyundai, Kia, DaeWoo),revolutionizing the electronics industry (Samsung, LG), and establishment of numerous localmanufacturing companies. Opportunities for modern livelihood, employment, and a better life leadto migration of people into the region.As skyscrapers, condominium, and industrial plants established, Seoul developed into aheat island like other urban centres around the world. Also, like other urban cities, Seoul hasexperienced its fair share of pollution as it has developed. With this, the City has enacted severalpolicies to counter pollution and is one of the earliest respondents to clean air initiatives among themajor cities in Northeast Asia.Figure 44 - Map of South Korea and its Megacity Study sites (Seoul, Incheon, and Gwangju)113