The Seoul metropolitan area (Sudogwon; ; ) or Gyeonggi region (), is the metropolitan area of Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi Province, located in north-western South Korea. Its population of 26 million (as of 2024) is ranked as the ninth-largest metropolitan area in the world. Its area is about . It forms the cultural, commercial, financial, industrial, and residential center of South Korea. The largest city is Seoul, with a population of approximately 10 million people, followed by Incheon, with three million inhabitants.
Geography and climate
The metropolitan area occupies a plain in the Han River valley.
History
Demographics
Covering only about 12% of the country's area, the Seoul Metropolitan Area is home to more than 48.2% of the national population, and is the world's ninth-largest urban area. This percentage has risen steadily since the mid-20th century, and the trend is expected to continue. Currently more than half of the people who move from one region to another are moving to the capital area. In 2020, it was reported that the Seoul Metropolitan Area's population had exceeded 50% of the country's total population, with 25,925,799 people living in the area (50.002% of the total 51,849,861).
Economy
Subdivision Area (km2) Population GDP (KRW, trillion) GDP (US$, billion) 605 9,586,195 575.035 421.586 1,063 2,945,454 125.592 92.078 10,184 13,511,676 651.417 477.586 Seoul Metropolitan Area 11,852 26,043,325 1,352.044 991.249
In 2023, the Seoul Metropolitan Area's gross regional domestic product was US$ 1.0 trillion, generating around half of the country's total GDP. It is the fourth-largest urban economy in the world after Tokyo, New York and Los Angeles but ahead of Paris and London. The region hosts headquarters of 59 Forbes Global 2000 companies. As the economy of Seoul Metropolitan Area transformed to knowledge economy from the manufacturing-based economy of the 20th century, there are a number of high-tech business parks in Seoul Metropolitan Area, such as Digital Media City and Pangyo Techno Valley.
The Seoul Metropolitan Area is home to the most affluent and livable cities and apartments in Korea but there are significant discrepancies between cities and districts, particularly between those built in the older and newer generations. Newer areas with more modern and luxurious apartments and infrastructure are more expensive, along with proximity to Gangnam District, the commercial center of the region.
Government
Various agencies have been set up to deal with the intergovernmental problems of the region. Proposals for consolidating some or all of the cities of the capital area into a handful of metropolitan cities have thus far not been implemented.
Development in the area is currently governed by the Capital Region Readjustment Planning Act (), first passed in 1982 and last revised in 1996.
Subdivisions
The Seoul Metropolitan Area is divided among the special city of Seoul, the metropolitan city of Incheon, and province of Gyeonggi. Seoul has 25 gu (local government wards), Incheon has 8 gu and 2 counties, and Gyeonggi Province has 28 cities and 3 counties as the subdivisions.
Seoul
The 25 districts of Seoul.
Dobong District () Dongdaemun District () Dongjak District () Eunpyeong District () Gangbuk District () Gangdong District () Gangnam District () Gangseo District () Geumcheon District () Guro District () Gwanak District () Gwangjin District () Jongno District () Jung District () Jungnang District () Mapo District () Nowon District () Seocho District () Seodaemun District () Seongbuk District () Seongdong District () Songpa District () Yangcheon District () Yeongdeungpo District () Yongsan District ()
Incheon
The eight districts and two counties of Incheon.
Bupyeong District () Dong District () Gyeyang District () Jung District () Michuhol District () (Former Nam District() Namdong District () Seo District () Yeonsu District ()
Ganghwa County () Ongjin County ()
Gyeonggi-do
There are twenty-eight cities and three counties in Gyeonggi-do. Below are seven of the largest cities, sorted by their population size:
Suwon
The four gu of Suwon ().
Paldal-gu () Yeongtong-gu () Jangan-gu () Gwonseon-gu ()
Goyang
The three gu of Goyang ().
Deogyang-gu () Ilsandong-gu () Ilsanseo-gu ()
Yongin
The three gu of Yongin ().
Cheoin-gu () Giheung-gu () Suji-gu ()
Seongnam
The three gu of Seongnam ().
Bundang-gu () Jungwon-gu () Sujeong-gu ()
Bucheon
Ansan
The two gu of Ansan ()
Danwon-gu () Sangnok-gu ()
Anyang
The two gu of Anyang ()
Dongan-gu () Manan-gu ()
Anseong () Dongducheon () Gimpo () Goyang () Gunpo () Guri () Gwacheon () Gwangju () Gwangmyeong () Hanam () Hwaseong () Icheon () Namyangju () Osan () Paju () Pocheon () Pyeongtaek () Siheung () Uijeongbu () Uiwang () Yangju () Yeoju () Gapyeong County () Yangpyeong County () Yeoncheon County ()
Transportation
The cities of the capital area are tightly interconnected by road and rail. Many of the country's railroad lines, most notably the Gyeongbu Line, terminate in the region. In addition, rapid transit is provided by the Seoul Metropolitan Subway, which has lines that serve all districts of Seoul, as well as the city of Incheon and other surrounding cities within Gyeonggi Province.
The region is a nexus for travel by air and water. The country's two largest airports, Incheon International Airport and Gimpo International Airport, are in the metropolitan area. International and domestic ferries depart from Incheon's ferry terminals several times a day.
Seoul Ring Expressway (Expressway No. 100) connects satellite cities around Seoul.
See also Administrative divisions of South Korea Capital region Capital Region First Ring Expressway Demographics of South Korea Geography of South Korea Greater Tokyo Area Hanoi Capital Region Jing-Jin-Ji List of largest cities List of metropolitan areas in Asia Regions of Korea
Notes
References
External links Official website of Seoul Metropolitan Government Metropolitan Air Quality Management Office Capital Region Development Institute, in Korean Chosun Ilbo metro news ;