| Seoul Metropolitan Area | |
| Map Caption1: | Red: Seoul; violet: Incheon; green: Gyeonggi-do; blue: other areas connected by rapid transit |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | South Korea---- |
| Subdivision Type1: | Major cities |
| Subdivision Name1: | Seoul Incheon Suwon Ansan Anyang Goyang Seongnam Bucheon Yongin |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Metro: | 26,037,000[1] |
| 2018년 지역소득(잠정). | |
| Population Blank1 Title: | Percentage of South Korea's total population |
| Population Density Metro Km2: | 2053 |
| Population Blank1: | ~55% (51 million) |
| Area Blank1 Title: | Capital area |
| Area Blank1 Km2: | 12685 |
| Demographics Type2: | GDP |
| Demographics2 Title1: | Metro |
| Demographics2 Info1: | KR₩1,137 trillion US$909.6 billion (2022) |
| Blank2 Name Sec2: | HDI (2021) |
| Blank2 Info Sec2: | 0.952[2] · 1st |
| Rr: | Sudogwon |
| Mr: | Sudokwŏn |
| Othername1: | Gyeonggi Region |
| Hangul1: | 경기 지방 |
| Hanja1: | 京畿地方 |
| Rr1: | Gyeonggi jibang |
| Mr1: | Kyŏnggi chibang |
The Seoul Metropolitan Area (Sudogwon;, pronounced as /ko/) or Gyeonggi region, is the metropolitan area of Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi Province, located in north-west South Korea. Its population of 26 million (as of 2024) is ranked as the fourth largest metropolitan area in the world. Its area is about 12685km2. It forms the cultural, commercial, financial, industrial, and residential center of South Korea. The largest city is Seoul, with a population of approximately 10 million people, followed by Incheon, with 3 million inhabitants.
See also: Geography of South Korea.
The Capital Area occupies a plain in the Han River valley.[3]
See also: History of South Korea and History of Seoul.
See also: Demographics of South Korea.
Covering only about 12% of the country's area, the Seoul Metropolitan Area is home to more than 48.2% of the national population, and is the world's ninth largest urban area. This percentage has risen steadily since the mid-20th century, and the trend is expected to continue. Currently more than half of the people who move from one region to another are moving to the capital area. In 2020, it was reported that the Seoul Metropolitan Area's population had exceeded 50% of the country's total population, with 25,925,799 people living in the area (50.002% of the total 51,849,861).[4]
See also: Economy of South Korea.
| Subdivision | Area km2 | Population | GDP (KR₩)[5] | GDP (US$)[6] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10,184 | 13,511,676 | ₩ 547 trillion | US$ 437.6 billion | |
| 605 | 9,586,195 | ₩ 486 trillion | US$ 388.8 billion | |
| 1,063 | 2,945,454 | ₩ 104 trillion | US$ 83.2 billion | |
| Seoul Metropolitan Area | 11,852 | 26,043,325 | ₩ 1,137 trillion | US$ 909.6 billion |
In 2020, Seoul Metropolitan Area's Gross Regional Product was around US$900 billion, generating around half of the country's total GDP.[5] It is the fourth largest urban economy in the world after Tokyo, New York and Los Angeles but ahead of Paris and London.[7] The region hosts headquarters of 59 Forbes Global 2000 companies.[8] 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.[9]
See also: Government of South Korea.
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.
See also: Administrative divisions of South Korea.
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),[10] Incheon has 8 gu and 2 counties, and Gyeonggi Province has 28 cities and 3 counties as the subdivisions.
See main article: List of districts of Seoul. The 25 districts of Seoul.
See main article: List of districts and counties of Incheon. The 8 districts and 2 counties of Incheon.
See main article: List of cities and counties of Gyeonggi Province. 28 cities and 3 counties of Gyeonggi-do. Below are seven of the largest cities, sorted by their population size:
The 4 gu of Suwon .
The 3 gu of Goyang .
The 3 gu of Yongin .
The 3 gu of Seongnam .
The 2 gu of Ansan .
The 2 gu of Anyang .
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See also: Transport in South Korea and Transportation in Seoul.
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.[11] [12]
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.[13]
Seoul Ring Expressway (Expressway No. 100) connects satellite cities around Seoul.[14]