Located to the west of the central region of the Korean Peninsula, Seoul, the capital city of the Republic of Korea, has been the center of the country in its long history from the prehistoric era to the present day. Now in its 600th year of official history, Seoul is a city where Korea’s traditional and modern cultures coexist. The city lies in a natural basin, surrounded by a series of mountains and hills, and its grandeur and magnificent scenic beauty makes it one of the most attractive metropolitan cities of the world. Aside from bustling pace of life and modern architecture, a number of invaluable cultural assets in Seoul take pride in its long history. The Jongmyo Shrine and Changdeok Palace have been added to UNESCO’s list of cultural heritage. For more information, please click here.

hanbok (traditional clothing), hanok (traditional Korean houses), hanji (traditional Korean paper), as well as Korean music. In Korea , the aforementioned six cultural symbols are collectively referred to as “Han Style”. Similar in nature to Japan , as represented by the kimono (traditional dress), sushi (rice rolls), and samurai (warriors in Japanese history), the image of Korea is based on its own unique traditions including hanbok, kimchi, hangeul, hanji, hanok, and Korean music.