Capital of the Republic of Korea, Seoul has been the centre of the country from the prehistoric era to present day. Located in the heart of the Korean peninsula, Seoul emerged as the capital city before the Common Era, in the early days of the Baekje kingdom. Due to its strategic geographical location and abundant surrounding natural resource, another two rival countries, Goguryeo and Silla, fought for control over Seoul during the Three Kingdoms Era.

After the unified Silla period and the Goryeo Dynasty, Seoul was once again the capital of the Joseon Dynasty in 1394. With 600 years of history behind it, Seoul is a city where Korea's traditional and modern cultures coexist in harmony.

Well known as a city with a 600 year history, Seoul is often described as a 'city of contrasts' because of its focus on preserving its traditional culture and heritage alongside modern culture.

Seoul is very much a global city today. Dynamic, vibrant and fast-paced, Seoul is a wired and technology-efficient city. It is also endowed with an array of cultural facilities for visitors to immerse themselves in the city’s creativity, history and culture.

The city is also the cradle of the current "Korean Wave" sweeping across Asia. As Korean dramas, film and music reach a wider international audience, more and more visitors are coming to Seoul to experience the city’s rich culture first-hand.

As part of its designation as the 2010 World Design Capital, Seoul aims to be the new centre of world design by becoming a design-driven city. The Dongdaemun Design Plaza & Park is to be developed as a new landmark in Seoul while the streets of the capital will be redesigned to sit in harmony with one another.

The 1988 Summer Olympic Games

The 1988 Summer Olympic Games were the second summer Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics were held in Tokyo, Japan. 159 nations participated in the Games, with 52 nations winning medals and 31 taking home gold medals.

Interesting Facts

• The Games got off to a dramatic start when the torch was run into the stadium by 76-year-old Sohn Kee-chung, the winner of the 1936 marathon, for the Opening Ceremony. In 1936 Sohn had been forced to enter the Games using a Japanese name because Korea was occupied by Japan then.
• Canadian Ben Johnson set a world record in the 100m sprint, but tested positive for steroids. Johnson was the first world-famous athlete to be disqualified for using drugs. After his disqualification, Carl Lewis was awarded the 100m gold, meaning he had successfully defended his 1984 Olympic title.

The Korean Olympic Committee

The Korean Olympic Committee is the national body responsible for sports promotion and spreading the values of the Olympic Movement.

Its core activities include supporting the training of national athletes, promoting international exchange through participation in international competitions, and creating the necessary infrastructure to support a large base of sport participation among the public. This includes supporting training centres for national athletes, strengthening the relationship between schools and the sports clubs, and running Athlete's Rights Protection Programme.