# Timeline of Seoul

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Seoul, South Korea.

## Prior to 14th century

Part of a series on the :
History of Korea :
Prehistoric period Palaeolithic 700,000 BC-8000 BC Neolithic 8000 BC–1500 BC* Jeulmun Bronze Age 1500 BC–300 BC* Mumun* Liaoning dagger :
Ancient period Gojoseon 2333 BC–108 BC* Dangun* Gija* Wiman Jin 4th–2nd century BC Yemaek :
Proto–Three Kingdoms period
Takri
Dongye
Buyeo
Eastern
Galsa
Okjeo
Samhan
Ma
Byeon
Jin
Goguryeo
Tamna
Nakrang
Four Commanderies of Han :
Three Kingdoms period Goguryeo 37 BC–668 AD Baekje 18 BC–660 AD Silla 57 BC–935 AD Gaya confederacy 42–562 Tamna (Tributary of Baekje) 498–660 Usan 512–930 :
Northern and Southern period United Silla (Unified Silla) 668–892 Balhae 698–926 Little Goguryeo 699–820 Tamna (Tributary of Silla) 662–925 :
Later Three Kingdoms period Later Baekje 892–936 Taebong (Later Goguryeo) 901–918 Unified Silla (Later Silla) 892–935 Later Sabeol 919–927 Dongdan Kingdom 926–936 Later Balhae 927–935 Jeongan 938–986 :
Dynastic period Goryeo 918–1392 Tamna (Vassal of Goryeo) 938–1105 Heungyo 1029–1030 Joseon 1392–1897 Korean Empire 1897–1910 :
Colonial period Japanese occupation 1910–1945 Provisional Government 1919–1948 :
Modern period Military governments 1945–1948 North-South division 1945–present* North 1948–present* South 1948–present :
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* 18 BCE – Baekje, Wirye-seong, settled. Seoul started functioning as the royal capital of Baekje until 475.
* 475 – Seoul changed hands from Baekje to Goguryeo.
* 551 – Seoul changed hands from Goguryeo to Baekje.
* 553 – Seoul changed hands from Baekje to Silla.
* 901 – Seoul under control of Taebong as Silla became divided into three kingdoms.
* 918 – Seoul became a part of newly founded Goryeo as the prior regime Taebong was overthrown.
* 1104 – Sukjong of Goryeo builds a palace in Seoul and declared it the second capital 'Namgyeong' meaning 'Southern Capital'.

## 14th-18th century

* 1394
** Capital of the Joseon dynasty relocates to Seoul from Kaesong.
** Jongmyo (shrine) built.
* 1395
** Gyeongbokgung Palace built.
** Jogyesa temple established.
* 1396 – Fortress Wall construction begins.
* 1398
** Eight Gates built.
** Sungkyunkwan founded.
* 1412 – Changdeokgung Palace built.
* 1414 – Namdaemun Market active.
* 1447 – Namdaemun rebuilt.
* 1467 – Wongaksa Pagoda constructed.
* 1592 – April: City taken by Japanese forces.

## 18th-19th century

* 1711 – Donuimun and Gwanghuimun (gates) rebuilt.
* 1741 – Changuimun (gate) rebuilt.
* 1796 – Hwaseong Fortress built.
* 1867 – Gwanghwamun (gate) reconstructed.
* 1897
** Kurisudo sinmun newspaper begins publication.
** Independence Gate erected.
* 1898 – Myeongdong Cathedral consecrated.
* 1899 – Gwallim Middle School established.
* 1900
** Gyeongseong Station opens.
** Incheon-Seoul and Chemulpo-Seoul railways begin operating.

## 20th century
### 1900s-1950s

* 1901 – Busan-Seoul railway begins operating.
* 1905
** Uiju-Seoul railway begins operating.
** Dongdaemun Market in business.
* 1906 – Keijō Nippō newspaper established.
* 1907 – Seoul Sanitation Association founded.
* 1908 – Gyeongseong Gamok (prison) in operation.
* 1910
** Japanese in power; city renamed "Keijō"
** Population: 200,000 (approximate).
* 1914 – Outer parts of Gyeongseongbu were ceded to Goyang County.
* 1915 – Joseon Industrial Exhibition held in Gyeongbokgung
* 1920 – Chosun Ilbo and Dong-a Ilbo newspapers begin publication.
* 1922 – Namsan Public Library established.
* 1924 – Keijō Imperial University founded.
* 1925 – Seoul Station opens.
* 1926 – Japanese General Government Building constructed.
* 1927 – Noryangjin Fish Market in business.
* 1936 – The expansion of Gyeongseongbu was implemented absorbing Cheongnyangni, Anam, Sincheon, etc.
* 1940 – Joseon Grand Exposition held in Seoul
* 1945 – National Library of Korea and National Museum of Korea established.
* 1946
** City renamed "Seoul" (approximate date).
** Kim Hyongmin becomes mayor.
** Seoul National University established.
* 1947 – Samsung Sanghoe in business.
* 1948
** City becomes capital of Republic of Korea.
** Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra founded.
* 1949
** Seoul designated a special city (administrative division).
** Expended to today's Gangbuk-gu to the north and Guro-dong, Sindorim-dong(including today's Daerim dong) to the south.
** Population: 1,446,019.
* 1950
** 28 June: Hangang Bridge bombing; city taken by North Korean army.
** 16 July: Yongsan bombing.
** 22–25 September: Second Battle of Seoul.
* 1951
** January: Third Battle of Seoul.
** 14 March: City taken by United Nations forces.
* 1953 – Korean Republic newspaper begins publication.
* 1954 – Hankook Ilbo newspaper begins publication.
* 1958 – Gimpo International Airport in operation.

### 1960s-1990s

* 1960 – Gyeongdong Market in business.
* 1963 – The great expansion was implemented, incorporating parts of counties of Gimpo, Gwangju, Siheung, Yangju, and Bucheon.
* 1965 – Population: 3,793,280.
* 1969 – N Seoul Tower built.
* 1970
** Gyeongbu Expressway constructed.
** Population: 5,433,198.
* 1973
** Jingwan-dong (Gupabal) was incorporated to Seoul from Goyang County.
** World Taekwondo Headquarters established.
* 1974
** Seoul Metropolitan Subway begins operating.
** Korean Film Archive and Chugye University for the Arts established.
* 1975 – Sister city relationship established with San Francisco, USA.
* 1977 – Jeongdok Public Library opens.
* 1978 – Sejong Center built.
* 1980 – Population: 8,364,379.
* 1982 – Banpo Bridge constructed.
* 1983
** Lucky-Goldstar Football Club formed.
** Bukhansan National Park established.
* 1985
** 63 Building constructed.
** Population: 9,639,110.
* 1986 – Asian Games held.
* 1988
** Goh Kun becomes mayor.
** Summer Olympics held.
** Seoul Museum of Art and Calligraphy Museum open.
** Trade Tower built.
* 1989 – Lotte World recreation complex opens.
* 1990 – Population: 10,612,577.
* 1991
** Blue House (government residence) built.
** KBS Hall opens.
* 1993
** Korea National University of Arts established.
** Opera House opens.
** War Memorial of Korea constructed.
* 1994 – Hi! Seoul Festival begins.
* 1995
** The city boundary between Seoul and Gwangmyeong was rearranged, absorbing a very tiny part of Cheolsan-dong.
** The city boundary between Seoul and Goyang was rearranged, absorbing a very tiny part of Jichuk-dong.
** 29 June: Sampoong Department Store collapse.
** Population: 10,776,201 (approximate estimate).
* 1999 – Jongno Tower built.
* 2000
** Bukchon Preservation and Regeneration Project established.
** Kumho Art Hall opens.

## 21st century

* 2001
** Incheon International Airport begins operating.
** Seoul World Cup Stadium opens.
** ETP music festival begins.
* 2002
** FIFA World Cup held.
** Lee Myung-bak becomes mayor.
** Seoul Museum of History established.
* 2003 – Hyperion Tower built.
* 2004
** Samsung Tower Palace built.
** Seoul Station renovated.
** Seoul Metropolitan Government Amazones football club formed.
* 2005 – Seoul Forest opens.
* 2006 – Oh Se-hoon becomes mayor.
* 2009
** Moonlight Rainbow Fountain installed.
** West Seoul Lake Park opens.
* 2010 – November: G-20 summit held.
* 2011
** June: Floods.
** October: Asian Network of Major Cities 21 meeting held.
** Park Won-soon becomes mayor.
** Population: 10,581,728.
** Shinbundang Line opens
* 2012
** International Finance Center Seoul opens
** ABU Radio Song Festival held.
** Seoul City Hall rebuilt.
* 2014 – Dongdaemun Design Plaza opens
* 2015 – Gocheok Sky Dome opens
* 2016 – March: AI AlphaGo versus Lee Sedol match played.
* 2018 – Population: 9,962,393
* 2022
** 29 October: Seoul Halloween crowd crush