# Seoul Metropolitan Area

The Seoul Metropolitan Area (Sudogwon; Korean: 수도권,) or Gyeonggi region (경기 지방), 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 fourth-largest metropolitan area in the world. Its area is about 12,685 km$^2$ (4,898 sq mi). 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.

## 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 (km$^2$) | Population | GDP (KRW) | GDP (USD) |
| Seoul | 605 | 9,586,195 | 486 trillion | 438.4 billion |
| Incheon | 1,063 | 2,945,454 | 117 trillion | 93.6 billion |
| Gyeonggi Province | 10,184 | 13,511,676 | 594 trillion | 475.2 billion |
| Seoul Metropolitan Area | 11,852 | 26,043,325 | 1,258 trillion | 1,006.4 billion |
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 (수도권정비계획법), 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 (도봉구; 道峰區)
* Dongdaemun District (동대문구; 東大門區)
* Dongjak District (동작구; 銅雀區)
* Eunpyeong District (은평구; 恩平區)
* Gangbuk District (강북구; 江北區)
* Gangdong District (강동구; 江東區)
* Gangnam District (강남구; 江南區)
* Gangseo District (강서구; 江西區)
* Geumcheon District (금천구; 衿川區)
* Guro District (구로구; 九老區)
* Gwanak District (관악구; 冠岳區)
* Gwangjin District (광진구; 廣津區)
* Jongno District (종로구; 鍾路區)
* Jung District (중구; 中區)
* Jungnang District (중랑구; 中浪區)
* Mapo District (마포구; 麻浦區)
* Nowon District (노원구; 蘆原區)
* Seocho District (서초구; 瑞草區)
* Seodaemun District (서대문구; 西大門區)
* Seongbuk District (성북구; 城北區)
* Seongdong District (성동구; 城東區)
* Songpa District (송파구; 松坡區)
* Yangcheon District (양천구; 陽川區)
* Yeongdeungpo District (영등포구; 永登浦區)
* Yongsan District (용산구; 龍山區)

### Incheon

The eight districts and two counties of Incheon.
* Bupyeong District (부평구; 富平區)
* Dong District (동구; 東區)
* Gyeyang District (계양구; 桂陽區)
* Jung District (중구; 中區)
* Michuhol District (미추홀구; 彌鄒忽區) (Former Nam District(남구; 南區)
* Namdong District (남동구; 南洞區)
* Seo District (서구; 西區)
* Yeonsu District (연수구; 延壽區)
* Ganghwa County (강화군; 江華郡)
* Ongjin County (옹진군; 甕津郡)

### 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 (수원; 水原).
* Paldal-gu (팔달구; 八達區)
* Yeongtong-gu (영통구; 霊通區)
* Jangan-gu (장안구; 長安區)
* Gwonseon-gu (권선구; 勸善區)

#### Goyang

The three gu of Goyang (고양; 高陽).
* Deogyang-gu (덕양구; 德陽區)
* Ilsandong-gu (일산동구; 一山東區)
* Ilsanseo-gu (일산서구; 一山西區)

#### Yongin

The three gu of Yongin (용인; 龍仁).
* Cheoin-gu (처인구; 處仁區)
* Giheung-gu (기흥구; 器興區)
* Suji-gu (수지구; 水枝區)

#### Seongnam

The three gu of Seongnam (성남; 城南).
* Bundang-gu (분당구; 盆唐區)
* Jungwon-gu (중원구; 中原區)
* Sujeong-gu (수정구; 壽井區)

#### Ansan

The two gu of Ansan (안산; 安山)
* Danwon-gu (단원구; 檀園區)
* Sangnok-gu (상록구; 常綠區)

#### Anyang

The two gu of Anyang (안양; 安養)
* Dongan-gu (동안구; 東安區)
* Manan-gu (만안구; 萬安區)
* Anseong (안성; 安城)
* Dongducheon (동두천; 東豆川)
* Gimpo (김포; 金浦)
* Goyang (고양; 高陽)
* Gunpo (군포; 軍浦)
* Guri (구리; 九里)
* Gwacheon (과천; 果川)
* Gwangju (광주; 廣州)
* Gwangmyeong (광명; 光明)
* Hanam (하남; 河南)
* Hwaseong (화성; 華城)
* Icheon (이천; 利川)
* Namyangju (남양주; 南楊州)
* Osan (오산; 烏山)
* Paju (파주; 坡州)
* Pocheon (포천; 抱川)
* Pyeongtaek (평택; 平澤)
* Siheung (시흥; 始興)
* Uijeongbu (의정부; 議政府)
* Uiwang (의왕; 儀旺)
* Yangju (양주; 楊州)
* Yeoju (여주; 驪州)
* Gapyeong County (가평군; 加平郡)
* Yangpyeong County (양평군; 揚平郡)
* Yeoncheon County (연천군; 漣川郡)

## 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.
* Incheon International Airport
* Seoul Metropolitan subway, Line 3
* Map of Seoul Ring Expressway