Timeline of Seoul

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

Prior to 14th century

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 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 rebuilt.
1741 – Changuimun rebuilt.
1796 – Hwaseong Fortress built.
1867 – Gwanghwamun 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 in operation.
1910
* Japanese in power; city renamed "Keijō"
* Population: 200,000.
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".
* 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.
* Expended to today's Gangbuk-gu to the north and Guro-dong, Sindorim-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 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 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.
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
2024
* 2024 South Korean martial law crisis