Seoul has served as the political and cultural center of Korea for more than six centuries, evolving from a walled dynastic capital into one of the world's largest metropolitan areas.Seoul has served as the political and cultural center of Korea for more than six centuries, evolving from a walled dynastic capital into one of the world's largest metropolitan areas. This book traces that transformation, beginning with the founding of Hanseong under the Joseon dynasty and following the city through periods of foreign occupation, war, division, and rapid industrial growth. You will learn how palaces, city walls, and Confucian institutions shaped early urban life, how colonial rule and the Korean War altered the city's structure and population, and how postwar reconstruction gave rise to the dense, modern capital known today. The book also considers Seoul's administrative and social changes across different eras. This work was generated by artificial intelligence, drawing on historical sources to present a clear, factual account for readers seeking an introduction to Seoul's long development.Seoul has served as the political and cultural center of Korea for more than six centuries, evolving from a walled dynastic capital into one of the world's largest metropolitan areas. This book traces that transformation, beginning with the founding of Hanseong under the Joseon dynasty and following the city through periods of foreign occupation, war, division, and rapid industrial growth. You will learn how palaces, city walls, and Confucian institutions shaped early urban life, how colonial rule and the Korean War altered the city's structure and population, and how postwar reconstruction gave rise to the dense, modern capital known today. The book also considers Seoul's administrative and social changes across different eras. This work was generated by artificial intelligence, drawing on historical sources to present a clear, factual account for readers seeking an introduction to Seoul's long development.