Seoul Capital Area
The term refers to the Sudogwon metropolitan area in the South Korean capital Seoul and combines the economic, cultural and political center of South Korea.
With 25.6 million inhabitants ( as of 2012) is Sudogwon to Tokyo -Yokohama one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world. 48.6% of South Koreans live here, and it is predicted that this figure will soon increase to more than half. No other metropolitan area in the major industrialized countries ( no city-states ) combines a high proportion of the population of the state to be (Wien 27.5 %, 18.8%, Paris, Rhine-Ruhr 12.4 %).
Definition
Although there is no clear definition, with the key word Sudogwon following three administrative units meant: the cities of Seoul and Incheon, and Gyeonggi -do. Seoul and Incheon are as enclaves within Gyeonggi -do. Why does the external border of the Metroplregion match that of the Province region of Gyeonggi -do. Therefore, the region also traditionally Gyeonggi Jibang ( 경기 지방 ,京畿 地方, region of Gyeonggi ) called. Since the province name already the Hanja character for Seoul ( or capital:京, gyeong ) is, Gyeonggi-do has been historically and generally always associated with Seoul.
The term Sudogwon (literally: Capital District or area ) has a similar meaning, but looks more modern. While the word " Sudogwon " is used in the economic, political context, the word " Gyeonggi Jibang " on the other hand has more historical and cultural connotations.
In principle, the definition of Sudogwon is not fixed and depends on the context. In addition, the term is constantly expanding and adapting to the current state of development. The other day, but unusual for the city of Cheonan, which lies to the north of the province of Chungcheongnam -do, is counted in the region after the Seoul subway line was extended in 2005 to get there.
Development
Original scope
Originally ( the seat of the provincial government) and a few more accessible by public transport satellite towns was with the term Sudogwon mainly the capital Seoul with the two nearby cities Incheon and Suwon called. In the Industralisierungsgeschichte the two axes Seoul -Incheon ( Gyeongin ) and Seoul - Suwon ( Gyeongsu ) had an important function.
Expansion
The central importance of Seoul in all areas continued to attract the young generation from the provinces. Due to the growing development of the mega city increased the demand for housing and thus the housing prices. In order to relieve the housing problems in the overcrowded capital, satellite cities have been developed. If young people are attracted mainly for economic reasons in the satellite towns, the older generation of people settled in the new and large-scale satellite cities due to the better quality of life.
The two planned cities Bundang ( Seongnam city ) and Ilsan ( Goyang City ) belong to the first major project that was planned mainly for the purpose of home price stabilization. Together the two cities took nearly half a million inhabitants of the capital. However, these two developed into prosperous cities and not contributed to the reduction in prices.
In order to continue to achieve the goal, cities were still constructed with the character of a bedroom community. As with the two pioneers, it's mostly new areas of existing cities, which are then connected by roads to the capital. Examples of such cities with their newly planned neighborhoods are:
- Incheon Free Economic Zone Incheon ( Songdo New City, Yeongjong, Cheongna International City )
- Seongnam: Bundang, Pangyo (under construction)
- Goyang: Ilsan, Deogyang
- Yongin: Suji, Jugjeon, Gwanggyo ( under construction, together with the city of Suwon)
- Suwon Yeongtong, Gwanggyo
- Anyang: Pyeongchon
- Bucheon: Jungdong
- Gwangmyeong
- Gimpo
- Gwangju
- Namyangju
- Hwaseong: Dongtan, Byeongjeom
With the evolving network of local services between the new towns and Seoul, and even with each other, the central local function Seoul continues to expand, beyond almost to completely Gyeonggi -do. Conversely benefited the province of which, however, that many important economic and academic institutions are transferred from Seoul to the province, such as the Incheon International Airport as a great example.
The growth of the population of suburban dominated province of Gyeonggi-do is done in two directions: on the one hand, from the densely populated capital and partly from other regions of the country that come through the search for jobs in the vicinity of the capital.
Major Cities
- Seoul ( 서울 ), South Korea's capital and metropolitan center
- Incheon ( 인천 ) Third largest city in South Korea and port city
- Suwon ( 수원 ), provincial capital of Gyeonggi-do and big city
- Gwacheon ( 과천 ), the seat of the Government Complex Gwacheon
- Bucheon ( 부천 )
- Seongnam ( 성남 )
- Yongin ( 용인 )
- Goyang ( 고양 )
- Anyang ( 안양 )
- Pyeongtaek ( 평택 )
- Ansan ( 안산 )
- Uijeongbu ( 의정부 ), seat of the northern province of administration of Gyeonggi-do
Traffic
In addition to eight subway lines in Seoul, also lead far beyond the city limits, there are two new additional subway lines ( Bundang and Shinbundang - Line), the various districts and quarters in Gyeonggi-do with Seoul connect. Rail and motorway networks in this region are constantly being expanded and linked to each other.
As a general problem applies the lack of infrastructure, particularly in the transport sector, which could not keep up the explosive population growth in the densely populated areas. At peak periods the traffic jam is very notorious, especially towards Seoul. Also to traditional holidays such as Chuseok and Seollal, generally speaking, the traffic chaos with a three to four times longer driving time. The queue builds up to the beginning of the holidays in a southerly direction to the provinces and at the end north to Seoul.