Seoul: Where Tradition and Technology Converge
The metropolitan region of Seoul is home to 25 million people, including 12 million residing in the city itself. As the capital of South Korea, it is recognized for its safety and cleanliness, having bounced back after the Vietnam War. To combat pollution from China, taxis are equipped with air purifiers. On September 19, Sotheby's New York auctioned the Moon Jar, a significant emblem of Korean culture. Korean culinary practices reflect discipline, with individuals typically consuming between 50 and 200 grams of kimchi each day. Changdeokgung Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site constructed in the 15th century, was restored following destructive fires during the Japanese invasion, while Gyeongbokgung Palace, the largest of the five imperial palaces, underwent reconstruction in the 1960s. The Korean Contemporary Art Museum is currently showcasing an exhibition of Kim Ku-Lim, which will run until February 2024.
Key facts
- Seoul metropolitan area has 25 million inhabitants, city center 12 million.
- No smoking allowed outdoors; sidewalks are spotless.
- Taxis have air purifiers against pollution from China.
- Moon Jar auctioned at Sotheby's New York on September 19 for a high price.
- Kimchi provides 50% of daily vitamin C and carotene; locals eat 50–200 grams daily.
- Blowfish requires a license to prepare due to poisonous glands.
- Bukchon Hanok Village has about 900 Hanok-style houses, intact for 600 years.
- Kim Ku-Lim exhibition at Korean Contemporary Art Museum until February 2024.
Entities
Artists
- Kim Soo-Ja
- Kim Ku-Lim
Institutions
- Sotheby's New York
- Gallery Dam
- JinJooshell
- National Palace Museum of Korea
- Korean Contemporary Art Museum
- Folklore Museum
- Korean Avant-Garde Association
- UNESCO
Locations
- Seoul
- South Korea
- Bukchon Hanok Village
- Changdeokgung Palace
- Gyeongbokgung Palace
- China
- Japan
- New York