Seoul is a city of contrasts in which the ancient and the modern harmoniously coexist. In one sense, it's a hi-tech 21st-century city awash with neon lights and the sights and sounds of a 24 hour metropolis, while at the same time, a city retaining the majesty and graceful ambience of ancient dynasties that once ruled.

Like the river Han on which it sits, Seoul is constantly moving as it strides boldly into the future, yet simultaneously managing to keep one foot firmly entrenched in its historical past.

Seoul is the giant capital city of South Korea. The greater metropolitan area is home to about half of the country’s 50 million residents. It is a city with a long history, having been the capital of unified Korea from 1394 until the formal division in 1948, but it is also a thoroughly modern city and the third largest economy in Asia.

As you wander the streets you will see towering futuristic skyscrapers casting shadows over traditional Buddhist temples. You will find some of the most sophisticated and tech-savvy shopping anywhere in the world, and traditional street vendors selling food and homemade goods. You’ll see older people in traditional dress, and a trend-setting youth culture. A very populous, 24-hour city, Seoul has a “work-hard, play-hard” mentality that fuels an intense nightlife that runs on K-Pop.

If you want to get away from the intensity of the city, South Korea has an excellent transport network, so it is easy to access some of her natural treasures. There are craggy mountains looking out over the city, heavily forested national parks, and remote islands populated by small fishing villages to visit.

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