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 (shrine) 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 (gates) rebuilt.
 * 1741 – Changuimun (gate) rebuilt.
 * 1796 – Hwaseong Fortress built.
 * 1867 – Gwanghwamun (gate) 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.

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 (prison) in operation.
 * 1910
 * Japanese in power; city renamed "Keijō"
 * Population: 200,000 (approximate).
 * 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" (approximate date).
 * 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 (administrative division).
 * Expended to today's Gangbuk-gu to the north and Guro-dong, Sindorim-dong(including today's Daerim 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 (Gupabal) 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 (government residence) 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 (approximate estimate).
 * 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