Seoul National Capital Area

The Seoul National Capital Area (SNCA) is a region located in the north-west of South Korea. It is generally referred to as Sudogwon in Korean, and contains three different administrative districts; Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi-do.

The SNCA is technically distinct from the Seoul Metropolitan Area (SMA), as the former is a fixed entity, while the latter refers to places currently considered under the economic, industrial and cultural influence of Seoul. Since the extension of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway (Korail commuter) to Asan, Chungcheongnam-do and Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, some have classified Asan, Cheonan, Chuncheon as now within the SMA, but not within the SNCA. However, the terms SNCA, SMA and Sudogwon are largely analogous and used interchangeably.

The Seoul National Capital Area has a population of 24.5 million (as of 2007) and is ranked as the second largest metropolitan area in the world. It forms the cultural, commercial, financial, industrial, and residential center of South Korea. The largest city is Seoul, with a population of approximately 10.2 million people, followed by Incheon, with 2.6 million.

Read more about Seoul National Capital Area:  Geography and Climate, History, Demographics, Government, Subdivisions, Transportation, Gallery

Famous quotes containing the words national, capital and/or area:

    If the national security is involved, anything goes. There are no rules. There are people so lacking in roots about what is proper and what is improper that they don’t know there’s anything wrong in breaking into the headquarters of the opposition party.
    Helen Gahagan Douglas (1900–1980)

    There is no private house in which people can enjoy themselves so well as at a capital tavern.... No, Sir; there is nothing which has yet been contrived by man by which so much happiness is produced as by a good tavern or inn.
    Samuel Johnson (1709–1784)

    I am aware of the damp souls of housemaids
    Sprouting despondently at area gates.
    —T.S. (Thomas Stearns)