Seoul's Vibrant Essence
Ravish Kumar
| 01-02-2024
· Information Team
Seoul, officially known as the Seoul Special City and formerly called Hanseong, is the capital of the Republic of Korea.
It is the world's tenth-largest city and the largest on the Korean Peninsula, serving as one of Asia's major financial centers. Additionally, Seoul is the political, economic, technological, educational, and cultural hub of South Korea.
Situated in the central part of the Korean Peninsula within the Han River basin, Seoul is Asia's premier international metropolis and the largest city in Korea, recognized as the birthplace of the Korean Wave. To understand the development of Seoul, one only needs to visit N Seoul Tower.
Originally named Seoul Tower, it underwent extensive renovations in 2005 and was subsequently renamed N Seoul Tower. Constructed in 1975, N Seoul Tower stands on Mount Namsan with an elevation of 243 meters and a height of 236.7 meters. At 137 meters, a revolving observatory completes one rotation every 40 minutes, offering breathtaking views of the Seoul cityscape.
N Seoul Tower is hailed as the symbol of Seoul and has been open to visitors since 1980, becoming a must-visit tourist attraction and a popular dating spot for young Koreans. However, the number of visitors dwindled due to aging facilities and inadequate services. After a new company took over the management rights, a significant investment of 15 billion Korean won was made to revamp the tower, giving rise to the new N Seoul Tower.
Taking the elevator to the observation deck of N Seoul Tower, which accumulates a total height of 479 meters, provides a panoramic view of Seoul. Towering skyscrapers characterize the city below, and despite some shortcomings in urban planning, Seoul is undeniably a developed city with a relatively high per capita income.
While N Seoul Tower is impressive during the day, it truly comes to life at night. Using LED technology, the play of lights from surrounding buildings and the controlled color and curve changes of the tower's exterior create a captivating urban symphony visible from the city below.
Young Koreans are often drawn to N Seoul Tower for its romantic ambiance, exemplified by the Love Lock Wall frequently featured in Korean television shows and dramas. The wall is adorned with various locks, symbolizing eternal love as couples attach them and toss away the keys—a gesture that epitomizes romance.
Compared to tall towers worldwide, N Seoul Tower may not rank among the top ten, but its unique setting against the mountainside sets it apart. N Seoul Tower stands as Seoul's landmark, and most visitors make it a point to visit, making it an integral part of the Korean experience.