FC Bayern in Seoul: What you need to know about the South Korean capital

Seoul, here we come! As part of this year's Audi Summer Tour, the German record champions are heading for the South Korean capital. fcbayern.com has compiled a summary for you of what makes the city so unique, what special features Seoul has to offer and which sports are particularly popular there.

Geographical location & residents of Seoul

Seoul is located in the heart of the Korean peninsula near the North Korean border and covers an area of around 600 square kilometres. This makes the city roughly twice the size of Munich. However, almost six times as many people live in the capital of South Korea (9.4 million residents) as in the Bavarian capital (1.6 million residents). 

The city is divided into a total of 25 different districts. The cityscape is characterised by numerous mountains, including the 632-metre-high Gwanaksan in the south, Bukhansan (836 metres) in the north and Namsan (265 metres) and Inwangsan (338 metres) in the centre of Seoul. The Hangang River, which flows through the centre, is also a popular leisure attraction for residents. There are only around 27 kilometres between Seoul and Incheon, the third largest city in South Korea, which borders the capital to the south-west.

Seoul's most famous sights & architecture 

The dazzling urban centre is peppered with numerous sights. One of the most notable attractions is the Gyeongbokgung Palace in the Jongno-gu district. It's the largest and oldest of the five royal palaces in Seoul that have been preserved or rebuilt to this day. The complex is as big as around 60 football pitches and is home to the National Folk Museum of Korea, a throne hall (Geunjeongjeon) and the Gyeonghoeru Pavilion, which is nestled in the middle of Hyangwonjeong Pond.

There are more than 12,000 exhibits on display In the National Museum of Korea, including Korea's national treasures. Probably the most striking building in the city is the 555-metre-high Lotte World Tower, which is located right next to the Olympic Park in the south-east of the city. The tower is the sixth-tallest building in the world and the first in South Korea to have more than 100 storeys. The N Seoul Tower also offers breathtaking views over the city. The iconic landmark is 237 metres high and is located on Namsan Hill in the city centre.

What makes Seoul so unique 

Dazzling Seoul is extraordinary in many ways. It's not for nothing that the capital of South Korea bears the official name ‘Special City of Seoul’. On the one hand, the title is intended to emphasise the city's status as the capital and its administrative equality with the provinces. On the other hand, it also emphasises the historical and cultural diversity of the city.

In addition to its multitude of events, festivals and art exhibitions, Seoul is also the epicentre of the K-pop industry, which has millions of fans worldwide. Many K-dramas and Korean films have been shot in the South Korean capital. The lively nightlife, for which districts such as Hongdae and Gangnam with their music clubs, bars and restaurants are particularly well known, also fits into this image.

Seoul's diversity is also reflected in the cityscape, which is characterised by historical sites and modern architecture. Magnificent royal palaces, traditional Hanok villages and ancient temples alternate with contemporary buildings such as the Lotte Tower or the Dongdaemun Design Plaza, a recreational park in Seoul's Jongno-gu district. 

When the whole football world looked to South Korea

South Korea is definitely sports-mad. The number one national sport is the Korean martial art of taekwondo, while e-sports are booming and baseball is also very popular. Football is also one of the most popular sports among the inhabitants of the East Asian country. The top division is the K League 1, in which 12 teams compete against each other. The record champions are Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, who have already won nine league titles. The South Korean national team is also one of the most successful in Asia.

The capital of South Korea has also made a name for itself as a host of major sporting events. In 1988, for example, Seoul hosted the biggest one of them all when the Summer Olympic Games attracted thousands of athletes and fans. In 2002, the whole football world looked to South Korea, which organised the first World Cup on Asian soil along with Japan.

FC Bayern vs. Tottenham Hotspur in Seoul

In Seoul's World Cup Stadium, the German national team featuring Bayern players Oliver Kahn, Thomas Linke, Jens Jeremies and Carsten Jancker celebrated reaching the final of the 2002 World Cup with a 1-0 win against hosts South Korea. FC Bayern will also play Tottenham Hotspur there on 3 August, when the Munich side travel to South Korea as part of their Audi Summer Tour.