[New Social Geography Map] Was Seocho-dong Previously Part of Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seongdong-gu, and Gangnam-gu?

Yeongdeungpo-gu → Seongdong-gu → Gangnam-gu → Seocho-gu
Seocho-dong with the Legal Town and Seoul Arts Center
Incorporated into the current Seocho-gu in 1988

Editor's Note‘New Social Atlas’ is a series that approaches national statistics with the same curiosity as when looking at the Social Atlas, which provided both information and fun during school days. It examines South Korea's past and present through various statistics, including population and area.

"Seocho-dong actually belonged to Yeongdeungpo-gu." "What are you talking about? It actually belonged to Seongdong-gu." "It was part of Gangnam-gu, so I don't know what everyone is saying..."

If someone were having this kind of conversation, they would undoubtedly be treated as the ‘Foolish Three Brothers.’ This is because Seocho-dong, as its name suggests, belongs to Seocho-gu in Seoul.

Seocho-dong is centered around Subway Gyodae Station and Nambu Terminal Station, bordered on the right by Gangnam Station and Yangjae Station, on the left by Seoripul Park and Seoul High School, above by the Supreme Court, Supreme Prosecutors' Office, Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, Seoul Central District Court, and below by the Seoul Arts Center.

The area to the left of Gangnam Station, which has the highest floating population, is Seocho-dong. Seocho-dong is the core area of Gangnam. The claim that Seocho-dong belongs to Gangnam-gu might be accepted as plausible, but the idea that it belongs to Seongdong-gu or Yeongdeungpo-gu sounds utterly absurd to anyone.

However, the truth is the exact opposite of common knowledge. The statements that seem like the foolish three brothers’ conversation could all be correct. Seocho-dong was once part of Yeongdeungpo, belonged to Seongdong-gu, and was also part of Gangnam-gu.

A water screen is operating at the Aqua Art overpass in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

While it is obviously Seocho-dong in Seocho-gu now, looking back at Seoul’s past history reveals some interesting facts.

Seoul is South Korea’s representative city that has continuously expanded. After the development of new towns, it lost its position as the most populous city to Gyeonggi Province, but historically and symbolically, Seoul’s status as the capital remains unchanged.

In the past, the area inside the so-called Four Great Gates was considered Seoul proper. However, as people from all over the country flocked to Seoul, its area gradually expanded to what it is today.

According to the organizational history of Yeongdeungpo-gu in Seoul, on January 1, 1963, a Shindong Branch Office was established in Yangjae-ri, Yeongdeungpo-gu. The Shindong Branch Office oversaw Yangjae-ri, Sinwon-ri, Umyeon-ri, Sadang-ri, Bangbae-ri, Seocho-ri, Banpo-ri, and Jamwon-ri. The previous 'ri' areas were reorganized into 'dong' as Seoul expanded.

What is now Seocho-dong was part of Yeongdeungpo-gu, but on July 1, 1973, it was incorporated into Seongdong-gu along with Jamwon-dong and Yangjae-dong. In other words, Seocho-dong changed from Yeongdeungpo-gu Seocho-dong to Seongdong-gu Seocho-dong.

At that time, Seongdong-gu covered both the north and south sides of the Han River, including what are now Gwangjin-gu, Seocho-gu, Gangnam-gu, Songpa-gu, and Gangdong-gu. However, Seongdong-gu’s size was greatly reduced in 1975 when Gangnam-gu was newly established during the Gangnam development era.

Samsung Seocho Building, Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

Gangnam-gu was a vast area covering what are now Seocho, Gangnam, Songpa, and Gangdong. However, Gangnam-gu also could not avoid subdivision. As urbanization accelerated and the population increased, the need for district division arose. Seocho-gu was newly established in 1988.

At that time, Seocho-dong’s jurisdiction changed from Gangnam-gu to Seocho-gu. Although Seocho-gu was established later, its political, economic, and social status grew to an extent incomparable to the 1970s and 1980s. Many legal professionals such as judges, prosecutors, and lawyers reside in Seocho-dong.

Major domestic leading companies have also established their bases in Seocho-gu. President Yoon Suk-yeol’s residence, Acro Vista, is located in Seocho-dong.

According to Statistics Korea, based on resident registration population as of May this year, Seocho-gu’s population reached 404,436. It ranks tenth among Seoul’s 25 districts. Yeongdeungpo-gu and Seongdong-gu, which once included the Seocho-dong area, have populations of 376,347 and 279,760 respectively, both less than Seocho-gu.

The status of a region naturally changes according to urban development. Among areas currently classified as relatively underdeveloped, some may grow to become representative regions of Seoul in the future. The existence of Seocho-gu today proves this.