Seoul is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of more than 10 million; it is the largest city proper in the developed world. The Seoul Capital Area; which includes the surrounding Incheon metropolis and Gyeonggi province; is the world's second largest metropolitan area with over 25.6 million people; home to over half of South Koreans along with 632;000 international residents.

During the Korean War; Seoul changed hands between the Chinese-backed North Korean forces and the UN-backed South Korean forces several times; leaving the city heavily damaged after the war. One estimate of the extensive damage states that after the war; at least 191;000 buildings; 55;000 houses; and 1;000 factories lay in ruins. In addition; a flood of refugees had entered Seoul during the war; swelling the population of Seoul and its metropolitan area to an estimated 2.5 million; more than half of them homeless. Pictures From History