Yeouido
View of Yeouido from the north side of the Han River (2021)
Yeouido is located in Seoul
Yeouido
Yeouido
Yeouido is located in South Korea
Yeouido
Yeouido
Geography
Area8.4 km2 (3.2 sq mi)
Administration
South Korea
Demographics
Population32,674 (August 2023)[lower-alpha 1]
Korean name
Hangul
여의도
Hanja
Revised RomanizationYeouido
McCune–ReischauerYŏŭido

Yeouido (Korean: 여의도; lit. Yeoui Island) is a large island (or ait) on the Han River in Seoul, South Korea. It is Seoul's main finance and investment banking district. It is 8.4 square kilometres (3.2 sq mi) large and has a population of 32,674 as of August 2023.[1]

The island is located in the Yeongdeungpo-gu district of Seoul, and largely corresponds to the precinct of Yeoui-dong. The island contains the National Assembly Building, where the National Assembly of South Korea meets, Korea Financial Investment Association, the large Yoido Full Gospel Church, the 63 Building, and the headquarters of LG, Korean Broadcasting System, and the Korea Exchange Center. Due mainly to its importance as a financial district and its central location, Yeouido is home to some of Seoul and South Korea's tallest skyscrapers, including International Finance Center Seoul, Parc1 Tower, the Federation of Korea Industries Tower, as well as the iconic 63 Building.

The island has historically gone by a number of names, including Yanghwado and Nauiju during the Joseon period. It was uninhabited until the construction of the peninsula's first airport, Yeouido Airport. As the airport was prone to flooding, it was eventually replaced by commercial and residential construction beginning in the late 1960s.

Etymology

The island went by a number of names in the Joseon period, including Yanghwado (양화도) and Nauiju (나의주).[2] Some sources claim that "Yeouido" can literally be interpreted as "Your Island", implying that people would want to give the island away because it is useless.[3][4] This is because the island was once seen as an unreliable sandy island that flooded easily.[4] On the other hand, an official Seoul tourism website describes the islands name as meaning "Broad Island" (넓은 섬).[5]

History

Being a vacant spot convenient to the capital of Joseon, Yeouido was used as a national pasture for sheep and goats according to a 16th-century geographical record.[6] Yeouido remained for the most part an uninhabited sandbar prior to the construction of Korea's first airport in April 1924.[7][8] The airport served both international, domestic, and military flights, and was also the site of a flight school.[9] The airport was prone to flooding that made it unusable during the summer rainy season. Gimpo International Airport took over Yeouido's commercial flights in 1958, and Seoul Air Base took over its military functions in 1971.

Starting in the late 1960s, major housing developments were erected on the island, many of which are still in place in 2020.

The six-lane bridge connecting it to the mainland of Yeongdeungpo was built in 1970 as part of Han River development project led by President Park Jung-Hee, after which followed a period of rapid development. Formerly part of Goyang, Yeouido-dong was formed as a separate entity in 1971.[9] In 1975 the new National Assembly Building opened on the western side of the island. In 1985 the 63 building was completed and was the tallest and most well-known building in the country for many years.

Politics

National Assembly Building with the 63 building in the background (left)

Yeouido is the center of politics in South Korea. The western half of the island dominated by political organisations and their respective buildings. Most prominently, the National Assembly Building is located to the far west of the island. Construction of the building commenced in 1969 and was completed in 1975 and sits atop the site of the former Yeouido Airport. Prior to the opening of the National Assembly Building the seat of government was located at the General Government Building which was situated within the grounds of Gyeungbok Palace.

Due to its national importance, the area surrounding the National Assembly Building and its adjoining buildings is home to a significant police presence. Despite this, the grounds are usually open to the public and connect to the Han River Park which surrounds the site on three sides.

Most of the major South Korean political parties including the Democratic Party and the People Power Party maintain their headquarters in Yeouido, close to the National Assembly Building.

Economics

Yeouido is considered to be the financial center of Seoul, hosting most of the country's largest financial institutions including: Industrial Bank, Kookmin Bank, Korea Stock Exchange and Federation of Korean Industries, Hana Bank, Shinhan Securities, NH Investment Securities, and Eugene Investment Securities. Most of these institutions are clustered on the eastern side of the island, opposite the political quarter on the western side.

Public parks

Yeouido Han River Park

Five parks are located in Yeouido. Notable among these are the Yeouido district of the Han River Public Park and Yeouido Park. Yeouido Park was formed in 1999 through the reclamation of a patch of land, known as Yeouido Square or May 16 Square, which had lain under asphalt for 27 years and was used for various large public gatherings.[10] In addition, a terminal for excursion ferries stands on the Han River shore.

Unit of area

The "size of Yeouido" is often used by South Korean media as a means of comparison for measuring an unfamiliar area. For example, it may be said that city A in country Y is twice the size of Yeouido.

Festivals

  • Cherry Blossom Festival - Every April, the Cherry Blossom Festival is held in the streets of Yeouido.
  • Seoul International Fireworks Festival - On Saturdays of October, the Seoul International Fireworks Festival is held at Hangang Park.

Tallest buildings

Rank Name Height Floors Years Notes
1 Parc1 Tower A 333m 69 2020 Current Tallest building in Yeouido.
2 Parc1 Tower B 256m 53 2020
3 Three IFC Office Tower 279m 55 2012
4 63 Building 249m 60 1985
5 Federation of Korean Industries Head Office Building 245m 50 2013
6 Conrad Seoul 200m 37 2012
7 One IFC Office Tower 186m 32 2012
8 Two IFC Office Tower 176m 29 2012
9 S-Trenue 154m 36 2009
10 Yeouido Richensia Tower 1 151m 40 2003
10 Yeouido Richensia Tower 2 151m 40 2003
12 Yeouido Post Tower 150m 33 2020
13 LG Twin Towers Tower 1 144m 34 1987
13 LG Twin Towers Tower 2 144m 34 1987

Transportation

Buses

There are four colour-coded bus lines that operate in Yeouido:

  • Yellow buses run a circular route on Yeouido only
  • Red buses run different routes all over Yeouido only
  • Green and Blue buses connect Yeouido to numerous other points in Seoul

Bridges

There are 3 bridges between Yeouido and Mapo: Mapo Bridge, Seogang Bridge, and Wonhyo Bridge.

Subway

Seoul Subway Line 5 and Line 9 intersect at Yeouido Station. Line 5 also stops at Yeouinaru Station. Line 9 also stops at Saetgang Station and National Assembly Station.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Yeouido-dong population

References

  1. ↑ "영등포구청>우리구소개>영등포소개>영등포 인구". www.ydp.go.kr. Retrieved 2023-08-20.
  2. ↑ "여의도(汝矣島)". Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (in Korean). Retrieved 2023-08-20.
  3. ↑ 신, 용관 (2020-07-30). "여의도의 원뜻은 '너나 가져라'". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved 2023-08-20.
  4. 1 2 주경희; 이승연 (2014-01-14). 톡톡 서울 이야기 (in Korean). 박이정 출판사. p. 157. ISBN 978-89-6292-630-9.
  5. ↑ "놀거리 ・ 볼거리 가득한 여의도 가볼만한 곳 추천". korean.visitseoul.net (in Korean). Retrieved 2023-08-20.
  6. ↑ "동유래". Yeouido-dong website (Korean). Retrieved 2006-04-16.
  7. ↑ According to "동현황". Yeouido-dong website (Korean). Retrieved 2006-04-16.. However, the Naver Encyclopedia asserts that the airport opened in 1916, and that the homecoming flight of An Chang-nam, the first Korean pilot, landed here in 1922.
  8. ↑ "Korea's First Airport Was on Yeouido". koreatimes. 2008-05-01. Retrieved 2023-08-20.
  9. 1 2 "동현황". Yeouido-dong website (Korean). Retrieved 2006-04-16.
  10. ↑ "Yeouido". Tour2Korea.com. Archived from the original on 2005-08-30. Retrieved 2006-04-16.
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