Names of Seoul

Seoul, the capital of South Korea, has been called by a number of formal and informal names over time.

It was called Wiryeseong (위례성; 慰禮城) or Hanseong (한성; 漢城) in the Baekje period (18 BC – 660 AD), Bukhansangun (Korean: 북한산군; Hanja: 北漢山郡) in the Goguryeo period (37 BC – 668 AD), Hanyang in the Northern and Southern States period (698–926), Namgyeong (남경; 南京) in the Goryeo period (918–1392), Hanyangbu (한양부; 漢陽府) under Mongol rule (1270–1356), and Hanseong (한성; 漢城) or Hanyang (한양; 漢陽) in the Joseon period (1392–1897).

During the Joseon era, it started to be called Seoul by the public. In the middle of Joseon era, Hanseong and Hanyang were almost replaced by Seoul and remained only formal names.^[1] During the period of Japanese colonial rule, Seoul was referred to by the Japanese exonym Keijō (京城), or the Korean reading of that name Gyeongseong. After World War II and Korea's liberation, the city officially adopted its current name.^[2]