Gangnam District

History

Until 1962, the area was part of Gwangju-gun's Eonju-myeon and Daewang-myeon in Gyeonggi Province, and it was incorporated into Seongdong District when Seoul's administrative districts were expanded in 1963. Compared to Jongno and Jung Districts, which have been the historical heart of Seoul for over 600 years since the Joseon Dynasty established Hanseong (name for Seoul at the time) as its capital, this area has a less prominent historical role.

With the full-scale development of the Gangnam (Yeongdong) area in the 1970s, the southern portion of Seongdong District (present-day Gangnam District, Seocho District, Songpa District, and Gangdong District) was separated to form Gangnam District in 1975. In 1979, the area east of the Tancheon Stream was divided off to create Gangdong District, which originally included the current Gangdong District and Songpa District. In 1980, Bangbae-dong and part of Banpo-bon-dong, formerly part of Dongjak-dong, were incorporated from Gwanak District.

Administration

Gangnam is one of two gu that make up the Greater Gangnam Area together with neighboring Seocho District.

The Gangnam District office has designated two smoke-free zones within the district. The first is the section of Gangnam Boulevard between exit No. 2 of Gangnam station of Seoul Subway Line 2 and exit No. 5 of Sinnonhyeon station of Line 9; the second is the 836-meter (914-yard) section of sidewalk along Yeongdong Boulevard from exit No. 5 of Samseong station on Line 2, outside COEX Convention & Exhibition Center and ASEM Tower of the COEX complex.

Divisions

Main article: Administrative divisions of Gangnam District

Gangnam District is composed of 12 dong (neighborhoods):

• Apgujeong-dong
• Cheongdam-dong
• Daechi-dong
• Dogok-dong
• Gaepo-dong
• Irwon-dong
• Nonhyeon-dong
• Samseong-dong
• Segok-dong
• Sinsa-dong
• Suseo-dong
• Yeoksam-dong

Economy

Both the Greater Gangnam Area and Gangnam itself are widely known for its heavily concentrated wealth and very high standard of living, which has been compared to cities such as Beverly Hills, California. The most significant indicator is its extremely expensive real estate. Seoul as a whole is known for its expensive housing prices—as of 2011, its average apartment cost approximately US$5,500 per m2—but the average price in Gangnam is almost twice as high, roughly US$10,000 per m2, which is 3.5 times the nationwide average. This is driven in part by the price of land: the 40 km2 making up Gangnam district rivals in valuation with the entirety of the city of Busan, the second-largest city in South Korea which occupies 770 km2. Combined with the neighboring districts of Seocho and Songpa, the Greater Gangnam Area accounts for almost 10% of the land value of the entire country.

While Seoul's traditional business centers such as Central District, Jongno District, Yongsan District and Yeongdeungpo District still maintain their leading roles, Gangnam and its neighboring districts have swiftly become the new core across all areas of business over the last few decades. KOSPI 200 companies based in Gangnam district include KEPCO, GS Group, Hyundai Department Store Group, HiteJinro, Hansol, Hankook, Hyundai Glovis and Korea Zinc Corporation. Besides, POSCO also operates POSCO Center in Teheran Valley, and KT&G operates Kosmo Tower. Other notable companies based in Gangnam include Dongbu Fire Insurance, Young Poong Group, T'way Airlines and Procter & Gamble Korea. Gangnam is also home to many IT and other internet-related companies including NC Soft and Pandora TV, and is also a strong hub of the country's financial and banking sectors. Many international companies also operate key offices in Gangnam, including Google, IBM, Toyota, and AMI.

Since January 2012, the area has also been home to FNC Entertainment, which moved into its own company offices in Cheongdam-dong, separate from its parent company in the CJ E&M Music Performance Division Building in neighbouring Apgujeong-dong. Other entertainment companies located there include SM Entertainment, JYP Entertainment (until 2018), Cube Entertainment, Pledis Entertainment, LOEN Entertainment, Source Music, Plan A Entertainment, DSP Media, MBK Entertainment, Nega Network, C-JeS Entertainment, WM Entertainment, NH Media, J. Tune Entertainment, TOP Media, Happy Face Entertainment, Dream Tea Entertainment, Polaris Entertainment, Jellyfish Entertainment, DR Music, Stardom Entertainment, and HYBE Corporation.

The Korean subsidiary of American Megatrends, AMI Korea, is headquartered in Daechidong, Gangnam District.

Economic development

Until the early 1980s Gangnam and its neighboring areas had remained the least developed in Seoul, but prodigious development over the last 30 years has earned it a reputation of being one of the most affluent, dynamic, and influential areas in both Seoul and South Korea as a whole.

In addition, the COEX Convention & Exhibition Center in Gangnam recently hosted several international conferences such as the 2010 G-20 summit and the 2012 Nuclear Security Summit.

Education

South Korea is known for its high standard of education and intense competition for university entrance, and Gangnam is considered the national capital of education, which is one of the decisive factors to make Gangnam the most attractive destination in South Korea. In 2010, roughly 6% of the successful candidates to Seoul National University, which is considered the best university in South Korea, were from Gangnam district, while Gangnam's population makes up only 1% of the country's population. In 2008, 22.7 out of 1,000 students in Gangnam district went abroad to study, while the nation's average ratio in the same time frame was only 3.6 per 1,000 students. Following the substantial raising of the profile of the Gangnam district internationally, the area has become a popular destination for international students seeking Korean language lessons, marking the rise of Korea as a 'study tourism' destination. Both long-standing locally owned schools such as the Seoul Korean Academy, and more recent foreign-owned entities such as Lexis Korea report a significant increase in interest in the location.

International schools:

• Korea International School ()
• ()

Former schools

• Japanese School in Seoul

Attractions

The important business district around Teheranno (Tehran Street) runs east–west from Gangnam station to Samseong station and the COEX Convention & Exhibition Center-Korean World Trade Center complex. Several popular shopping and entertainment areas are located in Gangnam District, including Apgujeong, the COEX Mall and the area around Gangnam station and Garosugil.

Cheongdam-dong is notable as an upmarket shopping area, with stores of global and local luxury brands, such as MCM Haus flagship store; Vera Wang's third global and first Asian flagship store 'Vera Wang Bridal Korea'; as well as French jeweler Cartier's Cartier Maison, located on Apgujeong-ro, which is the largest in Korea and at the time of opening, in 2008, the seventh largest in the world.

The area has a large concentration of vegetarian and other upscale restaurants that serve Korean cuisine with a modern twist, namely on the main street from Bongeunsa to Park Hyatt Hotel in Samseong-dong.

• Galleria Department Store
• Seolleung and Jeongneung tombs
• Trade Tower
• Apgujeong Rodeo street
• Sinsa Garosugil
• COEX Mall
• COEX Aquarium
• Kukkiwon (World Taekwondo Headquarters)
• Korea City Air Terminal
• Simone Handbag Museum
• Bongeunsa, close to COEX Mall
• Dosan Park
• Metasequoia Road
• Nonhyun Furniture Road
• Yangjae Stream

Transportation

Gangnam District is served by Seoul Subway Line 2, Seoul Subway Line 3, Seoul Subway Line 7, Seoul Subway Line 9, Bundang Line and the Shinbundang Line.

• Korail ;*Bundang Line ;;; (Seongdong-gu) ← Apgujeongrodeo – Gangnam-gu Office – Seonjeongreung – Seolleung – Hanti – Dogok – Guryong – Gaepo-dong – Daemosan – Suseo → (Songpa-gu)
• Seoul Metro ;*Seoul Subway Line 2 Euljiro Circle Line ;;;(Songpa-gu) ← Samseong – Seolleung – Yeoksam – Gangnam → (Seocho-gu) ;Seoul Subway Line 3 ;;;(Seongdong-gu) ← Apgujeong – Sinsa → (Seocho-gu) ← Maebong – Dogok – Daechi – Hangnyeoul – Daecheong – Irwon – Suseo – (Songpa-gu) ; Shinbundang Line ;;;(Seocho-gu) ← Gangnam ;*Seoul Subway Line 7 ;;;(Gwangjin-gu) ← Cheongdam – Gangnam-gu Office – Hak-dong – Nonhyeon → (Seocho-gu)
• Metro 9 corporation ;*Seoul Subway Line 9 ;;;(Seocho-gu) ← Sinnonhyeon ← Eonju ← Seonjeongneung ← Samseong Jungang ← Bongeunsa

Festivals

There are several festivals held in Gangnam District.

• International Peace Marathon Festival in October
• Gangnam Fashion Festival in October
• Sports Festival for residents in Gangnam Distinct in May
• Daemosan Festival

Following the anti-American protests in Seoul in the early 2000s, the local authorities in the Gangnam District have organized various cultural and sporting events, such as the International Peace Marathon, jointly with the United States Forces Korea. In 2009 they were awarded a 'special prize' by the US Army for promoting cultural exchanges with American troops.

Popular culture

• The Caffè Pascucci coffee chain in Apgujeong-dong was used as one of the main filming locations for Seoul Broadcasting System's 2001 drama Beautiful Days, starring Lee Byung-hun, Choi Ji-woo, Ryu Si-won, Shin Min-a, Lee Jung-hyun and Lee Yoo-jin.
• Several subway stations in Gangnam and nearby areas were used as filming locations for the 2012 Hollywood film The Bourne Legacy, the fourth installment in the Bourne film series.
• The 2012 K-pop song "Gangnam Style" by South Korean entertainer Psy was inspired by the lifestyle of the Gangnam region and its music video was shot there as well. The song and video's popularity increased international awareness of the district. In the music video, Psy can be seen dancing on top of the ASEM Tower with the Trade Tower in the background. The two buildings are part of World Trade Center Seoul (WTC Seoul), also known as COEX.
• In December 2012, Cheongdam-dong was the setting for the SBS weekend drama series, Cheongdam-dong Alice. It stars Moon Geun-young, Park Si-hoo, So Yi-hyun and Kim Ji-seok and is based on the novel, Cheongdamdong Audrey.
• In May 2013, the Cheongdam-dong branch of 10 Corso Como was used as a filming location for the music video of Psy's single "Gentleman".
• The webtoon My ID is Gangnam Beauty (내 ID는 강남미인!) by Gi Maeng-gi, which is about a girl who underwent plastic surgery due to being bullied because of her appearance, was released on Naver Webtoon in 2016. Its title referred to the namesake district being called the "Mecca of plastic surgery", with the term "Gangnam beauty" being used as a pejorative term to those who undergo the process. In 2018, generalist pay TV channel JTBC aired a television drama adaptation of the webtoon which was produced by ACC Korea.

Notable people

• CL, 2NE1 member
• Kim So-Hye, I.O.I member
• Kim Yoon-ah, Jaurim vocal
• Kim Chaewon, member of girl group Le Sserafim
• Kim Gyuvin, member of boy group Zerobaseone
• Baek Ji-young, singer
• Seo Jang-hoon, basketball player and broadcaster
• Psy, rapper

Twin towns – sister cities

Gangnam District is twinned with:

• CHN Chaoyang (Beijing), China
• USA Gwinnett County, United States
• CHN Licheng (Jinan), China
• USA Riverside, United States
• BEL Woluwe-Saint-Pierre, Belgium
• CHN Zhongshan (Dalian), China
• KOR Buyeo, South Korea
• KOR Boseong, South Korea
• KOR Cheongdo, South Korea
• KOR Cheorwon, South Korea
• KOR Ganghwa, South Korea
• KOR Gapyeong, South Korea
• KOR Goesan, South Korea
• USA Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States
• KOR Gunsan, South Korea
• KOR Paju, South Korea
• KOR Sangju, South Korea
• KOR Sinan, South Korea
• KOR Tongyeong, South Korea
• KOR Yangpyeong, South Korea
• KOR Yeongju, South Korea
• KOR Yeongdo (Busan), South Korea
• KOR Yeongdong, South Korea

References

References

1. Gangnam-gu (City District, Seoul, South Korea)
2. (29 March 2020). "Gangnam apartment prices jump 84 times in 40 years".
3. Kwon, Sang-soo. (12 September 2012). "City designates area by COEX as smoke-free". [[Korea JoongAng Daily]].
4. Cha, Frances. (17 August 2012). "Interview: PSY on 'Gangnam Style,' posers and that hysterical little boy". CNN.
5. link. inews24. (23 March 2011)
6. link. (July 2011)
7. "[https://www.google.com/about/company/facts/locations/ Google locations]." [[Google]]. Retrieved 25 May 2016. "Google Seoul Google Korea LLC. 22nd Floor, Gangnam Finance Center 152 Teheran-ro, Gangnam-gu Seoul 135-984 South Korea"
8. Kim, Ji-soo. (22 February 2012). "Carving out niche with pop rock bands". [[The Korea Times]].
9. [http://www.iloen.com/eng/about/contact_us.jsp Contact Us] {{Webarchive. link. (9 July 2019 – [[LOEN Entertainment]].)
10. "[https://ami.com/en/contact-us/international-offices/ International Offices]." [[American Megatrends]]. Retrieved 17 February 2019. "Korea: AMI 한국지사 서울시 강남구 대치동 942-18 세풍빌딩 8층 135-845 (AMI Korea, Sepung Building 8F, 942-18, Daechidong, Gangnamgu, Seoul, 135-845 Korea)"
11. "Gangnam has 'Style' and so much more". [[Korea JoongAng Daily]].
12. Cho Jin-seo. [https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2010/07/123_69053.html "Seoul unveils G20 summit's symbol,"] ''The Korea Times'' (ROK). 8 July 2010. Retrieved 10 November 2010.
13. [http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2012/03/26/2012032601079.html "Seoul Nuclear Security Summit Gets Underway Monday"] ''Chosun Ilbo''. 26 March 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-26
14. (4 February 2010). "The number of SNU entrants in 2010, sorted by regions". Prime Economy.
15. (3 February 2010). "The number of SNU entrants from Seoul in 2010, sorted by districts". [[Yonhap News Agency]].
16. link. (20 October 2010)
17. [https://web.archive.org/web/20030805050513/http://www.sjshp.or.kr/ Home page]. [[Japanese School in Seoul]]. 5 August 2004. Retrieved 19 October 2016. "大韓民国ソウル特別市江南区開浦洞153" - 153 Gaepo-dong, Gangnam District, Seoul
18. (1 June 2011). "MCM Haus Flagship store". CNN.
19. Lee, Rachel. (29 June 2012). "Vera Wang opens 1st Asia flagship in Seoul". [[The Korea Times]].
20. Garcia, Cathy Rose A.. (28 September 2008). "Cartier Opens Flagship Store in Cheongdam". [[The Korea Times]].
21. Cho Jae-eun. (3 August 2011). "Feast of food in a concrete jungle". [[Korea JoongAng Daily]].
22. Rogers, Simon. (25 October 2012). "Gangnam Style: how Seoul's most exclusive neighbourhood went global". [[The Guardian]].
23. Rachel Sang-hee Han. (17 December 2012). "13 things you've got to do in Seoul". [[CNN]].
24. "Gangnam-gu Promotes Further Exchanges with USFK". Gangnam-gu.
25. Fisher, Max. "Gangnam Nationalism: Why Psy's anti-American rap shouldn't surprise you". The Washington Post.
26. "American troops participate in Gangnam Marathon". The Official Homepage of the United States Army.
27. "Beautiful Days". [[Korea Tourism Organization]].
28. (28 June 2012). "'Bourne Legacy' Puts Seoul on Hollywood Radar". [[The Chosun Ilbo]].
29. (5 September 2012). "'Gangnam Style' Goes Viral".
30. (12 September 2012). "There is no gangnam district in Gangnam style music video". [[Maeil Business Newspaper]].
31. Ho, Stewart. (10 August 2012). "Will Moon Geun Young Make Her Small Screen Comeback Through ''Cheongdamdong Alice''?". enewsWorld.
32. Park, Jin-hai. (7 May 2013). "Psy showcases Korean fashion: 10 Corso Como Seoul offers fashion and culture in new Gangnam style". [[The Korea Times]].
33. (9 August 2012). "Welcome to the plastic surgery capital of the world". [[CNN]].
34. link. Gi, Maeng-gi. [[Naver]] [[WEBTOON]]
35. jooyeonly, lele. (2023-01-05). "Kim Gyuvin (ZB1) Profile and Facts (Updated!)".
36. link. Gangnam District