The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Seoul, South Korea.

Prior to 14th century

Part of a series on the
History of Korea
Prehistoric period Jeulmun 8000 BC–1500 BC Mumun 1500 BC–300 BC
Ancient period Gojoseon 2333 BC–108 BC * Dangun * Gija * Wiman Jin 4th–2nd century BC Yemaek
Proto–Three Kingdoms period Takri Dongye Buyeo Eastern Galsa Okjeo Samhan Ma Byeon Jin Goguryeo Tamna Four Commanderies of Han
Three Kingdoms period Goguryeo 37 BC–668 AD Baekje 18 BC–660 AD Silla 57 BC–935 AD Gaya confederacy 42–562
Northern and Southern period United Silla (Unified Silla) 668–935 Balhae 698–926
Later Three Kingdoms period Later Baekje 892–936 Taebong (Later Goguryeo) 901–918 Unified Silla (Later Silla) 668–935
Dynastic period Goryeo 918–1392 Joseon 1392–1897 Korean Empire 1897–1910
Colonial period Japanese rule 1910–1945 Provisional Government 1919–1948
Modern period Military governments 1945–1948 North-South division 1945–present * North 1948–present * South 1948–present
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• 18 BCE – Baekje, Wirye-seong, settled. Seoul started functioning as the royal capital of Baekje until 475.
• 475 – Seoul changed hands from Baekje to Goguryeo.
• 551 – Seoul changed hands from Goguryeo to Baekje.
• 553 – Seoul changed hands from Baekje to Silla.
• 901 – Seoul under control of Taebong as Silla became divided into three kingdoms.
• 918 – Seoul became a part of newly founded Goryeo as the prior regime Taebong was overthrown.
• 1104 – Sukjong of Goryeo builds a palace in Seoul and declared it the second capital 'Namgyeong' meaning 'Southern Capital'.

14th-18th century

• 1394
  • Capital of the Joseon Dynasty relocates to Seoul from Kaesong.^[1]
  • Jongmyo (shrine) built.
• 1395
  • Gyeongbokgung Palace built.
  • Jogyesa temple established.
• 1396 – Fortress Wall construction begins.
• 1398
  • Eight Gates built.
  • Sungkyunkwan founded.
• 1412 – Changdeokgung Palace built.
• 1414 – Namdaemun Market active.^{[citation needed]}
• 1447 – Namdaemun rebuilt.
• 1467 – Wongaksa Pagoda constructed.
• 1592 – April: City taken by Japanese forces.^[1]

18th-19th century

• 1711 – Donuimun and Gwanghuimun (gates) rebuilt.
• 1741 – Changuimun (gate) rebuilt.
• 1796 – Hwaseong Fortress built.
• 1867 – Gwanghwamun (gate) reconstructed.
• 1897
  • Kurisudo sinmun newspaper begins publication.^[2]
  • Independence Gate erected.
• 1898 – Myeongdong Cathedral consecrated.
• 1899 – Gwallim Middle School established.
• 1900
  • Gyeongseong Station opens.
  • Incheon-Seoul and Chemulpo-Seoul railways begin operating.^[1][3]

20th century

1900s-1950s

• 1901 – Busan-Seoul railway begins operating.^[3]
• 1905
  • Uiju-Seoul railway begins operating.^[1]
  • Dongdaemun Market in business.^{[citation needed]}
• 1906 – Keijō Nippō newspaper established.^[4]
• 1907 – Seoul Sanitation Association founded.^[4]
• 1908 – Gyeongseong Gamok (prison) in operation.
• 1910
  • Japanese in power; city renamed "Keijō"
  • Population: 200,000 (approximate).^[5]
• 1914 – Outer parts of Gyeongseongbu were ceded to Goyang County.
• 1915 – Joseon Industrial Exhibition held in Gyeongbokgung
• 1920 – Chosun Ilbo and Dong-a Ilbo newspapers begin publication.
• 1922 – Namsan Public Library established.
• 1924 – Keijō Imperial University founded.
• 1925 – Seoul Station opens.
• 1926 – Japanese General Government Building constructed.
• 1927 – Noryangjin Fish Market in business.^{[citation needed]}
• 1936 – The expansion of Gyeongseongbu was implemented absorbing Cheongnyangni, Anam, Sincheon, etc.
• 1940 – Joseon Grand Exposition held in Seoul
• 1945 – National Library of Korea and National Museum of Korea established.
• 1946
  • City renamed "Seoul" (approximate date).^{[citation needed]}
  • Kim Hyongmin becomes mayor.
  • Seoul National University established.
• 1947 – Samsung Sanghoe in business.
• 1948
  • City becomes capital of Republic of Korea.
  • Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra founded.
• 1949
  • Seoul designated a special city (administrative division).
  • Expended to today's Gangbuk-gu to the north and Guro-dong, Sindorim-dong(including today's Daerim dong) to the south.
  • Population: 1,446,019.^[6]
• 1950
  • 28 June: Hangang Bridge bombing; city taken by North Korean army.
  • 16 July: Yongsan bombing.
  • 22–25 September: Second Battle of Seoul.
• 1951
  • January: Third Battle of Seoul.
  • 14 March: City taken by United Nations forces.
• 1953 – Korean Republic newspaper begins publication.
• 1954 – Hankook Ilbo newspaper begins publication.
• 1958 – Gimpo International Airport in operation.

1960s-1990s

• 1960 – Gyeongdong Market in business.^{[citation needed]}
• 1963 – The great expansion was implemented, incorporating parts of counties of Gimpo, Gwangju, Siheung, Yangju, and Bucheon.
• 1965 – Population: 3,793,280.^[7]
• 1969 – N Seoul Tower built.
• 1970
  • Gyeongbu Expressway constructed.
  • Population: 5,433,198.^[8]
• 1973
  • Jingwan-dong (Gupabal) was incorporated to Seoul from Goyang County.
  • World Taekwondo Headquarters established.
• 1974
  • Seoul Metropolitan Subway begins operating.
  • Korean Film Archive and Chugye University for the Arts established.
• 1975 – Sister city relationship established with San Francisco, USA.^[9]
• 1977 – Jeongdok Public Library opens.
• 1978 – Sejong Center built.
• 1980 – Population: 8,364,379.^[10]
• 1982 – Banpo Bridge constructed.
• 1983
  • Lucky-Goldstar Football Club formed.
  • Bukhansan National Park established.
• 1985
  • 63 Building constructed.
  • Population: 9,639,110.^[7]
• 1986 – Asian Games held.
• 1988
  • Goh Kun becomes mayor.
  • Summer Olympics held.
  • Seoul Museum of Art and Calligraphy Museum open.
  • Trade Tower built.
• 1989 – Lotte World recreation complex opens.
• 1990 – Population: 10,612,577.^[7]
• 1991
  • Blue House (government residence) built.
  • KBS Hall opens.
• 1993
  • Korea National University of Arts established.
  • Opera House opens.
  • War Memorial of Korea constructed.
• 1994 – Hi! Seoul Festival begins.
• 1995
  • The city boundary between Seoul and Gwangmyeong was rearranged, absorbing a very tiny part of Cheolsan-dong.
  • The city boundary between Seoul and Goyang was rearranged, absorbing a very tiny part of Jichuk-dong.
  • 29 June: Sampoong Department Store collapse.^[11]
  • Population: 10,776,201 (approximate estimate).^[12]
• 1999 – Jongno Tower built.
• 2000
  • Bukchon Preservation and Regeneration Project established.^[13]
  • Kumho Art Hall opens.^{[citation needed]}

21st century

• 2001
  • Incheon International Airport begins operating.
  • Seoul World Cup Stadium opens.
  • ETP music festival begins.
• 2002
  • FIFA World Cup held.
  • Lee Myung-bak becomes mayor.
  • Seoul Museum of History established.
• 2003 – Hyperion Tower built.
• 2004
  • Samsung Tower Palace built.
  • Seoul Station renovated.^[14]
  • Seoul Metropolitan Government Amazones football club formed.
• 2005 – Seoul Forest opens.
• 2006 – Oh Se-hoon becomes mayor.
• 2009
  • Moonlight Rainbow Fountain installed.
  • West Seoul Lake Park opens.
• 2010 – November: G-20 summit held.
• 2011
  • June: Floods.
  • October: Asian Network of Major Cities 21 meeting held.
  • Park Won-soon becomes mayor.
  • Population: 10,581,728.^[15]
  • Shinbundang Line opens
• 2012
  • International Finance Center Seoul opens
  • ABU Radio Song Festival held.
  • Seoul City Hall rebuilt.
• 2014 – Dongdaemun Design Plaza opens
• 2015 – Gocheok Sky Dome opens
• 2016 – March: AI AlphaGo versus Lee Sedol match played.
• 2018 – Population: 9,962,393^[16]
• 2022
  • 29 October: Seoul Halloween crowd crush^[17]