[Opinion] Two Kinds of Seoul

People call Seoul a 600-year-old capital, counting from 1394 when Yi Seong-gye, the founder of Joseon, relocated the capital to Seoul. This year marks the 610th year anniversary of the relocation. This is a long time. Not too many capitals have lasted as long. Rome, London, Paris, Vienna, and Athens are the capitals that lasted over 500 years.

The history of Seoul as a capital goes back not to 600 years ago but 2,000 years ago, according to a veteran historian, Han Young-woo. At a keynote speech given at a seminar, he said that the image and brand value of Seoul as a capital were not enhanced overnight, but that it has a 2,000-year-old history as a capital starting from 18 B.C. by the name of Hanseong as a capital of the Baekje Kingdom during the period of the Three Kingdoms. Out of 31 kings of Baekje, 21 ruled the nation in Hanseong. During the Goryo Kingdom, which followed Baekje, cultures of each of the three kingdoms converged in Seoul, which was then called Namgyeong. Namgyeong literally means a capital in the south, and played a role comparable to the capital of Goryo. A conclusion is obvious. Seoul has remained as a capital for such a long time because it is worthy, and thus it should remain to be here and after.

This positive evaluation of Seoul may not be welcome news from the perspective of the government leaders as they look for a new administrative capital. When visiting Busan two days ago, President Roh said, “The air in Seoul isn’t air, and it is too difficult to raise our children. All my kids developed atopic dermatitis, and when I took one of the kids to Gangwon for a few days, the kid’s skin became so clear.” He also talked about severe traffic congestion and housing shortage. It appeared he intended to say that Seoul is not an appropriate place to live in, but he went too far when he talked about atopic dermatitis. However imperative the underlining importance of relocating a capital is, he should have not make such an irrational remark degrading Seoul.

The people are confused with the two extremes of the president and the historian. The president may look perfectly right for those who support the relocation, and vice versa. The problem is not the relocation itself, but conflict and antipathy surrounding the two kinds of Seoul. That is the tragedy of this issue.

Song Young-eon, Editorial Writer, youngeon@donga.com