When I moved back after 13 years, Seoul did not feel like home. The city almost seemed cold and soulless. The way people talked, acted, and thought made me feel as if I did not belong. But when I returned to Yeouido, I finally felt a sense of comfort. Yeouido, an island on the Han River spanning 4.5 km², is South Korea’s main political, financial, and media district. It houses the National Assembly, the country's unicameral legislature; Korea Broadcasting System (KBS), the national broadcaster; and the Korea Exchange, the nation's sole securities exchange operator.
Yeouido was Seoul’s first modern planned city development. Initially a barren military airport for the Imperial Japanese Air Force, the island was included in the three-year Han River development plan after the Korean War. With its central location in Seoul, Yeouido was mapped out as the capital city’s first grid-based urban development. The construction of the National Assembly building on the island’s west end marked the beginning of this transformation in 1969. It was soon followed by South Korea’s first high-rise apartment complexes, Sibum Apartment. Sibum Apartment was designed for upper-middle-class residents, featuring state-of-the-art amenities at the time, such as elevators, instant hot and cold water, and central heating. These apartment complexes symbolized the rapid urbanization of South Korea. From the 1980s to the 2000s, the rise of skyscrapers and the relocation of media headquarters to Yeouido created the country’s most iconic skyline. Even though many media headquarters have since moved to satellite cities, the phrase "going to Yeouido" still carries the meaning of entering the worlds of politics, finance, or media.
However, to me, Yeouido means much more than towering buildings, business executives, and politicians. It is a place that reminds me of my family and community. My maternal grandfather first moved to Yeouido in the 1970s during its initial development phase. Since then, Yeouido has been home, school, and work for my family. My grandfather worked in the media industry, relocating his firm, Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), to Yeouido. My mother and aunt attended elementary, middle, and high school there for 12 years. When my parents got married, they both worked in Yeouido and bought their first apartment on the island’s east end. Our family friends have remained close since my grandfather’s time; my favorite restaurants today were once my mother’s childhood favorites; the churches and parks my grandfather visited on weekends still stand. When I returned to Yeouido, suddenly, Seoul no longer felt soulless.
Yeouido is also where I learned the value of hard work. As the nation’s financial and political hub, the island is a city that never sleeps. Late at night, while getting snacks with friends, I would see the windows of skyscrapers still brightly lit, even into the early morning hours. Walking home from school, I would pass businessmen and government workers, always dressed in suits. Dining out, I overheard conversations about the economy and investments that never paused—even during lunch breaks or dinners. Growing up in such an environment, I developed deep admiration for these people, who seemed to be putting in everything they have and living their best lives. Though their faces showed exhaustion, their eyes shone with energy and determination.
Finally, Yeouido is where I learned to appreciate nature. In the center of the island, between skyscrapers, lies Yeouido Park, stretching across the entire district. Surrounding the island is Han River Park. Together, these parks cover over 1.7 km², providing green spaces filled with forests, grass fields, streams, and wetlands. Residents walk laps around the park at night, children ride bikes, play basketball, and hang out with friends in the open fields. For me, these parks were places of discovery—I connected with nature, observed different plants and insects, and came to understand the importance of preservation, even in the middle of a bustling city.
Yeouido will always hold a special place in my heart, reminding me of family, passion, and nature. It was the place that helped me settle back into life in Seoul, and it is a place I will always return to, no matter where I live. I am excited to see how it has changed the next time I have the chance to visit.
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