The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Seoul, South Korea.
Prior to 14th century
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. 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. 1447 - Namdaemun rebuilt. 1467 - Wongaksa Pagoda constructed. 1592 - April: City taken by Japanese forces.
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. Independence Gate erected. 1898 - Myeongdong Cathedral consecrated. 1899 - Gwallim Middle School established. 1900 Gyeongseong Station opens. Incheon-Seoul and Chemulpo-Seoul railways begin operating.
20th century
1900s-1950s
1901 – Busan-Seoul railway begins operating. 1905 Uiju-Seoul railway begins operating. Dongdaemun Market in business. 1906 – Keijō Nippō newspaper established. 1907 – Seoul Sanitation Association founded. 1908 – Gyeongseong Gamok (prison) in operation. 1910 Japanese in power; city renamed "Keijō" Population: 200,000 (approximate). 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. 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). 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. 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.