Gwanghwamun Square voted Seoul's top landmark by foreigners

SEOUL, May 09 (AJU PRESS) - Foreigners chose Gwanghwamun Square as Seoul's most symbolic place, while Seoul citizens considered the Han River as the city's top landmark, a survey reveals. 

According to the annual survey released by the Seoul Metropolitan Government on Thursday, nearly half of foreign respondents or 45.9 percent picked Gwanghwamun Square as the capital's main landmark, followed by nearby royal palaces (41.4 percent), Dongdaemun Design Plaza, a multi-purpose exposition hall famous for its futuristic spaceship-like structure (25.6 percent), and the Han River (23.1 percent) that flows through Seoul from north to south and attracts tourists for various leisure activities.

The answers were quite similar among Seoul citizens. They ticked the Han River as their top choice (48.3 percent), followed by Gwanghwamun Square where various events and gatherings are held year-round (36.1 percent), royal palaces (32.3 percent) and N Seoul Tower (17.2 percent), one of the best spots to enjoy the city's spectacular night view.

Respondents cited convenient transportation and diverse shopping and dining options as the main charms of Seoul.

Park Jin-young, a city official said, "We will reflect the survey's findings when implementing policies and projects to enhance the quality of urban life for Seoulites."

The city government has been conducting the same survey every year since 2003, and some 2,000 households including about 2,500 foreign dwellers who have been staying here for at least three months participated in this year's survey. Respondents were allowed to provide multiple answers.