Advantage
Seoul is located at the center of Northeast Asia, where more than a quarter of the global population resides. Within three hours from Seoul, there are around 30 metropolitan cities with populations over five million.
Logistics Hub in
Northeast Asia
Incheon International Airport,
located near Seoul,
has ranked in the world’s top five
airports for 12 consecutive years.
A total of 83 domestic and
international airlines serve
175 destinations in 54 countries.
This is one of the factors that many global companies invest in Korea.
Availability of high-speed
communication network systems
(e.g. 5G) and free public Wi-Fi as one
of the world’s top digital cities.
Realization of governance
convenience and transparency
through a global top-quality
e-government system.
* Korea ranked No. 1 in the
E-Participation Index (EPI) and
No. 2 in the E-Government
Development Index (EGDI) of the
UN e-Government Survey in 2020.
Home to more than 70 percent of the world’s largest corporate brands with advanced technologies, such as Samsung, LG, and Hyundai. More than half of the Fortune Global 500 companies, including Apple, Microsoft, Boeing, Amazon, Royal Dutch Shell, Exxon Mobile and Facebook, have made inroads into Korea.
Strategic support for industrial
clusters focusing on new growth
engine industries such as
Biotechnology, Information and
Communication Technology, Artificial
Intelligence, and digital content.
Korea has 11 unicorns, nine of which
are in Seoul.
-
High College Enrollment RateKorea ranked No. 1 among OECD top 5 college graduation rate in 25-34 age group with 70%.
(Education at a Glance by OECD, 2020) -
Best Student Cities IndexSeoul ranked No. 3 in the world and No.1 in Asia.
(Best Student Cities by Quacquarelli Symonds, 2022) -
Global Urban Talent
Competitiveness IndexSeoul ranked No. 10 overall:
Ranked No. 1 in Enable and No. 6 in Grow.
(The Global Cities Talent Competitiveness Index by INSEAD, 2019) -
A Mega City with a Population
of 10 MillionOne-fifth of the Korean population (10 million) live in Seoul, forming a massive consumer market.
Thanks to its open culture with early adopters’ propensity to try new products, along with the discerning insight of Korean consumers, Korea is a leader of global trends and a testbed for various market areas.
employing a total of 5.21 million people and 31.7% of businesses and 41.4% of employees
are concentrated in CBC, YBD, and GBD in Seoul.
The Gangnam Business District is the second largest business district. This district is crowded with a myriad of businesses including numerous IT companies, creating a facilitating environment for active B2B interactions.
The areas surrounding Samseong Station are recognized for global trade, distribution, and logistics through WTC Trade Tower.
Major enterprises in the GBD include Samsung, Hyundai Motor Group, POSCO, SM Entertainment, Google Korea, eBay Korea, Nike, and Boeing Korea Engineering Technology Center (BKETC).
The Yeouido Business District has been developed into a financial hub of Seoul. Occupied by a large number of banks, stock companies, investment companies, and the Financial Supervisory Service, this district is called “Korea’s Wall Street.”
It also accommodates the National Assembly and the iconic International Finance Center (IFC). Major companies in this district include LG Electronics, Hyundai Capital, Sony Korea, Intel, HP, Deloitte, Allianz, and Ernst & Young.
The Central Business District is located at the heart of Seoul,
stretching from Gwanghwamun to Seoul Station.
This district serves as the seat of the Blue House, public and administrative agencies, embassies, headquarters of large Korean companies, Korean branches of global companies, and various associations and organizations.
It is the oldest business district in Seoul but nonetheless continues to garner the most interest from foreign companies. Major companies situated in this district include Hyundai, Morgan Stanley, Microsoft, and Citi group.