Kangnam and Kangbuk--Seoul's Socio-Economic Divide

I thought this article in the Korea Herald does a good job of describing two of Seoul's major districts--Kangnam and Kangbuk. South of the Han River and North of the Han River. Investment in Kangnam has been unfair by many, as noted in the article.


This drive to earn money with property began in the early 1970s to 1980s when the government transformed the rice paddies and dry fields of Kangnam into residential areas, strategically building apartment complexes and giving priority to government officials to buy the units at a premium price. The Kangnam area was the first in Seoul to be developed as a modern residential district.

In 40 years, the land in Kangnam has soared 160,000 times from the original price.

In 1978, the government gave 220 high-ranking government officials and socially prominent people priority in buying units of the Hyundai Apartments in Apgujeong-dong, which enabled them to each collect a premium of around 40 to 50 million won. People who bought land in Kangnam before development have now become millionaires.

Starting in 1981, the government concentrated on developing green areas into residential areas, focusing its attention on Kangnam in order to revive the stagnant economy.

Many feel that when the government concentrated development in Kangnam it basically neglected Kangbuk. Kangnam was developed strategically by the government and managed well, too. Education and infrastructure are the two biggest advantages of Kangnam.

Another big attraction of Kangnam is the level of education there.

Many believe that the prices of houses in Kangnam are unreasonably inflated because of access to high schools of good reputation in the district.

Disputes have occurred in the past concerning the educational gap between Kangnam and Kangbuk, with an exceptionally higher number of students from Kangnam being admitted to prestigious universities.

Universities have justified their action, saying schools in Kangnam have overwhelmingly superior academic levels than those in the rest of the nation.

The disparity between Kangnam and Kangbuk has grown so large that where you live in relation to the Han River has become a superficial measure of one's wealth and social status.

An invisible barrier divides the two sides of the Han River, with each side holding discriminatory views of the other. Even students feel this quiet division.

Students in Kangnam and Kangbuk have different hairstyles and fashion. Even the way they wear their uniform is different. Kangnam kids are snobby and rich; Kangbuk students are usually perceived as unfashionable and poor, said a student from Kangbuk.