If you're navigating Seoul's address system for the first time, you'll quickly notice a pattern: many district names contain the character for "river" (강, gang). That's because Seoul is physically and culturally divided by the Han River (한강, Hangang), which flows east–west through the city.
Gangbuk: The Historical North
Gangbuk (강북, "north of the river") is where Joseon-era Seoul was centered. Royal palaces, Confucian shrines, and government offices were built here, and many of its major roads are named after historical figures—Sejong-daero, Yulgok-ro, Toegye-ro, Chungmu-ro.
- Key districts: Jongno-gu, Jung-gu, Seodaemun-gu, Mapo-gu, Yongsan-gu
- Key roads: Sejong-daero, Jongno, Yulgok-ro, Toegye-ro, Eulji-ro, Chungmu-ro
- Zip code range: Often 03xxx–08xxx
- Character: Government offices, embassies, traditional culture sites, Insadong, Bukchon Hanok Village
Gangnam: The Modern Economic Hub
Gangnam (강남, "south of the river") was developed from the 1970s onward as a planned new city. It is now the center of Seoul's finance, IT, fashion, and luxury retail industries.
- Key districts: Gangnam-gu, Seocho-gu, Songpa-gu, Gangdong-gu
- Key roads: Teheran-ro, Gangnam-daero, Dosan-daero, Olympic Boulevard, Banpo-daero
- Zip code range: Often 05xxx–09xxx
- Character: Major department stores, hospitals, cram schools, tech companies, high real estate prices
Identifying Gangnam vs Gangbuk from an Address
The district (gu) name in an address tells you which side of the river you're on:
| Area | Districts (English) |
|---|---|
| Gangbuk (North) | Jongno-gu, Jung-gu, Seodaemun-gu, Mapo-gu, Yongsan-gu, Eunpyeong-gu, Nowon-gu, Gangbuk-gu, Seongbuk-gu, Dongdaemun-gu, Seongdong-gu |
| Gangnam (South) | Gangnam-gu, Seocho-gu, Songpa-gu, Gangdong-gu, Gwanak-gu, Gangseo-gu, Yangcheon-gu, Yeongdeungpo-gu |
An address with Gangnam-gu or Seocho-gu is in the core Gangnam area. Jongno-gu or Jung-gu means the historic downtown on the north side.
Search Tip
You can search any Seoul address—north or south—by road name, building name, or lot number on this service to get the English address and zip code. For road-level browsing, see the How to Use This Site guide.