Mapo-gu

Mapo-gu
—  District  —
마포구 · 麻浦區
Seoul World Cup Stadium
Logo
Location of Mapo-gu in Seoul
Country	South Korea
Region	Sudogwon
Special City	Seoul
Administrative dong	24 (16 actual precincts)
Area
– Total	23.87 km2 (9.2 sq mi)
Population (2010[1])
– Total	369,432
– Density	15,476.8/km2 (40,084.8/sq mi)
Time zone	Korea Standard Time (UTC+9)
Website	Mapo-gu official website

Mapo-gu is a gu, or district, within Seoul, South Korea. It lies northwest of the Han River. Several universities and government buildings are located here. Mapo is especially well-known for the Hongdae club district around Hongik University. Seoul Metropolitan Subway Line 1, Line 5, and Line 6 pass through this district. The Seoul World Cup Stadium, a famous landmark in Seoul, is located Sangam town in northwest Mapo. Neighboring districts include Yongsan-gu, Jung-gu, Seodaemun-gu and Eunpyeong-gu.

Mapo District Office

Location

Mapo District Office is located in Seongsan-1 precinct, near World Cup Stadium (15 minutes on foot). Seoul Metropolitan Subway Line 6 passes near the office, and it has a station name "Mapo District Office" 200 m south of the office.

Organization

The district office has 5 Divisions, 24 Departments, 3 Special Assistance Teams. Mapo District Office employs total 1,298 personnels. The entire office is headed by Administrator. Current Administrator is Youngsub Shin (2008).

Administrative divisions

Mapo-gu was formed in 1944 from portions of Seodaemun-gu and Yongsan-gu. The dong structure was revised in 1985 and 2008. Roughly 53% of Mapo-gu's area is taken up by residences, many of which are high-rise apartment buildings. Much of the remaining area (43%) is greenspace, including the World Cup Park and additional parkland along the Han River.^[2]

Mapo-gu recently revamped its precincts (2008). The revision aimed to merge some precincts into one big precincts. This effectively reduces number of administrative office for precincts. As a result, the number of precinct offices decreased to 16 from 24. However, the administrative revamp did not change the address system. For example, let us suppose you live in Changjeon precinct. This precinct is now merged to Sogang precinct. The precinct name in your address is still retained as Changjeon precinct.

These are the regular address precincts:

Ahyeon-dong (아현동; 阿峴洞) Seogang-dong (서강동; 倉前洞) Daeheung-dong (대흥동; 大興洞) Dohwa-dong (도화동; 桃花洞) Gongdeok-1-dong (공덕동; 孔德洞 Hapjeong-dong (합정동; 合井洞) Mangwon-1-dong (망원1동; 望遠1洞)

Mangwon-2-dong (망원2동; 望遠2洞) Sangam-dong (상암동; 上岩洞) Seogyo-dong (서교동; 西橋洞) Seongsan-1-dong (성산1동; 城山1洞) Seongsan-2-dong (성산2동; 城山2洞) Sinsu-dong (신수동; 新水洞) Yeomni-dong (염리동; 鹽里洞) Yeonnam-dong (연남동; 延南洞) Yonggang-dong (용강동; 龍江洞) Donggyo-dong (동교동; 東橋洞)

These are the revamped administrative precincts:

Gongdeok-dong (공덕동; 孔德洞) Ahyeon-dong (아현동; 阿峴洞) Dohwa-dong (도화동; 桃花洞) Daeheung-dong (대흥동; 大興洞) Yonggang-dong (용강동; 龍江洞) Hapjeong-dong (합정동; 合井洞) Seogyo-dong (서교동; 西橋洞) Sogang-dong (서강동; 西江洞)

Sinsu-dong (신수동; 新水洞) Yeomni-dong (염리동; 鹽里洞) Yeonnam-dong (연남동; 延南洞) Mangwon-1-dong (망원1동; 望遠1洞) Mangwon-2-dong (망원2동; 望遠2洞) Seongsan-1-dong (성산1동; 城山1洞) Seongsan-2-dong (성산2동; 城山2洞) Sangam-dong (상암동; 上岩洞)

Origin of the name

The name "Mapo" comes from the name of an old ferry across the Han River, and can roughly be translated as "hemp ferry."

Education

Four college or university institutions, such as Sogang University and Hongik University, are active in Mapo-gu. The area around Hongik University is also well-known as one of the cultural centers of Seoul. There are eight high schools, including Seoul Girls' High School, along with 12 middle schools and 20 elementary schools serving the community. There are three special schools for handicapped or industrial educations. Due to the presence of university students in the district, Mapo-gu offers a large variety of shopping and dining options. The area around Ewha Women's University is known for its affordable yet trendy merchandise, while neighboring Shinchon has an enormous number of take out and sit down restaurants.

Sister cities

• Shijingshan, China

References

1. ^ Korean Statistical Information Service (Korean) > Population and Household > Census Result (2010) > Population by Adminstrative district, Sex and Age / Alien by Adminstrative district and Sex, Retrieved 2010-06-02.
2. ^ (Korean) "구정여건". http://www.mapo.go.kr/. Retrieved 2006-06-21. 

External links

Media related to Mapo-gu, Seoul at Wikimedia Commons

• Mapo-gu government website
• Mapo-gu map