The World's Ten Biggest Metropolitan Areas

2. Seoul, South Korea
Metropolitan area: 23.9 million people
City: 10.3 million people

Seoul has grown rapidly since the Korean War (1950-53). Today, nearly half of the country’s population lives in Seoul and its surrounding area. In recent years, Seoul modernized the city’s transportation system and created more public green spaces.

Urban Detail:
Foreign direct investment in Seoul has dropped about 20 percent since 2000. Many companies dread South Korea’s restrictive regulations on foreign investment, its government monopolies, and strict immigration rules. (Photo: Reuters)