Wikipedia for Schools is also available in Spanish, French and Portuguese.

Download the complete archives here.

Privacy Policy Cookie Policy Terms and Conditions

Village background from Seoul, South Korea — SOS Children in South Korea — SOS Children

Village background from Seoul, South Korea

SOS Social Centre Seoul South KoreaSOS Children's Village Seoul

SOS Children's Village Seoul was built in 1980 and is located on the western edge of the capital. Seoul is the country's largest city; it has over 10 million inhabitants. Like many other big cities, Seoul has to face a lot of social problems. High unemployment rates and poverty have negative impacts on families, increasing the number of social orphans. Abandoned and orphaned children find a new home at SOS Children's Village Seoul.

The SOS Children's Village consists of 15 family houses, a community house, an administrative building, the Village Director's house, the aunts' (family helpers') house and a communal bath, which is typical of Korea.

Other SOS Projects in Seoul

All the children from SOS Children's Village Seoul attend schools in the neighbourhood. In 1988, an SOS Youth Village for 30 boys has opened in Seoul. Teenagers usually move to the SOS Youth Home while they are still doing their vocational training or continuing their schooling. For them, this move represents a first step towards independence.

The SOS Social Centre, which is located on the site of the SOS Children's Village, was opened in 1982 and offers programmes of further education, lectures and other activities. It includes a day-care centre for children of working mothers. The children receive a meal every day. The SOS Social Centre has contributed a lot towards the acceptance of the SOS Children's Village by the local population.

Background to Seoul

Seoul  is the capital and largest city of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 12 million, it is one of the largest cities in the world. The Seoul National Capital Area, which includes the Incheon metropolis and most of Gyeonggi province, has 24.5 million inhabitants,  and is the world's second largest metropolitan area.

Almost half of South Korea's population live in the Seoul National Capital Area, and nearly a quarter in Seoul itself, making it the country's foremost economic, political, and cultural centre.