Seoul was South Korea's capital when the Korean War began in June 1950. Located near the 38th parallel and on the Han River, the city was the political and economic center of the newly established Republic of Korea.
North Korean forces attacked on June 25, 1950, and captured Seoul only a few days later. South Korean defenders and civilians withdrew southward, while the Han River became an important defensive barrier. United Nations forces recaptured the capital during the September 1950 Inchon counteroffensive, but the city changed hands again during the war.
Seoul's wartime history can cause confusion because South Korea's government temporarily operated from other cities, especially Busan, during the North Korean advance. Busan served as the provisional capital and anchor of the Pusan Perimeter, but it was not the country's capital when the invasion began. Daejeon also served temporarily as a government center during the retreat.