Atlas of Battles

battle, notable, Cold War

Third Battle of Seoul

Third Battle of Seoul was a battle fought on 31 December 1950 at Seoul, in what is now South Korea; it lasted 7 days. It was part of the Korean War, which ran from 1950 to 1953. The recorded result: DPRK/Chinese victory. Recorded strength: 136,525; 12,269; Unknown against ~170,000.

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Prisoners from the British 29th Infantry Brigade captured during the Third Battle of Seoul
Prisoners from the British 29th Infantry Brigade captured during the Third Battle of Seoul. PLA Daily, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fought31 December 1950lasted 7 days
WhereSeoul, South Korea37.569N, 126.977E
OutcomeDPRK/Chinese victory
BelligerentsUnited Nations; United States; United Kingdom; Australia; Thailand; First Republic of KoreaagainstChina; North Korea
Casualties and losses481 casualties; 300 casualties; 9 casualties; UnknownandChina: ~5,800; North Korea: ~2,700
Part ofKorean War1950 to 1953

Where it sits in the Korean War

First Battle of Naktong Bulge, 1950Battle of Chonan, 1950Second Battle of Naktong Bulge, 1950Battle of Wawon, 1950Battle of Taegu, 1950Battle of the Bowling Alley, 1950Battle of Ka-san, 1950Battle of Tabu-dong, 1950Battle of Yongsan, 1950Battle of Uijeongbu, 1950Battle of Chochiwon, 1950Battle of Yongdong, 1950Battle of Sangju, 1950Battle of Nakdong River, 1950First Battle of Seoul, 1950Battle of Chuncheon, 1950Battle of Kaesong–Munsan, 1950Battle of Korea Strait, 1950Battle of Andong, 1950Battle of Chumonchin Chan, 1950Battle of Osan, 1950Battle of Pyongtaek, 1950Battle of Taejon, 1950Hadong Ambush, 1950Battle of the Notch, 1950Battle of Pusan Perimeter, 1950Battle of Pusan Perimeter logistics, 1950Battle of P'ohang-dong, 1950Battle of Masan, 1950Battle of Battle Mountain, 1950Battle of Cheonpyeong Valley, 1950Battle of Kyongju, 1950Battle of Nam River, 1950Battle of Haman, 1950Battle of Inchon, 1950Second Battle of Seoul, 1950Battle of Sariwon, 1950Battle of Pyongyang (1950), 1950Battle of Yongju, 1950Battle of Unsan, 1950Battle of Onjong, 1950Battle of Kujin, 1950Battle of Chongju, 1950Battle of Pakchon, 1950Battle of the Ch'ongch'on River, 1950Battle of Changjin Reservoir, 1950Third Battle of Seoul, 1950First and Second Battles of Wonju, 1950Battle of Hoengsong, 1951Battle of Uijeongbu, 1951Battle of the Twin Tunnels, 1951Battle of Chipyong-ni, 1951Blockade of Wonsan, 1951Operation Thunderbolt, 1951Battle of Maehwa-san, 1951Operation Tomahawk, 1951Battle of Kapyong, 1951Battle of the Imjin River, 1951Battle of Yultong, 1951Battle of the Soyang River, 1951Battle of Bloody Ridge, 1951Battle of the Punchbowl, 1951Battle of Heartbreak Ridge, 1951Naval Battle of the Han River, 1951Battle of Hill 355, 1951First Battle of Maryang-san, 1951Battle of Haktang-ni, 1951Battle of Sunchon, 1951Battle of White Horse, 1952Attack on the Sui-ho Dam, 1952Battle of Hill Eerie, 1952Battle of Old Baldy, 1952Battle of Triangle Hill, 1952Second Battle of the Hook, 1952Battle of Chatkol, 1953Battle for Outpost Vegas, 1953Battle of the Hook, 1953Outpost Harry, 1953Battle of Pork Chop Hill, 1953Battle of Kumsong, 1953Battle of the Samichon River, 195319501953Third Battle of Seoul, 1950
83 placed engagements of the Korean War in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date31 December 1950
to 7 January 1951
PlaceSeoul, South Korea
37.569N, 126.977E
KindBattle, Cold War
Strength136,525; 12,269; Unknown~170,000
Casualties and losses481 casualties; 300 casualties; 9 casualties; UnknownChina: ~5,800; North Korea: ~2,700
Commanders
Third Battle of SeoulThird Battle of SeoulJapanese occupation of GyeongbokgungSiege of HaengjuBattle of UijeongbuBattle of InchonBattle of Imjin RiverSiege of HaengjuBattle of UijeongbuBattle of InchonBattle of Imjin RiverNampoHaejuAndongSokchoOngjinPyongsanCheongjuKaesong100 km37.569N, 126.977E
The recorded site, with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

Nearest engagements

In the same war

Elsewhere in 1950

Third Battle of Seoul is one of 2,997 engagements of the 20th century in the atlas and one of 113 in present-day South Korea.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q493922, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Third Battle of Seoul, revision 1378580714, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.