Singles looking for a significant other can increase their chances by choosing different locations, with different areas throughout Seoul showing a wide range of gender ratios, according to census data released Wednesday.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, more men resided in areas north of the Han River, including Yongsan-gu, Jongno-gu and Jung-gu, which had the highest ratio of men to women.

Oppositely, women favored areas in southern Seoul, including Seocho-gu, Songpa-gu and Gangnam-gu, with a few exceptions.

According to the census, Shinchon-dong, home to Ewha Womans University, had over 120 women per 100 men, the highest ratio in Seoul. The data suggests the area, close to four top universities, houses a large population of students living in “gosiwon” ― cheap one-room accommodations for those preparing for civil service examinations ― especially women.

In the south, the exception was Daehak-dong, located just outside the gates of Seoul National University, which houses a ratio of over 148 men for every 100 women, according to the data.

The 11 districts south of the Han River accounted for 51 percent of the capital’s population of over 10 million.

According to the 2010 census, the capital saw a population increase of a little over one percent from the previous year, while the foreign population increased by 2.8 percent.

By Robert Lee (robert@heraldcorp.com)