Korea - Tourism and Travel

The Republic of Korea, or South Korea, is located in east Asia. It consists of the southern part of the Korean Peninsula as well as many islands in the Yellow Sea, off the peninsula's southern and western coasts.

South Korea has an area of 38,330 square miles (99,274 square kilometers).

The landscape is mountainous.

The T'aebaek Sanmaek mountain range runs through South and North Korea, along the eastern coast of the Korean peninsula.

South Korea has coastal plains in the west.

The Naktong-gang river basin is in the southeast and the Han-gang river basin is in the northwest.

South Korea has a continental climate.

Winters are dry and cold, and summers are wet and hot.

Seoul, the capital of South Korea, is the third largest urban area in the world, after Tokyo and Mexico City.

48,333,000 people live in South Korea. Most of them live along the western coastal plains or in the river basins.

Almost all of the people are of Korean ethnicity.

Korean is the official language.

47% of the people are Mahayana Buddhist, 38% are Protestant, 11% are Roman Catholic and 3% are Confucianist.

Because the land is so mountainous, South Korea does not have much cultivable land.

However, intensive farming practices have enabled South Korea to become almost self-sufficient in food.

Rice is a staple food.

South Korea has a market economy that is led by the state. The economy has grown tremendously in recent years.

The export of manufactured goods has contributed a great deal to South Korea's economy.

Important manufactured products include cars, ships, toys, electrical and electronic goods, chemicals, steel, food products, clothing, textiles and footwear.

Silk and fish are also important exports. South Korea is one of the leading ocean fishing countries on Earth.

South Korea has reserves of coal and tungsten.

Economic aid that was provided by the United States after the Korean War of the early 1950s provided a great boost to the South Korean economy.

The official currency of South Korea is the South Korean won, which is equal to 100 con.

South Korea has a presidential system of government.