Geography
The Korean Peninsula extends southward from the northeastern part of the Asian continent between 33 and 43 North Latitude and 124 and 132 East Longitude. The standard meridian of the peninsula is 135, nine hours ahead of GMT. The Amnokgang and Dumangang Rivers border both China and Russia to the north, and Japan is just across the East Sea. Since 1945, as a by-product of the Cold War, the peninsula has been divided at 38 North Latitude into the capitalist Republic of Korea, or South Korea, and the communist Democratic People's Republic of Korea, more commonly known as North Korea.

The total area of the peninsula is 221,607 km², similar in size to that of U.K, New Zealand, or Romania. South Korea possesses 99,237 km² or 45% of the total land mass, and North Korea 122,370 km², the remaining 55%. About 70% of the land is mountainous, mainly to the north and east. Along the southern and western coasts the mountains descend gradually towards broad coastal plains. Most of the rivers have their tributaries on the north and east sides, and flow into the Yellow and South Seas. Concentrated for the most part off the southern coast are upwards of 3,000 islands of various sizes that provide scenery unparalleled in the world.

History
Communist North Korean forces invaded South Korea in 1950. US, and other UN forces, intervened to defend the South, and Chinese forces intervened on behalf of the North. After a bitter three-year war, an armistice was signed in 1953, establishing a military demarcation line near the 38th parallel. Thereafter, South Korea achieved amazing economic growth, with per capita output rising to 13 times the level in the North. Since late 1997, however, the nation has suffered widespread financial and organizational difficulties. Continuing tensions between North and South have raised concerns of provocative military actions by the North.

Traveling in Korea is enjoyable all year-round. In spring (late March to May), the mountains and fields are abloom with cherry blossoms, forsythia, azaleas, magnolias and lilacs. In summer (June to early September), thick forests, bright green fields and the cobalt blue sea draw people outdoors for the summer holidays. In autumn (September to November), cool days and clear skies make the fall season the most pleasant time of the year. Blazing autumn foliage cover the mountains in brilliant shades of red and yellow. In winter (December to mid-March), snow and ski festivals make winter a delightful season in Korea.

People
Koreans, like many other Asian peoples, are descendants of Mongolian Tungus stock. They differ from the neighboring Japanese and Chinese, however, in that Koreans are a homogeneous ethnic group with their own language, culture, and customs. Korean people are characterized by their generosity, warmth, and kindness, and are renowned as one of the hardest working people in the world.

Capital
South Korea's capital city is Seoul, which is the political, cultural, commercial, financial, and educational center of Korea. Korea consists of 7 metropolitan cities and 9 provinces.

Culture
Korean culture is rich with over 400 festivals throughout the year. Cultural festivals and events like the Ich'on Ceramic Festivals, and the Chindo Yongdung Festival, which is also known as the sea-separating festival, have made Korea a tourist attraction. Among the cultural assets which have been designated by UNESCO on a World Cultural Heritage List are the Chongmyo Shrine, Ch'angdokkung palace in Seoul, the Hwasong Fortress in Suwon, the Tripitaka Koreana woodblocks and ChanggCyong P'anjon depositories at Haeinsa temple, and Pulguksa temple and Sokkuram Grotto in Kyongju.

Useful Tips
Greeting and saying "thank you" are very important to Koreans. Words of greeting and thanks are always said with a bow of the head. The depth of the bow depends on the relative seniority of the two speakers.

Upon first introduction, Koreans do not appreciate overly outgoing styles and generally limit their physical contact to a courteous handshake. However, as one gets to know Koreans better, a greater familiarity becomes possible. In fact, foreigners are often quite surprised to see men, especially young men, walking in the street with their arms around each other's shoulders and women walking hand in hand. Touching close friends while talking to them is perfectly acceptable in Korea. Public displays of affection between the sexes, however, such as hugging and kissing, are regarded as unseemly.

Traditions
Koreans traditionally sit, eat and sleep on the floor, so shoes are always removed when entering a Korean home. Bare feet can be offensive to the elderly, so it is best to wear socks or stockings when visiting families. There is no such thing as "going Dutch" among Koreans; the visitor should be prepared to be either host or guest. There are many public restrooms in Korea. It is also perfectly acceptable to use the restrooms in office buildings, hotels, shops, and restaurants. Sometimes only Asian-style restrooms are available, but often Western-style restrooms are also provided. It is impolite to talk excessively during a meal. True appreciation of the food and service is gratefully received. It is impolite to blow your nose when anyone present is eating.

Regions
Mountain ranges have traditionally served as natural boundary markers between regions. Because these natural boundaries inhibited frequent interactions between peoples living on either side of the range, subtle, and sometimes substantial, regional differences developed in both the spoken language and customs of the people. These regional distinctions also correspond to the traditional administrative units devised during the Choson Dynasty (1392 - 1910).

The Korean Peninsula is divided into three distinct regions; Central, South and North. These macro regions are divided into three separate geographical spheres, each of which comprises its own economic, cultural and physical distinctiveness. These include, in the Central region, the capital region of the Seoul metropolitan area, Ch'ungch'ong-do and Kangwon-do provinces; in the South, Kyongsang-do, Cholla-do and Cheju-do provinces; and in the North, P'yong-an-do, Hamgyong-do and Hwanghae-do provinces. The term "northern area" traditionally referred to those regions of P'yong-an-do and Hamgyong-do provinces prior to the division of the peninsula in 1945. The "North" now refers to all the areas north of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). In addition to P'yong-an-do and Hamgyong-do provinces, the North also includes Hwanghae-do and the northern parts of Kyonggi-do and Kangwon-do provinces.

Korea's territory coincides with the Korean Peninsula. Between the peninsula and Manchuria flow, in opposite directions, the two largest rivers of the region, the Amnokkang (Yalu) and Tuman-gang (Tumen) both originating at Mt. Paektusan (2,744 meters), the highest mountain throughout Korea and Manchuria. The other three sides of the peninsula are surrounded by the Yellow Sea, the East Sea and the South Sea, respectively.

What You'll Find
Nearly 70 percent of the Korean Peninsula is covered by mountains and hills. Located mostly in the southern and the western regions, these hills give way to increasingly higher mountains toward the eastern and the northern end. On the whole, the western and southern slopes of the peninsula are wide with some plains and basins along rivers, while the eastern slope is very narrow because the high mountains hug the East Sea coastline.

East
Korea has a long coastline compared to its land area, and coasts are divided into the east, west and south coasts. The east coast has small tidal ranges, a third of one meter at the most, and a relatively smooth shoreline with few islands offshore; the T'aebaeksan range runs closely along the East Sea. Where mountains protrude from the T'aebaeksan range, coasts are rocky in general, but some beaches are found in places into which small streams carry sediment from the high mountains. In many instances, the beaches take the form of sand spits and bars enclosing lagoons, which are notable features of the east coast. Along the coast between Wonsan and Kangnung are located a series of lagoons; Kyongp'o and Hwajinp'o are famous resorts of the east coast. Since the highway connecting Kangnung and Seoul has been built in 1970s, the east coast has been attracting tourists throughout the year, especially during the summer season.

West
The shorelines of the south and west coasts are very irregular with innumerable small peninsulas and bays as well as a large of number of islands. The west coast facing the Yellow Sea, which is very shallow, has large tidal ranges, above 10 meters in places. Because of this, harbors have been developed with difficulty. Tidal flats are common coastal features, especially in bays into which rivers discharge sediment during floods. Tidal flats have been reclaimed from ancient times mainly for rice fields. Since 1970s, the reclamation of tidal flats has reached huge proportions.

South
The south coast shows a typical shoreline, a coastal zone which has been submerged. The length of coastline is nearly eight times longer than its straight-line distance, and its indentation is far greater than that of the west coast. The tidal ranges are relatively small-two to five meters-and tidal flats are not as wide as the west coast. Although mountains face the sea, there are few beaches and sea cliffs along the mainland coast, because innumerable islands prevent the penetration of waves from offshore. Narrow straits between the mainland and islands are associated with extremely rapid tidal currents. At Ultolmok, toward the western end of the south coast, tidal current reaches up to 13 knots.

Location: Eastern Asia, southern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea

Area-comparative: slightly larger than Indiana

Coastline: 2,413 km

Climate: temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter

Terrain: mostly hills and mountains; wide coastal plains in west and south

Natural resources: coal, tungsten, graphite, molybdenum, lead, hydropower

Population: 46,884,800 (July 1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Korean(s)
adjective: Korean

Ethnic groups: homogeneous (except for about 20,000 Chinese)

Religions: Christianity 49%, Buddhism 47%, Confucianism 3%, pervasive folk religion (shamanism), Chondogyo (Religion of the Heavenly Way), and other 1%

Languages: Korean, English widely taught in junior high and high school

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Korea
conventional short form: South Korea
local long form: Taehan-min'guk

Government type: republic

Capital: Seoul

National Holiday: Liberation Day, 15 August (1945)

Constitution: 25 February 1988

Legal system: combines elements of continental European civil law systems, Anglo-American law, and Chinese classical thought

Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador YI Hong-ku
chancery: 2450 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 939-5600
FAX: [1] (202) 387-0205
consulate(s) general: Agana (Guam), Anchorage, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen W. BOSWORTH
embassy: 82 Sejong-Ro, Chongro-ku, Seoul
mailing address: American Embassy, Unit 15550, APO AP 96205-0001
telephone: [82] (2) 397-4114
FAX: [82] (2) 738-8845

Flag description: white with a red (top) and blue yin-yang symbol in the center; there is a different black trigram from the ancient I Ching (Book of Changes) in each corner of the white field

Economy—overview: As one of the Four Dragons of East Asia, South Korea has achieved an incredible record of growth. Three decades ago its GDP per capita was comparable with levels in the poorer countries of Africa and Asia. Today its GDP per capita is seven times India's, 13 times North Korea's, and already near the lesser economies of the European Union. This success through the late 1980s was achieved by a system of close government business ties, including directed credit, import restrictions, sponsorship of specific industries, and a strong labor effort. The government promoted the import of raw materials and technology at the expense of consumer goods and encouraged savings and investment over consumption. The Asian financial crisis of 1997-98 exposed certain longstanding weaknesses in South Korea's development model, including high debt/equity ratios, massive foreign borrowing, and an undisciplined financial sector. By the end of 1998 it had recovered financial stability, rebuilding foreign exchange reserves to record levels by running a current account surplus of $40 billion. As of December 1998, the first tentative signs of a rebound in the economy emerged, and most forecasters expect GDP growth to turn positive at least in the second half of 1999. Seoul has also made a positive start on a program to get the country's largest business groups to swap subsidiaries to promote specialization, and the administration has directed many of the mid-sized conglomerates into debt-workout programs with creditor banks. Challenges for the future include cutting redundant staff, which reaches 20%-30% at most firms and maintaining the impetus for structural reform.

Labor force—by occupation: services and other 52%, mining and manufacturing 27%, agriculture, fishing, forestry 21% (1991)

Unemployment rate: 7.9% (1998)

Industries: electronics, automobile production, chemicals, shipbuilding, steel, textiles, clothing, footwear, food processing

Exports—commodities: electronic and electrical equipment, machinery, steel, automobiles, ships; textiles, clothing, footwear; fish

Imports—commodities: machinery, electronics and electronic equipment, oil, steel, transport equipment, textiles, organic chemicals, grains

Currency: 1 South Korean won (W) = 100 chun (theoretical)

Telephone system: excellent domestic and international services
domestic: NA
international: fiber-optic submarine cable to China; satellite earth stations-3 Intelsat (2 Pacific Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Inmarsat (Pacific Ocean region)

Railways:
total: 6,240 km
Standard gauge: 6,240 km 1.435-m gauge (525 km electrified) (1998 est.)

Highways:
total: 63,500 km
paved: 46,800 km (including 1,720 km of expressways)
unpaved: 16,700 km (1998 est.)

Waterways: 1,609 km; use restricted to small native craft

Ports and harbors: Chinhae, Inch'on, Kunsan, Masan, Mokp'o, P'ohang, Pusan, Tonghae-hang, Ulsan, Yosu

Airports: 103 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, National Maritime Police (Coast Guard)