| - Population: 48.2 million (UN, 2005) | | | | KOREAN (Han-guk) is also the official language of the |
| - Capital: Seoul | | | | region, similar to the Korean spoken in the north, with |
| - Area: 99,313 sq km (38,345 sq miles) | | | | dialect variations so subtle that the language is mutually |
| - Major language: Korean | | | | intelligible. South Korea is also one of the most |
| - Major religions: Buddhism, Christianity | | | | linguistically homogenous countries in the world with |
| - Life expectancy: 73 years (men), 80 years (women) | | | | over 48 million speakers. Code-mixing or foreign terms |
| (UN) | | | | sandwiched in Korean sentences are widely prevalent |
| - Monetary unit: won | | | | and use of the Hanja or Chinese writing characters is |
| This southern half of the Korean peninsula is the | | | | occasional. South Korea's writing system is also similar |
| world's window to Korea having maintained affable | | | | to the North's and is termed as Hangul. JAPANESE is |
| diplomatic relations with 170 countries in the world. | | | | also widely used in the region. |
| South Korea has been building up a tourism profile that | | | | ENGLISH is the proposed second language taught |
| is gradually but outstandingly gaining international fame | | | | from preschool to university-level education, but South |
| with the slogan "Sparkling Korea". A truly dazzling | | | | Korea still feels a need to strengthen English skills |
| culture, the new "Korea Wave" that flooded Asia is | | | | through education and other English programs to |
| now opening itself to a bigger international audience | | | | improve national competitiveness. |
| sharing with the world its trendy and chic pop film and | | | | RELIGION |
| music cultures and cutting edge technology. With a | | | | South Korea practices multi-religiosity but 50% of the |
| high-tech industrialized economy, South Korea is the | | | | population are undefined religiously, making it an atheist |
| home of top electronic and automobile brands like | | | | state as the North. Christianity is the most dominant |
| Samsung, LG, Hyundai and Kia earning its spot as the | | | | religion with 49% of the aforementioned half practicing |
| 12th largest economy in the world. | | | | it, while Buddhism falls at a not-so-distant 2nd with |
| GEOGRAPHY | | | | 47%. Other minor religions are Shamanism, |
| South Korea lies at 37 00 127 30 E with a total area | | | | Confucianism, and the traditional Chondogyo (Heavenly |
| of 100,032.00 km2 (38,622.57 mi2). The greater part of | | | | Way). |
| South Korea's topography is mountainous, with an | | | | ATTRACTIONS |
| ecologically sound 65% of the land area still comprised | | | | The tourism industry of South Korea holds so much to |
| of forests and woodlands thanks to its afforestation | | | | boast with 8 UNESCO Cultural Heritage Sites, 20 |
| programs. Only a meagre 30% are arable lowlands. | | | | national parks, eco-parks such as the Bosong Tea |
| The highest point of the region is Halla-san, an extinct | | | | Field and Suncheon Bay Eco Park inSouth Jeolla, |
| volcano in Jeju, at 1,950 metres (6,398 feet), while the | | | | numerous cities of unique interest and feature like |
| Sea of Japan is the lowest point at 0 metres elevation. | | | | bustling Busan or ancient Gyeongju, and natural |
| Seoul is the infamous capital of South Korea. The | | | | wonders and treasures that run countless. The |
| region currently addresses ecological concerns | | | | UNESCO World Heritage Sites lists as: |
| involving air quality and acid rains, as well as | | | | In 1995 |
| deforestation brought about by rampant | | | | 1. Seokguram Grotto |
| industrialization. | | | | 2. Bulguksa Temple |
| CLIMATE | | | | 3. Haeinsa Janggyeong Panjeon4. Jongmyo Shrine |
| The climate in South Korea can be described as either | | | | In 1997 |
| humid continental climate or humid subtropical climate. | | | | 5. Changdeokgung Palace Complex |
| Just as it is the North, South Korea experiences | | | | 6. Suwon Hwaseong Fortess |
| harshly cold winters and hot and humid summers. | | | | In 2000 |
| Summers are madly wet with the whole year's | | | | 7. Gyeongju Historic Areas |
| concentration of rainfall on the months of June through | | | | 8. Gochang, Hwasun, and Ganghwa Dolmen Sites |
| September. The average Seoul temperature in | | | | Amid all this, South Korea sure has a treat for |
| January is -2.5°C, and goes a high 29.5°C in August. | | | | backpackers with its fascinating countryside on the |
| PEOPLE | | | | road less travelled that is more than certain shy of |
| As of March 19, 2010, the U.S. Census Bureau's | | | | tourist crowds. If there be a mighty suggestion, be the |
| International Data Base (IDB) estimates a population of | | | | first to explore what has not been, because there |
| 48,636,000 in South Korea. South Korea is also | | | | definitely is something to uncover. Of course, the |
| regarded as an ethnically homogenous population | | | | Ecorium Project by the National Ecological Institute is |
| where 99.9% are Koreans and the rest are a small | | | | no secret, but is a MUST LOOK OUT FOR... |
| Chinese minority. | | | | FOOD |
| CULTURE | | | | The full delight of a typical South Korean meal or |
| The North and South Korea are grounded on the | | | | pekpan can be achieved with rice (a staple), soup, |
| same traditional cultures with heavy Chinese and | | | | meat, vegetables, and a variety of side dishes, of |
| Japanese influences. The differences arose from how | | | | which, you'd surely expect kimchi. The side dishes on |
| they individually developed apart upon its division in | | | | every meal is explained by the simple principle of |
| 1945. South Korea's cultural endeavours are to | | | | "harmony and balance," eating and spicing up as is |
| acknowledge and embrace international influences as | | | | personally required to achieve overall satisfaction. The |
| part of their modern identity, while North Korea, on the | | | | Cholla-do area is famous for a number of dishes, while |
| other hand, aims at undoing them. | | | | the crowd favorite remains to be BULGOGI. |
| LANGUAGE | | | | |