South Korea (Republic of Korea) is the world's 15th largest economy and an important Asian country, culturally, politically and not least economically

The Korean Peninsula extends southward from the northeastern part of the Asian continent, between 33º-43º N, 124º-132º E, and covers approx 220,000 sq km, including some 3,500 islands. The peninsula lies between the East Sea (or Sea of Japan) and the Yellow Sea.

The Amnok (Yalu) and Duman (Tumen) Rivers border both China and Russia to the north, and Japan is just across the East Sea (or Sea of Japan) and the Korea Strait.

Since 1945, as a result of World War II and the Korean War 1950-1953, the peninsula has been divided between the Republic of Korea, or South Korea, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, or North Korea.

South Korea covers 99,400 sq km and North Korea 122,800 sq km. By comparison, the landmass of the island of Ireland is approximately 84,000 sq km of which 73,000 sq km is in the Republic.

About 70% of the land is mountainous. Lowlands, located primarily in the west and southeast, constitute 30% of the land area. South Korea can be divided into four general regions: an eastern region of high mountain ranges and narrow coastal plains; a western region of broad coastal plains, river basins, and rolling hills; a southwestern region of mountains and valleys; and a southeastern region dominated by the broad basin of the Nakdong River. The coasts of South Korea are extraordinarily beautiful, sprinkled with rocky islands.

The largest island, Jejudo, is located 100 km off the southern coast of South Korea. This volcanic island, with the extinct Hallasan volcano in the centre, has a subtropical climate, warmer than the rest of Korea. The climate in South Korea is temperate with a short rainy season (jangma) during the summer. Winters are cool and summers are warm (22-29º C in Seoul in July).

Koreans, like other North East Asian peoples, are of Mongolian lineage. Koreans differ from the neighboring Japanese and Chinese, however, and Koreans are a very homogeneous ethnic nation with their very own language and alphabet (hangul), culture and customs. Korean people are characterised by their generosity and kindness, and are renowned as one of the hardest working peoples in the world.

South Korea is arguably the most Confucianist nation, more so than China. The population is evenly distributed between Christians, Buddhists and nonreligious, in addition to indigenous religions.

English is taught in school, but not widely spoken yet outside business and university circles, but Koreans are helpful and foreign visitors will come a long way with sign language. In Seoul and other major cities most official signs (eg in the subway) are bilingual.

South Korea has 48.6 million inhabitants (North Korea has 22.9 million officially, in reality probably less).

You can find information by visiting the official website of Gateway to Korea for all kinds of practical information on the Republic of Korea.