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| Republic
of Korea |
Location |
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Korean Peninsula extends
southward from the
northeast part of
the Asian continent
between 33 degrees
and 43 degrees North
Latitude and 124 degrees
and 132 degrees East
Longitude. The standard
meridian of the peninsula
is 135 degrees, 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 result
of the Cold War tension,
the peninsula has
been divided |
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at 38 degrees North Latitude
into the Republic of Korea,
or South Korea, and the
Democratic People's Republic
of Korea, more commonly
known as North Korea |
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Area
and Topography
The total area of the peninsula
is 221,135 km2, which is similar
in size to that of the U.K, New
Zealand, or Romania. South Korea
possesses 99,373 km2 or 45% of
the total land mass, and North
Korea 122,762 km2, the remaining
55%. About 70% of the land is
mountainous, mainly to concentrated
within 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. Clustered for
the most part on the southern
coast, islands are upwards of
3,000 various sizes that provide
a scenery unparalleled in the
world.
People
and Population
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. Population
:
South Korea - 46.8 million (1999)
(North Korea - 23.8 million)
(1997)
Annual growth rate : 10.7% (1999)
Urbanization rate : 86.2% (2000)
Average family size : 3.3 persons
(1995)
Number of foreign residents
: 168,950 (1999)
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The
Korean flag
is called Taegeukgi.
Its design symbolizes
the principles
of yin and yang
in Oriental
philosophy,
as the circle
in the center
of the flag
is divided into
two equal parts.
The upper red
section represents
the positive
cosmic forces
of yang. |
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Conversely,
the lower blue section
represents the negative
cosmic forces of yin.
The two forces together
embody the concepts
of continual movement
and balance and harmony
that characterize
the sphere of infinity.
The circle is surrounded
by four trigrams in
each corner. Each
trigram symbolizes
one of the four universal
elements : heaven( ),
earth( ),
fire( ),
and water( ).
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The
national flower
of Korea is
the mugunghwa
or Rose of Sharon.
Every year from
June to October
a profusion
of mugunghwa
blossoms graces
the entire country.
Unlike most
flowers, mugunghwa
is remarkably
tenacious and
is able to withstand
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and insects. The flower's
symbolic significance
stems from mugunghwa's
root word, "
mugung, " meaning
immortality. This
word accurately reflects
the perseverance and
determination of the
Korean people that
has been demonstrated
throughout their long
history. |
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| Capital
and Major Cities |
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The
capital city is Seoul,
which is the political,
cultural, commercial,
financial, and educational
center of Korea. Seoul
also offers many tourist
attractions.
(Populations : 10.3
million as of 1998)
Korea consists
of 7 metropolitan
cities and 9 provinces.
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(as of '98.12) |
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City
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Population
(1000)
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Seoul city |
10,321
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Busan city |
3,843
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Daegu city |
2,504
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Incheon city |
2,498
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Gwangju city |
1,342
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Daejeon city |
1,346
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Ulsan city |
1,018
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Gyeonggi-do |
8,712
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Gangwon-do |
1,555
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Chungcheong-do (N and S)
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3,409
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Jeolla-do (N and S) |
4,187
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Gyeongsang-do (N and S)
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5,901
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Jeju-do |
535
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