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 General Information > Summery of Korea |
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 Geography |
The area of the Korean Peninsula is 221,487 §´ or about 86,500 square miles. It is located between 124 ° 11'E and 135 ° 53'E and between 33 ° 06'N and 43 ° 01'N. It is approximately 1,000 km (600 miles) long and 216 km (135 miles) wide at its narrowest point. Geographically the Peninsula belongs to the eastern part of the Asian Continent and is surrounded by the East Sea and the Yellow Sea. The Duman River which runs into the East Sea, forms a natural northeastern boundary between Korea, China and Russia. The Straits of Daehan in the South Sea separates the southern-most part of Korea and the Japanese Islands.
At present, Korea is divided into two parts: The Republic of Korea(South Korea) and The Democratic People's Republic of Korea(North Korea). The governing area of the Republic of Korea is 99,117 §´ or about 45% of the Korean Peninsula. South Korea has about the same area as Portugal. Due to the uplift of eastern section of the Korean Peninsula, 67% of the Korea's territory is geomorphologically characterized by abundant hills and mountains. |
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| Climate |
The nature of Korea's climate is defined by its mid-latitudinal location and peninsular configuration, as well as its geographical situation in the Asian Continent. The climate of Korea is influenced by the continent rather than by the ocean.
Korea has a humid East Asian monsoonal climate. The annual range of temperature between the coldest and hottest months in Seoul is approximately 28.3 ¡É . There is a greater deviation in temperature in the northern part and in the interior of South Korea, than in the south and along the coasts. Spring and Fall, with their pleasant temperatures of 10-20 ¡É (50-68 ¢µ ) are the most ideal seasons to visit Korea.
In the spring, an abundant amount of flowers and vegetation can be found throughout the country. In the Fall, vivid autumn colors of red and gold highlight the cities and the surrounding countryside. The cold winter lasts from November to February, during which cold days usually alternate with warmer ones. Therefore, visitors to Korea will usually find that the winter weather won't be a hindrance to the normal activities. Average annual precipitation in Korea varies from 500 mm to 1,500 mm. About 70% of the annual precipitation occurs during June through September. |
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| People and Culture |
A. People
The Korean people are descendants of several Mongol tribal groups who migrated from ancient Siberia and Manchuria at about 4,000 B.C. They are known for their strong sense of independence, determination and perseverance. These characteristics have fueled the nation's rapid modernization. Although Koreans share similar physical characteristics with other Asians nationalities, Koreans remain independent and distinct in their culture, language, dress and cuisine.
B. Culture
The early cultural influence of other Asian nations on Korea can be seen in the comb-pattern pottery of neolithic age and in the lute-shaped dagger, twin knobbed mirrors and geometric patterns of the bronze age. From the time the Korean people developed an agricultural society related to the cultivation of rice, their culture gradually became strongly identified with Chinese culture which has had an influence on the early growth and development of Korea.
Buddhism has flourished in Korea for a long time, particularly from the 5th to 14th century. Since the 14th century, Confucian principles have had deep influences on the ideas and the values of the Korean people.
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