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The Republic of Korea or South Korea is blessed with stunning natural beauty. Mountains cover 70% of Korea's land mass, making it one of the most mountainous regions in the world. The lifting and folding of Korea’s granite and limestone base create a breathtaking landscape of scenic hills and valleys. Korea has the fourth largest economy in Asia and 15th largest in the world. It is a developed country with a high standard of living. One of the most densely populated countries in the world, Korea is also known as the ‘Land of the Morning Calm’.
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History
The Korean Peninsula is located in North-East Asia. It is bordered by the Amnok River (Yalu River) to the northwest, separating Korea from China, and the Duman River (Tumen River) to the northeast which separates Korea from both China and Russia. The country itself is flanked by the Yellow Sea to its west and the East Sea to the east. There are several notable islands that surround the country including Jeju-do, Ulleung-do and Dok-do (Liancourt Rocks).
The Korean peninsula is roughly 1,030 km (612 miles) long and 175 km (105 miles) wide at its narrowest point. The land area is 99,200 sq km (38,301 square miles), and it has a population of 48.6 million people (2008).
Because of its unique geographical location, Korea is a very viable piece of land and an international hub of Asia.
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Weather
Korea has four seasons, with a wet monsoon/summer in the middle of the year, and a cold winter from November to March. The island of Jeju off the southern coast is the warmest and wettest place in the country.
The best time to visit Korea is during the autumn months (September~November). During this time, the country experiences warm, sunny weather, skies that are cobalt blue and spectacular foliage that is perhaps the biggest draw.
Winters are cold and dry and remain a good time if you are interested in winter sports as there are numerous ski resorts.
Spring (April~May) is also beautiful with all the cherry blossoms in bloom. However, it is very busy and one needs to book in advance to ensure accommodation is available.
The summer months are muggy and hot, and rather crowded. It is also when the monsoon begins so many activities are subject to the fluctuations of heavy rain.
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Korea Today
Often referred to as the "Land of the Morning Calm," Korea has a population of 48.60 million (2008) and a total land area of 100,032 KM2 (2008).
As early as the 1960s, when the country's five-year economic development plan was first implemented the Korean economy has relentlessly shown signs of exponential growth. From 1962 to 2005, the country's GNI surged from US$2.3 billion to a staggering US$786.8 billion.
Years of rapid economic development propelled the country into becoming the world's 12th largest trading partner. GDP in 2007 totaled US$969.8 billion, making the country the 14th largest economy.
Since 2004, Korean-made semi-conductors, automobiles, and wireless telecom devices have accounted for over 30% of the country's total trade volume.
Major IT export items include memory chips, mobile phones, LCD monitors, PCs, and satellite broadcasting receivers. Korea’s semi-conductor industry, in particular, has achieved tremendous growth over the past two decades and is the third largest in the world.
The governance system in Korea is based on a system of checks and balances between the executive branch, the legislature, and the judiciary. The president is elected directly for a single five-year-term. South Korea’s 17th president, Lee Myung-Bak, was sworn in to office on February 25, 2008.
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People
Koreans are primarily from one ethnic family and speak one language. Sharing distinct physical characteristics, they are believed to be descendants of several Mongol tribes that migrated onto the Korean Peninsula from Central Asia.
In the seventh century, the various states of the peninsula were unified for the first time under the Silla Kingdom (57 B.C.-A.D. 935). Such homogeneity has enabled Koreans to be relatively free from ethnic problems and to maintain a firm solidarity with one another.
Language
Hangeul is Korea’s official language and was first invented by King Sejong during the mid-15th century. Korea’s Hangeul vocabulary is formed by the selective combination of vowels and consonants to create words.
Because of its unique geographical location, Korea is a very viable piece of land and an international hub of Asia.
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Education
There are about 400 national and private universities in Korea with excellent and highly qualified faculty members having PhD degrees and research experience in Korea or abroad. International students head to Korea for many reasons. Some come to Korea for a short time, just out of curiosity or to study Korean language; others enroll in a regular academic program for an undergraduate, graduate, or a Ph.D. degree. Numerous scholarship programs are available in Korea to help international students finance their studies.
More recently, in particular, the Korean government has offered financial support to international students to cover their tuition and board as well as employment assistance.
Academic programs and the school year start in March in Korea, so make sure that you start the search for the perfect university atleast in the previous calendar year. Information can be obtained through Korea Study Fair or from the websites of the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (www.studyinkorea.go.kr) or directly from individual universities.
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Religion
Buddhism
Buddhism first arrived in Korea in the 2nd year (A.D. 372) of the reign of King Sosurim of the Goguryeo Kingdom. After its introduction, Buddhism exerted a powerful influence in the Baekje Kingdom and Silla Kingdom. Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram Grotto, which are designated as World Cultural Heritage sites by UNESCO, are Buddhist creations from the Silla Kingdom. The nation's invaluable Buddhist heritage can be found in ample detail in buildings, sculptures, paintings and handicrafts.
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Protestantism & Catholicism
Protestantism came to Korea after the signing of the Korean-American Treaty in 1882. Today Korean churches evangelize abroad, and approximately twenty five percent of the Korean population is Christian.
Catholicism first came to Korea as a western scholarly pursuit. In 1784 the first Korean was baptized in Beijing and returned to Korea to set up a house of worship. Despite considerable persecution by the government, numerous people joined the Catholic Church. Presently, over two million people belong to the church.
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Confucianism
Confucianism was a common philosophy in ancient Korea. It has been an indispensable component of the Korean moral system, way of life and national laws.
Confucianism has deeply permeated the consciousness of Korean people and can be seen today in many forms, including two ceremonies that continue today: Jongmyo Jerye, the royal ancestral service at Jongmyo Shrine and Seokjeon Daeje, the worship rites at the Seonggyungwan in honor of Confucius, his disciples, and other celebrated Chinese and Korean Confucian scholars.
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Shamanism
Various shamanistic practices are deeply ensconced in Korean life. Shamanism was similar with folk beliefs from ancient times. It is closely related to the primitive cults which practiced communal rites for the gods of heaven, and which were uninfluenced by Buddhist tradition. One distinguishing characteristic of Korean shamanism is that it seeks to solve human problems through a meeting between humans and the spirits. This can be seen in the various types of shamanistic rites which are still widely practiced even today. |
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