 South Korea or " Republic of Korea" is in the south of the Korean peninsula. It has an area of 99,300 square km, about 500 km north-south, and 250 km width east-west. It is located at the west of the Yellow Sea and southeast of Japan. South Korea 's terrain is mountainous, little plains and long tortuous coastline. South Korea has four distinct seasons and the climate is mild and temperate.
Seoul is South Korea ’s capital. There are 6 Metropolitan Cities (Busan, Taegu, Inchon City, City Light, City Daejeon, and Ulsan City), and 9 Major Roads (Kyonggi, Jiangyuan, Chungbuk, Chungnam South Road, Luo North Road, Jeonnam and Gyeongsang, Gyeongsangnam-do, and Jeju). The t otal length of coastline is 5,259 km and the main ports are in Busan, Incheon, Pohang, Ulsan and Gwangyang, etc..
At present, South Korea's major political parties are Millennium Democratic Party, Grand National Party, the Liberal Democratic Union, and Grand National Party of the Republic of Korea.
Up to now, South Korea and more than 180 countries have established diplomatic relations with the United Nations. It is also a member of 91 international organizations. In 1988, South Korea hosted the Olympic Games, and in 2002 it co-hosted the World Cup together with Japan.
According to the World Bank's "2003 World Development Indicators," South Korea's gross national income (GNI) is 447.6 billion U.S. dollars, and the per capita income is 9,460 U.S. dollars. The statistics are based on the World Bank’s calculation of the average exchange rates for the past three years. Korean gross national income (GNI) in the first implementation of the survey in 1997 ranked 11th in the world. But after the financial crisis of 1998, it dropped to No. 12 and in 1999 it dropped to No. 13 and has maintained its 13 th rank. South Korea 's 1998 per capita income is No. 51 from 1997’s No. 53. However, in the beginning of 1999 it remained in 54. In 2002, the volume of import and export trade is 3,145 billion dollars, ranking first in the world. South Korea implemented government-led export-oriented economic development strategy and the economic take-off began in the 20th century. In 1995, the per capita income of South Korea topped the 100 million dollars. In 1996, South Korea joined the known "club of developed countries," and the economic cooperation and development (OECD).
By the end of 1997, South Korea’s economic level was down because of the outbreak of the financial crisis but through the assistance of the International Monetary Fund, the Korean economy has achieved a recovery. South Korea 's pillar industries include semiconductors, automobiles, shipbuilding, steel, electronics, construction, petrochemicals, information and communications, and textiles. Efforts are being made to the development of information and communications, biotechnology and new materials, new energy and other knowledge-based, high value-added industries. South Korea's economy tend to be biased and in favor of large enterprise groups such as the largest four enterprise groups, Hyundai, Samsung, LG and SK Group. Now the Korean government implemented the development of high-tech ventures policy to encourage SMEs.
 As of July 2002, the population of South Korea is 47.64 million, with nearly half of them living in Seoul and its neighboring areas. Agricultural population accounts for 9% of the population. Currently, South Korea has about 23,000 people of Chinese descent and the vast majority live in the capital region.
Korean families’ daily diet includes rice, kimchi and soybean paste soup. South Korea has famous flavored roast beef and chicken soup. Korean kimchi is well known, and it has also many types of Chinese cabbage, radish or cucumber, garlic, ginger, onion, red pepper, pear and shellfish and other seafood. Koreans generally likes to drink especially soju, beer and wine. The common Korean surnames are Lee, Park, Zhang, Cui, Liu, Yin and others. South Korea has its own traditional national costumes, but now they only use them in the wedding ceremony, large-scale activities and other important holidays and traditional celebrations. Koreans are followers of Christianity and Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism and other religions. South Korea gives high degree of attention to education. South Korea 's education system is six years of primary, three years of lower secondary, three-year senior secondary and four years of university education. Two years can also be spent in Colleges and Vocational University. Korea has a total of more than 160 universities.
South Korea 's major tourist attractions include Cheju Island. Playing golf is Koreans favorite sport. Skiing in winter is also popular attracting many foreign tourists. In addition, South Korea also likes baseball, football, basketball and other sports.
South Korea ’s national flower is Mugunghwa (also known as Operation Althea); national tree is the pine tree; national bird is a magpie; and the national animal is the tiger.
1 South Korea's national holidays include January 1 (New Year's Day), March 1 (Independence Movement Day) April 5 (Tree Planting Day), May 5 (Children's Day), the eighth of the fourth month on the lunar calendar in April (Buddha's Birthday), June 6 (zhong), July 17 (Constitutional), August 15 (Retrocession Day), August 15 (Zhongqiu Festival), October 3 (opening day), and December 25 (Christmas Day).
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