Country: Republic of Korea [大韓民國, Korea] Location: The Korean peninsula is located in Northeast Asia Land area: 99,538㎢ (South Korea) Population: 48.422 million (2005) Cities and provinces: 1 special city, 6 metropolitan cities, 9 Provinces National flag: Taegeukgi National flower: Mugunghwa, Rose of Sharon National anthem: : Aegukga, which means "Love the Country" Politics: democratic republic, presidential government Climate: continental monsoon climate Capital: Seoul Language: Korean Religion: Protestantism, Catholicism, Buddhism, etc. Currency: Won(\) – 1,000 won per 1 US dollar as of April, 2008 Country code: +82 Standard voltage: 220V Time difference: GMT+9 Politics   As the only divided country in the world, the Republic of Korea was established in1948 after 35 years of Japanese occupation. At the end of World War 2, the southern half of Korea was occupied by the U.S. and the other half by the Soviet Union. The Korean War broke out on June 25, 1950 and a peace agreement was signed in 1953. Korea has been divided in half ever since, and the two Koreas are technically still at war. Weather   Korea’s climate is regarded as a continental climate with four distinct seasons. Korea is located downwind of the Prevailing Westerlies from China. Spring (March to May) and summer (June to August) months are ideal for outdoor activities. Summer months are humid and hot with monsoon rains. Korea is affected by typhoons in late summer and early autumn (September to November). Winter months (December to February) are dry and cold due to the influx of cold Siberian air. Traffic   Seoul’s subway network is evaluated to be the 3rd largest in the world, and is continuing to expand. The city experiences severe traffic congestion during commuting hours. Korea has an advanced public transportation system with 8 subway lines in Seoul, wide-area electric railways, and a convenient bus system. It is better to use the subway during rush hours. Express bus and Korea Train Express are also available when traveling to other regions. Society   Koreans are proud to be single raced nations and can be unfriendly at times but travelers need not worry for they are basically friendly to foreigners. As with other economically developed nations, Korea too is experiencing various problems related to immigrant workers. Speed of change is very fast in Korean society but traditional Confucianism is still strong. Economy   Korea’s economy is the 13th largest in the world with GDP of 957 billion dollars as of 2007. Agriculture takes up 3.2% of GDP, secondary industry 40%, and services 57.2%. Etiquette   In Seoul, Koreans usually do not make eye contact with strangers on the street. There can be many Koreans who pass by without apologizing after bumping into a person on the street, but they gladly offer help when someone asks for directions and when someone is lost. All Koreans will be nice and kind when asking them with couple of Korean words. New Year’s Day (January 1 of the Lunar calendar)   Lunar New Year’s Day is one of the two most important traditional events in Korea. Koreans traditionally eat ttokguk, steamed rice-cake soup, to mature one year. Also, they make symbolic offerings of food to their ancestors or visit ancestral tombs. Jeongwol daeboreum (the first full moon of the Lunar New Year) (January 15 of the Lunar calendar)   In the morning of the first full moon day, Koreans crack hard-shelled nuts, or “bureom”, eat “obkopbap”, a bowl of rice mixed with red beans, nine kinds of fried vegetables, and a liquor called “gwibalguisul”. Such traditions are meant to improve health conditions after the winter. Independence Movement Day (March 1)   This day commemorates the Declaration of Independence proclaimed on March 1, 1919, while under Japanese colonial rule. Liberation Day (August 15)   This day celebrates liberation of Korea and the establishment of the Korean government. Chuseok (August 15 of the Lunar calendar)   Chuseok is referred to as Korean Thanksgiving. As on New Year’s Day, Koreans make symbolic offerings of food to their ancestors using freshly harvested fruits and crops. On this day, people eat songpyeon, a half-moon shaped rice cake. It’s a celebration of the harvest and the weather is usually good.