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 About Korea |
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Known as the Land of the Morning Calm, Korea is a green, mountainous country where ancient tradition and modern technology are working side by side. The national identity respects self-reliance, and also mistrusts foreign influences.
The history of Korea stretches back 5000 years. The more recent history is broken down to the following five periods: Silla (668 - 935), Goryeo (918 - 1392), Joseon (1392 - 1910), Japanese Occupation (1910 - 1945), and Republic of Korea (1945 – present).
For most of the past one thousand years, Korea was an independent kingdom under Chinese control. Japan occupied and formally annexed Korea after its victory in the Russo-Japanese War of 1905. With the defeat of Japan in World War II, a Korean republic was established in the southern half of the peninsula, and a Communist-style government in the north. During the Korean War from 1950-53, US and UN forces intervened to defend South Korea against Chinese-backed North Korean aggression. The armistice signed in 1953 created a north/south political division along a demilitarized zone at about the 38th parallel. Thereafter, South Korea saw tremendous economic growth, with per capita income rising to roughly 14 times that of North Korea. National elections in 1987 brought 26 years of military dictatorships to an end, and today South Korea is a fully functioning democracy. |
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Location |
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South Korea is a peninsula country, separated from mainland China by the West Sea (Yellow Sea) and from the islands of Japan by the East Sea (Sea of Japan). To the south of the peninsula is the Korea Strait. The northern border of the country, roughly at the 38th parallel, is a demilitarized zone that separates South Korea from the Democratic Peoples’ Republic of Korea, or North Korea.
South Korea is hilly and mountainous. The majority of the population and cultivation are on 30 per cent of the country that is a flat plain. Most of the rivers rise in the mountains to the east, and flow west and south to the Yellow Sea. The Naktong River flows into the Korea Strait near the southern port of Busan. |
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Population |
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The population of Korea is approaching 50,000,000, and Koreans are an extremely homogeneous group. The major religion is Mahayana Buddhism with a large Christian minority. Confucianism also plays a large part in the culture, as well as Chundo Kyo, which is specific to Korea and combines elements of Shamanist, Buddhist and Christian doctrines. |
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Language |
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Korean is the official language, with English widely taught in middle school and high school. |
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Education |
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Korean culture places the utmost value on education. Over the past decade the educational system has instituted many reforms to provide schooling to all segments of the population, to reduce the student/teacher ratio, and to introduce new curricula in keeping pace with the needs of a changing world.
The system consists of six years of primary school, three years of middle school, and three years of high school. Specific trades are taught at three-year technical or vocational middle schools and high schools. Students who pass a national examination go on to four-year colleges or universities. Others continue to two-year junior colleges, or enter the work force.
There are seven categories of institutions of higher learning: colleges and universities, industrial universities, universities of education, junior colleges, broadcast and correspondence universities, technical colleges, and other institutions. Eighty percent of institutions of higher learning are private, but they are supervised by the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development. These ministries make policy with regard to student quotas, qualifications of teaching staff, curricula and degree requirements.
Although preschool education is not yet compulsory in Korea, recently its importance has been increasingly recognized. In 1999 a nationwide project was begun to subsidize preschool tuition fees for children from low-income families. |
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Weather |
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South Korea has very cold, yet sunny winters. The summers are not too hot, but quite rainy. The Asiatic monsoon brings winter winds predominantly from the west and north, with the cold, dry air from north China and Siberia. The summer winds, mainly from the east and south, bring the warm, moist air from the Pacific Ocean.
From day to day in South Korea, the weather is somewhat variable. Once a year, between June and September, a typhoon can be expected to travel up from the South China Sea bringing very heavy rain and strong winds. |
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Money and Cost of Living |
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The cost of living in Korea is comparatively low. Subways, taxis and buses are very cheap, even on the Seoul subway, which is one of the most modern and largest underground subway systems in the world.
Banking hours in Korea are Mon-Fri 0930-1630, and Sat 0930-1330.
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Currency |
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South Korea's monetary unit is the won. It is issued in 1,000, 5,000 and 10,000 notes, and 10, 50, 100, and 500 coins. |
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Health |
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Vaccinations are not required to enter South Korea, but it is recommended to keep rabies, tetanus/diptheria, and hepatitis A immunizations up-to-date. If you expect to live or spend time in rural areas, a vaccination for Japanese encephalitis is also recommended. Additionally, if you plan to travel around Asia, it would be prudent to get cholera and yellow fever inoculations.
Korean-made drugs are generally safe and inexpensive, even when purchased without insurance. Korean physicians often prescribe injections or a series of injections for conditions as minor as a cold or rash. Some treatments require daily visits to a clinic for a shot and medicine for periods of up to a week or more.
English is spoken at some hospitals in South Korea, especially in international clinics and hospitals in larger cities. Some physicians and hospitals will not accept overseas health insurance, and require payment upon treatment. If you or your employer pay Korean taxes, you are entitled to health insurance through your employer. The American embassy keeps lists of insurance providers for Americans living in Korea, and for English-speaking medical and dental professionals.
Piped-in water in South Korea is usually chlorinated and relatively safe, but may cause mild stomach upsets. Bottled water is available and advisable for the first few weeks of stay, as is powdered or canned milk. It needs to be reconstituted with pure water. Dairy products which are likely to have been made from unboiled milk should be avoided. Eat only well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot, cooked vegetables, and fruit that has been peeled. |
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Weights and Measures |
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South Korea uses the metric system, with units in grams and kilograms, milliliters and liters. |
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Electricity |
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Korea uses 220V, 60Hz electricity with C and F plugs. C plugs, which can also be used with E and F and some L receptacles, are very common in most universal adaptor sets. F plugs, also known as "Schukostecker" or "Schuko." plugs, will accept C and E plugs. |
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