The Korean peninsula’s location lies adjacent to China, and Japan.
To be exact, the shortest distance between Korean and Chinese coasts is 200 kilometers and from the southeastern tip of the peninsula, it is also 200 kilometers away to the nearest point on the Japanese coast.
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 48.2 million people (2004).
Because of its unique geographical location, this makes Korea very viable piece of land and an international hub of Asia.
Geographical Make-up
 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 creates breathtaking landscapes of scenic hills and valleys. Te mountain range that stretches the length of the east coast falls steeply into the East Sea, while along the southern and western coasts, the mountains descend gradually to the coastal plains that produce the bulk of Korea’s agricultural crops, especially rice.
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National and Provincial Parks and Mountains
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Division of the 38th Parallel
The Korean peninsula is divided just slightly north of the 38th parallel. The democratic Republic of Korea in the south and the communist government of North Korea are separated by a demilitarized zone.
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 South Korea’s Provinces
Administratively, the Republic of Korea consists of nine provinces; the capital Seoul; and the six metropolitan cities of Busan, Daegu, Incheon, Gwangju, Daejeon and Ulsan. In total, there are 77 cities and 88 counties.
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Destinations by Region |
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Geographic position - Between 33˚ and 43˚ north latitude, and 124˚ and 131˚ east longitude (including North Korea) |
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Highest mountains in S. Korea - Hallasan on Jeju Island, 1,950 meters (6400 ft); Jirisan, 1,915 meters (6,283 ft); and Seoraksan, 1,708 meters (5,604 ft) |
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Rivers - Nakdonggang, 522 km (324 miles); Hangang, 494 km (307 miles); Geumgang, 396 km (246 miles) |
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Economic status (2002) - GNI US $ 477 billion; GNI per capita US $ 10,013 | | |
Korean flag is called "Taegeukgi" in Korean. Its design symbolizes the principles of the yin and yang in Oriental philosophy. The circle in the center of Korean flag is divided into two equal parts. The upper red section represents the proactive cosmic forces of the yang. Conversely, the lower blue section represents the responsive cosmic forces of the yin. The two forces together embody the concepts of continual movement, balance and harmony that characterize the sphere of infinity. The circle is surrounded by four trigrams, one in each corner. Each trigram symbolizes one of the four universal elements: heaven (
), earth (
), fire(
), and water (
).
The national flower of Korea is the mugunghwa, rose of sharon. Every year from July to October, a profusion of mugunghwa blossoms graces the entire country. Unlike most flowers, mugunghwa is remarkably tenacious and able to withstand both blight and insects. The flower’s symbolic significance stems from the Korean word mugung, meaning immortality. This word accurately reflects the enduring nature of Korean culture, and the determination and perseverance of the Korean people. 
