Introducing Korea
Korea uses its unique language, and the writing system is called Hangul, which was created by King Sejong the Great (1397~1450) of the Joseon Dynasty. Hangul has been recognized worldwide as an excellent writing system because it’s easy to learn and use. Particularly, it’s scientifically superior as it can record a wide range of sounds by combining 24 letters.
Geographical and Topographical Features
The Korean Peninsula, located in the heart of Northeast Asia, lies between China to the west and Japan to the east, with coordinates ranging from 33 to 43 degrees north latitude and 124 to 132 degrees east longitude. The peninsula spans 950km from north to south and 540km from east to west, covering an area of 100,364 square kilometers. Except for the northern border adjacent to the continent, Korea is surrounded by seas on three sides, with plains accounting for 30% and mountains for 70% of its land. Although there are many mountains, those with elevations exceeding 1,000 meters comprise only 15%, while mountains below 500 meters make up more than 65% of the total.
The Korean Peninsula, centered around the Taebaek Mountain Range extending north to south, features a steep eastern side and a gentler western side. Rivers, originating from the high eastern mountains, flow into the West Sea and the South Sea, forming wide plains between the mountain ranges.
The climate and lifestyles in the eastern mountainous regions are closely related. When the east wind crosses over the mountains, it creates a phenomenon called ‘foehn effect,’ resulting in hot, dry winds. The inconvenient transportation and slow development due to the high mountains have garnered attention for their untouched natural beauty.
The eastern coast adjacent to the mountains has a monotonous coastline, with a tidal difference of only about 30cm. However, the underwater topography along the coast generally shows depths of over 1,000 meters. According to the National Institute of Fisheries Science’s sonar measurements, the deepest point is found north of Ulleungdo Island, reaching a depth of 2,985 meters. In contrast, the West Sea coast has shallow waters, forming extensive tidal flats.
During peak vacation season, around a million visitors flock to Busan’s Haeundae Beach daily. Gangneung’s Gyeongpo Beach and Daecheon Beach on the West Coast are also popular summer vacation spots.
In winter, snowfall and freezing temperatures allow for ice skating and skiing across the country. The mountainous areas of Gangwon Province, famous for ski resorts, often receive daily snowfall amounts of 50 to 60cm. Spring and autumn maintain average daytime temperatures of 15 to 18 degrees Celsius, offering clear and pleasant weather ideal for outdoor activities and travel.
In recent years, signs of transitioning to a tropical climate due to global warming have emerged. Summer temperatures occasionally soar above 35 degrees Celsius, and the blooming periods of azaleas and forsythias in spring are gradually advancing. Record-breaking weather-related occurrences have been observed in the past 4 to 5 years.
Summer heatwaves have become commonplace, and precipitation patterns are changing. Previously, the rainy season brought nationwide rainfall due to the influence of rain fronts, but now localized torrential rains are more common. Localized heavy snowfall is also occurring in winter. About a decade ago, the ‘Samhan Saon’ phenomenon, characterized by alternating cold and warm days every three to four days in winter, was typical, but now such features have nearly disappeared.
Population
Archaeologists suggest that humans settled on the Korean Peninsula as early as 700,000 years ago, during the Stone Age. As of 2019, the total population of South Korea was 51.71 million. According to the “2018 Population and Housing Census,” the population ratio in the capital region increased by 0.7 percentage points from 49.1% in 2010 to 49.8% in 2018, indicating a clear trend of urban population concentration.
South Korea’s low birth rate is a significant social issue. In 2019, the total fertility rate (the average number of children expected to be born to a woman during her reproductive years) was 0.92, and the number of births was 302,700, both at historically low levels. However, the life expectancy of South Koreans is 82.7 years (as of 2018), higher than the OECD average life expectancy of 80.7 years.
The overseas migration of South Koreans began in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with migrations to China and Russia. After the mid-20th century, following liberation, migration to the United States became prominent, and Koreans began to settle in Europe, the Middle East, Latin America, and other parts of the world. As a result, the number of overseas Koreans reached 7.49 million in 2019. According to statistics, the largest population of overseas Koreans resides in the United States (2.54 million), followed by China (2.46 million) and Japan (820,000).
Until 2010, South Korea experienced a net outflow of population, but since 2011, there has been a net inflow. In particular, the number of foreign immigrants has significantly increased since 2000. Although there are fluctuations from year to year, the overall trend is increasing. According to Statistics Korea’s International Migration Statistics, the number of foreigners entering South Korea was 293,000 in 2010, 373,000 in 2015, and 438,000 in 2019. The reasons for foreigners entering Korea were short-term stays (34.5%), employment (26%), studying abroad (14.9%), and overseas Koreans (12%), in that order. Although not among the top reasons, the number of immigrants for permanent residency, marriage, etc., increased by 7.7% compared to the previous year (as of 2019).
Language and Script
South Korea uses its own language and employs the unique script called Hangul, which was created by King Sejong the Great of the Joseon Dynasty (1397–1450). Hangul is renowned globally as an excellent script due to its ease of learning and use.
Currently, Hangul consists of 14 consonants (닿소리) and 10 vowels (홀소리). The consonants are ㄱ ㄴ ㄷ ㄹ ㅁ ㅂ ㅅ ㅇ ㅈ ㅊ ㅋ ㅌ ㅍ ㅎ, and the vowels are ㅏ ㅑ ㅓ ㅕ ㅗ ㅛ ㅜ ㅠ ㅡ ㅣ. Hangul is scientifically praised for its ability to record a vast number of sounds by combining 24 consonants and vowels. UNESCO annually awards the “King Sejong Literacy Prize” to individuals who have made significant contributions to literacy worldwide. This recognition stems from the efforts of King Sejong the Great, who created Hangul to make it easy and comfortable for everyone to learn and use.
National Flag (Taegeukgi)
The Taegeukgi consists of a white background with a Taegeuk symbol in the center and four black trigrams in the diagonal corners. It has been used as the national flag since the proclamation of the Korean Empire in 1897. The current Taegeukgi is a slightly modified version of the flag used at that time.
The Taegeukgi is centered around the Taegeuk symbol, which has been traditionally favored by Koreans, representing the eternal pursuit of creation and prosperity along with the universe. The white background of the flag symbolizes brightness, purity, and the traditional peace-loving nature of the Korean people. The Taegeuk symbol in the center represents the harmony of yin and yang, visualizing the truth of nature that all things in the universe are created and developed through the interaction of yin and yang.
The four trigrams at the corners vividly depict the transformation and development of yin and yang through the combination of symbols. Among them, the Geon (건) trigram represents the sky, Gon (곤) represents the earth, Gam (감) represents water, and Ri (이) represents fire. These four trigrams harmonize around the Taegeuk at the center.
National Anthem (Aegukga)
The Aegukga, or the National Anthem of South Korea, was composed with lyrics written in the early 1900s, and in 1935, Ahn Eaktay put the music to the lyrics. Before the Aegukga was composed, the melody of the Scottish folk song “Auld Lang Syne” was sung with different lyrics. It was officially adopted as the national anthem when the government was established on August 15, 1948.
National Flower (Mugunghwa)
The Mugunghwa, or the Rose of Sharon, symbolizes the spirit of the Korean people with its meaning of “a flower that blooms forever without withering.” It represents the unwavering spirit, perseverance, and resilience of the Korean nation. The national anthem includes the lyrics “Mugunghwa Samcheolli Hwaryeogangsan,” which means “Mugunghwa in three thousand ri of splendid rivers and mountains.” Additionally, the emblem of the National Assembly is also based on the Mugunghwa flower.
Political Structure
Korea has a presidential system with a five-year single term where the president is directly elected by the people. On May 10, 2022, Yoon Suk-yeol was inaugurated as the 20th President.
There is a separation of powers between the legislative branch (with 300 members serving a four-year term in the National Assembly) and the judiciary (with 14 Supreme Court justices serving a six-year term). Nationally, there are 17 metropolitan and provincial self-governing bodies, along with 226 local autonomous bodies. The terms of office for mayors and council members are both four years.
Division
In 1948, two separate governments were established on the Korean Peninsula: South Korea and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea). Although both Koreas joined the United Nations, making them legally recognized as separate countries under international law, domestically, there exists a dual legal system recognizing them as one nation.