www.korea.

net
 Holidays
Jan. 1 New Year’s Day
Jan. 1 Seollal: Lunar New Year’s Day
(Lunar calendar) The days immediately before and after Seollal
also make up this 3-day holiday

March 1 Independence Movement Day

April 8 Buddha’s Birthday
(Lunar calendar)

May 5 Children’s Day

June 6 Memorial Day
Aug. 15 Liberation Day
Aug. 15 Chuseok: Korean Thanksgiving Day
(Lunar calendar) TThe days immediately before and after Chuseok
also make up this 3-day holiday

Oct. 3 National Foundation Day

Dec. 25 Christmas

Welcome to
Korea
Facts and Figures

Official Name Political system

Republic of Korea (commonly Presidential system
referred to as South Korea) •President Lee Myung-bak
Location (since 2008)
The Korean Peninsula Economic status (2008)
(the northeastern region of the GDP: US$928.7 billion
Asian continent) Per capita GNI: US$19,231
Area GDP Growth Rate: 2.2%
Korean Peninsula: 223,170 km2 Monetary Unit
South Korea: 100,032 km2 Won (US$1=1,257.5 won)
Capital City •Exchange rate at the end of 2008
Seoul Language
Population (2008) Korean (Writing system: Hangeul)
48.61 million

The national flower of Korea is

the Mugunghwa or Rose of Sharon

National Flag The Korean flag is called Taegeukgi. Its design

symbolizes the principles of yin and yang in Asian philosophy. The circle in
the center of the flag is divided into two equal parts. The upper red section
represents the proactive “yang” cosmic forces. Conversely, the lower blue
section represents the responsive “yin” cosmic forces. The two forces
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.
 Jeju-do (Island)

Seoraksan (Mountain)

Gayasan (Mountain)

Jirisan (Mountain)
Land and Climate

The Korean Peninsula is situated at the eastern end of the Asian

continent and is about 1,100 km long. China lies across the Yellow Sea
to the west, while Japan is across the East Sea to the east. Mountains
cover 70 percent of the land area and about 3,200 islands are
scattered along the coasts. The peninsula is currently divided into the
Republic of Korea (ROK) in the south and the Democratic People’s
Republic of Korea (DPRK) in the north, separated by the demilitarized
zone (DMZ).

Korea has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. Spring is

rather short but very pleasant and sunny. Summer is hot and humid
with monsoon rainfalls in July. Autumn is especially beautiful, as the
vivid golds and vibrant reds of the leaves changing color create a
spectacular panorama. Winter is cold and dry with occasional snow.
Jeju-do (Island) in the southwest of the peninsula has a mild
subtropical climate.

The Hampyeong Butterfly Festival presents the magnificence of tens of thousands of

butterflies.
Hunminjeongeum and King Sejong the Great
Language and Clothing

Hangeul
Hangeul, the Korean alphabet, is composed of 10 vowels and 14
consonants. King Sejong the Great and his scholars created this
writing system in 1443, because Koreans were relying on Chinese
characters to study, teach and communicate in written form, even
while they spoke a language different from Chinese.

Today, the Hangeul writing system is used by 70 million South and

North Koreans, as well as 7 million overseas Koreans. This booklet
follows the government's revised Romanization system for Hangeul,
adopted in July 2000.

Hanbok
Hanbok has been Korea’s traditional costume for
thousands of years. Before the adoption of
Western clothing about 100 years ago, Hanbok
used to be everyday attire for most people. Men
wore a jeogori (jacket) with baji (trousers) while
women wore a jeogori and a chima (wrap-around
skirt). Today, Hanbok is mainly worn on days of
celebration or special occasions such as weddings,
60th or 70th birthdays, and Seollal or Chuseok.
A special ceremony inaugurating the Republic of
Korea Government on August 15. 1948.
Constitution and
Government

The Constitution of the Republic of Korea was first promulgated on

July 17, 1948.
The nation underwent political upheavals in pursuit of democratic
development and the Constitution played a vital role in making
Korea a more democratic and free society.
The Constitution guarantees the basic rights and freedoms of the
people, including equality before the law, freedom from arbitrary
arrest, freedom of residence, the right to vote and hold public
office, the right to privacy, freedom of religion, speech, the press
and assembly, as well as the right to a clean environment and
pursuit of happiness.

Under a presidential system, the government consists of three

branches: the legislature, in the form of a unicameral National
Assembly; the judiciary, consisting of district and appellate or high
courts and the Supreme Court; and the executive, headed by the
President who is the head of state and commander-in-chief of the
Armed Forces. The President is assisted by the Prime Minister and
the State Council, including the cabinet.

Cheongwadae (Office of the President) The National Assembly

Cheonggyecheon (Stream)
Seoul

Seoul has been the capital of Korea for about 600 years, since the
time of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910).
Seoul is a teeming metropolis with a population of over 10 million. The
Hangang (Han River) runs through the heart of the city.
It is a fascinating city, where the past and the present coexist.
Centuries-old palaces, gates, royal tombs and shrines are juxtaposed
with soaring skyscrapers, a high-tech infrastructure and bustling
businesses. Within a 10-minute walk from City Hall are palaces of the
last royal dynasty, like Gyeongbokgung, Deoksugung, Changdeokgung,
Changgyeonggung, and Gyeonghuigung. Seoul Tower, on top of
Namsan mountain, is one of the major landmarks of the city. The
stream Cheonggyecheon was restored in 2005 and now flows roughly
west-east through the historic center of Seoul. Insa-dong street
showcases art galleries and traditional craft shops. Mountains are all
around the city, providing the people with beautiful sights and natural
comfort.

The Royal Ancestral Ritual at Jongmyo Shrine and its Music

 858
Trade Volume
(Unit: US$ billion) 728

333

113
11

(Source: Ministry of Knowledge Economy)

Major exports Semiconductors, Automobiles, Electronic goods,

Steel, Machinery, Shipbuilding
Major imports Oil, Iron, Petroleum products

Aerial view of dry dock

Economy

Over the past four decades, Korea’s impressive

economic growth has been part of what has been
described as the “East Asian miracle.”
Korea’s remarkable economic growth began with the adoption of
the first Five-Year Economic Development Plan in 1962.
From 1962 to 2007, Korea’s GDP increased from US$2.3 billion to
US$1.05 trillion, with per capita GNI soaring from US$87 to US$21,695.
In 2008, however, the country's GDP and per capita GNI decreased
to US$928.7 billion and US$19,231, respectively, due to the won's
weakening against the U.S. dollar.

Korea's trade volume for 2008 amounted to US$858 billion. The volume
in the previous year stood at US$728 billion, ranking 11th in the world.
Korea joined the Organization for Economic Cooperation and
Development (OECD) in 1996. Korea’s past economic development
is attributed to strong government support of business, an export-
oriented growth strategy, emphasis on high-tech industries, and an
abundance of highly skilled and educated labor.

Korea has more recently become known as an IT powerhouse, with

an information infrastructure, such as broadband Internet, which
has expanded to cover the whole country. Korea looks set to
improve its overall business environment to emerge as Northeast
Asia’s new business hub.
 Bulguksa (Temple)

Seokguram Grotto Jongmyo Shrine

Korea's World Heritage

Korea’s history started from Gojoseon (2333 B.C.). Through its 5,000-
year history, Korea has developed a truly distinct culture, even while
interacting with the larger nations surrounding it.
UNESCO has so far named eight Korean sites to the World Heritage
List: Bulguksa (Temple) and Seokguram Grotto, Jongmyo Shrine,
Haeinsa (Temple) Janggyeong Panjeon, the Depositories for the
Tripitaka Koreana Woodblocks, Changdeokgung (Palace) Complex,
Hwaseong Fortress, Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa Dolmen Sites,
Gyeongju Historic Area and Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes.

Bulguksa in Gyeongju was built in 774 during the Silla period. Its
architectural design has become the standard for temple construction.

Seokguram is a man-made cave carved from white granite and

featuring a seated Buddha and 38 other Bodhisattvas on the walls.
Seokguram exquisitely combines Silla’s knowledge of architecture,
math, geometry, physics, religion and art into an organic whole.

Jongmyo is the royal ancestral shrine where the spirit tablets of

Joseon kings and queenconsorts are enshrined and rituals
performed. A ceremony is held on every first Sunday of May. The
ritual and music used for the ceremony have been designated as
Intangible Cultural Properties No. 56 and No. 1, respectively.

Tripitaka Koreana is the oldest and most comprehensive compilation

of Buddhist scriptures in existence today. It was carved on 81,258

Haeinsa (Temple) Janggyeong Panjeon Tripitaka Koreana

 Changdeokgung (Palace) Complex

Hwaseong Fortress

Gyeongju Historic Areas

Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes

woodblocks during the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392). The Janggyeong
Panjeon at Haeinsa Temple is their repository, never damaged by
fire or war since its first construction in 1488.

One of five palaces in Seoul, Changdeokgung Palace is free from

the traditional symmetrical or lineal arrangement of structures and
was designed instead in accordance with the surrounding
topography. It is a fine example of ancient Korean landscaping with
a lotus pond, 300-year-old trees, and a pavilion all arranged in
harmony with their environment.

Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon was built by King Jeongjo (r. 1776-

1800) as an act of filial piety to restore the honor of his father, who
was murdered as a result of palace intrigue. The fortress was
designed by Jeong Yak-yong, also known as Dasan, one of the
greatest scholars of the neo-Confucian Silhak, or School of
Practical Learning.

Gyeongju Historic Area and dolmen sites in the counties of Gochang,

Hwasun, and Ganghwa were also
added to the list in 2000. Gyeongju
was the capital of the Silla
Kingdom for a thousand years, and the Dolmen
area is called a “Museum without
Walls” because of the wealth of its
historical remains.

Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes together comprise three sites
that make up 18,846 ha. The site, of outstanding aesthetic beauty,
also bears testimony to the history of the planet, its features and
geologic processes.

In addition, UNESCO placed the Royal Ancestral Ritual at the

Jongmyo Shrine and its Music, the Pansori Epic Chant, and the
Gangneung Danoje Festival among the Masterpieces of the Oral and
Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Also, the Memory of the World
Register contains the Hunminjeongeum (correct sounds to instruct
the people, a primer for teaching Hangeul, the Korean alphabet) and
Joseonwangjosillok (the court journals of the Joseon Dynasty);
Seungjeongwon Ilgi, a daily account of Joseon court events; and
Jikjisimcheyojeol, the oldest book printed with metal type, dating
back to 1377; woodblocks of the Tripitaka Koreana and miscellaneous
Buddhist scriptures; and Uigwe, the Royal Protocols of the Joseon
Dynasty.
 Korean TV Drama “Daejanggeum” (Jewel in the Palace)

Conductor-pianist Chung Myung-whun Non-verbal performance Nanta

Korean Wave

Hallyu, the “Korean Wave,” refers to the

rt
sa
growing interest in Korean pop and

ne’
-ju
traditional culture across Asia, Europe, the

am
kN
Middle East and the Americas.

Pai
Korean entertainment personalities, including Bae
Yong-joon, the star of “Winter Sonata,” have become the hottest
entertainment personalities in Japan, China and other countries. The
most recent hit, the charming 16th century court drama “Daejanggeum”
(Jewel in the Palace), is said to have provoked a new level of interest in
traditional Korean clothing, herbal medicine and Korean royal court
cuisine.

Korea’s booming film industry and Korean pop music have also been
forces intensifying the popularity of the Korean Wave.

An increasing number of Korean artists have won international

recognition and fame for their creative or artistic talents.

Paik Nam-june has led the world in pioneering the new medium of
video art. In the field of music, composer Yun Isang, violinist Chung
Kyung-wha, conductor-pianist Chung Myung-whun, violin prodigy Jang
Young-ju and vocalist Jo Su-mi have won the hearts of audiences all
over the world.

Korean B-boy Kim Duk-soo’s Samulnori

 Chinese cabbages

Pyongyang-style baechu kimchi Baechu kimchi

Food

Korean food is nutritious and a lot

of it is fermented. Consequently,
it is considered healthy and a good
defense against cancer. Kimchi, the
most famous Korean food, is salted,
fermented cabbage served as a side
Bulgogi
dish at nearly every meal. It is rich in
vitamins and minerals. Main dishes most familiar to Westerners
are galbi and bulgogi. Galbi is beef short ribs cooked over a
charcoal grill. Bulgogi, Korean barbecue, is thinly-sliced sirloin
marinated in soy sauce with sesame oil and garlic, among other
condiments.

Other popular dishes are bibimbap (a mixture of rice, vegetables, egg,

and hot pepper paste), doenjang jjigae
(a bean paste stew), naengmyeon
(buckwheat noodles in cold beef
broth) and samgyetang (stewed
chicken stuffed with rice and
ginseng).

Bibimbap

Traditional Korean full-course dinner Galbi

Park Tae-hwan Choi Kyung-ju
Sports
a
Yu-n
Kim

Ancient Koreans are recorded to have engaged in

numerous traditional sports game such as taekwondo
and ssireum (Korean wrestling).

Taekwondo, a sport originating in Korea, has been became

an official Olympic sport since the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Most Koreans are avid sports lovers. Korea is known for its
successful hosting of the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games and co-hosting
of the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Korea became the first Asian country to
advance to the semifinals during the 2002 World Cup.

Today Koreans compete well among the top athletes in the Olympics
and other major international events, such as baseball, golf, archery,
shooting, table tennis, short-track speed skating, figure skating and
swimming.

Taekwondo Park Ji-sung

The Wall of Hope at Cheonggyecheon (Stream)