SOUTH KOREA

A little something about SOUTH KOREA :

South Korea, an East Asian nation on the southern half of the Korean Peninsula, shares one of the world’s most heavily militarized borders with North Korea. It’s equally known for its green, hilly countryside dotted with cherry trees and centuries-old Buddhist temples, plus its coastal fishing villages, sub-tropical islands and high-tech cities such as Seoul, the capital.
The Korean Peninsula was inhabited as early as the Lower Paleolithic period. Its first kingdom was noted in Chinese records in the early 7th century BCE. Following the unification of the Three Kingdoms of Korea into Silla and Balhae in the late 7th century, Korea was ruled by the Goryeo dynasty (918–1392) and the Joseon dynasty (1392–1897). The succeeding Korean Empire (1897–1910) was annexed in 1910 into the Empire of Japan. Japanese rule ended following Japan's surrender in World War II, after which Korea was divided into two zones; a northern zone occupied by the Soviet Union and a southern zone occupied by the United States. After negotiations on reunification failed, the southern zone became the Republic of Korea in August 1948 while the northern zone became the socialist Democratic People's Republic of Korea the following month.

TOP PICKS FOR YOU

Changdeokgung Palace

Of the five grand palaces built by the Joseon Dynasty in the 15th century around Seoul, Changdeokgung Palace was always the preferred royal residence. It's where the king and royal family lived their daily lives.

BUSAN

Did you know you can hit the beach in Korea? Busan is the second largest city in the country, and its coast is lined with some beautiful beaches and resorts. There's a lot of culture and history here, too.

Jeonju

Jeonju is a very historic city, once the spiritual capital of the Joseon Dynasty, it's about 90 minutes by train from Seoul. It's home to many ancient temples and shrines along with a hanok village. These are found throughout Korea.

FAQ

What is so spacial about SOUTH KOREA? >

South Korea, country in East Asia. It occupies the southern portion of the Korean peninsula. The country is bordered by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) to the north, the East Sea (Sea of Japan) to the east, the East China Sea to the south, and the Yellow Sea to the west; to the southeast it is separated from the Japanese island of Tsushima by the Korea Strait. South Korea makes up about 45 percent of the peninsula’s land area. The capital is Seoul.
Fun facts about SOUTH KOREA >

1. Children born in South Korea are considered “one year old” when they are born, and will turn two on the next Lunar New Year. 100 days after their birth, a celebration is held for the baby. 2. Red ink is considered bad luck in South Korea. Writing a person’s name in the color signifies the person is dead, or will die soon. 3. “Have you eaten well?” is a common greeting in South Korea, used the way an American may ask “How are you?” 4. Lotte World, a major recreation center in Seoul, is home to one of the largest indoor theme parks in the world, as well as an outdoor amusement park, an artificial island connected by monorail, shopping malls, museums, and more. 5.South Korean students are required to take a university entrance exam known as the sooneung. On the morning of the test, friends and family gather at high schools to give out candy and wish students good luck.
What language is spoken in here? >

Korean, also referred to as Hangul, is the national and official language in South Korea as well as North Korea. The language is drastically different from western languages. South Korea is home to close to 51 million residents, half of whom reside in and around the bustling capital of Seoul.
Why you should add it to your bucket list? >

South Korea is a country in East Asia known for its K-Pop, Korean food, palaces, Buddhist temples and the famous capital city Seoul. If you love unique culture, views of mountains, bright neon signs and a country with so many modern features then you should start creating your South Korea bucket list now!