South Korea | History, Capital, Language, Flag, Facts & Geography of South Korea

History of South Korea:

On the southern tip of the Korean Peninsula is South Korea.

Three kingdoms controlled Korea in the first century AD. Shilla, Koguryo, and Pekche were them. This situation persisted there until the Shilla Kingdom united Korea in 668 AD. The Koryo monarchy succeeded the Shilla kingdom in 935, and the Choson dynasty came next in 1392. The Koryo kingdom is where the name Korea originates.

Throughout its history, stronger empires and nations have attacked and occupied Korea. From 1231 through the 14th century, Korea was dominated by the Mongol Empire, and Japan invaded the country in the 1500s. Both the Chinese and the Russians attempted to attack Korea in the 1900s. In each instance, the Japanese defeated them and annexed Korea to their empire.

After the defeat of Japan in World War II, Korea was split into two regions. Both the north and the south came under the rule of the Soviet Union. At the 38th parallel, they were split apart. This split was intended to be temporary, but it is still in place today. The nation south of the 38th parallel is South Korea.

The Korean War started in 1950 when North Korea invaded South Korea. It was the Cold War’s first significant war. The South Koreans fought back and reclaimed their land with the aid of UN forces. At the 38th parallel, there is currently a two-mile demilitarized zone separating the two nations.

In 1948, South Korea gained its independence. Syngman Rhee served as South Korea’s first president. South Korea’s economy is now increasing in technology and is fairly strong.

Information about South Korea:

Flag of South Korea:

South Korea Economy Key Industries:

South Korea Major Industries: electronics, telecommunications, automobile production, chemicals, shipbuilding, steel

South Korea Agricultural Products: rice, root crops, barley, vegetables, fruit; cattle, pigs, chickens, milk, eggs; fish

South Korea Natural Resources: coal, tungsten, graphite, molybdenum, lead, hydropower potential

South Korea Major Exports: semiconductors, wireless telecommunications equipment, motor vehicles, computers, steel, ships, petrochemicals

South Korea Major Imports: semiconductors, wireless telecommunications equipment, motor vehicles, computers, steel, ships, petrochemicals

The Geography of South Korea:

Total Size of South Korea: 331,690 km² (source: wikipedia)

Geographical Low Point of South Korea: East Sea 0 m

Geographical High Point of South Korea: Halla-san 1,950 m

Climate of South Korea: Temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter

General Terrain of South Korea: mostly hills and mountains; wide coastal plains in west and south

World Region or Continent of South Korea:  Asia

Geographical Coordinates: 37 00 N, 127 30 E

The People of  South Korea & Culture

South Korea Government Type: republic

South Korea Nationality: Korean(s)

South Korea National Holiday: Liberation Day, 15 August (1945)

South Korea Independence: 15 August 1945 (from Japan)

South Korea National Symbol: taegeuk (yin yang symbol)

South Korea National Anthem or Song: Aegukga (Patriotic Song)

South Korea Languages Spoken: Korean, English widely taught in junior high and high school

South Korea Religions: no affiliation 46%, Christian 26%, Buddhist 26%, Confucianist 1%, other 1%

Interesting Facts about South Korea:

In South Korea, Wi-Fi is essentially available everywhere.

The Korean alphabet is known as Hangul.

As their national sport, taekwondo is played by South Koreans. It is generally believed to have been created around 2,000 years ago.

The number four is viewed as unlucky because of how closely it resembles the Chinese character for death in writing. The number is frequently substituted for the letter “F” when using an elevator.

In South Korea, a standard greeting is “Have you eaten well?” This is comparable to how Americans might ask, “How are you?”

Kimchi, which is primarily a side dish but also holds a special place in South Korea’s culinary heritage, is the country’s national food. Michelle Obama, a former first lady, once shared her recipe and affection for Kimchi because the sour and spicy food is so well-liked both locally and globally.

One of the unique facts about South Korea is that there is a dedicated day set aside just for singles. It is usual to celebrate Valentine’s Day twice in South Korea and Japan. But South Korea takes things a step further by designating a special day to celebrate everyone who is single.

The first astronomical research facility in the world, Cheomseongdae Observatory, is located in South Korea. It was built in the 600s.

In close to a quarter of cases, South Korean men are known to use cosmetics every day in an effort to look their best. Actually, 20% of the world’s market for male cosmetics is accounted for by South Koreans.

The South Korean musician Psy gained popularity after the release of “Gangnam Style” in 2012 and became well-known and well-respected all over the world very rapidly. Psy became the first person to surpass 1 billion views on YouTube, breaking multiple records in the process.

Justin Bieber earned the distinction with his song “Baby” in 2015, which was the year that no other pop performer attained 1 billion views. By the end of 2012, Gangnam Style has topped the music charts in 30 different countries. The song makes reference to the luxurious lifestyle that is prevalent in Seoul’s Gangnam District.

In South Korea, cosmetic surgery is fairly common.

With a few minor exceptions, you’ll discover that almost all women in South Korea have the same three hairstyles. Their hair is frequently styled based on their age and marital status.

Toilet paper is a common housewarming gift in South Korea.

There are two separate New Year’s Days in South Korea.

The way that South Koreans view aging is really unusual. Every child is considered to be one year old in South Korea upon birth and will turn two on the following Lunar New Year. A huge celebration is also planned for the newborn 100 days after the birth.

South Korea, the world leader in internet connectivity, has the quickest average internet connection speed. The percentage of people who use the internet is 92.4%.

Few people are aware that South Koreans produce more than 90% of the seaweed that is consumed worldwide, despite the fact that they are well recognized for their particular cuisine, which is mostly concentrated on seafood.

The Seoul Capital region, Seoul’s metropolitan region, is home to more than 25 million people, making it currently the third-largest city in the world.

South Koreans love kimchi, a traditional fermented vegetable side dish from Korea. This meal comes in almost 250 different kinds, from radish kimchi to cucumber kimchi.

Despite the relatively high quality of life in South Korea, suicide is a serious and persistent problem there. In fact, South Korea has the second-highest suicide rate in the world, according to the World Health Organization.

Taxis in South Korea are color-coded according to the level of service they offer. Orange or silver taxis are more reasonably priced while black cabs are classy cars.

Russia and North Korea both share a land border with South Korea.