Country data

Location: East Asia

Time zone: CET + 8 (during summer time: CET + 7)

Total area: 99,720 km²

Land area: 96,920 km²

Water area: 2,800 km²

Length of the state border: 238 km

Bordering countries: North Korea: 238 km

Coastline: 2,413 km

Capital: Seoul

Provinces: 15
Cheju-do, Cholla-bukto, Cholla-namdo, Ch’ungch’ong-bukto, Ch’ungch’ong-namdo, Inch’on-gwangyoksi, Kangwon-do, Kwangju-gwangyoksi, Kyonggi-do, Kyongsang -bukto, Kyongsang-namdo, Pusan-gwangyoksi, Soul-t’ukpyolsi, Taegu-gwangyoksi, Taejon-gwangyoksi

Electricity: 110, 220 V / 50 Hz

Telephone code: 00 82 (Source: Allcitycodes)

Highest point: Halla-san 1,950 m

Population

Population: approx. 49 million residents (Countryaah, 2021)

Population growth: 0.2% per year

Population density (residents per km²): 491

Life expectancy: 77 (male), 83 (female)

Official language: Korean

Religions:

• 32% Christian
• 24% Buddhists
• 44% other

Climate

The climate in South Korea is almost the same as in Central Europe.

The summer months are warm and humid. Most of the rain falls at this time of year, with temperatures around 25 ° C.

In winter it is dry and there is occasional snow at temperatures down to -10 ° C.

Currency / finance

Currency unit: Won (KRW)

Division: 1 won = 100 chon

ATMs: Available in the major cities.

International credit cards: These are accepted in larger hotels and shops.

Regulations: There is no limit to the amount of foreign currencies that can be imported. The export is permitted in the amount of the declared import. The declaration obligation should be taken very seriously.

The import of the local currency is limited to an amount of 500,000 KRW. The export to the amount declared upon import.

All bill of exchange should be retained until departure.

Customs regulations

The following may be carried duty-free:

• 200 cigarettes or 250 g tobacco
• 1 liter of alcoholic beverages

(Information applies to people aged 18 and over)

Tourists and people in transit can bring items of personal use with them duty-free.

The import of pornographic newspapers and magazines, food, plants, drugs and weapons of all kinds is prohibited.

Antiques and valuable art objects may only be exported with a special permit.

Travel advice

Due to the recurring tensions with North Korea, you should avoid traveling to the border region.

Economy

The economy in South Korea has developed very diversely over the past decades.

Where previously almost only agriculture was practiced, there are now international companies.

The automotive industry, shipbuilding and the development and production of technology products have become the most important economic sectors.

Industries: clothing industry, chemistry, electronics, vehicle construction, food production, shipbuilding, steel processing, textiles

Natural resources: lead, graphite, coal, molybdenum, hydropower, tungsten

Land use:

• Usable land: 19%
• Grain cultivation: 2%
• Pasture area: 1%
• Forests: 65%
• other: 13%

Plants

From tree species that would be common in Central Europe to subtropical plants, almost everything can be found in South Korea.

There are birch, beech and oak trees almost all over the country. There are also many conifers in the higher regions.