Animals and Plants

What is growing in the Republic of Korea?

The flora of the Korean Peninsula is very diverse and rich in species. Not only did the ice ages not affect the peninsula, but also the great climatic differences make it possible for many different plants to thrive here.

In the mountains above the tree line there are many alpine plants, while in the subtropical areas of the south coast and especially on Jejudo Island, subtropical plants such as bamboo grow. In regions with a climate that is very similar to ours, plants like ours also grow: spruce, larch, pine or deciduous trees such as oaks and ash trees.

Fruits such as apples and pears or peaches also thrive in South Korea, even oranges, mandarins and figs. The national flower is the hibiscus, which we also know. It blooms from spring to autumn.

Which animals live there?

Many large mammals such as tigers, leopards and black bears made their home in South Korea. But since many forests were cut down there, too, these animal species were driven away or they became extinct. The tiger was even the royal heraldic animal of Korea and has almost disappeared today.

The animals were hunted and their numbers gradually reduced. Many of these animals have been made into fur coats. Today you can only meet lynx and wild cats. Seals and fur seals can be spotted on the coast, and whales pass the coast of South Korea.

Birds in the Republic of Korea

Many species of birds can be found in South Korea. In addition to swans, ducks and geese, many birds of prey and gull species live there. The white-naped crane is a typical Korean bird and grows to be quite large at four feet. Up to 2000 animals can gather in a flock of birds and then migrate across the country. He doesn’t fly away either, but spends the winter in South Korea.

South Korea not only has a national flower, but also a national bird and that is the up to 45 centimeters large magpie.

What is crawling in South Korea?

Many species of insects are also found in South Korea. From beetles to butterflies to spiders, there are many species. Many spiders also live in the tropical regions of the country, such as the very common golden silk spider. Your leg span can be up to 17 centimeters, which is quite a lot.

What lives in the water?

More than 130 species of fish live in the waters of South Korea, and sharks have also been spotted here. The gray nurse shark is one of the larger species of shark that swims in the seas of South Korea.

Economy

Difficult beginning

If you imagine that South Korea was still one of the poorest countries in the world in the 1960s, it is almost unbelievable today. First the Japanese ruled Korea until 1945, then came the Korean War from 1950 to 1953 and destroyed both countries.

For the South Koreans it was initially problematic because the north had much more industry to offer than the south, which was primarily characterized by agriculture. The South Korean government did everything it could to make South Korea a leading industrial nation that exports a great deal above all. This is called then a Expor tnation.

Industrial nation

Today South Korea is one of the leading industrial nations in the world. The South Koreans build cars, are leaders in the development of technical devices and also build ships. All goods are then sold all over the world. Brands such as the computer and cell phone manufacturer Samsung, the car company Hyundai and LG, also a well-known manufacturer of technical devices, are known.

Agriculture

Even if agriculture only accounts for a small proportion of the country’s overall economic output (GDP), one in ten South Koreans still works in this area. The South Koreans grow rice, but also soy, wheat and potatoes.

The problem is that the small farms that support Korean society have to give way to large farms. Poverty and unemployment follow for those affected because machines now take over their work and work more effectively. This is a development that is not unique to South Korea.

Fishing

Fishing is also important for the economy, although the seas are unfortunately increasingly being fished empty. There are still rich fish stocks on the border between North and South Korea. Here fishermen often quarrel because fish do not always take into account boundaries.

Work in industry

Many people work in industry, especially the technical industry, which is highly developed in South Korea. Flat screens, cell phones and computers come from South Korea. Then there are cars and ships, which are also important commercial goods. In 2005, 40 percent of the ships traded in the world came from South Korea.

Tourism

According to itypetravel, tourism is also an important industry in South Korea, even if it is not easy to get to. Because it is almost not possible by land, since you would have to go through North Korea first. So you can only get to South Korea by ship or plane.

Many people work in the tourism industry. Tourists love to travel to the island of Jejudo in the south of South Korea, which attracts many people from abroad with its mild climate.