GUIDE BLOG FOR FOREIGNER, LIVING IN KOREA , PART # 01

GUIDE BLOG FOR FOREIGNER, LIVING IN KOREA 

PART # 01
Introduction to the Republic of Korea
 General Information
 Official Name of Country: Republic of Korea
 Location and Area
 National Flag
 National Flower
 Population
 Economy
 Administrative Districts
 Climate
 Spring
 Summer
 Fall
 Winter
 Currency
 Festivals and Seasonal Events
 Festivals
 Holidays



1)GENERAL INFORMATION:

i)Official Name of Country

Republic of Korea, usually called Korea.

ii)Location and Area

Northeastern part of Asia, 99,000㎢

(Occupying 45% of the Korean peninsula, which has a total area of 221,000㎢)

iii)National Flag (Taegeukgi)

The national flag of Korea is called Taegeukgi.

The patterns of the Taegeukgi symbolize the Yin-Yang theory of oriental philosophy,

and represent the harmony and equality of the world.

iv)National Flower (Mugungwha)

The national flower of Korea is the Mugungwha.

Mugungwha means “eternal flower.” It blooms from July to October.

v)Population

As of October 31, 2007, the total population of Korea is 50,087,307, including foreign

residents, making it the 24th most populated country of the 194 countries in the

world. Its population density is 490/㎢, which is the world’s 3rd highest.

vi)Economy

As of 2008, Korea has the world’s 15th largest economy according to the World Bank,

and is a member of OECD. In 2007, Korea recorded a GDP of USD 887.4 billion, and

per capita GNI of USD 18,372. It exports automotives, ships, steel and IT goods.

vii)Administrative Districts

Korea consists of 16 self-governing regions.

The self-governing districts include one special

city, six metropolitan cities, eight provinces and

one special self-governing province. 

                                                                               The selfgoverning

districts are divided into basic local

governments.

The special city consists of self-governing gus,

while the metropolitan cities consist of selfgoverning

cities and guns. As of December

2008, the special City and the six metropolitan

cities have a total of 69 self-governing gus. The

six metropolitan cities and eight provinces have

a total of 75 self-governing cities and 86 guns.

Seoul and its vicinities are commonly referred

as the “Capital area”, which includes the cities

of Incheon, Bucheon, Anyang, Seongnam,

Uijeongbu, Gwangmyeong, Siheung, Uiwang,

Gunpo, Gwacheon, Guri, Migeum, Gwangju,

Goyang and Hanam. 50% of the entire Korean

population resides in this area with 10 million

in Seoul, 2.5 million in Incheon and another 10

million in other cities of Gyeonggi-do.

2)  Climate

The climate of Korea is temperate, with four distinct seasons.

i)Spring

Spring is usually warm, though mornings and evenings can be chilly from March to May.

Trees and flowers bloom. Winter clothes are still needed in March. People tend to dress lightly in April, and it sometimes gets very hot

in May.

ii)Summer

From June to August, the weather is hot, with temperatures ranging from 25℃ to 35℃.

Heavy rainfalls, called Jangma, frequently occur between late June and late July. A few typhoons with heavy rain and wind visit the country between August and September.

iii) Fall

From September to November, temperatures get colder, ranging from 10℃ to 25℃. In November it is almost as cold as it is in winter.

People prepare winter clothes and heaters in advance. The autumn leaves are very beautiful.

vi) Winter

In winter, the weather stays very cold, ranging from -10℃ to 10℃ from December to February.

During this period, the weather seems to run in a cycle of three very cold days followed by four less cold days. Snow and harsh winds can be expected. Warm clothes and heaters are necessary until it gets a little

warmer in late February.

3) Currency

• The currency of Korea is KRW (Won, ￦).

• Exchange rate (as of September 2014) USD 1 = KRW 1,034

4)Festivals and Seasonal Events

i) Festivals

There are various festivals and seasonal events in

Korea. The Korean calendar uses both solar and

lunar dates. Festivals usually follow the lunar

calendar.

• Seollal 

- Meaning: First day of the new year

- Food: Rice cake soup, dumplings

-Characteristics:Wearing new clothes (seolbim),new year’s greetings to adults, visiting ancestral

graves, and playing a game of yut

• Chuseok

- Meaning: Harvest festival

- Food: The year’s new crops and fruits

-Characteristics:Ancestor-memorial services,

visiting ancestral graves, viewing the full moon,

enjoying a Korean circle dance

ii) Holidays

• Samil-jeol (Samil Independence Movement Day, March 1)

On this day in 1919, a nation-wide independence movement rose up against

Japanese colonialism.

• Seokga Tansil-il (Buddha’s Birthday, April 8 in the lunar calendar)

This is the day on which we celebrate the birth of Buddha.

• Eorini-nal (Children’s Day, May 5)

This is a day dedicated to the happiness and

welfare of all children.

• Hyeonchung-il (Memorial Day, June 6)

This is a day for honoring national heroes,

including those who died during the Korean War.

• Gwangbok-jeol (Independence Day, August 15)

On this day in 1945, Korea was liberated from

Japanese colonialism.

•Gaecheon-jeol   

(National Foundation Day,

October 3)

This is the day on which the Korean nation was

founded. The legend says that the son of the

heaven-king, Dangun came down from the sky

to build the nation about 5,000 years ago. In

Korean, 

Gaecheon-jeol means “the day on which

the sky opened.”

•Seongtan-jeol 

(Christmas, December 25)

This is the day on which we celebrate the birth of

Jesus Christ.

TO BE CONTINUED......................


PART # 02 Comming Soon...