- Official name
- Republic of Korea 대한민국 · Korean
- Capital
- Seoul
- Region
- Eastern Asia
- Population (2018 est.)
- ≈ 52 million
- Area
- 100,210 km²
- Currency
- South Korean won (KRW)
- Neighbours
- North Korea
- Internet / phone
- .kr, .한국 · +82
Where it is
Notable facts
- South Korea has among the fastest average internet speeds in the world.
- Hangul, created in the 15th century under King Sejong, was designed to be learnable in a day and is celebrated with a public holiday.
- Korean pop culture — K-pop, film and television — became a major global export; “Parasite” was the first non-English film to win the Best Picture Oscar.
- Seoul’s metropolitan area holds roughly half the country’s population.
World Heritage 17 sites
- Haeinsa Temple Janggyeong Panjeon, the Depositories for the <I>Tripitaka Koreana</I> Woodblocks
- Jongmyo Shrine
- Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple
National dish
Kimchi김치 Cabbage salted and fermented with chilli, garlic and salted seafood; eaten at every meal.
A side dish rather than a main, but it is what Korea names. Kimjang, the communal autumn making of it, is on the UNESCO heritage list. Bibimbap and bulgogi are the usual answers for a dish you sit down to.