The Korean peninsula, roughly 1,030 km long and 175 km at its narrowest point, has a total land area of 100,033 km2 and is located in Northeast Asia. With Seoul as its capital city, Korea is neigh-bored by Japan to the east, China to the west and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) across the northern border.

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• ‘Hangeul’, Korean Alphabet

  Hangeul, one of the most unique creations of Korea, was introduced in 1443 by King Sejong, the 4th king of the Joseon dynasty. To help all commoners to easily read and write this alphabet, Hunminjeongeum (meaning ‘Proper sounds to instruct the people’ in Korean) was created. The UNESCO inscribed Hunminjeongeum Haerye; The Hangeul Manuscript, on the Memory of the World Register in 1997.

• ‘Hanbok’, Korean Traditional Clothes

  Hanbok is the traditional attire of the Korean people. Worn daily up until just 100 years ago, hanbok comes in various shapes and colors, reflecting the culture and lifestyle of the its time. Nowadays, it is only worn on special occasions or anniversaries. The core of hanbok is its graceful shape and vibrant colors, which have had a major impact on the modern fashion industry.

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• ‘Hansik’, Korean Traditional Food

  Hansik refers to traditional Korean food, centered on rice, served alongside a bowl of soup and a variety of side dishes. Most dishes use meat and vegetables as the main ingredients, boiled or steamed in brine or water rather than fried in oil, making hansik very healthy. Hansik's most outstanding feature is the fermented foods. The most well-known are kimchi (fermented cabbage).

• ‘Hallyu’, Korean Pop Culture

  Korea has been risen not only in the field of technology and engineering, but also in the field of culture. Hallyu, which refers to the increase in popularity of Korean culture, has been expanded nationwide. Ranging in genres from K-pop to the larger Hallyu entertainment business and culture, Korea’s cultural influence has been increasing to Asia and to the world.

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Korea's official monetary unit is the won. There are currency exchanges at the airports and select locations around Seoul and elsewhere, but the best way to get money all over Korea would be through ATMs. You can find ATMs at airports, subway stations and most convenient stores.