Population – 49 million, Area – 38,345 sq miles (99,313 sq km), Currency – Won (KRW; symbol₩)., Flight times – From New York to Seoul takes 13 hours 30 minutes, LA to Seoul takes 12 hours, London is 11 hours away, Cities – Seoul (capital), Busan, Taegu, Incheon, Time Zone – GMT+9, Weather – Temperate climate with four very distinct seasons - summers are hot and humid, winter temperatures plummet to below freezing, autumn and spring are the most comfortable seasons, Languages – Korean, English, Religion – Buddhism (50.7%), no religion (34.3%), Christianity (14%); Cheondogyo is a Korean faith that has grown up out of Taoism, Confucianism and Christianity, and there is a small Islamic population, Electricity - 110/220 volts AC, 60Hz; government policy is to phase out the 110 volt supply and many hotels now have a 220 volt supply.

LOCATION : Korea is situated on the Korean Peninsula, on the northeastern section of the Asian continent. The peninsula shares its northern border with China and Russia. To the east is the East Sea, beyond which lies Japan. To the west is the Yellow Sea. In addition to the mainland, Korea includes almost 3200 islands.

Korea is almost the same size as the United Kingdom. Almost half of the country is considered cultivable area, excluding reclaimed land areas. Two-thirds of the territory is a Mountainous terrain like Portugal, Hungary or Ireland.

On the east coast lies the Taebaeksan Mountain Range. The highest peak is on Mt. Baekdusan rising over 2,700 meters, in North Korea and is along the northern border overlooking China. This is an extinct volcano with a large crater lake Cheonji. Korea has a relatively large number of rivers and streams and these waterways played crucial roles in shaping the lifestyle of Koreans and in the nation's industrialization, the two longest among these are the Amnokgang River (Yalu, 790 kilometers) and the Dumangang River (Tumen, 521 kilometers). Originating from Mt. Baekdusan these flow to the west and the east, respectively and form the peninsula's northern border.

The Hangang River flows through Seoul, the capital of Korea, and serves as a lifeline for the heavily concentrated population in the central region of modern Korea. Surrounding the peninsula on three sides, the ocean has played an integral role in the lives of the Koreans since ancient times, contributing to the early development of shipbuilding and navigational skills.

CLIMATE: Korea has four distinct seasons. Spring and autumn are rather short, summer is hot and humid, and winter is cold and dry with abundant snowfall, especially in the mountainous regions, but not along the southern coast.Temperatures differ widely from region to region within Korea, with the average being between 6°C (43°F) and 16°C (61°F).

LANGUAGE: The Korean language belongs to the Ural-Altic family of languages which also includes Turkish and Mongolian. Although the language contains many words derived from Chinese and printed media still use Chinese ideographs to represent many of those words, structurally the two languages are very different. Korean is closer to the Japanese language linguistically.

RELIGION: Korea has been influenced by four major religions: Buddhism, Confucianism, Christianity, and Shamanism. Additionally, a very large mosque in It'aewon-dong holds services for those of the Islamic faith. Many Koreans follow more than one religion as many new Christian converts continue to practice ancestor worship and perform Buddhist rites.

CITIES

Seoul, the capital city of Korea, is located along the Hangang river, has grown into a teeming metropolis with a population of more than 10 million. The city has greatly expanded in the process of urbanization and industrialization and continues to grow as the thriving center of the country's political, economic, cultural and educational activities.

Seoul is the world's 10th-largest city. Its past and present coexist in a fascinating way: centuries-old palaces, city gates, shrines, gardens and priceless art collections attest to the city's illustrious past, while the glistening facades of soaring skyscrapers and the bustling traffic represent its vibrant present.

Busan a bustling city of approximately 3.7 million residents, is located on the southeastern tip of the Korean peninsula. The size of Busan is 765.10km² which is 0.8% of the whole land of the Korean Peninsula. The natural environment of Busan is a perfect example of harmony between mountains, rivers and sea. Its geography includes a coastline with superb beaches and scenic cliffs, mountains which provide excellent hiking and extraordinary views, and hot springs scattered throughout the city. Busan enjoys four distinct seasons and a temperate climate that never gets too hot or too cold.

Busan is the second largest city in Korea. Its deep harbor and gentle tides have allowed it to grow into the largest container handling port in the country and the fifth largest in the world. In the coming years, capacity is set to grow further with the opening of the New Port. The city's natural endowments and rich history have resulted in Busan's increasing reputation as a world class city of tourism and culture, and it is also becoming renowned as an international convention destination.

Incheon is the gateway to Northeast Asia with both international port and international airport in its hand, Incheon is located in the mid-west Korea peninsula abutting the Yellow Sea. A city located 28km from the nation’s capital, Seoul, lies at 126° 37´ of east longitude and 37° 28´ of north latitude. San Francisco, Washington, Madrid, and Teheran are found on the same latitude. Incheon is now rapidly developing into the third largest city in Korea, with Seoul and Busan being the first and the second largest, respectively.

Daegu is the third biggest city in Korea with the population of two million and five hundred thousand. So you can find lots of things to do downtown. It's hot in summer and cold in winter just like other regions in Korea with four distinguished seasons.

Dajeon, Gwangju and Ulsan are the other major cities in Korea.

South Korea has been growing as a tourist destination of choice for health and vacation because of their world class physicians, modern technology, and unique caring and compassion at great values for money at a fraction of the cost in the west. The country is home to some of the best hospitals and stand alone specialty clinics in the world, offering world-class expertise, state-of-the-art facilities, and the warmth of hospitality. Also, some of the world's best Spa Retreat resorts and tour destinations can be found in this part of the earth. In addition, it's not unusual to find plus accommodations, foreign language translators, and other amenities at some of the major facilities.

South Korea has made its initial foray into the lucrative market of Medical Tourism by launching the Council for Korea Medicine Overseas Promotion. This is a joint participation by the Government of Korea and Private Hospitals. The objective of this organization is to market medical packages to foreign patients seeking affordable health care. The council has initiated a set of measures to promote the medical vacation industry by aiding hospitals in their marketing strategies

On an average an inpatient visit to a hospital in the US is almost 13 times higher than in Korea. South Korea's affordable health care system has seen the number of foreign patients as high as 20000.

South Korea, where an estimated 60 percent of women in their 20s have undergone some sort of cosmetic operation, has earned a reputation for producing surgically-enhanced Asian beauties.

The Korean culture has continued many of the traditions and events that came into their culture generations ago. These very special aspects are what make Korea what it is today. Korea was first inhabited by many primitive tribes. Many were ancestors of the Mongolian culture. These tribes moved East into new lands where they began their new era. Many of the people living in Korea today are related to these first settlers. Over time these tribes united to form a single culture. Since the start of this culture the most important thing has always been the family.

All things are done with the permission from family. The eldest in the house is considered the most wise, and therefore makes most of the decisions. Every relative in the family that is of the same blood is referred to as ilga. Another term that is continually heard is tongjok. This is the group of paternal relatives. These relatives are a very close knit group and more often live together in one home. Only paternal relatives can be in the tongjok. Maternal relatives can never join this group. The tongjok is mainly controlled with the property of the head family. In other words, the oldest living relatives take care of this group. Officials are appointed, and the family has a type of small government running the show. These officials hold special meetings where they discuss things ranging from ancestral rights to repair of graves. The final decisions of these meetings are made by the oldest living male. This leader takes care of things like funeral planning, festivals, graveside rituals, and helps with daily life.

In the aftermath of the Japanese occupation of Korea which ended with Japan's defeat in World War II in 1945, Korea was divided at the 38th parallel in accordance with a United Nations arrangement, to be administered by the Soviet Union in the north and the United States in the south. The Soviets and Americans were unable to agree on the implementation of Joint Trusteeship over Korea. This led in 1948 to the establishment of two separate governments, each claiming to be the legitimate government of all of Korea. Eventually, following the Korean War, the two separate governments stabilized into the existing political entities of North and South Korea.

South Korea's subsequent history is marked by alternating periods of democratic and autocratic rule. Civilian governments are conventionally numbered from the First Republic of Syngman Rhee to the contemporary Sixth Republic. The First Republic, arguably democratic at its inception, became increasingly autocratic until its collapse in 1960. The Second Republic was strongly democratic, but was overthrown in less than a year and replaced by an autocratic military regime. The Third, Fourth, and Fifth Republics were nominally democratic, but are widely regarded as the continuation of military rule. With the Sixth Republic, the country has gradually stabilized into a liberal democracy.

Since its inception, South Korea has seen substantial development in education, economy, and culture. Since the 1960s, the country has developed from one of Asia's poorest to one of the continent's most well-off. Education, particularly at the tertiary level, has expanded dramatically. Since the 1990s, Korean popular music, TV drama, and films have become popular throughout East and Southeast Asia, in a phenomenon known as "Korean wave."

AIRPORTS: About 37 international airlines maintain regular services, with over 1,500 flights into and out of Korea every week. Korea has nine international airports: Incheon International Airport, which opened in March 2001, and Gimpo for Seoul; Gimhae for Busan; Jeju; Cheongju; Daegu; Yangyang; Muan; and Gwangju. Gimhae and Jeju operate direct flights to and from Tokyo, Fukuoka, Nagoya and Osaka in Japan. Special airport buses and city buses leave from various points in Seoul every 15 minutes from 5:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and are less expensive alternatives to the KAL Limousine Bus line which connects Incheon International Airport with 19 major hotels in Seoul.

CURRENCY: Korea's currency is the won, which comes in 1,000 (US$1.05), 5,000 and 10,000 won bills, and 10, 50, 100 and 500 won coins. Most stores, hotels and restaurants in Korea accept major international credit cards.