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Where
is
South
Korea?
The Korean peninsula is located in north-eastern Asia with an area of some 222,154 square
kilometers is similar in size to the UK. Around half of the area is suitable for cultivation
although some two thirds of the landscape is of a mountainous terrain accounts for some
two-thirds of the territory.
The Korean peninsula is currently divided in to two separate regions. As their names
suggest, South Korea occupies the southern regions, whilst North Korea (or the Democratic
Peoples Republic) occupies the northern most regions.
The east coast is dominated by the Taebaeksan mountain range and the East Sea has
calved out many sheer cliffs and rocky inlets. The highest mountain is Mt. Baekdusan
in North Korea, which rises up 2,744 meters above sea level.
Along the western and southern coastline, slopes are comparatively gentle and many sweeping
plains have been formed. These regions are also home to some 3,000 islands all of which
are included in the umbrella of the Korean peninsula..
North Korea borders with China and Russia at its extreme north and is separated from South
Korea by a 4km wide Demilitarised Zone (the so called DMZ) which was set up at the end
of the Korean War in 1953. South Korea is therefore surrounded on all sides as follows:
on the North by North Korea
(officially the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea); on the
East by the Sea of Japan (known in Korea as the East Sea -
the name is subject of much disagreement between Japan and Korea); on the
South-East and South by the Korea Strait, which separates it from Japan; and -
on the West by the Yellow Sea,
which separates it from China.
South Korea comprises of nine provinces. The capital city is Seoul and other major cities
include Busan, Daegu, Incheon, Gwangju, Daejeon, and Ulsan.
Where
is
Busan ?
Busan is the second largest city in South Korea and is located on the southern coastline
of Peninsula. Some 4 million people live in Busan and it serves as the country's
main international cargo port, as well as a passenger ferry terminal to Japan and other
Korean Islands such as Cheju. The city is famous for its seafood and beaches, as well
as the Hallyosudo Waterway with its picturesque islands.
Busan's Gimhae International Airport provides direct links with Seoul and most other
major Korean population areas. From teh internation terminal there are direct flights to
the Korean Island of Cheju, Japan and China.
Busan has many landmarks. Rising 49 meters above sea level in the middle of downtown
Busan, Yongdusan ("Dragon Head Hill") forms a major landmark and provides
an interlude to the concrete jungle of Korea's second largest city. Busan Tower sits on top
of Yongdusan and rises some 118 meters above sea level. The observation deck at the top
commands a spectacular view of Busan and the surrounding sea and on a clear day, the
Japanese island of Tsushima can be seen.
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