South Korea is located on the southern side of the Korea Peninsula. The country is bound on the north by North Korea, on the west by the Yellow Sea, on the east by the Sea of Japan and on the south by the Korea Strait. The Korea Strait separates South Korea from Japan.

The capital and largest city of South Korea is Seoul, located in the northwest. The city of Pusan, located on the southeast coast, is the country's major seaport.

The nation of South Korea was established in 1948, when the country was divided into North and South Korea by the occupying United States and USSR forces. After the Korean War ( 1950-1953) and several decades of recovery, South Korea became independent and economically self-sufficient.

South Korea is about 38,000 square miles in size and surrounded by water on all but its northern side. A indented coast line extends about 1,500 miles around the country. Around 3000 mostly barren islands lie off the southern and western coasts. At 712 square miles, the largest island is Jeju, made up of the extinct volcano, Hallasan, located about 60 miles off the southern coast. The peak of Hallasan, about 6, 400 feet high, forms the highest point in South Korea.

South Korea has four seasons, with cold winters and rainy, hot summers. Snow falls regularly in all but the southernmost regions, where wet summers come complete with typhoons and high winds. Rainfall in Seoul falls mainly between June and September.

Of interest to tourist are first class service in modern hotels, shopping districts,, historical and cultural sites, and the country's natural beauty of waterfalls, caves and beaches.