|
|
|
 |
 About Korea |
| Geography & Location |
| The Korean Peninsula extends southward from the northeastern part of the Asian continent between north latitudes from 33 to 43 degrees and east longitudes from 124 to 131 degrees. The standard meridian of the peninsula is 135 degrees, 9 hours ahead of GMT. The Amnok and Tuman Rivers border both China and Russia to the north, and Japan lies just across the East Sea. Since 1945, as a result of the Cold War, the peninsula has been divided into two parts: the Republic of Korea ( South Korea ) and Democratic People's Republic of Korea ( North Korea ).
|
 |
| |
| People and Population |
Koreans, like many other Asian people, are descendants of Mongolian Tungus stock. However, they differ from their
neighbors, the Japanese and Chinese, in that they are a homogeneous ethnic group with their own language, culture,
and customs.
Korean people are well known for their generosity, warmth and kindness and are renowned as one of the hardest
working people in the world. The following data show the main figures of Korea (as of the end of 2000, Korea National
Statistical Office).
* Population: 46,136,101
* Men: 23,158,582 (approximately 50.2%)
* Women: 22,977,519 (approximately 49.8%)
* Foreigners: 150,812 (approximately 0.33%)
|
| |
| Climate & Seasons |
 |
|
SPRING
In late March or early April, the trees burst into leafy splendour to mark the beginning of spring. Mostly sunny days can be expected from March to May. |
| |
|
|
 |
|
SUMMER
During the relatively hot and rainy summer season, the vegetation is lush. By June the average temperature is over 20oC (68oF ). Monsoon rains usually begin around the end of June and last until mid-to-late July. August is hot and humid. |
| |
|
|
 |
|
AUTUMN
The coming of autumn in late September brings continental winds and clear, dry weather, making these months perhaps the most pleasant time of year. October's vivid gold and vibrant reds create a colourful panorama. |
| |
|
|
 |
|
WINTER
December to February are cold and dry with occasional snow. During the winter months, three or four days of cold weather are often followed by a few warmer days.
|
|
| |
| National Flag |
 The Korean flag is called Taegeukgi. Its design symbolizing the principles of yin and yang is from Asian philosophy. The circle in the center of the flag is divided into two equal parts.The upper red section represents the positive cosmic forces of yang. Conversely, the lower blue section represents the negative cosmic forces of yin. The two forces together embody the concepts of continual movement, balance, and harmony that characterize the sphere of infinity. The circle is surrounded by four trigrams, one in each corner. Each trigram symbolizes one of the four universal elements: Heaven, Earth, Fire and Water. |
| |
| National Flower |
 The national flower of Korea is Mugunghwa, Rose of Sharon. Every year from June to October a profusion of Mugunghwa blossoms grace the entire country.
Unlike most flowers, Mugunghwa is remarkably tenacious and is able to with-stand both blight and insects. Its symbolic significance stems from Mugunghwa's root word, "Mugung," meaning immortality.
This word accurately reflects the perseverance and determination that the Korean people have demonstrated throughout their long history. |
| |
| Language |
| The Korean language is classified as a Ural-Altaic language, a group which also includes Mongolian, Hungarian, and Finnish. The Korean character system, Hangeul, is completely different from Japanese. "Hangeul" was developed by a group of scholars under the patronage of King Sejong in 1443 of the Joseon Dynasty It is composed of 10 vowels and 14 consonants. This unique phonetic syllabic system allows great freedom of expression. The Hangeul Romanization, which was last revised in July 2000, is based on standard Korean pronunciation and differs substantially from the old McCune-Reischauer (M-R) system. |
| |
| Currency and Credit Cards |
| Basic unit of Korean currency is won(KRW). The exchange rate is subject to change with minor daily fluctuation. As of March 17, 2008, USD 1 equals approximately 1,029 Korean Won. Foreign bank notes and traveler's checks can be exchanged into Korean Won at the airport, hotels and at all Korean banks. Credit Cards, e. g. VISA, MasterCard, American Express and Diners Club, are all widely accepted. |
| |
| Visa |
| The organizers recommend all participants to check the Visa-Agreement of Korea with the respective country of origin. Participants may wish to contact the Korean embassy of their country. |
|
| |
| About Seoul |
Established as the nation's capital a hundred years before Columbus discovered the Americas , Seoul still reserves
the status not only as the capital but also as the heart of the Republic of Korea . Within its city limits live about 10.3
million of the nation's 47 million people, and millions more on the outskirts. Seoul had been a seat of the central
government during the Baekje Kingdom (18 B.C.-A.D. 660), and later the capital of the Joseon Dynasty (1394-1910).
Seoul is filled with the vestiges of Joseon, which enjoyed outstanding cultural achievements throughout its history.
One can catch a glimpse into the richness of Seoul 's heritage in its magnificent palaces, shrines and monuments.
The capital also offers a wealth of lore about Korea and its citizens to people who either make a special study of
Korean history or simply travel around. There are few cities in the world known for such remarkable harmony of the
ultramodern and the ancient, as Seoul .
Korea House, located at city center, is an antique Korean mansion that communicates an intriguing insight into
Korean traditions and customs. Superbly prepared Korean cuisine is served there, and a special program of folk
music and dancing follows every evening. A visit to Korea House is especially worthwhile for those traveling with only
a little time to spend who but desire to get a taste of old Korea. |
| |
| Climate |
Seoul belongs to the Temperate Zone featuring four distinctive seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter. The yearly average temperature of Seoul is 12.2 degrees Celsius. Temperatures in Seoul show large seasonal variation, reaching as high as 38.4 degrees Celsius in the summer and dropping as low as minus 19.2 degrees Celsius in the winter. Influenced by the North Pacific high-pressure system, Seoul has hot and humid summers with average temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius from June through September.
In the middle of summer, the city often records daily highs of over 30 degrees Celsius. In winter, Seoul is geographically influenced by the expansion of the Siberian high pressure and prevailing west wind with temperatures dropping lower than other regions on the same latitude. The rise and fall of the high-pressure system causes a typical cycle of three successive cold days followed by four warmer days, relieving people from freezing temperatures.
The average temperature is 14 Centigrade, 57.92 Fahrenheit in October will be held the Conference. |
| |
| Area |
The total area of Seoul is 605.52 square kilometers or 0.6 percent of the entire country. The Hangang(River) bisects the city into two parts: northern part(Gangbuk) and southern one (Gangnam). The Gangbuk area totals 297.97 square kilometers(49.2%) while Gangnam is 307.55 square kilometers(50.8%).
Among the 25 autonomous ‘gu' or wards of Seoul , the largest is Seocho-gu(47.13km2) and the smallest is Jung-gu with an area only one fifth(9.97km2) that of Seocho-gu.
The expansion of the city has been curbed since the last administrative reorganization in 1973. The lifestyles of Seoul citizens, however, have been influenced since the 1970's by the rapid growth of satellite cities around the capital area. |
| |
| Population |
Seoul had a population of 10,276,968 as of the end of 2003. This accounts for about a quarter of the total national population. As for the proportion of male to female excluding foreigners, women (5,143,274) slightly outnumber men (5,133,694). By district, Nowon-gu has the biggest population of 633,934. In contrast, Jung-gu has the smallest population only 138,798. Since Seoul became the capital of the nation in 1394, the population of Seoul has grown 110 fold.
The number of foreign residents in Seoul as of the end of 2003 was 102,882 or about 1% of Seoul 's total population. They include 52,572 Chinese, 11,484 Americans and 6,139 Japanese. There are more than 90 different nationalities currently residing in Seoul , forming a small global village.
The name of Seoul comes from the ancient word 'Seorabeol' or 'Seobeol', meaning "capital"
|
|
|
|
|
