About Korea
Located at the center of Northeast Asia, the Korean Peninsula neighbors China, Russia, and Japan. Under the World Geodetic System, it lies between 33 and 43 degrees north latitude and 124 and 132 degrees east longitude. The Peninsula (including both North and South Koreas) is 1,000 km long and 300 km wide on average, and its total land area is 222,000 km2. The total land area of South Korea (below the Military Demarcation Line) is around 100,364 km.
Korea is surrounded by the sea on three sides, except for the northern side. The total extension of the coastlines is 17,000 km (including islands). The East Sea is characterized by its deep waters and simpler coastlines, whereas the West and South Seas are shallower, with complicated coastlines and more islands. Each of the three seas offers distinctive features and a wide array of oceanic atmospheres: the East Sea with its clean and deep water; the West Sea with its mud flats thriving with life; and the South Sea with its numerous islands (which earned the sea its nickname: Dadohae, or the sea of many islands).
Population
South Korea has the 29th largest population in the world at around 51.38 million as of July, 2023. However,
50.49% of the population lives in the Seoul Capital Area (SCA, mainly consisting of Seoul and Gyeonggi-do),
indicating severe population gaps among regions.
Advancements in medicine and rapid economic growth increased
South Koreans’ life expectancy by 21.1 years, from 62.3 in 1970 to 83.6 in 2021, which puts South Korea in
third place.
The Korean government has been actively engaging in a wide range of efforts to address the
country’s low birth rate and population aging.
Weather
Korea's climate is typically temperate with four distinct seasons. The period when the KOAFEC 2023 will be held is the mid-September which is one of the most beautiful seasons in Korea. The weather is mildly warm, and it is best to do outdoor activities. The average minimum and maximum temperatures are 18°C and 25°C respectively (60-80°F).
Travel
Check here to find information about Korean destinations and general information about Korea. 11 languages are avaliable including English, French, Chinese, and Japanese. Information about transportation, accommodation, restaurants and specific travel destinations recommendations are also included.
General Information
Korea is 9 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time(GMT+9) and does not have daylight savings time. International dialing code in Seoul, Korea is +82-2 (Area code). Please omit (0) when dialing from overseas.
Major international credit cards such as Visa and Mastercard are commonly accepted at most hotels, department stores, restaurants, and shops. Restaurants and shops generally display signs indicating what cards they accept.
Value-added tax (VAT) is levied on most goods and services at a standard rate of 10% and is included in the retail price. In tourist hotels, this 10% tax applies to meals and other services and is added into the bill.