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Guidebook for Living in Korea - General Information
영원한 인간사랑 ・ 2023. 9. 15. 0:00
General Information
1. Official Name of Country
Republic of Korea (commonly known as “Korea”)
2. Geography (Location & Area)
South Korea is located in Asia on the Korean Peninsula; it measures a total of 100,188.1 km2 and takes up 45% of the Korean Peninsula, which is a total of of 221,000 km2. The total area of the peninsula includes all of the Korean Peninsula and its annexed islands, occupied by both South and North Korea.
The Korean Peninsula is slightly larger than Cambodia (181,035 km2), and about 2/3 the size of the Philippines (300,000 km2), Vietnam (331,210 km2), and Japan (377,915 km2).
The Korean Peninsula, on which South Korea and North Korea are located, neighbors China to the northwest with Amnokgang (River) as its borderline, and China and Russia to the northeast with Dumangang (River) as its borderline. The peninsula is bordered by the Yellow Sea in the west, the East Sea in the east, and the South Sea in the south.
The southern and western parts of Korea are plains, while the eastern and the northern parts are mountainous. The highest mountain in Korea is Baekdusan (2,744m). Gaemagowon, which is in the northern part of Korea, is called "the Roof of Korea," and the Taebaek Range located on the east coast is called “Baekdudaegan”.
Korea's best-known islands include Jeju Island, Geoje Island, Jin Island and Ulleung Island. Jeju Island and Ulleung Island were formed by volcanic activities. The west coast and the south coast of Korea are rias coasts, and there is a large tidal range. (Source: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport)
Map of Korea
※ The map of Korea above is in 1:2,000,000 scale, and was produced by the National Geographic Information Institute of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. For details, visit: the website: www.ngii.go.kr → complete map of Korea.
3. National Flag (Taegeukgi)
The national flag of Korea is the 'Taegeukgi', which is mostly white with a yin-yang symbol at the center, and 'Geon', 'Gon', 'Gam', and 'Li' (groups of black bars) located at each of the four corners.
Taegeukgi
The white background of the flag represents brightness and pureness, which reflects Koreans’ traditional love of peace. The Yin-yang pattern at the center symbolizes harmony between 'Yin' (blue) and 'Yang' (red), and embodies the truth that all things in the universe are created and exist through interactions between Yin and Yang. The 4 symbols at the corners represent the images of Yin and Yang, changing and interacting with each other. 'Geon' symbolizes 'heaven': 'Gon' symbolizes 'earth': 'Gam' symbolizes 'water': and 'Li' symbolizes 'fire'.
Each of these 4 symbols exists in harmony with the Yin-yang in the center. All of these symbols of the Taegukgi reflect the Korean ideal of promoting creation and prosperity while keeping in sync with the Universe. (Source: Ministry of the Interior and Safety).
4. National Flower (Mugunghwa)
Mugunghwa
The national flower of Korea is the Mugunghwa, which has been loved by the Korean people from ancient times. The name of the flower means, "flower that blooms and never falls for eternity." Ancient records show that the Korean people have regarded the Mugunghwa as a flower from heaven since before the Gojoseon Era. The Silla Kingdom even referred to itself as “Geunhwahyang”, meaning “the nation of Mugunghwa”. The neighboring country of China also praised Korea as "a nation of noblemen where Mugunghwa blooms and falls".
The Mugunghwa has been an important flower throughout Korean history, and the love of this flower is even reflected in the national anthem (written during the late Joseon Era), which includes the verse, "splendid rivers and mountains with endless roads of Mugunghwa." The Korean people's undying love for the Mugunghwa continued through the Japanese occupation, and was official named the national flower after the emancipation.
The Mugunghwa grows in regions such as Korea, central China, northern India, and Japan. It is a kind of deciduous broadleaf shrub that sheds its leaves in autumn. It grows up to 3 to 4 meters, and is circular in shape. The Mugunghwa blooms from July to October every year, and blooms into an impressive array of colors and shapes. The flowers bloom at dawn and wither in the evening, but new flowers bloom every day for 100 days. (Source: Ministry of the Interior and Safety).
5. Population
Korea’s total population is 51,836,763 (as of April 2019, Ministry of the Interior and Safety), making it the world’s 28th most populous country. The population density is 513 people per km2 (as of August 8, 2017, Statistics Korea), which is the 23rd largest in the world.
Sungnyemun Gate
View of Seoul
6. Economy
Korea’s GDP is US$1.5302 trillion, making it the 12th-largest economy in the world. The per capita GDP is US$29,743(As of 2017, Statistics Korea). The main exports include petroleum products, semiconductors, automobiles, ships and flat panel displays.
7. Government Organization
Korea is a democratic republic in which the president, as the head of the state, directs and supervises the heads of all central administrative bodies according to the law. The prime minister is given authority from the president to direct and supervise chiefs of each central administrative institute.
As shown in the following chart, the central government of Korea (as of July 2017) consists of 18 ministries, 5 special ministries, and 17 services. Among these, the 18 ministries are in charge of the following administrative tasks:
① The Ministry of Strategy and Finance is responsible for the following areas: planning of mid-to-long term national development strategy, planning/direction/coordination of economic and financial policies, formulation/execution/evaluation of budgets and funds, domestic currency/foreign currency/national treasury/government accounting/domestic tax system/customs/international financing, management of public offices, and economic collaboration/national assets/private investment/government debt.
② The Ministry of Education manages affairs related to HR development policies, school education, lifelong education and academic affairs.
③ Ministry of Science and ICT manages affairs such as the development, management, coordination, and evaluation of policies related to science and technology; R&D, cooperation and promotion of science and technology; development of HR specialized in science and technology; research, development, production and use of nuclear power; planning related to ICT introduction in Korea, information protection and information culture; convergence and promotion of broadcasting and communications and signal management; ICT industry; and affairs related to mail, postal money orders, and mail transfer.
④ The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is responsible for the following areas: diplomacy, trade negotiation with foreign countries, direction/coordination of trade negotiation, coordination of international relations, treaties, other international agreements, protecting/supporting overseas residents, planning policy related to overseas Koreans, and surveying/analyzing international affairs.
⑤ The Ministry of Unification is responsible for the following areas: planning of policy related to dialogue/exchange/collaboration between South and North Korea, unification education, and other administrative works related to unification.
⑥ The Ministry of Justice is responsible for the following areas: prosecution, execution, human rights protection, immigration control, and other administrative works related to judicial affairs.
⑦ The Ministry of National Defense is responsible for the following areas: military administration and command related to national defense, and other administrative works related to military affairs.
⑧ The Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs is responsible for the secretarial affairs of the Cabinet Council; announcement of acts and treaties; organization and quorum of government bodies; prizes and decorations; government innovations; administrative efficiency; e-government; protection of personal information; management of government offices; local government organization; secretarial support, finances and tax systems of local governments; support for less-developed areas; arbitration of disputes among local governments; and support for elections and national votes.
⑨ The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism manages affairs related to culture, arts, video, advertisements, publishing, periodicals, sports, tourism, promotion of government administrations and government releases.
⑩ The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs manages agriculture, livestock, foods, farmlands, irrigation, promotion of the food industry, development of agricultural villages, and distribution of agricultural goods.
⑪ The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy manages affairs related to commerce, trade, industry, commercial negotiation, coordination and management of commercial negotiation, foreign investments, and R&D policies related to industrial technology and energy and underground resources.
⑫ The Ministry of Health and Welfare manages affairs such as health and hygiene, preventive measures, medical and pharmaceutical affairs, general welfare, self-support, social security, child welfare (including childcare for infants), and programs benefitting senior citizens and the disabled.
⑬ The Ministry of Environment manages affairs such as the preservation of natural and living environments and the prevention of environmental pollution.
⑭ The Ministry of Employment and Labor manages affairs such as overall labor policy, employment insurance, skills development training, working conditions criteria, welfare for workers, labor-management adjustment, occupational safety and health, industrial accident compensation insurance, and other administrative affairs related to employment and labor.
⑮ The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family manages affairs such as policies benefitting women, women rights promotion, and policies/event benefitting youth and family (including children affairs related to multi-cultural families and healthy families).
⑯ The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport manages affairs related to the development and coordination of the comprehensive national land management plan; the preservation, use and development of the national land and water resources; construction of cities, roads and houses; coasts, rivers and reclamation; and land, rail, and air transportation.
⑰ The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries manages affairs related to marine policies, fisheries, development of fishing villages, distribution of fish, marine transportation, ports, the oceanic environment, ocean surveys, development of marine resources, R&D of marine science and technology and marine safety tribunal.
⑱ The Ministry of SMEs and Startups is responsible for vitalizing sales of products of innovative startup businesses and technical products, bridging the gap between conglomerates and small- to mediumsized companies, cultivating manpower for the fourth industrial revolution, supporting small businesses and owner-operators, securing fair trades, and expanding the cooperation between large and small- to-medium-sized companies.
8. Local Administrative Districts
Korea is divided into 17 metropolitan councils and 226 district councils. Among the metropolitan councils, there is 1 special city, 6 metropolitan cities, 1 special self-governing city, 8 provinces, and 1 special self-governing province.
Local governments consist of 75 cities, 82 guns, and 69 self-governed districts; as of December 31, 2016, there are 3,488 eups, myeons and dongs, which are sub-districts of each local government.
Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi-do, and the surrounding areas are commonly referred as the "Capital area", which includes the cities of Incheon, Bucheon, Anyang, Seongnam, Uijeong-bu, Gwangmyeong, Siheung, Uiwang, Gunpo, Gwacheon, Guri, Migeum, Gwangju, Goyang and Hanam. Roughly 50% of the entire Korean population resides in this area with approximately 10 million people residing in Seoul, 2.9 million in Incheon, and another 12 million in other cities in Gyeonggi-do.
Korea runs under an autonomous local government system, and regional residents participate in an election every four years to elect the heads of their local government (metropolitan areas: Mayor of Seoul Metropolitan Government, mayors of 6 metropolitan cities and governors/municipalities: mayors, county governors and heads of wards), local assemblymen, city superintendent of education, and superintendent of education for their province.
Special City | Metropolitan Cities | Special Self-Governing City | Provinces | Special Self-Governing District |
1. Seoul Special City | 2. Busan Metropolitan City 3. Daegu Metropolitan City 4. Incheon Metropolitan City 5. Gwangju Metropolitan City 6. Daejeon Metropolitan City 7. Ulsan Metropolitan City | 8. Sejong Special Self-governing City | 9. Gyeonggi-do 10. Gangwon-do 11.Chungcheongbuk-do 12. Chungcheongnam-do 13. Jeollabuk-do 14. Jeollanam-do 15. Gyeongsangbuk-do 16. Gyeongsangnam-do | 17. Jeju Special Self-Governing Province |
연관목차
Guidebook for Living in Korea 4/65 [네이버 지식백과] General Information (Guidebook for Living in Korea) |