Korea (South Korea). More about South Korea. Sights of South Korea

Population 47.479 million people Military budget $14.8 billion (2003). Regular aircraft 686 thousand people Reserve 4.5 million people Paramilitary formations: civil defense troops 3.5 million people; maritime police 4.5 thousand people Completion: on call. Term … Armed forces of foreign countries

Korea (Republic of Korea)- The Republic of Korea. Lighthouse on an island in the southern part of the country. KOREA (Republic of Korea), a state in East Asia, occupies southern part The Korean Peninsula (south of the 38th parallel), includes Jeju Island, is washed in the east by the Sea of ​​Japan, ... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

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National Museum of Science and Technology Hangul=국립중앙과학관, Hancha=國立中央科學馆 Opened: 1990 Official website http://www.science.go.kr/index eng.html The National Museum of Science and Technology (Republic of Korea) is a national museum located in the city ... ... Wikipedia

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Somewhat isolated geographic location South Korea had a positive impact on the preservation of the original culture, the general atmosphere of order and the beauty of the nature of this region. The Republic of Korea occupies the southern part of the Korean peninsula and is separated from its only land neighbor - North Korea- "impassable" demilitarized zone. You can get to South Korea from other countries only by sea or by air, which greatly affects the number of tourists arriving. Korea has not yet become a country of mass influx of beach holidaymakers, which means that for the number of visitors that we have now, the peninsula has a lot of clean air, untrodden meadows, misty mountains and safe, wide natural beaches.

The Korean peninsula is mountainous, there is not much land left for farming, so the Koreans very carefully use every piece of flat land. Such frugality creates the image of a toy country, with clean, well-groomed streets, brand-new cars, flat rice fields, restored temples, and lots of little museums, museums of everything from teddy bears, pickled kimchi cabbage, sea shells, traditional tiled roofs, or, for example, chocolate.

Climate in South Korea temperate, in some places - temperate marine, but in fact south island Jeju-do - tropical marine. The seasons change each other, as in Russia: hot summer, dry "golden" autumn, snowy winter and colorful sunny spring. For every season there is a holiday.

Ski holidays in Korea

In winter it is ski tours . One of the resorts in South Korea even claimed, and not without reason, the title of the capital of the 2014 Olympic Games. All resorts are small, well-equipped: and chair lifts, and gondolas, and snow cannons, and trail markings, and magnificent hotels - every Korean ski resort. The most popular of them: "Yenpyeong" - is considered the largest resort with the best conditions for skiers, Phoenix Park is expensive and stylish. "Muju" is a new resort, not crowded with skiers, but there is not enough English-speaking staff, "Alps" is heavily loaded with tourists, but it has illuminated slopes at night. Each of the resorts has trails for both beginners and skiing professionals. Winter is also a time for festivals. Every year there are, for example, a snow festival and ice sculptures at the Tebaksan Nature Park and the Kawon-do Trout Fishing Festival.

Excursion tours to Korea

Spring and autumn are the time for excursion tours for South Korea. From mid-March to June - a great time of flowering, and from September to November - "golden autumn", it's time for educational trips around the country. In South Korea, the most favorable conditions have been created for both independent and organized tourism - a huge number of inscriptions and pointers to English language, various centers tourist assistance foreigners, a lot of guidebooks, reasonable prices for excellent hotels - everything for a tourist.

Carefully guarded architectural monuments - temples, entire ethnic villages, royal palaces and memorials will delight lovers of history and educational recreation. The Royal Palace of Gyeongbokgung in Seoul, the traditional village of Hahoe near Andong (where residents deliberately limit the flow of "benefits of civilization" while remaining true to the traditional way of life), the city of Gyeongju with scattered hills of ancient royal graves of the Silla Dynasty and the most famous Korean temple of Bulguksa are just a small part sights that can be seen in a week or ten days.

Huge National parks, where you can easily meet a flock of squirrels or striped chipmunks right on the trail, observation decks in the mountains with stunning views of picturesque valleys, white storks and cranes on green rice crops - all this will undoubtedly please connoisseurs of wildlife. national park Chirisan in the west of the country - for lovers of simple one-day mountain tracks, Hallyu National Park in the east of the country (near Busan) - stone islands, dotted with hundreds of dinosaur footprints - for lovers of funny manifestations of nature and sea cruises. Seoraksan National Park in the north-east of the country - for photographers and lovers of comfort - a gondola lift will take you right to the top of the mountain, where you can walk at bird's eye view.

Beach holidays in Korea

Summer for lovers beach holiday- the best time in Korea. For a relaxing holiday in good 5 * hotels, Jeju-do Island is, of course, the most famous seaside resort South Korea. In the north of the island there is a little more entertainment (the beaches are almost in the city), in the south, in resort town Jungmun near Seogwipo city - perfect beach for lovers of a relaxing and comfortable stay. Here, only a few five-star hotels are surrounded by parks and folklore villages-museums on a high coast, a wide strip of the beach is fenced by a natural bay.

For young people and lovers of a fun, noisy holiday, for those who want to feel at ease in Korea, a holiday in Busan or near the city of Sokcho (Namsam resort) on the east coast of Korea is suitable. Separate resort area next to each of these cities has a long sandy strip, the entire length of which stretches rows of beach shops and restaurants with seafood and other typical Korean cuisine. Busan and Namsam have not left anyone indifferent. Probably no other resort in Korea, and perhaps neighboring China, leaves such emotions.

For lovers of special effects and unusual holidays in South Korea, we recommend taking group tour to the Demilitarized Zone at the 38th parallel. Here they offer to walk through one of the three tunnels dug by the North Korean army in the 70s for the passage of troops to the territory of South Korea, look from the observation tower through binoculars into the depths of North Korean territory, put a stamp in the passport of the inactive border crossing between the two Koreas, make an excursion to a brand new station at the border station, which still does not send trains in a northerly direction ...

For children, and indeed for adults, there are a number of theme parks throughout the country: Seoul Land and Lotte World amusement parks (half an hour from the center of Seoul by subway), an open zoo near Seoul Land, where you can look at animals in open enclosures directly from the chair of the cable car. Namisom Island in the middle of a natural lake, an hour and a half drive from Seoul, where live ostriches walk along larch alleys, and movement around the island is possible on electric vehicles and even electric scooters.

And if you are only in transit in Seoul, shopping in the Insadong, Myeongdong or Tandemun areas is what you need. High-quality clothing, electronics from leading Korean manufacturers, Korean amethyst jewelry, festively decorated Korean soju vodka for souvenirs - one day is definitely not enough.

In 2014, the Asian Games were held in Korea, and in 2018, the Olympics. Huge amounts of money are being invested in infrastructure construction. This contributes to the emergence of new hotels and tourist facilities.

Relatively small country with its history, picturesque nature, cultural heritage has a lot to offer tourists. Against the backdrop of beautiful natural landscape there are numerous ancient monasteries and temples, royal palaces, sculptural monuments, pagodas, archaeological sites, fortresses, archaeological sites, folklore villages and museums. Today, South Korea is a country of the future that has firmly established its high position in the international arena. Its semiconductor, automotive, shipbuilding, steel and IT industries are leaders in global markets. This country hosted Olympic Games 1988 in Seoul and the 2002 FIFA World Cup, which was held jointly with Japan. IN Lately Korean TV dramas, movies and music are gaining more and more fans in Asian countries, creating a phenomenon called the "Korean Wave". Korea's new position in the international community was further strengthened after that country, the first of all countries in Asia, chaired the G20 Summit and then hosted the G20 Summit in Seoul.

Information

• Date of Independence: August 15, 1945 (from Japan)
• Official language: Korean
• Capital: Seoul
• Largest cities: Seoul, Busan, Incheon, Gwangju, Daegu, Daejeon, Ulsan
• Form of government: presidential republic
• Territory: 100,210 km²
• Population: 51,413,925
• Internet domain: .kr
• ISO Code: KR
• IOC Code: KOR
• Telephone code: +82
• Time zones: KST (UTC+9)

Geography

Located on a peninsula, South Korea boasts picturesque valleys, mountains, rivers and sea beaches. The country stretches from north to south for more than 1000 km. total area The Korean peninsula is 223 thousand 170 square meters. km, which is approximately equal to the territory of Great Britain or Ghana. The Republic of Korea covers an area of ​​100 thousand 32 square meters. km or about 45% of the total area. Mountainous areas occupy two-thirds of the entire territory and are comparable in area to Portugal, Hungary or Ireland.

Population

As of April 2014, the population of Korea was approximately 51,202,130 (Source: Ministry of Management and Security). Most of the population lives in large cities. In order for the population concentrated in large cities to move to the regions, the Korean government has been conducting a program to transfer government institutions to the provinces from 2012 to 2014.
The most famous Koreans today are the first female President of the Republic of Korea, Park Geun-hye, the singer PSY, who conquered the world with the hit "Gangnam Style", as well as the figure skater Kim Young Ah, who became the champion of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver in 2010 and the World Figure Skating Championships. in 2013. Due to the ubiquity of the Korean wave, groups of popular performers such as Girls' Generation, SHINee, actors Kim Soo Hyun, Song Joong Gi, etc. have become popular all over the world.

Climate

The climate is characterized by a clear division into seasons. Spring and autumn are rather short and warm, most of all sunny days falls between March and May. Summers are hot and humid, temperatures can reach up to +35 °C. In summer, people are happy to go to the beaches to escape the heat and have a good time. Season monsoon rains("chanma") usually begins at the end of June and continues until the middle or end of July. August is hot and humid. In autumn, the mountains are dressed in a multi-colored blanket of crimson and gold foliage - this is the most favorite time of the year for Koreans. Winters are cold (up to −10 °C) and dry, with occasional precipitation in the form of snow or rain. The best time to visit the country is from the end of April to October. The ski season opens at the end of November and lasts until April.

Currency

The monetary unit is won. There are banknotes in denominations of 1,000, 5,000, 10,000 and 50,000 won and coins of 10, 50, 100 and 500 won. Banks are usually open from Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4 pm. ATMs operate around the clock. Most major department stores, hotels and restaurants in the country accept major international credit cards for payments. However, travelers are advised to carry some cash with them, as smaller establishments and shops may not be equipped to process credit cards.

Difference in time

Time in South Korea is ahead of Moscow by 5 hours.

Language

The main language is Korean. IN tourist areas fluently speak English.

Religion

The main religions in South Korea are traditional Buddhism and relatively recently introduced Christianity. Both of these currents were strongly influenced by Confucianism, which was the official ideology of the Joseon Dynasty for 500 years, as well as shamanism, which was the main religion of the common people of Korea. According to statistics compiled by the South Korean government in 2003, about 46% of the country's inhabitants are not adherents of any religion. Christians make up 29.3% of the population (18.3% - Protestants, 10.9% - Catholics), and Buddhists - 22.8%. Seoul is home to the world's most visited Christian church -
Yeouido Full Gospel Church, with over 750,000 weekly members and attendees. Adherents of other religions make up about 2.5% religious population. They are mainly followers of the Wonbulgyo school (Won Buddhism), and the Cheondogyo school, which combines elements of Taoism, Confucianism and Christianity. Confucianism is professed by a small number of believers, however, features of its influence are still traced in the way of life of Koreans. About 0.5% of the population are adherents of the Unification Church, the founder of which is Sun Myung Moon. There are also about 40,000 Muslims in South Korea (0.1% of the population). There are also Orthodox Christians in Korea. Historically, the mission of the Orthodox Church began its existence at the end of the 19th century. The first head of the mission, who made significant efforts to establish Orthodoxy here, was Archimandrite Chrysanthus (Shchetkovsky). Currently Orthodox Church in Korea is under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. Head - Metropolitan Sotiry. The parishioners are mostly Orthodox people who came to Korea for temporary work, as well as women from Russia who married Koreans. Also, Koreans who moved from Russia to their historical homeland and a certain number of indigenous Koreans

Relief

The highest point in South Korea is the Hallasan volcano (1950 m), located on the island of Jeju. The east and center of the country are occupied by the East Korean mountains. They consist of axial (Taebaek, Gyeongsang) and lateral (Seobek, Noryeong, Chaeryeong) mountain ranges. Mountains Jirisan (1915 m) on the Seobek ridge and Seoraksan (1708 m) on the Taebaek ridge have the highest heights.
In the west and south of the country, small plains and lowlands are located, in which most of the population of South Korea is concentrated.
In Korea, there are only small deposits of gold, silver, tungsten, iron ore, lead, zinc, graphite, and others. Most of the resources have to be imported from abroad.

Vegetation

Only about 3,400 species of higher vascular plants are found on the territory of North and South Korea. Most of the country lies in the zone of subboreal (typical and pre-subtropical) landscapes with predominantly broad-leaved, coniferous-broad-leaved and pine forests. IN coastal areas and the low mountains of the peninsula, in place of rich native vegetation, anthropogenic landscapes and secondary poor forests have spread. On Jeju Island, there is a zone of subtropical landscapes with the remains of subtropical forests, in which, in addition to deciduous, there is a significant proportion of evergreen and heat-loving conifers.
Due to the cold "breath" of Siberia in the subtropics of Korea, native species of palms, citruses, bananas and mangroves preserved in Japan have died out. Currently, palms, citruses and bananas are used in urban landscaping and country gardens. There are also artificial forest plantations of metasequoia, cryptomeria, kuningamia, cypress and podocarp, some of which grew here before the Ice Age.
However, the Pleistocene cooling was able to survive a large number of coniferous, deciduous and evergreen tree species. More about them in the article: Geography of the Republic of Korea.

Story

The history of South Korea begins with the Soviet-American agreement at the end of the summer of 1945 on the division of spheres of influence on the peninsula. Under this agreement, part of Korea south of the 38th parallel came under the jurisdiction of the United States, while the northern part - under the jurisdiction of the Soviet Union.
Under the Constitution of the Republic of Korea, the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea in Exile during the Japanese occupation is considered the legal government of the country between 1919 and 1948. In the history of the country, periods of democratic and authoritarian governance alternated. The civil governments in the country are numbered from Syngman Rhee's First Republic to the current Sixth Republic. The First Republic, democratic at the beginning, became increasingly autocratic until its end in 1960. The Second Republic was based on democratic principles, but was overthrown in less than a year, after which a military government appeared in the country. The Third, Fourth, and Fifth Republics were nominally democratic, but they are thought to have been extensions of military rule. With the establishment of the Sixth Republic, the administration of the country again returned to democratic lines.
Since its foundation, South Korea has come a long way in the development of its education, economy and culture. In the 1960s, the country was one of the poorest in the region, while now it is a developed industrial state. Since the 1990s, Korean popular music, television series and cinema have become increasingly popular elsewhere in the world, especially in Southeast Asia, a phenomenon known as the "Korean Wave".

Entertainment

Everland Park It's three amusement parks in one.

Entertainment World (Festival World)- a park where a variety of attractions operate all year round and large-scale performances take place. And also, this is a place where you can fully enjoy the extraordinary beauty of the seasons. A number of festivals are held here to highlight the beauty of each season: Tulip Festival, Rose Festival, Summer Festival Music”, “Festival-Autumn” and “Festival-Winter”. "World of entertainment" consists of five theme parks: Global Fair (World Fair) - a town where you can make various purchases, American Adventure (American adventure), Magic Land (Magic Land), European Adventure (European adventure) and Equatorial Adventure (Adventure at the equator).
Grand shows, one after another the most incredible rides, all this 365 days a year you can find in Festival Word.

Caribbean Bay (Caribbean Bay)- This is a water amusement park, foaming with the excitement of tropical seas and coasts. Caribbean Bay is a park water attractions world-class open-air (and partly indoor) that you can relax all year round. Here you will be transported back to the 17th century in a distant port city on Caribbean coast, filled with tropical plants, shipwrecks, and other scenes related to these exotic places and time. The water amusement park is most famous for its artificial wave pool, which creates high enough waves for real surfing, the “Lazy River”, which winds its way past various attractions. water park, and breathtaking chute descents where you will test your nerves.

In the park "Speedway" You will enjoy real car racing. Everland Park also houses the Ho-Am Art Museum, located on picturesque hill is the largest private art museum in Korea, visiting which you will get the most complete picture of the history of the country's art dating back 5000 years ago.

Hot Springs- In Korea, you will also find healing hot springs. Since ancient times, they have been considered an effective remedy for many diseases: arthritis, neuralgia, intestinal problems and skin diseases. But even if your health is perfectly fine - relax in hot waters natural source- inexpressible pleasure!

Skiing- Korea is also rich in numerous high-level ski resorts.

The largest number of ancient monuments is concentrated in Gyeongju - a city in the southeast of the country, the capital of the ancient kingdom of Silla (57 - 935 AD). There is the oldest Buddhist temple Bulguksa ("Monastery of the Kingdom of the Buddha"), with the world-famous Emille Bell (3.78 m in height and two meters in diameter), built in 751-774, the main pavilion Taeungjeon, as well as Tumuli Park, Onyn ( Five tombs), Cheomseongdae (the oldest observatory that has survived to this day), the tomb of the commander Kim Yu Sin and Mount Namsan with pagodas and the ruins of monasteries, the Gyeongju National Museum and the resort complex on Lake Pomun.
The unique cave temple Seokguram on the top of Mount Thohamsan, which served as a natural defense against raids in Silla. The temple consists of the main domed hall, a small square entrance hall and a fan-shaped corridor connecting them. The main figure in the center of the round hall is a statue of Buddha sitting cross-legged on an octagonal pedestal. This is the only cave temple in East Asia where the main figure is located in the center of the hall. The main figure is surrounded by 39 bodhisattvas, 10 nakhans (disciples of the Buddha), as well as devas and celestial governors, symbolizing " clean land- the abode of the Buddha.

Haeinsa Monastery in Gyeongsangnam-do Province houses the Tripitaka Koreana (the most complete collection of Buddhist scriptures preserved in East Asia). The "Tripitaka Koreana" vault, registered as a national treasure, consists of two long buildings in the north and south, which, together with two small outbuildings in the east and west, form a square. These early Joseon style buildings are remarkable not only for their elegance, but also for their particularly unique design - their creators managed to ensure optimal ventilation in the buildings without any special devices, thanks to which the printed cliché boards have been perfectly preserved after many centuries.

In Seoul, four royal palaces of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) - Gyeongbokgung, Deoksugung, Changdeokgung and Changyenggun, as well as Piwon, or secret garden, adjacent to Changdeokgung Palace, with its beautifully planned gardens and classical architecture. Currently, all the palaces have been turned into museums and are open to the public (admission is about $1). Adjacent to the palace complexes is the Jongmye Royal Funeral Temple, which houses the memorial plaques of the monarchs of the Joseon Dynasty. The main pavilion is called Jeonjong (the longest wooden building in South Korea), and a similar building built by King Sejong the Great (reigned 1418-50) was called Yongnyeonjong ("Pavilion of Eternal Peace"). Now commemoration ceremonies in the main sanctuary are held once a year, on the first Sunday of May.
Also in Seoul are the National Museum of Korea, the Institute of Korean Classical Music, the National Folk Museum, the Cultural Center. Sejong is the largest performing arts center (the Seoul Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, Seoul City Traditional Music Orchestra, Seoul Municipal Dance Company, Seoul Municipal Choir and Seoul Municipal Youth Choir are located here), Hoam Arts Center, Namsan Tower.

For lovers military history of considerable interest will be the large Military History Museum. The Folk Village, which is a 50-minute drive from Seoul, offers tourists everything related to the traditional way of life, it consists of houses typical of different Korean provinces. Regularly (especially on weekends) all kinds of street performances, wedding ceremonies, funeral processions, circus performances, kite flying competitions, folk dances, and traditional sports competitions are organized in the village.

Located on the coast Sea of ​​Japan(approximately 200 km east of Seoul) Seoraksan mountains, are part of the Kymgangsan (Diamond Mountains) ridge, which is considered one of the most scenic spots in the world. The mountains of Seoraksan amaze with the pristine beauty of their landscapes. Thanks to winter sports, the area has become a year-round resort. Apart from skiing, the most popular sports are swimming in summer and climbing in autumn.

In the ocean, about 100 km. from south coast peninsula, located jeju island- a popular resort that has a mild tropical climate, its vegetation and landscape are strikingly different from the mainland of Korea. The main attraction is Mount Hallasan, the highest on the island (1950 m), which is an extinct volcano with a crater on top. The flows of solidified basalt lava formed many tunnels, pillars and other bizarre formations on the slopes, as well as numerous volcanic caves.

Ganghwa Island in the Yellow Sea is famous for its historical monuments and magnificent nature. Among the main attractions of the island are the altar built according to legend by Tangun, the legendary founder of the nation, the fortress walls and forts of the 15th-19th centuries, the ancient oven of the 13th century. for the production of celadon, dating back to the Goryeo period, Chongdeunsa Monastery. The east coast beaches, located along shallow waters with weak coastal currents, are considered the best in Korea.

Seoul is one of largest cities world - is famous for its amusement parks, many of which are rightfully considered the best in the world.

Park Lotte World - indoor "Disneyland" One of the 4 located in Seoul. The entrance ticket allows the children to have fun all day long on any rides, of which there are more than 60 in the park. "Roller coaster", a trip on a raft along an underground river, an active volcano with a waterfall, a balloon trip, an artificial ice rink (skate rental is free), a laser show, a boat trip in the footsteps of Sinbad the Sailor, a huge number of shops, cafes , a carnival of cartoon characters twice a day - all this conquers people of any age.

Seoul Land - open "Disneyland", located in the suburbs of Seoul, surrounded by mountains. The "oldest" amusement park. Fountains, a river with rapids and a sea of ​​chrysanthemums in all colors of the rainbow, a roller coaster with 2 "dead loops", a water slide, a shooting gallery, monsters, electronic games, a cinema hall in which any visitor has the opportunity to participate in " star wars", being on board a spaceship. Near the park there is a large zoo, which can be viewed not only by walking along it, but also from the height of the cable car. Cost - 30 USD / person, including entrance ticket to all attractions during the day.

Caribbean Bay is the best water amusement park in the world. A complex system of countless outdoor and indoor pools, including those with an artificial wave, dizzying turns of water slides, the excitement of windsurfing - not every adult can resist such temptations. There is only one problem with children in this park: they do not want to leave here. Here you can also visit the sauna and jacuzzi with water from mineral springs, solarium.

Everland - the largest park in Seoul - a kaleidoscope of breathtaking experiences. Here you can visit the zoo and the medieval castle, see the flower festival, safari and even fly in a helicopter! And there are also many of the most incredible rides - roller coasters, whirlpools, haunted castles.

The Chunhyang Festival, which is held in Namwon in May, which is 70 km northeast of Gwangju. On an impromptu stage, the actors reproduce an ancient Korean legend about the unhappy love of the daughter of a simple artist Chunhyang and the son of a local ruler, who secretly got married from everyone, but soon, by the will of evil fate, were forced to part forever. During the Chunhyang Festival, a song contest is held that tells the tragic story of this love.

Documentary about South Korea

Source. karlson-tourism.ru, wikipedia.org, panasia.ru

South Korea is one of the most popular countries for tourism throughout Asia. This is not surprising given that South Korea has a large number of historical monuments, Buddhist monasteries, temples and pagodas. Tourists in this country are waiting for ski resorts, beautiful mountains, waterfalls on rivers, as well as long sandy beaches.

South Korea is located in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula in East Asia. South Korea borders North Korea to the north, Japan to the east (via the Sea of ​​Japan), and China to the west (via the Yellow Sea). The total area of ​​the country is 99,392 sq. km, including the islands, and the total length state border– 238 km.

Most of the territory of South Korea is occupied by mountains and hills. The highest peak is Mount Hallasan, whose height reaches 1,950 m. Plains and lowlands make up only about 30% of the country's territory, they are located in the west and southeast of South Korea.

South Korea owns about 3 thousand islands, most of them are very small and uninhabited. Most big Island of this country - Jeju, located 100 km from the south coast.

The capital of South Korea is Seoul, which is now home to more than 10.5 million people. Historians claim that Seoul already existed in the 4th century BC.

The official language in South Korea is Korean, which belongs to the Altaic languages.

More than 46% of the South Korean population consider themselves atheists. Another 29.2% of South Koreans are Christians (18.3% are Protestants, 10.9% are Catholics), more than 22% are Buddhists.

Under the current constitution, South Korea is a parliamentary republic. Its head is the President, elected for 5 years.

The unicameral parliament in South Korea is called the National Assembly, it consists of 299 deputies elected for a 4-year term.

The main political parties are the conservative Senuri Party, the United Democratic Party, and the Liberal Progressive Party.

The climate in South Korea is very diverse - continental and humid monsoon, with cold winters and hot summers. The average air temperature is +11.5C. The highest average air temperature is in August (+31C), and the lowest is in January (-10C). The average annual rainfall is 1,258 mm.

In the east, South Korea is washed by warm waters Sea of ​​Japan, and in the west - the Yellow Sea. The total coastline is 2,413 km. In August, the water off the coast of South Korea warms up to + 26-27C.

Most of South Korea's rivers are in the eastern part of the country. Many rivers flow into the Yellow Sea. The most big river in South Korea, the Nakdong River. Some rivers have amazing beauty waterfalls (for example, in Cheongjeonpokpo Nature Park).

As such, the history of South Korea begins in 1948, when previously united Korea was divided into two states - the Republic of Korea (South Korea) and the DPRK. According to mythology, the Korean state was formed in 2333 BC.

In 1950-53, there was a war between South Korea and the DPRK, in which the United States, China, the USSR and even the UN took an active part. A peace treaty between these countries has not yet been signed, and their border is separated by the Demilitarized Zone.

South Korea was admitted to the UN only in 1991.

The culture of South Korea is based on the centuries-old cultural traditions of the Korean people. The traditions and customs of the inhabitants of South Korea are unique, unless, of course, North Korea is taken into account (and this, of course, is impossible).

The most important holiday in South Korea is the Sol holiday, which is considered a reflection of the Chinese New Year.

In winter, South Koreans celebrate the Hwacheon Mountain Trout Festival and the Inje Icefish Festival.

At the end of March, Gyeongju hosts the annual liquor and rice cake festival, and in April (or May) South Koreans celebrate Buddha's Birthday. At the end of May, Koreans celebrate the Chungju Martial Arts Festival.

In September-October of every year, South Koreans celebrate the Chuseok harvest festival. These days, Koreans take a short vacation from work to visit the graves of their ancestors.

The cuisine of South Korea is based on ancient Korean culinary traditions. The main food products are rice, seafood, fish, vegetables, meat.

In South Korea, we recommend trying rice porridge, rice with vegetables, kimchi (sauerkraut or pickled cabbage), potato cakes, seafood soup, various fish soups, squid and octopus dishes, bulgogi (Korean kebabs), fried pork ribs , hodukvazha cookies.

Traditional soft drinks in South Korea are rice and barley decoctions, as well as decoctions and infusions of herbs and spices.

As for alcoholic beverages, local rice wine and soju rice liquor are popular in South Korea.

Remember "boshingtang" is dog soup. The South Korean government is trying to ban the preparation of this dish, but so far unsuccessfully. The dish "boshingtang" is usually consumed by South Koreans in the summer. South Korean men claim that this dish promotes stamina.

In South Korea, there are now several thousand historical, architectural and archaeological monuments. In terms of the number of attractions, South Korea occupies one of the first places in all of Asia. Some South Korean attractions are on the list world heritage UNESCO (for example, the Buddhist temple of Seokguram). The top ten attractions in South Korea, in our opinion, may include the following:

1. Gyeongbokgung Royal Palace in Seoul
2. Hwaseong Fortress
3. Bulguksa Buddhist Monastery
4. Bulguksa Buddhist Temple
5. Cave Buddhist Temple Seokguram
6. Deoksugung Palace in Seoul
7. Li dynasty tombs in Gwangneung
8. Changdeokgung Royal Palace in Seoul
9. Posingak Bell Tower in Senul
10. Heongchunsa Shrine near Asan

Most big cities South Korea - Busan, Incheon, Daegu, Gwangju, Daejeon and, of course, Seoul.

The best beach resorts in South Korea are located on the shores of the Sea of ​​Japan. The most popular beaches on the coast of the Sea of ​​Japan are Gyeongpodae near the city of Gangneung and Naksan near the town of Chongjin. Most of the beaches are surrounded by beautiful pine forests. The beach season in South Korea is very short - from July to August.

Another popular beach holiday destination in South Korea is Jeju Island, located 100 km from the Korean Peninsula. We also recommend that tourists pay attention to the beaches of Ganghwa Island in the Yellow Sea.

South Korea has many ski resorts that are popular among Asians. These ski resorts have a good developed infrastructure skiing, and, in addition, the prices there are much lower than, for example, in Europe. The most popular ski resorts in South Korea are Muju, Yangji, Yongpyeong, Bears Town and Chisan Forest.

The skiing season is from the end of November to the middle of March. Some ski resorts use artificial snow, so they ski there all year round.

There are many thermal and hot springs in South Korea. Tourists are advised to visit the Yongpyeong resort in the east of the country, where there are excellent hot springs, the water temperature in which is + 49C. By the way, in this ski resort, tourists will also find good ski slopes.

Tourists from South Korea usually bring handicrafts, lamps, bookends, traditional Korean folk masks, dolls in traditional Korean clothes, Korean tea cups, necklaces, hairpins, bracelets, blankets, scarves, Korean sweets, Korean tea, Korean white wine

Banks:
Mon-Fri: 09:00-16:00

Supermarkets are open daily from 10:30 to 20:00 (close later on weekends).

Tours South Korea

Country Information

Represents an example harmonious combination modern high-rise buildings ancient buildings. Seoul is the center of cultural and business life of the whole country.

You have the opportunity to visit royal palaces, ancient and cultural monuments. Famous amusement parks, a water park with water slides and bright colorful festivals.

Memo by country

The capital is Seoul. Big cities- Busan, Daegu, Incheon, Gwangju, Daejon, Jeju-do.
Geography. Korea is located on the Korean Peninsula, which stretches from north to south for 1100 km. From the west the country is washed by the Yellow Sea, from the east by the Eastern Sea. The Democratic Republic of Korea (South Korea) and communist North Korea are separated by a demilitarized zone. 70% of the country's territory is occupied by mountains. Administratively, South Korea consists of 9 provinces, the capital Seoul and 6 metropolitan cities: Busan, Daegu, Incheon, Kwaju, Daejeon and Ulsan.
Currency . Won.
Banks and exchange offices.

Money can be exchanged at specialized banks exchange offices and big hotels. The difference between the official and market dollar exchange rate is negligible. The network of banks in South Korea is very developed. They work on weekdays from 9:30 to 16:30, on Saturday - until 13:30, Sunday is a day off. ATMs are installed in hotels, department stores, metro stations, tourist sites and operate from 9:30 to 22:00, some - around the clock. VISA, American Express, Diners Club, Master Card and JCB credit cards are accepted in large hotels, department stores and restaurants.

Cuisine and restaurants.

Korea presented four national cuisines: actually Korean, Chinese, Japanese and European. In all settlements of the country there are many restaurants, canteens and eateries of various profiles: as they say, for every taste and budget. Japanese restaurants- the most expensive and prestigious. Chinese ones are simpler, all dishes there are divided into two categories: “siksa” and “yori”. "Sixa" - relatively cheap and easy to prepare dishes. "Yori" are noticeably more expensive, often sophisticated dishes that are prepared only in large portions, designed for at least two. European restaurant in Korea, a place where a person of average income goes when he wants to eat something unusual. The menu in most of these restaurants does not differ in variety: the main and often the only dish is "tonkasy" - a kind of schnitzel baked in a thin layer of dough. Korean restaurants are the most versatile and democratic, both in terms of prices and audience.

Customs.

Foreign currency can be imported in the amount declared at the entrance. An entry declaration must be completed when importing jewelry, expensive watches, photographic equipment, furs, firearms, knives and expensive foreign-made items. Duty-free allowed to import one liter bottle of alcohol, 400 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250 gr. Tobacco, 60 ml. perfumes, backups up to 300,000 KRW (~ 250 USD). It is forbidden to export antiques without special permission. Any printed and other materials that are contrary to the constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan, threaten public safety, reveal state secrets, or can be used for espionage purposes are prohibited from importing. Coins are prohibited from being imported. If any items prohibited for import were confiscated from you when entering South Korea, you can get them back when you return home on the basis of a document that will be issued upon seizure. It is forbidden to export antiques without special permission. Flammable items, aerosols, hairspray, lighter gas and piercing objects, should be packed in luggage, as they will not be allowed on the plane in hand luggage.

Entertainment, excursions and attractions

Western tourists, once in South Korea, first of all go to the border with North Korea, to the DMZ - the Demilitarized Zone, or to one of the ten sites included in UNESCO.

The Seoraksan Mountains on the coast of the East Sea, 200 km east of Seoul, are part of the Geumgangsan (Diamond Mountains) range, considered one of the most scenic places in the world.

Incheon is the center of the pottery industry. Its main attractions: Pottery Village, thermal springs, Museum of Ceramics; Chayu Park, Munhaksanseong Fortress, Joseon-era Confucian School, Songdo-wonji Park with two artificial lakes and good beach on one of them.

Ganghwa Island lies in the Yellow Sea northwest of the center of Incheon. There are 120 dolmens on it, including the largest in the country (7.1 m wide and 2.6 m high). The main attractions are the altar of Tangun, the legendary founder of the nation, the fortress walls and forts of the 15th-19th centuries, the monastery of Chongdynsa.

Suwon is famous for the ancient fortress of Hwaseong (1794-1796). Other attractions are the Everland amusement park, the huge Caribbean Bay water park with artificial waves and water slides, the folk village, the Syllux Temple in Yeoju, the tomb of Sejong the Great in the vicinity of Yeoju.

Gyeongju in the southeast of the country is the capital of the ancient kingdom of Silla. Here are the oldest Buddhist temple of Bulguksa (“Buddha Kingdom Monastery”) with the world famous “Emile” bell, Thumuli Park, Oneung (“Five Tombs”), Cheomseongdae (the oldest observatory that has survived to this day), the Gyeongju National Museum and the resort complex on Lake Pomun. The world-famous and unique cave temple Seokguram near the top of Mount Tkhohamsan.

Busan: Taejongdae Park on the cape of Yongdo Island, Yongdusan Park, Hale National Marine Park, Haeundae and Gwanalli beaches, Thondosa Monastery - Buddhist relics, many beautiful statues are stored in it. In the northern part of the city, there is Geumgang Park and Dongnae Hot Springs. Every October, Busan hosts the Busan International Film Festival, one of Asia's most influential film forums.

Daegu: Haeinsa Monastery and its repository Tripitaka Koreana (the most complete collection of Buddhist canons in East Asia), Chikchisa Buddhist monastery with thousand-year-old columns and thousands of small Buddha statues.

Andong: Cradle of Confucianism. In the past, this city was famous for great scientists and numerous Confucian temples and schools, today there are 26 such temples. Its main attractions are the traditional Korean village of Hahoe with the Museum of Masks, the Confucian temples of Dosan and Byeonsan, the temple of Bongjongsa.

The main and favorite entertainment of all Koreans- luxuriate in natural hot springs, interspersing relaxed bliss with crazy descents on water slides. So the Seorak Waterpark, located next to the Seoraksan Mountains, one of the main attractions of the east coast of Korea, does not complain about the lack of public. People come there to relax in the hot springs, improve their health in the spa or undergo a massage course. "Sorak Aquaworld" - a real water resort, consisting of an open water park, a resort with mineral springs and recreation areas. It has a breathtaking 70-meter waterslide.

Asan Spavis - outdoor hot springs where you can bathe even in cold weather. This center has jasmine pools, a cave pool, a yellow clay sauna and a large outdoor swimming pool.

hot spring park and how many pools Incheon Spa Plus is located just an hour from Seoul. "Bugok-Hawaiian Island" is located in Channwen-gun and has been known since ancient times. Its pavilion contains a standard swimming pool, waterslides, children's pool, steam cave, chiropractic cave, infrared ray cave, hot spring steam bath, waterfall, hot spring steam and outdoor bath

Golf is a very popular sport in South Korea. There are currently 156 golf clubs in the country on the mainland and 16 on Jeju Island.

Jeju Island. Features of the island - statues of solidified lava, reminiscent of the sculptures of Easter Island, but smaller. Apart from natural beauties there is an interesting folklore village on the island, unique temple, numerous volcanic grottoes, as well as the main attraction - Mount Hallasan, the highest on the island (1950 m.), dormant volcano with a krator on top. Hallasan National Park, Gwandoken Pavilion in the center of Gocheju, Museum natural history and Jeju Folklore, Mok Sok Won Garden, Iho Beach, Botanical Garden Yomiji, Adok Valley, Sanbangulsa Rock Temple, Chonbang Waterfall, Seongeup Museum Village, Manjangul Cave.