Welcome to South Korea, it borders North Korea, Japan and China. Separated at the 38th parallel from northern Korea it is a truly remarkable country. The country is dotted with 20 national parks, including the very popular Soraksan, Hallasan and Chirisan parks. It has four distinct seasons, with a wet summer in the middle of the year, and a very cold winter from November to March. Cheju-do off the south coast is the warmest and wettest place in the country. Geographically the northern part of the country is more alpine in terrain while the south is more forest dominated.
Korean society is based on the tenets of Confucianism, a system of ethics developed in China around 500 BC. Confucianism is big on devotion and respect - for parents, family, friends and those in positions of authority. Confucius also emphasized justice, peace, education, reform and humanitarianism. Many Koreans attribute their country's remarkable success in recent decades to this attitude. In modern Korean society, Confucianism is most noticeable in relations between people. The Five Relationships prescribe behavior between ruler and subject, father and son, husband and wife, old and young, and between friends. If you fall outside any of these relationships, you do not, effectively, exist. Many travelers to Korea find the locals rude: they're probably not, chances are they just haven't noticed you. Once you're introduced to someone, you'll fall within the rules for friends and things will start looking up.
The mainstay of Korean cuisine is kimch'i - grated vegetables mixed with chili, garlic and ginger and left to ferment. Whatever you order, kimch'i will probably arrive with it. The national dish is pulgogi, or fire beef. Strips of beef are marinated in soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic and chilli and cooked on a hotplate at the table. The most popular street food is pancakes, including p'ajon (green onion pancakes) and pindaeddok (pancake with bean sprouts and pork).

Full country name: Republic of Korea
Area: 99,373 sq km
Population: 48 million
Capital City: Seoul (pop 12 million)
People: Koreans, expats (mostly American)
Language: Korean, English
Religion: Christianity, Buddhism, Confucianism, Shamanism
Government: republic
Head of State: President Roh Moo-hyun
Head of Government: Prime Minister Goh Kun
GDP: US$475 billion
GDP per capita: US$10,550
Annual Growth: 2%
Inflation: 4%
Major Industries: Shipbuilding, cars, machinery, electronics, machinery, chemicals, textiles
Major Trading Partners: USA, Japan, Germany