South Korea - General Background South Korea is a country of two distinct aspects: the traditional and historic, and the sleek and the new. The country is determined to leave its troubles behind and has entered the new millennium with a renewed optimism and passion. Despite the ever widening gap between these two, the former has not completely displaced the latter. These days most towns consist of a new, fashionable area, where discos, karaoke bars, coffee shops and stores sell a variety of goods everything from designer-label clothing to freshly baked French bread. But in these same towns you will also find the old Korea; street markets formed in an intriguing maze where vendors sell everything from food, fruits, vegetables and seafood just as they have done for hundreds of years before. South Korea has much to offer, the avid traveller and many believe it to be the unspoiled gem of Asia. It possesses largely untouched natural landscapes, a vibrant history with traditional culture and local people who are friendly, welcoming and curious. I. Climate There are distinctive four seasons in South Korea, which are spring (March-May), summer (June-August), fall (September-November), and winter (December-February). II. Geography South Korea is located on a peninsula between the East Sea and the Yellow Sea. The total land is 220,847 square kilometers. As mountains and hills for almost 70% of South Korea, it is very mountainous. The nearest countries are China and Japan (Korea's  Geography. South Korea is mostly surrounded by water and has 2,413 kilometres (1,499  mi) of coastline along three seas. III. PEOPLE With total population of 50 million in roughly the size of Indiana, South Korea is one of the most highly dense nations in the world. Sharing common cultural and linguistic heritage, South Korea is very linguistically and ethnically homogeneous country. Two common observations about Korean people are their endurance and dynamism.