Facts

  • Population: 48.6 million
  • Major language: Korean
  • Major religion: Buddhism, Christianity
  • Life expectancy: 77 years (men), 84 years (women)
  • Currency: South Korean Won (KRW)

Geography

  • Area: 99,313 sq km (38,345 sq miles)

Tourism

  • For Canadians, tourist visas are not required for stays less than 180 days.
  • Best times of the year to visit South Korea:
    • April – June
    • Sept – Nov
  • In 2018, 15.3 million foreigners visited Korea
    • Chinese visitors ranked first in terms of number, 4.78 million, followed by Japanese holidaymakers, 2.94 million.
  • Seoul – favourite city for Japanese and Chinese tourists
    • Kimchi Museum
    • Change of guard ceremony at the Deoksugung Palace
    • Jogye-sa Temple
    • National Palace Museum
    • National Museum of Korea
  • Busan – second favourite city for Japanese tourists
    • Beomeosa Temple
  • Hadong
    • Ssanggyesa Temple
  • Jeju Island – second favourite location for Chinese tourists
  • Number 1 reason Japanese tourist visit Korea is for food and gourmet experience

Overlanding

  • Drive on the right side
  • Unfortunately, today South Korea cannot be reached by land.
  • Port of Entry – Incheon
  • Port of Entry – Donghae
    • Ferry to and from Vladivostok, Russia
  • Port of Entry – Busan
    • Large container ship port
    • Ferry to Japan
  • German & Brazilian vehicles cannot enter South Korea at all

Pets

Resources

Korea’s World Rankings 2018

  • 22nd in the Human Development Index, the highest in East Asia.
  • Innovation capability: 8th
  • Roads quality: 12th
  • Airport connectivity: 16th
  • life expectancy: 18th
  • Quality of vocational training: 32nd
  • Reliability of police services: 35th
  • Freedom of the press: 38th
  • Judicial independence: 63rd

Safety & Security

  • Emergency Numbers
    • Police: 112
    • Ambulance and Fire: 119

Foreign Embassies in South Korea

  • Australian Embassy, Seoul: +82 (0)2 2003 0100
  • Canadian Embassy, Seoul: +82 (0)2 3783 6000
  • Irish Embassy, Seoul: +82 (0)2 721 7200
  • New Zealand Embassy, Seoul: +82 (0)2 3701 7700
  • South African Embassy, Seoul: +82 (0)2 792 4855
  • UK Embassy, Seoul: +82 (0)2 3210 5500
  • USA Embassy, Seoul: +82 (0)2 397 4114

News about South Korea