What is the terrain and geography like in Korea, South?
The capital city of Seoul lies some 30 miles south of the DMZ. In addition, there are the regional capitals for various provinces in the country. There are also several important seaports in Korea. Pusan, about 300 miles southeast of Seoul, is Korea's main seaport. Inchon, about 40 miles west of Seoul, is the second most active port. The cities of Pohang, Ulsan, and Chinhae are also key sites in commerce.
Only 19% of the country is flat enough to be arable, and that land is farmed intensively. In addition, there has been a steady shift away from the farm and into urban areas. Two-thirds of Korea's population now live in its cities.
Only 19% of the country is flat enough to be arable, and that land is farmed intensively. In addition, there has been a steady shift away from the farm and into urban areas. Two-thirds of Korea's population now live in its cities.
Geographic Location | Asia |
Total Area |
38,502 Square Miles 99,720 Square Kilometers |
Land Area |
37,421 Square Miles 96,920 Square Kilometers |
Water Area |
1,081 Square Miles 2,800 Square Kilometers |
Land Boundaries |
148 Miles 238 Kilometers |
Irrigated Land |
3,399 Square Miles 8,804 Square Kilometers |
Border Countries | North Korea 238 km |
Coastline |
1,499 Miles 2,413 Kilometers |
Geographic Coordinates | 37 00 N, 127 30 E |
Terrain | mostly hills and mountains; wide coastal plains in west and south |
Highest Point | 1,950 Meters |
Highest Point Location | Halla-san 1,950 m |
Lowest Point Location | Sea of Japan 0 m |
Natural Resources | coal, tungsten, graphite, molybdenum, lead, hydropower potential |
Time Zone | UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) |