South Korea is a country in East Asia. Part of the Korean Peninsula, South Korea is bordered by North Korea in the North and has water (Sea) on the other three sides. Here are 10 fun facts about South Korea. Let’s read.
Basic facts about South Korea
| Area | 100,350 square kilometers (38,745 square miles) |
| Population | 51.8 million (2023 estimate) |
| Capital | Seoul |
| Largest city | Seoul |
| Currency | South Korean won |
| Official language | Korean |
| National Animal | Siberian Tiger |
| National bird | Korean magpie |
| National tree | Korean red pine |
| Official name | Republic of Korea (ROK) |
10 fun facts about South Korea
Overview
South Korea has an area of approximately 100,350 square kilometers (38,745 square miles) and a population of about 51.8 million (2023 estimate). South Korea is officially known as the Republic of Korea (ROK).
Capital and largest city
Seoul is the capital and the largest city in South Korea. The city has a population of about 10 million (2020). Seoul has one of the largest GDPs (nominal) among large world cities.
The highest mountain peak in South Korea
Hallasan located on Jeju Island is the highest mountain in South Korea. It is a shield volcano with a height of 1,947 meters (6,388.0 ft). In the mainland of South Korea, Jirisan is the highest mountain. Jirisan is 1,915 m (6,283 ft) high.
Sports in South Korea
Soccer (association football) and baseball are the two most popular sports in South Korea. Other popular sports include martial arts, Volleyball, fencing, etc.
The population in South Korea has almost zero growth rate
The population growth rate in South Korea is very low, less than 0.1 percent. Moreover, the population is expected to begin declining after 2025.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
There are 16 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in South Korea, 14 cultural heritage sites, and 2 natural heritage sites. The famous ones are Changdeokgung Palace Complex, Baekje Historic Areas, Jeju Volcanic Island, etc.
National animal of South Korea
Siberian Tiger (Amur Tiger) is the national animal of South Korea. However, there are no Siberian tigers left in the wild in the country.
Official Language
Korean is the official language in South Korea. It is spoken and understood by almost the entire population of the country.
A country with a very high population density
The population density in South Korea is 510-520 people per square kilometer (2023 estimate) which is higher than India’s population density of 420-430 people per square kilometer (2022) and the Netherlands’ population density of 508 people per square kilometer (2023).
GDP
South Korea is the 13th largest country in the world by GDP numbers (nominal). The country has a GDP of over 1.7 trillion dollars (2022). This is a huge number for a small country like South Korea.
Extra
- There are over 3,300 islands in South Korea.
- The Korean age system is different from the international age system. In Korea, a newborn is 1 year old and turns two on January 1 of the next year regardless of the date of birth. Even a baby born on 21 December will be 2 years old on 2nd January.
- South Korea has one of the largest militaries in the world in terms of the number of personnel.
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