South Korea Map

South Korea Map

New style "cartograms" from Worldmapper graphically show the very high population density of South Korea.

The main population density areas are Seoul and neighboring Incheon. The gray areas represent areas of low population density, with only the south west and eastern coasts having a relatively sparse population.



The estimated total population of South Korea in 2008 was 48,379,392.

Click on the map to enlarge it.

© Copyright 2009 SASI Group (University of Sheffield)

© Korea Guide

Korean Sashimi

Korean Sashimi

Thick cut and delicious Korean sashimi (raw fish) is a gastronomic delight.

Eat at Jagalchi Fish Market in Busan or at numerous specialist fish restaurants in Seoul, Korean raw seafood is a culinary adventure.

© Korea Guide

KTX Trains Korea

KTX Trains Korea 서울

The KTX is one of our favorite trains. It has a very elegant shape - sleek and refined.

© Korea Guide

Korea Headlines September 27 2009

Korean News

Korean families in rare reunion

BBC

Japan PM Hatoyama to visit Seoul October 9

Korea Herald

After School Girl Band Harassed by Rowdy Bikers

Korea Times

Korea 'to Host Next Year's G20 Summit'

Chosun Ilbo

Previous Korea news

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Pusan International Film Festival

Pusan International Film Festival

Pusan International Film Festival in Busan will take place this year from October 8-18 on Haeundae Beach in the southern port city of Busan.

PIFF is Asia's largest film festival and began life in 1996. Cinemas for screenings are MegaBox Haeundae 5 and Busan Yatching Center Outdoor Theater.

2009 PIFF
Annex 2-1, Yachting Center
1393 Woo1-Dong
Haeundae-Gu
Busan 612-797
Korea
Tel: 82 51 747 2684
Fax: 82 51 747 2694

© Korea Guide

Korea Headlines September 20 2009

Korean Headlines

North Korea ready for nuclear talks.

BBC

Charges pressed over Imjin flood deaths

Korea Herald

Koreans Fighting Obesity

Korea Times

Three Men Arrested for Illegally Uploading 'Haeundae'

Chosun Ilbo

A Succession Saga Goes Silent

Washington Post

Previous Korea news

© Korea Guide

Dongdaemun Gate

Dongdaemun Gate 동대문

The Dongdaemun or "Great East Gate" has stood on its present spot in Seoul since 1396 though the present structure dates from 1869.

Dongdaemun Market is the major tourist attraction in the vicinity.

© Korea Guide

Eating Korean: from barbecue to kimchi, recipes from my home

Eating Korean

Eating Korean: from barbecue to kimchi, recipes from my home

by Cecilia Hae Jin Lee

John Wiley & Sons

ISBN: 0-7645-4078-5
272 pp

This book is an excellent introduction of the delights of Korean cooking. Written by a first-generation Korean-American and award-winning chef, the book covers the standard favorites of Korean cuisine such as bulgogi, bibimbap and kimchi as well as offering recipes that may not be so well-known to a Western audience.

Among the one hundred plus recipes presented are plenty of hot soups, vegetable dishes, noodles, and those saucy, hot Korean dips.

The author interweaves the recipes with personal stories about her large extended Korean family as well as interesting cultural insights into Korean food and culture. Highly recommended for those wanting to try Korean food at home with a useful list of US suppliers of Korean ingredients listed by state.

Buy this book from Amazon USA I UK I Japan

© Korea Guide

Korea Headlines September 13 2009

Korean Headlines

Ruse or reality in North Korea's uranium admission? BBC

Exhibition showcases Korean medicine Korea Herald

Book Highlights Essence of Korean Temples Korea Times

More Foreigners Take Korean Proficiency Test Chosun Ilbo

South Korea says supports U.S. talks with North Washington Post

Previous Korea news

© Korea Guide

Japan Korea Flights

Japan Korea Flights

Flights to Korea from Japan have become much cheaper over the years and with the present exchange rate making the Won good value against the Japanese Yen, there is no better time to fly over the East Sea (Sea of Japan) and enjoy a visit to the Land of Morning Calm.

As well as a number of daily services from the big airports such as Narita, Haneda, Osaka, Fukuoka and Chubu International, there are regular flights to both Incheon International Airport and Busan from smaller, provincial airports in Japan, including Hiroshima.

English language newspapers or your travel agent are a good place to find cheap flights and good value package trips on tours. These will include airfare, hotel and usually a bus tour and last usually for 3 or 4 days. Recent prices quoted include 17,000 yen from Tokyo, 18,800 yen from Osaka (KIX).

© Korea Guide

Korea Headlines September 6 2009

Korean Headlines

North Korea enters final phase of uranium enrichment

BBC

Korea beat Australia 3-1 in football friendly

Korea Herald

Foreign Investors Flocking to Kosdaq

Korea Times

Report Predicts Older, Multicultural Korea on Stilts

Chosun Ilbo


Previous Korea news

© Korea Guide

South Korean Provinces

South Korean Provinces

For administrative purposes, South Korea is divided into 8 provinces (도,道,do), 1, Special self-governing Province, 1 Special City and 6 Metropolitan Cities.

The 8 provinces are: Chungcheongbuk, Chungcheongnam, Gangwon, Gyeonggi, Gyeongsangbuk, Gyeongsangnam, Jeollabuk and Jeollanam. The 1 Special self-governing Province is Jeju. The 1 Special City is the capital Seoul and the 6 Metropolitan Cities are Busan, Daegu, Daejeon, Gwanju, Incheon and Ulsan.

Gyeonggi is the largest province in terms of population with Busan the largest Metropolitan City, though, of course, smaller than Seoul - the Special City.

Gyeonggi-do Province includes the capital Seoul, though Seoul has its own administration. The provincial capital of Gyeonggi-do is Suwon. Other provincial capitals are Chuncheon (Gangwon), Cheongju (Chungcheongnam), Daejeon (Chungcheongnam), Jeonju (Jeollabuk), Muan (Jeollanam), Daegu (Gyeongsangbuk) and Changwon (Gyeongsangnam).

Municipal level divisions are slightly similar to those in Japan: Si (city), Gun (county), Gu (district), Eup (town), Myeon (township), Dong (neighborhood), Ri (village).

© Korea Guide

Moon Handbooks South Korea

Moon Handbooks

Moon Handbooks South Korea

by Robert Nilsen

Moon Handbooks

ISBN: 1-5669-1418-3
860 pp

If you are considering a stay of a few weeks or more in Korea, then Robert Nilsen's excellent Moon Handbooks South Korea, should be one of the first things you pack. Full of detailed travel, historical and cultural information on Korea's main cities and often hidden places of interest, this book takes you well off the normal traveler's well-beaten track.

The clean black and white design and decent maps are a bonus, as are the well-penned and informative history and language sections. A great background resource for the long-term traveler or resident, but in need of a sharper edit on more precise travel information for the hungry or lost, casual Seoul-searching tourist.

Buy this book from Amazon USA I UK I Japan

Find more books on Korea

© Korea Guide

Korea Headlines August 30 2009

Korea Headlines

Koreas to resume family reunions BBC

Government to introduce anklets for criminals Korea Herald

N. Korea Frees 4 S. Korean Fishermen Korea Times 

One-stop Service Centers Open for Medical Tourists Chosun Ilbo

Previous Korea news

© Korea Guide

Internet Cafes in Korea

Internet Cafes in Korea

As befits the most wired nation on earth, internet cafes are everywhere.

Look out for the "PC" sign on buildings and in the street.

Mainly popular with gamers rather than surfers, cybercafés or PC bangs are comfortable and cheap and most seem to be open 24/7.

Expect to pay around 1 USD an hour to get online in any of the major Korean cities.

© Korea Guide

Busan Weather

Busan Weather

Fish market in Busan

The climate in Busan is less extreme than the weather in Seoul to the north. The sea acts to cool temperatures in the Korea Peninsula's very hot summers and helps to moderate the harsh cold of the Korean winter. Busan can be 4 or 5 degrees Centigrade warmer than the capital in winter and a couple of degrees cooler in summer.

BUSAN WEATHER

August is the hottest month on the south coast with July the wettest with an average of around 300mm of rainfall expected in the month. November through March are the driest months with average precipitation less than 70 mm.

© Korea Guide

Gwangalli Beach & Gwangan Bridge

Gwangalli Beach & Gwangan Bridge

Gwangan Bridge is a huge bridge in Busan on the southern coast of South Korea. Gwangan Bridge carries National Highway 66 and crosses the bay west of Haeundae to Daeyeon-san-dong.

Gwangan Bridge, which is 6.5km long is the largest bridge in Korea and is illuminated at night.

Gwangalli Beach looks out on to the bridge and is a popular spot for water sports or to try one of the many seafood restaurants or trendy cafes and shops in the area.

image © Daniel Allen

Jagalchi Fish Market Pusan

Jagalchi Fish Market Pusan 자갈치시장

Jagalchi Fish Market in Busan is the largest marine products market in Korea, and like Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo, is an ideal place to sample raw fish and the Korean version of sushi or gimbap (steamed white rice - bap - with seafood rolled in dried seaweed - gim).

Jagalchi is located in the Nanpo-dong area of Busan and the market itself is both indoors and outdoors. Fried tuna or chamchi is a popular dish here.

Korean sashimi - hoe - is usually cut thicker than in Japan and served on a bed of lettuce.

Images © Daniel Allen

© Korea Guide

Korea Headlines August 23 2009

Korean Headlines

South Korea's champion of democracy Kim Dae-jung

BBC

Rocket launch hopes for lucky number 8

Korea Herald

Foreigners’ Crimes Outgrow Interpreters

Korea Times

Korea Bids to Host 2022 World Cup

Chosun Ilbo


Previous Korea news

© Korea Guide

Photographs of Busan South Korea

Photographs of Busan South Korea

Enjoy this slide show of images of Busan by travel photographer Daniel Allen.

There are images of Busan by night, Jagalchi Fish Market, Korean food, Hurshimchung and Gwangan Bridge.

© Daniel Allen