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Korea is a beautiful county with over 5,000 years of history. Even with its rich history, Korea can be seen as a progressive and modern country. South Korea is now the ninth largest economy in the world and a major economic power in Asia.
Geography
South Korea is located in Eastern Asia, on the southern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the East Sea and the Yellow Sea. South Korea, at 98,480 square kilometres, is slightly larger than the American state of Indiana. Two hundred and ninety square kilometres of South Korea are occupied by water.
Climate
The climate of Korea is characterized by four distinct seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter. The contrast between winter and summer is striking. Winter is cold and is influenced primarily by cold Siberian fronts. Summer is hot and humid due to the maritime pacific high. The transitional seasons, spring and autumn, are sunny and generally dry. Temperatures in all seasons are somewhat lower than those at the corresponding latitudes in other continents, such as North America or Western Europe.
Economy
South Korea's economic growth over the past 40 years has been spectacular. Per capita GNP, only US$100 in 1963, exceeded US$9,800 in 2002. South Korea is now the world's ninth largest economy. In particular, Korean technology surpassed that of Japan and Taiwan and rose to dominate the international semiconductor chip and IT technology market during the late 1990s and the 21st century. In 2003, South Korea achieved GDP growth rate of 3%. In 2002, South Korea's GDP reached US$ 477 billion.
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