Republic of Korea (commonly known as “Korea”)

South Korea is located in Asia on the Korean Peninsula; it measures a total of 100,188.1 ㎢ and takes up 45% of the Korean Peninsula, which is a total of of 221,000 ㎢. The total area of the peninsula includes all of the Korean Peninsula and its annexed islands, occupied by both South and North Korea. The Korean Peninsula is slightly larger than Cambodia (181,035 ㎢), and about 2/3 the size of the Philippines (300,000 ㎢), Vietnam (331,210 ㎢), and Japan (377,915 ㎢)
The Korean Peninsula, on which South Korea and North Korea are located, neighbors China to thenorthwest with Amnokgang (River) as its borderline, and China and Russia to the northeast withDumangang (River) as its borderline. The peninsula is bordered by the Yellow Sea in the west, theEast Sea in the east, and the South Sea in the south. The southern and western parts of the KoreanPeninsula are plains, while the eastern and the northern parts are mountainous. The highest mountainin the Korean Peninsula is Baekdusan(2,744m). Gaemagowon, which is in the northern part of theKorean Peninsula, is called “the Roof of Korea,” and the Taebaek Range located on the east coast iscalled “Baekdudaegan”. Best known islands of the Korean Peninsula include Jeju Island, Geoje Island,Jin Island, and Ulleung Island. Jeju Island and Ulleung Island were formed by volcanic activities. Thewest coast and the south coast of the Korean Peninsula are ria coasts, and there is a large tidal range.(Source: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport)

The national flag of Korea is the “Taegeukgi,” which is mostly white with a yin-yang symbol at the center and with “Geon,” “Gon,” “Gam,” and “Li” (groups of black bars) located at each of the four corners.
The white background of the flag represents brightness and pureness, expressing Koreans’ traditional love of peace. The Yin-yang pattern at the center symbolizes harmony between “Yin” (blue) and “Yang” (red), and embodies the truth that all things in the universe get created and exist through interactions between Yin and Yang.
The 4 symbols at the corners represent the images of Yin and Yang, changing and interacting with each other.
Each of these 4 symbols exists in harmony with the Yin-yang at the center. All of these symbols of the Taegeukgi reflect the Korean ideal of promoting creation and prosperity while remaining in sync with the Universe (source: Ministry of Interior and Safety).

The national flower of Korea is the Mugunghwa, whichhas been loved by the Korean people from ancienttimes. The name of the flower means, "flower thatblooms and never falls for eternity." Ancient recordsshow that the Korean people have regarded theMugunghwa as a flower from heaven since before theGojoseon Era. The Silla Kingdom even referred to itself as“Geunhwahyang”, meaning “the nation of Mugunghwa”.

The Mugunghwa has been an important flower throughout Korean history, and love of this flower is even reflected to the national anthem (written during the late Joseon Era), which includes the verse "splendid rivers and mountains with endless roads of Mugunghwa." The Korean people's undying love for the Mugunghwa continued through the Japanese occupation, and it was officially named the national flower after the emancipation.
(Source: Ministry of Interior and Safety).

Korea’s total population is 51,779,203 (as of the Population and Housing Census in 2019, Statistics Korea), making it the world’s 28th most populous country. The population density is 515 people per ㎢ (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport intellectual statistical yearbook, Statistics Korea Future Population Estimate), which is the 23rd largest in the world.

Korea’s GDP is USD 1.6308 trillion, making it the 12th largest economy in the world. Per capita GDP is USD 31,494.90. (Bank of Korea National Account 2020).

Korea is a democratic republic wherein the president, as head of the state, directs and supervises the heads of all central administrative bodies according to the law. The prime minister is given authority by the president to direct and supervise the chiefs of each central administrative institute. As shown in the following chart, the central government of Korea (as of September 2020) consists of 18 ministries, 4 special ministries, and 18 services. Among these, the 18 ministries are in charge of the following administrative tasks :

Korea is divided into 17 metropolitan councils and 226 district councils. Among the metropolitan councils are 1 special city, 6 metropolitan cities, 1 special self-governing city, 8 provinces, and 1 special self-governing province.
Local governments consist of 75 cities, 82 guns (counties), and 69 self-governing districts; as of December 31, 2019, there are 3,491 eups, myeons, and dongs, which are sub-districts of each local government.