South Korea has a developed economy led by technology companies like Samsung and LG. Its culture, especially K-pop music and TV, has become widely popular throughout Asia and other parts of the world in a phenomenon called the "Korean Wave". Traditional Korean culture was influenced by China but Koreans believe their cuisine, language, and alphabet set them apart from other Asian cultures. Nearly half the population does not follow a particular religion, with Christianity and Buddhism each having about a quarter of adherents. Baseball and martial arts like taekwondo are popular sports in Korea.

2. Republic of Korea
South Korea has been
recognized as an
industrialized, developed
economy country with
some of the world's leading
high technology
corporations such as
Samsung and LG. In recent
years, a phenomenon
known as the "Korean
Wave" (or Hallyu) in which
the popularity of South
Korean film, television,
music, food and other
culture aspects has swept
most of Asia and many
other parts of the world has
brought increased attention
to the country.

3. Having been under the cultural sphere of China for much of its
history, substantial Chinese influences are evident in traditional
Korean culture. Koreans believe that the things that set them the most
apart from other Asian cultures are their cuisine, their language and
their hangeul script. Korea has a significant number of Christians (26%)
and Buddhists (26%). And some 46% of the country profess to follow
no particular religion.

4. Baseball was brought to Korea by American
missionaries in 1905. The Korean national baseball team
is regarded as one of the strongest in the world. Korean
martial arts such as taekwondo are also popular.

5. Holidays
Korea's traditional holidays follow the lunar calendar, so
they fall on different days each year. The two biggest,
Seollal and Chuseok, are family holidays.
Seollal (설날), on the 1st day of the 1st month in the lunar
calendar, is also known as "Korean New Year". Families
gather together, eat traditional foods-especially Ddugguk
(떡국).
Chuseok (추석), often dubbed "Korean Thanksgiving", is
celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month of the
year (usually September-October). Koreans celebrate it by
eating traditional foods, notably a rice cake called
songpyeon (송편) and playing folk games.
Buchonnim osinnal or sawolchopa-il : means Buddha's
birthday, 8th, 4th month in the lunar calendar.

7. 

Korean cuisine is becoming
increasingly popular
outside of Korea, especially
in other parts of East Asia.
A Korean meal is centered
around rice and soup and
likely a fish or meat dish,
invariably served with a
vast assortment of side
dishes known as banchan
(반찬).
The kimchi (김치
gimchi), made from
fermented cabbage and
chili, accompanies
nearly every meal. Many
different dishes are
made using kimchi for
flavoring, and kimchi is
served as a side dish

8. KOREANS USE CHOPSTICKS WITH A TWIST:THEY
PREFER CHOPSTICKS OF METAL.




Some etiquette pointers:
Do not leave chopsticks sticking
upright in a dish, especially rice.
Do not start eating unless the eldest at
the table has begun to eat.
Do not lift any plates or bowls off the
table while eating, because Koreans
consider that it is rude.

9. Sights
Kyongbokkung is also
called Northern
Palace, because it is
located in the northern
part of Seoul, South
Korea. Kyongbokkung
was the main
residence of the Joseon
Dinasty and it was
built in 1394,
following the design
of the Korean architect
Jeong Dojeon.

10. NATIONAL MUSEUM
BUILDING 63

11. Moonlight
Rainbow Fountain