General Information  

Korea

Korea, traditionally known as the Land of the Morning Calm, is today a modern, bustling hub of East Asia. It is a peninsula jutting off of China, and Japan is only two hours away. Despite this close physical proximity to the neighboring countries, Korea has a distinctive culture of its own, which has developed during its 5,000 years of history. Visitors can expect to meet a lively population with its own language, writing system, architecture, cuisine, and many other manifestations of a unique cultural heritage.


Capital-Seoul

The capital of Korea is Seoul. Seoul has been the capital city of Korea since 1392. This city is the heart of the Republic of Korea, home to 10 million of the nation's 48 million people. Seoul is located in the central region of the Korean Peninsula. Seoul is the center of finance, politics, commerce, recreation, education and culture, and is home to major corporations, banks, government offices, schools, theaters, and entertainment facilities. The wide and beautiful Han river flows through Seoul and serves as a lifeline for the heavily concentrated population. 

Visa

All visitors to the Republic of Korea must have a valid passport and visa. Visitors with roundtrip tickets from countries who have a special agreement with Korea may be exempt from the visa requirement, and can stay in Korea visa-free for periods up to 30 days, or 90 days, depending on the type of agreement between two countries. When uncertain as to the requirement for entry visa to Korea, please contact the Korean embassy or a consulate as early as possible. For more information, visit the website of the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

 
Climate

Korea's climate is regarded as a continental climate from a temperate standpoint and a monsoon climate from a precipitation standpoint. The climate of Korea is characterized by four distinct seasons. For more information, visit the website of the Weather Forecast for Seoul, Korea