South Korea

South Korea is a country located in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula. It is bordered by the Sea of Japan to the east, and the Yellow Sea to the west. South Korea has a population of over 51 million people, and is the 31st most populous country in the world. The capital and largest city is Seoul, with a population of over 10 million people. South Korea is a developed country, and has the 4th largest economy in Asia and the 11th largest economy in the world. The country is known for its high-tech industries, and is a major exporter of electronics, automobiles, ships, and steel. South Korea is also a major tourist destination, with over 10 million foreign visitors each year. The country is divided into provinces, each of which is subdivided into cities and counties. The provinces are: Gyeonggi, Gangwon, North Chungcheong, South Chungcheong, North Jeolla, South Jeolla, North Gyeongsang, South Gyeongsang, and Jeju. South Korea has a temperate climate, with four distinct seasons. The average annual temperature is 12.6 degrees Celsius. The official language of South Korea is Korean. The country has two writing systems, Hangul and Hanja. Hangul is the more common writing system, and is used for most everyday writing. Hanja is used for some words of Chinese origin, as well as for some proper names. South Korea is a constitutional democracy, and the head of state is the President. The head of government is the Prime Minister. The National Assembly is the unicameral legislature, and the judiciary is independent of the executive and legislature. South Korea is a member of the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, the Asian Development Bank, and the G-20 major economies.