Guide to Korea, South

Full name: The Republic of Korea

Location: Eastern Asia, southern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the East Sea and the Yellow Sea

Population: 49,232,844 (July 2008 est)

Capital: Seoul

Area: 98,480 sq km

Major language: Korean

Major religions: Christianity 26.3% (Protestant 19.7%, Roman Catholic 6.6%), Buddhist 23.2%, other or unknown 1.3%, none 49.3% (1995 census)

Life expectancy: 75 years (men), 82 years (women) (UN)

Monetary unit: won

Internet domain: .kr

International dialling code: +82

Flying time: 10.5 hours from direct from London

Time Difference: GMT+9

Climate: temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter

Terrain: Mostly hills and mountains, wide coastal plains in the west and the south

Tipping: Tipping is not customary as service charge is usually included in the bill.

Visa: Tourism in Korea (Dem Rep) is currently permitted only in officially organised groups of minimum one person. Visas can be obtained through officially recognised travel companies or the nearest Korea (Dem Rep) embassy. A valid passport and a visa is required by everyone and costs around £30.

When appolying for a visa you will need to show a valid passport plus a copy of it, supply two passport-sized photos, a completed application form, tour confirmation from a recognised travel company and proof of sufficient fuds to cover your stay.

Allow at least 20 working days for your visa to be processed.

Note: For stays of over 24 hours registration with the MFA is required, although most hotels and travel agents will automatically do this for the visitor. It is advisable to contact the nearest embassy prior to departure for further details.

Korean medical visa. The South Korean government has announced a new category of visa for tourists wanting to visit the country for medical purposes. The visa will be available for
either a 90-day or one year term, with local hospitals and medical providers to market themselves to attract foreign patients.

19 May 2009