South Korea: Capital, Flag and Fun Facts

About South Korea

South Korea occupies the southern half of the Korean Peninsula in East Asia, with seas on three sides. Much of the country is mountainous, and it has thousands of small islands along its coasts. It is known for technology, K-pop, kimchi and ancient palaces and temples.

About Seoul

Seoul is in the northwest of South Korea, on the Han River. It is a huge, high-tech city known for its royal palaces like Gyeongbokgung, N Seoul Tower and lively shopping streets.

Fun facts about South Korea

1. The Korean alphabet, Hangul, was created in the 1440s under King Sejong, and October 9 is Hangul Day.
2. Jeju Island is a volcanic island with lava tubes and Hallasan, South Korea's highest mountain, all part of a UNESCO site.
3. On Jeju, women divers called haenyeo dive for seafood without air tanks, a tradition recognized by UNESCO.
4. Taekwondo, a martial art known for its high, fast kicks, started in Korea and is now an Olympic sport.
5. Traditional Korean houses use ondol, a heated-floor system that has kept homes warm for centuries.
6. Kimjang, when families gather to make large batches of kimchi for winter, is recognized by UNESCO.