Korea: Land of great past and a greater future

by Pritika Ghura

Korea has a rich history which dates back to 5000 years, with the first capital city (named Joseon, meaning Land of the Morning Calm) created in 2333 BC. From time immemorial, Korea has withstood the influences and invasions of neighboring countries and preserved its heritage, language, and ethnic homogeneity. Throughout its history, Korea has excelled in science and technological advances, developing the world's most scientific alphabet, the world's first ironclad warship, the first metal typeset book, and the first udometer.

Interesting Facts

South Korean Population: 49 million
Capital: Seoul
Currency: The unit of currency is South Korea is the South Korean Won indicated as KRW. USD $1 is roughly equivalent to KRW $900.00
Language: Korean
English is widely taught in schools and universities
Economic profile: South Korea has shifted its economic focus from heavy industrialization in the 1970s and 80s to service industries in the 1990s and is now focused on becoming the leader in IT and Robotics. There are other ambitious plans to expand or create other sectors of the economy, including the financial, biotechnology, aerospace and entertainment industries