About Korea
Visitors to Korea will discover its rich natural beauty combined with a unique cultural and historical heritage. After a rapid modernization in recent decades, Koreans still maintain the Confucian and Buddhist heritage that flourished over 6 centuries offering to visitors a distinct charm of Oriental traditions.
Traveling in Korea is enjoyable all year round thanks to its distinct four seasons and the beautiful changes of nature. In spring (March to May), mountains and fields bloom with cherry blossoms, forsythias, azaleas, magnolias and lilacs. In summer (June to early September), luxuriant forests, bright green fields and the cobalt blue sea draw people outdoors. In autumn (September to November), cool temperatures and a clear sky make it the most pleasant time of the year in Korea. The mountains all over the country are covered in red and yellow blazing autumn foliage. In winter (December to February), mountain slopes become the place for skiing and snow festivals. Winter in Korea is another delightful season of great amusement.
More than 400 local festivals throughout the year represent colorful facets of the Korean culture. Events that have great appeal to tourists include the Icheon-Gwangju-Yeoju Ceramic Expo and the sea-splitting Jindo Yeongdeungje Festival. Korea takes pride in many world-renowned cultural assets which UNESCO has designated on the World Cultural Heritage List. They are Changdeokgung royal palace, Hwaseong fortress, Seokgulam stone Buddha grotto, Bulguksa temple, the Tripitaka Koreana wood block printing plates at Haeinsa temple, Jongmyo shrine in Seoul, the Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa dolmen sites, and the Gyeongju remains of Silla Dynasty.
For further information, please visit http://english.tour2korea.com
About Seoul
 Seoul is also the capital of the Republic of Korea with residents numbering
well over 13 million, occupying about a quarter of the total population of
Korea. All the main stream of politico-economical and cultural activities run
into and out of Seoul, which makes it a very colorful city encompassing a
variety of elements.
 Seoul is a metropolis where rivers and cultures come
together. Palaces in the center of downtown Seoul provide
an opportunity to relieve great moments in the city's history
and to expose visitors to a rich architectural heritage.
Downtown Seoul is rich in exclusive shops, galleries and
museums. The bustling central city is ringed the fantastic
natural setting of magnificent mountains and
the spectacular Han River.
For further information, please visit http://english.seoul.go.kr
Education in Korea
The Korean government established the 6.3.3.4 education system- 6 years in elementary school, 3 years in middle school, 3 years in high school and 4 years in university or college. When it comes to academics, each Korean class is comprises of about 30-40 students. Many high school students decide their major before going to university as requirements for the major studies differ.
The school year is divided into two semesters. The first begins in the beginning of March and ends in mid-July; the second begins in late August and ends in mid-February. Each new school year starts in the beginning of March, unlike typical America's school year, where school year starts in the beginning of September. The schedules are not uniformly standardized and vary from school to school.
Basic Korean
 The Korean language is classified as a Ural-Altaic language,
a group which also includes Mongolian, Hungarian, and Finnish.
It is most often called Hangungmal or more formally, Hangugeo
or Gugeo which literally translated means national language.
Korean was formerly written using Hanja, borrowed Chinese characters pronounced in the Korean way until "Hangeul" was
developed by a group of scholars under the patronage of King
Sejong of the Chosun Dynasty in 1443.
Useful website
| Korea Tourism Organization (KTO): |
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| Cultural Heritage Administration: |
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| Korean Information Service: |
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| Information about Seoul: |
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