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

Geographic coordinates 37 00 N, 127 30 E

Map references Asia

Area
total: 98,480 sq km
land: 98,190 sq km
water: 290 sq km

Area - comparative slightly larger than Indiana

Land boundaries
total: 238 km
border countries: North Korea 238 km

Coastline 2,413 km

Maritime claims
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM; between 3 NM and 12 NM in the Korea Strait
continental shelf: not specified
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM

Climate temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter

Terrain mostly hills and mountains; wide coastal plains in west and south

Elevation extremes
lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 m
highest point: Halla-san 1,950 m

Natural resources coal, tungsten, graphite, molybdenum, lead, hydropower potential

Land use
arable land: 17%
permanent crops: 2%
other: 81% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land 11,590 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards occasional typhoons bring high winds and floods; low-level seismic activity common in southwest

Environment - current issues air pollution in large cities; acid rain; water pollution from the discharge of sewage and industrial effluents; drift net fishing

Environment - international agreements
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography - note strategic location on Korea Strait

NOTE: The information regarding Korea, South on this page is re-published from the 2002 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Korea, South Geography 2002 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Korea, South Geography 2002 should be addressed to the CIA.