Land
Korea lies in the north eastern part of the Asian continent. Bordered with China and Russia to the north and Japan to the east, the Korean peninsula is 223,098㎢, almost the same size as the U.K. The administrative area of the Republic of Korea is 99,678㎢, slightly larger than Hungary or Portugal and a little smaller than Iceland. The mountain range runs the full length of the east coast and plains form the central region and slope to the western coast. Korea has a varied terrain, though about 70 per cent of the territory is mountainous with large number of rivers and streams. Korea has 1,021 mountains and 3,300 islands. Baekdusan located in the north Korea is the highest (2,744m), and the second highest is Hallasan (1,950m) on Jejudo, the largest island in Korea. The longest river is Apnokgang (790Km) in the north, and the second longest is Nakdong river (521Km) in the south.
Korea in Winter
People
They are descendants of several Mongol tribal groups which migrated from the north in the prehistoric eras and have now been fused into one separate, homogeneous group, independent of their neighbors to the east and west but with traits distinctive of both the Chinese and Japanese. Koreans speak Korean language and their writing form is Hangeul, which was first invented in the mid 15th century by King Sejong.

Flora and Fauna
Korea is botanically divided into five districts each with special differences; Jeju island, Southern, Central, Northern districts and Ulleungdo. A great variety of flora, pine, larch, spruce, juniper, oak, willow, maple, alder and birch trees, usual in temperature climates are found over the whole peninsula. Also large gingko, and Chinese elm are scattered throughout the country. Flowering shrubs are numerous and grow profusely on the hillsides, such as forsythia, azalea, cherry, lilac, syringe and spiraea and many other varieties of wild flowers. Animals found on the peninsula are boar, bear, deer, wildcat, wolf, hare, weasel, though now some of these animals are rare exception in the mountains of Korea. The most common native birds are the crow, magpie, jay, kite, heron, crane, oriole lark, sparrow, robin, tit, pheasant and quail while the migratory birds are goose, bustard, duck, teal, swan and rail. A wide variety of water animals and fish have stimulated vigorous fishing industry, Snakes and various kinds are found. Insect life has been well studied as many are harmful to trees and crops. Two hundred species of butterflies have been identified.

(Source : Korea guide by Edward B. Adams)