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General Information Area: 99,313 sq km (38,345 sq miles, excluding demilitarised zone). Population: 47,904,370 (official estimate 2001). Population Density: 482.6 per sq km. Capital: Seoul. Population: 10,231,217 (1995). GEOGRAPHY: The Republic of Korea (South Korea) shares borders to the north with the demilitarised zone (separating it from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea), to the east with the Sea of Japan (East Sea), to the south with the Korea Strait (separating it from Japan) and to the west with the Yellow Sea. There are many islands, bays and peninsulas in the Korea Strait. The volcanic island of Cheju-do lies off the southwest coast. Most of the country consists of hills and mountains and the 30 per cent of flat plain contains the majority of the population and cultivation. Most rivers rise in the mountains to the east, flowing west and south to the Yellow Sea. The Naktong River flows into the Korea Strait near the southern port of Busan. The eastern coast is rocky and steep with mountains rising from the sea. Government: Republic since 1945. Head of State: President Roh Moo Hyun since 2003. Head of Government: Prime Minister Kim Suk Soo since 2002. Language: Korean. Religion: Mahayana Buddhism with a large Christian minority. Also Confucianism and Chundokyo, which is peculiar to Korea and combines elements of Shamanist, Buddhist and Christian doctrines. Time: GMT + 9. Electricity: 110/220 volts AC, 60Hz. Government policy is to phase out the 110 volt supply and many hotels now have a 220 volt supply. Telephone IDD is available to Seoul and other major cities. Country code: 82. Outgoing international code: 001 or 002. Mobile telephone GSM 1800 and 900 networks are in use. SK Telecom is the main network provider (website: www.sktelecom.com). A new 3G network was introduced in 2002. Fax Available at major hotels and business centres. Internet ISPs include Korea Telecom (website: www.kornet.net), Korea-Afis (website: www.korea-afis.co.kr) and Shinbiro (http://english.shinbiro.com). There are Internet cafes available in Seoul, and one in Taejon. Telegram There is a service at all main hotels. Korea International Telecommunications Services at 1, Choongmo-ro, Chung-gu, Seoul provides a 24-hour public service. Post Airmail to Western Europe takes up to ten days. Post offices open Mon-Fri 0900-1700, Sat 0900-1300. Press English-language national dailies are The Korea Herald and The Korea Times. BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change. BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice): MHz 15.28 11.95 9.740 6.195 Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov): MHz 17.74 11.71 9.645 6.110 From www.columbusguides.com, Copyright © 2004 Highbury Columbus Travel Publishing Terms and Conditions apply.