It's a miracle that South Korea still exists. With China looming to its west and Japan nudging it from the east, it's no wonder the country has played unwilling host to centuries of war games. Poking delicately into the East Sea/Sea of Japan, the little peninsula has proved an irresistibly tasty morsel to its hungry neighbours. But no matter how often they try to swallow it, South Korea, like plasticine, comes out the other end largely intact.

South Koreans attribute their indigestible culture to the binding agents of Confucianism, language and pride. The stunning landscape has also played a big part in creating a cohesive Korean identity. The country is swathed in green, and the Koreans are obsessed with nature, and with mountains in particular. Wherever you travel, you'll see them out in the open air, clad in the latest adventure fashions, pushing ever onward and upward.

Full country name: Republic of Korea
Area: 99,373 sq km (38,369 sq mi)
Population: 48 million
Capital city: Seoul (pop 10.6 million)
People: Koreans, expats (mostly American)
Language: Korean
Religion: Christianity, Buddhism, Confucianism, Shamanism
Government: republic
President: Roh Moo-hyun
Prime Minister: Lee Hae-chan

GDP: US$475 billion
GDP per head: US$10,550
Annual growth: 2%
Inflation: 4%
Major industries: Shipbuilding, cars, machinery, electronics, machinery, chemicals, textiles
Major trading partners: USA, Japan, Germany

next