South Korea

South Korea (officially the Republic of Korea and often simply called Korea) is an East Asian country about the size of Portugal, located just north of Japan and south of China. It has a population of about 48.5 million.

South Korea has been separated from its northern neighbor since 1945, when World War II ended with Soviet forces controlling North Korea and the U.S. controlling the south. South Korea became a democratic nation in 1948 and has since become a major world economy and popular tourist destination.

Most of South Korea's oldest religious sites are Buddhist temples, including several on the UNESCO World Heritage List. There are also many notable churches, as the modern Korean population is 26 percent Christian.

South Korea Country Guide

English Name: South Korea Local Name: Taehan-min'guk (Republic of Korea) Time Zone: Korea Standard Time (UTC+9) Calling Code: 82 Currency: South Korean won (₩) (KRW) Area: 99,720 sq km Population: 48,508,972 (July 2009 est.) Languages: Korean (English is widely taught in school) Religions: None 49.3%, Christian 26.3% (Protestant 19.7%, Roman Catholic 6.6%), Buddhist 23.2%, other or unknown 1.3% (1995 census)

South Korea Sacred Sites Index Browse our illustrated index of sacred sites and religious places South Korea Map A detailed interactive map of South Korea with major cities and religious sites marked, plus links to travel maps and more South Korea Books A hand-selected gallery of books on South Korea specially chosen for Sacred Destinations readers Religion in South Korea An overview of the primary religions of modern South Korea. South Korea Hotels Search availability, view photos, read reviews, and get a great deal on a hotel room in South Korea

Featured Destinations in South Korea (List All Destinations) Bulguksa North Gyeongsang An important example of 8th-century Silla architecture, home to no less than seven Korean national treasures. Seokguram Grotto An 8th-century Buddhist cave temple in the hills above Bulguksa, this is the only structure surviving fully intact from the Silla era. Haeinsa Gyeongsang Province Best known for its complete copy of the Buddhist scriptures, the 14th-century Tripitaka Koreana.

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