Geography

South Korea is located in Eastern Asia, southern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea. Approximately 70 percent of land area of South Korea is mountains and uplands. Principal ranges--T'aebaek and Sobaek range and Chiri Massif. Tallest mountain--Mount Halla at 1,950 meters, a volcanic cone located on Cheju Island. Longest rivers--Naktong River, 521 kilometers; Han River, which flows through Seoul, 514 kilometers; and Kom River, 401 kilometers.

Climate: South Korea is Long, cold, dry winters; short, hot, humid summers with late monsoon rains, flooding. Seoul's January mean temperature -5° C to -2.5° C; July, 22.5° C to 25° C. Cheju Island warmer, milder weather than other parts of South Korea. Annual rainfall varies from year to year but usually averages more than 100 centimeters; two-thirds of precipitation falls between June and September. Droughts, particularly in southwest; approximately one every eight years.