South Korea occupies the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula, which extends some 680 mi (1,100 km) from the Asian mainland. This mountainous peninsula is flanked by the Yellow Sea to the west, and Sea of Japan (East Sea) to the east. Its southern tip lies on the Korea Strait and the East China Sea.

Korea is located on a peninsula in the middle of Northeast Asia; the Yellow Sea is to the west and the East Sea is to the east. Although Korea has a tradition and culture that date back thousands of years, in the past few decades Korea has transformed from an agricultural economy to one of the world’s most industrialized countries. Major industries in Korea include automobiles, shipbuilding, chemicals and information technology. The Korean population is highly educated and has one of the highest internet usage rates in the world.