Climate

Climate graphs and data

South Korea Climate Graph (Metric | Imperial units)

Other websites you can look at for weather and travelling are:

http://www.timeanddate.com/weather/south-korea/seoul

http://www.weatheronline.co.nz/weather/maps/city?LANG=nz&PLZ=_____&PLZN=_____&WMO=47108&PAG=1&CONT=asie&UP=0&R=0&LEVEL=161&REGION=0022&LAND=KO&ART=tab&NOREGION=1

Seasons

Best Time

Best time for travelling to South Korea would be definitely autumn, which falls in the months between September and November. The are a wonderful blue, and  brilliant rustic colours of orange, red, rust and gold and they hold several nice festivals during that period.

Seasons

South Korea has the four very distinctive seasons.

Summers in South Korea are usually short, hot and humid, with monsoons rains towards the end of June lasting until mid late July. The hot, muggy usually ends towards the beginning of September.

Winter in South Korea is generally cold and very dry, although there is lots of snow it only lasts for a few days but you still have to watch out for ice patches. The weather can dip below 19 degrees celcius but cold snaps like this only for a few days at the most. Winter begins in Demcember and end towards the middle of Febuary.  

Spring from March through to May, spring often starts out cool sometimes wet. Gradually the weather begins to warms up and the beautiful flowers come into bloom. During spring various species of flowers and trees sprout with beauitful shades of green and red, magnolia and cherry blossoms.

Autumn September to November is probbally the best time of the year. The weather in cooler and dryer but still pleasantly warm and sunny. As the season progresses, the leaves change colors and the harvesting begins. During Fall time Chuseok takes place known as a korean thanksgiving. Fall is wonderful time to visit Seoul and explore Korea.

Currency

Currency

South Korean currency is known as Won (₩), KRW

Exchange Rate

1 South Korean won = 0.000849874735 Australian dollars

Availability of banks/ATM's

Cards with Cirrus or Plus logos are the easiest and most widely accpected in South Korea. Places in South Korea even accpected  international cards like China Union Pay, Maestro, Electron and JCB cards.
CD's, Cash  Dispensers can be found in subways, convenience stores, railway stations, bus terminals, and department stores. CD's offer cash withdrawal services, are open 24 hours a day and dispense cash in 10,000 won units. Most machines display English directions on the monitor, and others also have Japanese and Chinese.

Banks Offering Cash Service in Korea / Credit Card

If you have any questions while using ATM/CD machines, call the Korea Travel Phone at 1330.

Religion

Religions in South Korea

South Korea has no one standard religion. Major religions practised in South Korea are.....

• Buddhism 27.3%
• Christianity 25.3%
• Protestantism 16%
• Roman Catholics 5%
• Non religious 27%

Korean shamanism is also practised.

Language

Major Languages

The Koreans are one ethnic family speaking one language. The Korean language is spoken by more than 65 million people. The fact that all Koreans speak and write the same language has been a crucial factor in their strong national identity. Modern Korea has several different dialects including the standard one used in Seoul and central areas, but they are similar enough that speakers/listeners do not have trouble understanding each other.

 Korean (official) and English is widely taught

Traditional greetings

Hi!  An-yŏng-ha-se-yo.

Good Morning  An-yŏng-hi ju-mu-shŏ-ssŏ-yo? / An-nyŏng-ha-se-yo? (polite)
Good Evening   Shik-sa-ha-shŏ-ssŏ-yo? / An-nyŏng-ha-shŏ-ssŏ-yo? (polite)
Welcome (greeting someone)  Hwan-yŏng-ham-ni-da. 

How are you?  Chal ji-nae-shŏ-ssŏ-yo? 

Thank you (very much)!  Nŏ-mu) kam-sa-ham-ni-da!

And you?  … ŭ-nyo/nŭ-nyo?
You're welcome! (for "thank you")  A-ni-e-yo.
Good night  An-yŏng-hi ju-mu-se-yo.
Good bye!  An-nyŏng-hi ga-se-yo! / An-nyŏng-hi ge-se-yo!

Sginificant Figures

 Syngman Rhee (1875-1965): Founder of South Korea

 Lee Byungchul (1910-1987): Samsung founder

 Chung Juyung (1915-2001): Hyundai founder


 

History

Time line

Event Date             Description
  
08/15/1945             38th parallel line dvided between 2 countries.

09/09/1948             Liberation from Japan that over ruled Korea.

06/25/1950             Korean War. North and South Korea went to war with each other. North Korea was supported by China and Russia, South Korea by the members of the UN.

01/01/1953             End of the War. The Korean War was a bloody one over 2 million soldiers died on both sides.

08/29/1961             Park Chung - hee, bcomes the new ruler of South Korea.

08/11/1979             Park Chung - hee assassinated. Chun Doo - hwan rises to power.

06/10/1986             South Korea changes from a Republic to a Democracy.

06/10/1991             Both North and South Korea Join the UN.

12/01/2002             New Elections. Roo Moo - hyun rises to power.