Location and Size: Strategic location in waters of the Sea of Japan, Korea Strait, and Yellow Sea. Total land area of Korean Peninsula, including islands, 220,847 square kilometers approximately 98,477 square kilometers (44.6 percent) constitutes territory of South Korea.

Land Boundary: 238 kilometers with North Korea.

Disputes: Demarcation Line with North Korea Liancourt Rocks claimed by Japan.

Topography and Drainage: Approximately 70 percent of land area 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: 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.

Data as of June 1990