Geography & environment — South Korea
Location, land area, terrain, climate, and natural resources.
Profile updated 2026-06-02
⚡ Geography & environment at a glance
Location, land area, terrain, climate, and natural resources. Key figure for South Korea: Asia
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Location & size
- Geographic Location
Asia
- Geographic Coordinates
37 00 N, 127 30 E
- Total Area
38,502 Square Miles 99,720 Square Kilometers
- Land Area
37,421 Square Miles 96,920 Square Kilometers
- Water Area
1,081 Square Miles 2,800 Square Kilometers
- Land Boundaries
148 Miles 238 Kilometers
- Border Countries
North Korea 238 km
- Coastline
1,499 Miles 2,413 Kilometers
Physical geography
- Terrain
mostly hills and mountains; wide coastal plains in west and south
- Highest Point
1,950 Meters
- Highest Point Location
Halla-san 1,950 m
- Lowest Point Location
Sea of Japan 0 m
- Natural Resources
coal, tungsten, graphite, molybdenum, lead, hydropower potential
- Irrigated Land
3,399 Square Miles 8,804 Square Kilometers
Climate & time
- Time Zone
UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Climate
- Climate
Korea's climate is marked by four very distinct seasons. The winters are dry and cold, with snow usually appearing in January. The advent of the cherry blossoms heralds spring—a season that can also be somewhat unpredictable. A brief monsoon season and high temperatures combine to make city life rather humid in the summertime. Autumn is easily the best time of year in Korea, when both the cities and the countryside benefit from clear skies and vibrant fall foliage. Only 19% of the country is flat enough to be arable, and that land is farmed intensively. In addition, there has been a steady shift away from the farm and into urban areas. Two-thirds of Korea's population now live in its cities.
- Terrain
mostly hills and mountains; wide coastal plains in west and south
- Location
Eastern Asia, southern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea
- Total Area
38,502 Square Miles 99,720 Square Kilometers
- Border Countries
North Korea 238 km
Environment
- Environment - Current Issues
- air pollution in large cities
- acid rain
- water pollution from the discharge of sewage and industrial effluents
- drift net fishing
- Environment - International Agreements
- party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed,
- but not ratified: none of the selected agreements