South Korea

Since the 1950s, the Republic of Korea (South Korea), once one of the world's poorest countries with a largely deforested ecosystem, has became one of the fastest-growing export economies with the proactive goal of creating a green society. The advanced South Korea of the 21st century, which grew to keep up with Western development, is based on a philosophical foundation focused on education and an appreciation of nature. This belief in the importance of an educated population exists throughout Korea's 5,000-year history, one of the world's oldest civilizations, and helped the country thrive despite conflicts that devastated its economy and natural environment. The most notable conflict was the creation of separate Korean governments in 1948 and the subsequent Korean War, which divided the country along a demilitarized zone (DMZ). Since no peace treaty was signed as of 2010, South Korea and North Korea were technically still at war. South Korea did announce, however, that the DMZ, designated a biosphere zone for its ecological diversity by UNESCO, would be turned into an ecological peace zone. Throughout the country, South Korea works toward becoming a world leader in integrating economic and environmental sustainability by becoming a low-carbon society.

The Republic of Korea is a peninsula adjacent to the People's Republic of China, Japan, and North [Page 855]Korea. Largely bordered by the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea, South Korea has a 1,500-mile coastline—about the same amount as Egypt or Germany. South Korea is about the size of the U.S. state of Indiana or the United Kingdom, with a similar population, at a little more than 50 million people. It has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. South Korea is a mountainous country with low areas around coastlines and rivers. Its highest point at 6,397 feet is Hallasan, a volcano mountain on Jeju Island, a designated national park, central to ecotourism in South Korea. The majority of the population, more than 80 percent, live in urban areas. The capital city Seóul, which is classified as a “megacity,” or one of the world's largest cities, has a population of about 12 million people. Seóul has always been known as a modern city, but now it is a vision of a modern green city.