Korea's Geography: Location, Division, Climate, and Major Cities

The Korean Peninsula extends southward from Northeast Asia:

Location & Borders

• Between Yellow Sea (West) and East Sea / Sea of Japan (East).
• Northern border: Yalu (Amnok) & Tumen Rivers with China & Russia.
• Southern tip: Korea Strait to Japan (Tsushima).

Division

• North Korea (DPRK): 120,540 km², capital Pyongyang.
• South Korea (ROK): 100,363 km², capital Seoul.
• Divided at 38th parallel (1945), then DMZ (1953).

Geography & Climate

• 70% mountainous (Taebaek, Sobaek ranges). Highest: Mt. Paektu (2,744 m) (border), Mt. Hallasan (1,950 m) (Jeju Island).
• Temperate: 4 seasons. Hot humid summers (monsoon), cold dry winters (Siberian high).

Population & Cities

• Total: ~51M (South) + ~26M (North) = ~77M.
• Seoul (10M), Busan (3.4M), Incheon (2.9M), Daegu (2.4M), Daejeon (1.5M), Gwangju (1.5M).

Strategic peninsula, divided but culturally unified.