South Chungcheong Province, also known as Chungnam, is a province of South Korea. South Chungcheong has a population of 2,059,871 (2014) and has a geographic area of 8,204 km2 located in the Hoseo region in the southwest of the Korean Peninsula. South Chungcheong borders the provinces of Gyeonggi to the north, North Chungcheong, Sejong Special Autonomous City, and Daejeon Metropolitan City to the east, and North Jeolla to the south.
Gyeonggi-do is the most populous province in South Korea. Its name, Gyeonggi, means "京 (Seoul) and 畿 ". Thus, Gyeonggi-do can be translated as "Seoul and the surrounding areas of Seoul". Seoul, the nation's largest city and capital, is in the heart of the area but has been separately administered as a provincial-level special city since 1946. Incheon, the nation's third-largest city, is on the coast of the province and has been similarly administered as a provincial-level metropolitan city since 1981. The three jurisdictions are collectively referred to as Sudogwon and cover 11,730 km2 (4,530 sq mi), with a combined population of 25.5 million—amounting to over half of the entire population of South Korea.
Gwangju is South Korea's sixth-largest metropolis. It is a designated metropolitan city under the direct control of the central government's Home Minister. The city was also the capital of South Jeolla Province until the provincial office moved to the southern village of Namak in Muan County in 2005 because Gwangju was promoted to a metropolitan city and was independent of South Jeolla province.
Gyeongju National Park is located in the province of Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea, and is the country's only historical national park. It was first designated a national park in 1968. The park covers many of the principal Silla historical sites in Gyeongju City. It is divided into several non-contiguous sections: Gumisan and Danseoksan sections to the west of the city center; Hwarang, Seo-ak, Sogeumgang, and Namsan sections in the heart of Gyeongju; Tohamsan section to the east, and Daebon section on the coast of the Sea of Japan.
Tourism in South Korea refers to the tourist industry in the Republic of Korea. In 2012, 11.1 million foreign tourists visited South Korea, making it the 20th most visited country in the world, and the 6th most visited in Asia. Most non-Korean tourists come from other parts of East Asia such as Japan, China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. The recent popularity of Korean popular culture, often known as the "Korean Wave", in these countries has increased tourist arrivals. Seoul is the principal tourist destination for visitors; popular tourist destinations outside of Seoul include the major coastal city of Busan, the Seorak-san national park, the historic city of Gyeongju and subtropical Jeju Island. Traveling to North Korea is not normally possible without a special permission, but in recent years organized group tours have allowed groups of South Korean citizens to visit Mount Kumgang.
The Bukhansan National Park in Seoul and Gyeonggi covers an area of 79.92 km2 (30.86 sq mi) and was established on 2 April 1983. Bukhansan means "mountains north of the Han River."
Wolchulsan National Park lies in Jeollanam-do province, South Korea. Designated as a national park in 1988, Wolchulsan National Park is South Korea's smallest at only 56.6 km2 (21.9 sq mi).
Juwangsan National Park is located in North Gyeongsang province, South Korea, and is part of the Taebaek mountain range. It was designated the 12th national park in South Korea in 1976. The total size of the park is 107.42 km2 (41.48 sq mi). The park is home to 88 plant species and 924 animal species.
Gyeryongsan National Park is one of 20 national parks in South Korea. It was designated as a national park in 1968, as the second park in the country. It covers an area of 64.71 km2 (24.98 sq mi). One part of Gyeryongsan, a 845-metre-high (2,772 ft) mountain, is located in the park.
Mudeungsan is a mountain in South Korea. It extends over the district of Buk-gu in the city of Gwangju, as well as Hwasun County and Damyang County in the province of Jeollanam-do. Mudeungsan has an elevation of 1,187 m (3,894 ft) and is a part of Mudeungsan National Park which gained national park status in 2012. The peak of Mudeungsan is named Cheonwang summit, but it has been designated as a protection zone for air force military installations. Therefore the highest spot the climbers can ascend without special permission is Seoseokdae Rock, with an elevation of 1,100 m (3,600 ft).
Byeonsan-bando National Park is a national park in South Korea and was designated in 1988 as the only peninsula based park with a mix of mountains and sea in the country. The total area is 154.71 km2 (59.73 sq mi) with 9.27 km2 (3.58 sq mi) being sea. Byeonsan-bando is divided into two parts which are the Naebyeonsan and the Oebyeonsan. There are 996 animal species and 877 different vascular plants within national park.
Hallyeo Haesang National Park in South Korea was designated as national park in 1968 in accordance with Natural Park Act. It comprises six districts: Sangju-Geumsan Mt. district, Namhaedaegyo district, Sacheon district, Tongyeong-Hansan district, Geoje-Haegeumgang district and Yeosu-Odongdo district. The total area is 545.63 km2 (210.67 sq mi) with 395.49 km2 (152.70 sq mi) being marine area and 150.14 km2 (57.97 sq mi) being land area.
Taean Seaside National Park in Taean County was designated as the 13th National Park in South Korea in 1978. The total area is about 326 sq mi (840 km2) with 289.315 sq mi (749.32 km2) being marine area.
Deogyusan National Park is located in the provinces of Jeollabuk-do and Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea. It was designated as the 10th national park in 1975. The park is home to a total of 1,067 plant species, 32 mammal species, 130 bird species, 9 amphibian species, 13 reptile species, 28 fish species, and 1,337 insect species. Endangered animals in the park include Flying squirrel, Marten and Otter.
Chiaksan National Park is located in the province of Gangwon-do, South Korea. It was designated as the 16th national park in 1984. The park is named after the 1,288-metre (4,226 ft) mountain Chiaksan, which in turn had its name changed from Jeokakasan to Chiaksan, meaning "Pheasant Peak Mountain", based on a myth about a man who saved a pheasant from being eaten by a snake. The park is home to a total of 821 plant species and 2,364 animal species. Among the animals 34 are endangered, including the Flying squirrel and Hodgson's Bat.
Hallasan National Park is located in the province of Jeju-do, South Korea. It was designated as the 9th national park in 1970. It features the highest mountain in South Korea, the shield volcano Hallasan on Jeju Island. It was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2002, and a World Heritage Site in 2007.
Odaesan National Park is located in the province of Gangwon-do, South Korea. It was first designated as the 11th national park in 1975. The park is named after the 1,563-metre (5,128 ft) mountain Odaesan, which means "Five Plains Mountain", named after the five plains between the area's five major peaks. The park is home to a total of 3,788 species: 1,040 plant species, 28 mammal species, 103 bird species, 13 amphibian species, 12 reptile species, 35 fish species, 1,976 insect species and 157 spider species.
Sobaeksan National Park is located in the provinces of Chungcheongbuk-do and Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea. It was designated as the 18th national park in 1987. It is named after the 1,439-metre (4,721 ft) mountain Sobaeksan. The park is home to 1,067 plant species and 2,639 animal species. Reintroduction program of the critically endangered Korean Foxes with captive animals from the Seoul Zoo has been run to reestablish the local population of 50 by 2020.
Songnisan National Park is located in the center of the Sobaek Mountains range, on the border between the provinces of Chungcheongbuk-do and Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea. The area comprises the valleys of Hwayang, Seonyu, and Ssanggok and the 1,058-metre (3,471 ft) mountain Songnisan, which has given the park its name. It was designated as the country's sixth national park in 1970. The park's most popular attraction is one of Korea's largest temples, the Buddhist temple Beopjusa, initially constructed in 653.
