Education

The school system in Korea follows a 6-3-3-4 ladder pattern which consists of elementary school (1st to 6th grades), middle school (7th to 9th grades), high school (10th to 12th grades) and junior college, college and university.

Elementary school provides six years of compulsory elementary education to children between the ages of 6 and 11. Middle school offers three years of lower secondary education to those aged 12 to 14. High school offers three years of higher secondary education to students aged 15 to 17. High school graduates can choose to apply to a junior college or a college or university to receive higher education.

High schools are generally divided into two categories, general and vocational. Air & correspondence high schools are included in the former, while agricultural, commercial, fishery and technical high schools are included in the latter. There are a limited number of schools of the so-called "comprehensive" type which offer both general and vocational training. There are also science high schools and other speciality high schools, including foreign language high schools, art high schools and athletic schools.

Institutes of higher learning include two- or three-year junior vocational colleges and four-year colleges and universities. Both the universities of education and colleges of education offer four-year courses.

In addition to the general school ladder system, there are secondary level trade schools which provide highly specialized vocational training. Civic schools, originally intended to offer literacy courses, now provide elementary and secondary level education mostly for financially underprivileged students. With compulsory education requirements extending to the 6th grade, however, these schools have been gradually disappearing.

There are also special schools offering elementary and secondary education for the deaf, blind and other learning difficulty. Preschool education is provided by kindergartens.



Economy

The economy of South Korea is developed and one of the four largest in Asia and the 12th largest in the world, in terms of GDP (PPP) as of 2007. In the aftermath of the Korean War, South Korea grew from being one of the world's poorest countries to one of the richest. From the mid to late twentieth century, it has enjoyed one of the fastest rates of exponential economic growth in modern world history. The nation’s GDP per capita has grown from only $100 in 1963 to a record-breaking $10,000 in 1995 in less than 40 years to a fully developed $25,000 in 2007. This phenomenon has been referred to as the "Miracle on the Han River". This "Miracle" is continuing to this date and South Korea is still one of the fastest developing developed countries, with an average GDP growth of 5% per year - the most recent analysis report by Goldman Sachs in 2007 shows that South Korea will become the world's 3rd richest country by 2025 with a GDP per capita of $52,000 and 25 years later, is to surpass all countries in the world except the United States to become the world's 2nd richest country, with a GDP per capita of $81,000.



Climate

The climate in Korea is temperate with four very distinct seasons. Summers are very hot and humid, while in winter temperatures plummet to below freezing. Autumn and spring are the most comfortable seasons to visit South Korea. Most of the rain falls in summer during a monsoon season known as 'jangma'.

Seoul is classed as having a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but temperature differences between the hottest part of summer and the depths of winter are extreme. In summer the influence of the North Pacific high-pressure system brings hot, humid weather with temperatures soaring as high as 95°F (35°C) on occasion. In winter the city is topographically influenced by expanding Siberian high-pressure zones and prevailing west winds, temperatures dropping as low as 7°F (-13.7°C). The bitterly cold days tend to come in three-day cycles regulated by rising and falling pressure systems, however, bringing some relief. The most pleasant seasons in the city are spring and autumn, when azure blue skies and comfortable temperatures are a sure bet. The city experiences heavy rainfall, but most of it falls in the summer monsoon period between June and September.



List of Universities in SOUTH KOREA

• Ajou University

  • Korean Language Program

• Andong National University

• Catholic University of Korea

• Catholic University of Daegu

  • Graduate School of Design

  • Graduate School of Health Science

• Changwon National University

• Cheju National University

• Chinju National University

• Chonbuk National University

• Chonbuk Sanup University of Technology (Howon University)

• Chonju National University of Education

• Chongju University

• Chonnam National University

• Chonnam National University College of Veterinary Medicine

• Chosun University

• Chunchon National University of Education

• Chung Ang University

• Chungbuk National University

• ChungNam National University

• Chungbuk National University

• Chung-Ju National University

• Chungnam National University

• Chungwoon University

• Daebul University

• Dankook University

• Dong Eui University

• Dong Yang University of Technology

• DongSeo University

• Dongshin University

• Dongguk University

• Dongduk Women's University

• Dong-A University

• Duksung Women's University

• Ewha Women's University

• Gyeongsang National University

• Hallym University

• Hankook University of Foreign Studies

• Hankuk Aviation University

• Hankuk University of Foreign Studies

• Hannam University

• Hanseo University

• Hanshin University

• Hansung University Seoul

• Hanyang University

• Honam University

• Hongik University

• Hoseo University

• Hyupsung University

• Inchon National University of Education

• Inchon University

• Inha University

• Information and Communications University

• Inje University

• Jeonju University

• Kangnam University

• Kangwon National University

• Kangnung National University

• Kangwon National University

• Kaya University

• KDI School of Public Policy and Management

• Keimyung University

• Kongju National University

• Konkuk University

• Konyang University

• Kookmin University

• Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology

• Korea Maritime University

• Korea National Open University

• Korea National University of Arts

• Korea National University of Education

• Korea National University of Physical Education

• Korea University

• Kosin University

• Kumoh National University of Technology

• Kwan Dong University

• Kwangju University

• Kwangwoon University

• Kyonggi University

• Kyongju University

• Kyunghee University

• Kyungnam University

• KyungSung University

• Kyungpook National University

• Kyungsung University

• Kyungwon University

• Miryang National University

• Mokpo National Maritime University

• Mokpo National University

• Mokwon University Taejon

• Myongji University

• Paichai University

• Pohang University of Science and Technology

• Pusan National University

• Pusan National University of Education

• Pusan National University of Technology

• Pusan University of Foreign Studies

• Pusan Women's University

• Sahmyook University

• Samchok National University

• Sang Ji University

• Sang Myung University

• Sejong University

• Semyung University

• Seokyeong University

• Seonam University

• Seoul City University

• Seoul National University

  • College of Engineering

• Seoul Theological University

• Seoul Women's University

• Seowon University

• Sogang University

• Sookmyung Women's University

• Soongsil University

• Sung Kyun Kwan University

• Sungkyul Christian University

• Sungshin Women's University

• Sunmoon University

• Suwon University

• Taegu University

• Taejon National University of Technology

• Taejeon Vocational Junior College

• Taejon University

• Tongmyung University of Information Technology

• Ulsan University

• Wonkwang University

  • Graduate School

• Woosuk University

• Yeungnam University

• Yonsei University

• Yosu National Fisheries University