The Korean peninsula extends southward from the north-eastern section of the Asian continent. The Republic of Korea is characterized by hills and mountains, which occupy nearly 70% of its territory. The irregular coastline is dotted with 3579 islands (about 830 are inhabited). The total land area is 99 590 square kilometres (km2).
The Republic of Korea has experienced rapid socioeconomic changes during the past three decades. Rapid economic growth and industrialization have accelerated urbanization and by 2001 82% of the population was urbanized.
The Republic of Korea has a temperate climate with four distinctive seasons. Typhoons usually occur between June and October and, in general, two to three typhoons affect, directly or indirectly, the Korean peninsula each year. In 2003, enormous damage and flooding was inflicted by typhoon Maemi, which hit the south-east part of the Republic of Korea on 12 September. The death toll was 130 persons, with 4089 households and 10 975 persons affected. The property damage stood at KRW 4.7810 trillion (about US$ 4.1 billion).
In the Human Development Index prepared by the United Nations Development Programme (Human Development Report 2003), the Republic of Korea ranks 30th out of 175 nations.
Continuous rapid socioeconomic development, leading to a transition from recipient to donor country, has led to WHO and other development partners gradually changing their role within the Republic of Korea, moving chiefly to liaison and resource mobilization.