Please record at 20% slower than natural speed. Don't worry if you can't pronounce the Korean words correctly
South Korea's official name is Taihan-Min-quk (tie-HAHN min-GUK), or the Republic of Korea. More than forty million people live in South Korea, most of them descendants of the tribes that came to the Korean Peninsula thousands of years ago. South Korea is about thirty-eight hundred square miles, about the size of Virginia. Korea is a mountainous land and known by its people as Choson, the "Land of the Morning Calm," because of the beautiful misty mornings in the mountains.
Education is highly valued by Koreans. All South Korean children attend the first through sixth grade, and ninety percent attend a three-year-long high school. South Korea has worked hard to build a strong educational system since the Korean War. Free education from first grade to high school are provided by the government. The government also supports many college students and airs educational television.
The Korean people celebrate many holidays. The Korean calendar is based on lunar months, and there is at least one major celebration during each moon. Traditional clothing and food are a part of every Korean celebration. Many Korean celebrations honor ancestors, elders, and religious figures.
