There are many islands, bays and peninsulas in the Korea Strait. The volcanic island of Cheju-do lies off the southwest coast.
Most rivers rise in the mountains to the east, flowing west and south to the Yellow Sea.
The Naktong River flows into the Korea Strait near the southern port of Pusan. The eastern coast is rocky and steep with mountains rising from the sea. Republic since 1945. Mahayana Buddhism with a large Christian minority. Also Confucianism and Chundokyo, which is peculiar to Korea and combines elements of Shamanist, Buddhist and Christian doctrines.