The Korean peninsula's location lies adjacent to China, and Japan. To be exact, the shortest distance between Korean and Chinese coasts is 200 kilometres and from the south-eastern tip of the peninsula, it is also 200 kilometres away to the nearest point on the Japanese coast. Because of its unique geographical location, this makes Korea very viable piece of land and an international hub of Asia. South Korean high school education is largely based on the Japanese system, which means that it is highly exam-based with a great deal of rote-learning and less room for creativity in the classroom than many Westerners are used to. Inevitably, this has an influence on the system at undergraduate level too. However South Korean culture places a very high emphasis on education and getting into the best schools is seen as one of the most important targets that a South Korean has. Getting out into the country is a great way to experience South Korea. It is a small country but extremely varied and diverse and trips out of the big cities can be more rewarding than in many other places. English is spoken to a certain extent, in the cities especially, and South Koreans are well educated and generally less timid than their Japanese neighbours when speaking foreign languages. Of course, you will be a big hit if you learn some South Korean to show willing to your hosts. Although the writing system (hangul) looks alien to non-South Koreans, it is actually simpler than it looks. Give it a try. It will improve your living experience in South Korea many times over.