South Korea in located in the part of northeastern Asia that occupies the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It has a total area of about 98,480 sq. km (about 38,023-sq. mi.), including many offshore islands, the largest of which is Cheju. The capital and largest city of South Korea is Seoul. The government to encourage the preservation of the traditional arts through several museums: the National Museum (1908), located in Seoul, with its collection of Korean cultural and folklore relics; and branches of the national museums, located in six other major cities.