Introduction

Background: |  |

`
An independent Korean state or collection of states has existed almost continuously for several millennia. Between its initial unification in the 7th century - from three predecessor Korean states - until the 20th century, Korea existed as a single independent country. In 1905, following the Russo-Japanese War, Korea became a protectorate of imperial Japan, and in 1910 it was annexed as a colony. Korea regained its independence following Japan's surrender to the United States in 1945. After World War II, a Republic of Korea (ROK) was set up in the southern half of the Korean Peninsula while a Communist-style government was installed in the north (the DPRK). During the Korean War (1950-53), US troops and UN forces fought alongside soldiers from the ROK to defend South Korea from DPRK attacks supported by China and the Soviet Union. An armistice was signed in 1953, splitting the peninsula along a demilitarized zone at about the 38th parallel. Thereafter, South Korea achieved rapid economic growth with per capita income rising to roughly 17 times the level of North Korea. In 1993, KIM Young-sam became South Korea's first civilian president following 32 years of military rule. South Korea today is a fully functioning modern democracy. President LEE Myung-bak has pursued a policy of global engagement since taking office in February 2008, highlighted by Seoul's hosting of the G-20 summit in November 2010. Serious tensions with North Korea have punctuated inter-Korean relations in recent years, including the North's sinking of the South Korean warship Cheonan in March 2010 and its artillery attack on South Korean soldiers and citizens in November 2010.
`

Geography

Location: |  |
`Eastern Asia, southern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea`
Geographic coordinates: |  |
`37 00 N, 127 30 E`
Map references: |  |
`Asia`
Area: |  |
`total: 99,720 sq km country comparison to the world: 108 land: 96,920 sq km water: 2,800 sq km`
Area - comparative: |  |
`slightly larger than Indiana`
Land boundaries: |  |
`total: 238 km border countries: North Korea 238 km`
Coastline: |  |
`2,413 km`
Maritime claims: |  |
`territorial sea: 12 nm; between 3 nm and 12 nm in the Korea Strait contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: not specified`
Climate: |  |
`temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter`
Terrain: |  |
`mostly hills and mountains; wide coastal plains in west and south`
Elevation extremes: |  |
`lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 m highest point: Halla-san 1,950 m`
Natural resources: |  |
`coal, tungsten, graphite, molybdenum, lead, hydropower potential`
Land use: |  |
`arable land: 16.58% permanent crops: 2.01% other: 81.41% (2005)`
Irrigated land: |  |
`8,780 sq km (2003)`
Total renewable water resources: |  |
`69.7 cu km (1999)`
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic / industrial / agricultural): |  |
`total: 18.59 cu km/yr (36%/16%/48%) per capita: 389 cu m/yr (2000)`
Natural hazards: |  |
`occasional typhoons bring high winds and floods; low-level seismic activity common in southwest volcanism: Halla (elev. 1,950 m) is considered historically active although it has not erupted in many centuries`
Environment - current issues: |  |
`air pollution in large cities; acid rain; water pollution from the discharge of sewage and industrial effluents; drift net fishing`
Environment - international agreements: |  |

`
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
`

Geography - note: |  |
`strategic location on Korea Strait`

People

Population: |  |
`48,754,657 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 26`
Age structure: |  |
`0-14 years: 15.7% (male 3,980,541/female 3,650,631) 15-64 years: 72.9% (male 18,151,023/female 17,400,809) 65 years and over: 11.4% (male 2,259,621/female 3,312,032) (2011 est.)`
Median age: |  |
`total: 38.4 years male: 37 years female: 39.8 years (2011 est.)`
Population growth rate: |  |
`0.23% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 178`
Birth rate: |  |
`8.55 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 216`
Death rate: |  |
`6.26 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 157`
Net migration rate: |  |
`0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 92`
Urbanization: |  |
`urban population: 83% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 0.6% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)`
Major cities - population: |  |
`SEOUL (capital) 9.778 million; Busan (Pusan) 3.439 million; Incheon (Inch'on) 2.572 million; Daegu (Taegu) 2.458 million; Daejon (Taejon) 1.497 million (2009)`
Sex ratio: |  |
`at birth: 1.069 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2011 est.)`
Infant mortality rate: |  |
`total: 4.16 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 198 male: 4.37 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)`
Life expectancy at birth: |  |
`total population: 79.05 years country comparison to the world: 41 male: 75.84 years female: 82.49 years (2011 est.)`
Total fertility rate: |  |
`1.23 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 218`
HIV / AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |  |
`less than 0.1% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 139`
HIV / AIDS - people living with HIV / AIDS: |  |
`9,500 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 101`
HIV / AIDS - deaths: |  |
`fewer than 500 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 88`
Drinking water source: |  |
`improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 88% of population total: 98% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 12% of population total: 2% of population (2008)`
Sanitation facility access: |  |
`improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population (2008)`
Nationality: |  |
`noun: Korean(s) adjective: Korean`
Ethnic groups: |  |
`homogeneous (except for about 20,000 Chinese)`
Religions: |  |
`Christian 26.3% (Protestant 19.7%, Roman Catholic 6.6%), Buddhist 23.2%, other or unknown 1.3%, none 49.3% (1995 census)`
Languages: |  |
`Korean, English (widely taught in junior high and high school)`
Literacy: |  |
`definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.9% male: 99.2% female: 96.6% (2002)`
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): |  |
`total: 17 years male: 18 years female: 16 years (2008)`
Education expenditures: |  |
`4.2% of GDP (2007) country comparison to the world: 96`

Government

Country name: |  |
`conventional long form: Republic of Korea conventional short form: South Korea local long form: Taehan-min'guk local short form: Han'guk abbreviation: ROK`
Government type: |  |
`republic`
Capital: |  |
`name: Seoul geographic coordinates: 37 33 N, 126 59 E time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)`
Administrative divisions: |  |

`
9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 7 metropolitan cities (gwangyoksi, singular and plural)
provinces: Chungcheong-bukto (North Chungcheong), Chungcheong-namdo (South Chungcheong), Gangwon, Gyeonggi, Gyeongsang-bukto (North Gyeongsang), Gyeongsang-namdo (South Gyeongsang), Jeju, Jeolla-bukto (North Jeolla), Jeolla-namdo (South Jeolla)
metropolitan cities: Busan (Pusan), Daegu (Taegu), Daejon (Taejon), Gwangju (Kwangju), Incheon (Inch'on), Seoul, Ulsan
`

Independence: |  |
`15 August 1945 (from Japan)`
National holiday: |  |
`Liberation Day, 15 August (1945)`
Constitution: |  |
`17 July 1948; note - amended or rewritten many times; current constitution approved 29 October 1987`
Legal system: |  |
`mixed legal system combining European civil law, Anglo-American law, and Chinese classical thought`
International law organization participation: |  |
`has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction`
Suffrage: |  |
`19 years of age; universal`
Executive branch: |  |

`
chief of state: President LEE Myung-bak (since 25 February 2008)
head of government: Prime Minister KIM Hwang-sik (since 1 October 2010)
cabinet: State Council appointed by the president on the prime minister's recommendation
(For more information visit theWorld Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a single five-year term; election last held on 19 December 2007 (next to be held in December 2012); prime minister appointed by president with consent of National Assembly
election results: LEE Myung-bak elected president on 19 December 2007; percent of vote - LEE Myung-bak (GNP) 48.7%; CHUNG Dong-young (UNDP) 26.1%); LEE Hoi-chang (independent) 15.1; others 10.1%
`

Legislative branch: |  |
`unicameral National Assembly or Kukhoe (299 seats; 245 members elected in single-seat constituencies, 54 elected by proportional representation; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 9 April 2008 (next to be held in April 2012) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - GNP 172, UDP 83, LFP 20, PPA 8, DLP 5, RKP 1, independents 9`
Judicial branch: |  |
`Supreme Court (justices appointed by the president with consent of National Assembly); Constitutional Court (justices appointed by the president based partly on nominations by National Assembly and Chief Justice of the court)`
Political parties and leaders: |  |
`Democratic Party or DP [CHUNG Sye-kyun] (formerly the United Democratic Party or UDP); Democratic Labor Party or DLP [KANG Ki-kap]; Grand National Party or GNP [AHN Sang-soo]; Liberty Forward Party or LFP [LEE Hoi-chang]; New Progressive Party or NPP [ROH Hoe-chan]; Pro-Park Alliance or PPA [SUH Choung-won]; Renewal Korea Party or RKP [SONG Yong-o]`
Political pressure groups and leaders: |  |
`Federation of Korean Industries; Federation of Korean Trade Unions; Korean Confederation of Trade Unions; Korean National Council of Churches; Korean Traders Association; Korean Veterans' Association; National Council of Labor Unions; National Democratic Alliance of Korea; National Federation of Farmers' Associations; National Federation of Student Associations`
International organization participation: |  |

`
ADB, AfDB (nonregional member), APEC, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, CD, CICA, CP, EAS, EBRD, FAO, FATF, G-20, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner), Paris Club (associate), PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMOGIP, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
`

Diplomatic representation in the US: |  |
`chief of mission: Ambassador HAN Duck-soo chancery: 2450 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 939-5600 FAX: [1] (202) 387-0205 consulate(s) general: Agana (Guam), Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle`
Diplomatic representation from the US: |  |
`chief of mission: Ambassador Kathleen STEPHENS embassy: 32 Sejongno, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-710 mailing address: US Embassy Seoul, APO AP 96205-5550 telephone: [82] (2) 397-4114 FAX: [82] (2) 738-8845`
Flag description: |  |

`
white with a red (top) and blue yin-yang symbol in the center; there is a different black trigram from the ancient I Ching (Book of Changes) in each corner of the white field; the Korean national flag is called Taegukki; white is a traditional Korean color and represents peace and purity; the blue section represents the negative cosmic forces of the yin, while the red symbolizes the opposite positive forces of the yang; each trigram (kwae) denotes one of the four universal elements, which together express the principle of movement and harmony
`

National anthem: |  |
`name: "Aegukga" (Patriotic Song) lyrics/music: YUN Ch'i-Ho or AN Ch'ang-Ho/AHN Eaktay note: adopted 1948, well known by 1910; both North Korea and South Korea's anthems share the same name and have a vaguely similar melody but have different lyrics`

Economy

Economy - overview: |  |

`
Since the 1960s, South Korea has achieved an incredible record of growth and global integration to become a high-tech industrialized economy. Four decades ago, GDP per capita was comparable with levels in the poorer countries of Africa and Asia. In 2004, South Korea joined the trillion dollar club of world economies, and currently is among the world's 20 largest economies. Initially, a system of close government and business ties, including directed credit and import restrictions, made this success possible. The government promoted the import of raw materials and technology at the expense of consumer goods, and encouraged savings and investment over consumption. The Asian financial crisis of 1997-98 exposed longstanding weaknesses in South Korea's development model including high debt/equity ratios and massive short-term foreign borrowing. GDP plunged by 6.9% in 1998, and then recovered by 9% in 1999-2000. Korea adopted numerous economic reforms following the crisis, including greater openness to foreign investment and imports. Growth moderated to about 4-5% annually between 2003 and 2007. With the global economic downturn in late 2008, South Korean GDP growth slowed to 0.2% in 2009. In the third quarter of 2009, the economy began to recover, in large part due to export growth, low interest rates, and an expansionary fiscal policy, and growth exceeded 6% in 2010. The South Korean economy's long term challenges include a rapidly aging population, inflexible labor market, and overdependence on manufacturing exports to drive economic growth.
`

GDP (purchasing power parity): |  |
`$1.459 trillion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 13 $1.375 trillion (2009 est.) $1.373 trillion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars`
GDP (official exchange rate): |  |
`$1.007 trillion (2010 est.)`
GDP - real growth rate: |  |
`6.1% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 49 0.2% (2009 est.) 2.3% (2008 est.)`
GDP - per capita (PPP): |  |
`$30,000 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 45 $28,300 (2009 est.) $28,400 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars`
GDP - composition by sector: |  |
`agriculture: 3% industry: 39.4% services: 57.6% (2008 est.)`
Labor force: |  |
`24.62 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 25`
Labor force - by occupation: |  |
`agriculture: 7.3% industry: 24.3% services: 68.4% (2010 est.)`
Unemployment rate: |  |
`3.3% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 27 3.7% (2009 est.)`
Population below poverty line: |  |
`15% (2006 est.)`
Household income or consumption by percentage share: |  |
`lowest 10%: 2.7% highest 10%: 24.2% (2007)`
Distribution of family income - Gini index: |  |
`31.4 (2009) country comparison to the world: 106 35.8 (2000)`
Investment (gross fixed): |  |
`28.7% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 22`
Budget: |  |
`revenues: $248.3 billion expenditures: $267.3 billion (2010 est.)`
Public debt: |  |
`23.7% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 103 23.5% of GDP (2009 est.)`
Inflation rate (consumer prices): |  |
`3% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 85 2.8% (2009 est.)`
Central bank discount rate: |  |
`1.25% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 126 1.75% (31 December 2008)`
Commercial bank prime lending rate: |  |
`5.65% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 124 7.17% (31 December 2008 est.)`
Stock of narrow money: |  |
`$101.9 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 31 $82.54 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Stock of broad money: |  |
`$1.346 trillion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 13 $1.132 trillion (31 December 2008)`
Stock of domestic credit: |  |
`$1.057 trillion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 15 $935.4 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Market value of publicly traded shares: |  |
`$836.5 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 18 $494.6 billion (31 December 2008) $1.124 trillion (31 December 2007)`
Agriculture - products: |  |
`rice, root crops, barley, vegetables, fruit; cattle, pigs, chickens, milk, eggs; fish`
Industries: |  |
`electronics, telecommunications, automobile production, chemicals, shipbuilding, steel`
Industrial production growth rate: |  |
`12.1% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 11`
Electricity - production: |  |
`417 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 11`
Electricity - consumption: |  |
`402 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 11`
Electricity - exports: |  |
`0 kWh (2010)`
Electricity - imports: |  |
`0 kWh (2010)`
Oil - production: |  |
`48,180 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 65`
Oil - consumption: |  |
`2.185 million bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 10`
Oil - exports: |  |
`907,100 bbl/day country comparison to the world: 21 note: exports consist of oil derivatives (gasoline, light oil, and diesel), not crude oil (2009)`
Oil - imports: |  |
`3.074 million bbl/day (2009) country comparison to the world: 5`
Oil - proved reserves: |  |
`0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 149`
Natural gas - production: |  |
`651 million cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 66`
Natural gas - consumption: |  |
`34.09 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 25`
Natural gas - exports: |  |
`0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 124`
Natural gas - imports: |  |
`32.69 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 10`
Natural gas - proved reserves: |  |
`50 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 64`
Current account balance: |  |
`$36.35 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 12 $42.67 billion (2009 est.)`
Exports: |  |
`$466.3 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 7 $373.6 billion (2009 est.)`
Exports - commodities: |  |
`semiconductors, wireless telecommunications equipment, motor vehicles, computers, steel, ships, petrochemicals`
Exports - partners: |  |
`China 23.2%, US 10.1%, Japan 5.8%, Hong Kong 5.3% (2009 est.)`
Imports: |  |
`$417.9 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 10 $317.5 billion (2009 est.)`
Imports - commodities: |  |
`machinery, electronics and electronic equipment, oil, steel, transport equipment, organic chemicals, plastics`
Imports - partners: |  |
`China 16.8%, Japan 15.3%, US 9%, Saudi Arabia 6.1%, Australia 4.6% (2009 est.)`
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: |  |
`$274.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 8 $270 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Debt - external: |  |
`$370.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 25 $370.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: |  |
`$112.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 30 $110.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: |  |
`$115.6 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 25 $74.6 billion (30 June 2008)`
Exchange rates: |  |
`South Korean won (KRW) per US dollar - 1,153.77 (2010) 1,276.93 (2009) 1,101.7 (2008) 929.2 (2007) 954.8 (2006)`

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use: |  |
`19.289 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 15`
Telephones - mobile cellular: |  |
`47.944 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 25`
Telephone system: |  |

`
general assessment: excellent domestic and international services featuring rapid incorporation of new technologies
domestic: fixed-line and mobile-cellular services widely available with a combined telephone subscribership of roughly 140 per 100 persons; rapid assimilation of a full range of telecommunications technologies leading to a boom in e-commerce
international: country code - 82; numerous submarine cables provide links throughout Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Europe, and US; satellite earth stations - 66
`

Broadcast media: |  |

`
multiple national television networks with 2 of the 3 largest networks publicly operated; the largest privately-owned network, Seoul Broadcasting Service (SBS), has ties with other commercial TV networks; cable and satellite TV subscription services are available; publicly-operated radio broadcast networks and a large number of privately-owned radio broadcasting networks, each with multiple affiliates, and independent local stations (2010)
`

Internet country code: |  |
`.kr`
Internet hosts: |  |
`291,329 (2010) country comparison to the world: 58`
Internet users: |  |
`39.4 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 11`

Transportation

Airports: |  |
`116 (2010) country comparison to the world: 53`
Airports - with paved runways: |  |
`total: 72 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 21 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 22 (2010)`
Airports - with unpaved runways: |  |
`total: 44 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 42 (2010)`
Heliports: |  |
`510 (2010)`
Pipelines: |  |
`gas 2,139 km; refined products 864 km (2010)`
Railways: |  |
`total: 3,381 km country comparison to the world: 50 standard gauge: 3,381 km 1.435-m gauge (1,843 km electrified) (2008)`
Roadways: |  |
`total: 103,029 km country comparison to the world: 40 paved: 80,642 km (includes 3,367 km of expressways) unpaved: 22,387 km (2008)`
Waterways: |  |
`1,608 km (most navigable only by small craft) (2010) country comparison to the world: 49`
Merchant marine: |  |

`
total: 819
country comparison to the world: 14
by type: bulk carrier 201, cargo 246, carrier 5, chemical tanker 132, container 69, liquefied gas 40, passenger 5, passenger/cargo 21, petroleum tanker 67, refrigerated cargo 15, roll on/roll off 9, vehicle carrier 9
foreign-owned: 33 (China 9, France 1, Japan 15, US 8)
registered in other countries: 438 (Cambodia 11, Ghana 1, Honduras 6, Hong Kong 3, Indonesia 1, Kiribati 2, Liberia 1, Malta 3, Marshall Islands 25, North Korea 1, Panama 366, Philippines 1, Russia 1, Singapore 9, Tuvalu 1, unknown 6) (2010)
`

Ports and terminals: |  |
`Incheon (Inch'on), Pohang (P'ohang), Busan (Pusan), Ulsan, Yeosu (Yosu)`

Military

Military branches: |  |
`Republic of Korea Army, Navy (includes Marine Corps), Air Force (2011)`
Military service age and obligation: |  |

`
20-30 years of age for compulsory military service, with middle school education required; conscript service obligation - 21 months (Army, Marines), 23 months (Navy), 24 months (Air Force); 18-26 years of age for voluntary military service; women, in service since 1950, admitted to 7 service branches, including infantry, but excluded from artillery, armor, anti-air, and chaplaincy corps; some 4,000 women serve as commissioned and noncommissioned officers, approx. 2.3% of all officers; HIV-positive individuals are exempt from military service (2010)
`

Manpower available for military service: |  |
`males age 16-49: 13,185,794 females age 16-49: 12,423,496 (2010 est.)`
Manpower fit for military service: |  |
`males age 16-49: 10,864,566 females age 16-49: 10,168,709 (2010 est.)`
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: |  |
`male: 365,760 female: 321,225 (2010 est.)`
Military expenditures: |  |
`2.7% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 52`

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international: |  |
`Military Demarcation Line within the 4-km wide Demilitarized Zone has separated North from South Korea since 1953; periodic incidents with North Korea in the Yellow Sea over the Northern Limit Line, which South Korea claims as a maritime boundary; South Korea and Japan claim Liancourt Rocks (Tok-do/Take-shima), occupied by South Korea since 1954`

PAGE LAST UPDATED ON MAY 26, 2011