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Background: Korea was an independent kingdom for much of the past millennium. Following its victory in the Russo-Japanese War in 1905, Japan occupied Korea; five years later it formally annexed the entire peninsula. 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 14 times the level of North Korea. In 1993, KIM Yo'ng-sam became South Korea's first civilian president following 32 years of military rule. South Korea today is a fully functioning modern democracy. In June 2000, a historic first North-South summit took place between the South's President KIM Dae-jung and the North's leader KIM Jong Il.
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Common Name: Korea South
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Local Official Name: Han'guk
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Abbreviated Name: Republic of Korea
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Official Name: Taehan-min'guk
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Official Script Name: Korea South
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Local Common Name: ROK
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Former Name: Korea South
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Territory of: NA
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Head of State: President ROH Moo-hyun
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Government Type: republic
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Independence: 1945 August 15 (from Japan)
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Constitution: 1948 July 17
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National Holiday: Liberation Day, 15 August
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International Organization Participation: AfDB, APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, CP, EAS, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, LAIA, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, ONUB, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, PIF (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMOGIP, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC
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Administrative Divisions: 9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 7 metropolitan cities (gwangyoksi, singular and plural)
provinces: Cheju-do, Cholla-bukto (North Cholla), Cholla-namdo (South Cholla), Ch'ungch'ong-bukto (North Ch'ungch'ong), Ch'ungch'ong-namdo (South Ch'ungch'ong), Kangwon-do, Kyonggi-do, Kyongsang-bukto (North Kyongsang), Kyongsang-namdo (South Kyongsang)
metropolitan cities: Inch'on-gwangyoksi (Inch'on), Kwangju-gwangyoksi (Kwangju), Pusan-gwangyoksi (Pusan), Soul-t'ukpyolsi (Seoul), Taegu-gwangyoksi (Taegu), Taejon-gwangyoksi (Taejon), Ulsan-gwangyoksi (Ulsan)
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Dependent Areas: NA
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Legal System: combines elements of continental European civil law systems, Anglo-American law, and Chinese classical thought
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Suffrage: 19 years
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Executive, Legislative and Judicial Branches: Executive Branch:
Chief of state: President ROH Moo-hyun (since 25 February 2003)
head of government: Prime Minister HAN Myeong-sook (since 19 April 2006); Deputy Prime Ministers KIM Woo-sik (since 3 January 2006) and KWON O-kyu (since 3 July 2006)
Cabinet: State Council appointed by the president on the prime minister's recommendation
Elections: president elected by popular vote for a single five-year term; election last held 19 December 2002 (next to be held in December 2007); prime minister appointed by president with consent of National Assembly; deputy prime ministers appointed by president on prime minister's recommendation
Election results: ROH Moo-hyun elected president; percent of vote - ROH Moo-hyun (MDP) 48.9%; LEE Hoi-chang (GNP) 46.6%; other 4.5%
Legislative Branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Kukhoe (299 seats - members elected for four-year terms; 243 in single-seat constituencies, 56 by proportional representation)
Elections: last held 15 April 2004 (next to be held in April 2008; byelections held on 30 April 2005 and on 26 October 2005)
Election results: percent of vote by party - Uri 51%, GNP 41%, DLP 3%, DP 3%, others 2%; seats by party - Uri 144, GNP 127, DP 11, DLP 9, ULD 3, independents 5
Note: percent of vote is for 2004 general election; seats by party reflect results of April and October 2005 byelections involving six and four seats respectively; MDP became DP in May 2005; United Liberal Democrats (ULD) merged with GNP in February 2006.
Jidicial Branch:
Supreme Court (justices appointed by president with consent of National Assembly); Constitutional Court (justices appointed by president based partly on nominations by National Assembly and Chief Justice of the court)
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Party Leaders: Democratic Labor Party or DLP [MOON Seong-hyun]; Democratic Party or DP [HAHN Hwa-kap]; Grand National Party or GNP [KANG Jae-sup]; People-Centered Party or PCP [SHIN Kook-hwan]; Uri Party [KIM Geun-tae]
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International Disputes: Military Demarcation Line within the 4-km wide Demilitarized Zone has separated North from South Korea since 1953; periodic maritime disputes with North Korea over the Northern Limit Line; South Korea and Japan claim Liancourt Rocks (Tok-do/Take-shima), occupied by South Korea since 1954
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Illicit Drugs: NA
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Location of Korea South: Eastern Asia, southern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea
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Continent: Asia
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Land Area Total: 98,480 sq km
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Region: North East Asia |
Land Area Land: 98,190 sq km
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Capitol City: Seoul
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Land Area Water: 290 sq km
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Current: +9
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Latitude: 037 00 N
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Border Boundary Land: 238 km
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Longitude: 127 30 E
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Border Boundary Coastline: 2,413 km
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Arable Land: 16.58 %
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Pastures: 0.00 %
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Crops: 2.01 %
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Woodlands and Forests: 0.00
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Highest Elevation: 1,950 m
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Location: Halla-san
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Lowest Elevation: 0 m
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Location: Sea of Japan
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Largest City in Korea South: Seoul
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Seoul Largest City Population: 9,935,000
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Threatened Species: 46
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Environmental Issues: air pollution in large cities; acid rain; water pollution from the discharge of sewage and industrial effluents; drift net fishing
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Environmental 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
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Irrigated Land: 8,780
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Bordering Countries: North Korea 238 km
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Natural Resources: coal, tungsten, graphite, molybdenum, lead, hydropower potential
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Geographical Terrain: mostly hills and mountains; wide coastal plains in west and south
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Comparative Area of Korea South: slightly larger than Indiana
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Korea South's Geography: strategic location on Korea Strait
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Click Here for detailed information about the weather conditions in Korea South.
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General Climate: temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter
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Natural Hazards: occasional typhoons bring high winds and floods; low-level seismic activity common in southwest
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Economic Overview: Definition Field Listing
Since the early 1960s, South Korea has achieved an incredible record of growth and integration into the high-tech modern world 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. Today its GDP per capita is equal to the lesser economies of the EU. This success through the late 1980s was achieved by a system of close government/business ties, including directed credit, import restrictions, sponsorship of specific industries, and a strong labor effort. 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 1997-99 exposed longstanding weaknesses in South Korea's development model, including high debt/equity ratios, massive foreign borrowing, and an undisciplined financial sector. GDP plunged by 6.9% in 1998, then recovered 9.5% in 1999 and 8.5% in 2000. Growth fell back to 3.3% in 2001 because of the slowing global economy, falling exports, and the perception that much-needed corporate and financial reforms had stalled. Led by consumer spending and exports, growth in 2002 was an impressive 7%, despite anemic global growth. Between 2003 and 2005, growth moderated to about 4%. A downturn in consumer spending was offset by rapid export growth. In 2005, the government proposed labor reform legislation and a corporate pension scheme to help make the labor market more flexible, and new real estate policies to cool property speculation. Moderate inflation, low unemployment, an export surplus, and fairly equal distribution of income characterize this solid economy.
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GDP: $965,300,000,000 USD
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Currency: South Korean won
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GDP per Capita: $20,400 USD
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Currency Code: KRW
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GDP Growth Rate: 3.90 %
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One $USD Equals: %fincurrencyequals% KRW
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Currency Exchange Rate History: South Korean won per US dollar - 1,024.1 (2005), 1,145.3 (2004), 1,191.6 (2003), 1,251.1 (2002), 1,291 (2001)
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GDP of Agriculture: 3.30 %
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GDP of Industry: 40.30 %
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GDP of Services: 56.30 % |
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Inflation Rate: 2.80 % |
Population in Poverty: 15.00 %
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Unemployment Rate: 3.70 %
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Tourism: 4,660,000.00 visitors each year
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Consumption by lowest 10%: 2.90 %
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Budget Revenue in USD: $195,000,000,000 USD
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Consumption by upper 10%: 25.00 %
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Budget Expenditures in USD: $189,000,000,000 USD
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Electricity Production: 342,100,000,000 kWh
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Electricity Exports: 0 kWh
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Electricity Consumption: 321,100,000,000 kWh
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Electricity Imports: 0 kWh
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Electricity Production by Source:
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Fossil Fuel Electricity Production: 60.63%
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Nuclear Electricity Production: 37.89%
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Hydro Electricity Production: 1.45%
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Other Electricity Production: 0.03%
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Oil Production: 0 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Production: 0 cu m
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Oil Consumption: 0 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Consumption: 0 cu m
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Oil Exports: 0 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Exports: 0 cu m
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Oil Imports: 0 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Imports: 0 cu m
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Proven Oil Reserves: 0 barrels
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Proven Natural Gas Reserves: 0 cu m
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External Debt: $153,900,000,000 USD |
Received in economic aid: $423,300,000 USD
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Donated in economic aid: $0 USD
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Agricultural Products: rice, root crops, barley, vegetables, fruit; cattle, pigs, chickens, milk, eggs; fish
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Primary Industries: electronics, telecommunications, automobile production, chemicals, shipbuilding, steel
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Industrial Growth Rate: 5.90 %
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Import Amount in USD: $256,000,000,000 USD - machinery, electronics and electronic equipment, oil, steel, transport equipment, organic chemicals, plastics
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Import Partners: Japan 18.5%, China 14.8%, US 11.8%, Saudi Arabia 6.2%
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Export Amount in USD: $288,200,000,000 USD - semiconductors, wireless telecommunications equipment, motor vehicles, computers, steel, ships, petrochemicals
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Export Partners: China 21.8%, US 14.6%, Japan 8.5%, Hong Kong 5.5%
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GINI Index: 35.80%
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Labor Force Number of People: 23,530,000
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Labor Force by Occupations: services 67.2%, industry 26.4%, agriculture 6.4%
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Radio Broadcast Stations: 213 |
Number of People with Radios: 47,500,000 |
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Television Broadcast Stations: 292 |
Number of People with Televisions: 15,900,000 |
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Number of People with Mainline Telephones: 26,595,100 |
Number of People with Mobile Phones: 36,586,100 |
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Internet Service Providers: 5,433,591 |
Internet Users: 33,900,000 |
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Internet Country Code: .kr |
Newspapers: 393 |
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Two Letter Country Code: KS |
Weights and Measures: |
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Phone Country Code: 82 |
Electricity Voltage: Volts |
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Telephone Systems: General assessment: excellent domestic and international services
Domestic: NA
International: country code - 82; 10 fiber-optic submarine cables - 1 Korea-Russia-Japan, 1 Korea-Japan-Hong Kong, 3 Korea-Japan-China, 1 Korea-Japan-China-Europe, 1 Korea-Japan-China-US-Taiwan, 1 Korea-Japan-China, 1 Korea-Japan-Hong Kong-Taiwan, 1 Korea-Japan; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Pacific Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean) and 3 Inmarsat (1 Pacific Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean)
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Highways: 74,641 km |
Railways: 3,472 km
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Gas And Oil Pipelines: 2,260 km |
Waterways: 1,608 km
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Airports: 69 |
Heliports: 540
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Motor Vehicles: 239 per 1,000 people |
CO2 Emissions: 427,599,000 Metric Tons of CO2 per year |
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Per capita CO2 emissions: 9.30 Metric Tons of CO2 per year |
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Merchant Marines: total: 669 ships (1000 GRT or over) 8,634,188 GRT/13,733,624 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 157, cargo 193, chemical tanker 98, container 81, liquefied gas 22, passenger 5, passenger/cargo 24, petroleum tanker 57, refrigerated cargo 17, roll on/roll off 6, specialized tanker 3, vehicle carrier 6
foreign-owned: 22 (France 12, Japan 1, UK 2, US 7)
registered in other countries: 365 (Belize 4, Cambodia 23, China 2, Cyprus 1, Georgia 1, Honduras 6, Hong Kong 6, Indonesia 1, Liberia 3, Malaysia 1, Malta 6, Marshall Islands 1, Panama 291, Singapore 17, unknown 2)
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Ports and Harbors: Inch'on, Masan, P'ohang, Pusan, Ulsan
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Population: 48,846,823 people type - nationality |
Birth Rate: 10.00 births per 1,000 people |
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Population Density: 482.00 people per sq km |
Death Rate: 5.85 deaths per 1,000 people |
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Population Growth: 0.42% per year |
Fertility Rate per Women: 1.27 babies born per woman |
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Population Male 0-14: 4,844,083 |
Population Female 0-14: 4,368,139 |
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Population Male 15-64: 17,886,148 |
Population Female 15-64: 17,250,862 |
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Population Male 65+: 1,818,677 |
Population Female 65+: 2,678,914 |
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Population 0-14: 18.90% |
Literacy Rate: 97.90% |
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Population 15-64: 71.90% |
Literacy rate of Males: 99.20% |
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Population 65+: 9.20% |
Literacy rate of Females: 96.60% |
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Population that is Male: 54.00
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Population that is Female: 46.00% |
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Life expectancy at birth in years: 77.04 years |
Infant mortality rate - baby deaths per 1000 births: 6.16 Babies die per 1,000 births |
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Life expectancy at birth for Males: 73.61 years |
Life expectancy at birth for Females: 80.75 years |
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Rate of AIDS/HIV infection: 0.10%
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Number of people living with AIDS or HIV: 8,300
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Number of people who died of AIDS: 0 |
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Disease Risk:
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Diseases:
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Net Migration Rate per 1,000 people: 0.00
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Nationality: KOREAN
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Ethnic Groups: homogeneous (except for about 20,000 Chinese)
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Primary Language: Korean
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Other Languages: Korean, English widely taught in junior high and high school
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Primary Religion: Christian
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Other Religions: no affiliation 46%, Christian 26%, Buddhist 26%, Confucianist 1%, other 1%
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Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, National Maritime Police (coast guard)
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Manpower Fit to Serve: 20 years
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Manpower Available: 24,498,139 People
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Manpower Fit to Serve: 19,837,731 People
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Amount of Manpower Available each Year: 657,663 People per year
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Expenditures: $21,060,000,000 USD per year
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Expenditures as a Percentage of GDP: 2.60
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Note: Phrasebase uses a variety of sources when compiling the facts and information presented above. This information is continually updated throughout the year.
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Korea South Spa and Resort Directory
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Korea South Home Exchanges and Home Swaps
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Korea South Vacation Rentals And Holiday Villas
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Korea South City Information Game Earn Real Money
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