South Korea Population: 48,754,657
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| 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. |
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| Geography | |
| Strategic location on Korea Strait | |
| 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 |
| Area: | total: 99,720 sq km land: 96,920 sq km water: 2,800 sq km Size comparison: 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: | 8,320 sq km (2008) |
| 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 |
| Current Environment Issues: | air pollution in large cities; acid rain; water pollution from the discharge of sewage and industrial effluents; drift net fishing |
| International Environment 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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| People | |
| Population: | 48,754,657 (July 2011 est.) |
| 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.) |
| Birth rate: | 8.55 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) |
| Death rate: | 6.26 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) |
| 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 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 male: 75.84 years female: 82.49 years (2011 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 1.23 children born/woman (2011 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | less than 0.1% (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 9,500 (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | fewer than 500 (2009 est.) |
| 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) |
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| 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 |
| 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 the World 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 [Hong Joon-pyu]; 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 |
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| Economy | |
| 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): | GDP (purchasing power parity): $1.459 trillion (2010 est.) $1.375 trillion (2009 est.) $1.373 trillion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | GDP (official exchange rate): $1.007 trillion (2010 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | 6.1% (2010 est.) 0.2% (2009 est.) 2.3% (2008 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | GDP - per capita (PPP): $30,000 (2010 est.) $28,300 (2009 est.) $28,400 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 2.6% industry: 39.3% services: 58.2% (2010 est.) |
| Labor force: | 24.75 million (2010 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 7.3% industry: 24.3% services: 68.4% (2010 est.) |
| Unemployment rate: | 3.7% (2010 est.) 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) 35.8 (2000) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (2010 est.) 2.8% (2009 est.) |
| Investment (gross fixed): | Investment (gross fixed): 28.6% of GDP (2010 est.) |
| Budget: | revenues: $234.6 billion expenditures: $222.2 billion (2010 est.) |
| Public debt: | 22.7% of GDP (2010 est.) 23.5% of GDP (2009 est.) |
| 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: | 16.6% (2010 est.) |
| Electricity - production: | 417.3 billion kWh (2009 est.) |
| Electricity - consumption: | 402 billion kWh (2009 est.) |
| Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (2010) |
| Electricity - imports: | 0 kWh (2010) |
| Oil - production: | 48,400 bbl/day (2010 est.) |
| Oil - consumption: | 2.251 million bbl/day (2010 est.) |
| Oil - exports: | 907,100 bbl/day note: exports consist of oil derivatives (gasoline, light oil, and diesel), not crude oil (2009 est.) |
| Oil - imports: | 3.074 million bbl/day (2009 est.) |
| Oil - proved reserves: | 0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.) |
| Natural gas - production: | 542 million cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 42.69 billion cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports: | 43.58 billion cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves: | 50 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.) |
| Current account balance: | $36.35 billion (2010 est.) $32.79 billion (2009 est.) |
| Exports: | $464.3 billion (2010 est.) $358.2 billion (2009 est.) |
| Exports - commodities: | semiconductors, wireless telecommunications equipment, motor vehicles, computers, steel, ships, petrochemicals |
| Exports - partners: | China 27.9%, US 10.2%, Japan 5.8% (2010) |
| Imports: | $422.4 billion (2010 est.) $320.4 billion (2009 est.) |
| Imports - commodities: | machinery, electronics and electronic equipment, oil, steel, transport equipment, organic chemicals, plastics |
| Imports - partners: | China 17.9%, Japan 16.2%, US 10.1%, Saudi Arabia 5.2%, Australia 4.9% (2010) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $291.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $270 billion (31 December 2009 est.) |
| Debt - external: | $380.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $370.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: | $110.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $110.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: | $115.6 billion (31 December 2009) $74.6 billion (30 June 2008) |
| Market value of publicly traded shares: | $1.089 trillion (31 December 2010) $836.5 billion (31 December 2009) $494.6 billion (31 December 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) |
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| Communications | |
| Telephones in use: | 19.289 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 15 |
| Cellular Phones in use: | 47.944 million (2009) |
| 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 |
| Radio broadcast stations: | |
| Television broadcast stations: | |
| Internet country code: | .kr |
| Internet hosts: | 291,329 (2010) |
| Internet users: | 39.4 million (2009) |
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| Transportation | |
| Airports: | 116 (2010) country comparison to the world: 53 |
| Airports (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 (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 standard gauge: 3,381 km 1.435-m gauge (1,843 km electrified) (2008) |
| Roadways: | total: 103,029 km 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) |
| Merchant marine: | total: 819 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) |
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| 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; HIV-positive individuals are exempt from military service (2011) |
| 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.) |
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