2010 Edition

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.

Area

land

96,920 sq km

total

99,720 sq km

water

2,800 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Indiana

Climate

temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter

Coastline

2,413 km

Elevation extremes

highest point

Halla-san 1,950 m

lowest point

Sea of Japan 0 m

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

389 cu m/yr (2000)

total

18.59 cu km/yr (36%/16%/48%)

Geographic coordinates

37 00 N, 127 30 E

Geography - note

strategic location on Korea Strait

Irrigated land

8,780 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

border countries

North Korea 238 km

total

238 km

Land use

arable land

16.58%

other

81.41% (2005)

permanent crops

2.01%

Location

Eastern Asia, southern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea

Map references

Asia

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 nm

continental shelf

not specified

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm; between 3 nm and 12 nm in the Korea Strait

Natural hazards

occasional typhoons bring high winds and floods; low-level seismic activity common in southwest

volcanism

Halla (elev. 1,950 m, 6,398 ft) is considered historically active although it has not erupted in many centuries

Natural resources

coal, tungsten, graphite, molybdenum, lead, hydropower potential

Terrain

mostly hills and mountains; wide coastal plains in west and south

Total renewable water resources

69.7 cu km (1999)

Age structure

0-14 years: 16.8% (male 4,278,581/female 3,887,516) 15-64 years: 72.3% (male 17,897,053/female 17,196,840) 65 years and over: 10.8% (male 2,104,589/female 3,144,393) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

8.72 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

6.15 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Education expenditures

4.2% of GDP (2007)

Ethnic groups

homogeneous (except for about 20,000 Chinese)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 500 (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

13,000 (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

4 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

4.46 deaths/1,000 live births

total

4.24 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Korean, English widely taught in junior high and high school

Life expectancy at birth

female

82.28 years (2010 est.)

male

75.56 years

total population

78.81 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

96.6% (2002)

male

99.2%

total population

97.9%

Median age

female

39.1 years (2010 est.)

male

36.5 years

total

37.9 years

Nationality

adjective

Korean

noun

Korean(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Population

48,636,068 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

0.258% (2010 est.)

Religions

Christian 26.3% (Protestant 19.7%, Roman Catholic 6.6%), Buddhist 23.2%, other or unknown 1.3%, none 49.3% (1995 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

16 years (2008)

male

18 years

total

17 years

Sex ratio

at birth

1.07 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 (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.22 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

81% of total population (2008)

Administrative divisions

9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 7 metropolitan cities (gwangyoksi, singular and plural)

metropolitan cities

Inch'on-gwangyoksi, Kwangju-gwangyoksi, Pusan-gwangyoksi, Soul-t'ukpyolsi (Seoul), Taegu-gwangyoksi, Taejon-gwangyoksi, Ulsan-gwangyoksi

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)

Capital

geographic coordinates

37 33 N, 126 59 E

name

Seoul

time difference

UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

17 July 1948; note - amended or rewritten many times; current constitution approved on 29 October 1987

Country name

abbreviation

ROK

conventional long form

Republic of Korea

conventional short form

South Korea

local long form

Taehan-min'guk

local short form

Han'guk

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Kathleen STEPHENS

embassy

32 Sejongno, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-710

FAX

[82] (2) 738-8845

mailing address

US Embassy Seoul, APO AP 96205-5550

telephone

[82] (2) 397-4114

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2450 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador HAN Duck-soo

consulate(s) general

Agana (Guam), Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle

FAX

[1] (202) 387-0205

telephone

[1] (202) 939-5600

Executive branch

cabinet

State Council appointed by the president on the prime minister's recommendation (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

chief of state

President LEE Myung-bak (since 25 February 2008)

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%

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

head of government

Prime Minister KIM Hwang-sik (since 1 October 2010)

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

Government type

republic

Independence

15 August 1945 (from Japan)

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, ICCt, 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

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)

Legal system

combines elements of continental European civil law systems, Anglo-American law, and Chinese classical thought; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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)

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

elections

last held on 9 April 2008 (next to be held in April 2012)

National anthem

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

name

"Aegukga" (Patriotic Song)

National holiday

Liberation Day, 15 August (1945)

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

Suffrage

19 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

rice, root crops, barley, vegetables, fruit; cattle, pigs, chickens, milk, eggs; fish

Central bank discount rate

1.25% (31 December 2009) 1.75% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

5.65% (31 December 2009 est.) 7.17% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance

$36.35 billion (2010 est.) $42.67 billion (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$370.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $370.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

31.4 (2009) 35.8 (2000)

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.

Electricity - consumption

402 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2009)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2009)

Electricity - production

417 billion kWh (2009 est.)

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)

Exports

$466.3 billion (2010 est.) $373.6 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

semiconductors, wireless telecommunications equipment, motor vehicles, computers, steel, ships, petrochemicals

Exports - partners

China 21.5%, US 10.9%, Japan 6.6%, Hong Kong 4.6% (2008)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

3%

industry

39.4%

services

57.6% (2008 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$30,200 (2010 est.) $28,500 (2009 est.) $28,500 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

6.1% (2010 est.) 0.2% (2009 est.) 2.3% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$986.3 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.467 trillion (2010 est.) $1.383 trillion (2009 est.) $1.38 trillion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.7% highest 10%: 24.2% (2007)

Imports

$417.9 billion (2010 est.) $317.5 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery, electronics and electronic equipment, oil, steel, transport equipment, organic chemicals, plastics

Imports - partners

China 17.7%, Japan 14%, US 8.9%, Saudi Arabia 7.8%, UAE 4.4%, Australia 4.1% (2008)

Industrial production growth rate

12.1% (2010 est.)

Industries

electronics, telecommunications, automobile production, chemicals, shipbuilding, steel

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3% (2010 est.) 2.8% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

28.7% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

24.62 million (2010 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

7.3%

industry

24.3%

services

68.4% (2010 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$836.5 billion (31 December 2009) $494.6 billion (31 December 2008) $1.124 trillion (31 December 2007)

Natural gas - consumption

34.09 billion cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - imports

32.69 billion cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - production

651 million cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

50 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Oil - consumption

2.185 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)

Oil - imports

3.074 million bbl/day (2009)

Oil - production

48,180 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

15% (2006 est.)

Public debt

23.7% of GDP (2010 est.) 23.5% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$274.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $270 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$1.346 trillion (31 December 2009) $1.132 trillion (31 December 2008)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$115.6 billion (31 December 2009) $74.6 billion (30 June 2008)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$112.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $110.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$1.057 trillion (31 December 2010 est.) $935.4 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$101.9 billion (31 December 2010 est) $82.54 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate

3.7% (2010 est.) 3.7% (2009 est.)

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 (2008)

Internet country code

.kr

Internet hosts

291,329 (2010)

Internet users

39.4 million (2009)

Telephone system

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

general assessment

excellent domestic and international services featuring rapid incorporation of new technologies

international

country code - 82; numerous submarine cables provide links throughout Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Europe, and US; satellite earth stations - 66

Telephones - main lines in use

19.289 million (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

47.944 million (2009)

Airports

116 (2010)

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)

Merchant marine

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)

total

819

Pipelines

gas 1,423 km; refined products 827 km (2009)

Ports and terminals

Inch'on, P'ohang, Pusan, Ulsan, Yosu

Railways

standard gauge

3,381 km 1.435-m gauge (1,843 km electrified) (2008)

total

3,381 km

Roadways

paved

80,642 km (includes 3,367 km of expressways)

total

103,029 km

unpaved

22,387 km (2008)

Waterways

1,608 km; (most navigable only by small craft) (2010)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 13,274,442 females age 16-49: 12,542,699 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 10,929,625 females age 16-49: 10,264,608 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

321,765 (2010 est.)

male

370,645

Military branches

Republic of Korea Army, Navy (includes Marine Corps), Air Force (2009)

Military expenditures

2.7% of GDP (2006)

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)

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 January 20, 2011 ======================================================================