2015 Edition

Background

An independent kingdom for much of its long history, Korea was occupied by Japan beginning in 1905 following the Russo-Japanese War. In 1910, Tokyo formally annexed the entire Peninsula. Korea regained its independence following Japan's surrender to the United States in 1945. After World War II, a democratic-based government (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 (Democratic People's Republic of Korea, DPRK). During the Korean War (1950-53), US troops and UN forces fought alongside ROK soldiers to defend South Korea from a DPRK invasion supported by China and the Soviet Union. A 1953 armistice split the Peninsula along a demilitarized zone at about the 38th parallel. PARK Chung-hee took over leadership of the country in a 1961 coup. During his regime, from 1961 to 1979, South Korea achieved rapid economic growth, with per capita income rising to roughly 17 times the level of North Korea. South Korea held its first free presidential election under a revised democratic constitution in 1987, with former ROK Army general ROH Tae-woo winning a close race. In 1993, KIM Young-sam (1993-98) became the first civilian president of South Korea's new democratic era. President KIM Dae-jung (1998-2003) won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000 for his contributions to South Korean democracy and his "Sunshine" policy of engagement with North Korea. President PARK Geun-hye, daughter of former ROK President PARK Chung-hee, took office in February 2013 and is South Korea's first female leader. South Korea held a non-permanent seat (2013-14) on the UN Security Council and will host the 2018 Winter Olympic Games. Discord with North Korea has permeated inter-Korean relations for much of the past decade, highlighted by the North's attacks on a South Korean ship and island in 2010, multiple nuclear and missile tests, and a five-month closure of the inter-Korean Kaesong Industrial Complex in 2013.

Area

land

96,920 sq km

total

99,720 sq km

water

2,800 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Pennsylvania; slightly larger than Indiana

Climate

temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter; cold winters

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

548.7 cu m/yr (2003)

total

25.47 cu km/yr (26%/12%/62%)

Geographic coordinates

37 00 N, 127 30 E

Geography - note

strategic location on Korea Strait

Irrigated land

8,804 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

border countries (1)

North Korea 237 km

total

237 km

Land use

arable land 15.3%; permanent crops 2.2%; permanent pasture 0.6%

agricultural land

18.1%

forest

63.9%

other

18% (2011 est.)

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) 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 (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years

13.69% (male 3,489,464/female 3,232,372)

15-24 years

13.52% (male 3,518,488/female 3,122,997)

25-54 years

46.63% (male 11,687,846/female 11,214,687)

55-64 years

13.14% (male 3,190,093/female 3,264,411)

65 years and over

13.02% (male 2,662,353/female 3,732,485) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

8.19 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

0.6% (2011)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

80%

note

percent of women aged 15-44 (2009)

Death rate

6.75 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

18%

potential support ratio

5.6% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

37.2%

youth dependency ratio

19.2%

Drinking water source

urban: 99.7% of population

rural: 87.9% of population

total: 97.8% of population

urban: 0.3% of population

rural: 12.1% of population

total: 2.2% of population (2012 est.)

Education expenditures

4.9% of GDP (2011)

Ethnic groups

homogeneous (except for about 20,000 Chinese)

Health expenditures

7.2% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Hospital bed density

10.3 beds/1,000 population (2009)

Infant mortality rate

female

3.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

4.05 deaths/1,000 live births

total

3.86 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Korean, English (widely taught in junior high and high school)

Life expectancy at birth

female

83.34 years (2015 est.)

male

76.95 years

total population

80.04 years

Major urban areas - population

SEOUL (capital) 9.774 million; Busan (Pusan) 3.216 million; Incheon (Inch'on) 2.685 million; Daegu (Taegu) 2.244 million; Daejon (Taejon) 1.564 million; Gwangju (Kwangju) 1.536 million (2015)

Median age

female

42.2 years (2015 est.)

male

39.2 years

total

40.8 years

Nationality

adjective

Korean

noun

Korean(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

6.3% (2014)

Physicians density

2.14 physicians/1,000 population (2012)

Population

49,115,196 (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

0.14% (2015 est.)

Religions

Christian 31.6% (Protestant 24%, Roman Catholic 7.6%), Buddhist 24.2%, other or unknown 0.9%, none 43.3% (2010 survey)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

urban: 0% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

16 years (2012)

male

18 years

total

17 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.08 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.13 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.04 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.98 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.71 male(s)/female

at birth

1.07 male(s)/female

total population

1 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.25 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

8.5% (2012 est.)

male

9.7%

total

9%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.66% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

82.5% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

9 provinces (do, singular and plural), 6 metropolitan cities (gwangyeoksi, singular and plural), 1 special city (teugbyeolsi), and 1 special self-governing city (teukbyeoljachisi)

metropolitan cities

Busan (Pusan), Daegu (Taegu), Daejeon (Taejon), Gwangju (Kwangju), Incheon (Inch'on), Ulsan

provinces

Chungbuk (North Chungcheong), Chungnam (South Chungcheong), Gangwon, Gyeongbuk (North Gyeongsang), Gyeonggi, Gyeongnam (South Gyeongsang), Jeju, Jeonbuk (North Jeolla), Jeonnam (South Jeolla)

special city

Seoul

special self-governing city

Sejong

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

effective 17 July 1948; amended several times, last in 1987 (2013)

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 Mark William LIPPERT (since 21 November 2014)

embassy

188 Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-710

FAX

[82] (2) 725-0152

mailing address

US Embassy Seoul, Unit

telephone

[82] (2) 397-4114

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2450 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador AHN Ho-young (since 7 June 2013)

consulate(s) general

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

FAX

[1] (202) 797-0595

telephone

[1] (202) 939-5600

Executive branch

cabinet

State Council appointed by the president on the prime minister's recommendation

chief of state

President PARK Geun-hye (since 25 February 2013)

election results

PARK Geun-Hye elected president; percent of vote - PARK Geun-Hye (NFP) 51.6%, MOON Jae-In (DUP) 48%, other 0.4%

elections/appointments

president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a single 5-year term; election last held on 19 December 2012 (next to be held in December 2017); prime minister appointed by president, approved by National Assembly

head of government

Prime Minister HWANG Kyo-ahn (since 18 June 2015); Deputy Prime Ministers HWANG Woo-yea (since 7 November 2014), CHOI Kyung-hwan (since 13 June 2014)

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 South 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 law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme Court of South Korea (consists of a chief justice and 13 justices); Constitutional Court (consists of a court head and 8 justices)

judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the president with the consent of the National Assembly; other justices appointed by the president upon the recommendation of the chief justice and consent of the National Assembly; position of the chief justice is a 6-year non-renewable term; other justices serve 6-year renewable terms; Constitutional Court justices appointed - 3 by the president, 3 by the National Assembly, and 3 by the Supreme Court chief justice; court head serves until retirement at age 70, while other justices serve 6-year renewable terms with mandatory retirement at age 65

subordinate courts

High Courts; District Courts; Branch Courts (organized under the District Courts); specialized courts for family and administrative issues

Legal system

mixed legal system combining European civil law, Anglo-American law, and Chinese classical thought

Legislative branch

description

unicameral National Assembly or Kuk Koe (300 seats; 246 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 54 directly elected in a single national constituency by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - NFP 42.8%, DUP 36.5%, UPP 10.3%, LFP 3.2%, other 7.2%; seats by party - NFP 152, DUP 127, UPP 13, LFP 5, independent 3

elections

last held on 11 April 2012 (next to be held in April 2016)

note

seats by negotiation group as of August 2015 - NFP 160, NPAD 130, Justice Party 5, Independents 3; note - 2 seats are vacant

National anthem

lyrics/music

YUN Ch'i-Ho or AN Ch'ang-Ho/AHN Eaktay

name

"Aegukga" (Patriotic Song)

note

adopted 1948, well-known by 1910; both North Korea's and South Korea's anthems share the same name and have a vaguely similar melody but have different lyrics

National holiday

Liberation Day, 15 August (1945)

National symbol(s)

taegeuk (yin yang symbol), Hibiscus syriacus (Rose of Sharon); national colors: red, white, blue, black

Political parties and leaders

Justice Party [CHEON Ho-sun]

Liberty Forward Party or LFP (merged with NFP in October 2012)

New Frontier Party (NFP) or Saenuri (formerly Grand National Party) [KIM Moo-sung]

New Politics Alliance for Democracy or NPAD [MOON Jae-in] (merger of the Democratic Party or DP (formerly DUP) [KIM Han-gil] and the New Political Vision Party or NPVP [AHN Cheol-soo] in March 2014)

Unified Progressive Party or UPP (disbanded in December 2014)

Political pressure groups and leaders

Catholic Priests' Association for Justice

Christian Council of Korea

Citizen's Coalition for Economic Justice

Federation of Korean Industries

Federation of Korean Trade Unions

Korean Confederation of Trade Unions

Korean Veterans' Association

Lawyers for a Democratic Society

National Council of Churches in Korea

People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy

Suffrage

19 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

expenditures

$337.9 billion (2014 est.)

revenues

$350.7 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

0.9% of GDP (2014 est.)

Central bank discount rate

2% (31 December 2014)

2.5% (31 December 2013)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

4.5% (31 December 2014 est.)

4.64% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

$89.22 billion (2014 est.)

$81.15 billion (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$425.4 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$423.5 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

30.2 (2013 est.)

35.8 (2000)

Economy - overview

South Korea over the past four decades has demonstrated incredible economic growth and global integration to become a high-tech industrialized economy. In the 1960s, 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. A system of close government and business ties, including directed credit and import restrictions, initially 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 7% in 1998, and then recovered by 9% in 1999-2000. South Korea adopted numerous economic reforms following the crisis, including greater openness to foreign investment and imports. Growth moderated to about 4% annually between 2003 and 2007. South Korea's export focused economy was hit hard by the 2008 global economic downturn, but quickly rebounded in subsequent years, reaching over 6% growth in 2010. The US-Korea Free Trade Agreement was ratified by both governments in 2011 and went into effect in March 2012. Between 2012 and 2014, the economy experienced slow growth due to sluggish domestic consumption and investment. The administration in 2015 is likely to face the challenge of balancing heavy reliance on exports with developing domestic-oriented sectors, such as services. The South Korean economy's long-term challenges include a rapidly aging population, inflexible labor market, dominance of large conglomerates (chaebols), and the heavy reliance on exports, which comprise about half of GDP. In an effort to address the long term challenges and sustain economic growth, the current government has prioritized structural reforms, deregulation, promotion of entrepreneurship and creative industries, and the competitiveness of small and medium enterprises.

Exchange rates

South Korean won (KRW) per US dollar -

1,053 (2014 est.)

1,095 (2013 est.)

1,126.47 (2012 est.)

1,108.29 (2011 est.)

1,156.1 (2010 est.)

Exports

$572.7 billion (2014 est.)

$559.6 billion (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

semiconductors, petrochemicals, automobile/auto parts, ships, wireless communication equipment, flat display displays, steel, electronics, plastics, computers

Exports - partners

China 25.4%, US 12.3%, Japan 5.6%, Hong Kong 4.8%, Singapore 4.2% (2014 est.)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

50.6%

government consumption

15.1%

household consumption

50.4%

imports of goods and services

-45.3%

investment in fixed capital

29.1%

investment in inventories

0.1%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

2.3%

industry

38.3%

services

59.4% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$35,300 (2014 est.)

$34,100 (2013 est.)

$33,200 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

3.3% (2014 est.)

2.9% (2013 est.)

2.3% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.41 trillion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.781 trillion (2014 est.)

$1.724 trillion (2013 est.)

$1.676 trillion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

35.1% of GDP (2014 est.)

34.3% of GDP (2013 est.)

34.2% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

37.8% (Q4 2014)

lowest 10%

6.8%

Imports

$525.5 billion (2014 est.)

$515.6 billion (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

crude oil/petroleum products, semiconductors, natural gas, coal, steel, computers, wireless communication equipment, automobiles, fine chemical, textiles

Imports - partners

China 17.1%, Japan 10.2%, US 8.7%, Saudi Arabia 7%, Qatar 4.9%, Germany 4.1% (2014 est.)

Industrial production growth rate

0% (2014 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.3% (2014 est.)

1.3% (2013 est.)

Labor force

26.27 million (2014 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

5.7%

industry

24%

services

70.4% (2014 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$1.269 trillion (31 December 2014 est.)

$1.193 trillion (31 December 2013)

$1.121 trillion (28 December 2012 est.)

Population below poverty line

14.6% (2013 est.)

Public debt

34.2% of GDP (2014 est.)

33.8% of GDP (2013 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$363.6 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$346.5 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of broad money

$1.973 trillion (31 December 2014 est.)

$1.754 trillion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$278.8 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$254.1 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$152.3 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$140.7 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$1.187 trillion (31 December 2014 est.)

$1.055 trillion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$556.3 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$470.9 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

24.9% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

3.5% (2014 est.)

3.1% (2013 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

688.3 million Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - imports

2.949 million bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl

Electricity - consumption

474.8 billion kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

69.6% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

1.7% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

26.8% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

1.9% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

86.97 million kW (2011 est.)

Electricity - production

517.1 billion kWh (2013 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

53.15 billion cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - imports

46.26 billion cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - production

515 million cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

5.748 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

2.261 million bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

1.182 million bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

911,700 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

2.745 million bbl/day (2013 est.)

Broadcast media

multiple national TV 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 available; publicly operated radio broadcast networks and many privately owned radio broadcasting networks, each with multiple affiliates, and independent local stations (2010)

Internet country code

.kr

Internet users

percent of population

91.5% (2014 est.)

total

44.9 million

Radio broadcast stations

AM 96, FM 322, shortwave 1 (2008)

Telephone system

domestic

fixed-line and mobile-cellular services widely available with a combined telephone subscribership of roughly 170 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 (2011)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

60 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

29.48 million

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

117 (2014 est.)

total

57.2 million

Television broadcast stations

57 (plus 103 cable operators and 119 relay cable operators) (2008)

Airports

111 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

12

2,438 to 3,047 m

19

914 to 1,523 m

13

over 3,047 m

4

total

71

under 914 m

23 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

38 (2013)

914 to 1,523 m

2

total

40

Heliports

466 (2013)

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 191, cargo 235, carrier 8, chemical tanker 130, container 72, liquefied gas 44, passenger 5, passenger/cargo 15, petroleum tanker 55, refrigerated cargo 15, roll on/roll off 10, vehicle carrier 6

foreign-owned

31 (China 6, France 2, Japan 14, Taiwan 1, US 8)

registered in other countries

457 (Bahamas 1, Cambodia 10, Ghana 1, Honduras 6, Hong Kong 3, Indonesia 2, Kiribati 1, Liberia 2, Malta 2, Marshall Islands 41, North Korea 1, Panama 373, Philippines 1, Russia 1, Singapore 3, Tuvalu 1, unknown 8) (2010)

total

786

Pipelines

gas 2,216 km; oil 16 km; refined products 889 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

container port(s) (TEUs)

Busan (16,163,842), Kwangyang (2,061,958), Incheon (1,924,644)

LNG terminal(s) (import)

Incheon, Kwangyang, Pyeongtaek, Samcheok, Tongyeong, Yeosu

major seaport(s)

Busan, Incheon, Gunsan, Kwangyang, Mokpo, Pohang, Ulsan, Yeosu

Railways

standard gauge

3,460 km 1.435-m gauge (1,422 km electrified) (2014)

total

3,460 km

Roadways

paved

83,199 km (includes 3,779 km of expressways)

total

104,983 km

unpaved

21,784 km (2009)

Waterways

1,600 km (most navigable only by small craft) (2011)

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

12,423,496 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

13,185,794

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

10,168,709 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

10,864,566

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

321,225 (2010 est.)

male

365,760

Military branches

Republic of Korea Army, Navy (includes Marine Corps), Air Force (2011)

Military expenditures

2.8% of GDP (2012)

2.77% of GDP (2011)

2.8% of GDP (2010)

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 (2012)

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

stateless persons

204 (2014)