Korea, South

Korea, South

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: 109 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

8,320 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

69.7 cu km (1999)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 18.59cu km/yr (36%/16%/48%)
per capita:389cu 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 and Society

Nationality

noun: Korean(s)
adjective:Korean

Ethnic groups

homogeneous (except for about 20,000 Chinese)

Languages

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

Religions

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

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: 177

Birth rate

8.55 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 215

Death rate

6.26 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156

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.)

Maternal mortality rate

18 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 130

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: 217

Health expenditures

6.5% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 90

Physicians density

1.967 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 64

Hospital bed density

12.28 beds/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 3

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)

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: 100

HIV/AIDS – deaths

fewer than 500 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90

Obesity – adult prevalence rate

3.2% (2001)
country comparison to the world: 64

Education expenditures

4.2% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 95

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)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 9.8%
country comparison to the world: 104 male:11.9%
female:8.5% (2009)

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 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, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, 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 Sung Y. KIM
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 symbol(s)

taegeuk (yin yang symbol)

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: 2.6%
industry:39.3%
services:58.2% (2010 est.)

Labor force

24.75 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: 7.3%
industry:24.3%
services:68.4% (2010 est.)

Unemployment rate

3.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31 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: 110 35.8 (2000)

Investment (gross fixed)

28.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37

Budget

revenues: $235.1 billion
expenditures:$222.2 billion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

23.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

1.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26

Public debt

22.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104 23.5% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103 2.8% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

1.25% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 112 1.75% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

5.508% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154 5.65% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$377 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13 $334.4 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

$1.066 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16 $1 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$1.089 trillion (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 16 $836.5 billion (31 December 2009)
$494.6 billion (31 December 2008)

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.)
country comparison to the world: 7

Electricity – production

417.3 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

48,400 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63

Oil – consumption

2.251 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10

Oil – exports

907,100 bbl/day
country comparison to the world: 22 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.)
country comparison to the world: 5

Oil – proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150

Natural gas – production

542 million cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68

Natural gas – consumption

42.69 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21

Natural gas – exports

0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126

Natural gas – imports

43.58 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7

Natural gas – proved reserves

50 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65

Current account balance

$36.35 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12 $32.79 billion (2009 est.)

Exports

$464.3 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8 $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.)
country comparison to the world: 11 $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.)
country comparison to the world: 6 $270 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$398 billion (30 June 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25 $380.9 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – at home

$127 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29 $117.7 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)

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: 51 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
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

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.)

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