Korea, South

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Introduction - Korea, South:
Country	Korea, South


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 Japans 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 14 times the level of North Korea. In 1993, KIM Young-sam became South Koreas 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 Souths President KIM Dae-jung and the Norths leader KIM Jong Il.


Location - Korea, South:
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: 98,480 sq km land: 98,190 sq km water: 290 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	8,780 sq km (2003)

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

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 - Korea, South:
Population	49,044,790 (July 2007 est.)

Age structure	0-14 years: 18.3% (male 4,714,103/female 4,262,873) 15-64 years: 72.1% (male 18,004,719/female 17,346,594) 65 years and over: 9.6% (male 1,921,803/female 2,794,698) (2007 est.)

Median age	total: 35.8 years male: 34.8 years female: 36.8 years (2007 est.)

Population growth rate	0.394% (2007 est.)

Birth rate	9.93 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Death rate	5.99 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Net migration rate	0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Sex ratio	at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.106 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.038 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.688 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate	total: 6.05 deaths/1,000 live births male: 6.43 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.64 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)

Life expectancy at birth	total population: 77.23 years male: 73.81 years female: 80.93 years (2007 est.)

Total fertility rate	1.28 children born/woman (2007 est.)

Hiv aids adult prevalence rate	less than 0.1% (2003 est.)

Hiv aids people living with hiv aids	8,300 (2003 est.)

Hiv aids deaths	less than 200 (2003 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)

Government - Korea, South:
Country name	conventional long form: Republic of Korea conventional short form: South Korea local long form: Taehan-minguk local short form: Hanguk 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: Cheju-do, Cholla-bukto (North Cholla), Cholla-namdo (South Cholla), Chungchong-bukto (North Chungchong), Chungchong-namdo (South Chungchong), Kangwon-do, Kyonggi-do, Kyongsang-bukto (North Kyongsang), Kyongsang-namdo (South Kyongsang) metropolitan cities: Inchon-gwangyoksi (Inchon), Kwangju-gwangyoksi (Kwangju), Pusan-gwangyoksi (Pusan), Soul-tukpyolsi (Seoul), Taegu-gwangyoksi (Taegu), Taejon-gwangyoksi (Taejon), Ulsan-gwangyoksi (Ulsan)

Independence	15 August 1945 (from Japan)

National holiday	Liberation Day, 15 August (1945)

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

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

Suffrage	19 years of age; universal

Executive branch	chief of state: President ROH Moo-hyun (since 25 February 2003) head of government: Prime Minister HAN Duck-soo (since 2 April 2007); Deputy Prime Ministers KIM Woo-sik (since 10 February 2006); KWON O-kyu (since 18 July 2006); KIM Shin-il (since 20 September 2006) cabinet: State Council appointed by the president on the prime ministers recommendation elections: president elected by popular vote for a single five-year term; election last held 19 December 2002 (next to be held on 19 December 2007); prime minister appointed by president with consent of National Assembly; deputy prime ministers appointed by president on prime ministers 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; 243 members elected in single-seat constituencies, 56 elected by proportional representation; to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 15 April 2004 (next to be held in April 2008) election results: percent of vote by party - Uri 51%, GNP 41%, DLP 3%, DP 3%, others 2%; seats by party - Uri 141, GNP 127, DP 12, DLP 9, PFP 5, independents 5 note: percent of vote is for 2004 general election; seats by party reflect results of 2005 and 2006 by-elections; MDP became DP in May 2005; United Liberal Democrats (ULD) merged with GNP in February 2006

Judicial 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)

Political parties and leaders	Democratic Labor Party or DLP [MOON Seong-hyun]; Democratic Party or DP [PARK Sang-chun]; Grand National Party or GNP [KANG Jae-sup]; People-First Party or PFP [SHIN Kook-hwan and SIM Dae-pyung]; Uri Party [Chung Sye-kyun]

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	AfDB, APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, CP, EAS, EBRD, FAO, 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, MIGA, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, ONUB, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMOGIP, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the us	chief of mission: Ambassador LEE Tae-sik 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 Alexander VERSHBOW embassy: 32 Sejong-no, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-710 mailing address: US Embassy Seoul, Unit 15550, 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

Economy - Korea, South:
Economy overview	Since the 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 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 Koreas development model, including high debt/equity ratios, massive foreign borrowing, and an undisciplined financial sector. GDP plunged by 6.9% in 1998, then recovered by 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 2006, growth moderated to about 4-5%. A downturn in consumer spending was offset by rapid export growth. Moderate inflation, low unemployment, an export surplus, and fairly equal distribution of income characterize this solid economy.

Gdp purchasing power parity	$1.196 trillion (2006 est.)

Gdp official exchange rate	$897.4 billion (2006 est.)

Gdp real growth rate	4.8% (2006 est.)

Gdp per capita ppp	$24,500 (2006 est.)

Gdp composition by sector	agriculture: 3% industry: 45% services: 52% (2006 est.)

Labor force	23.77 million (31 December 2006 est.)

Labor force by occupation	agriculture: 6.4% industry: 26.4% services: 67.2% (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate	3.3% (December 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line	15% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share	lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 25% (2005 est.)

Distribution of family income gini index	35.8 (2000)

Inflation rate consumer prices	2.2% (2006 est.)

Investment gross fixed	28.4% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget	revenues: $200 billion expenditures: $201 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2006 est.)

Public debt	31.9% of GDP (2006 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	8% (2006 est.)

Electricity production	345.2 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity consumption	321 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity exports	0 kWh (2004)

Electricity imports	0 kWh (2004)

Oil production	7,378 bbl/day (2004)

Oil consumption	2.149 million bbl/day (2004)

Oil exports	644,100 bbl/day (2004)

Oil imports	2.83 million bbl/day (2004)

Oil proved reserves	0 bbl

Natural gas production	0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas consumption	27.84 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas exports	0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas imports	28.93 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance	$2 billion (2006 est.)

Exports	$326 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

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

Exports partners	China 24.7%, US 13.1%, Japan 7.5%, Hong Kong 4.2%, Taiwan 4.1% (2006)

Imports	$309.3 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

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

Imports partners	Japan 17.4%, China 15.4%, US 11.2%, Saudi Arabia 6.4% (2006)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold	$239 billion (2006 est.)

Economic aid donor	ODA, $744 million (2005)

Debt external	$249.4 billion (30 September 2006 est.)

Currency code	South Korean won (KRW)

Exchange rates	South Korean won per US dollar - 955.3 (2006), 1,024.1 (2005), 1,145.3 (2004), 1,191.6 (2003), 1,251.1 (2002)

Communications - Korea, South:
Fiscal year	calendar year

Telephones main lines in use	26.866 million (2006)

Telephones mobile cellular	40.197 million (2006)

Telephone system	general assessment: excellent domestic and international services domestic: NA international: country code - 82; 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)

Radio broadcast stations	AM 61, FM 150, shortwave 2 (2005)

Television broadcast stations	43 (plus 59 cable operators and 190 relay cable operators) (2005)

Internet country code	.kr

Internet hosts	5.434 million (2005)

Internet users	34.12 million (2006)

Transportation - Korea, South:
Airports	107 (2006)

Airports with paved runways	total: 69 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 21 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 20 (2006)

Airports with unpaved runways	total: 38 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 35 (2006)

Heliports	540 (2006)

Pipelines	gas 1,482 km; refined products 827 km (2006)

Railways	total: 3,472 km standard gauge: 3,472 km 1.435-m gauge (1,342 km electrified) (2006)

Roadways	total: 100,279 km paved: 87,032 km (includes 3,060 km of expressways) unpaved: 13,247 km (2004)

Waterways	1,608 km (most navigable only by small craft) (2007)

Merchant marine	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) (2006)

Ports and terminals	Inchon, Masan, Pohang, Pusan, Ulsan

Military - Korea, South:
Military branches	Army, Navy, Republic of Korea Air Force (Han-guk Kong Goon), Marine Corps, National Maritime Police (coast guard) (2006)

Military service age and obligation	20-30 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 24-28 months, depending on the military branch involved (to be reduced by 6 months beginning 2014); 18 years of age for voluntary military service; some 4,000 women serve as commissioned and noncommissioned officers, approx. 2.3% of all officers; women, in service since 1950, are admitted to seven service branches, including infantry, but excluded from artillery, armor, anti-air, and chaplaincy corps (2007)

Manpower available for military service	males age 20-49: 12,483,677 females age 20-49: 12,014,462 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service	males age 20-49: 10,115,817 females age 20-49: 9,721,914 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually	males age 18-49: 344,943 females age 20-49: 312,720 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures percent of gdp	2.7% (2006)