South Korea
Republic of KoreaTaehan-min'guk
republicIndependence 15 August 1945 (from Japan)
South Korea as the 2009 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 137 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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 14 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. In June 2000, a historic first North-South summit took place between the South's President KIM Dae-jung and the North's leader KIM Jong Il. In October 2007, a second North-South summit took place between the South's President ROH Moo-hyun and the North Korean leader. Harsh rhetoric and unwillingness by North Korea to engage with President LEE Myung-bak following his February 2008 inauguration has strained inter-Korean relations.
Geography
Eastern Asia, southern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea
20 fieldsLand useshare of 99,720 sq km
Location
Eastern Asia, southern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)
- total:
- 18.59 cu km/yr (36%/16%/48%)
- per capita:
- 389 cu m/yr (2000)
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
People
22 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2009 est.)
Per 1,000 population
Male · female
Religions(1995 census)
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 (2009 est.)
Government
Republic; President LEE Myung-bak (since 25 February 2008); Prime Minister CHUNG Un-chan (since 30 September 2009)
18 fieldsNational Assembly or Kukhoe, 298 seats, elected 9 April 2008one dot, one seat
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
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), 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)
- metropolitan cities:
- Inch'on-gwangyoksi, Kwangju-gwangyoksi, Pusan-gwangyoksi, Soul-t'ukpyolsi, Taegu-gwangyoksi, Taejon-gwangyoksi, Ulsan-gwangyoksi
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
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- President LEE Myung-bak (since 25 February 2008)
- head of government:
- Prime Minister CHUNG Un-chan (since 30 September 2009)
- cabinet:
- State Council appointed by the president on the prime minister's recommendation
- elections:
- president elected by popular vote for a single five-year term;
- election last held 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; 243 members elected in single-seat constituencies, 56 elected by proportional representation; to serve four-year terms)
- elections:
- last held 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, Pro-Park Alliance 8, DLP 5, CKP 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-kabi];
- Grand National Party or GNP [CHUNG Mong-joon];
- Liberty Forward Party or LFP [LEE Hoi-chang];
- Pro-Park Alliance or PPA [SUH Choung-won];
- Renewal Korea Party or RKP [MOON Kook-hyun]
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, APT, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, CP, EAS, EBRD, FAO, 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, MIGA, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMOGIP, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, 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
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
Since the 1960s, South Korea has achieved an incredible record of growth and integration into the high-tech modern world economy.
51 fieldsGDP - composition by sector(2008 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
Electricity
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.
In 2008, its GDP per capita was roughly the same as that of the Czech Republic and New Zealand. Initially, 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 1997-98 exposed longstanding weaknesses in South Korea's 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% in 1999-2000. Korea adopted numerous economic reforms following the crisis, including greater openness to foreign investment and imports. 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 2007, growth moderated to about 4-5% annually. A downturn in consumer spending was offset by rapid export growth. In 2008, inflation increased in the face of rising oil and food prices before easing in the fourth quarter.
Korea was hit hard by the global financial turmoil that began in September 2008. Stock prices fell by more than 40% for the year and the value of the won fell by approximately 26%. Korean GDP shrank in the fourth quarter and GDP growth for the year was just 2.2%. The Korean government adopted several measures to combat the credit crunch and stimulate the economy.
Distribution of family income - Gini index
31.3 (2007) · 35.8 (2000) country comparison to the world: 105
Central bank discount rate
1.75% (31 December 2008) · 3.25% (31 December 2007) country comparison to the world: 131
Stock of money
$80.66 billion (31 December 2008) · $92.59 billion (31 December 2007) country comparison to the world: 15
Stock of quasi money
$478 billion (31 December 2008) · $541.7 billion (31 December 2007) country comparison to the world: 8
Stock of domestic credit
$937 billion (31 December 2008) · $1.061 trillion (31 December 2007) country comparison to the world: 12
Agriculture - products
- rice, root crops, barley, vegetables, fruit;
- cattle, pigs, chickens, milk, eggs;
- fish
Oil - exports
800,000 bbl/day country comparison to the world: 22 note: exports consist of oil derivatives (gasoline, light oil, and diesel), not crude oil (2008 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves
50 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 64
Current account balance
-$6.349 billion (2008 est.) · $5.954 billion (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 161
Exports - commodities
semiconductors, wireless telecommunications equipment, motor vehicles, computers, steel, ships, petrochemicals
Imports - commodities
machinery, electronics and electronic equipment, oil, steel, transport equipment, organic chemicals, plastics
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$201.2 billion (31 December 2008 est.) · $262.2 billion (31 December 2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 6
Debt - external
$381.1 billion (31 December 2008 est.) · $383.2 billion (31 December 2007) country comparison to the world: 24
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
$124.2 billion (31 December 2008 est.) · $122 billion (31 December 2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 27
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad
$74.6 billion (30 June 2008) · $82.1 billion (2006) country comparison to the world: 26
Exchange rates
South Korean won (KRW) per US dollar - 1,101.7 (2008 est.), 929.2 (2007), 954.8 (2006), 1,024.1 (2005), 1,145.3 (2004)
Communications
8 fieldsTelephone system
- general assessment:
- excellent domestic and international services featuring rapid incorporation of new technologies
- domestic:
- fixed-line and mobile-cellular services wide 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
Transportation
10 fieldsMerchant marine, 812 ships by type
Airports by runway lengthpaved only
Airports by runway lengthunpaved only
Networkskm
Military
Republic of Korea Army, Navy (includes Marine Corps), Air Force (2009)
6 fieldsMilitary service age and obligation
- 20-30 years of age for compulsory military service, with middle school education required;
- conscript service obligation - 24-28 months, depending on the military branch involved (to be reduced to 18 months beginning 2016);
- 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 (2008)
Manpower available for military service
- males age 16-49:
- 13,691,809
- females age 16-49:
- 13,029,859 (2008 est.)
Transnational Issues
1 fieldDisputes - 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 Limiting 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
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Korea, South.” The World Factbook 2009. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/south-korea/2009.