Page last updated on February 3, 2014
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 South Korea's first civilian president. South Korea today is a fully functioning modern democracy. President PARK Geun-hye took office in February 2013 and is South Korea's first female leader. South Korea holds a non-permanent seat (2013-14) on the UN Security Council and will host the 2018 Winter Olympic Games. Serious tensions with North Korea have punctuated inter-Korean relations in recent years, including the North's attacks on a South Korean ship and island in 2010, nuclear and missile tests in 2012 and 2013, and its temporary withdrawal of North Korean workers from the inter-Korean Kaesong Industrial Complex in 2013.
Eastern Asia, southern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea
total: 99,720 sq km
country comparison to the world: 109
land: 96,920 sq km
water: 2,800 sq km
slightly larger than Indiana
total: 238 km
border countries: North Korea 238 km
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
temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter
mostly hills and mountains; wide coastal plains in west and south
lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 m
highest point: Halla-san 1,950 m
coal, tungsten, graphite, molybdenum, lead, hydropower potential
arable land: 14.93%
permanent crops: 2.06%
other: 83% (2011)
total: 25.47 cu km/yr (26%/12%/62%)
per capita: 548.7 cu m/yr (2003)
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
air pollution in large cities; acid rain; water pollution from the discharge of sewage and industrial effluents; drift net fishing
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
strategic location on Korea Strait
noun: Korean(s)
adjective: Korean
homogeneous (except for about 20,000 Chinese)
Korean, English (widely taught in junior high and high school)
Christian 31.6% (Protestant 24%, Roman Catholic 7.6%), Buddhist 24.2%, other or unknown 0.9%, none 43.3% (2010 survey)
48,955,203 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
0-14 years: 14.6% (male 3,717,701/female 3,424,490)
15-24 years: 13.6% (male 3,525,050/female 3,117,198)
25-54 years: 47.8% (male 11,925,181/female 11,491,841)
55-64 years: 11.7% (male 2,842,996/female 2,907,730)
65 years and over: 12.3% (male 2,469,093/female 3,533,923) (2013 est.)
total dependency ratio: 37.1 %
youth dependency ratio: 20.4 %
elderly dependency ratio: 16.7 %
potential support ratio: 6 (2013)
total: 39.7 years
male: 38.2 years
female: 41 years (2013 est.)
0.18% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
8.33 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 219
6.5 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
urban population: 83.2% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 0.71% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
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)
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.09 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: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
16 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 144
total: 4.01 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 200
male: 4.21 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
total population: 79.55 years
country comparison to the world: 42
male: 76.4 years
female: 82.91 years (2013 est.)
1.24 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 219
80%
note: percent of women aged 15-44 (2009)
7.2% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 83
2.02 physicians/1,000 population (2010)
10.3 beds/1,000 population (2009)
less than 0.1% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
9,500 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
fewer than 500 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
7.7% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 139
5.1% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 74
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.9%
male: 99.2%
female: 96.6% (2002)
total: 17 years
male: 18 years
female: 16 years (2010)
total: 9%
country comparison to the world: 116
male: 9.7%
female: 8.5% (2012)
conventional long form: Republic of Korea
conventional short form: South Korea
local long form: Taehan-min'guk
local short form: Han'guk
abbreviation: ROK
name: Seoul
geographic coordinates: 37 33 N, 126 59 E
time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
9 provinces (do, singular and plural), 6 metropolitan cities (gwangyoksi, singular and plural), 1 special city, and 1 special self-governing city
provinces: Chungbuk (North Chungcheong), Chungnam (South Chungcheong), Gangwon, Gyeonggi, Gyeongbuk (North Gyeongsang), Gyeongnam (South Gyeongsang), Jeju, Jeonbuk (North Jeolla), Jeonnam (South Jeolla)
metropolitan cities: Busan (Pusan), Daegu (Taegu), Daejon (Taejon), Gwangju (Kwangju), Incheon (Inch'on), Ulsan
special city: Seoul
special self-governing city: Sejong
15 August 1945 (from Japan)
Liberation Day, 15 August (1945)
effective 17 July 1948; amended several times, last in 1987 (2013)
mixed legal system combining European civil law, Anglo-American law, and Chinese classical thought
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
19 years of age; universal
chief of state: President PARK Geun-hye (since 25 February 2013)
head of government: Prime Minister CHUNG Hong-won (since 26 February 2013); Deputy Prime Minister HYUN Oh-seok (since 26 June 2013)
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; PARK Geun-hye elected on 19 December 2012; next election to be held in December 2017; prime minister appointed by president with consent of National Assembly
election results: PARK Geun-Hye elected president on 19 December 2012; percent of vote - PARK Geun-Hye (NFP) 51.6%, MOON Jae-In (DUP) 48%, others 0.4%
unicameral National Assembly or Gukhoe (300 seats; 246 members elected in single-seat constituencies, 54 elected by proportional representation; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 11 April 2012 (next to be held in April 2016)
election results: percent of vote by party - NFP 42.8%, DUP 36.5%, UPP 10.3%, LFP 3.2%, others 7.2%; seats by party - NFP 152, DUP 127, UPP 13, LFP 5, independents 3
note: seats by negotiation group as of February 2014 - NFP 155, DUP 126, Justice Party 5, Independents 6
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 undeer the Branch Courts); specialized courts for family and administrative issues
Democratic Party or DP (formerly the Democratic United Party or DUP) [KIM Han-gil]
Catholic Priests' Association for Justice
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 (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner), Paris Club (associate), PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNMOGIP, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
chief of mission: Ambassador AHN Ho-young (since 7 June 2013)
chancery: 2450 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 939-5600
FAX: [1] (202) 797-0595
consulate(s) general: Agana (Guam), Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle
consulate(s) general: Anchorage (AK)
chief of mission: Ambassador Sung Y. KIM (since 3 November 2011)
embassy: 188 Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-710
mailing address: US Embassy Seoul, Unit 15550, APO AP 96205-5550
telephone: [82] (2) 397-4114
FAX: [82] (2) 725-0152
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
taegeuk (yin yang symbol)
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
South Korea over the past four decades has demonstrated incredible 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, and is currently the world's 12th largest economy. 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% annually between 2003 and 2007. Korea''s export focused economy was hit hard by the 2008 global economic downturn, but quickly rebounded in subsequent years, reaching 6.3% growth in 2010. The US-South Korea Free Trade Agreement was ratified by both governments in 2011 and went into effect in March 2012. Throughout 2012 the economy experienced sluggish growth because of market slowdowns in the United States, China, and the Eurozone. The incoming administration in 2013, following the December 2012 presidential election, is likely to face the challenges 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, and heavy reliance on exports - which comprise half of GDP.
$1.598 trillion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
$1.114 trillion (2012 est.)
2% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
$31,900 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
31.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
household consumption: 53.5%
government consumption: 15.8%
investment in fixed capital: 26.7%
investment in inventories: 0.8%
exports of goods and services: 56.5%
imports of goods and services: -53.4%
agriculture: 2.7%
industry: 39.8%
services: 57.5% (2012 est.)
rice, root crops, barley, vegetables, fruit; cattle, pigs, chickens, milk, eggs; fish
electronics, telecommunications, automobile production, chemicals, shipbuilding, steel
1.7% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
25.5 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
agriculture: 6.2%
industry: 23.8%
services: 70% (2012 est.)
3.2% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
lowest 10%: 6.4%
highest 10%: 37.7% (2011)
41.9 (2011)
country comparison to the world: 51
revenues: $276.5 billion
expenditures: $260.1 billion (2012 est.)
24.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
1.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
35.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
2.2% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
1.5% (31 December 2011)
country comparison to the world: 131
5.39% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
$392 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
$1.596 trillion (31 December 2012)
country comparison to the world: 12
$1.219 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
$1.024 trillion (31 December 2012)
country comparison to the world: 15
$43.34 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
$552.7 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
semiconductors, wireless telecommunications equipment, motor vehicles, computers, steel, ships, petrochemicals
China 24.4%, US 10.1%, Japan 7.1% (2011 est.)
$514.2 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
machinery, electronics and electronic equipment, oil, steel, transport equipment, organic chemicals, plastics
China 16.5%, Japan 13%, US 8.5%, Saudi Arabia 7.1%, Australia 5% (2011 est.)
$327 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
$420.4 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
$147.2 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
$327.5 billion (31 December 2012)
country comparison to the world: 20
South Korean won (KRW) per US dollar -
459.5 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
455.1 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
84.66 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
71.1% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
20.9% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
1.9% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
1.5% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
61,040 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
2.59 million bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
2.83 million bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
2.26 million bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
944,700 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
794,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
437 million cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
45.9 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
0 cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
47.31 billion cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
5.267 billion cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 95
611 million Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
30.1 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 11
53.625 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 25
general assessment: excellent domestic and international services featuring rapid incorporation of new technologies
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
international: country code - 82; numerous submarine cables provide links throughout Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Europe, and US; satellite earth stations - 66 (2011)
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)
315,697 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 62
39.4 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 11
111 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 53
total: 71
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 19
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 23 (2013)
total: 40
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m:
gas 2,216 km; oil 16 km; refined products 889 km (2013)
total: 3,381 km
country comparison to the world: 52
standard gauge: 3,381 km 1.435-m gauge (1,843 km electrified) (2008)
total: 104,983 km
country comparison to the world: 44
paved: 83,199 km (includes 3,779 km of expressways)
unpaved: 21,784 km (2009)
1,600 km (most navigable only by small craft) (2011)
country comparison to the world: 51
total: 786
country comparison to the world: 14
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)
major seaport(s): Incheon, Pohang, Busan, Ulsan, Yeosu
container port(s) (TEUs): Busan (16,163,842), Kwangyang (2,061,958), Incheon (1,924,644)
Republic of Korea Army; Navy (includes Marine Corps); Air Force (2011)
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)
males age 16-49: 13,185,794
females age 16-49: 12,423,496 (2010 est.)
males age 16-49: 10,864,566
females age 16-49: 10,168,709 (2010 est.)
male: 365,760
female: 321,225 (2010 est.)
2.8% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 80
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
