South Korea - Country Profile - Nations Online Project (original) (raw)

Background:
The Korean Peninsula extends southward from the northeastern part of the Asian continent. The country has a long history and proud tradition. Buddhism and Confucianism have influenced the nation's society and culture.
Koreans, like many other Asian peoples, are descendants of the Mongolian Tungus stock. They differ from the neighboring Japanese and Chinese, however, in that Koreans are a homogeneous ethnic group with their own language, culture, and customs.
Over the last several decades, South Korea has transformed herself from an agrarian society to an industrial leader on the world economic scene. Progress is being made in education, science and technology and social welfare.
In 2002 South Korea has co-hosted, the FIFA World Cup™ tournament.

After World War II, a republic was set up in the southern half of the Korean Peninsula (in August 15, 1945) while a communist-style government was installed in the north.
The Korean War (1950-53) had US and other UN forces intervene to defend South Korea from North Korean attacks supported by the Chinese. 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 13 times the level of North Korea.
In 1997, the nation suffered a severe financial crisis from which it continues to make a solid recovery. South Korea has also maintained its commitment to democratize its political processes.

In June 2000, a historic first south-north summit took place between the south's then President KIM Dae-jung and the north's leader KIM Chong-il. In December 2000, President KIM Dae-jung won the Noble Peace Prize for his lifelong commitment to democracy and human rights in Asia. He was the first Korean to win a Nobel Prize.

In-depth country profile of South Korea
More information on South Korea's political system, foreign policy, economy, science and technology, and more.


Official Name:
대한민국 - Taehan-min'guk
int'l long form: Republic of Korea
int'l short form: South Korea
abbreviation: ROK
note: the South Koreans generally use the term "Han'guk" to refer to their country.

ISO Country Code: kr, kor

Actual Time: Sun-Nov-17 07:28
Local Time = UTC +9h

Country Calling Code: +82

Capital City: Seoul
The Municipality of Seoul (pop. 11 million).

Other Cities:
Daejeon (Taejon, pop. 1.3 million),
Incheon (Inchon, pop. 2.4 million)
Gwangju (Kwangju, pop. 1.4 million)
Busan (Pusan, pop. 3.9 million)
Daegu (Taegu, pop. 2.5 million)

Government:
Type: Republic with powers shared between the president and the legislature.
Liberation: 15 August 1945 from Japanese rule.

Geography:
Location: South Korea occupies the southern part of the Korean peninsula, the peninsula is surrounded by Yellow Sea, East China Sea, and East Sea (Sea of Japan).
Area: 99,678 km² (38 375 sq. mi.)
(entire Korean Peninsula including North Korea: 222 154 sq km) (85 774 sq. mi.)
Terrain: Partially forested mountain ranges separated by deep, narrow valleys; cultivated plains along the coasts, particularly in the west and south.
Highest mountains in S. Korea - Hallasan on Jeju Island, 1950 m.

Climate: Temperate, four distinct seasons, and heavier rainfall in the summer.

People:
Nationality: Korean(s).
Population: 51.7 million (2024)
Population growth rate: 0.6%.
Real GDP per capita: $50,600 (2023 est.)
Ethnic groups: Korean; small Chinese minority.
Religions: Buddhism 46%, Protestantism 39%, Catholicism 13%, Confucianism 1%, Cheondogyo (the Religion of Heavenly Way) and others 1%
Language: Korean, spoken by 70 million people and 5 million overseas Koreans.
Writing system: Hangeul, the Korean alphabet, was invented by King Sejong the Great in 1443, consisting of 10 vowels and 14 consonants.
Literacy rate: 97.75% (2000 estimate), male: 99.1%, female: 96.4%

Transparency: Rank 33 (out of 180 countries); Score 61, on a scale from 100 (very clean) to 0 (highly corrupt). South Korea is ranked in the Corruption Perceptions Index 2020 between Spain and Portugal.

Natural resources: Limited coal, tungsten, iron ore, limestone, kaolinite, and graphite.

Agriculture products: Rice, root crops, barley, vegetables, fruit; cattle, pigs, chickens, milk, eggs; fish.

Industries: Electronics, telecommunications, automobile production, chemicals, shipbuilding, steel.

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

Exports - partners: China 21%, USA 16%, Vietnam 9%, Japan 4%, Hong Kong 4% (2022)

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

Imports - partners: China 23%, United States 11%, Japan 8%, Australia 6%, Saudi Arabia 5% (2022)

Currency: Korean Won (KRW)

(Source: Korean National Statistical Office and others).

South Korea in numbers
South Korea key statistical data.

Cheongwadae the "Blue House", presidential residence in Seoul, South Korea-Reception-Center.jpg "Cheongwadae the "Blue House"")
Reception Center at Cheongwadae the "Blue House", the South Korean presidential residence in Seoul, South Korea.
Image: Steve46814

Political system
South Korea is a presidential representative democratic republic, specified by the constitution. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the National Assembly.
Head of state is the President, the president is also the chairman of the cabinet, the chief executive of the government, and commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
If the National Assembly votes against a presidential decision, it will be declared void immediately. Head of government is the Primeminister.

Official Sites of South Korea

Note: External links will open in a new browser window.

Chong Wa Dae (Blue House)
Official website of the President's office. In Korean and English.

Korea.net: Korean Government Homepage
Official English-language web site of the South Korean Government operated by the Korean Overseas Information Service (KOIS).

Prime Minister's Secretariat
Office for Government Policy Coordination Prime Minister's Secretariat.

The National Assembly of the Republic of Korea
The site provides a general introduction of the National Assembly and basic materials on Korea's legislative activities.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in charge of diplomacy, external economic policy, overseas Korean nationals, international situation analysis and overseas promotional affairs.

Diplomatic Missions
Permanent Mission of The Republic of Korea to the UN
South Korea's representation to the United Nations.
Embassy of the Republic of Korea
Washington, D.C.

Diplomatic Missions in Korea
List of foreign Consulates, Embassies and Organizations in Korea.

Statistics
Korea National Statistical Office - KOSTAT

KOSIS Korean Statistical Information Service
KOSIS is the national statistical database, operated by Statistics Korea.

Maps

Map of South Korea
Political Map of South Korea.
Administrative Map of South Korea
Map showing South Korea and the surrounding countries with international borders, provincial boundaries,
provincial capitals, major cities, main roads, railroads and major airports.

Map of the Korean Peninsula
Government of The Republic of Korea. Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade 2001.
Google Earth Google Earth Korean Peninsula
Searchable map and satellite view of the Korean Peninsula.
Google Earth Google Earth Seoul
Searchable map and satellite view of South Korea's capital city.
Google Earth Google Earth Busan
Searchable map and satellite view of South Korea's second largest city.

Map of East Asia
Political Map of East Asia.
profile Map of Asia
Political Map of Asia.