View Intelligence Dossier Back to 1997 CSV Excel Print All Years

Communications

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 79, FM 46, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

42 million (1993 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

excellent domestic and international services domestic: NA international: fiber-optic submarine cable to China; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Pacific Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Inmarsat (Pacific Ocean Region)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

16.6 million (1993)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

256 (57 of which are 1 kW or greater) (1987 est.)

Televisions [time series]

9.3 million (1992 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

rice, root crops, barley, vegetables, fruit; cattle, pigs, chickens, milk, eggs; fish catch of 2.9 million metric tons, seventh largest in world

Budget [time series]

revenues: $69 billion expenditures : $67 billion, including capital expenditures of $17 billion (1995 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 South Korean won (W) = 100 chun (theoretical)

Debt - external [time series]

$93 billion (1996 est.)

Economic aid [time series]

$NA

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

As one of the Four Dragons of East Asia, South Korea has achieved an incredible record of growth. Three decades ago its GDP per capita was comparable with levels in the poorer countries of Africa and Asia. Today its GDP per capita is eight times India's, 15 times North Korea's, and already up with the lesser economies of the European Union. This success has been achieved by a unique system of guidance by an authoritarian government of what is essentially an entrepreneurial process. The government has sponsored large-scale adoption of technology and management from Japan and other modern nations; has successfully pushed the development of export industries while encouraging the import of machinery and materials at the expense of consumer goods; and has pushed its labor force to a work effort seldom matched anywhere even in wartime. Real GDP grew by an average 10% in 1986-91, then paused to a "mere" 5% in 1992-93, moved back up to 8% in 1994 and 9% in 1995, and about 7% in 1996. With a much higher standard of living and with a considerable easing of authoritarian controls, the work pace has softened. Growth rates will probably slow down over the medium term.

Electricity - capacity [time series]

31.67 million kW (1994)

Electricity - consumption per capita [time series]

3,563 kWh (1995 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

155.89 billion kWh (1994)

Exchange rates [time series]

South Korean won (W) per US$1 - 849.88 (January 1997), 804.45 (1996), 771.27 (1995), 803.45 (1994), 802.67 (1993), 780.65 (1992)

Exports [time series]

total value : $130.9 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: electronic and electrical equipment, machinery, steel, automobiles, ships; textiles, clothing, footwear; fish partners: US 17%, EU 13%, Japan 12%

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $647.2 billion (1996 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 8% industry: 45% services: 47% (1991 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $14,200 (1996 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

6.9% (1996 est.)

Imports [time series]

total value: $150.2 billion (c.i.f., 1996) commodities : machinery, electronics and electronic equipment, oil, steel, transport equipment, textiles, organic chemicals, grains partners: US 22%, Japan 21%, EU 13%

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

11.9% (1995)

Industries [time series]

electronics, automobile production, chemicals, shipbuilding, steel, textiles, clothing, footwear, food processing

Inflation rate (consumer prices) (Inflation rate - consumer price index) [time series]

5% (1996)

Labor force [time series]

total: 20 million by occupation: services and other 52%, mining and manufacturing 27%, agriculture, fishing, forestry 21% (1991)

Unemployment rate [time series]

1.9% (1996)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 98,480 sq km land: 98,190 sq km water: 290 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly larger than Indiana

Climate [time series]

temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter

Coastline [time series]

2,413 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 m highest point : Halla-san 1,950 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

air pollution in large cities; water pollution from the discharge of sewage and industrial effluents; drift net fishing

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to : Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94 signed, but not ratified: Desertification

Geographic coordinates [time series]

37 00 N, 127 30 E

Irrigated land [time series]

13,350 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 238 km border countries: North Korea 238 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 19% permanent crops : 2% permanent pastures: 1% forests and woodland: 65% other: 13% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

Eastern Asia, southern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea, south of North Korea

Map references [time series]

Asia

Maritime claims [time series]

contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf : not specified exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm; 3 nm in the Korea Strait

Natural hazards [time series]

occasional typhoons bring high winds and floods; earthquakes in southwest

Natural resources [time series]

coal, tungsten, graphite, molybdenum, lead, hydropower

Terrain [time series]

mostly hills and mountains; wide coastal plains in west and south

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 6 special cities* (gwangyoksi, singular and plural); Cheju-do, Cholla-bukto, Cholla-namdo, Ch'ungch'ong-bukto, Ch'ungch'ong-namdo, Inch'on-gwangyoksi*, Kangwon-do, Kwangju-gwangyoksi*, Kyonggi-do, Kyongsang-bukto, Kyongsang-namdo, Pusan-gwangyoksi*, Soul-t'ukpyolsi*, Taegu-gwangyoksi*, Taejon-gwangyoksi*

Constitution [time series]

25 February 1988

Country name [time series]

conventional long form : Republic of Korea conventional short form: South Korea local long form: Taehan-min'guk local short form: none note : the South Koreans generally use the term "Hanguk" to refer to their country abbreviation: ROK

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant) embassy: 82 Sejong-Ro, Chongro-ku, Seoul mailing address: American Embassy, Unit 15550, APO AP 96205-0001 telephone : [82] (2) 397-4114

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador PAK Kun-u chancery: 2450 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 939-5600 consulate(s) general: Agana (Guam), Anchorage, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President KIM Yong-sam (since 25 February 1993) head of government : Prime Minister KO Kon (since 4 March 1997); Deputy Prime Ministers KANG Kyong-sik (since 5 March 1997) and KWON O-ki (since 20 December 1995) 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 18 December 1992 (next to be held 18 December 1997); prime minister appointed by the president; deputy prime ministers appointed by the president on the prime minister's recommendation election results: KIM Yong-sam elected president; percent of vote - KIM Yong-sam (DLP) 41.9%, KIM Tae-chung (DP) 33.8%, CHONG Chu-yong (UPP) 16.3%, other 8%

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[82] (2) 738-8845 consulate(s): Pusan

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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

Government type [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

15 August 1948

International organization participation [time series]

AfDB, APEC, AsDB, BIS (pending member), CCC, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, OAS (observer), OECD, OSCE (partner), UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMOGIP, UNOMIG, UNU, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court, justices are appointed by the president subject to the consent of the National Assembly

Legal system [time series]

combines elements of continental European civil law systems, Anglo-American law, and Chinese classical thought

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral National Assembly or Kukhoe (299 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections : last held 11 April 1996 (next to be held NA 2000) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NKP 139, NCNP 79, ULD 50, DP 15, independents 16; note - the distribution of seats as of December 1996 was NKP 155, NCNP 78, ULD 47, DP 12, independents 7

Capital (National capital) [time series]

Seoul

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 15 August (1948)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

majority party : New Korea Party (NKP), KIM Yong-sam, president opposition: United Liberal Democratic Party (ULD), KIM Chong-pil, president; Democratic Party (DP), YI Ki-taek, chairman; National Congress for New Politics (NCNP), KIM Tae-chung, president

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

Korean National Council of Churches; National Democratic Alliance of Korea; National Federation of Student Associations; National Federation of Farmers' Associations; National Council of Labor Unions; Federation of Korean Trade Unions; Korean Veterans' Association; Federation of Korean Industries; Korean Traders Association; Korean Confederation of Trade Unions

Suffrage [time series]

20 years of age; universal

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, National Maritime Police (Coast Guard)

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$17.4 billion (1996)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

3.3% (1996)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 13,730,520 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males : 8,775,136 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 397,167 (1997 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 23% (male 5,515,667; female 4,925,479) 15-64 years: 71% (male 16,579,117; female 16,096,684) 65 years and over : 6% (male 1,067,663; female 1,764,201) (July 1997 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

16.17 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate [time series]

5.66 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

homogeneous (except for about 20,000 Chinese)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

8 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Languages [time series]

Korean, English widely taught in high school

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 73.6 years male : 70.01 years female: 77.69 years (1997 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98% male: 99.3% female: 96.7% (1995 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Korean(s) adjective: Korean

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Population [time series]

45,948,811 (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.02% (1997 est.)

Religions [time series]

Christianity 49%, Buddhism 47%, Confucianism 3%, pervasive folk religion (shamanism), Chondogyo (Religion of the Heavenly Way), and other 1%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth : 1.14 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.12 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.78 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

Demarcation Line with North Korea; Liancourt Rocks claimed by Japan KUWAIT

Transportation

Airports [time series]

103 (1996 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total : 101 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 18 1,524 to 2,437 m: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 14 under 914 m: 53 (1996 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total : 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1996 est.)

Heliports [time series]

199 (1996 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 74,235 km paved: 56,419 km (including 1,824 km of expressways) unpaved: 17,816 km (1995 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 461 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,634,127 GRT/10,343,557 DWT ships by type: bulk 123, cargo 124, chemical tanker 27, combination bulk 3, combination ore/oil 1, container 71, liquefied gas tanker 13, multifunction large-load carrier 1, oil tanker 68, refrigerated cargo 17, short-sea passenger 2, vehicle carrier 11 note: South Korea owns an additional 254 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 12,744,507 DWT operating under the registries of Cyprus, Liberia, Malta, Panama, Singapore, and Thailand (1996 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

petroleum products 455 km; note - additionally, there is a parallel petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) pipeline being completed

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Chinhae, Inch'on, Kunsan, Masan, Mokp'o, P'ohang, Pusan, Ulsan, Yosu

Railways [time series]

total: 3,081 km standard gauge : 3,081 km 1.435-m gauge (560 km electrified) (1996 est.)

Waterways [time series]

1,609 km; use restricted to small native craft

Korea, South