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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.kr

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

301,270 (2009) country comparison to the world: 54

Internet users [time series]

37.476 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 10

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 96, FM 322, shortwave 1 (2008)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

21.325 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 13

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

45.607 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 23

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

57 (plus 103 cable operators and 119 relay cable operators) (2008)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

rice, root crops, barley, vegetables, fruit; cattle, pigs, chickens, milk, eggs; fish

Budget [time series]

revenues: $227.5 billion expenditures: $216.7 billion (2008 est.)

Central bank discount rate [time series]

1.75% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 131 3.25% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

7.17% (31 December 2008)

Current account balance [time series]

-$6.349 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 161 $5.954 billion (2007 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$381.1 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 24 $383.2 billion (31 December 2007)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

31.3 (2007) country comparison to the world: 105 35.8 (2000)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

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.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

385.1 billion kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 11

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

440 billion kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 10

Exchange rates [time series]

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)

Exports [time series]

$433.5 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 12 $379 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

China 21.4%, US 10.9%, Japan 6.6%, Hong Kong 4.6% (2008)

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$929.1 billion (2008 est.)

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

$1.338 trillion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 14 $1.309 trillion (2007 est.) $1.245 trillion (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

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

agriculture: 3% industry: 39.5% services: 57.6% (2008 est.)

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

$27,700 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 50 $27,100 (2007 est.) $25,900 (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

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

2.2% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 155 5.1% (2007 est.) 5.2% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 2.7% highest 10%: 24.2% (2007)

Imports [time series]

$427.4 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 10 $349.6 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

China 17.7%, Japan 14%, US 8.9%, Saudi Arabia 7.8%, UAE 4.4%, Australia 4.1% (2008)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

2.2% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 101

Industries [time series]

electronics, telecommunications, automobile production, chemicals, shipbuilding, steel

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

4.7% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 82 2.5% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

27.1% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 38

Labor force [time series]

24.35 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 24

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 7.2% industry: 25.1% services: 67.7% (2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$494.6 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 16 $1.124 trillion (31 December 2007) $835.2 billion (31 December 2006)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

34.76 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 25

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 80

Natural gas - imports [time series]

36.21 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 11

Natural gas - production [time series]

443 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 68

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

50 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 64

Oil - consumption [time series]

2.175 million bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 11

Oil - exports [time series]

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.)

Oil - imports [time series]

2.982 million bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 5

Oil - production [time series]

30,440 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 69

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl country comparison to the world: 190

Population below poverty line [time series]

15% (2003 est.)

Public debt [time series]

24.4% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 84 21.3% of GDP (2004 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$201.2 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 6 $262.2 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

$74.6 billion (30 June 2008) country comparison to the world: 26 $82.1 billion (2006)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]

$124.2 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 27 $122 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$937 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 12 $1.061 trillion (31 December 2007)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of money) [time series]

$80.66 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 15 $92.59 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of quasi money) [time series]

$478 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 8 $541.7 billion (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate [time series]

3.2% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 37 3.3% (2007 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 99,720 sq km country comparison to the world: 108 land: 96,920 sq km water: 2,800 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; acid rain; 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-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

Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]

total: 18.59 cu km/yr (36%/16%/48%) per capita: 389 cu m/yr (2000)

Geographic coordinates [time series]

37 00 N, 127 30 E

Geography - note [time series]

strategic location on Korea Strait

Irrigated land [time series]

8,780 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 238 km border countries: North Korea 238 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 16.58% permanent crops: 2.01% other: 81.41% (2005)

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Asia

Maritime claims [time series]

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

Natural hazards [time series]

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

Natural resources [time series]

coal, tungsten, graphite, molybdenum, lead, hydropower potential

Terrain [time series]

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

Total renewable water resources [time series]

69.7 cu km (1999)

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

name: Seoul geographic coordinates: 37 33 N, 126 59 E time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution [time series]

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

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Republic of Korea conventional short form: South Korea local long form: Taehan-min'guk local short form: Han'guk abbreviation: ROK

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

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

Executive branch [time series]

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%

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 1945 (from Japan)

International organization participation [time series]

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

Judicial branch [time series]

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)

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

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

National holiday [time series]

Liberation Day, 15 August (1945)

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

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

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

Suffrage [time series]

19 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

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.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 13,691,809 females age 16-49: 13,029,859 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 10,991,263 females age 16-49: 10,356,604 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 371,728 female: 322,605 (2009 est.)

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

Republic of Korea Army, Navy (includes Marine Corps), Air Force (2009)

Military expenditures [time series]

2.7% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 58

Military service age and obligation [time series]

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)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 16.8% (male 4,278,581/female 3,887,516) 15-64 years: 72.3% (male 17,897,053/female 17,196,840) 65 years and over: 10.8% (male 2,104,589/female 3,144,393) (2009 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

8.93 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 212

Death rate [time series]

5.94 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 165

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

4.6% of GDP (2004) country comparison to the world: 85

Ethnic groups [time series]

homogeneous (except for about 20,000 Chinese)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

less than 0.1% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 151

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

fewer than 500 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 94

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

13,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 93

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 4.26 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 204 male: 4.49 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Languages [time series]

Korean, English widely taught in junior high and high school

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 78.72 years country comparison to the world: 40 male: 75.45 years female: 82.22 years (2009 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.9% male: 99.2% female: 96.6% (2002)

Median age [time series]

total: 37.3 years male: 36 years female: 38.5 years (2009 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Korean(s) adjective: Korean

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 102

Population [time series]

48,508,972 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 25

Population growth rate [time series]

0.266% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 178

Religions [time series]

Christian 26.3% (Protestant 19.7%, Roman Catholic 6.6%), Buddhist 23.2%, other or unknown 1.3%, none 49.3% (1995 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 17 years male: 18 years female: 15 years (2007)

Sex ratio [time series]

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.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.21 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 218

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 81% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 0.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

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

Transportation

Airports [time series]

116 (2009) country comparison to the world: 53

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 72 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 22 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 22 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 44 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 42 (2009)

Heliports [time series]

516 (2009)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 812 country comparison to the world: 14 by type: bulk carrier 212, cargo 226, carrier 2, chemical tanker 133, container 80, liquefied gas 33, passenger 5, passenger/cargo 26, petroleum tanker 61, refrigerated cargo 16, roll on/roll off 9, specialized tanker 4, vehicle carrier 5 foreign-owned: 31 (China 1, Japan 20, Norway 2, UK 1, US 7) registered in other countries: 363 (Belize 1, Cambodia 22, China 1, Cyprus 1, Honduras 6, Hong Kong 3, Kiribati 2, Liberia 3, Malta 2, Marshall Islands 10, Mongolia 1, Netherlands 1, Panama 303, Russia 1, Singapore 3, Tuvalu 1, unknown 2) (2008)

Pipelines [time series]

gas 1,423 km; refined products 827 km (2008)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Inch'on, P'ohang, Pusan, Ulsan

Railways [time series]

total: 3,381 km country comparison to the world: 51 standard gauge: 3,381 km 1.435-m gauge (1,843 km electrified) (2008)

Roadways [time series]

total: 103,029 km country comparison to the world: 40 paved: 80,642 km (includes 3,367 km of expressways) unpaved: 22,387 km (2008)

Waterways [time series]

1,608 km (most navigable only by small craft) (2008) country comparison to the world: 50

Korea, South