Country name conventional long form: Republic of Korea
conventional short form: South Korea
local short form: none
note: the South Koreans generally use the term "Han"guk" to refer to their country
local long form: Taehan-min"guk
abbreviation: ROK Background After World War II, a republic was set up in the southern half of the Korean Peninsula while a Communist-style government was installed in the north. During the Korean War (1950-1953), US and other UN forces intervened 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 roughly 20 times the level of North Korea. South Korea has maintained its commitment to democratize its political processes. 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 Chong-il.Location Eastern Asia, southern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea Area total: 98,480 sq km
land: 98,190 sq km
water: 290 sq km Area - comparative slightly larger than Indiana Coastline 2,413 km Climate temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter Terrain mostly hills and mountains; wide coastal plains in west and south Elevation extremes lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 m
highest point: Halla-san 1,950 m 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 Geography - note strategic location on Korea Strait Population 48,289,037 (July 2003 est.) Age structure 0-14 years: 20.6% (male 5,256,451; female 4,703,853)
15-64 years: 71.5% (male 17,527,407; female 16,991,229)
65 years and over: 7.9% (male 1,512,157; female 2,297,940) (2003 est.) Median age total: 33.2 years
male: 32.2 years
female: 34.2 years (2002) Sex ratio at birth: 1.1 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.12 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.) Nationality noun: Korean(s)
adjective: Korean Ethnic groups homogeneous (except for about 20,000 Chinese) Religions Christian 49%, Buddhist 47%, Confucianist 3%, Shamanist, Chondogyo (Religion of the Heavenly Way), and other 1% Languages Korean, English widely taught in junior high and high school Internet country code .kr Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.1%
male: 99.3%
female: 97% (2003 est.) Government type republic National holiday Liberation Day, 15 August (1945) Legal system combines elements of continental European civil law systems, Anglo-American law, and Chinese classical thought International organization participation AfDB, APEC, ARF (dialogue partner), AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IEA (observer), IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISET, UNMOGIP, UNOMIG, UNU, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC Economy - overview As one of the Four Tigers of East Asia, South Korea has achieved an incredible record of growth and integration into the high-tech modern world economy. Three decades ago GDP per capita was comparable with levels in the poorer countries of Africa and Asia. Today its GDP per capita is 18 times North Korea"s and equal to the lesser economies of the European Union. This success through the late 1980s 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 1997-99 exposed longstanding weaknesses in South Korea"s development model, including high debt/equity ratios, massive foreign borrowing, and an undisciplined financial sector. Growth plunged to a negative 6.6% in 1998, then strongly recovered to 10.8% in 1999 and 9.2% in 2000. 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 6.2%, despite anemic global growth, followed by moderate 2.8% growth in 2003. In 2003 the six-day work week was reduced to five days. Exports - partners US 20.4%, China 14.7%, Japan 9.4%, Hong Kong 6.3% (2002) Currency South Korean won (KRW) Currency code KRW Exchange rates South Korean won per US dollar - 1,251.09 (2002), 1,290.99 (2001), 1,130.96 (2000), 1,188.82 (1999), 1,401.44 (1998) Airports 102 (2002) Airports - with paved runways total: 69
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 18
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 21 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 16 Airports - with unpaved runways total: 33
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 31 (2002) Disputes - international Military Demarcation Line within the 4-km wide Demilitarized Zone has separated North from South Korea since 1953; Liancourt Rocks (Take-shima/Tok-do) are disputed with Japan |
