Korea, South
Introduction
Background
The first recorded kingdom (Choson) on the Korean Peninsula dates from approximately 2300 B.C. Over the subsequent centuries, three main kingdoms - Kogoryo, Paekche, and Silla - were established on the Peninsula. By the 5th century A.D., Kogoryo emerged as the most powerful, with control over much of the Peninsula, as well as part of Manchuria (modern-day northeast China). However, Silla allied with the Chinese to create the first unified Korean state in the late 7th century (688). Following the collapse of Silla in the 9th century, Korea was unified under the Koryo (Goryeo; 918-1392) and the Chosen (Joseon; 1392-1910) dynasties.
Korea became the object of intense imperialistic rivalry between the Chinese (its traditional benefactor), Japanese, and Russian empires in the latter half of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Following the Sino-Japanese War (1894-95) and the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905), Korea was occupied by Imperial Japan. In 1910, Tokyo formally annexed the entire Peninsula. Korea regained its independence following Japan's surrender to the US and its allies in 1945. After World War II, a democratic 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 (North Korea; aka 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 North Korea invasion supported by communist 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 in 1979.
Park was assassinated in 1979, and subsequent years were marked by political turmoil and continued authoritarian rule as the country's pro-democracy movement grew. South Korea held its first free presidential election under a revised democratic constitution in 1987, with former South Korean Army general ROH Tae-woo winning a close race. In 1993, KIM Young-sam (1993-98) became the first civilian president of South Korea's new democratic era. President KIM Dae-jung (1998-2003) won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000 for his contributions to South Korean democracy and his "Sunshine Policy" of engagement with North Korea. President PARK Geun-hye, daughter of former South Korean President PARK Chung-hee, took office in February 2013 as South Korea's first female leader. In December 2016, the National Assembly passed an impeachment motion against President PARK over her alleged involvement in a corruption and influence-peddling scandal, immediately suspending her presidential authorities. The impeachment was upheld in March 2017, triggering an early presidential election in May 2017 won by MOON Jae-in.
South Korea hosted the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in February 2018, in which North Korea also participated. Discord with North Korea has permeated inter-Korean relations for much of the past decade, highlighted by North Korea's attacks on a South Korean ship and island in 2010, the exchange of artillery fire across the DMZ in 2015, and multiple nuclear and missile tests in 2016 and 2017. North Korea’s participation in the Winter Olympics, dispatch of a senior delegation to Seoul, and three inter-Korean summits in 2018 appear to have ushered in a temporary period of respite, buoyed by the historic US-North Korea summits in 2018 and 2019. Nevertheless, relations were stagnant in 2020 and 2021.
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Geography
Location
Eastern Asia, southern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea
Geographic coordinates
37 00 N, 127 30 E
Map references
Asia
Land boundaries
total: 237 km
border countries (1): North Korea 237 km
Coastline
2,413 km
Maritime claims
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
Climate
temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter; cold winters
Terrain
mostly hills and mountains; wide coastal plains in west and south
Elevation
highest point: Halla-san 1,950 m
lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 m
mean elevation: 282 m
Natural resources
coal, tungsten, graphite, molybdenum, lead, hydropower potential
Land use
agricultural land: 18.1% (2018 est.)
arable land: 15.3% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 2.2% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 0.6% (2018 est.)
forest: 63.9% (2018 est.)
other: 18% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land
7,780 sq km (2012)
Population distribution
with approximately 70% of the country considered mountainous, the country's population is primarily concentrated in the lowland areas, where density is quite high; Gyeonggi Province in the northwest, which surrounds the capital of Seoul and contains the port of Incheon, is the most densely populated province; Gangwon in the northeast is the least populated
Natural hazards
occasional typhoons bring high winds and floods; low-level seismic activity common in southwest
volcanism: Halla (1,950 m) is considered historically active although it has not erupted in many centuries
Geography - note
strategic location on Korea Strait; about 3,000 mostly small and uninhabited islands lie off the western and southern coasts
People and Society
Nationality
noun: Korean(s)
adjective: Korean
Ethnic groups
homogeneous
Languages
Korean, English (widely taught in elementary, junior high, and high school)
major-language sample(s):
월드 팩트북, 필수적인 기본 정보 제공처 (Korean)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions
Protestant 19.7%, Buddhist 15.5%, Catholic 7.9%, none 56.9% (2015 est.)
note: many people also carry on at least some Confucian traditions and practices
Age structure
0-14 years: 12.02% (male 3,191,584/female 3,025,029)
15-24 years: 10.75% (male 2,900,013/female 2,658,057)
25-54 years: 44.83% (male 12,106,860/female 11,077,642)
55-64 years: 15.66% (male 3,958,718/female 4,142,322)
65 years and over: 16.74% (male 3,766,138/female 4,888,799) (2021 est.)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 39.5
youth dependency ratio: 17.5
elderly dependency ratio: 22
potential support ratio: 4.5 (2020 est.)
Median age
total: 43.2 years
male: 41.6 years
female: 45 years (2020 est.)
Population distribution
with approximately 70% of the country considered mountainous, the country's population is primarily concentrated in the lowland areas, where density is quite high; Gyeonggi Province in the northwest, which surrounds the capital of Seoul and contains the port of Incheon, is the most densely populated province; Gangwon in the northeast is the least populated
Urbanization
urban population: 81.4% of total population (2021)
rate of urbanization: 0.31% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population
9.968 million SEOUL (capital), 3.466 million Busan, 2.818 million Incheon, 2.191 million Daegu (Taegu), 1.569 million Daejon (Taejon), 1.524 million Gwangju (Kwangju) (2021)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2020 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth
32.2 years (2019 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
11 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142Infant mortality rate
total: 2.91 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 3.12 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 2.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 82.78 years
male: 79.66 years
female: 86.06 years (2021 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
82.3% (2018)
note: percent of women aged 20-49
Drinking water source
improved: total: 100% of population
unimproved: total: 0% of population (2017 est.)
Current Health Expenditure
7.6% (2018)
Physicians density
2.36 physicians/1,000 population (2017)
Hospital bed density
12.4 beds/1,000 population (2018)
Sanitation facility access
improved: total: 100% of population
unimproved: total: 0% of population (2017 est.)
Major infectious diseases
respiratory diseases: Covid-19 (see note) (2020)
note: a novel coronavirus is causing an outbreak of respiratory illness (COVID-19) in South Korea; as of 6 October 2021, South Korea has reported a total of 323,379
cases of COVID-19 or 630.75 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with 4.95 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 5 October 2021, 77.54% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write (2019)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 17 years
male: 17 years
female: 16 years (2019)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24
total: 10.3%
male: 11%
female: 9.7% (2020 est.)
Environment
Environment - current issues
air pollution in large cities; acid rain; water pollution from the discharge of sewage and industrial effluents; drift net fishing; solid waste disposal; transboundary pollution
Environment - international agreements
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 24.57 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 620.3 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 30.28 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate
temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter; cold winters
Land use
agricultural land: 18.1% (2018 est.)
arable land: 15.3% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 2.2% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 0.6% (2018 est.)
forest: 63.9% (2018 est.)
other: 18% (2018 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 81.4% of total population (2021)
rate of urbanization: 0.31% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources
forest revenues: 0.01% of GDP (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152Major infectious diseases
respiratory diseases: Covid-19 (see note) (2020)
note: a novel coronavirus is causing an outbreak of respiratory illness (COVID-19) in South Korea; as of 6 October 2021, South Korea has reported a total of 323,379
cases of COVID-19 or 630.75 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with 4.95 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 5 October 2021, 77.54% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 18,218,975 tons (2014 est.)
municipal solid waste recycled annually: 10,567,006 tons (2014 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 58% (2014 est.)
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 6.672 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 4.45 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 15.96 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources
69.7 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Korea
conventional short form: South Korea
local long form: Taehan-min'guk
local short form: Han'guk
abbreviation: ROK
etymology: derived from the Chinese name for Goryeo, which was the Korean dynasty that united the peninsula in the 10th century A.D.; the South Korean name "Han'guk" derives from the long form, "Taehan-min'guk," which is itself a derivation from "Daehan-je'guk," which means "the Great Empire of the Han"; "Han" refers to the "Sam'han" or the "Three Han Kingdoms" (Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla from the Three Kingdoms Era, 1st-7th centuries A.D.)
Government type
presidential republic
Capital
name: Seoul; note - Sejong, located some 120 km (75 mi) south of Seoul, is serving as an administrative capital for segments of the South Korean Government
geographic coordinates: 37 33 N, 126 59 E
time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: the name originates from the Korean word meaning "capital city" and which is believed to be derived from Seorabeol, the name of the capital of the ancient Korean Kingdom of Silla
Administrative divisions
9 provinces (do, singular and plural), 6 metropolitan cities (gwangyeoksi, singular and plural), 1 special city (teugbyeolsi), and 1 special self-governing city (teukbyeoljachisi)
provinces: Chungbuk (North Chungcheong), Chungnam (South Chungcheong), Gangwon, Gyeongbuk (North Gyeongsang), Gyeonggi, Gyeongnam (South Gyeongsang), Jeju, Jeonbuk (North Jeolla), Jeonnam (South Jeolla)
metropolitan cities: Busan (Pusan), Daegu (Taegu), Daejeon (Taejon), Gwangju (Kwangju), Incheon (Inch'on), Ulsan
special city: Seoul
special self-governing city: Sejong
Independence
15 August 1945 (from Japan)
National holiday
Liberation Day, 15 August (1945)
Constitution
history: several previous; latest passed by National Assembly 12 October 1987, approved in referendum 28 October 1987, effective 25 February 1988
amendments: proposed by the president or by majority support of the National Assembly membership; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly membership, approval in a referendum by more than one half of the votes by more than one half of eligible voters, and promulgation by the president; amended several times, last in 1987
Legal system
mixed legal system combining European civil law, Anglo-American law, and Chinese classical thought
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of South Korea
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage
18years of age; universal; note - the voting age was lowered from 19 to 18 beginning with the 2020 national election
Executive branch
chief of state: President MOON Jae-in (since 10 May 2017); the president is both chief of state and head of government; Prime Minister KIM Boo-kyum (since 14 May 2021) serves as the principal executive assistant to the president, similar to the role of a vice president
head of government: President MOON Jae-in (since 10 May 2017)
cabinet: State Council appointed by the president on the prime minister's recommendation
elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a single 5-year term; election last held on 9 May 2017 (next to be held on 9 March 2022); prime minister appointed by president with consent of National Assembly
election results:
2017: MOON Jae-in elected president; percent of vote - MOON Jae-in (DP) 41.1%, HONG Joon-pyo (LKP) 25.5%, AHN Cheol-soo (PP) 21.4%, other 12%
2012: PARK Geun-Hye elected president; percent of vote - PARK Geun-Hye (NFP) 51.6%, MOON Jae-In (DUP) 48%, other 0.4%
Legislative branch
description: unicameral National Assembly or Kuk Hoe (300 seats statutory); 253 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 47 directly elected in a single national constituency by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)
elections: last held on 15 April 2020 (next to be held on 10 April 2024)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - DP/Together Citizens Party 180, UFP/Free Korea Party 103, JP 6, ODP 3, PP 3, independent 5; composition - men 249, women 51, percent of women 17%
Judicial branch
highest courts: Supreme Court (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 nonrenewable 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 under the District Courts); specialized courts for family and administrative issues
Political parties and leaders
Democratic Party or DP [SONG Young-gil] (renamed from Minjoo Party of Korea or MPK in October 2016; formerly New Politics Alliance for Democracy or NPAD, which was a merger of the Democratic Party or DP (formerly DUP) [KIM Han-gil] and the New Political Vision Party or NPVP [AHN Cheol-soo] in March 2014)
Justice Party or JP [YEO Young-kug]
Open Democratic Party or ODP [CHOE Kang-wook] (formed in early 2020)
People's Party or PP [AHN Cheol-soo] (formed in February 2020)
Together Citizens' Party [WOO Hee-jong, ChOI Bae-geun] (formed in early 2020 in alliance with the Democratic Party)
Transition Korea [CHO Jung-hun] (formed in February 2020)
Basic Income Party [SHIN Ji-hye] (formed in January 2020)
People Power Party or PPP [LEE Jun-seok] (renamed from United Future Party in September 2020, formerly Liberty Korea Party) (2021)
International organization participation
ADB, AfDB (nonregional member), APEC, Arctic Council (observer), ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, CD, CICA, CP, EAS, EBRD, FAO, FATF, G-20, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner), Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club (associate), PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNMOGIP, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador LEE Soo-hyuck (since 6 January 2020)
chancery: 2450 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 939-5600
FAX: [1] (202) 797-0595
email address and website:
generalusa@mofa.go.kr
https://overseas.mofa.go.kr/us-en/index.do
consulate(s) general: Anchorage (AK), Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas (TX), Hagatna (Guam), Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington DC
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Christopher DEL CORSO (since 16 July 2021)
embassy: 188 Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul
mailing address: 9600 Seoul Place, Washington, DC 20521-9600
telephone: [82] (2) 397-4114
FAX: [82] (2) 397-4101
email address and website:
seoulinfoACS@state.gov
https://kr.usembassy.gov/
consulate(s): Busan
Flag description
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 South 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
National symbol(s)
taegeuk (yin yang symbol), Hibiscus syriacus (Rose of Sharon), Siberian tiger; national colors: red, white, blue, black
National anthem
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's and South Korea's anthems share the same name and have a vaguely similar melody but have different lyrics
Economy
Economic overview
After emerging from the 1950-53 war with North Korea, South Korea emerged as one of the 20th century’s most remarkable economic success stories, becoming a developed, globally connected, high-technology society within decades. In the 1960s, GDP per capita was comparable with levels in the poorest countries in the world. In 2004, South Korea's GDP surpassed one trillion dollars.
Beginning in the 1960s under President PARK Chung-hee, the government promoted the import of raw materials and technology, encouraged saving and investment over consumption, kept wages low, and directed resources to export-oriented industries that remain important to the economy to this day. Growth surged under these policies, and frequently reached double-digits in the 1960s and 1970s. Growth gradually moderated in the 1990s as the economy matured, but remained strong enough to propel South Korea into the ranks of the advanced economies of the OECD by 1997. These policies also led to the emergence of family-owned chaebol conglomerates such as Daewoo, Hyundai, and Samsung, which retained their dominant positions even as the government loosened its grip on the economy amid the political changes of the 1980s and 1990s.
The Asian financial crisis of 1997-98 hit South Korea’s companies hard because of their excessive reliance on short-term borrowing, and GDP ultimately plunged by 7% in 1998. South Korea tackled difficult economic reforms following the crisis, including restructuring some chaebols, increasing labor market flexibility, and opening up to more foreign investment and imports. These steps lead to a relatively rapid economic recovery. South Korea also began expanding its network of free trade agreements to help bolster exports, and has since implemented 16 free trade agreements covering 58 countries—including the United State and China—that collectively cover more than three-quarters of global GDP.
In 2017, the election of President MOON Jae-in brought a surge in consumer confidence, in part, because of his successful efforts to increase wages and government spending. These factors combined with an uptick in export growth to drive real GDP growth to more than 3%, despite disruptions in South Korea’s trade with China over the deployment of a US missile defense system in South Korea.
In 2018 and beyond, South Korea will contend with gradually slowing economic growth - in the 2-3% range - not uncommon for advanced economies. This could be partially offset by efforts to address challenges arising from its rapidly aging population, inflexible labor market, continued dominance of the chaebols, and heavy reliance on exports rather than domestic consumption. Socioeconomic problems also persist, and include rising inequality, poverty among the elderly, high youth unemployment, long working hours, low worker productivity, and corruption.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$2,187,800,000,000 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.)
$2,208,960,000,000 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.)
$2,164,810,000,000 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2010 dollars
Real GDP growth rate
2.04% (2019 est.)
2.91% (2018 est.)
3.16% (2017 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$42,300 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.)
$42,700 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.)
$41,900 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2010 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate)
$1,646,604,000,000 (2019 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
0.3% (2019 est.)
1.4% (2018 est.)
1.9% (2017 est.)
Credit ratings
Fitch rating: AA- (2012)
Moody's rating: Aa2 (2015)
Standard & Poors rating: AA (2016)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 2.2% (2017 est.)
industry: 39.3% (2017 est.)
services: 58.3% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption: 48.1% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 15.3% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 31.1% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 43.1% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -37.7% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products
rice, vegetables, cabbages, milk, onions, pork, poultry, eggs, tangerines/mandarins, potatoes
Industries
electronics, telecommunications, automobile production, chemicals, shipbuilding, steel
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture: 4.8%
industry: 24.6%
services: 70.6% (2017 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24
total: 10.3%
male: 11%
female: 9.7% (2020 est.)
Population below poverty line
14.4% (2016 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
35.4 (2015 est.)
31.6 (2012 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 6.8%
highest 10%: 48.5% (2015 est.)
Budget
revenues: 357.1 billion (2017 est.)
expenditures: 335.8 billion (2017 est.)
Fiscal year
calendar year
Current account balance
$59.971 billion (2019 est.)
$77.467 billion (2018 est.)
Exports
$606.71 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.)
$660.51 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)
$729.94 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)
Exports - partners
China 25%, United States 14%, Vietnam 9%, Hong Kong 6%, Japan 5% (2019)
Exports - commodities
integrated circuits, cars and vehicle parts, refined petroleum, ships, office machinery (2019)
Imports
$540.96 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.)
$607.54 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)
$649.23 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)
Imports - partners
China 22%, United States 12%, Japan 9% (2019)
Imports - commodities
crude petroleum, integrated circuits, natural gas, refined petroleum, coal (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$389.2 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$371.1 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Debt - external
$457.745 billion (2019 est.)
$435.98 billion (2018 est.)
Exchange rates
South Korean won (KRW) per US dollar -
1,084.65 (2020 est.)
1,189.9 (2019 est.)
1,119.8 (2018 est.)
1,130.95 (2014 est.)
1,052.96 (2013 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification - total population: 100% (2020)
Electricity - installed generating capacity
111.2 million kW (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11Electricity - from fossil fuels
70% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109Electricity - from nuclear fuels
21% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7Electricity - from hydroelectric plants
2% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139Electricity - from other renewable sources
8% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85Crude oil - proved reserves
NA (1 January 2017 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production
3.302 million bbl/day (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6Refined petroleum products - consumption
2.584 million bbl/day (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8Refined petroleum products - exports
1.396 million bbl/day (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6Natural gas - proved reserves
7.079 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions: 23,858,239 (2020)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 46.54 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 70,513,676 (2020)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 137.5 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems
general assessment: excellent domestic and international services featuring rapid incorporation of new technologies; exceedingly high mobile, mobile broadband, and fixed broadband penetration; strong support from government for initiatives; tech-savvy population has catapulted the nation into one of the world's most active telecommunication markets; all mobile operators offer 5G networks; Chinese telecom Huawei partnered with operators including launch of Seoul TechCity; import of integrated circuits, broadcasting equipment, and phones from China; government and private partnership on national e-commerce and smart city development (2020)
domestic: fixed-line approximately 47 per 100 and mobile-cellular services 138 per 100 persons; rapid assimilation of a full range of telecommunications technologies leading to a boom in e-commerce (2020)
international: country code - 82; landing points for EAC-C2C, FEA, SeaMeWe-3, TPE, APCN-2, APG, FLAG North Asia Loop/REACH North Asia Loop, KJCN, NCP, and SJC2 submarine cables providing links throughout Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Southeast Asia and US; satellite earth stations - 66 (2019)
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments
Broadcast media
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
Internet users
total: 49.75 million (2021 est.)
percent of population: 96.51% (2020 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total: 22,330,182 (2020)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 43.55 (2020 est.)
Transportation
National air transport system
number of registered air carriers: 14 (2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 424
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 88,157,579 (2018)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 11,929,560,000 mt-km (2018)
Airports - with paved runways
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 (2017)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 40
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 38 (2013)
Heliports
466 (2013)
Pipelines
3790 km gas, 16 km oil, 889 km refined products (2017)
Railways
total: 3,979 km (2016)
standard gauge: 3,979 km 1.435-m gauge (2,727 km electrified) (2016)
Roadways
total: 100,428 km (2016)
paved: 92,795 km (includes 4,193 km of expressways) (2016)
unpaved: 7,633 km (2016)
Merchant marine
total: 1,904
by type: bulk carrier 78, container ship 91, general cargo 360, oil tanker 184, other 1,191 (2021)
Ports and terminals
major seaport(s): Busan, Incheon, Gunsan, Kwangyang, Mokpo, Pohang, Ulsan, Yeosu
container port(s) (TEUs): Busan (21,992,001), Incheon (3,091,955), Kwangyang (2,378,337) (2019)
LNG terminal(s) (import): Incheon, Kwangyang, Pyeongtaek, Samcheok, Tongyeong, Yeosu
Military and Security
Military and security forces
Armed Forces of the Republic of Korea: Republic of Korea Army (ROKA), Navy (ROKN, includes Marine Corps, ROKMC), Air Force (ROKAF); Military reserves include Mobilization Reserve Forces (First Combat Forces) and Homeland Defense Forces (Regional Combat Forces); Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries: Korea Coast Guard (2022)
note - in January 2022, the South Korean military announced the formation of a space branch
Military expenditures
2.64% of GDP (2021 est.)
2.62% of GDP (2020)
2.43% of GDP (2019)
2.27% of GDP (2018)
2.2% of GDP (2017)
Military and security service personnel strengths
the Republic of Korea Armed Forces have approximately 555,000 active duty personnel (420,000 Army; 70,000 Navy/Marines; 65,000 Air Force) (2021)
note - South Korea intends to reduce the size of its military to about 522,000 by 2022
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the Republic of Korea Armed Forces are equipped with a mix of domestically-produced and imported weapons systems; domestic production includes armored fighting vehicles, artillery, aircraft, and naval ships; the top foreign weapons supplier is the US and some domestically-produced systems are built under US license; Germany is the second largest supplier of armaments since 2010 (2021)
Military deployments
250 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 250 South Sudan (UNMISS); 170 United Arab Emirates; note - since 2009, the ROK has kept a naval flotilla with approximately 300 personnel in the waters off of the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula (Sep 2021)
Military service age and obligation
18-28 years of age for compulsory military service; minimum conscript service obligation varies by service- 21 months (Army, Marines), 23 months (Navy), 24 months (Air Force); 18-26 years of age for voluntary military service (2021)
note(s) - women, in service since 1950, are able to serve in all branches, including as officers, and in 2020 comprised about 7.5% of the active duty military; in 2021, about 330,000 of the military's active personnel were conscripts; South Korea intends to reduce the length of military service to 18 – 22 months by 2022
Military - note
the 1953 US-South Korea Mutual Defense Treaty is a cornerstone of South Korea’s security; the Treaty committed the US to provide assistance in the event of an attack, particularly from North Korea; in addition, the Treaty gave the US permission to station land, air, and sea forces in and about the territory of South Korea as determined by mutual agreement; as of 2021, the US maintained approximately 28,000 military personnel in the country
the South Korean military has assisted the US in conflicts in Afghanistan (5,000 troops; 2001-2014), Iraq (20,000 troops; 2003-2008), and Vietnam (325,000 troops; 1964-1973)
South Korea has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US; MNNA is a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; while MNNA status provides military and economic privileges, it does not entail any security commitments
in 2016, South Korea concluded an agreement with the European Union for participation in EU Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) missions and operations, such as the EU Naval Force Somalia – Operation Atalanta, which protects maritime shipping and conducts counter-piracy operations off the coast of East Africa
South Korea has been engaged with NATO through dialogue and security cooperation since 2005 and is considered by NATO to be a global partner; it has participated in NATO-led missions and exercises, including leading an integrated civilian-military reconstruction team in Afghanistan as part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force, 2010-2013; it has also cooperated with NATO in countering the threat of piracy in the Gulf of Aden by providing naval vessels as escorts
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
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
Refugees and internally displaced persons
stateless persons: 203 (2020)
Illicit drugs
precursor chemicals used for illicit drugs, such as acetic anhydride, pseudoephedrine, and ephedrine, imported from the United States, Japan, India, and China and then either resold within South Korea or smuggled into other countries