Korea, South (2005)

Korea, South - select year:

	Korea, South (2001) (compare)
	Korea, South (2002) (compare)
	Korea, South (2003) (compare)
	Korea, South (2004) (compare)
	Korea, South (2006) (compare)
	Korea, South (2007) (compare)
	Korea, South (2008) (compare)

Compare with other popular countries

Korea, South 2005 year


Administrative divisions	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 (Inch'on), Kwangju-gwangyoksi (Kwangju), Pusan-gwangyoksi (Pusan), Soul-t'ukpyolsi (Seoul), Taegu-gwangyoksi (Taegu), Taejon-gwangyoksi (Taejon), Ulsan-gwangyoksi (Ulsan)
Age structure	0-14 years: 19.4% (male 4,952,177/female 4,450,821) 15-64 years: 72% (male 17,715,267/female 17,147,808) 65 years and over: 8.6% (male 1,670,971/female 2,485,600) (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products	rice, root crops, barley, vegetables, fruit; cattle, pigs, chickens, milk, eggs; fish
Airports	179 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways	total: 88 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 21 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 38 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways	total: 91 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 88 (2004 est.)
Area	total: 98,480 sq km land: 98,190 sq km water: 290 sq km
Area - comparative	slightly larger than Indiana
Background	Korea was an independent kingdom under Chinese suzerainty for most of the past millennium. Following its victory in the Russo-Japanese War in 1905, Japan occupied Korea; five years later it formally annexed the entire peninsula. 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 (1950-53), 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 14 times the level of North Korea. In 1987, South Korean voters elected ROH Tae-woo to the presidency, ending 26 years of military dictatorships. 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 Tae-chung and the North's leader KIM Jong Il.
Birth rate	10.08 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Budget	revenues: $150.5 billion expenditures: $155.8 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)
Capital	Seoul
Climate	temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter
Coastline	2,413 km
Constitution	17 July 1948
Country name	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 "Han'guk" to refer to their country abbreviation: ROK
Death rate	6.26 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Debt - external	$160 billion (2004 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US	chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher R. HILL embassy: 82 Sejong-no, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-710 mailing address: American Embassy, Unit 15550, APO AP 96205-5550 telephone: [82] (2) 397-4114 FAX: [82] (2) 738-8845
Diplomatic representation in the US	chief of mission: Ambassador Lee Tae-sik (designated) chancery: 2450 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 939-5600 FAX: [1] (202) 387-0205 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle consulate(s): Agana (Guam) and New York
Disputes - international	Military Demarcation Line within the 4-km wide Demilitarized Zone has separated North from South Korea since 1953; periodic maritime disputes with North Korea over the Northern Limit Line; South Korea and Japan claim Liancourt Rocks (Tok-do/Take-shima), occupied by South Korea since 1954
Economic aid - donor	ODA $334 million (2003)
Economy - overview	Since the early 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, it joined the trillion dollar club of world economies. Today its GDP per capita is 14 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 6.9% in 1998, then strongly recovered to 9.5% in 1999 and 8.5% 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 7.0%, despite anemic global growth. Economic growth fell to 3.1% in 2003 because of a downturn in consumer spending and recovered to an estimated 4.6% in 2004 on the strength of rapid export growth. The government plans to boost infrastructure spending in 2005. Moderate inflation, low unemployment, an export surplus, and fairly equal distribution of income characterize this solid economy.
Electricity - consumption	293.6 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports	0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports	0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - production	322.5 billion kWh (2003)
Elevation extremes	lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 m highest point: Halla-san 1,950 m
Environment - current issues	air pollution in large cities; acid rain; water pollution from the discharge of sewage and industrial effluents; drift net fishing
Environment - international agreements	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
Ethnic groups	homogeneous (except for about 20,000 Chinese)
Exchange rates	South Korean won per US dollar - 1,145.3 (2004), 1,191.6 (2003), 1,251.1 (2002), 1,291 (2001), 1,131 (2000)
Executive branch	chief of state: President ROH Moo-hyun (since 25 February 2003) head of government: Prime Minister LEE Hae-chan (since 25 May 2004); Deputy Prime Ministers HAN Duck-soo (14 March 2005), KIM Jin-pyo (since 28 January 2005), and OH Myung (since 18 October 2004) cabinet: State Council appointed by the president on the prime minister's recommendation elections: president elected by popular vote for single five-year term; election last held 19 December 2002 (next to be held in February 2008); prime minister appointed by president with consent of National Assembly; deputy prime ministers appointed by president on prime minister's recommendation election results: results of the 19 December 2002 election - ROH Moo-hyun elected president; percent of vote - ROH Moo-hyun (MDP) 48.9%; LEE Hoi-chang (GNP) 46.6%; other 4.5%
Exports	0 kWh (2003)
Exports	$250.6 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports	0 cu m (2003 est.)
Exports	630,100 bbl/day (2003)
Exports - commodities	semiconductors, wireless telecommunications equipment, motor vehicles, computers, steel, ships, petrochemicals
Exports - partners	China 19.7%, US 17%, Japan 8.6%, Hong Kong 7.2% (2004)
Fiscal year	calendar year
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
GDP - composition by sector	agriculture: 3.2% industry: 40.4% services: 56.3% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita	purchasing power parity - $19,200 (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate	4.6% (2004 est.)
Geographic coordinates	37 00 N, 127 30 E
Geography - note	strategic location on Korea Strait
Heliports	206 (2004 est.)
Highways	total: 86,990 km paved: 66,721 km (including 1,996 km of expressways) unpaved: 20,269 km (2001)
Household income or consumption by percentage share	lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 22.5% (1999 est.)
Imports	0 kWh (2003)
Imports	$214.2 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports	21.11 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Imports	2.263 million bbl/day (2003)
Imports - commodities	machinery, electronics and electronic equipment, oil, steel, transport equipment, organic chemicals, plastics
Imports - partners	Japan 20.6%, China 13.2%, US 12.9%, Saudi Arabia 5.3% (2004)
Independence	15 August 1945 (from Japan)
Industrial production growth rate	10.1% (2004 est.)
Industries	electronics, telecommunications, automobile production, chemicals, shipbuilding, steel
Infant mortality rate	total: 7.05 deaths/1,000 live births male: 7.5 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.57 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)	3.6% (2004 est.)
International organization participation	AfDB, APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, CP, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAIA, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, ONUB, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMOGIP, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC
Irrigated land	11,590 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch	Supreme Court (justices appointed by president with consent of National Assembly); Constitutional Court (justices appointed by president based partly on nominations by National Assembly and Chief Justice of the court)
Labor force	22.9 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation	agriculture 8%, industry 19%, services 73% (2004 est.)
Land boundaries	total: 238 km border countries: North Korea 238 km
Land use	arable land: 17.18% permanent crops: 1.95% other: 80.87% (2001)
Languages	Korean, English widely taught in junior high and high school
Legal system	combines elements of continental European civil law systems, Anglo-American law, and Chinese classical thought
Legislative branch	unicameral National Assembly or Kukhoe (299 seats - members elected for four-year terms; 243 in single-seat constituencies, 56 by proportional representation elections: last held 15 April 2004 (next to be held in April 2008; byelections held on 30 April 2005) election results: percent of vote by party - Uri 51%, GNP 41%, DLP 3%, DP 3%, others 2%; seats by party - Uri 146, GNP 125, DLP 10, DP 9, ULD 3, independents 6 note: percent of vote is for 2004 general election; seats by party reflect results of 2005 byelections involving six seats; MDP became DP in May 2005 (2005)
Life expectancy at birth	total population: 76.85 years male: 73.42 years female: 80.57 years (2005 est.)
Literacy	definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.9% male: 99.2% female: 96.6% (2002)
Location	Eastern Asia, southern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea
Map references	Asia
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
Merchant marine	total: 601 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 6,992,656 GRT/11,081,142 DWT by type: bulk carrier 125, cargo 196, chemical tanker 88, container 71, liquefied gas 20, passenger 5, passenger/cargo 22, petroleum tanker 51, refrigerated cargo 15, roll on/roll off 5, vehicle carrier 3 foreign-owned: 2 (Germany 1, United Kingdom 1) registered in other countries: 366 (2005)
Military branches	Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, National Maritime Police (Coast Guard)
Military expenditures - dollar figure	$16.18 billion (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP	2.8% (2004)
National holiday	Liberation Day, 15 August (1945)
Nationality	noun: Korean(s) adjective: Korean
Natural hazards	occasional typhoons bring high winds and floods; low-level seismic activity common in southwest
Natural resources	coal, tungsten, graphite, molybdenum, lead, hydropower potential
Net migration rate	0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Pipelines	gas 1,433 km; refined products 827 km (2004)
Political parties and leaders	Democratic Labor Party or DLP [KIM Hye-kyung, chairwoman]; Democratic Party or DP [HAHN Hwa-kap, chairman]; Grand National Party or GNP [PARK Geun-hye, chairwoman]; United Liberal Democrats or ULD [KIM Hak-won, chairman]; Uri Party [MOON Hee-sang, chairman]
Political pressure groups and leaders	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
Population	48,422,644 (July 2005 est.)
Population below poverty line	4% (2001 est.)
Population growth rate	0.38% (2005 est.)
Ports and harbors	Inch'on, Masan, P'ohang, Pusan, Ulsan
Radio broadcast stations	AM 58, FM 150, shortwave 2 (2004)
Railways	total: 3,472 km standard gauge: 3,472 km 1.435-m gauge (1,342 km electrified) (2004)
Religions	no affiliation 46%, Christian 26%, Buddhist 26%, Confucianist 1%, other 1%
Sex ratio	at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.11 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Suffrage	20 years of age; universal
Telephone system	general assessment: excellent domestic and international services domestic: NA international: country code - 82; fiber-optic submarine cable to China; the Russia-Korea-Japan submarine cable; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Pacific Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Inmarsat (Pacific Ocean region)
Telephones - main lines in use	22.877 million (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular	33,591,800 (2003)
Television broadcast stations	64 (additionally 119 Cable Operators; 239 Relay Cable Operators) (2004)
Terrain	mostly hills and mountains; wide coastal plains in west and south
Total fertility rate	1.26 children born/woman (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate	3.6% (2004 est.)
Waterways	1,608 km note: most navigable only by small craft (2004)

Sitemap: Compare countries listing (map site) | Country listing (map site)
Links: Add to favorites | Information about this website | Stats | Polityka prywatnosci
This page was generated in ##czas## s. Size this page: ##rozmiar_strony## kB.