Geography
Area: 98,477 sq. km. (38,022 sq. mi.); about the size of Indiana.
Cities (2004): Capital--Seoul (10.3 million). Other major
cities--Pusan (3.8 million), Daegu (2.5 million), Incheon (2.5
million), Gwangju (1.4 million), Daejeon (1.4 million), Ulsan (1.0
million).
Terrain: Partially forested mountain ranges separated by deep,
narrow valleys; cultivated plains along the coasts, particularly in
the west and south.
Climate: Temperate.
People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Korean(s).
Population (2004): 48.42 million.
Population annual growth rate (2004): 0.62%.
Ethnic groups: Korean; small Chinese minority.
Religions: Christianity, Buddhism, Shamanism, Confucianism,
Chondogyo.
Language: Korean.
Education: Years compulsory--9. Enrollment--11.5
million. Attendance--middle school 99%, high school 95%.
Literacy--98%.
Health (2004): Infant mortality rate--7.05/1,000. Life
expectancy--75.58 yrs (men 71.96 yrs.; women 79.54 yrs).
Work force (2004): 22.8 million. Services--68%; mining and
manufacturing--20%; agriculture--12%.
Government
Type: Republic with powers shared between the president and the
legislature.
Liberation: August 15, 1945.
Constitution: July 17, 1948; last revised 1987.
Branches: Executive--President (chief of state); Prime
Minister (head of government). Legislative--unicameral
National Assembly. Judicial--Supreme Court and appellate
courts; Constitutional Court.
Subdivisions: Nine provinces, seven administratively separate cities
(Seoul, Pusan, Incheon, Daegu, Gwangju, Daejeon, Ulsan).
Political parties: Our Open Party/Uri Party (UP); Grand National
Party (GNP); Millennium Democratic Party (MDP); United Liberal
Democrats (ULD); Democratic People’s Party (DLP).
Suffrage: Universal at 20.
Central government budget (2004): Expenditures--$100.46
billion.
Defense (2004): $16.18 billion, about 2.8% of total GDP and 16.2% of
government budget (prior to capital expenditures); about 676,000
troops.
Economy
Nominal GDP (2004): $680.1 billion.
GDP growth rate: 2002, 7.0%; 2003, 3.1%; 2004 4.6%.
Per capita GNI (2004): $14,162.
Consumer price index: 2003, 3.6%; 2004 3.6%.
Natural resources: Limited coal, tungsten, iron ore, limestone,
kaolinite, and graphite.
Agriculture, including forestry and fisheries: Products--rice,
vegetables, fruit. Arable land--22% of land area.
Industry: Types--Electronics and electrical products, motor
vehicles, shipbuilding, mining and manufacturing, petrochemicals,
industrial machinery, textiles, footwear.
Trade (2004): Exports--$257.7 billion: electronic products
(semiconductors, cellular phones, computers), automobiles, machinery
and equipment, steel, ships, textiles. Major markets--China
(including Hong Kong) (19.6%), U.S. (16.9%), European Union (12.8%),
Japan (8.5%). Imports--$219.6 billion: crude oil, food,
machinery and transportation equipment, chemicals and chemical
products, base metals and articles. Major suppliers--Japan
(20.6%), China (13.1%), U.S. (12.8%), European Union (10.8%).
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