Korea, South

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 (2010)

Internet country code

.kr

Internet hosts

315,697 (2012) country comparison to the world: 62

Internet users

39.4 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 11

Telephone system

general assessment: excellent domestic and international services featuring rapid incorporation of new technologies domestic: fixed-line and mobile-cellular services widely available with a combined telephone subscribership of roughly 170 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 (2011)

Telephones - main lines in use

30.1 million (2012) country comparison to the world: 11

Telephones - mobile cellular

53.625 million (2012) country comparison to the world: 25

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $296.1 billion expenditures: $287.2 billion (2013 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

0.7% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 31

Central bank discount rate

2.5% (31 December 2013) country comparison to the world: 108 2.75% (31 December 2012)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

4.7% (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 144 5.39% (31 December 2012 est.)

Current account balance

$55.69 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 11 $43.34 billion (2012 est.)

Debt - external

$430.9 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 28 $425.1 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

31.1 (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 112 35.8 (2000)

Economy - overview

South Korea over the past four decades has demonstrated incredible growth and global integration to become a high-tech industrialized economy. In the 1960s, 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, and is currently the world's 12th largest economy. Initially, a system of close government and business ties, including directed credit and import restrictions, made this success possible. 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 and massive short-term foreign borrowing. GDP plunged by 6.9% in 1998, and then recovered by 9% in 1999-2000. South Korea adopted numerous economic reforms following the crisis, including greater openness to foreign investment and imports. Growth moderated to about 4% annually between 2003 and 2007. South Korea's export focused economy was hit hard by the 2008 global economic downturn, but quickly rebounded in subsequent years, reaching 6.3% growth in 2010. The US-Korea Free Trade Agreement was ratified by both governments in 2011 and went into effect in March 2012. Throughout 2012 and 2013 the economy experienced sluggish growth because of market slowdowns in the United States, China, and the Eurozone. The administration in 2014 is likely to face the challenge of balancing heavy reliance on exports with developing domestic-oriented sectors, such as services. The South Korean economy's long term challenges include a rapidly aging population, inflexible labor market, dominance of large conglomerates (chaebols), and heavy reliance on exports, which comprise about half of GDP.

Exchange rates

South Korean won (KRW) per US dollar - 1,107.3 (2013 est.) 1,126.47 (2012 est.) 1,156.1 (2010 est.) 1,276.93 (2009) 1,101.7 (2008)

Exports

$557.3 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 9 $547.9 billion (2012 est.)

Exports - commodities

semiconductors, wireless telecommunications equipment, motor vehicles, auto parts, computers, display, home appliances, wire telecommunication equipment, steel, ships, petrochemicals

Exports - partners

China 24.5%, US 10.7%, Japan 7.1%, Hong Kong 6%, Singapore 4.2% (2012 est.)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.198 trillion (2013 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.666 trillion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 13 $1.62 trillion (2012 est.) $1.587 trillion (2011 est.) note: data are in 2013 US dollars

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 53.1% government consumption: 15.9% investment in fixed capital: 27% investment in inventories: 0.3% exports of goods and services: 54.6% imports of goods and services: -50.8% (2013 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 2.6% industry: 39.2% services: 58.2% (2013 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$33,200 (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 42 $32,400 (2012 est.) $31,900 (2011 est.) note: data are in 2013 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

2.8% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 123 2% (2012 est.) 3.7% (2011 est.)

Gross national saving

31.9% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 22 31.4% of GDP (2012 est.) 31.9% of GDP (2011 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 6.4% highest 10%: 37.7% (2011)

Imports

$516.6 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 9 $519.6 billion (2012 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

China 15.6%, Japan 12.4%, US 8.3%, Saudi Arabia 7.6%, Qatar 4.9%, Australia 4.4% (2011 est.)

Industrial production growth rate

2.5% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 120

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.1% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 30 2.2% (2012 est.)

Labor force

25.86 million (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 25

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 6.9% industry: 23.6% services: 69.4% (October 2013 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$1.068 trillion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 11 $1.078 trillion (28 December 2012) $904.7 billion (29December 2011 est.)

Population below poverty line

16% (2009 est.)

Public debt

35.8% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 106 35.5% of GDP (2012 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$341.8 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 9 $327 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of broad money

$1.764 trillion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 10 $1.664 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$223.2 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 23 $196.4 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$152.3 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 30 $147.2 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$1.266 trillion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 16 NA% (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$465.2 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 12 $426 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

24.7% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 133

Unemployment rate

3.2% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 26 3.2% (2012 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

611 million Mt (2011 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 139

Crude oil - imports

2.59 million bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 5

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 185

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl country comparison to the world: 151

Electricity - consumption

449.5 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 11

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 156

Electricity - from fossil fuels

74.5% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 103

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

2% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 137

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

21.9% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 7

Electricity - from other renewable sources

1.5% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 78

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 164

Electricity - installed generating capacity

84.66 million kW (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 14

Electricity - production

485.1 billion kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 11

Natural gas - consumption

49.66 billion cu m (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 16

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 130

Natural gas - imports

47.34 billion cu m (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 10

Natural gas - production

424.9 million cu m (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 72

Natural gas - proved reserves

5.269 billion cu m (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 95

Refined petroleum products - consumption

2.301 million bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 10

Refined petroleum products - exports

944,700 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 8

Refined petroleum products - imports

794,000 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 8

Refined petroleum products - production

2.83 million bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 7

Area

total: 99,720 sq km country comparison to the world: 109 land: 96,920 sq km water: 2,800 sq km

Climate

temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter

Coastline

2,413 km

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 25.47 cu km/yr (26%/12%/62%) per capita: 548.7 cu m/yr (2003)

Geographic coordinates

37 00 N, 127 30 E

Geography - note

strategic location on Korea Strait

Irrigated land

8,804 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

total: 238 km border countries: North Korea 238 km

Land use

arable land: 14.93% permanent crops: 2.06% other: 83% (2011)

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

Natural hazards

occasional typhoons bring high winds and floods; low-level seismic activity common in southwest volcanism: Halla (elev. 1,950 m) is considered historically active although it has not erupted in many centuries

Natural resources

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

Terrain

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

Total renewable water resources

69.7 cu km (2011)

Administrative divisions

9 provinces (do, singular and plural), 6 metropolitan cities (gwangyoksi, singular and plural), 1 special city, and 1 special self-governing city provinces: Chungbuk (North Chungcheong), Chungnam (South Chungcheong), Gangwon, Gyeonggi, Gyeongbuk (North Gyeongsang), 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

Capital

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

Constitution

effective 17 July 1948; amended several times, last in 1987 (2013)

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Sung Y. KIM (since 3 November 2011) embassy: 188 Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-710 mailing address: US Embassy Seoul, Unit 15550, APO AP 96205-5550 telephone: [82] (2) 397-4114 FAX: [82] (2) 725-0152

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador AHN Ho-young (since 7 June 2013) chancery: 2450 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 939-5600 FAX: [1] (202) 797-0595 consulate(s) general: Agana (Guam), Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle consulate(s): Anchorage (AK), Dallas, Hagatna (Guam)

Executive branch

chief of state: President PARK Geun-hye (since 25 February 2013) head of government: (vacant); note - Prime Minister CHUNG Hong-won resigned 27 April 2014; MOON Chang-keuk was nominated Prime Minister 10 June 2014 and awaits parliamentary confirmation; Deputy Prime Minister HYUN Oh-seok (since 26 June 2013) cabinet: State Council appointed by the president on the prime minister's recommendation (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: president elected by popular vote for a single five-year term; election last held on 19 December 2012 (next to be held in December 2017); prime minister appointed by president with consent of National Assembly election results: PARK Geun-Hye elected president; percent of vote - PARK Geun-Hye (NFP) 51.6%, MOON Jae-In (DUP) 48%, others 0.4%

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

Government type

republic

Independence

15 August 1945 (from Japan)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ADB, AfDB (nonregional member), APEC, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, CD, CICA, CP, EAS, EBRD, FAO, FATF, G-20, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner), Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club (associate), PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNMOGIP, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Supreme Court of South Korea (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 non-renewable 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 undeer the Branch Courts); specialized courts for family and administrative issues

Legal system

mixed legal system combining European civil law, Anglo-American law, and Chinese classical thought

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly or Gukhoe (300 seats; 246 members elected in single-seat constituencies, 54 elected by proportional representation; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 11 April 2012 (next to be held in April 2016) election results: percent of vote by party - NFP 42.8%, DUP 36.5%, UPP 10.3%, LFP 3.2%, others 7.2%; seats by party - NFP 152, DUP 127, UPP 13, LFP 5, independents 3 note: seats by negotiation group as of April 2014 - NFP 156, NPAD 130, UPP 6, Justice Party 5, Independents 1; note - 2 seats are vacant

National anthem

name: "Aegukga" (Patriotic Song)

National holiday

Liberation Day, 15 August (1945)

National symbol(s)

taegeuk (yin yang symbol)

Political parties and leaders

Justice Party [CHEON Ho-sun] Liberty Forward Party or LFP (merged with NFP in October 2012) New Frontier Party (NFP) or Saenuri (formerly Grand National Party) [HWANG Woo-yea] New Politics Alliance for Diplomacy or NPAD [KIM Han-gil and AHN Cheol-soo] (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) Progressive Justice Party or PJP [ROH Hoe-chan and CHO Joon-ho] Unified Progressive Party or UPP [LEE Jung-hee]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Catholic Priests' Association for Justice Citizen's Coalition for Economic Justice Federation of Korean Industries Federation of Korean Trade Unions Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Korean Veterans' Association Lawyers for a Democratic Society National Council of Churches People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy

Suffrage

19 years of age; universal

Background

An independent kingdom for much of its long history, Korea was occupied by Japan beginning in 1905 following the Russo-Japanese War. In 1910, Tokyo formally annexed the entire Peninsula. Korea regained its independence following Japan's surrender to the United States in 1945. After World War II, a democratic-based 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 (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 DPRK invasion supported by 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. South Korea held its first free presidential election under a revised democratic constitution in 1987, with former ROK 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 ROK President PARK Chung-hee, took office in February 2013 and is South Korea's first female leader. South Korea holds a non-permanent seat (2013-14) on the UN Security Council and will host the 2018 Winter Olympic Games. Serious tensions with North Korea have punctuated inter-Korean relations in recent years, including the North's attacks on a South Korean ship and island in 2010, nuclear and missile tests, and its temporary closure of the inter-Korean Kaesong Industrial Complex in 2013.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 13,185,794 females age 16-49: 12,423,496 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 10,864,566 females age 16-49: 10,168,709 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 365,760 female: 321,225 (2010 est.)

Military branches

Republic of Korea Army; Navy (includes Marine Corps); Air Force (2011)

Military expenditures

2.8% of GDP (2012) country comparison to the world: 26 2.77% of GDP (2011) 2.8% of GDP (2010)

Military service age and obligation

20-30 years of age for compulsory military service, with middle school education required; conscript service obligation - 21 months (Army, Marines), 23 months (Navy), 24 months (Air Force); 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; HIV-positive individuals are exempt from military service (2012)

Age structure

0-14 years: 14.1% (male 3,603,943/female 3,328,634) 15-24 years: 13.5% (male 3,515,271/female 3,113,257) 25-54 years: 47.3% (male 11,814,872/female 11,360,962) 55-64 years: 12.4% (male 3,012,051/female 3,081,480) 65 years and over: 12.3% (male 2,570,433/female 3,639,083) (2014 est.)

Birth rate

8.26 births/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 220

Contraceptive prevalence rate

80% note: percent of women aged 15-44 (2009)

Death rate

6.63 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 143

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 37.1 % youth dependency ratio: 19.9 % elderly dependency ratio: 17.2 % potential support ratio: 5.8 (2014 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 99.7% of population rural: 87.9% of population total: 97.8% of population unimproved: urban: 0.3% of population rural: 12.1% of population total: 2.2% of population (2012 est.)

Education expenditures

5% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 75

Ethnic groups

homogeneous (except for about 20,000 Chinese)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 154

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 500 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 91

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

9,500 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 107

Health expenditures

7.2% of GDP (2011) country comparison to the world: 83

Hospital bed density

10.3 beds/1,000 population (2009)

Infant mortality rate

total: 3.93 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 200 male: 4.13 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)

Languages

Korean, English (widely taught in junior high and high school)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 79.8 years country comparison to the world: 39 male: 76.67 years female: 83.13 years (2014 est.)

Literacy

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

Major urban areas - population

SEOUL (capital) 9.736 million; Busan (Pusan) 3.372 million; Incheon (Inch'on) 2.622 million; Daegu (Taegu) 2.447 million; Daejon (Taejon) 1.538 million; Gwangju (Kwangju) 1.503 million (2011)

Maternal mortality rate

16 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 143

Median age

total: 40.2 years male: 38.7 years female: 41.6 years (2014 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

30.3 (2011 est.)

Nationality

noun: Korean(s) adjective: Korean

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 85

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

7.7% (2008) country comparison to the world: 139

Physicians density

2.02 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

Population

49,039,986 (July 2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 27

Population growth rate

0.16% (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 183

Religions

Christian 31.6% (Protestant 24%, Roman Catholic 7.6%), Buddhist 24.2%, other or unknown 0.9%, none 43.3% (2010 survey)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population 0% of population 0% of population 0% of population (2012 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 17 years male: 18 years female: 16 years (2011)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.13 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.25 children born/woman (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 220

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 9% country comparison to the world: 116 male: 9.7% female: 8.5% (2012)

Urbanization

urban population: 83.2% of total population (2011) rate of urbanization: 0.71% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

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: 179 (2012)

Airports

111 (2013) country comparison to the world: 53

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 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 40 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 38 (2013)

Heliports

466 (2013)

Merchant marine

total: 786 country comparison to the world: 14 by type: bulk carrier 191, cargo 235, carrier 8, chemical tanker 130, container 72, liquefied gas 44, passenger 5, passenger/cargo 15, petroleum tanker 55, refrigerated cargo 15, roll on/roll off 10, vehicle carrier 6 foreign-owned: 31 (China 6, France 2, Japan 14, Taiwan 1, US 8) registered in other countries: 457 (Bahamas 1, Cambodia 10, Ghana 1, Honduras 6, Hong Kong 3, Indonesia 2, Kiribati 1, Liberia 2, Malta 2, Marshall Islands 41, North Korea 1, Panama 373, Philippines 1, Russia 1, Singapore 3, Tuvalu 1, unknown 8) (2010)

Pipelines

gas 2,216 km; oil 16 km; refined products 889 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Incheon, Pohang, Busan, Ulsan, Yeosu container port(s) (TEUs): Busan (16,163,842), Kwangyang (2,061,958), Incheon (1,924,644)

Railways

total: 3,381 km country comparison to the world: 52 standard gauge: 3,381 km 1.435-m gauge (1,843 km electrified) (2008)

Roadways

total: 104,983 km country comparison to the world: 44 paved: 83,199 km (includes 3,779 km of expressways) unpaved: 21,784 km (2009)

Waterways

1,600 km (most navigable only by small craft) (2011) country comparison to the world: 51