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East & Southeast Asia :: Korea, South

- ## Introduction :: KOREA, SOUTH

- 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 held a non-permanent seat (2013-14) on the UN Security Council and will host the 2018 Winter Olympic Games. Discord with North Korea has permeated inter-Korean relations for much of the past decade, highlighted by the North's attacks on a South Korean ship and island in 2010, multiple nuclear and missile tests, and a five-month closure of the inter-Korean Kaesong Industrial Complex in 2013.

- ## Geography :: KOREA, SOUTH

- 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
  Area:
  total: 99,720 sq km
  land: 96,920 sq km
  water: 2,800 sq km
  country comparison to the world: 109
  Area - comparative:
  slightly smaller than Pennsylvania; slightly larger than Indiana
  Area comparison map:
  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 extremes:
  lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 m
  highest point: Halla-san 1,950 m
  Natural resources:
  coal, tungsten, graphite, molybdenum, lead, hydropower potential
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 18.1%
  arable land 15.3%; permanent crops 2.2%; permanent pasture 0.6%
  forest: 63.9%
  other: 18% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  8,804 sq km (2003)
  Total renewable water resources:
  69.7 cu km (2011)
  Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
  total: 25.47 cu km/yr (26%/12%/62%)
  per capita: 548.7 cu m/yr (2003)
  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
  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
  Geography - note:
  strategic location on Korea Strait

- ## People and Society :: KOREA, SOUTH

- Nationality:
  noun: Korean(s)
  adjective: Korean
  Ethnic groups:
  homogeneous (except for about 20,000 Chinese)
  Languages:
  Korean, English (widely taught in junior high and high school)
  Religions:
  Christian 31.6% (Protestant 24%, Roman Catholic 7.6%), Buddhist 24.2%, other or unknown 0.9%, none 43.3% (2010 survey)
  Population:
  49,115,196 (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 27
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 13.69% (male 3,489,464/female 3,232,372)
  15-24 years: 13.52% (male 3,518,488/female 3,122,997)
  25-54 years: 46.63% (male 11,687,846/female 11,214,687)
  55-64 years: 13.14% (male 3,190,093/female 3,264,411)
  65 years and over: 13.02% (male 2,662,353/female 3,732,485) (2015 est.)
  population pyramid:
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 37.2%
  youth dependency ratio: 19.2%
  elderly dependency ratio: 18%
  potential support ratio: 5.6% (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 40.8 years
  male: 39.2 years
  female: 42.2 years (2015 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  0.14% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 186
  Birth rate:
  8.19 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 220
  Death rate:
  6.75 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 139
  Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 92
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 82.5% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: 0.66% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  SEOUL (capital) 9.774 million; Busan (Pusan) 3.216 million; Incheon (Inch'on) 2.685 million; Daegu (Taegu) 2.244 million; Daejon (Taejon) 1.564 million; Gwangju (Kwangju) 1.536 million (2015)
  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: 0.98 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
  total population: 1 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 3.86 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 4.05 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 3.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 194
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 80.04 years
  male: 76.95 years
  female: 83.34 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 39
  Total fertility rate:
  1.25 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 220
  Contraceptive prevalence rate:
  80%
  note: percent of women aged 15-44 (2009)
  Health expenditures:
  7.2% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 69
  Physicians density:
  2.14 physicians/1,000 population (2012)
  Hospital bed density:
  10.3 beds/1,000 population (2009)
  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.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved:
  urban: 100% of population
  rural: 100% of population
  total: 100% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 0% of population
  rural: 0% of population
  total: 0% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  NA
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  6.3% (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 139
  Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
  0.6% (2011)
  country comparison to the world: 135
  Education expenditures:
  4.9% of GDP (2011)
  country comparison to the world: 75
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  total: 17 years
  male: 18 years
  female: 16 years (2012)
  Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
  total: 9%
  male: 9.7%
  female: 8.5% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 107

- ## Government :: KOREA, SOUTH

- 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
  Government type:
  republic
  Capital:
  name: Seoul
  geographic coordinates: 37 33 N, 126 59 E
  time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
  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:
  effective 17 July 1948; amended several times, last in 1987 (2013)
  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
  Suffrage:
  19 years of age; universal
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: President PARK Geun-hye (since 25 February 2013)
  head of government: Prime Minister HWANG Kyo-ahn (since 18 June 2015); Deputy Prime Ministers HWANG Woo-yea (since 7 November 2014), CHOI Kyung-hwan (since 13 June 2014)
  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 19 December 2012 (next to be held in December 2017); prime minister appointed by president, approved by National Assembly
  election results: 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 Koe (300 seats; 246 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 54 directly elected in a single national constituency by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-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%, other 7.2%; seats by party - NFP 152, DUP 127, UPP 13, LFP 5, independent 3
  note: seats by negotiation group as of August 2015 - NFP 160, NPAD 130, Justice Party 5, Independents 3; note - 2 seats are vacant
  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 under the District Courts); specialized courts for family and administrative issues
  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) [KIM Moo-sung]
  New Politics Alliance for Democracy or NPAD [MOON Jae-in] (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)
  Unified Progressive Party or UPP (disbanded in December 2014)
  Political pressure groups and leaders:
  Catholic Priests' Association for Justice
  Christian Council of Korea
  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 in Korea
  People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy
  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, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNMOGIP, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
  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), Anchorage (AK), Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle
  Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Mark William LIPPERT (since 21 November 2014)
  embassy: 188 Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-710
  mailing address: US Embassy Seoul, Unit
  telephone: [82] (2) 397-4114
  FAX: [82] (2) 725-0152
  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); 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 :: KOREA, SOUTH

- Economy - overview:
  South Korea over the past four decades has demonstrated incredible economic 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. A system of close government and business ties, including directed credit and import restrictions, initially 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 7% 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 over 6% growth in 2010. The US-Korea Free Trade Agreement was ratified by both governments in 2011 and went into effect in March 2012. Between 2012 and 2014, the economy experienced slow growth due to sluggish domestic consumption and investment. The administration in 2015 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 the heavy reliance on exports, which comprise about half of GDP. In an effort to address the long term challenges and sustain economic growth, the current government has prioritized structural reforms, deregulation, promotion of entrepreneurship and creative industries, and the competitiveness of small and medium enterprises.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $1.781 trillion (2014 est.)
  $1.724 trillion (2013 est.)
  $1.676 trillion (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 14
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $1.41 trillion (2014 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  3.3% (2014 est.)
  2.9% (2013 est.)
  2.3% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 89
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $35,300 (2014 est.)
  $34,100 (2013 est.)
  $33,200 (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 46
  Gross national saving:
  35.1% of GDP (2014 est.)
  34.3% of GDP (2013 est.)
  34.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 17
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 50.4%
  government consumption: 15.1%
  investment in fixed capital: 29.1%
  investment in inventories: 0.1%
  exports of goods and services: 50.6%
  imports of goods and services: -45.3%
  (2014 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 2.3%
  industry: 38.3%
  services: 59.4% (2014 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  rice, root crops, barley, vegetables, fruit; cattle, pigs, chickens, milk, eggs; fish
  Industries:
  electronics, telecommunications, automobile production, chemicals, shipbuilding, steel
  Industrial production growth rate:
  0% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 140
  Labor force:
  26.27 million (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 25
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 5.7%
  industry: 24%
  services: 70.4% (2014 est.)
  Unemployment rate:
  3.5% (2014 est.)
  3.1% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 27
  Population below poverty line:
  14.6% (2013 est.)
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: 6.8%
  highest 10%: 37.8% (Q4 2014)
  Distribution of family income - Gini index:
  30.2 (2013 est.)
  35.8 (2000)
  country comparison to the world: 113
  Budget:
  revenues: $350.7 billion
  expenditures: $337.9 billion (2014 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  24.9% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 148
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  0.9% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 28
  Public debt:
  34.2% of GDP (2014 est.)
  33.8% of GDP (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 103
  Fiscal year:
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  1.3% (2014 est.)
  1.3% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 78
  Central bank discount rate:
  2% (31 December 2014)
  2.5% (31 December 2013)
  country comparison to the world: 118
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  4.5% (31 December 2014 est.)
  4.64% (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 159
  Stock of narrow money:
  $556.3 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $470.9 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 11
  Stock of broad money:
  $1.973 trillion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $1.754 trillion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 10
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $1.187 trillion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $1.055 trillion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 15
  Market value of publicly traded shares:
  $1.269 trillion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $1.193 trillion (31 December 2013)
  $1.121 trillion (28 December 2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 11
  Current account balance:
  $89.22 billion (2014 est.)
  $81.15 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 5
  Exports:
  $572.7 billion (2014 est.)
  $559.6 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 6
  Exports - commodities:
  semiconductors, petrochemicals, automobile/auto parts, ships, wireless communication equipment, flat display displays, steel, electronics, plastics, computers
  Exports - partners:
  China 25.4%, US 12.3%, Japan 5.6%, Hong Kong 4.8%, Singapore 4.2% (2014 est.)
  Imports:
  $525.5 billion (2014 est.)
  $515.6 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 9
  Imports - commodities:
  crude oil/petroleum products, semiconductors, natural gas, coal, steel, computers, wireless communication equipment, automobiles, fine chemical, textiles
  Imports - partners:
  China 17.1%, Japan 10.2%, US 8.7%, Saudi Arabia 7%, Qatar 4.9%, Germany 4.1% (2014 est.)
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $363.6 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $346.5 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 9
  Debt - external:
  $425.4 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $423.5 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 28
  Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
  $152.3 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $140.7 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 30
  Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
  $278.8 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $254.1 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 22
  Exchange rates:
  South Korean won (KRW) per US dollar -
  1,053 (2014 est.)
  1,095 (2013 est.)
  1,126.47 (2012 est.)
  1,108.29 (2011 est.)
  1,156.1 (2010 est.)

- ## Energy :: KOREA, SOUTH

- Electricity - production:
  517.1 billion kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 11
  Electricity - consumption:
  474.8 billion kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 10
  Electricity - exports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 159
  Electricity - imports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 166
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  86.97 million kW (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 12
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  69.6% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 106
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  26.8% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 6
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  1.7% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 139
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  1.9% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 76
  Crude oil - production:
  0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 188
  Crude oil - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 140
  Crude oil - imports:
  2.949 million bbl/day (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 5
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  0 bbl
  country comparison to the world: 152
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  2.745 million bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 7
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  2.261 million bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 11
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  1.182 million bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 7
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  911,700 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 8
  Natural gas - production:
  515 million cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 70
  Natural gas - consumption:
  53.15 billion cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 16
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 127
  Natural gas - imports:
  46.26 billion cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 87
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  5.748 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 89
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  688.3 million Mt (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 8

- ## Communications :: KOREA, SOUTH

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 29.48 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 60 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 12
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 57.2 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 117 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 27
  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)
  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)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 96, FM 322, shortwave 1 (2008)
  Television broadcast stations:
  57 (plus 103 cable operators and 119 relay cable operators) (2008)
  Internet country code:
  .kr
  Internet users:
  total: 44.9 million
  percent of population: 91.5% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 13

- ## Transportation :: KOREA, SOUTH

- 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)
  Pipelines:
  gas 2,216 km; oil 16 km; refined products 889 km (2013)
  Railways:
  total: 3,460 km
  standard gauge: 3,460 km 1.435-m gauge (1,422 km electrified) (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 52
  Roadways:
  total: 104,983 km
  paved: 83,199 km (includes 3,779 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 21,784 km (2009)
  country comparison to the world: 44
  Waterways:
  1,600 km (most navigable only by small craft) (2011)
  country comparison to the world: 50
  Merchant marine:
  total: 786
  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)
  country comparison to the world: 14
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Busan, Incheon, Gunsan, Kwangyang, Mokpo, Pohang, Ulsan, Yeosu
  container port(s) (TEUs): Busan (16,163,842), Kwangyang (2,061,958), Incheon (1,924,644)
  LNG terminal(s) (import): Incheon, Kwangyang, Pyeongtaek, Samcheok, Tongyeong, Yeosu

- ## Military :: KOREA, SOUTH

- Military branches:
  Republic of Korea Army, Navy (includes Marine Corps), Air Force (2011)
  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)
  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 expenditures:
  2.8% of GDP (2012)
  2.77% of GDP (2011)
  2.8% of GDP (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 25

- ## Transnational Issues :: KOREA, SOUTH

- 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: 204 (2014)

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