Shopping on line can be easy, simple and save you lots of money. It can also take a lot of your time, frustrate you, and result in unwanted purchases. Now the same can be said for regular high street shopping, but with the vast opportunity presented by the Internet it will pay you to spend a few minutes reading this and understanding how to better optimize your South Korea shopping experience:

1. Compare - without doubt the biggest advantage that the South Korea offers shoppers today is the ability to compare thousands of South Korea at a time. This is a great thing, but not necessarily all the time! Too much can be daunting at times so take advantage of the great comparison sites and where possible let them do the hard work for you.

2. Research - if it has been said it will be on the internet. Ignorance is no longer a justifiable reason for buying the wrong thing. Take the time to research in detail everything that you could possible want to know about

3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a South Korea? Wrong! If the South Korea is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.

4. Questions - Got a question about South Korea then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....

5. Reputation - Never heard of the company selling South Korea? Don't worry, no reason why you should know every company in the world, but you know someone that does! Use the internet to find out what people are saying about South Korea and build up a picture of their reputation for sales, returns, customer service, delivery etc.

6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your South Korea wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.

7. Feedback - happy with your South Korea then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.

8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the South Korea site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site

9. Contact - got a question about South Korea, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.

10. Payment - ready to pay for your South Korea, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.

{{Infobox Country or territory|native_name = Daehan Minguk|conventional_long_name = Republic of Korea|common_name = South Korea|image_flag = Flag of South Korea.svg|image_coat = South korea COA.svg|symbol_type = Coat of arms|image_map = LocationSouthKorea.png|national_anthem = Aegukga Patriotic Hymn]|demonym = South Korean, Korean|motto = 홍익인간(弘益人間) 널리 인간을 이롭게 하라 |capital = Seoul|government_type = [Presidential system republic|leader_title2 = [Prime Minister of South Korea|leader_name1 = Roh Moo-hyun|area_rank = 108th|area_magnitude = 1 E10|area_km2 = 99,646|area_sq_mi = 38,492 -->|population_density_rank = 19th|GDP_PPP = $1.196 trillionhttps://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ks.html#Econ|GDP_PPP_rank = 11th|GDP_PPP_year = 2006|GDP_PPP_per_capita = $24,500|GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 34th|sovereignty_type = History of South Korea|established_event1 = March 1st Movement|established_event2 = Liberation|established_event3 = History of South Korea#First Republic|established_event4 = United Nations|established_date1 = March 1 1919 (de jure)] 1945[1948 [1948|currency_code = KRW|country_code = KOR|time_zone = [Korea Standard Time|calling_code = 82|footnote1 = Cell phone system CDMA|footnote2 = Domestic power supply 220V/60 Hz, CEE 7/7 sockets-->South Korea, officially known as the Republic of Korea (ROK) ([Korean language: 대한민국, , ) is an East Asian state on the southern half of the Korean Peninsula. To the north, it is bordered by North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea), with which it was united until 1945. To the west, across the Yellow Sea, lies People's Republic of China (People's Republic of China) and to the southeast, across the Korea Strait, lies Japan. Approximately one-half of South Korea's population lives in or near the capital Seoul, the country's largest city. Seoul is one of the List of metropolitan areas by population metropolitan areas in the world, a major centre of business and commerce in Asia and home to many of the world's largest transnational corporations such as Samsung, Hyundai, SK Group and LG Group.

Korea traces its founding to 2333 BC by Dangun. Archaeological research shows that Koreans occupied the peninsula since the Lower Paleolithic period with territories expanding as far as mainland China and eastern Russia during the Gojoseon period. Korea's History of Korea has been turbulent throughout with the last emperor of Korea dating back to the age of the Korean Empire. Since the establishment of the modern republic in 1948, South Korea struggled with the aftermath of Korea under Japanese rule (1910-1945), the Korean War (1950-1953), and decades of authoritarian governments, undergoing five major Constitution of the Republic of Korea. While the government officially embraced Western-style democracy from its founding, presidential elections suffered from rampant irregularities. It was not until 1987 that direct and fair presidential elections were held, largely prompted by popular demonstrations.

South Korea had one of the fastest economic development in the world since the 1960s and is now the List of Asian countries by GDP in Asia and the List of countries by GDP (PPP) in the world. Up until the 1990s, South Korea has been part of the Four Asian Tigers and a Newly-industrialized country but upon entering the 21st century, South Korea gained developed country and is defined as a High Income Nation according to the World Bank. The United Nation rates South Korea as a Prosperous Economy and the country is both part of the CIA and IMF list of advanced economies. South Korea is a Next Eleven country and also part of the G20 industrial nations. South Korea's HDI is rated at High with 0.912 by the Human Development Index and the country joined the OECD in 1996, an organization for developed nations only.

South Korea is one of the world's most technologically & scientifically advanced countries; it has the List of countries by broadband users of Broadband Internet access Internet users among the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD Broadband statistics and is a global leader in electronics, display device, semiconductor devices, mobile phones and Gadget, headed by the two chaebols, Samsung and LG. South Korea also has the world's 3rd biggest steel producer, POSCO and is the 5th largest car manufacturing nation, headed by Hyundai Kia Automotive Group. South Korea is the world's largest shipbuilder, lead by several multinational corporations such as Hyundai Heavy Industries and Samsung Heavy Industries. Other important industries of South Korea include robotics and biotechnology, with the world's second humanoid robot, EveR-1 and the world's first cloned dog, Snuppy.

History Before division Koreans occupied the Korean peninsula as early in the Lower Paleolithic period, as evidenced by archaeological findings.

, one of the three kingdoms of Korea.

Korea began with the legendary founding of Gojoseon in 2333 BCE (Before Common Era) by Dangun. http://www.asianinfo.org/asianinfo/korea/history.htm Dangun's kingdom was named "Joseon" (however, this kingdom is now called "Gojoseon" or "Old Joseon" to differentiate the first Joseon and the more recent Joseon Dynasty).

Gojoseon expanded until it controlled much of the northern Korean peninsula and parts of Manchuria. After numerous wars with the Chinese Han Dynasty, Gojoseon disintegrated and broke up into many smaller states, leading to the Proto-Three Kingdoms of Korea period.

During the Proto-Three Kingdoms of Korea period, Buyeo, Okjeo, Dongye, and the Samhan confederacy occupied the peninsula and southern Manchuria. During this time, the power of the Three Kingdoms of Korea grew.

The Three Kingdoms of Korea started in 57 BCE and spanned until Silla united the peninsula over Goguryeo in 668 CE. During this time, Goguryeo, Baekje, Silla, and Gaya dominated the peninsula. The three kingdoms fought for control of the peninsula. However, Goguryeo was overall the most powerful and largest kingdom of the three and during its zenith attacked and conquered Chinese territories in Manchuria, controlling large amounts of land. Goguryeo fought and repelled numerous wars with China, including the Wei Dynasty, Sui Dynasty, and the Tang Dynasty. In 668 CE, a Silla-Tang alliance eventually brought down the kingdom.

The adoption of the Chinese written language ("hanja" in Korean) in the 2nd century BCE, and the introduction of Buddhism in the 4th century CE, had profound effects on the Three Kingdoms of Korea. Koreans later passed on these, as well as their own advances, to Japan." Yayoi Period History Summary," BookRags.com; Jared Diamond, " Japanese Roots," Discover 19:6 (June 1998); Thayer Watkins, " The Genetic Origins of the Japanese"; " Shinto - History to 1900," Encyclopædia Britannica; " The Yayoi period (c. 250 BC–c. AD 250)," Encyclopædia Britannica." Korean Buddhism Basis of Japanese Buddhism," Seoul Times, June 18, 2006; " Buddhist Art of Korea & Japan," Asia Society Museum; " Kanji," JapanGuide.com; " Pottery," MSN Encarta; " History of Japan," JapanVisitor.com.; George Sansom, A History of Japan to 1334, Stanford University Press, 1958. p. 47. ISBN 0-8047-0523-2 From Paekche to Origin of Yamato



The unification of the Three Kingdoms by Unified Silla in 676 CE led to the North-South States period, in which the Korean peninsula was controlled by Unified Silla and Manchuria was controlled by Balhae.

The period of Unified Silla was one of the most cultural during Korean history. Poetry and art was encouraged. Unified Silla also enjoyed a peaceful rule since the Song Dynasty was nonaggressive. Relationships between Korea and China remained good during this time. Unified Silla broke up in 935 CE after weakened by internal strife. Its last king surrendered to Goryeo.

Balhae, Unified Silla's neighbor to the north, was raised as a successor state to Goguryeo. During its height, Balhae controlled most of Manchuria and parts of Russia. It fell to the Khitan in 926 CE.

After the North-South Period, successor states fought for control during the Later Three Kingdoms period. The peninsula was soon united by Wang Geon of Goryeo. Like Silla, Goryeo was a highly cultural state and it created the Jikji in 1377, the world's oldest movable metal printing press. World's oldest printed Doc

The Mongol invasions of Korea in the 13th century and the Khitan invasion contributed to the weakening of Goryeo. However, Goryeo continued to control the Korean peninsula since the Mongols generously allowed Goryeo to keep its identity. After the fall of the Yuan Dynasty, Goryeo continued its independence. After severe corruption, Goryeo was replaced by the Joseon Dynasty in 1388 CE by a rebellion by General Yi Seong-gye.

General Yi named his country Joseon (referring to the greatness of Gojoseon) and moved the capital to Seoul. The first 200 years of the Joseon Dynasty was peaceful and saw the creation of hangul by King Sejong the Great of Joseon in the 14 century CE and the influence of Confucianism.

In the latter of the 16th century CE, Joseon was invaded by the Japanese in the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592-1598). A lack of technology and poor leadership from the King Seonjo and generals led to destruction of much of the Korean peninsula by the Japanese. However, Admiral Yi's outstanding strategic maneuvering in his naval battles, the rise of irregular armies, and the help of Ming Dynasty caused heavy damage to the Japanese army, which soon retreated in 1598 CE.

Today, Admiral Yi is celebrated as one of Korea's greatest heroes and his turtle ships, which were used with great success against the Japanese, are considered the world's first ironclad warships. There is much interest in the turtle ship since there is no hard evidence that the turtle ship did have iron platings.

During the latter part of the Joseon Dynasty, Korea's isolationist policy earned it the Western nickname the "Hermit Kingdom". By the late 19th century, the country became the object of colonial designs by the imperialism aggressors of Japan and Europe. In 1910 CE, Korea was Korea under Japanese rule and remained occupied until the end of World War II in 1945 CE.

After division In 1945, Soviet Union and United States troops controlled the northern and southern halves of the country respectively. The two Cold War rivals helped establish governments sympathetic to their own ideologies, leading to Korea's current division into two political entities: North Korea and South Korea.

there is a mass exodus of South Koreans returning to their hometownsDespite promises of an independent and unified Korea in the 1943 Cairo Declaration, escalating Cold War antagonism between the United States and Soviet Union eventually led to the establishment of two separate governments: the communist North and the capitalist South. In the North, general Kim Il Sung who led the anti-Japanese guerilla, became president. In the South, Syngman Rhee was brought from America and installed as president. While many Koreans wanted a national election to choose a leader for the whole country, the United States prohibited people in the South to take part in an election organized by the North.

On June 25, 1950, a war broke out between the South and North that caused the deaths of more than 4 million civilians and soldiers alike, now referred to as the Korean War. Due to boycott of the United Nations by the Soviet Union at that time, the UN intervened on behalf of South Korea and USA when it became apparent that the superior communist forces would easily take over the entire country. The Soviet Union and China backed North Korea, with China sending millions of troops across the border. The war eventually reached a stalemate. The 1953 armistice split the peninsula along the Korean Demilitarized Zone at about the original demarcation line. No peace treaty was ever signed, however, and therefore the two countries are technically still at war.

In 1960, April Revolution led to the resignation of president Syngman Rhee, whose government had become autocratic and corrupt. Then followed a period of profound civil unrest and general political instability. General Park Chung-hee led a Supreme Council for National Reconstruction (the "5.16 coup d'etat") against the weak and ineffectual government the following year. Park took over as president from 1961 until his assassination in 1979, overseeing rapid Export-oriented industrialization as well as severe political repression.

The year following Park's assassination was marked by considerable political turmoil as the previously repressed opposition leaders all clamored to run for the presidential office. In 1980, General Chun Doo-hwan launched a coup d'etat against the transitional government of Choi Gyu Hwa, the former prime minister under Park and interim president, to assume the presidency. Chun's Coup d'etat of December 12th triggered national protest asking for democratization, particularly protests in Gwangju, South Cholla province. Chun sent in special forces to violently suppress the city which is now known as the Gwangju Massacre. Chun stated his intent to serve only a single term from the outset and eventually allowed direct presidential elections in 1988 under pressure from widespread popular demonstrations.

Despite the previous turmoil, Seoul hosted the 1988 Summer Olympics.

In 1996, South Korea became a member of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. Despite a severe setback caused by the Asian financial crisis in 1997, the country was able to re-emerge as a major economic power.

In June 2000, as a part of South Korean president Kim Dae Jung's Sunshine Policy of engagement, a North-South summit took place in North Korea's capital Pyongyang. That year, Kim won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work for democracy and human rights and efforts at reconciliation between the two Koreas.

In 2004, South Korea joined the "trillion dollar club" of world economies and, today, its standard of living approximates some countries in Western Europe such as Portugal and Spain.

Government Building in Yeouido, SeoulThe government of South Korea is divided into three branches: executive (government), judicial, and legislative. The executive and legislative branches operate primarily at the national level, although various ministries in the executive branch also carry out local functions. Local governments are semi-autonomous, and contain executive and legislative bodies of their own. The judicial branch operates at both the national and local levels.

The South Korean government's structure is determined by the Constitution of the Republic of Korea. This document has been revised several times since its first promulgation in 1948 (see History of South Korea). However, it has retained many broad characteristics; with the exception of the short-lived Second Republic of South Korea, the country has always had a presidential system with a relatively independent chief executive.

As with most stable three-branch systems, a careful system of checks and balances is in place. For instance, the judges of the Constitutional Court of Korea are partially appointed by the executive, and partially by the legislature. Likewise, when a resolution of impeachment is passed by the legislature, it is sent to the judiciary for a final decision.

Foreign relations and South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun in 2005 at the 17th APEC meeting.

In its foreign relations, South Korea is primarily concerned with North Korea and the neighboring countries of China, Japan, and Russia, as well as its main ally, the United States.A Brief History of the US-Korea Relations Prior to 1945

United States The United States of America was the primary driver in the establishment and initial sustenance of the South Korean government before and after the Korean War. Since the 1990s, the two nations have often been at odds with regard to their policies towards North Korea, and over the rise of anti-American sentiment freekorea.us - OFK Archive: Anti-Americanism in Korea–The Statistical Recordoften expressed toward members of the U.S. military, sometimes violently. Nevertheless, most South Koreans are friendly towards the United States and it is South Korea's largest ally. needed

China Korea usually had close relations with the Chinese since historic times. Korean independence fighters also worked with Chinese soldiers during the period of Korean occupation. However, after World War II, the Chinese embraced communism while South Korea became a republic with the help of the United States.

The Korean War and its aftermath made the relationship between South Korea and China almost nonexistent.

However, South Korea and China established formal diplomatic relations on August 24, 1992. Beijing sought to improve its poor economy and began trading with South Korea. Korean and Chinese relations have expanded steadily since 1992.

Japan South Korea and Japan signed the Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea in 1965. However South Korea has heavy Anti-Japanese sentiment due to a number of unsettled Korean-Japanese disputes, many of which stemmed from the period of Korea under Japanese rule. During World War II, more than 100,000 Koreans were forced to serve in the Imperial Japanese Army. A Brief History of the US-Korea Relations Prior to 1945. 　"While less than 100 Koreans in America enlisted in the US military during World War II, more than 100,000 Koreans served in the Japanese army as officers and soldiers. There were two Korean Lt. Generals in the Japanese Army: a Chosun prince, whose rank was honorary and who commanded no troops; and Lt. Gen. Hong Sa-Ik, who was a professional military man from the old Chosun army." Longstanding issues such as Korea under Japanese rule against Korean civilians, the visits by Japanese politicians to the Yasukuni Shrine honoring Japanese soldiers killed at war, including class A war criminals like Tojo Hideki, the re-writing of Japanese history textbook controversies to overlook Japanese aggression during World War II, and the territorial disputes over Liancourt Rocks continue to trouble Korean-Japanese relations. In response to then-Prime Minister of Japan Junichiro Koizumi's repeated visits to the Yasukuni shrine, the President of South Korea Roh Moo-hyun suspended all summit talks between South Korea and Japan.At present, South Korea and Japan's political relations are very unstable.

North Korea Both North Korea and South Korea continue to officially claim sovereignty over the entire peninsula. Despite longstanding animosity following the Korean War in 1950 (which has still not officially ended), the South and North have in recent times sought to establish a more conciliatory relationship. Events such as family reunifications and the 1988 Summer Olympics, where the two Koreas entered the opening ceremonies together but still competed as separate teams, promised a gradual thaw in the North-South relationship (see Sunshine policy). However, the progress has been complicated by North Korean missile tests in 1993 North Korean missile test, 1998 North Korean missile test and 2006 North Korean nuclear test.

Other nations South Korea maintains diplomatic relations with approximately 170 countries. The country has also been a member of the United Nations since 1991, when it joined at the same time as North Korea. On January 1, 2007, South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon assumed the post of United Nations Secretary-General. It has also developed links with Association of Southeast Asian Nations as both a member of "ASEAN Plus three" and the East Asia Summit (EAS).

Korea has concluded a U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement agreement with the Economy of the United States in April 2007. It has also started another FTA with the European Union, which is South Korea's second largest exporter.

Military

The South Korean military today is composed of the Republic of Korea Army (ROKA), Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN), Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF), and Republic of Korea Marine Corps (ROKMC), together with reserve forces. Many of these forces are concentrated near the border with North Korea, near and around the demilitarised zone. All South Korean males are constitutionally required to serve in the military, typically for a period of two years.

From time to time, South Korea has sent its troops overseas to assist American forces. It has participated in every major conflict the United States has been involved in the past 50 years. South Korea dispatched 320,000 troops to fight alongside American and South Vietnamese soldiers in the Vietnam War, with a peak strength of 50,000. Most recently, South Korea sent 3,300 troops in the form of the Zaytun Division to help re-building in northern Iraq, and is the largest contributor after the U.S. and Britain.

The United States has stationed a substantial contingent of troops in the ROK since the Korean War to defend South Korea in case of an attack from North Korea. The American Troops are stationed in bases, of which most are camps. They are considered camps not for their lack of buildings or support structure but in order to represent a lack of permanence for the ROK Government.

A still functioning UN Command controls all forces in South Korea, including the US forces and the entire Korean military.

(See List of United States Army installations in South Korea and USFK for more information on these military bases.)

The Republic of Korea maintains an active duty military force of approximately 680,000, List of countries by number of total troops 8th largest in active duty size in the world. It has the second largest Marine Corps in the world after the United States. There are also approximately 28,000 United States Forces Korea, most of them serving one year unaccompanied tours.

The Korean military has many advanced capabilities. Currently, its navy is working towards a blue-water navy. It has recently equipped its King Sejong the Great class destroyer with the Aegis Combat System and plans to build more. South Korea is only one of 6 other navies that use the Aegis Combat System.

South Korea has also developed its own fighter jet, the T-50 Golden Eagle, which is exported to other countries as a trainer jet. The T-50 makes South Korea the 12th nation in the world to produce a fighter jet. Empas News article

Administrative divisions See also Special cities of Korea and Provinces of Korea

{| class="wikitable"! !! Namea !! Hangul !! Hanja|-!colspan="4"| Special cities (Teukbyeolsi a)|-| 1 || Seoul ] || 부산광역시 || 釜山廣域市|-| 3 || Daegu ] || 인천광역시 || 仁川廣域市|-| 5 || Gwangju ] || 대전광역시 || 大田廣域市|-| 7 || Ulsan ] || 경기도 || 京畿道|-| 9 || Gangwon-do (South Korea) || 강원도 || 江原道|-| 10 || Chungcheongbuk-do ] || 충청남도 || 忠淸南道|-| 12 || Jeollabuk-do ] || 전라남도 || 全羅南道|-| 14 || Gyeongsangbuk-do ] || 경상남도 || 慶尙南道|-!colspan="4"| Special self-governing province (Teukbyeoljachi-do a)|-| 16 || Jeju || 제주특별자치도 || 濟州特別自治道|}

Geography and climate South Korea occupies the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula, which extends some 680 miles (1,100 km) from the Asian mainland. This mountainous peninsula is flanked by the Yellow Sea to the west, and the Sea of Japan East Sea to the east. Its southern tip lies on the Korea Strait and the East China Sea.The country's total area is .The estimated area rises steadily from year to year, possibly due to land reclamation.



South Korea can be divided into four general regions: an eastern region of high mountain ranges and narrow coastal plains; a western region of broad coastal plains, river basins, and rolling hills; a southwestern region of mountains and valleys; and a southeastern region dominated by the broad basin of the Nakdong River.

South Korea's land is mountainous, and most of it is not arable. Lowlands, located primarily in the west and southeast, constitute only 30% of the total land area.

About three thousand islands, mostly small and uninhabited, lie off the western and southern coasts of South Korea. Jeju Island is located about 100 kilometres (about 60 mi) off the southern coast of South Korea. It is the country's largest island, with an area of 1,845 square kilometres (712 sq mi). Jeju is also the site of South Korea's highest point: Halla-san, an extinct volcano, reaches 1,950 metres (6,398 ft) above sea level. Other islands of South Korea include Ulleungdo and Liancourt Rocks, which is South Korea's farthest claimed territory to the east and Marado, which is the ROK's southernmost point. However, Liancourt Rocks is one of many disputes with Japan. Ulleungdo is inhabited.

The local climate is relatively temperate climate, with precipitation (meteorology) heavier in summer during a short rainy season called East Asian monsoon, and winters that can be bitterly cold. In Seoul, the average January temperature range is -7 °Celsius to 1 °C (19 °Fahrenheit to 33 °F), and the average July temperature range is 22 °C to 29 °C (71 °F to 83 °F). Winter temperatures are higher along the southern coast and considerably lower in the mountainous interior. Rainfall is concentrated in the summer months of June through September. The southern coast is subject to late summer typhoons that bring strong winds and heavy rains. The average annual precipitation (meteorology) varies from 1,370 millimetres (54 inches) in Seoul to 1,470 millimetres (58 inches) in Busan.

Economy , an important financial center located in Seoul.South Korea is a major international economic power; it has the List of countries by GDP (nominal) economy in the world (eleventh largest by List of countries by GDP (PPP)) and the third largest in Asia, behind Japan and China (fourth behind China, Japan, and India by purchasing power parity). Its largest trading partner and export market today is China. Trade Policy Outlook for Second-term Bush Administration South Korea has achieved rapid economic growth through exports of manufactured goods, and is one of the Four Asian Tigers. Major industries in South Korea today are automobiles, semiconductor, electronics, shipbuilding, and steel.

is one of the Korean Big Four.In the 1950s, South Korea was one of the poorest countries in Asia. This was due to the destruction of much of the country's infrastructure during the Korean War. {{cite web ] in 1962, South Korea embarked on a series of ambitious Five-Year Plans of South Korea for economic development. Emphasis shifted to foreign trade with the Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea in 1965, which resulted in a boom in trade and investment. Rapid expansion, first into light and then heavy industries, followed in the 1960s and 1970s. During this period, the South Korean economy grew at an average annual rate of 8.6%.Yang (1999), p.594. Park's government plans for economic development greatly boosted the Korean economy.

This phenomenal growth is often called the "Miracle on the Han River", the Han River (Korea) being the main river that runs through the nation's capital and largest city, Seoul. In the 1980s and 1990s, growth continued as South Korea transformed itself from an exporter of mostly textiles and shoes into a major global producer of automobiles, electronics, shipbuilding, steel and, later, high-technology products such as Computer displays, mobile phones, and semiconductors.

The South Korean model of encouraging the growth of large, internationally competitive companies through easy financing and tax incentives led to the dominance of the family-controlled conglomerate (company). These companies, known as chaebol, flourished under the support of the Park regime.See Cumings 1997, chapter 6. Some such as Hyundai Motor Company, Samsung, LG Group and SK Group became global corporations. In 2004, South Korea joined in the trillion dollar club of world economies.



Since the Asian financial crisis of 1997, however, the corporate landscape has changed considerably as a result of massive bankruptcies and government reforms. The crisis exposed longstanding weaknesses in South Korea's economy, including high debt-to-equity ratios, massive foreign borrowing, and an undisciplined financial sector. This led to two rounds of financial and industrial restructuring; once in 1997 and again following the collapse of Daewoo in 1999.KOIS (2003), pp. 238-239. Daewoo's collapse has been recorded as one of the largest bankruptcies in world history. By 2003, just over one-half of the 30 largest chaebol from 1995 remained.18 out of 30, according to

Between 2003 and 2005, economic growth had slowed to about 4% per year, an enviable figure in much of the rest of the world. A downturn in consumer spending, attributed to massive personal credit card debt, was offset by rapid export growth, primarily to China. In 2005, the government proposed labor reform legislation and a corporate pension scheme to help make the labor market more flexible, and new real estate policies to cool property speculation.{{cite web The South Korean economy is characterized by moderate inflation, low unemployment, an export surplus, and fairly equal distribution of income. South Korea continues to strive to maintain global competitiveness. South Korea has been opened to various employment opportunities in various industries. An example would be the influx of English teachers from native English-speaking countries seeking employment and travel in the country.

Today, there are several strong South Korean industries. South Korea's largest carmaker, Hyundai and its subsidiary Kia are the 6th largest car group in the world. They had been technologically supported by Mitsubishi Motors.

South Korean car companies are also building factories in other countries. The Hyundai Motors has already started manufacturing several major car models, including Sonata and New Santa Fe in its U.S. plant located in Montgomery, Alabama.

A Kia plant at Georgia, United States is expected to start producing cars in 2009.Korean carmakers are planning to increase its exports even more when it finishes its FTA with the European Union.

The ROK's shipbuilding industry is also the largest in the world. It became the largest after overtaking Japan in 2004. South Korean shipbuilding is efficient enough that a new $80 million vessel is produced every four working days. In 2006, approximately one in every three new vessels was constructed in Korea. Hyundai Heavy Industries built ships totaling 10.6 million compensated gross tons (CGTs), or 34.6 percent, becoming the first nation to breach the 10 million CGT mark. Other Korean shipbuilding companies are Samsung Heavy Industries and Daewoo Marine Engineering & Construction.

Although South Korean shipmakers are leading in terms of ship orders and production, they are wary of Chinese shipmakers. China is planning to become the world's leader in shipbuilding by 2015. However, South Korean shipbuilders have advantage over Chinese counterparts in terms of advanced value-added shipbuilding technology, which Chinese do not have. Peter Bartholomew, the managing director for Industrial Research & Consulting, a business consulting company, says that the "South Koreans are always working to keep three, four, five steps ahead of the Chinese and Japanese".

Transportation



Transportation in South Korea is provided by an extensive networks of railways, highways, bus routes, ferry services, and air routes. Buses, taxis, subways, and trains provide comfortable and cheap methods of travel around South Korea.

All cities have intercity and intracity bus systems. Major cities also have express bus terminals.

Highways in South Korea are classified into highways (expressways/motorways), national highways, and various classifications below the national level. Korea Highway Corporation operates the toll highways and service amenities en route. South Korea has about 3,000 kilometers of national highways. Most tourist and freight transportation use highways.

Korail provides frequent train service to all major South Korean cities. Two rail lines, Gyeongui Line and Donghae Bukbu Line, to North Korea are now being reconnected. The Korean high-speed railway system, Korea Train Express, provides high-speed service along Gyeongbu Line and Honam Line. Korea Train Express had been built with France and Japan technological coorporation, but government intentionally had made it non-public.

Major cities have subway systems, including the popular Seoul Subway. Korail commuter lines are already linked with Seoul subway system and several commuter lines connected with Busan, Daegu subway system are under construction.

The main international airport is Incheon International Airport. South Korea has eight international airports and seven domestic airports. South Korea's major international air carriers are Korean Air and Asiana Airlines. About 71 international passenger and cargo airlines operate frequent flight services between Korea and all over the world.

Demographics

Most South Koreans live in urban areas, due to rapid migration from the countryside during the country's rapid economic expansion in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. The capital city of Seoul is also the country's largest city and chief industrial center. It had 10.3 million inhabitants in 2006, making Seoul one of the most populated single cities in the world. Other major cities include Busan (3.65 million), Incheon (2.63 million), Daegu (2.53 million), Daejeon (1.46 million), Gwangju (1.41 million) and Ulsan (1.10 million).Populations for all cities as of 2005,

The population has also been shaped by international migration. Following the Division of Korea after World War II, about four million people from North Korea crossed the border to South Korea. This trend of net entry reversed over the next forty years due to emigration, especially to the United States and Canada. However, South Korea's burgeoning economy and improved political climate in the early and mid-1990s slowed the high emigration rates typical of the previous decade. Many of those who left the country chose to return.



Although small, the percentage of non-Koreans in South Korea has risen rapidly in the early twenty-first century. Officially, as of April 2005, the total number of known foreign labourers in South Korea stood at 378,000, 52% of whom were in the country without authorization. This foreign workforce mainly comes from South Asian and Southeast Asian nations. There are also many workers from the former Soviet Union countries as well as some from Nigeria. In addition to these workers, there are about 11,000 Expatriate English language teachers and around 31,000 United States Forces Korea personnel.US military figures as of 2005, from (Microsoft Excel file) Tim Kane Global U.S. Troop Deployment, 1950-2003

As of 2005, approximately 22 million or 46.5% of the South Korean population express no religious preference.According to figures compiled by the South Korean National Statistical Office. This should not be confused with other figures which report only the percentage of the religious population that are Buddhist, Christian, etc. Of the remainder, 13.7 million are Christianity (of which 8.6 million profess to be Protestants and 5.1 million to be Roman Catholic Churchs), 10.7 million are Buddhist, and less than half a million belong to various minor religions including Jeungsando and Wonbuddhism. The largest Christian church in South Korea, Yoido Full Gospel Church, is located in Seoul and has approximately 780,000 members (2003 estimate). Including Yoido Full Gospel, 11 of the world's 12 largest churches are located in Seoul (see Korean Christianity). South Korea is also the second largest missionary sending nation on earth, after the U.S. Islam in Korea is estimated to be at 45,000 in addition to some 100,000 foreign workers from Muslim countries. Islam takes root and blooms

Culture South Korea shares its traditional culture with North Korea, but the two Koreas have developed distinct contemporary forms of culture since the peninsula was divided in 1945. The South Korean Ministry of Culture and Tourism (South Korea) actively encourages the traditional arts, as well as modern forms, through funding and education programs. See also

at a Seokguram Temple in South Korea

Korean art and culture have absorbed influences from many countries; prior to the 19th century, these cultural infusions came primarily from China. Koreans adapted many Chinese art forms with innovation and skill, creating distinctively Korean forms. For many centuries, Korean forms of metalwork, sculpture, painting, and ceramics flourished throughout the Korean peninsula and were then passed on to neighboring countries like Japan. In modern times, Western and particularly the US influences have been strongest. In the aftermath of Japanese occupation all Japanese cultural exports were banned from Korea until 1999. However, trading between the two countries have grown, although there is still strong anti-Japanese sentiment in South Korea.

Recently, Korean pop culture has become popular in Asia and beyond, earning the name Hallyu or "Korean Wave." In Japan, with Korean singers like BoA and TVfXQ(DBSK) and television dramas like Daejanggeum and Winter Sonata have found success.Winter Sonata: Daejanggeum: BoA: Recent Cinema of Korea such as Oldboy and Oasis (2002 film) have also received international acclaim.

The contemporary culture of South Korea is heavily dominated by technology, including feature-rich cell phones and pervasive online gaming. South Korea today has the highest penetration of high-speed internet access to households in the world. However, according to the 2006 Face of the Web survey by {{Infobox Country or territory|native_name = Daehan Minguk|conventional_long_name = Republic of Korea|common_name = South Korea|image_flag = Flag of South Korea.svg|image_coat = South korea COA.svg|symbol_type = Coat of arms|image_map = LocationSouthKorea.png|national_anthem = Aegukga Patriotic Hymn]|demonym = South Korean, Korean|motto = 홍익인간(弘益人間) 널리 인간을 이롭게 하라 |capital = Seoul|government_type = [Presidential system republic|leader_title2 = [Prime Minister of South Korea|leader_name1 = Roh Moo-hyun|area_rank = 108th|area_magnitude = 1 E10|area_km2 = 99,646|area_sq_mi = 38,492 -->|population_density_rank = 19th|GDP_PPP = $1.196 trillionhttps://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ks.html#Econ|GDP_PPP_rank = 11th|GDP_PPP_year = 2006|GDP_PPP_per_capita = $24,500|GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 34th|sovereignty_type = History of South Korea|established_event1 = March 1st Movement|established_event2 = Liberation|established_event3 = History of South Korea#First Republic|established_event4 = United Nations|established_date1 = March 1 1919 (de jure)] 1945[1948 [1948|currency_code = KRW|country_code = KOR|time_zone = [Korea Standard Time|calling_code = 82|footnote1 = Cell phone system CDMA|footnote2 = Domestic power supply 220V/60 Hz, CEE 7/7 sockets-->South Korea, officially known as the Republic of Korea (ROK) ([Korean language: 대한민국, , ) is an East Asian state on the southern half of the Korean Peninsula. To the north, it is bordered by North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea), with which it was united until 1945. To the west, across the Yellow Sea, lies People's Republic of China (People's Republic of China) and to the southeast, across the Korea Strait, lies Japan. Approximately one-half of South Korea's population lives in or near the capital Seoul, the country's largest city. Seoul is one of the List of metropolitan areas by population metropolitan areas in the world, a major centre of business and commerce in Asia and home to many of the world's largest transnational corporations such as Samsung, Hyundai, SK Group and LG Group.

Korea traces its founding to 2333 BC by Dangun. Archaeological research shows that Koreans occupied the peninsula since the Lower Paleolithic period with territories expanding as far as mainland China and eastern Russia during the Gojoseon period. Korea's History of Korea has been turbulent throughout with the last emperor of Korea dating back to the age of the Korean Empire. Since the establishment of the modern republic in 1948, South Korea struggled with the aftermath of Korea under Japanese rule (1910-1945), the Korean War (1950-1953), and decades of authoritarian governments, undergoing five major Constitution of the Republic of Korea. While the government officially embraced Western-style democracy from its founding, presidential elections suffered from rampant irregularities. It was not until 1987 that direct and fair presidential elections were held, largely prompted by popular demonstrations.

South Korea had one of the fastest economic development in the world since the 1960s and is now the List of Asian countries by GDP in Asia and the List of countries by GDP (PPP) in the world. Up until the 1990s, South Korea has been part of the Four Asian Tigers and a Newly-industrialized country but upon entering the 21st century, South Korea gained developed country and is defined as a High Income Nation according to the World Bank. The United Nation rates South Korea as a Prosperous Economy and the country is both part of the CIA and IMF list of advanced economies. South Korea is a Next Eleven country and also part of the G20 industrial nations. South Korea's HDI is rated at High with 0.912 by the Human Development Index and the country joined the OECD in 1996, an organization for developed nations only.

South Korea is one of the world's most technologically & scientifically advanced countries; it has the List of countries by broadband users of Broadband Internet access Internet users among the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD Broadband statistics and is a global leader in electronics, display device, semiconductor devices, mobile phones and Gadget, headed by the two chaebols, Samsung and LG. South Korea also has the world's 3rd biggest steel producer, POSCO and is the 5th largest car manufacturing nation, headed by Hyundai Kia Automotive Group. South Korea is the world's largest shipbuilder, lead by several multinational corporations such as Hyundai Heavy Industries and Samsung Heavy Industries. Other important industries of South Korea include robotics and biotechnology, with the world's second humanoid robot, EveR-1 and the world's first cloned dog, Snuppy.

History Before division Koreans occupied the Korean peninsula as early in the Lower Paleolithic period, as evidenced by archaeological findings.

, one of the three kingdoms of Korea.

Korea began with the legendary founding of Gojoseon in 2333 BCE (Before Common Era) by Dangun. http://www.asianinfo.org/asianinfo/korea/history.htm Dangun's kingdom was named "Joseon" (however, this kingdom is now called "Gojoseon" or "Old Joseon" to differentiate the first Joseon and the more recent Joseon Dynasty).

Gojoseon expanded until it controlled much of the northern Korean peninsula and parts of Manchuria. After numerous wars with the Chinese Han Dynasty, Gojoseon disintegrated and broke up into many smaller states, leading to the Proto-Three Kingdoms of Korea period.

During the Proto-Three Kingdoms of Korea period, Buyeo, Okjeo, Dongye, and the Samhan confederacy occupied the peninsula and southern Manchuria. During this time, the power of the Three Kingdoms of Korea grew.

The Three Kingdoms of Korea started in 57 BCE and spanned until Silla united the peninsula over Goguryeo in 668 CE. During this time, Goguryeo, Baekje, Silla, and Gaya dominated the peninsula. The three kingdoms fought for control of the peninsula. However, Goguryeo was overall the most powerful and largest kingdom of the three and during its zenith attacked and conquered Chinese territories in Manchuria, controlling large amounts of land. Goguryeo fought and repelled numerous wars with China, including the Wei Dynasty, Sui Dynasty, and the Tang Dynasty. In 668 CE, a Silla-Tang alliance eventually brought down the kingdom.

The adoption of the Chinese written language ("hanja" in Korean) in the 2nd century BCE, and the introduction of Buddhism in the 4th century CE, had profound effects on the Three Kingdoms of Korea. Koreans later passed on these, as well as their own advances, to Japan." Yayoi Period History Summary," BookRags.com; Jared Diamond, " Japanese Roots," Discover 19:6 (June 1998); Thayer Watkins, " The Genetic Origins of the Japanese"; " Shinto - History to 1900," Encyclopædia Britannica; " The Yayoi period (c. 250 BC–c. AD 250)," Encyclopædia Britannica." Korean Buddhism Basis of Japanese Buddhism," Seoul Times, June 18, 2006; " Buddhist Art of Korea & Japan," Asia Society Museum; " Kanji," JapanGuide.com; " Pottery," MSN Encarta; " History of Japan," JapanVisitor.com.; George Sansom, A History of Japan to 1334, Stanford University Press, 1958. p. 47. ISBN 0-8047-0523-2 From Paekche to Origin of Yamato



The unification of the Three Kingdoms by Unified Silla in 676 CE led to the North-South States period, in which the Korean peninsula was controlled by Unified Silla and Manchuria was controlled by Balhae.

The period of Unified Silla was one of the most cultural during Korean history. Poetry and art was encouraged. Unified Silla also enjoyed a peaceful rule since the Song Dynasty was nonaggressive. Relationships between Korea and China remained good during this time. Unified Silla broke up in 935 CE after weakened by internal strife. Its last king surrendered to Goryeo.

Balhae, Unified Silla's neighbor to the north, was raised as a successor state to Goguryeo. During its height, Balhae controlled most of Manchuria and parts of Russia. It fell to the Khitan in 926 CE.

After the North-South Period, successor states fought for control during the Later Three Kingdoms period. The peninsula was soon united by Wang Geon of Goryeo. Like Silla, Goryeo was a highly cultural state and it created the Jikji in 1377, the world's oldest movable metal printing press. World's oldest printed Doc

The Mongol invasions of Korea in the 13th century and the Khitan invasion contributed to the weakening of Goryeo. However, Goryeo continued to control the Korean peninsula since the Mongols generously allowed Goryeo to keep its identity. After the fall of the Yuan Dynasty, Goryeo continued its independence. After severe corruption, Goryeo was replaced by the Joseon Dynasty in 1388 CE by a rebellion by General Yi Seong-gye.

General Yi named his country Joseon (referring to the greatness of Gojoseon) and moved the capital to Seoul. The first 200 years of the Joseon Dynasty was peaceful and saw the creation of hangul by King Sejong the Great of Joseon in the 14 century CE and the influence of Confucianism.

In the latter of the 16th century CE, Joseon was invaded by the Japanese in the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592-1598). A lack of technology and poor leadership from the King Seonjo and generals led to destruction of much of the Korean peninsula by the Japanese. However, Admiral Yi's outstanding strategic maneuvering in his naval battles, the rise of irregular armies, and the help of Ming Dynasty caused heavy damage to the Japanese army, which soon retreated in 1598 CE.

Today, Admiral Yi is celebrated as one of Korea's greatest heroes and his turtle ships, which were used with great success against the Japanese, are considered the world's first ironclad warships. There is much interest in the turtle ship since there is no hard evidence that the turtle ship did have iron platings.

During the latter part of the Joseon Dynasty, Korea's isolationist policy earned it the Western nickname the "Hermit Kingdom". By the late 19th century, the country became the object of colonial designs by the imperialism aggressors of Japan and Europe. In 1910 CE, Korea was Korea under Japanese rule and remained occupied until the end of World War II in 1945 CE.

After division In 1945, Soviet Union and United States troops controlled the northern and southern halves of the country respectively. The two Cold War rivals helped establish governments sympathetic to their own ideologies, leading to Korea's current division into two political entities: North Korea and South Korea.

there is a mass exodus of South Koreans returning to their hometownsDespite promises of an independent and unified Korea in the 1943 Cairo Declaration, escalating Cold War antagonism between the United States and Soviet Union eventually led to the establishment of two separate governments: the communist North and the capitalist South. In the North, general Kim Il Sung who led the anti-Japanese guerilla, became president. In the South, Syngman Rhee was brought from America and installed as president. While many Koreans wanted a national election to choose a leader for the whole country, the United States prohibited people in the South to take part in an election organized by the North.

On June 25, 1950, a war broke out between the South and North that caused the deaths of more than 4 million civilians and soldiers alike, now referred to as the Korean War. Due to boycott of the United Nations by the Soviet Union at that time, the UN intervened on behalf of South Korea and USA when it became apparent that the superior communist forces would easily take over the entire country. The Soviet Union and China backed North Korea, with China sending millions of troops across the border. The war eventually reached a stalemate. The 1953 armistice split the peninsula along the Korean Demilitarized Zone at about the original demarcation line. No peace treaty was ever signed, however, and therefore the two countries are technically still at war.

In 1960, April Revolution led to the resignation of president Syngman Rhee, whose government had become autocratic and corrupt. Then followed a period of profound civil unrest and general political instability. General Park Chung-hee led a Supreme Council for National Reconstruction (the "5.16 coup d'etat") against the weak and ineffectual government the following year. Park took over as president from 1961 until his assassination in 1979, overseeing rapid Export-oriented industrialization as well as severe political repression.

The year following Park's assassination was marked by considerable political turmoil as the previously repressed opposition leaders all clamored to run for the presidential office. In 1980, General Chun Doo-hwan launched a coup d'etat against the transitional government of Choi Gyu Hwa, the former prime minister under Park and interim president, to assume the presidency. Chun's Coup d'etat of December 12th triggered national protest asking for democratization, particularly protests in Gwangju, South Cholla province. Chun sent in special forces to violently suppress the city which is now known as the Gwangju Massacre. Chun stated his intent to serve only a single term from the outset and eventually allowed direct presidential elections in 1988 under pressure from widespread popular demonstrations.

Despite the previous turmoil, Seoul hosted the 1988 Summer Olympics.

In 1996, South Korea became a member of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. Despite a severe setback caused by the Asian financial crisis in 1997, the country was able to re-emerge as a major economic power.

In June 2000, as a part of South Korean president Kim Dae Jung's Sunshine Policy of engagement, a North-South summit took place in North Korea's capital Pyongyang. That year, Kim won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work for democracy and human rights and efforts at reconciliation between the two Koreas.

In 2004, South Korea joined the "trillion dollar club" of world economies and, today, its standard of living approximates some countries in Western Europe such as Portugal and Spain.

Government Building in Yeouido, SeoulThe government of South Korea is divided into three branches: executive (government), judicial, and legislative. The executive and legislative branches operate primarily at the national level, although various ministries in the executive branch also carry out local functions. Local governments are semi-autonomous, and contain executive and legislative bodies of their own. The judicial branch operates at both the national and local levels.

The South Korean government's structure is determined by the Constitution of the Republic of Korea. This document has been revised several times since its first promulgation in 1948 (see History of South Korea). However, it has retained many broad characteristics; with the exception of the short-lived Second Republic of South Korea, the country has always had a presidential system with a relatively independent chief executive.

As with most stable three-branch systems, a careful system of checks and balances is in place. For instance, the judges of the Constitutional Court of Korea are partially appointed by the executive, and partially by the legislature. Likewise, when a resolution of impeachment is passed by the legislature, it is sent to the judiciary for a final decision.

Foreign relations and South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun in 2005 at the 17th APEC meeting.

In its foreign relations, South Korea is primarily concerned with North Korea and the neighboring countries of China, Japan, and Russia, as well as its main ally, the United States.A Brief History of the US-Korea Relations Prior to 1945

United States The United States of America was the primary driver in the establishment and initial sustenance of the South Korean government before and after the Korean War. Since the 1990s, the two nations have often been at odds with regard to their policies towards North Korea, and over the rise of anti-American sentiment freekorea.us - OFK Archive: Anti-Americanism in Korea–The Statistical Recordoften expressed toward members of the U.S. military, sometimes violently. Nevertheless, most South Koreans are friendly towards the United States and it is South Korea's largest ally. needed

China Korea usually had close relations with the Chinese since historic times. Korean independence fighters also worked with Chinese soldiers during the period of Korean occupation. However, after World War II, the Chinese embraced communism while South Korea became a republic with the help of the United States.

The Korean War and its aftermath made the relationship between South Korea and China almost nonexistent.

However, South Korea and China established formal diplomatic relations on August 24, 1992. Beijing sought to improve its poor economy and began trading with South Korea. Korean and Chinese relations have expanded steadily since 1992.

Japan South Korea and Japan signed the Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea in 1965. However South Korea has heavy Anti-Japanese sentiment due to a number of unsettled Korean-Japanese disputes, many of which stemmed from the period of Korea under Japanese rule. During World War II, more than 100,000 Koreans were forced to serve in the Imperial Japanese Army. A Brief History of the US-Korea Relations Prior to 1945. 　"While less than 100 Koreans in America enlisted in the US military during World War II, more than 100,000 Koreans served in the Japanese army as officers and soldiers. There were two Korean Lt. Generals in the Japanese Army: a Chosun prince, whose rank was honorary and who commanded no troops; and Lt. Gen. Hong Sa-Ik, who was a professional military man from the old Chosun army." Longstanding issues such as Korea under Japanese rule against Korean civilians, the visits by Japanese politicians to the Yasukuni Shrine honoring Japanese soldiers killed at war, including class A war criminals like Tojo Hideki, the re-writing of Japanese history textbook controversies to overlook Japanese aggression during World War II, and the territorial disputes over Liancourt Rocks continue to trouble Korean-Japanese relations. In response to then-Prime Minister of Japan Junichiro Koizumi's repeated visits to the Yasukuni shrine, the President of South Korea Roh Moo-hyun suspended all summit talks between South Korea and Japan.At present, South Korea and Japan's political relations are very unstable.

North Korea Both North Korea and South Korea continue to officially claim sovereignty over the entire peninsula. Despite longstanding animosity following the Korean War in 1950 (which has still not officially ended), the South and North have in recent times sought to establish a more conciliatory relationship. Events such as family reunifications and the 1988 Summer Olympics, where the two Koreas entered the opening ceremonies together but still competed as separate teams, promised a gradual thaw in the North-South relationship (see Sunshine policy). However, the progress has been complicated by North Korean missile tests in 1993 North Korean missile test, 1998 North Korean missile test and 2006 North Korean nuclear test.

Other nations South Korea maintains diplomatic relations with approximately 170 countries. The country has also been a member of the United Nations since 1991, when it joined at the same time as North Korea. On January 1, 2007, South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon assumed the post of United Nations Secretary-General. It has also developed links with Association of Southeast Asian Nations as both a member of "ASEAN Plus three" and the East Asia Summit (EAS).

Korea has concluded a U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement agreement with the Economy of the United States in April 2007. It has also started another FTA with the European Union, which is South Korea's second largest exporter.

Military

The South Korean military today is composed of the Republic of Korea Army (ROKA), Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN), Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF), and Republic of Korea Marine Corps (ROKMC), together with reserve forces. Many of these forces are concentrated near the border with North Korea, near and around the demilitarised zone. All South Korean males are constitutionally required to serve in the military, typically for a period of two years.

From time to time, South Korea has sent its troops overseas to assist American forces. It has participated in every major conflict the United States has been involved in the past 50 years. South Korea dispatched 320,000 troops to fight alongside American and South Vietnamese soldiers in the Vietnam War, with a peak strength of 50,000. Most recently, South Korea sent 3,300 troops in the form of the Zaytun Division to help re-building in northern Iraq, and is the largest contributor after the U.S. and Britain.

The United States has stationed a substantial contingent of troops in the ROK since the Korean War to defend South Korea in case of an attack from North Korea. The American Troops are stationed in bases, of which most are camps. They are considered camps not for their lack of buildings or support structure but in order to represent a lack of permanence for the ROK Government.

A still functioning UN Command controls all forces in South Korea, including the US forces and the entire Korean military.

(See List of United States Army installations in South Korea and USFK for more information on these military bases.)

The Republic of Korea maintains an active duty military force of approximately 680,000, List of countries by number of total troops 8th largest in active duty size in the world. It has the second largest Marine Corps in the world after the United States. There are also approximately 28,000 United States Forces Korea, most of them serving one year unaccompanied tours.

The Korean military has many advanced capabilities. Currently, its navy is working towards a blue-water navy. It has recently equipped its King Sejong the Great class destroyer with the Aegis Combat System and plans to build more. South Korea is only one of 6 other navies that use the Aegis Combat System.

South Korea has also developed its own fighter jet, the T-50 Golden Eagle, which is exported to other countries as a trainer jet. The T-50 makes South Korea the 12th nation in the world to produce a fighter jet. Empas News article

Administrative divisions See also Special cities of Korea and Provinces of Korea

{| class="wikitable"! !! Namea !! Hangul !! Hanja|-!colspan="4"| Special cities (Teukbyeolsi a)|-| 1 || Seoul ] || 부산광역시 || 釜山廣域市|-| 3 || Daegu ] || 인천광역시 || 仁川廣域市|-| 5 || Gwangju ] || 대전광역시 || 大田廣域市|-| 7 || Ulsan ] || 경기도 || 京畿道|-| 9 || Gangwon-do (South Korea) || 강원도 || 江原道|-| 10 || Chungcheongbuk-do ] || 충청남도 || 忠淸南道|-| 12 || Jeollabuk-do ] || 전라남도 || 全羅南道|-| 14 || Gyeongsangbuk-do ] || 경상남도 || 慶尙南道|-!colspan="4"| Special self-governing province (Teukbyeoljachi-do a)|-| 16 || Jeju || 제주특별자치도 || 濟州特別自治道|}

Geography and climate South Korea occupies the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula, which extends some 680 miles (1,100 km) from the Asian mainland. This mountainous peninsula is flanked by the Yellow Sea to the west, and the Sea of Japan East Sea to the east. Its southern tip lies on the Korea Strait and the East China Sea.The country's total area is .The estimated area rises steadily from year to year, possibly due to land reclamation.



South Korea can be divided into four general regions: an eastern region of high mountain ranges and narrow coastal plains; a western region of broad coastal plains, river basins, and rolling hills; a southwestern region of mountains and valleys; and a southeastern region dominated by the broad basin of the Nakdong River.

South Korea's land is mountainous, and most of it is not arable. Lowlands, located primarily in the west and southeast, constitute only 30% of the total land area.

About three thousand islands, mostly small and uninhabited, lie off the western and southern coasts of South Korea. Jeju Island is located about 100 kilometres (about 60 mi) off the southern coast of South Korea. It is the country's largest island, with an area of 1,845 square kilometres (712 sq mi). Jeju is also the site of South Korea's highest point: Halla-san, an extinct volcano, reaches 1,950 metres (6,398 ft) above sea level. Other islands of South Korea include Ulleungdo and Liancourt Rocks, which is South Korea's farthest claimed territory to the east and Marado, which is the ROK's southernmost point. However, Liancourt Rocks is one of many disputes with Japan. Ulleungdo is inhabited.

The local climate is relatively temperate climate, with precipitation (meteorology) heavier in summer during a short rainy season called East Asian monsoon, and winters that can be bitterly cold. In Seoul, the average January temperature range is -7 °Celsius to 1 °C (19 °Fahrenheit to 33 °F), and the average July temperature range is 22 °C to 29 °C (71 °F to 83 °F). Winter temperatures are higher along the southern coast and considerably lower in the mountainous interior. Rainfall is concentrated in the summer months of June through September. The southern coast is subject to late summer typhoons that bring strong winds and heavy rains. The average annual precipitation (meteorology) varies from 1,370 millimetres (54 inches) in Seoul to 1,470 millimetres (58 inches) in Busan.

Economy , an important financial center located in Seoul.South Korea is a major international economic power; it has the List of countries by GDP (nominal) economy in the world (eleventh largest by List of countries by GDP (PPP)) and the third largest in Asia, behind Japan and China (fourth behind China, Japan, and India by purchasing power parity). Its largest trading partner and export market today is China. Trade Policy Outlook for Second-term Bush Administration South Korea has achieved rapid economic growth through exports of manufactured goods, and is one of the Four Asian Tigers. Major industries in South Korea today are automobiles, semiconductor, electronics, shipbuilding, and steel.

is one of the Korean Big Four.In the 1950s, South Korea was one of the poorest countries in Asia. This was due to the destruction of much of the country's infrastructure during the Korean War. {{cite web ] in 1962, South Korea embarked on a series of ambitious Five-Year Plans of South Korea for economic development. Emphasis shifted to foreign trade with the Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea in 1965, which resulted in a boom in trade and investment. Rapid expansion, first into light and then heavy industries, followed in the 1960s and 1970s. During this period, the South Korean economy grew at an average annual rate of 8.6%.Yang (1999), p.594. Park's government plans for economic development greatly boosted the Korean economy.

This phenomenal growth is often called the "Miracle on the Han River", the Han River (Korea) being the main river that runs through the nation's capital and largest city, Seoul. In the 1980s and 1990s, growth continued as South Korea transformed itself from an exporter of mostly textiles and shoes into a major global producer of automobiles, electronics, shipbuilding, steel and, later, high-technology products such as Computer displays, mobile phones, and semiconductors.

The South Korean model of encouraging the growth of large, internationally competitive companies through easy financing and tax incentives led to the dominance of the family-controlled conglomerate (company). These companies, known as chaebol, flourished under the support of the Park regime.See Cumings 1997, chapter 6. Some such as Hyundai Motor Company, Samsung, LG Group and SK Group became global corporations. In 2004, South Korea joined in the trillion dollar club of world economies.



Since the Asian financial crisis of 1997, however, the corporate landscape has changed considerably as a result of massive bankruptcies and government reforms. The crisis exposed longstanding weaknesses in South Korea's economy, including high debt-to-equity ratios, massive foreign borrowing, and an undisciplined financial sector. This led to two rounds of financial and industrial restructuring; once in 1997 and again following the collapse of Daewoo in 1999.KOIS (2003), pp. 238-239. Daewoo's collapse has been recorded as one of the largest bankruptcies in world history. By 2003, just over one-half of the 30 largest chaebol from 1995 remained.18 out of 30, according to

Between 2003 and 2005, economic growth had slowed to about 4% per year, an enviable figure in much of the rest of the world. A downturn in consumer spending, attributed to massive personal credit card debt, was offset by rapid export growth, primarily to China. In 2005, the government proposed labor reform legislation and a corporate pension scheme to help make the labor market more flexible, and new real estate policies to cool property speculation.{{cite web The South Korean economy is characterized by moderate inflation, low unemployment, an export surplus, and fairly equal distribution of income. South Korea continues to strive to maintain global competitiveness. South Korea has been opened to various employment opportunities in various industries. An example would be the influx of English teachers from native English-speaking countries seeking employment and travel in the country.

Today, there are several strong South Korean industries. South Korea's largest carmaker, Hyundai and its subsidiary Kia are the 6th largest car group in the world. They had been technologically supported by Mitsubishi Motors.

South Korean car companies are also building factories in other countries. The Hyundai Motors has already started manufacturing several major car models, including Sonata and New Santa Fe in its U.S. plant located in Montgomery, Alabama.

A Kia plant at Georgia, United States is expected to start producing cars in 2009.Korean carmakers are planning to increase its exports even more when it finishes its FTA with the European Union.

The ROK's shipbuilding industry is also the largest in the world. It became the largest after overtaking Japan in 2004. South Korean shipbuilding is efficient enough that a new $80 million vessel is produced every four working days. In 2006, approximately one in every three new vessels was constructed in Korea. Hyundai Heavy Industries built ships totaling 10.6 million compensated gross tons (CGTs), or 34.6 percent, becoming the first nation to breach the 10 million CGT mark. Other Korean shipbuilding companies are Samsung Heavy Industries and Daewoo Marine Engineering & Construction.

Although South Korean shipmakers are leading in terms of ship orders and production, they are wary of Chinese shipmakers. China is planning to become the world's leader in shipbuilding by 2015. However, South Korean shipbuilders have advantage over Chinese counterparts in terms of advanced value-added shipbuilding technology, which Chinese do not have. Peter Bartholomew, the managing director for Industrial Research & Consulting, a business consulting company, says that the "South Koreans are always working to keep three, four, five steps ahead of the Chinese and Japanese".

Transportation



Transportation in South Korea is provided by an extensive networks of railways, highways, bus routes, ferry services, and air routes. Buses, taxis, subways, and trains provide comfortable and cheap methods of travel around South Korea.

All cities have intercity and intracity bus systems. Major cities also have express bus terminals.

Highways in South Korea are classified into highways (expressways/motorways), national highways, and various classifications below the national level. Korea Highway Corporation operates the toll highways and service amenities en route. South Korea has about 3,000 kilometers of national highways. Most tourist and freight transportation use highways.

Korail provides frequent train service to all major South Korean cities. Two rail lines, Gyeongui Line and Donghae Bukbu Line, to North Korea are now being reconnected. The Korean high-speed railway system, Korea Train Express, provides high-speed service along Gyeongbu Line and Honam Line. Korea Train Express had been built with France and Japan technological coorporation, but government intentionally had made it non-public.

Major cities have subway systems, including the popular Seoul Subway. Korail commuter lines are already linked with Seoul subway system and several commuter lines connected with Busan, Daegu subway system are under construction.

The main international airport is Incheon International Airport. South Korea has eight international airports and seven domestic airports. South Korea's major international air carriers are Korean Air and Asiana Airlines. About 71 international passenger and cargo airlines operate frequent flight services between Korea and all over the world.

Demographics

Most South Koreans live in urban areas, due to rapid migration from the countryside during the country's rapid economic expansion in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. The capital city of Seoul is also the country's largest city and chief industrial center. It had 10.3 million inhabitants in 2006, making Seoul one of the most populated single cities in the world. Other major cities include Busan (3.65 million), Incheon (2.63 million), Daegu (2.53 million), Daejeon (1.46 million), Gwangju (1.41 million) and Ulsan (1.10 million).Populations for all cities as of 2005,

The population has also been shaped by international migration. Following the Division of Korea after World War II, about four million people from North Korea crossed the border to South Korea. This trend of net entry reversed over the next forty years due to emigration, especially to the United States and Canada. However, South Korea's burgeoning economy and improved political climate in the early and mid-1990s slowed the high emigration rates typical of the previous decade. Many of those who left the country chose to return.



Although small, the percentage of non-Koreans in South Korea has risen rapidly in the early twenty-first century. Officially, as of April 2005, the total number of known foreign labourers in South Korea stood at 378,000, 52% of whom were in the country without authorization. This foreign workforce mainly comes from South Asian and Southeast Asian nations. There are also many workers from the former Soviet Union countries as well as some from Nigeria. In addition to these workers, there are about 11,000 Expatriate English language teachers and around 31,000 United States Forces Korea personnel.US military figures as of 2005, from (Microsoft Excel file) Tim Kane Global U.S. Troop Deployment, 1950-2003

As of 2005, approximately 22 million or 46.5% of the South Korean population express no religious preference.According to figures compiled by the South Korean National Statistical Office. This should not be confused with other figures which report only the percentage of the religious population that are Buddhist, Christian, etc. Of the remainder, 13.7 million are Christianity (of which 8.6 million profess to be Protestants and 5.1 million to be Roman Catholic Churchs), 10.7 million are Buddhist, and less than half a million belong to various minor religions including Jeungsando and Wonbuddhism. The largest Christian church in South Korea, Yoido Full Gospel Church, is located in Seoul and has approximately 780,000 members (2003 estimate). Including Yoido Full Gospel, 11 of the world's 12 largest churches are located in Seoul (see Korean Christianity). South Korea is also the second largest missionary sending nation on earth, after the U.S. Islam in Korea is estimated to be at 45,000 in addition to some 100,000 foreign workers from Muslim countries. Islam takes root and blooms

Culture South Korea shares its traditional culture with North Korea, but the two Koreas have developed distinct contemporary forms of culture since the peninsula was divided in 1945. The South Korean Ministry of Culture and Tourism (South Korea) actively encourages the traditional arts, as well as modern forms, through funding and education programs. See also

at a Seokguram Temple in South Korea

Korean art and culture have absorbed influences from many countries; prior to the 19th century, these cultural infusions came primarily from China. Koreans adapted many Chinese art forms with innovation and skill, creating distinctively Korean forms. For many centuries, Korean forms of metalwork, sculpture, painting, and ceramics flourished throughout the Korean peninsula and were then passed on to neighboring countries like Japan. In modern times, Western and particularly the US influences have been strongest. In the aftermath of Japanese occupation all Japanese cultural exports were banned from Korea until 1999. However, trading between the two countries have grown, although there is still strong anti-Japanese sentiment in South Korea.

Recently, Korean pop culture has become popular in Asia and beyond, earning the name Hallyu or "Korean Wave." In Japan, with Korean singers like BoA and TVfXQ(DBSK) and television dramas like Daejanggeum and Winter Sonata have found success.Winter Sonata: Daejanggeum: BoA: Recent Cinema of Korea such as Oldboy and Oasis (2002 film) have also received international acclaim.

The contemporary culture of South Korea is heavily dominated by technology, including feature-rich cell phones and pervasive online gaming. South Korea today has the highest penetration of high-speed internet access to households in the world. However, according to the 2006 Face of the Web survey by

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Country Profile: South Korea ... Area: 99,222 sq km (45% of the peninsula) Population: 48.3 million (2005 estimate)