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Hangul Yonsei Korean language|Korean 1-1, English language|English Version, 2007, p. XII

Hanja |demonym = South Korean, Korean people|Korean |ethnic_groups = Korean people|Korean (99%), CIA World Factbook.|capital = Seoul |latd = 37|latm = 35|latNS = N|longd = 127|longm = 0|longEW = E|government_type = Unitary state|Unitary presidential system|presidential Constitutional republic |leader_title1 = President of South Korea|President |leader_title2 = Prime Minister of South Korea|Prime Minister |leader_title3 = List of Speakers of the National Assembly of South Korea|Speaker |leader_name1 = Lee Myung-bak |leader_name2 = Kim Hwang-sik |leader_name3 = Jeong Eui-hwa|legislature = National Assembly of South Korea|National Assembly (Gukhoe) |largest_city = Seoul |area_rank = 109th|area_magnitude = 1 E11|area_km2 = 100,210|area_sq_mi = 38,691 |percent_water = 0.3|population_estimate = 48,875,000|population_estimate_year = 2010|population_estimate_rank = 24th|population_density_km2 = 491|population_density_sq_mi = 1,271 |population_density_rank = 21st|GDP_nominal = $1.163 trillion|GDP_nominal_rank = 15th|GDP_nominal_year = 2011|GDP_nominal_per_capita = $23,749|GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 32nd|GDP_PPP = $1.556 trillion|GDP_PPP_rank = 12th|GDP_PPP_year = 2011|GDP_PPP_per_capita = $31,753|GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 26th|sovereignty_type = History of South Korea|Establishment |established_event3 = Gojoseon|National Foundation Day |established_event4 = March 1st Movement|Independence declared |established_event5 = Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea|Provisional Government |established_event6 = Division of Korea|Liberation |established_event7 = Constitution of the Republic of Korea|Constitution |established_event8 = History of South Korea#First Republic|Government proclaimed |established_date3 = October 3, 2333 BCE|established_date4 = March 1, 1919|established_date5 = April 13, 1919|established_date6 = August 15, 1945|established_date7 = July 17, 1948|established_date8 = August 15, 1948|HDI_year = 2011|HDI = 0.897|HDI_rank = 15th|HDI_category = very high|Gini=31.3, CIA World Fact Book.|Gini_year = 2007|Gini_category =|currency = South Korean won (?)|currency_code = KRW|country_code = KOR|time_zone = Korea Standard Time |utc_offset = +9|time_zone_DST = not observed |utc_offset_DST = +9|date_format = yyyy? mm? dd?
yyyy/mm/dd ( Common Era|CE )|drives_on = right|ac_outlet = 220V/60Hz|cctld = .kr , .?? |calling_code = Telephone numbers in South Korea|82 |footnote1 = Mobile phone system CDMA, WCDMA, HSDPA and WiBro|footnote2 = Domestic power supply 220V/60 Hz, CEE 7/7 sockets South Korea (), officially the Republic of Korea (; Daehan Minguk ), is a sovereign state in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula . The name "Korea" is derived from Goryeo , a dynasty which ruled in the Middle Ages (an initial "G" in Korean is pronounced like an English "K").

Its neighbors are China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the Korea Strait to the south. South Korea lies in the Temperateness|north temperate zone with a predominantly mountainous terrain. It covers a total area of 99,392 square kilometers and has a population of almost . The capital and largest city is Seoul , with a population of 9,794,304.

Archaeological findings show that the Korean Peninsula was occupied by the Lower Paleolithic|Lower Paleolithic period ., Office of the Prime Minister. Korean history begins with the founding of Gojoseon in 2333 Before Christ|BC by the legendary Dan-gun . Following the unification of the Three Kingdoms of Korea under Silla 668& nbsp;AD, Korea went through the Goryeo Dynasty and Joseon Dynasty as one nation until the end of the Korean Empire in 1910, when it was annexed by Japan. After Division of Korea|liberation and occupation by Soviet and U.S. forces at the end of World War II , the nation was divided into North and South Korea. The latter was established in 1948 as a democracy , though History_of_South_Korea#First Republic|political turmoil and times of military rule and martial law characterized much of the period until the foundation of the History_of_South_Korea#Sixth Republic|Sixth Republic in 1987.

After the invasion of South Korea by forces from the North on , the resulting Korean War|war between the two Koreas ended with an Korean Armistice Agreement|Armistice Agreement , but the border between the two nations is the most heavily fortified in the world. After the war, the Economy of South Korea|South Korean economy grew significantly and the country was transformed into a G-20 major economies|major economy , a Democracy Index|full democracy , and a regional power in East Asia.

South Korea is a presidential system|presidential republic consisting of sixteen Administrative divisions of South Korea|administrative divisions and is a developed country with a very high List of countries by Human Development Index|standard of living . It is Asia's fourth largest economy and the world's List of countries by GDP (nominal)|15th ( Gross domestic product|nominal ) or List of countries by GDP (PPP)|12th ( purchasing power parity ) largest economy., International Monetary Fund. The economy is export-driven, with production focusing on electronics , Automotive industry|automobile s, Shipbuilding|ship s, machinery , petrochemical s and robotics . South Korea is a member of the United Nations , WTO , OECD and G-20 major economies . It is also a founding member of APEC and the East Asia Summit .

History

Before the division

Korean history begins with the founding of Chosun (often known as " Gojoseon " to prevent confusion with another dynasty founded in the 14th century; the prefix Go- means 'older,' 'before,' or 'earlier') in 2333& nbsp;BC by Dangun , according to Korean foundation mythology. Go Cho Sun expanded until it controlled northern Korean Peninsula and some parts of Manchuria . After many conflicts with the Chinese Dynasty Han Dynasty , Go Cho Sun disintegrated, leading to the Proto–Three Kingdoms of Korea period.

In the early centuries of the Common Era, Buyeo Kingdom|Buyeo , Okjeo , Dongye , and the Samhan confederacy occupied the peninsula and southern Manchuria. Of the various states, Goguryeo , Baekje , and Silla grew to control the peninsula as Three Kingdoms of Korea . The unification of the Three Kingdoms by Unified Silla|Silla in 676 led to the North South States Period , in which much of the Korean Peninsula was controlled by Unified Silla , while Balhae succeeded to have the control of northern parts of Goguryeo.

In Unified Silla , poetry and art was encouraged, and Buddhist culture thrived. Relationships between Korea and China remained relatively peaceful during this time. However, Unified Silla weakened under internal strife, and surrendered to Goryeo in 935. Balhae , Silla's neighbor to the north, was formed as a successor state to Goguryeo. During its height, Balhae controlled most of Manchuria and parts of Russian Far East. It fell to the History of the Khitans|Khitan in 926.

The peninsula was united by Taejo of Goryeo|Emperor Taejo of Goryeo in 936. Like Silla, Goryeo was a highly cultural state and created the Jikji in 1377, using the world's oldest movable metal type printing press . The Mongol invasions of Korea|Mongol invasions in the 13th century greatly weakened Goryeo. After nearly 30 years of war, Goryeo continued to rule Korea, though as a tributary ally to the Mongols. After the Mongolian Empire collapsed, severe political strife followed and the Goryeo Dynasty was replaced by the Joseon Dynasty in 1392 following a rebellion by General Taejo of Joseon|Yi Seong-gye .

King Taejo declared the new name of Korea as "Joseon" in reference to Gojoseon , and moved the capital to Hanseong (old name of Seoul ). The first 200 years of the Joseon Dynasty were marked by relative peace and saw the creation of Hangul by Sejong the Great of Joseon|King Sejong the Great in the 15th century and the rise in influence of Confucianism in the country.

Between 1592 and 1598, the Japanese invasions of Korea|Japanese invaded Korea . Toyotomi Hideyoshi led the forces and tried to invade the Asian continent through Korea, but was eventually repelled by the Righteous army and assistance from Ming Dynasty China. This war also saw the rise of Admiral Yi Sun-sin and his renowned " turtle ship ". In the 1620s and 1630s, Joseon suffered from Manchu invasion of Korea (disambiguation)|invasions by the Manchu who eventually conquered all of China.

After another series of Second Manchu invasion of Korea|wars against Manchuria , Joseon experienced a nearly 200-year period of peace. Yeongjo of Joseon|King Yeongjo and Jeongjo of Joseon|King Jeongjo particularly led a new renaissance of the Joseon Dynasty.

However, the latter years of the Joseon Dynasty were marked by a dependence on China for external affairs and isolation from the outside world. During the 19th century, Korea's isolationist policy earned it the name the " Hermit Kingdom ". The Joseon Dynasty tried to protect itself against Western imperialism , but was eventually forced to open trade. After the First Sino-Japanese War and the Russo-Japanese War , Korea was Korea under Japanese rule|occupied by Japan (1910–1945). At the end of World War& nbsp;II, the Japanese surrendered to Soviet and U.S. forces who occupied the northern and southern halves of Korea, respectively.

After the division

Despite the initial plan of a unified Korea in the 1943 Cairo Declaration , escalating Cold War antagonism between the Soviet Union and the United States eventually led to the establishment of separate governments, each with its own ideology , leading to division of Korea|Korea's division into two political entities in 1948: North Korea and South Korea. In the North, a former anti-Japanese guerrilla and communist activist, Kim Il-sung gained power through Soviet support. In the South, elections supervised by the United Nations were held, a Republic of Korea was declared, and Syngman Rhee inaugurated as its first president. In December, the UN General Assembly declared this "a lawful government" and "the only such government in Korea.""", December 12, 1948, Resolutions Adopted by the General Assembly During its Third Session , p. 25.
On June 25, 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea, sparking the Korean War , the Cold War's first major conflict. At the time, the Soviet Union had boycotted the United Nations (UN), thus forfeiting their veto rights. This allowed the UN to intervene in a civil war when it became apparent that the superior North Korean forces would unify the entire country. The Soviet Union and China backed North Korea, with the later participation of millions of People's Liberation Army|Chinese troops . After huge advances on both sides, and massive losses among Korean civilians in both the north and the south, the war eventually reached a stalemate. The 1953 armistice, never signed by South Korea, split the peninsula along the Korean Demilitarized Zone|demilitarized zone near the original demarcation line. No peace treaty was ever signed, resulting in the two countries remaining technically at war. At least people died during the Korean War.. Britannica Online Encyclopedia.

In 1960, April Revolution|a student uprising (the "4.19 Revolution") led to the resignation of the autocratic President Syngman Rhee . A period of political instability followed, broken by General Park Chung-hee 's Supreme Council for National Reconstruction|military coup (the "5.16 ''coup d'état ") against the weak and ineffectual government the next year. Park took over as president until Assassination of Park Chung-hee|his assassination in 1979, overseeing rapid Export-oriented industrialization|export-led economic growth as well as political repression. Park was heavily criticised as a ruthless military dictator, although the Korean economy developed significantly during his tenure. The government developed the nation-wide highway system, the Seoul subway system, and laid the foundation for ecomonic development during his tenure.

The years after Park's assassination were marked again by political turmoil, as the previously repressed opposition leaders all campaigned to run for president in the sudden political void. In 1979 there was Coup d'état of December Twelfth by General Chun Doo-hwan . After the Coup d'état, Chun Doo-hwan planned to rise to power with several measures. On May 17, Chun Doo-hwan forced the Cabinet to expand martial law to the whole nation, which had previously not applied to Jeju-do. The expanded martial law closed universities, banned political activities and further curtailed the press. Chun assumed the presidency by the event of May 17, triggering nationwide protests demanding democracy , in particular in the city of Gwangju , where Chun sent special forces to violently suppress the Gwangju Democratization Movement ., May 17, 2000.

Chun subsequently created the National Defense Emergency Policy Committee and took the presidency according to his political plan. Chun and his government held Korea under a despotic rule until 1987, when a Seoul National University student, Park Jong-chul, was tortured to death., The Hankyoreh , January 15, 2007. Retrieved July 15, 2010. On , the Catholic Priests Association for Justice revealed the incident, igniting June Democracy Movement|huge demonstrations around the country. Eventually, Chun's party, the Democratic Justice Party , and its leader, Roh Tae-woo announced the 6.29 Declaration, which included the direct election of the president. Roh went on to win the election by a narrow margin against the two main opposition leaders, Kim Dae-Jung and Kim Young-Sam .

In 1988, Seoul hosted the 1988 Summer Olympics . It became a member of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 1996.. Paris: OECD. It was adversely affected by the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis . However, the country was able to recover and continue its economic growth, albeit at a slower pace.

In June 2000, as part of president Kim Dae-Jung's " Sunshine Policy " of engagement, a Inter-Korean Summit|North–South summit took place in Pyongyang , the capital of North Korea. Later that year, Kim received the Nobel Peace Prize "for his work for democracy and human rights in South Korea and in East Asia in general, and for peace and reconciliation with North Korea in particular." However, due to discontent among the population for fruitless approaches to the North under the previous administrations and, amid North Korean provocations, a conservative government was elected in 2006 led by President Yi Myong-bak, former mayor of Seoul. Presidental election will be held in late 2012.

In 2002, South Korea and Japan jointly co-hosted the 2002 FIFA World Cup . However, Japan–Korea relations|South Korean and Japanese relations later Japan–Korea disputes|soured due to conflicting claims of sovereignty over the Liancourt Rocks ("Dokdo" in Korea), in what became known as the Liancourt Rocks dispute .

Government

Under its current constitution the state is sometimes referred to as the Sixth Republic of South Korea . Like many democratic states, South Korea has a government divided into three branches: executive (government)|executive , judiciary|judicial , and legislature|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. South Korea is a constitutional democracy.

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 at independence. However, it has retained many broad characteristics and with the exception of the short-lived Second Republic of South Korea , the country has always had a presidential system with an independent chief executive. The first direct Elections in South Korea|election was also held in 1948. Although South Korea experienced a series of military dictatorships from the 1960s up until the 1980s, it has since developed into a successful liberal democracy . Today, the The World Factbook|CIA World Factbook describes South Korea's democracy as a "fully functioning modern democracy".

Administrative divisions

: See also Special cities of Korea and Provinces of Korea
The major administrative divisions in South Korea are provinces , metropolitan cities (self-governing cities that are not part of any province), one special city and one special autonomous city (by July 2012).

Map!!Name^{a!! Hangul !! Hanja !! Population}

	Seoul
	Special autonomous city ( Teukbyeol-jachisi )^a
	Sejong
	Metropolitan cities ( Gwangyeoksi )^a
	Busan
	Daegu
	Incheon
	Daejeon
	Gwangju
	Ulsan
	Provinces ( Do )^a
	Gyeonggi
	Gangwon
	North Chungcheong
	South Chungcheong
	North Jeolla
	South Jeolla
	North Gyeongsang
	South Gyeongsang
	Special self-governing province ( Teukbyeoljachi-do )^a
	Jeju

Foreign relations

South Korea maintains diplomatic relations with more than 188 countries. The country has also been a member of the United Nations since 1991, when it became a member state 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|UN Secretary-General . It has also developed links with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations as both a member of ASEAN Plus three, a body of observers, and the East Asia Summit (EAS).

In 2010, South Korea and the European Union concluded a European Union-Korea Free Trade Agreement|free trade agreement (FTA) to reduce trade barriers. South Korea is also negotiating a Free Trade Agreement with Canada, and another with New Zealand . In November 2009 South Korea joined the OECD Development Assistance Committee , marking the first time a former aid recipient country joined the group as a donor member. South Korea hosted the G-20 Summit in Seoul in November 2010.

China

Historically, Korea has had close relations with China. Before the formation of South Korea, Korean independence fighters worked with Chinese soldiers during the Japanese occupation. However, after World War& nbsp;II , the People's Republic of China embraced Maoism while South Korea sought close relations with the United States. The PRC assisted North Korea with manpower and supplies during the Korean War , and in its aftermath the diplomatic relationship between South Korea and the PRC almost completely ceased. Relations thawed gradually and South Korea and the PRC re-established formal diplomatic relations on August 24, 1992. The two countries sought to improve bilateral relations and lifted the forty-year old trade embargo, and South Korean–Chinese relations have improved steadily since 1992. The Republic of Korea broke off official relations with the Republic of China upon gaining official relations with the People's Republic of China.

European Union

The European Union (EU) and South Korea are important trading partners, having negotiated a free trade agreement for many years since South Korea was designated as a priority FTA partner in 2006. The free trade agreement was approved in September 2010, and took effect on July 1, 2011. South Korea is the EU's eighth largest trade partner, and the EU has become South Korea's second largest export destination. EU trade with South Korea exceeded €65 billion in 2008 and has enjoyed an annual average growth rate of 7.5% between 2004 and 2008.

The EU has been the single largest foreign investor in South Korea since 1962, and accounted for almost 45% of all FDI inflows into Korea in 2006. Nevertheless, EU companies have significant problems accessing and operating in the South Korean market due to stringent standards and testing requirements for products and services often creating barriers to trade. Both in its regular bilateral contacts with South Korea and through its FTA with Korea, the EU is seeking to improve this situation.

Japan

Although there were no formal diplomatic ties between South Korea and Japan after the end of World War& nbsp;II, South Korea and Japan signed the Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea in 1965 to establish diplomatic ties. There is heavy Anti-Japanese sentiment in Korea|anti-Japanese sentiment in South Korea due to a number of unsettled Japanese-Korean disputes , many of which stem from the period of Korea under Japanese rule|Japanese occupation after the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1910|Japanese annexation of Korea . During World War& nbsp;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& nbsp;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." Korean women claim that they were forced to the war front to serve the Imperial Japanese Army as sexual slaves, called comfort women .

Longstanding issues such as Japanese war crimes against Korean civilians, the visits by Japanese politicians to the Yasukuni Shrine honoring Japanese soldiers killed at war (including some class A war criminals), the re-writing of Japanese history textbook controversies|Japanese textbooks related to Japanese acts during World War& nbsp;II, and the territorial disputes over Liancourt Rocks (Japanese official name: Takeshima and South Korean official name: Dokdo) continue to trouble Korean-Japanese relations. Although Dokdo/Takeshima is claimed by both Korea and Japan, the islets are administered by South Korea, which has its Korean Coast Guard stationed there., Globalsecurity

In response to then- Prime Minister of Japan|Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi 's repeated visits to the Yasukuni Shrine, former President of South Korea|President Roh Moo-hyun suspended all summit talks between South Korea and Japan.

North Korea

Both North Korea|North and South Korea continue to officially claim sovereignty over the entire peninsula and any outlying islands. With longstanding animosity following the Korean War from 1950 to 1953, North Korea and South Korea signed an agreement to pursue peace. On October 4, 2007, Roh Moo-Hyun and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il signed an eight-point agreement on issues of permanent peace, high-level talks, economic cooperation, renewal of train services, highway and air travel, and a joint Olympic cheering squad.

Despite the Sunshine Policy and efforts at reconciliation, the progress was complicated by North Korean missile tests in 1993 North Korean missile test|1993 , 1998 North Korean missile test|1998 , 2006 North Korean nuclear test|2006 and 2009 North Korean nuclear test|2009 . , relationships between North and South Korea were very tense; North Korea had been reported to have deployed missiles, ended its former agreements with South Korea, and threatened South Korea and the United States not to interfere with a satellite launch it had planned.
North and South Korea are still technically at war (having never signed a peace treaty after the Korean War) and share the world's most heavily fortified border. On May 27, 2009, North Korean media declared that the Armistice is no longer valid due to the South Korean government's pledge to "definitely join" the Proliferation Security Initiative . To further complicate and intensify strains between the two nations, the ROKS Cheonan sinking|sinking of the South Korean warship Cheonan in March 2010, is affirmed by the South Korean government to have been caused by a North Korean torpedo, which the North denies. President Lee Myung-bak declared in May 2010 that Seoul would cut all trade with North Korea as part of measures primarily aimed at striking back at North Korea diplomatically and financially, except for the joint Kaesong Industrial Project, and humanitarian aid. North Korea initially threatened to sever all ties, to completely abrogate the previous pact of non-aggression, and to expel all South Koreans from Kaesong Industrial Region|a joint industrial zone in Kaesong , but backtracked on its threats and decided to continue its ties with South Korea. But despite the continuing ties, Kaesong industrial zone has seen a large decrease in investment and manpower as a result of this military conflict.

2009–2010 Timeline

November 2009, South Korea fired on and badly damaged a North Korean patrol ship, which retreated in flames.

March 26, 2010: South Korean ROKS Cheonan sinking|warship Cheonan sinks , killing 46 sailors

May 20, 2010: Panel says a North Korean torpedo sank the ship; Pyongyang denies involvement

July–September 2010: South Korea and US hold military exercises; US places more sanctions on Pyongyang

September 29, 2010: North holds rare party congress seen as part of father-to-son succession move

October 29, 2010: Troops from North and South Korea exchange fire across the land border

November 12, 2010: North Korea shows US scientist new& nbsp;– undeclared& nbsp;– uranium enrichment facility

November 23, 2010: North Bombardment of Yeonpyeong|shells island of Yeonpyeong , killing four South Koreans

United States

The United States engaged in the decolonization of Korea (mainly in the South, with the Soviet Union engaged in North Korea) from Japan after World War& nbsp;II. After three years of military administration by the United States, the South Korean government was established. Upon the onset of the Korean War, U.S. forces were sent to defend South Korea against invasion by North Korea and later China. Following the Armistice, South Korea and the U.S. agreed to a "Mutual Defense Treaty", under which an attack on either party in the Pacific area would summon a response from both. In 1967, South Korea obliged the mutual defense treaty, by sending a large combat troop contingent to support the United States in the Vietnam War . The US Eighth Army|U.S. Eighth Army , Seventh Air Force , and Commander Naval Forces Korea|U.S. Naval Forces Korea are stationed in South Korea. The two nations have strong economic, diplomatic, and military ties, although they have at times disagreed with regard to policies towards North Korea, and with regard to some of South Korea's industrial activities that involve usage of rocket or nuclear technology. There had also been strong anti-American sentiment during certain periods, which has largely moderated in the modern day. In 2007, a free trade agreement known as the South Korea& nbsp;– United States Free Trade Agreement|Republic of Korea-United States Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA) was reportedly signed between South Korea and the United States, but its formal implementation has been repeatedly delayed, pending approval by the legislative bodies of the two countries. On October 12, 2011, the U.S. Congress passed the long-stalled trade agreement with South Korea along with similar trade agreements with Colombia and Panama.

Military

A long history of invasions by neighbors and the unresolved tension with North Korea have prompted South Korea to allocate 2.6% of its GDP and 15% of all government spending to its military (Government share of GDP: 14.967%), while maintaining compulsory conscription for men. Consequently, South Korea has the world's sixth largest number of List of countries by number of total troops|active troops (650,000 in 2011), the world's second-largest number of List of countries by size of armed forces|reserve troops (3,200,000 in 2011) and the eleventh largest List of countries by military expenditures|defense budget . The Republic of Korea, with both regular and reserve military force numbering regular personnel among a total national population of people, has the second highest number of soldiers per capita in the world, after the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.Bermudez (2001), pg 1.

The South Korean military consists of the Republic of Korea Army|Army (ROKA), the Republic of Korea Navy|Navy (ROKN), the Republic of Korea Air Force|Air Force (ROKAF), and the Republic of Korea Marine Corps|Marine Corps (ROKMC), and reserve forces.GlobalSecurity on Military of Republic of Korea, Many of these forces are concentrated near the Korean Demilitarized Zone . All South Korean males are constitutionally required to serve in the military, typically 21 months. Previously, Koreans of mixed race were exempt from military duty but no exception from 2011.

In addition to male conscription in South Korea's sovereign military, 1,800 Korean males are selected every year to serve 21 months in the KATUSA Program to further augment the USFK.
In 2010, South Korea was spending South Korean won|? 1.68 trillion in a cost-sharing agreement with the US to provide budgetary support to the US forces in Korea, on top the ?29.6 trillion budget for its own military.
The South Korean army has 2,500 tanks in operation, including the K1A1 and K2 Black Panther , which form the backbone of the South Korean army's mechanized armor and infantry forces. A sizable arsenal of many artillery systems, including 1,700 self-propelled M109 howitzer|K55 and K9 Thunder howitzers and 680 helicopters and UAVs of numerous types, are assembled to provide additional fire, reconnaissance, and logistics support. South Korea's smaller but more advanced artillery force and wide range of airborne reconnaissance platforms are pivotal in the Counter-battery fire|counter-battery suppression of North Korea 's over-sized artillery force , which operates more than 13,000 artillery systems deployed in various state of fortification and mobility.

The Republic of Korea Navy|South Korean navy has made its first major transformation into a blue-water navy through the formation of the Strategic Mobile Fleet, which includes a battle group of Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin class destroyer s, Dokdo class amphibious assault ship , Air-independent propulsion|AIP-driven Type 214 submarine s, and King Sejong the Great class destroyer s, which is equipped with the latest baseline of Aegis combat system|Aegis fleet-defense system that allows the ships to track and destroy multiple cruise missiles and ballistic missiles simultaneously, forming an integral part of South Korea's indigenous missile defense umbrella against the North Korean military's missile threat.

The Republic of Korea Air Force|South Korean air force operates 840 aircraft, making it world's ninth largest air force, including several types of advanced fighters like F-15K , heavily modified F-16 Fighting Falcon variants#KF-16|KF-16C/D , and the indigenous T-50 Golden Eagle|F/A-50 , supported by well-maintained fleets of older fighters such as McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II|F-4E and Northrop F-5|KF-5E/F that still effectively serve the air force alongside the more modern aircraft. In an attempt to gain strength in terms of not just numbers but also modernity, the commissioning of four Boeing& nbsp;737 AEW& C aircraft, under Project Peace Eye for C4ISTAR|centralized intelligence gathering and analysis on a modern battlefield, will enhance the fighters' and other support aircraft's ability to perform their missions with awareness and precision.

On May 2011, Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd., South Korea's largest plane maker, signed a $400 million deal to sell 16 T-50 Golden Eagle trainer jets to Indonesia , marking South Korea as the first time for the country in Asia to export supersonic jets. http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/home/korea-aerospace-signs-deal-to-sell-trainer-jets-to-indonesia/443285

From time to time, South Korea has sent its troops overseas to assist American forces. It has participated in most major conflicts that the United States has been involved in the past 50 years. South Korea dispatched 325,517 troops to fight alongside American, Australian, Philippines|Filipino , New Zealand and South Vietnam ese soldiers in the Vietnam War , with a peak strength of 50,000. In 2004, South Korea sent 3,300 troops of the Zaytun Division to help re-building in northern Iraq , and was the third largest contributor in the Multinational force in Iraq|coalition forces after only the US and Britain. Beginning in 2001, South Korea had so far deployed 24,000 troops in the Middle East region to support the War on Terrorism . A further 1,800 were deployed since 2007 to reinforce UN peacekeeping forces in Lebanon .

The United States have stationed a substantial contingent of troop s in South Korea since the Korean War to defend South Korea in case of East Asia n military crises. There are approximately 28,500 United States Forces Korea|U.S. Military personnel stationed in Korea , most of them serving one year of unaccompanied tours. The American troops, which primarily are assigned to the Eighth United States Army are stationed in installations at Osan , Yongsan, Dongducheon , Sungbuk, Camp Humphreys , and Daegu . A still functioning United Nations Command (Korea)|UN Command is technically the top of the chain of command of all forces in South Korea, including the US forces and the entire South Korean military& nbsp;– if a sudden escalation of war between North and South Korea were to occur the United States would assume control of the South Korean armed forces in all military and paramilitary moves. However, in September 2006, the Presidents of the United States and the Republic of Korea agreed that South Korea should assume the lead for its own defense. In early 2007, the U.S. Secretary of Defense and ROK Minister of National Defense determined that South Korea will assume wartime operational control of its forces on December 1, 2015. U.S. Forces Korea will transform into a new joint-warfighting command, provisionally described as Korea Command (KORCOM).

Geography, climate and environment

Geography

South Korea occupies the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula , which extends some from the Asian mainland. This mountainous peninsula is flanked by the Yellow Sea to the west, and Sea of Japan (East Sea) to the east. Its southern tip lies on the Korea Strait and the East China Sea .

The country, including all its islands, lies between latitudes 33rd parallel north|33° and 39th parallel north|39°N , and longitudes 124th meridian east|124° and 130th meridian east|130°E . Its 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, drainage basin|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 ., Asia Info Organization

South Korea's terrain is mostly mountainous, most of which is not arable land|arable . Lowland s, located primarily in the west and southeast, make up 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-do is located about 100 kilometres (about 60& nbsp;mi) off the southern coast of South Korea. It is the country's largest island, with an area of . Jeju is also the site of South Korea's highest point: Hallasan , an extinct volcano , reaches 1,950 meters (6,398& nbsp;ft) Above mean sea level|above sea level . The most eastern islands of South Korea include Ulleungdo and Liancourt Rocks (Dokdo), while Marado and Socotra Rock are the southernmost islands of South Korea.

South Korea has National parks of South Korea|20 national parks and popular nature places like the Boseong|Boseong Tea Fields , Suncheon Ecological Park|Suncheon Bay Ecological Park , and the first national park of Jirisan .

Climate

South Korea tends to have a humid continental climate and a humid subtropical climate , and is affected by the East Asian monsoon , with precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation heavier in summer during a short rainy season called East Asian rainy season|jangma ( :ko:??|?? ), which begins end of June through the end of July. Winters can be extremely cold with the minimum temperature dropping below -20& nbsp;°C in the inland region of the country: in Seoul, the average January temperature range is -7& nbsp;° Celsius|C to 1& nbsp;°C (19& nbsp;° Fahrenheit|F to 33& nbsp;°F), and the average August temperature range is 22& nbsp;°C to 30& nbsp;°C (71& nbsp;°F to 86& nbsp;°F). Winter temperatures are higher along the southern coast and considerably lower in the mountainous interior., U.S. Library of Congress, Country studies Summer can be uncomfortably hot and humid, with temperatures exceeding in most parts of the country.
South Korea has four distinct seasons; spring, summer, autumn and winter. Spring usually lasts from late-March to early- May, summer from mid-May to early-September, autumn from mid-September to early-November, and winter from mid-November to mid-March.

Rainfall is concentrated in the summer months of June through September. The southern coast is subject to late summer tropical cyclone|typhoons that bring strong winds and heavy rains. The average annual precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation varies from 1,370 millimeters (54 inch es) in Seoul to 1,470 millimeters (58& nbsp;inches) in Busan . There are occasional typhoons that bring high winds and floods.

Environment

During the first 20 years of South Korea's growth surge, little effort was made to preserve the environment. Unchecked industrialization and urban development have resulted in deforestation and the ongoing destruction of wetlands such as the Songdo Tidal Flat. However, there have been recent efforts to balance these problems, including a government run five-year green growth project that aims to boost energy efficiency and green technology.

The green-based economic strategy is a comprehensive overhaul of South Korea's economy, utilizing nearly two percent of the national GDP. The greening initiative includes such efforts as a nationwide bike network, solar and wind energy, lowering oil dependent vehicles, backing daylight savings and extensive usage of environmentally friendly technologies such as LEDs in electronics and lighting. The country& nbsp;– already the world's most wired& nbsp;– plans to build a nationwide next-generation network which will be 10 times faster than broadband facilities in order to reduce energy usage.

Seoul's tap water recently became safe to drink, with city officials branding it "Arisu" in a bid to convince the public. Efforts have also been made with afforestation projects. Another multi-billion dollar project was the restoration of Cheonggyecheon , a stream running through downtown Seoul that had earlier been paved over by a motorway.
One major challenge is air quality, with acid rain, sulfur oxides, and annual yellow dust storms being particular problems. It is acknowledged that many of these difficulties are a result of South Korea's proximity to China, which is a major air polluter.

South Korea is a member of the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty|Antarctic-Environmental Protocol , Antarctic Treaty System|Antarctic Treaty , Convention on Biological Diversity|Biodiversity Treaty , Kyoto Protocol (forming the Environmental Integrity Group (EIG), regarding UNFCCC , with Mexico and Switzerland ), United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification|Desertification , CITES|Endangered Species , Environmental Modification Convention|Environmental Modification , Basel Convention|Hazardous Wastes , United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea|Law of the Sea , Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping from Ships and Aircraft|Marine Dumping , Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (not into force), Montreal Protocol|Ozone Layer Protection , MARPOL 73/78|Ship Pollution , International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1983|Tropical Timber 83 , International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1994|Tropical Timber 94 , Ramsar Convention|Wetlands , and International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling|Whaling .

Economy

South Korea has a market economy which ranks List of countries by GDP (nominal)|14th in the world by nominal GDP and List of countries by GDP (PPP)|12th by purchasing power parity (PPP), identifying it as one of the G-20 major economies . It is a High-income economies|high-income developed country and is a member of OECD . According to a referred to in a Wikipedia article, it is the most industrialised member country of the OECD followed by Greece . South Korea is one of the Four Asian Tigers|Asian Tigers , and is the only developed country so far to have been included in the group of Next Eleven countries. South Korea had one of the world's fastest-growing economies from the early 1960s to the late 1990s, and South Korea is still one of the fastest-growing developed countries in the 2000s, along with Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan, the other three Four Asian Tigers|Asian Tigers . South Koreans refer to this growth as the Miracle on the Han River . The South Korean economy is heavily dependent on international trade, and in 2010 South Korea was the List of countries by exports|sixth largest exporter and List of countries by imports|tenth largest importer in the world.

Korea hosted the G20 summit in Seoul|fifth G20 summit in its capital city, Seoul, in November 2010. The two-day summit was expected to boost Korea's economy by 31 trillion won, or 4% of Korea's 2010 GDP, in economic effects, and create over 160,000 jobs in Korea. It may also help improve the country's sovereign credit rating .

Despite the South Korean economy's high growth potential and apparent structural stability, the country suffers damage to its credit rating in the stock market due to the belligerence of North Korea in times of deep military crises, which has an adverse effect on South Korean financial markets. The International Monetary Fund compliments the resilience of the South Korean economy against various economic crises, citing low state debt, and high fiscal reserves that can quickly be mobilized to address financial emergencies. South Korea was one of the few developed countries that were able to avoid a recession during the global financial crisis , and its economic growth rate reached 6.2 percent in 2010 (the fastest growth for eight years after significant growth by 7.2 percent in 2002), a sharp recovery from economic growth rates of 2.3% in 2008 and 0.2% in 2009 when the global financial crisis hit. The unemployment rate in South Korea also remained low in 2009 at 3.6%

Transportation and energy

South Korea has a market economy|market-oriented economy with a technically advanced transport network consisting of high-speed railways, highways, bus routes, ferry services, and air routes that criss-cross the country. Korea Expressway Corporation operates the toll highways and service amenities en route.

Korail provides frequent train services to all major South Korean cities. Two rail lines, Gyeongui Line|Gyeongui and Donghae Bukbu Line , to North Korea are now being reconnected. The Korean high-speed rail system, Korea Train Express|KTX , provides high-speed service along Gyeongbu Line|Gyeongbu and Honam Line . Major cities including Seoul, Busan , Incheon , Daegu , Daejeon and Gwangju have urban rapid transit systems., Korea Tourism Organization; Express bus terminals are available in most cities., Korea Express Bus Lines Association.

South Korea's largest airport, Incheon International Airport , was completed in 2001. By 2007, it was serving passengers a year. Other international airports include Gimpo International Airport|Gimpo , Gimhae International Airport|Busan and Jeju International Airport|Jeju . There are also seven domestic airports, and a large number of heliports .

Korean Air , founded in 1962, served 21,640,000 passengers, including 12,490,000 international passengers in 2008. A second carrier, Asiana Airlines , established in 1988, also serves domestic and international traffic. Combined, South Korean airlines serve 297 international routes. Smaller airlines, such as Jeju Air , provide domestic service with lower fares.Lee Eun-joo (July 2, 2010). . Joongang Daily (Seoul). Retrieved July 15, 2010.

South Korea is the world's fifth-largest nuclear power producer and the second-largest in Asia as of 2010. Nuclear power in South Korea supplies 45% of electricity production, and research is very active with investigation into a variety of advanced reactors, including a small modular reactor, a liquid-metal fast/ nuclear transmutation#Transmutation of nuclear wastes|transmutation reactor and a high-temperature hydrogen generation design. Fuel production and waste handling technologies have also been developed locally. It is also a member of the ITER project.

South Korea is an emerging exporter of nuclear reactors , having concluded agreements with the UAE to build and maintain four advanced nuclear reactors, with Jordan for a research nuclear reactor, and with Argentina for construction and repair of heavy-water nuclear reactors. As of 2010, South Korea and Turkey are in negotiations regarding construction of two nuclear reactors.
South Korea is also preparing to bid on construction of a light-water nuclear reactor for Argentina.
South Korea is not allowed to enriched uranium|enrich uranium or develop traditional uranium enrichment technology on its own, due to US political pressure, unlike most major nuclear powers such as Japan, Germany, and France, competitors of South Korea in the international nuclear market. This impediment to South Korea's indigenous nuclear industrial undertaking has sparked occasional diplomatic rows between the two allies. While South Korea is successful in exporting its electricity-generating nuclear technology and nuclear reactors, it cannot capitalize on the Uranium market|market for nuclear enrichment facilities and refineries , preventing it from further expanding its export niche. South Korea has sought unique technologies such as Nuclear reprocessing#Pyroprocessing|pyroprocessing to circumvent these obstacles and seek a more advantageous competition. The US has recently been wary of South Korea's burgeoning nuclear program, which South Korea insists will be for civilian use only.

Science and technology

Aerospace research

South Korea has sent up 10 satellites from 1992, all using foreign rockets and overseas launch pads, notably Arirang-1 in 1999, and Arirang-2 in 2006 as part of its space partnership with Russia. Arirang-1 was lost in space in 2008, after nine years in service., Space Daily, January 7, 2008. Retrieved July 15, 2010.

In April 2008, Yi So-yeon became the first Korean to fly in space, aboard the Russian Soyuz TMA-12 ., The Times, April 9, 2008.; , BBC News, April 8, 2008. Retrieved July 15, 2010.

In June 2009, the first spaceport of South Korea, Naro Space Center , was completed at Goheung , Jeollanam-do ., Korea Times, June 10, 2009. Retrieved July 15, 2010. The launch of Naro-1 in August 2009 resulted in a failure., Yonhap News, August 26, 2009. Retrieved July 15, 2010. The second attempt in June 2010 was also unsuccessful., World Politics Review, June 29, 2010. Retrieved July 15, 2010. The government plans to investigate the problems and develop Naro-2 by 2018., Joongang Daily, June 11, 2010. Retrieved July 15, 2010.

South Korea's efforts to build an indigenous space launch vehicle is marred due to persistent political pressure of the United States , who had for many decades hindered South Korea's indigenous rocket and missile development programs in fear of their possible connection to clandestine military ballistic missile programs, which Korea many times insisted did not violate the research and development guidelines stipulated by US-Korea agreements on restriction of South Korean rocket technology research and development. South Korea has sought the assistance of foreign countries such as Russia through MTCR commitments to supplement its restricted domestic rocket technology. The two failed KSLV-I launch vehicle s were based on the Common Core Booster#Universal Rocket Module|Universal Rocket Module , the first stage of the Russian Angara rocket , combined with a solid-fueled second stage built by South Korea.

Robotics

Robotics has been included in the list of main national R& D projects in Korea since 2003. In 2009, the government announced plans to build robot-themed parks in Incheon Free Economic Zone|Incheon and Masan with a mix of public and private funding.. JoongAng Daily , February 13, 2009. Retrieved July 15, 2009.

In 2005, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) developed the world's second walking humanoid robot , HUBO . A team in the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology developed the first Korean android (robot)|android , EveR-1 in May 2006., Live Science, May 8, 2006. Retrieved July 15, 2009.
EveR-1 has been succeeded by more complex models with improved movement and vision. National Geographic,May 15, 2006. Retrieved July 15, 2009; , Yonhap News, April 20, 2009. Retrieved July 15, 2009.
Next models are scheduled to be completed by 2010.

Plans of creating English-teaching robot assistants to compensate for the shortage of teachers were announced in February 2010, with the robots being deployed to most preschools and kindergartens by 2013., Popular Science, February 24, 2010. Retrieved July 15, 2010. Robotics are also incorporated in the entertainment sector as well; the Korean Robot Game Festival has been held every year since 2004 to promote science and robot technology., Official Site

Biotechnology

Since the 1980s, the Korean government has actively invested in the development of a domestic biotechnology industry, and the sector is projected to grow to by 2010. The medical sector accounts for a large part of the production, including production of Hepatitis A vaccine|hepatitis vaccines and antibiotic s.

Recently, research and development in genetics and cloning has received increasing attention, with the first successful cloning of a dog, Snuppy , and the cloning of two females of an endangered species of wolves by the Seoul National University in 2007.

The rapid growth of the industry has resulted in significant voids in regulation of ethics, as was highlighted by the Hwang Woo-Suk#Controversies|scientific misconduct case involving Hwang Woo-Suk .

Education

Education in South Korea is regarded as crucial to financial and social success, and competition is consequently fierce, with many participating in intense outside tutoring to supplement classes. In the 2006 results of the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment , South Korea came first in problem solving , third in mathematics and seventh in science . South Korea's education system is technologically advanced and it is the world's first country to bring high-speed fibre-optic broadband internet access to every primary and secondary school nation-wide. Using this infrastructure, the country has developed the first Digital Textbook s in the world, which will be distributed for free to every primary and secondary school nation-wide by 2013.

A centralised administration in South Korea oversees the process for the education of children from kindergarten to the third and final year of high school. South Korea has adopted a new educational program to increase the number of their foreign students through 2010. According to Ministry of Education, Science and Technology estimate, by that time, the number of scholarships for foreign students in South Korea will be doubled, and the number of foreign students will reach 100,000.
The school year is divided into two semesters, the first of which begins in the beginning of March and ends in mid-July, the second of which begins in late August and ends in mid-February. The schedules are not uniformly standardized and vary from school to school.
Most South Korean middle schools and high schools have school uniforms, modeled on western-style uniforms. Boys' uniforms usually consists of trousers and white shirts, and girls wear skirts and white shirts (this only applies in middle schools and high schools).

Demographics

South Korea is noted for its population density, which is 487 per square kilometer, more than 10 times the global average. Most South Koreans live in urban areas, due to rapid migration from the countryside during the country's quick economic expansion in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. The capital city of Seoul is also the country's largest city and chief industrial center. According to the 2005 census, Seoul had a population of inhabitants. The Seoul National Capital Area has inhabitants making it the world's second largest metropolitan area and easily the most densely populated city in the OECD . Other major cities include Busan (), Incheon (), Daegu (), Daejeon (), Gwangju () and Ulsan ().Populations for all cities as of 2005,

The population has also been shaped by international migration. After World War& nbsp;II and the Division of Korea|division of the Korean Peninsula , about four million people from North Korea crossed the border to South Korea. This trend of net entry reversed over the next 40 years due to emigration, especially to the United States and Canada. South Korea's total population in 1955 was ,"". Library of Congress Country Studies . and today it is roughly 50,062,000.

South Korea is one of the most ethnically homogeneous societies in the world, with more than 99% of inhabitants having Koreans|Korean ethnicity.. CIA& nbsp;– The World Factbook. Koreans call their society ??????, Dan-il minjok guk ga , "the single race society".

The percentage of foreign nationals is small but has been growing.Choe Sang-Hun (November 1, 2009). . The New York Times . , South Korea had 1,106,884 foreign residents, 2% of the population; however, more than half of them are ethnic Koreans with a foreign citizenship. For example, Chinese people in South Korea|migrants from China (PRC) make up 56.5% of foreign nationals, but approximately 70% of the Chinese citizens in Korea are Koreans in China|Joseonjok (??? in Korean) , PRC citizens of Korean ethnicity.
Regardless of the ethnicity, there are 28,500 United States Forces Korea|US military personnel serving in South Korea for one year of unaccompanied tour, according to the Korea National Statistical Office., ???? ??? In addition, about 43,000 English teachers from Anglosphere|English-speaking countries reside temporarily in Korea.

South Korea's birthrate was the world's lowest in 2009. If this continues, its population is expected to decrease by 13% to in 2050. South Korea's annual birthrate is approximately 9 births per 1000 people. However, the birthrate has increased by 5.7% in 2010 and Korea no longer has the world's lowest birthrate.. Yonhap News Agency . August 24, 2011. According to a 2011 report from Chosun Ilbo, South Korea's total fertility rate (1.23 children born per woman) is higher than those of Taiwan (1.15) and Japan (1.21).. The Chosun Ilbo. November 17, 2011. The average life expectancy in 2008 was 79.10 years,& nbsp;– Rank Order& nbsp;– Life expectancy at birth which is 34th in the world.

Cities

The table below lists the twenty largest cities within administrative city limits.

Religion

As of 2005, just under half of the South Korean population expressed Irreligion|no religious preference.According to figures compiled by the South Korean National Statistical Office . Of the rest, most are Korean Buddhism|Buddhist or Christianity|Christian . According to the 2007 census, 29.2% of the population at that time was Christian (18.3% identified themselves as Protestants, 10.9% as Roman Catholics), and 22.8% were Buddhist. Other religions include Islam in Korea|Islam and various new religious movement s such as Jeungism , Cheondoism and Wonbuddhism . The earliest religion practiced was Korean shamanism ., Asia Info Organization Today, freedom of religion is guaranteed by the constitution, and there is no state religion .

Christianity is South Korea's largest religion, accounting for more than half of all South Korean religious adherents. There are approximately 13.7 million Christians in South Korea today, with almost two-thirds of Christians belonging to Protestant churches, while about 37% belong to the Roman Catholic Church. Roman Catholicism has been the fastest growing denomination in South Korea since the late 1980s. South Korea is also the second-largest missionary-sending nation.

Buddhism was introduced to Korea in the year 372. According to the national census as of 2005, South Korea has over Buddhists. Today, about 90% of Korean Buddhists belong to Jogye Order . Most of the National Treasures of South Korea are Buddhist artifacts. Buddhism was the state religion of Korea from the North South States Period (not to be confused with the modern division of Korea ) to Goryeo before suppression under the Joseon Dynasty in favor of Neo-Confucianism .

Fewer than 30,000 South Koreans are thought to be Islam in South Korea|Muslims , but the country has some 100,000 resident foreign workers from Muslim countries, chiefly from Bangladesh and Pakistan .

Public health and safety

Although life expectancy has increased significantly since 1950, South Korea faces a number of important health-care issues. Foremost is the impact of environmental pollution on an increasingly urbanized population. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, chronic diseases account for the majority of diseases in South Korea, a condition exacerbated by the health care system's focus on treatment rather than prevention. The incidence of chronic disease in South Korea hovers around 24 percent. Approximately 33 percent of all adults Smoking|smoke . The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) rate of prevalence at the end of 2003 was less than 0.1 percent. In 2001 central government expenditures on health care accounted for about 6 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).. Library of Congress Federal Research Division (May 2005). This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain . The Suicide in South Korea|suicide rate in the nation was 26 per 100,000 in 2008, the highest in the industrialized world., OECD; ; . The Economist (London). July 8, 2010. Retrieved July 15, 2010.

Based on the Asia-Pacific Advisory Committee on Influenza (APACI), South Korea ranked the highest of influenza vaccination in Asia with 311 vaccines per 1,000 people.

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. Historically, while the culture of Korea has been heavily influenced by that of neighboring China, it has nevertheless managed to develop a unique cultural identity that is distinct from its larger neighbor. The South Korean Ministry of Culture and Tourism (South Korea)|Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism actively encourages the traditional arts, as well as modern forms, through funding and education programs. See also

The industrialization and urbanization of South Korea have brought many changes to the way Korean people live. Changing economics and lifestyles have led to a concentration of population in major cities, especially the capital Seoul, with multi-generational households separating into nuclear family living arrangements.

Art

Korean art has been highly influenced by Buddhism in Korea|Buddhism and Korean Confucianism|Confucianism , which can be seen in the many traditional paintings, sculptures, ceramics and the performing arts., Asia Art Korean pottery and porcelain , such as Joseon 's Joseon white porcelain|baekja and buncheong , and Goryeo 's celadon are well known throughout the world., Asian Relocation Management Korea The Korean tea ceremony , pansori , talchum and buchaechum are also notable Korean performing arts.

Post-war modern Korean art started to flourish in the 1960s and 1970s, when South Korean artists took interest in geometrical shapes and intangible subjects. Establishing a harmony between man and nature was also a favorite of this time. Due to social instability, social issues appeared as main subjects in the 1980s. Art was influenced by various international events and exhibits in Korea, and with it brought more diversity., apexart, 1999 The Olympic Park, Seoul|Olympic Sculpture Garden in 1988, the transposition of the 1993 edition of the Whitney Biennial to Seoul, , Seoul News , March 26, 2010. Retrieved July 13, 2010. the creation of the Gwangju Biennale and the Korean Pavilion at the Venice Biennale in 1995, La Biennale di Venezia. were notable events.

Architecture

Due to South Korea's tumultuous history, construction and destruction has been repeated endlessly, resulting in an interesting melange of architectural styles and designs., Asian Info Organization

Korean traditional architecture is characterized by its harmony with nature. Ancient architects adopted the Bracket (architecture)|bracket system characterized by thatched roofs and heated floors called ondol .Chung Ah-young (March 31, 2010). , Korea Times ; People of the upper classes built bigger houses with elegantly curved tiled roofs with lifting eaves. Traditional architecture can be seen in the palaces and temples, preserved old houses called hanok ,, Asian Tradition in Architecture and special sites like Hahoe Folk Village , Yangdong Village of Gyeongju and Korean Folk Village . Traditional architecture may also be seen at the nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites in South Korea.

Western architecture was first introduced to Korea at the end of the 19th century. Churches, offices for foreign legislation, schools and university buildings were built in new styles. With the Korea under Japanese rule|annexation of Korea by Japan in 1910 the colonial regime intervened in Korea's architectural heritage, and Japanese-style modern architecture was imposed. The anti-Japanese sentiment, and the Korean War , led to the destruction of most buildings constructed during that time., Prof. Park Kil-ryong (Kukmin University), modified by Architectural Design Lab, GSNU.

Korean architecture entered a new phase of development during the post-Korean War reconstruction, incorporating modern architectural trends and styles. Stimulated by the economic growth in the 1970s and 1980s, active redevelopment saw new horizons in architectural design. In the aftermath of the 1988 Seoul Olympics, South Korea has witnessed a wide variation of styles in its architectural landscape due, in large part, to the opening up of the market to foreign architects., Asian Info Organization Contemporary architectural efforts have been constantly trying to balance the traditional philosophy of "harmony with nature" and the fast-paced urbanization that the country has been going through in recent years., Asia News , January 15, 2010; Lee Hoo-nam (April 16, 2009)., Joongang Daily (Seoul). Retrieved July 10, 2010.

Cuisine

Korean cuisine, hanguk yori (????; ????), or hansik (??; ??), has evolved through centuries of social and political change. Ingredients and dishes vary by province. There are many significant regional dishes that have proliferated in different variations across the country in the present day. The Korean royal court cuisine once brought all of the unique regional specialties together for the royal family. Meals consumed both by the royal family and ordinary Korean citizens have been regulated by a unique culture of etiquette.

Korean cuisine is largely based on rice , noodle s, tofu , vegetables, fish and meats. Traditional Korean meals are noted for the number of side dishes, banchan (??), which accompany steam-cooked short-grain rice. Every meal is accompanied by numerous banchan. Kimchi (??), a fermented, usually spicy vegetable dish is commonly served at every meal and is one of the best known Korean dishes. Korean cuisine usually involves heavy seasoning with sesame oil , doenjang (??), a type of fermented bean paste|fermented soybean paste , Korean soy sauce|soy sauce , salt, garlic, ginger, and gochujang (???), a hot pepper paste.

Soups are also a common part of a Korean meal and are served as part of the main course rather than at the beginning or the end of the meal. Soups known as guk (?) are often made with meats, shellfish and vegetables. Similar to guk, tang (?; ?) has less water, and is more often served in restaurants. Another type is jjigae (??), a stew that is typically heavily seasoned with chili pepper and served boiling hot.

Contemporary music, film and television

In addition to domestic consumption, South Korean mainstream culture, including televised drama, films, and popular music, also generates significant exports to various parts of the world. This phenomenon, often called " Korean wave|Hallyu " or the "Korean Wave", has swept many countries in Asia and other parts of the world.

Until the 1990s, trot (music)|trot and ballad s dominated Korean popular music. The emergence of the rap group Seo Taiji and Boys in 1992 marked a turning point for Korean popular music, also known as K-pop , as the group incorporated elements of popular musical genres of rap music|rap , rock music|rock , and techno into its music., KBS World Hip hop, dance and ballad oriented acts have become dominant in the Korean popular music scene, though trot is still popular among older Koreans. Many K-Pop stars and groups are also well known abroad, especially in other parts of Asia.

Since the success of the film Shiri (film)|Shiri in 1999, Korean film has begun to gain recognition internationally. Domestic film has a dominant share of the market, partly due to the existence of screen quotas requiring cinemas to show Korean films at least 73 days a year., KBS World, July 16, 2010.

Korean drama|Korean television shows , especially the short form dramatic mini-series called "dramas", have also become popular outside of Korea, becoming another driving trend for wider recognition. The trend has caused some Korean actors to become better known abroad. The dramas are popular mostly in Asia. The stories have tended to have a romance focus, such as Princess Hours , You're Beautiful , My Name is Kim Sam Soon , Boys Over Flowers (TV series)|Boys over Flowers , Winter Sonata , Autumn Fairy Tale , Full House (2004 TV series)|Full House , All About Eve (TV series)|All About Eve . Historical/fantasy dramas have included Dae Jang Geum , The Legend (TV series)|The Legend , Dong Yi and Sungkyunkwan Scandal .

Technology culture

South Korean corporations Samsung and LG were ranked second and third largest mobile phone companies in the world in the first quarter of 2010, respectively., International Data Corporation, January 29, 2010. Retrieved July 7, 2010. An estimated 90% of South Koreans own a mobile phone ., Joongang Daily , January 28, 2009. Retrieved July 7, 2010. Aside from placing/receiving calls and text messaging, mobile phones in the country are widely used for watching Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB) or viewing websites.Cho Jin-seo (February 12, 2006). , The Korea Times (Seoul). , CNN Asia , October 16, 2007. Retrieved July 7, 2010. Over one million DMB phones have been sold and the three major wireless communications providers SK Telecom , KT (telecommunication company)|KT , and LG Telecom provide coverage in all major cities and other areas. South Korea has the second fastest Internet download speeds in the world, with an average download speed of 32.45 Mbit/s.

Sports

The martial arts|martial art taekwondo originated in Korea. In the 1950s and 1960s, modern rules were standardised and taekwondo became an official Olympic Games|Olympic sport in 2000., World Taekwondo Federation Other Korean martial arts include taekkyeon , hapkido , tang soo do , kuk sool won , kumdo and subak .

Association football|Football has traditionally been regarded as the most popular sport in Korea. Recent polling indicates that a majority, 40.6%, of South Korean sports fans continue to self-identify as football fans, with baseball ranked second at 25.3% of respondents. However, the polling did not indicate the extent to which respondents follow both sports. The Korea Republic national football team|national football team became the first team in the Asian Football Confederation to reach the FIFA World Cup|World Cup semi-finals in the 2002 FIFA World Cup , jointly hosted by South Korea and Japan. The Korean Republic team (as it is known) has qualified for every World Cup since 1986 FIFA World Cup|Mexico 1986 , and has broken out of the group stage twice: first in 2002, and again in 2010 FIFA World Cup|2010 , when it was defeated by Uruguay national football team|Uruguay in the Round of 16.

Baseball was first introduced to Korea in 1905 and has since become increasingly popular, with some sources claiming it has surpassed football as the most popular sport in the country.KOIS (2003), p.632.Trading Markets.com. December 21, 2010. Accessed December 26, 2010. Recent years have been characterized by increasing attendance and ticket prices for professional baseball games.Kim Yang-hee (April 21, 2011). The Hankyoreh . Accessed April 21, 2011. The Korea Professional Baseball league, an 8-team circuit, was established in 1982. The South Korea national baseball team|South Korean national team finished third in the 2006 World Baseball Classic and second in the 2009 World Baseball Classic|2009 tournament . The team's 2009 final game against Japan was widely watched in Korea, with a large screen at Gwanghwamun crossing in Seoul broadcasting the game live.Wakabayashi, Daisuke; Park Sungha (March 24, 2009). The Wall Street Journal (New York). November 20, 2010. In the 2008 Summer Olympics , South Korea won the gold medal in baseball.. Los Angeles Times (blog). August 23, 2008. Retrieved July 7, 2010. Also in 1982, at the Baseball Worldcup, Korea won the gold medal. At the 2010 Asian Games , the Korean National Baseball team won the gold medal.

Basketball is a popular sport in the country as well. South Korea has traditionally had one of the top basketball teams in Asia and one of the continent's strongest basketball divisions. Seoul hosted the 1967 ABC Championship|1967 and 1995 ABC Championship|1995 Asian Basketball Championship . The South Korea national basketball team has won a record number of 23 medals at the event to date.

South Korea hosted the Asian Games in 1986 ( Seoul ), 2002 ( Busan ), and will host again in 2014 ( Incheon ). It also hosted the Winter Universiade in 1997, the Asian Winter Games in 1999 and the Summer Universiade in 2003. In 1988, South Korea hosted the 1988 Summer Olympics|Summer Olympics in Seoul , coming fourth with 12 gold medals, 10 silver medals and 11 bronze medals. South Korea regularly performs well in archery , shooting , table tennis , badminton , short track speed skating , team handball|handball , hockey , freestyle wrestling , Greco-Roman wrestling , baseball , judo , taekwondo , speed skating , figure Skating , and Olympic weightlifting|weightlifting . The Seoul Olympic Museum is a museum in Seoul , South Korea, dedicated to the 1988 Summer Olympics. On July 6, 2011 Pyeongchang was chosen by the IOC to host the 2018 Winter Olympics .

South Korean athletes have shown skill in the Winter Olympics as well; after the 2010 Winter Olympics , South Korea, has won a total of 45 medals (23 gold, 14 silver, and 8 bronze). South Korea is especially strong in short track speed skating , however, ice hockey is emerging as Anyang Halla won their first ever ALIH|Asia League Ice Hockey title in March 2010.

Seoul hosted a professional triathlon race, which is part of the International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Championship Series in May 2010.

In October 2010, South Korea hosted its first Formula One race at the Korean International Circuit in Yeongam , about south of Seoul. In 2011, the South Korean city of Daegu will host the 2011 World Championships in Athletics|2011 IAAF World Championships in Athletics .

South Korea has three horse racing tracks of which Seoul Race Park in Gwacheon , Gyeonggi-do is the biggest., Gyeonggi-do Overseas PR Official Blog

Korea Professional Sports League

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Baseball

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& nbsp; Korea Professional Baseball

& nbsp; Korea Baseball Futures League|Futures League

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Basketball

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& nbsp; Korean Basketball League

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Association football|Football

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& nbsp; K-League

& nbsp; Korea National League|National League

& nbsp; Challengers League

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Volleyball

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& nbsp; V-League (South Korea)|V-League

International Championship Host

style="padding-right:1em; vertical-align:top;" Olympic Games ---- & nbsp; 1988 Summer Olympics\|Seoul Summer 1988 & nbsp; 2018 Winter Olympics\|Pyeongchang Winter 2018	style="padding-right:1em; vertical-align:top;" FIFA World Cup ---- & nbsp; 2002 FIFA World Cup\|South Korea & Japan 2002 & nbsp; 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup\|South Korea 2007 (U-17)	style="padding-right:1em; vertical-align:top;" IAAF World Championships in Athletics ---- & nbsp; 2011 World Championships in Athletics\|Daegu 2011
style="padding-right:1em; vertical-align:top;" Asian Games ---- & nbsp; 1986 Asian Games\|Seoul Summer 1986 & nbsp; 1999 Asian Winter Games\|Gangwon Winter 1999 & nbsp; 2002 Asian Games\|Busan Summer 2002 & nbsp; 2014 Asian Games\|Incheon Summer 2014	style="padding-right:1em; vertical-align:top;" AFC Asian Cup ---- & nbsp; 1960 AFC Asian Cup\|South Korea 1960	style="padding-right:1em; vertical-align:top;" Formula One ---- & nbsp; Korean Grand Prix

Undetermined Music Artists

South Korea

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