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South Korea

South Korea, officially known as Republic of Korea, is located in the southern half of the Korean Peninsula. The country is also known as the \\\"Land of the Morning Calm\\\". It shares its border with China to the west, Japan to the east and North Korea to the north. The capital and largest city Seoul (37 33 N, 126 59 E) is world’s second largest metropolitan city.

South Korea is granted the memberships of APEC and OECD. The country has 6th largest armed forces in the world. The country ranks 1st in both Annual work hours and Mathematics, Science, Reading, and Problem solving by OECD and again 1st in the global shipbuilding industry by Clarkson PLC.

South Korea is nicknamed as Asian tiger, though it is one of the fastest growing countries in the world. The success story of the country is defined as ‘Miracle on the Han River’.

HISTORY:- Earliest civilization was Choson in 2333 B.C. After Sino-Japanese War of 1894–1895, Korea came in contact with the world. Japanese victory over China resulted independence of Korea. In 1910, Korea was occupied by Japan. Japan surrendered after World War II. As a consequence Korea was partitioned into North Korea and South Korea. North Korea came under control of USSR, while South Korea came under US occupation. Korean War was the result of north-south disagreement. North Korean People\\\'s Army crossed 38th parallel for re-unification. But on 27th July, 1953, Korean War Armistice Agreement had been signed to separate North and South Korea with the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Syngman Rhee, the corrupt President was overthrown by a student mutiny in 1960. In 1961 Park Chung-hee\\\'s military coup declared was against the weak government. After the assassination of Park in 1979, General Chun Doo-hwan had become the President. After the tyrannous rule of Chun Doo-hwan, Resistance of June broke out in 1987. In June 29th Declaration, South Korea was declared as democratic state.

GEOGRAPHY:- South Korea is located at 37 00 N, 127 30 E. It is situated in Eastern Asia, occupying total 98,480 sq km (land-98,190 sq km,water-290 sq km). South Korea is mostly hilly to mountainous, with forests. The wide coastal plains in the western and eastern coasts are fertile. The coast line is 2,413 km long along with the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea. The lowest point of South Korea is Sea of Japan (0 m) and the highest point is Halla-san (1,950 m). Typhoons cause natural hazards occasionally. About 3000 islands are situated in the western and southern coasts of South Korea.

CLIMATE:- South Korean climate is mainly temperate. Summers are rainy. Winters are very cool. In summer a heavy rainy season called jangma can be noticed.

GOVERNMENT:- South Korea is Presidential republic. The power is divided into the president, the legislature, and the courts. The constitution was adopted on 17th July 1948. But the constitution was amended nine times, lastly on 29th October 1987. The three branches of government are:

1. Executive:- This branch consists of the President (chief of state), Prime Minister (head of government) and Cabinet.

2. Legislative:- This branch is formed of a unicameral National Assembly (299 seats).

3. Judicial:-This branch consists of the Supreme Court and appellate courts, and Constitutional Court.

Prominent political parties are Grand National Party. United Democratic Party, Liberal Forward Party, Democratic Labor Party, Grand National Party, United Democratic Party, Liberal Forward Party, Democratic Labor Party.Voting rights are universal above 19.

President Lee Myung-bak

Prime Minister Han Seung-soo

ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS:- South Korea comprises 9 provinces:-

Gyeonggi-do, Gangwon-do, Chungcheongbuk-do, Chungcheongnam-do, Jeollabuk-do, Jeollanam-do, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Gyeongsangnam-do, Jeju-do. Among these, Jeju-do is autonomous province.

And 7 metropolitan cities:- Seoul, Busan, Incheon, Daegu, Gwangju, Daejeon, Ulsan.

CULTURE:- South Korea shares the same cultural traditions as North Korea. South Korean culture is dominated by highly developed technologies like online games. StarCraft is the most popular online game in South Korea. In science and technology, South Korea has prospered highly. South Korea has made space partnership with Russia. In robotics engineering, KAIST has developed humanoid robot, HUBO. Taekwondo, a popular martial art comes of Korea.

ECONOMY:- Since 1960s, South Korea has observed high growth in economy, with immensely developed technology. It is one of the richest countries in Asia. South Korean economy makes it the 3rd largest economy in the world. The World Bank has defined the country as High Income Nation, while IMF and CIA have recognized its advanced Economy.

GDP/PPP (2007 est.): $1.206 trillion; per capita $24,600.

Real growth rate: 4.9%.

Inflation: 2.5%.

Unemployment: 3.2%.

Arable land: 17%.

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

Labor force: 23.99 million; agriculture 3.2%, industry 39.6%, services 57.2%.

Industries: electronics, telecommunications, automobile production, chemicals, shipbuilding, steel.

Natural resources: coal, tungsten, graphite, molybdenum, lead, hydropower potential.

Budget:

Revenues: $269.7 billion

Expenditures: $256.6 billion (2007 est.)

Public debt:33.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Exports: $371.5 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.): semiconductors, wireless telecommunications equipment, motor vehicles, computers, steel, ships, petrochemicals.

Imports: $356.8 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.): machinery, electronics and electronic equipment, oil, steel, transport equipment, organic chemicals, plastics.

Major trading partners: China, U.S., Japan, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia (2004).

Monetary unit: won

LANGUAGE:- The official language is Korean. But English is also taught.

CITIES:- The capital and largest city is Seoul. Other large cities are Busan, Daegu, Incheon, Gwangju, Daejeon, Taegu, Ulsan.

POPULATION:- Total population of South Korea is 49,044,790 with a growth rate of 0.4%.

Density per sq mi: 1,294

Literacy rate: 98% (2003 est.)

RACE:- South Korean ethnicity is Korean except about 20,000 Chinese.

RELIGION:-

Christianity     29.3%

Buddhism     22.8%

Won Buddhism 0.3%

Confucianism     0.2%

Cheondoism     0.1%

No religion     46.5%

HEALTH:-

Birth rate:9.83 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:6.12 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:total: 5.94 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:total population: 77.42 years

HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 200 (2003 est.)

UNICEF:- In 1950, UNICEF started working in Korea with emergency relief programme after the out break of Korean war. In 1994 Korean committee for UNICEF was set up as a donor country. The major roles, conducted by the KCU are fundraising and advocating for the rights for the children. KCU organizes funds by selling gifts and arranging ‘Barefoot Walkathon’ every year. KCU Goodwill Ambassadors are Mr. Ahn Sung-ki and fashion designer Mr. Andre Kim.

TRANSPORTATION:-

Railways: total: 3,472 km (2006).

Highways: total: 100,279 km (2004 est).

Waterways: 1,609 km.

Ports and harbors: Chinhae, Inch\\\'on, Kunsan, Masan, Mokp\\\'o, P\\\'ohang, Pusan, Tonghae-hang, Ulsan, Yosu.

Airports: 105 (2007).