South Korea, officially Republic of Korea, country in north-eastern Asia that occupies the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. South Korea is bounded on the north by North Korea; on the east by the Sea of Japan (known in Korea as the East Sea); on the south-east and south by the Korea Strait, which separates it from Japan; and on the west by the Yellow Sea. In Korean the country's name is Dachan ("Great Han"), "Han" being another traditional name for Korea. It has a total area of 99,390 sq km (38,375 sq mi), including numerous offshore islands in the south and west, the largest of which is Cheju (with an area of 1,829 sq km/706 sq mi). The state of South Korea was established in 1948 following the post-World War II partitioning of the peninsula between the occupying forces of the United States in the south and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) in the north. The capital and largest city of South Korea is Seoul.
Population
45,545,280
(1996 estimate)
Population Density
459 people/sq km
(1,189 people/sq mi)
(1996 estimate)
Urban/Rural Breakdown
84%Urban
16%Rural
Largest Cities
Seoul10,229,260
Pusan3,813,800
Taegu2,449,100
(1995 census)
Ethnic Groups
99.9%Korean
0.1%Other
mostly Chinese
Language
Official Language
Korean
Religions
50%Atheist
24%Mahayana Buddhism
23%Protestantism
3%Other
including Confucianism, Daoism, and Ch'ondogyo
Time and Date in Seoul
Countries Currency Unit
KRW/Unit
Units/KRW
DZD
Algeria Dinars
17.0618
0.0586105
USD
United States Dollars
1,320.81
0.000757114
ARS
Argentina Pesos
448.491
0.00222970
AUD
Australia Dollars
704.669
0.00141911
ATS
Austria Schillings **
83.6053
0.0119610
BSD
Bahamas Dollars
1,320.81
0.000757114
BBD
Barbados Dollars
663.721
0.00150666
BEF
Belgium Francs **
28.5185
0.0350649
BMD
Bermuda Dollars
1,320.81
0.000757114
BRL
Brazil Reals
568.088
0.00176029
GBP
United Kingdom Pounds
1,883.29
0.000530987
BGL
Bulgaria Leva
590.787
0.00169266
CAD
Canada Dollars
828.006
0.00120772
CLP
Chile Pesos
2.01204
0.497007
CNY
China Yuan Renminbi
159.568
0.00626693
CYP
Cyprus Pounds
2,010.36
0.000497424
CZK
Czech Republic Koruny
37.2594
0.0268389
DKK
Denmark Kroner
154.859
0.00645747
XCD
East Caribbean Dollars
489.187
0.00204421
EGP
Egypt Pounds
285.117
0.00350733
EUR
Euro
1,150.43
0.000869237
FJD
Fiji Dollars
590.964
0.00169215
FIM
Finland Markkaa **
193.489
0.00516825
FRF
France Francs **
175.383
0.00570182
DEM
Germany Deutsche Marks **
588.208
0.00170008
XAU
Gold Ounces
399,207.47
0.00000250496
GRD
Greece Drachmae **
3.37618
0.296192
HKD
Hong Kong Dollars
169.343
0.00590519
HUF
Hungary Forint
4.73109
0.211368
ISK
Iceland Kronur
13.2089
0.0757067
INR
India Rupees
27.0635
0.0369502
IDR
Indonesia Rupiahs
0.134441
7.43821
IEP
Ireland Pounds **
1,460.75
0.000684580
ILS
Israel New Shekels
278.478
0.00359095
ITL
Italy Lire **
0.594150
1.68308
JMD
Jamaica Dollars
27.7422
0.0360462
JPY
Japan Yen
9.95707
0.100431
JOD
Jordan Dinars
1,862.91
0.000536794
LBP
Lebanon Pounds
0.872394
1.14627
LUF
Luxembourg Francs **
28.5185
0.0350649
MYR
Malaysia Ringgits
347.672
0.00287628
MXN
Mexico Pesos
146.588
0.00682184
NZD
New Zealand Dollars
581.793
0.00171883
NOK
Norway Kroner
149.182
0.00670323
NLG
Netherlands Guilders **
522.044
0.00191555
PKR
Pakistan Rupees
21.9951
0.0454647
PHP
Philippines Pesos
25.8880
0.0386280
XPT
Platinum Ounces
685,468.65
0.00000145886
PLN
Poland Zlotych
321.226
0.00311307
PTE
Portugal Escudos **
5.73834
0.174266
ROL
Romania Lei
0.0401034
24.9355
RUR
Russia Rubles
42.4423
0.0235614
SAR
Saudi Arabia Riyals
352.209
0.00283922
XAG
Silver Ounces
6,115.12
0.000163529
SGD
Singapore Dollars
716.971
0.00139476
SKK
Slovakia Koruny
27.5454
0.0363037
ZAR
South Africa Rand
116.291
0.00859912
KRW
South Korea Won
1.00000
1.00000
ESP
Spain Pesetas **
6.91425
0.144629
XDR
IMF Special Drawing Rights
1,646.80
0.000607238
SDD
Sudan Dinars
5.08002
0.196850
SEK
Sweden Kronor
127.479
0.00784440
CHF
Switzerland Francs
785.601
0.00127291
TWD
Taiwan New Dollars
37.7913
0.0264611
THB
Thailand Baht
30.3273
0.0329736
TTD
Trinidad and Tobago Dollars
215.818
0.00463354
TRL
Turkey Liras
0.000982671
1,017.64
VEB
Venezuela Bolivares
1.43443
0.697143
ZMK
Zambia Kwacha
0.295482
3.38430
South Korea :
Geographic coordinates
37 00 N, 127 30 E
South Korea :
Population growth rate
0.89%
South Korea :
Birth rate
14.85 births/1,000 population
South Korea :
Death rate
5.93 deaths/1,000 population
South Korea :
People living with HIV/AIDS
3,800
South Korea :
Independence
15 August 1945
South Korea :
National holiday
NLiberation Day, 15 August
South Korea :
Constitution
25 February 1988
South Korea :
GDP
purchasing power parity - $764.6 billion
South Korea :
GDP - per capita
purchasing power parity - $16,100
South Korea :
Electricity - consumption
232.767 billion kWh
South Korea :
Exports
$172.6 billion electronic products, machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, steel, ships; textiles, clothing, footwear; fish
South Korea :
Imports
$160.5 billion machinery, electronics and electronic equipment, oil, steel, transport equipment, textiles, organic chemicals, grains
