mailing address: US Embassy Seoul, APO AP 96205-5550
telephone: [82] (2) 397-4114
FAX: [82] (2) 738-8845
Flag description:
white with a red (top) and blue yin-yang symbol in the center; there
is a different black trigram from the ancient I Ching (Book of
Changes) in each corner of the white field; the Korean national flag
is called Taegukki; white is a traditional Korean color and
represents peace and purity; the blue section represents the
negative cosmic forces of the yin, while the red symbolizes the
opposite positive forces of the yang; each trigram (kwae) denotes
one of the four universal elements, which together express the
principle of movement and harmony
National anthem:
name: "Aegukga" (Patriotic Song)
lyrics/music: YUN Ch'i-Ho or AN Ch'ang-Ho/AHN Eaktay
note: adopted 1948, well known by 1910; both North Korea and South
Korea's anthems share the same name and have a vaguely similar
melody but have different lyrics
Economy ::Korea, South
Economy - overview:
Since the 1960s, South Korea has achieved an incredible record of
growth and global integration to become a high-tech industrialized
economy. Four decades ago, GDP per capita was comparable with levels
in the poorer countries of Africa and Asia. In 2004, South Korea
joined the trillion dollar club of world economies, and currently is
among the world's 20 largest economies. Initially, a system of close
government and business ties, including directed credit and import
restrictions, made this success possible. The government promoted
the import of raw materials and technology at the expense of
consumer goods, and encouraged savings and investment over
consumption. The Asian financial crisis of 1997-98 exposed
longstanding weaknesses in South Korea's development model including
high debt/equity ratios and massive short-term foreign borrowing.
GDP plunged by 6.9% in 1998, and then recovered by 9% in 1999-2000.
Korea adopted numerous economic reforms following the crisis,
including greater openness to foreign investment and imports. Growth
moderated to about 4-5% annually between 2003 and 2007. With the
global economic downturn in late 2008, South Korean GDP growth
slowed to 0.2% in 2009. In the third quarter of 2009, the economy
began to recover, in large part due to export growth, low interest
rates, and an expansionary fiscal policy, and growth exceeded 6% in
2010. The South Korean economy's long term challenges include a
rapidly aging population, inflexible labor market, and
overdependence on manufacturing exports to drive economic growth.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.467 trillion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
$1.383 trillion (2009 est.)
$1.38 trillion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$986.3 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
6.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
0.2% (2009 est.)
2.3% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$30,200 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
$28,500 (2009 est.)
$28,500 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3%
industry: 39.4%
services: 57.6% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
24.62 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 7.3%
industry: 24.3%
services: 68.4% (2010 est.)
Unemployment rate:
3.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
3.7% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
15% (2006 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.7%
highest 10%: 24.2% (2007)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
31.4 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 104
35.8 (2000)
Investment (gross fixed):
28.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
Public debt:
23.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
23.5% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
2.8% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
1.25% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 133
1.75% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
5.65% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
7.17% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$101.9 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 30
$82.54 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$1.346 trillion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 13
$1.132 trillion (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.057 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
$935.4 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$836.5 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 17
$494.6 billion (31 December 2008)
$1.124 trillion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
rice, root crops, barley, vegetables, fruit; cattle, pigs, chickens,
milk, eggs; fish
Industries:
electronics, telecommunications, automobile production, chemicals,
shipbuilding, steel
Industrial production growth rate:
12.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
Electricity - production:
417 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
Electricity - consumption:
402 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2009)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2009)
Oil - production:
48,180 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
Oil - consumption:
2.185 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
Oil - exports:
907,100 bbl/day
country comparison to the world: 21
note: exports consist of oil derivatives (gasoline, light oil, and
diesel), not crude oil (2009)
Oil - imports:
3.074 million bbl/day (2009)
country comparison to the world: 5
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
Natural gas - production:
651 million cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Natural gas - consumption:
34.09 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
Natural gas - imports:
32.69 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
Natural gas - proved reserves:
50 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
Current account balance:
$36.35 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
$42.67 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$466.3 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
$373.6 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
semiconductors, wireless telecommunications equipment, motor
vehicles, computers, steel, ships, petrochemicals
Exports - partners:
China 21.5%, US 10.9%, Japan 6.6%, Hong Kong 4.6% (2008)
Imports:
$417.9 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
$317.5 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, electronics and electronic equipment, oil, steel,
transport equipment, organic chemicals, plastics
Imports - partners:
China 17.7%, Japan 14%, US 8.9%, Saudi Arabia 7.8%, UAE 4.4%,
Australia 4.1% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$274.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
$270 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$370.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
$370.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$112.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
$110.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$115.6 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 25
$74.6 billion (30 June 2008)
Exchange rates:
South Korean won (KRW) per US dollar - 1,153.77 (2010), 1,276.93
(2009), 1,101.7 (2008), 929.2 (2007), 954.8 (2006)
Communications ::Korea, South
Telephones - main lines in use:
19.289 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 15
Telephones - mobile cellular:
47.944 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 25
Telephone system:
general assessment: excellent domestic and international services
featuring rapid incorporation of new technologies
domestic: fixed-line and mobile-cellular services widely available
with a combined telephone subscribership of roughly 140 per 100
persons; rapid assimilation of a full range of telecommunications
technologies leading to a boom in e-commerce
international: country code - 82; numerous submarine cables provide
links throughout Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Europe, and US;
satellite earth stations - 66
Broadcast media:
multiple national television networks with 2 of the 3 largest
networks publicly operated; the largest privately-owned network,
Seoul Broadcasting Service (SBS), has ties with other commercial TV
networks; cable and satellite TV subscription services are
available; publicly-operated radio broadcast networks and a large
number of privately-owned radio broadcasting networks, each with
multiple affiliates, and independent local stations (2008)
Internet country code:
.kr
Internet hosts:
291,329 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 58
Internet users:
39.4 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 11
Transportation ::Korea, South
Airports:
116 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 53
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 72
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 21
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 22 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 44
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 42 (2010)
Heliports:
510 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 1,423 km; refined products 827 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 3,381 km
country comparison to the world: 51
standard gauge: 3,381 km 1.435-m gauge (1,843 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 103,029 km
country comparison to the world: 41
paved: 80,642 km (includes 3,367 km of expressways)
unpaved: 22,387 km (2008)
Waterways:
1,608 km; (most navigable only by small craft) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 50
Merchant marine:
total: 819
country comparison to the world: 14
by type: bulk carrier 201, cargo 246, carrier 5, chemical tanker
132, container 69, liquefied gas 40, passenger 5, passenger/cargo
21, petroleum tanker 67, refrigerated cargo 15, roll on/roll off 9,
vehicle carrier 9
foreign-owned: 33 (China 9, France 1, Japan 15, US 8)
registered in other countries: 438 (Cambodia 11, Ghana 1, Honduras
6, Hong Kong 3, Indonesia 1, Kiribati 2, Liberia 1, Malta 3,
Marshall Islands 25, North Korea 1, Panama 366, Philippines 1,
Russia 1, Singapore 9, Tuvalu 1, unknown 6) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Inch'on, P'ohang, Pusan, Ulsan, Yosu
Military ::Korea, South
Military branches:
Republic of Korea Army, Navy (includes Marine Corps), Air Force
(2009)
Military service age and obligation:
20-30 years of age for compulsory military service, with middle
school education required; conscript service obligation - 21 months
(Army, Marines), 23 months (Navy), 24 months (Air Force); 18-26
years of age for voluntary military service; women, in service since
1950, admitted to 7 service branches, including infantry, but
excluded from artillery, armor, anti-air, and chaplaincy corps; some
4,000 women serve as commissioned and noncommissioned officers,
approx. 2.3% of all officers; HIV-positive individuals are exempt
from military service (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 13,274,442
females age 16-49: 12,542,699 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 10,929,625
females age 16-49: 10,264,608 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 370,645
female: 321,765 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
2.7% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 53
Transnational Issues ::Korea, South
Disputes - international:
Military Demarcation Line within the 4-km wide Demilitarized Zone
has separated North from South Korea since 1953; periodic incidents
with North Korea in the Yellow Sea over the Northern Limit Line,
which South Korea claims as a maritime boundary; South Korea and
Japan claim Liancourt Rocks (Tok-do/Take-shima), occupied by South
Korea since 1954
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Kosovo (Europe)
Introduction ::Kosovo
Background:
Ethnic Serbs migrated to the territories of modern Kosovo in the 7th
century but did not fully incorporate them into the Serbian realm
until the early 13th century. During the medieval period, Kosovo
became the center of a Serbian Empire and saw the construction of
many important Serb religious sites, including many architecturally
significant Serbian Orthodox monasteries. The defeat of Serbian
forces at the Battle of Kosovo in 1389 led to five centuries of
Ottoman rule during which large numbers of Turks and Albanians moved
to Kosovo. By the end of the 19th century, Albanians replaced the
Serbs as the dominant ethnic group in Kosovo. Serbia reacquired
control over Kosovo from the Ottoman Empire during the First Balkan
War of 1912. Kosovo became an autonomous province of Serbia with
status almost equivalent to that of a republic under the 1974
Constitution of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
Despite legislative concessions, Albanian nationalism increased in
the 1980s, which led to riots and calls for Kosovo's independence.
At the same time, Serb nationalist leaders, such as Slobodan
MILOSEVIC, exploited Kosovo Serb claims of maltreatment to secure
votes from supporters, many of whom viewed Kosovo as their cultural
heartland. Under MILOSEVIC's leadership, Serbia instituted a new
constitution in 1989 that revoked Kosovo's status as an autonomous
province of Serbia. Kosovo Albanian leaders responded in 1991 by
organizing a referendum that declared Kosovo independent. Under
MILOSEVIC, Serbia carried out repressive measures against the
Albanians in the early 1990s as the unofficial Kosovo government,
led by Ibrahim RUGOVA, used passive resistance in an attempt to try
to gain international assistance and recognition of an independent
Kosovo. Albanians dissatisfied with RUGOVA's passive strategy in the
1990s created the Kosovo Liberation Army and launched an insurgency.
Starting in 1998, Serbian military, police, and paramilitary forces
conducted a counterinsurgency campaign that resulted in massacres
and massive expulsions of ethnic Albanians. Approximately 800,000
Albanians were forced from their homes in Kosovo during this time.
International attempts to mediate the conflict failed, and
MILOSEVIC's rejection of a proposed settlement led to a three-month
NATO military campaign against Serbia beginning in March 1999 that
forced Serbia to agree to withdraw its military and police forces
from Kosovo. UN Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999) placed
Kosovo under a transitional administration, the UN Interim
Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), pending a determination of
Kosovo's future status. A UN-led process began in late 2005 to
determine Kosovo's final status. The negotiations ran in stages
between 2006 and 2007, but ended without agreement between Belgrade
and Pristina. On 17 February 2008, the Kosovo Assembly declared
Kosovo independent. Since then, over sixty countries have recognized
Kosovo, and it has joined the International Monetary Fund and World
Bank. Serbia continues to reject Kosovo's independence and it
subsequently sought an advisory opinion from the International Court
of Justice (ICJ) on the legality under international law of Kosovo's
independence declaration. In July 2010 the ICJ ruled that Kosovo's
declaration of independence did not violate international law.
Geography ::Kosovo
Location:
Southeast Europe, between Serbia and Macedonia
Geographic coordinates:
42 35 N, 21 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 10,887 sq km
country comparison to the world: 168
land: 10,887 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Delaware
Land boundaries:
total: 702 km
border countries: Albania 112 km, Macedonia 159 km, Montenegro 79
km, Serbia 352 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
influenced by continental air masses resulting in relatively cold
winters with heavy snowfall and hot, dry summers and autumns;
Mediterranean and alpine influences create regional variation;
maximum rainfall between October and December
Terrain:
flat fluvial basin with an elevation of 400-700 m above sea level
surrounded by several high mountain ranges with elevations of 2,000
to 2,500 m
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Drini i Bardhe/Beli Drim 297 m (located on the border
with Albania)
highest point: Gjeravica/Deravica 2,656 m
Natural resources:
nickel, lead, zinc, magnesium, lignite, kaolin, chrome, bauxite
People ::Kosovo
Population:
1,815,048 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Age structure:
0-14 years: 27.7% (male 260,678/female 239,779)
15-64 years: 65.7% (male 617,890/female 567,939)
65 years and over: 6.6% (male 50,463/female 68,089) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 26.3 years
male: 25.8 years
female: 26.8 years (2010 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.086 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Kosovar (Albanian), Kosovac (Serbian)
adjective: Kosovar (Albanian), Kosovski (Serbian)
note: Kosovan, a neutral term, is sometimes also used as a noun or
adjective
Ethnic groups:
Albanians 92%, other (Serb, Bosniak, Gorani, Roma, Turk, Ashkali,
Egyptian) 8% (2008)
Religions:
Muslim, Serbian Orthodox, Roman Catholic
Languages:
Albanian (official), Serbian (official), Bosnian, Turkish, Roma
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.9%
male: 96.6%
female: 87.5% (2007 Census)
Government ::Kosovo
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Kosovo
conventional short form: Kosovo
local long form: Republika e Kosoves (Republika Kosovo)
local short form: Kosova (Kosovo)
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Pristina (Prishtine, Prishtina)
geographic coordinates: 42 40 N, 21 10 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
30 municipalities (komunat, singular - komuna in Albanian; opstine,
singular - opstina in Serbian); Decan (Decani), Dragash (Dragas),
Ferizaj (Urosevac), Fushe Kosove (Kosovo Polje), Gjakove (Dakovica),
Gjilan (Gnjilane), Gllogovc/Drenas (Glogovac), Istog (Istok),
Kacanik, Kamenice/Dardana (Kamenica), Kline (Klina), Leposaviq
(Leposavic), Lipjan (Lipljan), Malisheve (Malisevo), Mitrovice
(Mitrovica), Novoberde (Novo Brdo), Obiliq (Obilic), Peje (Pec),
Podujeve (Podujevo), Prishtine (Pristina), Prizren, Rahovec
(Orahovac), Shterpce (Strpce), Shtime (Stimlje), Skenderaj (Srbica),
Suhareke (Suva Reka), Viti (Vitina), Vushtrri (Vucitrn), Zubin
Potok, Zvecan
note - the Government of Kosovo has announced the establishment of
eight additional municipalities in accordance with UN Special Envoy
AHTISAARI's mandated decentralization process; the boundaries of
several municipalities are pending final approval; the
municipalities are: Gracanice (Gracanica), Hani i Elezit (Dzeneral
Jankovic), Junik, Kllokot-Verboc (Klokot-Vrbovac), Mamushe (Mamusa),
Partes, and Ranillug (Ranilug); in addition, the current Mitrovice
(Mitrovica) municipality is to be split into Mitrovice (Mitrovica)
North and Mitrovice (Mitrovica) South
Independence:
17 February 2008 (from Serbia)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 17 February (2008)
Constitution:
adopted by the Kosovo Assembly on 9 April 2008; effective 15 June
2008
Legal system:
evolving legal system based on terms of former UN Special Envoy
Martti AHTISAARI's Plan for Kosovo's supervised independence; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Acting President Jakup KRASNIQI (since 27 September
2010)
head of government: Prime Minister Hashim THACI (since 9 January
2008)
cabinet: ministers; elected by the Kosovo Assembly
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the president elected for a five-year term by the Kosovo
Assembly; election last held on 9 January 2008 (next to be held - a
special election in 2011); the prime minister elected by the Kosovo
Assembly
election results: Fatmir SEJDIU reelected president after three
rounds; note - resigned from the office of president on 27
Septermber 2010; Hashim THACI elected prime minister by the Assembly
Legislative branch:
unicameral national Assembly (120 seats; 100 seats directly elected,
10 seats guaranteed for ethnic Serbs, 10 seats guaranteed for other
ethnic minorities; members to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 17 November 2007 (next expected to be held
in 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - PDK 34.3%, LDK 22.6%,
AKR 12.3%, LDD 10.0%, AAK 9.6%, other 11.2%; seats by party - PDK
37, LDK 25, AKR 13, LDD 11, AAK 10, other 4
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; district courts; municipal courts
note: the Kosovo Constitution dictates that the Supreme Court of
Kosovo is the highest judicial authority, and provides for a Kosovo
Judicial Council (KJC) that proposes to the president candidates for
appointment or reappointment as judges and prosecutors; the KJC is
also responsible for decisions on the promotion and transfer of
judges and disciplinary proceedings against judges; at least 15
percent of Supreme Court and district court judges shall be from
non-majority communities
Political parties and leaders:
Albanian Christian Democratic Party of Kosovo or PShDK [Ton MARKU];
Alliance for a New Kosovo or AKR [Behgjet PACOLLI]; Alliance for the
Future of Kosovo or AAK [Ramush HARADINAJ]; Alliance of Independent
Social Democrats of Kosovo and Metohija or SDSKIM [Ljubisa ZIVIC];
Bosniak Vakat Coalition or DSV [Sadik IDRIZI]; Citizens' Initiative
of Gora or GIG [Murselj HALJILJI]; Democratic Action Party or SDA
[Numan BALIC]; Democratic League of Dardania or LDD [Nexhat DACI];
Democratic League of Kosovo or LDK [Fatmir SEJDIU]; Democratic Party
of Ashkali of Kosovo or PDAK [Berat QERIMI]; Democratic Party of
Bosniaks [Dzezair MURATI]; Democratic Party of Kosovo or PDK [Hashim
THACI]; Independent Liberal Party or SLS [Slobadan PETROVIC]; Kosovo
Democratic Turkish Party of KDTP [Mahir YAGCILAR]; New Democratic
Initiative of Kosovo or IRDK [Xhevdet NEZIRAJ]; New Democratic Party
or ND [Predrag JOVIC]; New Kosovo Alliance or AKR [Behxhet PACOLLI];
Reform Party Ora [Teuta SAHATCIA]; Serb National Party or SNS
[Mihailo SCEPANOVIC]; Serbian Democratic Party of Kosovo and
Metohija or SDS KiM [Slavisa PETKOVIC]; Serbian Kosovo and Metohija
Party or SKMS [Dragisa MIRIC]; Serbian National Council of Northern
Kosovo and Metohija or SNV [Milan IVANOVIC]; Social Democratic Party
of Kosovo or PSDK [Agim CEKU]; Socialist Party of Kosovo or PSK
[Emrush XHEMAJLI]; United Roma Party of Kosovo or PREBK [Haxhi Zylfi
MERXHA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Council for the Defense of Human Rights and Freedom (human rights);
Humanitarian Law Centre (human rights); Movement for
Self-Determination; Serb National Council (SNV)
International organization participation:
IBRD, IDA, IFC, IMF, ITUC, MIGA
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Avni SPAHIU
chancery: 1101 30th Street NW, Suites 330/340, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: 202-380-3581
FAX: 202-380-3628