South Korea has a population of over 48 million people and a capital and largest city of Seoul. It has a presidential republic government and official language of Korean. The country has a modern economy led by industries like electronics, automobiles, and shipbuilding. South Korea has strong economic and military ties with countries like the United States and also seeks to improve relations and trade with countries like India and China. Relations with North Korea remain tense due to ongoing conflicts over issues like North Korea's nuclear program.
2. Introduction to countryFACTS AND STATISTICSCapital(and largest city)Seoul37°35′N 127°0′E / 37.583°N 127°E / 37.583; 127Official languagesKoreanDemonymSouth Korean, KoreanGovernmentPresidentialrepublic - PresidentLee Myung-bak - Prime MinisterHan Seung-soo - Prime Minister-designateChung Un-chanLegislatureNational Assembly
3. - Independence declared March 1, 1919 - Provisional Government April 13, 1919 - LiberationAugust 15, 1945
4. - Constitution July 17, 1948 - Government Proclaimed August 15, 1948 AreaTotal100,140 km2 (108th) 38,622 sq mi - Water (%) 0.3Population estimate 48,379,392 (26th) - Density 493/km2 (21st)1,274/sq miGDP (PPP) 2008 estimate - Total$1.342 trillion[2] (13th) -
5. CurrencySouth Korean won (₩) (KRW)Time zoneKorea Standard Time (UTC+9) Summer (DST)Drives on theRightCalling code82
6. Social - cultural environmentEntertainmentcuisinesBig Bang (band), shown here on Thai television, is also a popular Korean boy band.Bulgogi, a traditional Korean barbecue made of either beef or porkSujeonggwa
7. Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB) on a mobile phoneThe android EveR-3 in the traditional Korean dress Hanbok.The Cheongja unhak sanggam mun maebyeong from the Goryeo Dynasty.
10. Economic environmentMS Freedom of the Seas, the largest passenger ship in the world built by STX Europe, owned by South Korea's STX Corporation. South Korea is the largest shipbuilder in the worldThe 63 Building was the tallest building in Asia when it was completed in 1985.
11. South Korea is the fifth largest automobile producer in the world, led by Hyundai and Kia.Samsung's Omnia HD, featuring a 3.7" AMOLEDtouchscreen. Samsung is the leading high-tech electronics brand and the largest consumer electronics manufacturer in the world.South Korea is the world's largest maker of LCD, Plasma display, OLED and CRT displays,[81] led by LG Display and Samsung SDI.
12. Transportation & energy Incheon International Airport, rated the best airport worldwide consecutively since 2005 by Airports Council International.An Express Bus Terminal on Seoul Subway Line 9.Banpo Bridge, a gigantic rainbow fountain with nearly 10,000 LED nozzles pumping out 190 tonnes of water every minute over Han River.
13. Science & technology Yi So-yeon, South Korea's first spaceflight participantAlbert HUBO,developed by KAIST, can make expressive gestures with its 5 separate fingers.
15. indiathe formal establishment of the diplomatic ties between the two countries in 1973, several trade agreements have been reached:
16. Agreement on Trade Promotion and Economic and Technological Cooperation in 1974; Agreement on Cooperation in Science & Technology in 1976; Convention on Double Taxation Avoidance in 1985; and Bilateral Investment Promotion/ Protection Agreement in 1996.
17. Trade between the two nations has increased exponentially, exemplified by the $530 million during the fiscal year of 1992-1993, and the $10 billion during 2006-2007.[1] During the 1997 Asian financial crisis, South Korean businesses sought to increase access to the global markets, and began trade investments with India.[1]Much of the economic investments of South Korea have been drained into China;[4] however, South Korea is currently the fifth largest source of investment in India.[5]2]
18. The two countries agreed to shift their focus to the revision of the visa policies between the two countries, expansion of trade, and establishment of free trade agreement to encourage further investment between the two countries. The United States engaged in the decolonization of Korea (mainly South, Soviet Union engaged North Korea) from Japan after World War II. After 3 years of military administration by the United States, the South Korean government was established. Upon the onset of the Korean War, the United States Military was sent to South Korea to defend against the invasion of North Korea and later China. Since then, the two nations have had strong economic, diplomatic and military ties, although they have at times disagreed with regards to policies towards North Korea. Currently, the U.S. Eighth Army, Seventh Air Force and U.S. Naval Forces Korea are stationed in South Korea.
19. 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.[30]
20. Despite the Sunshine Policy and efforts at reconciliation, the progress was complicated by North Korean missile tests in 1993, 1998, 2006 and 2009.
21. As of mid 2009, relationships between North and South Korea are very tense; North Korea has been reported to have deployed missiles,[31] ended its former agreements with South Korea,[32] and threatened South Korea and the United States not to interfere with a satellite launch it had planned.[33]
22. As of 2009, North and South Korea are still technically at war (having never signed an armistice after the Korean War) and share the world’s most heavily fortified border.[34]
23. On May 27, 2009 , North Korea declared that the ceasefire treaty, signed post Korean War, is no longer valid due to the South Korean government's pledge to "definitely join" the Proliferation Security Initiative.