Factbook dossier
Background
The first recorded kingdom (Choson) on the Korean Peninsula dates from approximately 2300 B.C. Over the subsequent centuries, three main kingdoms -- Kogoryo, Baekche, and Silla -- were established on the Peninsula. By the 5 th century A.D., Kogoryo emerged as the most powerful, with control over much of the Peninsula and part of Manchuria (modern-day northeast China). However, Silla allied with the Chinese to create the first unified Korean state in 688. Following the collapse of Silla in the 9 th century, Korea was unified under the Koryo (Goryeo; 918-1392) and the Chosen (Joseon; 1392-1910) dynasties. Korea became the object of intense imperialistic rivalry among the Chinese (its traditional benefactor), Japanese, and Russian empires in the latter half of the 19th and early 20 th centuries. After the Sino-Japanese War (1894-95) and the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905), Korea was occupied by Imperial Japan. In 1910, Japan formally annexed the entire Peninsula. Korea regained its independence after Japan's surrender to the US and its allies in 1945. A US-supported democratic government (Republic of Korea, ROK) was set up in the southern half of the Korean Peninsula, while a communist-style government backed by the Soviet Union was installed in the north (North Korea; aka Democratic People's Republic of Korea, DPRK). During the Korean War (1950-53), US troops and UN forces fought alongside ROK soldiers to defend South Korea from a North Korean invasion supported by communist China and the Soviet Union. After the 1953 armistice, the two Koreas were separated by a demilitarized …
Location
Eastern Asia, southern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea
Area
total : 99,720 sq km land: 96,920 sq km water: 2,800 sq km
Natural resources
coal, tungsten, graphite, molybdenum, lead, hydropower potential
Natural hazards
occasional typhoons bring high winds and floods; low-level seismic activity common in southwest volcanism: Halla (1,950 m) is considered historically active; it has not erupted in many centuries
Population
total: 51,486,343 (2025 est.) male: 25,636,127 female: 25,850,216
Languages
Korean, English major-language sample(s): 월드 팩트북, 필수적인 기본 정보 제공처 (Korean) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions
Protestant 17%, Buddhist 16%, Catholic 6%, none 60% (2021 est.) note: many people also carry on at least some Confucian traditions and practices
Environmental issues
air pollution in large cities; acid rain; water pollution from sewage and industrial effluents; drift-net fishing; solid waste disposal; transboundary air pollution from China
Government type
presidential republic
Capital
name: Seoul geographic coordinates: 37 33 N, 126 59 E time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the name originates from the Korean word meaning "capital city;" it was the capital of the unified Korea from 1392 to 1910 note: Sejong, located some 120 km (75 mi) south of Seoul, serves as an administrative capital for segments of the South Korean government
Executive branch
chief of state: President LEE Jae-myung (since 4 June 2025) head of government: Prime Minister KIM Min-seok (since 3 July 2025) cabinet: State Council appointed by the president on the prime minister's recommendation election/appointment process: president directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a single 5-year term; prime minister appointed by president with consent of the National Assembly most recent election date: 3 June 2025 (special snap election in the wake of the impeachment of former President YOON Suk-yeol) election results: 2025: LEE Jae-myung elected president; LEE Jae-myung (DPK) 49.4%, KIM Moon-soo (PPP) 41.2%, LEE Jun-seok (New Reform Party) 8.3% 2022 : YOON Suk-yeol elected president; YOON Suk-yeol (PPP) 48.6%, LEE Jae-myung (DPK) 47.8%; other 3.6% expected date of next election: 2030 note: the president is both chief of state and head of government; the prime minister serves as the principal executive assistant to the president, similar to the role of a vice president
Legislative branch
legislature name: National Assembly (Kuk Hoe) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 300 (all directly elected) electoral system: mixed system scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 4/10/2024 parties elected and seats per party: Democratic Party of Korea (161); People Power Party (90); People Future Party (18); Other (31) percentage of women in chamber: 20.3% expected date of next election: April 2028
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$2.607 trillion (2023 est.) $2.572 trillion (2022 est.) $2.507 trillion (2021 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP per capita
$50,400 (2023 est.) $49,800 (2022 est.) $48,400 (2021 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
2.3% (2024 est.) 3.6% (2023 est.) 5.1% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Exports - partners
China 25%, USA 18%, Hong Kong 4%, Japan 4%, Taiwan 4% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Imports - partners
China 31%, USA 13%, Japan 9%, Germany 5%, Australia 4% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Military and security forces
Armed Forces of the Republic of Korea: Republic of Korea Army (ROKA), Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN, includes Marine Corps, ROKMC), Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries: Korea Coast Guard; Ministry of Interior and Safety: Korean National Police Agency (2025)
Military expenditures
2.3% of GDP (2025 est.) 2.4% of GDP (2024 est.) 2.4% of GDP (2023 est.) 2.4% of GDP (2022 est.) 2.4% of GDP (2021 est.)