Map of South Korea | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024 | More stats

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Background:


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Location: Eastern Asia, southern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea

Geographic coordinates: 37 00 N, 127 30 E

Map reference: Asia

Area
Total: 99,720 km²
Land: 96,920 km²
Water: 2,800 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania; slightly larger than Indiana
Country comparison total: 237 km
Country comparison border countries: (1) North Korea 237 km

Land boundaries
Total: 237 km
Border countries: (1) North Korea 237 km

Coastline: 2,413 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm; between 3 nm and 12 nm in the Korea Strait
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Continental shelf: not specified

Climate: temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter; cold winters

Terrain: mostly hills and mountains; wide coastal plains in west and south

Elevation
Highest point: Halla-san 1,950 m
Lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 m
Mean elevation: 282 m

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

Land use
Agricultural land: 18.1% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land arable land: 15.3% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent crops: 2.2% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent pasture: 0.6% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land forest: 63.9% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land other: 18% (2018 est.)

Irrigated land: 7,780 km² (2012)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal
Municipal: 6.672 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Industrial: 4.45 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Agricultural: 15.96 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total renewable water resources: 69.7 billion m³ (2020 est.)

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 although it has not erupted in many centuries

Geography
Note: strategic location on Korea Strait; about 3,000 mostly small and uninhabited islands lie off the western and southern coasts


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Population
Distribution: with approximately 70% of the country considered mountainous, the country's population is primarily concentrated in the lowland areas, where density is quite high; Gyeonggi Province in the northwest, which surrounds the capital of Seoul and contains the port of Incheon, is the most densely populated province; Gangwon in the northeast is the least populated
Total: 52,081,799
Male: 26,119,111
Female: 25,962,688 (2024 est.)
Growth rate: 0.21% (2024 est.)
Below poverty line: 14.4% (2016 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Korean(s)
Adjective: Korean

Ethnic groups: homogeneous

Languages: Korean, English
Major-language samples: 월드 팩트북, 필수적인 기본 정보 제공처 (Korean); Gheos World Guide, 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

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 11.3% (male 3,024,508/female 2,873,523)
15-64 years: 69.4% (male 18,653,915/female 17,465,817)
65 years and over: 19.3% (2024 est.) (male 4,440,688/female 5,623,348)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 39.9
Youth dependency ratio: 16.6
Elderly dependency ratio: 23.3
Potential support ratio: 4.3 (2021 est.)

Median age
Total: 45.5 years (2024 est.)
Male: 44 years
Female: 47.3 years

Population growth rate: 0.21% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 7 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 7.4 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Net migration rate: 2.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Population distribution: with approximately 70% of the country considered mountainous, the country's population is primarily concentrated in the lowland areas, where density is quite high; Gyeonggi Province in the northwest, which surrounds the capital of Seoul and contains the port of Incheon, is the most densely populated province; Gangwon in the northeast is the least populated

Urbanization
Urban population: 81.5% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 0.31% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 9.988 million SEOUL (capital), 3.472 million Busan, 2.849 million Incheon, 2.181 million Daegu (Taegu), 1.577 million Daejon (Taejon), 1.529 million Gwangju (Kwangju) (2023)

Environment
Current issues: air pollution in large cities; acid rain; water pollution from the discharge of sewage and industrial effluents; drift net fishing; solid waste disposal; transboundary air pollution from China
International agreements party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Air pollutants
Particulate matter emissions: 24.04 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 620.3 megatons (2016 est.)
Methane emissions: 30.28 megatons (2020 est.)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth: 32.2 years (2019 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 8 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 2.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 3 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 2.6 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 83.4 years (2024 est.)
Male: 80.3 years
Female: 86.6 years

Total fertility rate: 1.12 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate: 82.3% (2018)
Note: percent of women aged 20-49

Drinking water source
Improved urban: NA
Unimproved rural: NA
Unimproved total: 0.1% of population (2020 est.)
Unimproved urban: NA

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density: 12.4 beds/1,000 population (2018)

Sanitation facility access
Improved urban: NA
Improved rural: NA
Improved total: 99.9% of population
Unimproved urban: NA
Unimproved rural: NA
Unimproved total: 0.1% of population (2020 est.)

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 4.7% (2016)

Alcohol consumption
Per capita total: 7.74 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita beer: 1.72 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita wine: 0.15 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita spirits: 0.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita other alcohols: 5.66 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use
Total: 20.8% (2020 est.)
Male: 35.7% (2020 est.)
Female: 5.9% (2020 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 0.9% (2019/21) NA

Education expenditures: 4.7% of GDP (2019 est.)

Literacy
Total population: 98.8% NA
Male: 99.2% NA
Female: 98.4% NA

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 17 years
Male: 17 years
Female: 16 years (2020)

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 5.4% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 5.4% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 female: 5.4% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment


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Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of Korea
Conventional short form: South Korea
Local long form: Taehan-min'guk
Local short form: Han'guk; abbreviation: ROK
Etymology: derived from the Chinese name for Goryeo, which was the Korean dynasty that united the peninsula in the 10th century A.D.; the South Korean name 'Han'guk' derives from the long form, 'Taehan-min'guk,' which is itself a derivation from 'Daehan-je'guk,' which means 'the Great Empire of the Han'; 'Han' refers to the 'Sam'han' or the 'Three Han Kingdoms' (Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla from the Three Kingdoms Era, 1st-7th centuries A.D.)

Government type: presidential republic

Capital
Name: Seoul
Note: Sejong, located some 120 km (75 mi) south of Seoul, serves as an administrative capital for segments of the South Korean Government
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' and which is believed to be derived from Seorabeol, the name of the capital of the ancient Korean Kingdom of Silla

Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (do, singular and plural), 6 metropolitan cities (gwangyeoksi, singular and plural), 1 special city (teugbyeolsi), and 1 special self-governing city (teukbyeoljachisi); provinces: Chungcheongbuk-do (North Chungcheong), Chungcheongnam-do (South Chungcheong), Gangwon-do, Gyeongsangbuk-do (North Gyeongsang), Gyeonggi-do, Gyeongsangnam-do (South Gyeongsang), Jeju-do (Jeju), Jeollabuk-do (North Jeolla), Jeollanam-do (South Jeolla); metropolitan cities: Busan (Pusan), Daegu (Taegu), Daejeon (Taejon), Gwangju (Kwangju), Incheon (Inch'on), Ulsan; special city: Seoul; special self-governing city: Sejong

Dependent areas

Independence: 15 August 1945 (from Japan)

National holiday: Liberation Day, 15 August (1945)

Constitution
History: several previous; latest passed by National Assembly 12 October 1987, approved in referendum 28 October 1987, effective 25 February 1988
Amendments: proposed by the president or by majority support of the National Assembly membership; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly membership, approval in a referendum by more than one half of the votes by more than one half of eligible voters, and promulgation by the president; amended several times, last in 1987

Legal system: mixed legal system combining European civil law, Anglo-American law, and Chinese classical thought

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship
Citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of South Korea
Dual citizenship recognized: no
Residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Note: the voting age was lowered from 19 to 18 beginning with the 2020 national election

Executive branch
Chief of state: President YOON Suk Yeol (since 10 May 2022)
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
Head of government: President YOON Suk Yeol (since 10 May 2022)
Cabinet: State Council appointed by the president on the prime minister's recommendation
Elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a single 5-year term; election last held on 9 March 2022 (next to be held in March 2,027); prime minister appointed by president with consent of the National Assembly
Election results: 2022: YOON Suk-yeol elected president; YOON Suk-yeol (PPP) 48.6%, LEE Jae-myung (DP) 47.8%; other 3.6%; 2017: MOON Jae-in elected president; MOON Jae-in (DP) 41.1%, HONG Joon-pyo (Liberty Korea Party) 24%, AHN Cheol-soo (PP) 21.4%, YOO Seung-min (Bareun Party) 6.8%, SIM Sang-jung (Justice Party) 6.2%

Legislative branch
Description: unicameral National Assembly or Gukhoe (300 seats; 253 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 47 directly elected in a single national constituency by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)
Elections: last held on 10 April 2024 (next to be held in April 2,028)
Elections results: percent of vote by party/coalition (constituency) - Democratic Alliance 52.3%, PPP 45.7%, others 2%; percent of vote by party/coalition (proportional) - PPP 36.7%, Democratic Alliance 26.7%, Rebuilding Korea Party 24.3%, New Reform Party 3.6%, New Future Party 1.7%, others 7%; seats by party - Democratic Alliance 176 (DPK 169), PPP 108, Rebuilding Korea Party 12, New Reform Party 3, New Future Party 1; composition - men 240, women 60, percentage women 20%

Judicial branch
Highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of a chief justice and 13 justices); Constitutional Court (consists of a court head and 8 justices)
Judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the president with the consent of the National Assembly; other justices appointed by the president upon the recommendation of the chief justice and consent of the National Assembly; position of the chief justice is a 6-year nonrenewable term; other justices serve 6-year renewable terms; Constitutional Court justices appointed - 3 by the president, 3 by the National Assembly, and 3 by the Supreme Court chief justice; court head serves until retirement at age 70, while other justices serve 6-year renewable terms with mandatory retirement at age 65
Subordinate courts: High Courts; District Courts; Branch Courts (organized under the District Courts); specialized courts for family and administrative issues

Political parties and leaders: Basic Income Party , Democratic Party of Korea or DPK , New Future Party, New Reform Party , Open Democratic Party or ODP , People Power Party or PPP , Progressive Party or Jinbo Party , Rebuilding Korea Party , Social Democratic Party

International organization participation: ADB, AfDB (nonregional member), APEC, Arctic Council (observer), ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, CABEI, CD, CICA, CP, EAS, EBRD, FAO, FATF, G-20, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner), Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club (associate), PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNMOGIP, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation
In the us: chief of mission: Ambassador CHO Hyundong (since 19 April 2023)
In the us chancery: 2,450 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 939-5,600
In the us fax: [1] (202) 797-0595
In the us email address and website: generalusa@mofa.go.kr; [link]
In the us consulates general: Anchorage (AK), Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Hagatna (Guam), Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Philadelphia
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Philip S. GOLDBERG (since 29 July 2022)
From the us embassy: 188 Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul
From the us mailing address: 9,600 Seoul Place, Washington, DC 20,521-9,600
From the us telephone: [82] (2) 397-4,114
From the us fax: [82] (2) 397-4,101
From the us email address and website: seoulinfoACS@state.gov; [link]
From the us consulates: Busan

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 South 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 symbols: taegeuk (yin yang symbol), Hibiscus syriacus (Rose of Sharon), Siberian tiger; national colors: red, white, blue, black

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's and South Korea's anthems share the same name and have a vaguely similar melody but have different lyrics

National heritage
Total world heritage sites: 16 (14 cultural, 2 natural)
Selected world heritage site locales:


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Economy overview: strong export- and technology-oriented East Asian economy; manufacturing led by semiconductor and automotive industries; aging workforce; increased restraint in fiscal policy while maintaining industry support initiatives

Real gdp purchasing power parity: $2.615 trillion (2023 est.); $2.58 trillion (2022 est.); $2.515 trillion (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars

Real gdp growth rate: 1.36% (2023 est.); 2.61% (2022 est.); 4.3% (2021 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: $50,600 (2023 est.); $49,900 (2022 est.); $48,600 (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 48.9% (2023 est.)
Government consumption: 18.9% (2023 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 32.2% (2023 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 44% (2023 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -43.9% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 1.6% (2023 est.)
Industry: 31.6% (2023 est.)
Services: 58.4% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Agriculture products: rice, vegetables, cabbages, milk, pork, onions, chicken, eggs, tangerines/mandarins, potatoes (2022)
Note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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

Industrial production growth rate: 1.14% (2023 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 29.611 million (2023 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 2.64% (2023 est.); 2.86% (2022 est.); 3.64% (2021 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 5.4% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 5.4% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 female: 5.4% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Population below poverty line: 14.4% (2016 est.)

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $542.275 billion (2022 est.)
Expenditures: $563.156 billion (2022 est.)
Note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 18.44% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Public debt: 51.18% of GDP (2022 est.)
Note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Revenue
From forest resources: 0.01% of GDP (2018 est.)
From coal: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Fiscal year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 3.59% (2023 est.); 5.09% (2022 est.); 2.5% (2021 est.)
Note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance: $35.488 billion (2023 est.); $25.829 billion (2022 est.); $85.228 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Exports: $769.534 billion (2023 est.); $825.961 billion (2022 est.); $769.424 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: China 21%, US 16%, Vietnam 9%, Japan 4%, Hong Kong 4% (2022)
Partners note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Commodities: integrated circuits, refined petroleum, cars, broadcasting equipment, ships (2022)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $761.102 billion (2023 est.); $817.594 billion (2022 est.); $698.98 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: China 23%, US 11%, Japan 8%, Australia 6%, Saudi Arabia 5% (2022)
Partners note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Commodities: crude petroleum, integrated circuits, natural gas, coal, refined petroleum (2022)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $420.93 billion (2023 est.); $423.366 billion (2022 est.); $463.281 billion (2021 est.)
Note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Debt external

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates:


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Electricity
Access electrification total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Installed generating capacity: 146.539 million kW (2022 est.)
Consumption: 586.766 billion kWh (2022 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 19.994 billion kWh (2022 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 65.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources nuclear: 27.6% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources solar: 4.6% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources wind: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources tide and wave: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 1.7% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Coal
Production: 15.595 million metric tons (2022 est.)
Consumption: 136.413 million metric tons (2022 est.)
Exports: 29,000 metric tons (2022 est.)
Imports: 121.272 million metric tons (2022 est.)
Proven reserves: 326 million metric tons (2022 est.)

Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 38,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 2.452 million bbl/day (2023 est.)

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas
Production: 55.127 million m³ (2021 est.)
Consumption: 59.48 billion m³ (2022 est.)
Exports: 93.639 million m³ (2022 est.)
Imports: 62.622 billion m³ (2022 est.)
Proven reserves: 7.079 billion m³ (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 643.456 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 268.556 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 250.135 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 124.765 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 235.518 million Btu/person (2022 est.)


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Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 22.81 million (2022 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 44 (2022 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 76.992 million (2022 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 149 (2022 est.)

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures: 2.7% of GDP (2023 est.); 2.6% of GDP (2022); 2.6% of GDP (2021); 2.6% of GDP (2020); 2.7% of GDP (2019)

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 (2023)
Note 1: the military reserves include Mobilization Reserve Forces (First Combat Forces) and Homeland Defense Forces (Regional Combat Forces)

Military service age and obligation: 18-35 years of age for compulsory military service for all men; minimum conscript service obligation varies by service - 18 months (Army, Marines, auxiliary police), 20 months (Navy, conscripted firefighters), 21 months (Air Force, social service), 36 months for alternative service; 18-29 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women (2024)
Note 1: women, in service since 1950, are able to serve in all branches and as of 2024 more than 15,000 served in the armed forces
Note 2: the military brings on over 200,000 conscripts each year

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 14 (2020)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 424
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 88,157,579 (2018)
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 11,929,560,000 (2018) mt-km

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: HL

Airports: 89 (2024)

Heliports: 1,275 (2024)

Pipelines: 3,790 km gas, 16 km oil, 889 km refined products (2018)

Railways

Roadways
Total: 100,428 km
Paved: 92,795 km (includes 4,193 km of expressways)
Unpaved: 7,633 km (2016)

Waterways: 1,600 km (2011) (most navigable only by small craft)

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons
Stateless persons: 202 (2022)

Illicit drugs: precursor chemicals used for illicit drugs, such as acetic anhydride, pseudoephedrine, and ephedrine, imported from the United States, Japan, India, and China and then either resold within South Korea or smuggled into other countries