Background: The first recorded kingdom (Choson) on the Korean Peninsula dates from approximately 2,300 B.C. Over the subsequent centuries, three main kingdoms -- Kogoryo, Baekche, and Silla -- were established on the Peninsula. By the 5th 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 9th 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 20th 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 zone. Syngman RHEE led the country as its first president from 1948 to 1960. PARK Chung-hee took over leadership of the country in a 1961 coup. During his controversial rule (1961-79), South Korea achieved rapid economic growth, with per capita income rising to roughly 17 times the level of North Korea by 1979. PARK was assassinated in 1979, and subsequent years were marked by political turmoil and continued military rule as the country's pro-democracy movement grew. South Korea held its first free presidential election under a revised democratic constitution in 1987, with former South Korean Army general ROH Tae-woo winning a close race. In 1993, KIM Young-sam became the first civilian president of South Korea's new democratic era. President KIM Dae-jung (1998-2003) won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000 for his contributions to South Korean democracy and his 'Sunshine Policy' of engagement with North Korea. President PARK Geun-hye, daughter of former South Korean President PARK Chung-hee, took office in 2013 as South Korea's first female leader. In 2016, the National Assembly passed an impeachment motion against PARK over her alleged involvement in a corruption and influence-peddling scandal, triggering an early presidential election in 2017 won by MOON Jae-in. In 2022, longtime prosecutor and political newcomer YOON Suk Yeol won the presidency by the slimmest margin in South Korean history. Discord and tensions with North Korea, punctuated by North Korean military provocations, missile launches, and nuclear tests, have permeated inter-Korean relations for years. Relations remained strained, despite a period of respite in 2018-2019 ushered in by North Korea's participation in the 2018 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in South Korea and high-level diplomatic meetings, including historic US-North Korea summits. In 2024, Pyongyang announced it was ending all economic cooperation with South Korea, a move that followed earlier proclamations that it was scrapping a 2018 military pact to de-escalate tensions along their militarized border, abandoning the country’s decades-long pursuit of peaceful unification with South Korea, and designating the South as North Korea’s “principal enemy.”

Area
Total: 99,720 km²
Land: 96,920 km²
Water: 2,800 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania; slightly larger than Indiana

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

Land use
Agricultural land: 16.1% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 14.9% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 2.1% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 0.6% (2023 est.)
Forest: 64.4% (2023 est.)
Other: 19.5% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land: 7,780 km² (2012)

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

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

Population
Total: 52,081,799 (2024 est.)
Male: 26,119,111
Female: 25,962,688
Distribution: the population is primarily concentrated in the lowland areas, where density is 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
Growth rate: 0.21% (2024 est.)

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

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: 43.6 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 15.2 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 28.4 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 3.5 (2024 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.)

Population distribution: the population is primarily concentrated in the lowland areas, where density is 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)

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.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 4 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 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.)

Drinking water source
Total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access
Total: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 0.4% (2020 est.)

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 2.7% (2024 est.); 2.7% (2023 est.); 2.9% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

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

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

Legal system: mixed 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

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: 2,030
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 2,028

Flag description: white with a red-and-blue yin-yang symbol in the center; a black trigram (kwae) from the ancient I Ching (Book of Changes) is in each corner of the white field

National anthem
Title: 'Aegukga' (Patriotic Song)
Lyrics/music: YUN Ch'i-Ho or AN Ch'ang-Ho/AHN Eaktay
History: adopted 1948, well-known by 1910; North Korea's and South Korea's anthems have the same name and a similar melody, but different lyrics

National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites: 17 (15 cultural, 2 natural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales:

Real gdp growth rate: 1.4% (2023 est.); 2.6% (2022 est.); 4.3% (2021 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: 1.4% (2023 est.); 2.6% (2022 est.); 4.3% (2021 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

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.)
Investment in inventories: -0.1% (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

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

Industrial production growth rate: 1.1% (2023 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 29.713 million (2024 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 2.7% (2024 est.); 2.7% (2023 est.); 2.9% (2022 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 2.7% (2024 est.); 2.7% (2023 est.); 2.9% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Budget
Revenues: $513.21 billion (2023 est.)
Expenditures: $532.023 billion (2023 est.)
Note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 15.7% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Exports: $835.149 billion (2024 est.); $769.243 billion (2023 est.); $825.961 billion (2022 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: integrated circuits, cars, refined petroleum, plastics, machine parts (2023)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $758.724 billion (2024 est.); $758.41 billion (2023 est.); $817.594 billion (2022 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: integrated circuits, natural gas, crude petroleum, machinery, cars (2023)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Electricity
Installed generating capacity: 151.139 million kW (2023 est.)
Consumption: 575.359 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 19.688 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Access electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 61.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources nuclear: 30.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources solar: 5.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources wind: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources tide and wave: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 1.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal
Production: 16.081 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Consumption: 136.817 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Exports: 500 metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports: 122.845 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Proven reserves: 326 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 38,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 2.542 million bbl/day (2024 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 55.127 million cubic meters (2021 est.)
Consumption: 57.314 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Exports: 93.639 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Imports: 60.025 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Proven reserves: 7.079 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 644.231 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 275.411 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 248.599 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 120.222 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 234.668 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 22.155 million (2023 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 43 (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 83.9 million (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 149 (2022 est.)

Internet
Users percent of population: 97% (2023 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 24.1 million (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 47 (2023 est.)

Military expenditures: 2.3% of GDP (2025 est.); 2.3% of GDP (2024 est.); 2.4% of GDP (2023 est.); 2.4% of GDP (2022 est.); 2.4% of GDP (2021 est.)

Airports: 92 (2025)

Heliports: 1,280 (2025)

Railways
Total: 3,979 km (2016)
Standard gauge: 3,979 km (2016) 1.435-m gauge (2,727 km electrified)

Merchant marine
Total: 2,149 (2023)
By type: bulk carrier 93, container ship 115, general cargo 362, oil tanker 219, other 1,360