View source for South Korea/Catalogs/Facts and figures

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''Based on the [http://korea.net/korea/kor_loca.asp?code=X01 Facts and figures] provided by Korea.net, accessed on 2008-11-07.''
{{Image|Taegeukgi.gif|right|200px|[[Taegeukgi]], the national flag of South Korea.}}
== Country ==
{{Image|Korean peninsula.jpg|right|200px|The Korean peninsula.}}
*'''Country name''': Republic of Korea
**Official Korean title: <span style="font-family: Batang, Serif">대한민국</span> (''Dae-han Min-guk''), meaning 'Great Han people's nation'
**Informal references: <span style="font-family: Batang, Serif">한국</span> (''Han-guk''), literally meaning 'Han nation'; an equivalent of 'Korea' & <span style="font-family: Batang, Serif">남한</span> (''Nam-han''), literally meaning the 'southern Han,' an equivalent of 'South Korea'
*'''Capital city''': [[Seoul]]
*'''National flag''': [[Taegeukgi]]
*'''National flower''': Mugunhwa ([[Rose of Sharon]])
*'''Currency''': [[Korean won|Won]] (￦)

== Geography ==
*'''Territory''': 99,678&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>
*'''Climate''': Temperate
*'''Highest mountain''': [[Hallasan]] (1950&nbsp;m)
*'''Longest rivers''': [[Han River]] or ''Han-gang'' (481.7&nbsp;km)
[[Image:Buddhas Birthday Festival in Busan.png|right|thumb|350px|{{Credit|Buddhas Birthday Festival in Busan.png}}A Buddhist festival celebrating the birth of [[Buddha]], in the city of [[Busan]].]]
== People ==
*'''Language''': [[Korean]], written in alphabet [[Hangeul]]
*'''Population''': 48.46 million (2007)
**'''Foreign residents''': 1.1 million
**'''Median age''': 36.1 yrs
**'''Population increase rate''': 0.33%
**'''Life expectancy''': males - 75.7 yrs & females - 82.4 yrs (2006)
**'''Religion''': approximately 50% of the population practices religion: Buddhism (43.0%) ; Protestantism (34.5%) ; Catholicism (20.6%)

== Government ==
*'''Political system''': a democratic republic; division of power among the executive, legislative, and the judiciary
*'''President''': [[Park Geun-hye]]
*'''Suffrage''': universal at age 19 (western equivalent of 18)
*'''Elections''':
**'''Presidential''': every 5 yrs
**'''National assembly''': every 4 yrs
**'''Local councils''': every 4 yrs
**'''Political parties''': Grand National Party; United Democratic Party; Liberal Forward Party; Democratic Labor Party; Pro-Park Geun-hye Alliance; Renewal of Korea Party
*'''AID''': in 2006, $455 million in Official Developmental Aid (ODA)

== Economy ==
*'''GDP''': $969.9 billion (2007)
*'''Per Capita GNI''': $20,045
*'''GDP Growth Rate''': 5% (2007)
*'''Foreign Exchange Reserves''': $262.2 billion
*'''Exports''': $371.5 billion (2007)
*'''Imports''': $356.8 billion
*'''FTA's''': [[Chile]], [[Singapore]], [[European Free Trade Association]], [[Association of Southeast Asian Nations]], and [[USA]].

== Miscellaneous ==
*'''Time zone''': [[UTC]] + 9 (Korea Standard Time); summer [[daylight saving time]] is not observed.
*'''Internet TLD''': .kr
*'''Calling code''': +82