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Korea (2008)
| Country | Republic of Korea (ROK) |
|---|---|
| Capital | Seoul |
| Territory | 100,032 km2(as of the end of 2007) |
| Population | 4,8600,000 |
| Language | Korean |
| Illiteracy | 0% (people aged between 20 and 40) |
| Religion | Buddhism 24%, Protestant 23%, Catholic 8%, Others 0.8%, None 44.2% (NSO, 2005) |
| Climate | Continental climate with four distinct seasons |
| Time Difference | GMT + 9 hours |
| Political System | Democratic Republic, Presidential System |
| Economy | The 15th largest economy in the world (by GDP), OECD member |
| Currency | Won |
| Flagship Industries |
ICT, Electronics, Semiconductor, Automobile, Shipbuilding, Steel, Petrochemical, etc. |
Major Economic Indicators
| 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GDP (USD 100 mil.) | 608 | 681 | 791 | 887 | 1,050 | 928 |
| Real GDP Growth (%) | 2.8 | 4.6 | 4.0 | 5.2 | 5.1 | 2.2 |
| Per Capita Income (USD) | 13,460 | 15,082 | 17,531 | 19,722 | 21,695 | 19,231 |
| Export (USD 1 bil.) | 194 | 254 | 284 | 325 | 371 | 422 |
| Export (USD 1 bil.) | 179 | 224 | 261 | 309 | 357 | 435 |
| Current Account Balance (USD 1 bil.) | 12 | 28 | 15 | 5 | 6 | -6 |
| Unemployment Rate (%) | 3.6 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.5 | 3.2 | 3.2 |
| CPI Growth (%) | 3.5 | 3.6 | 2.8 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 4.7 |
| National Bond Yield to Maturity (three-year bond, %) |
4.6 | 4.1 | 4.3 | 4.8 | 5.2 | 5.3 |
| Foreign Exchange Reserve (USD 1 bil.) |
155 | 199 | 210 | 239 | 262 | 201 |
| Exchange Rate | ||||||
| (Won-USD) | 1,192 | 1,145 | 1,024 | 956 | 929 | 1,103 |
| (Won-100Yen) | 1,030 | 1,059 | 931 | 821 | 790 | 1,077 |
| (Won-Euro) | 1,348 | 1,423 | 1,274 | 1,199 | 1,273 | 1,607 |
Source: The Bank of Korea, Korea Customs Service
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