Korea, South
The Country of the Week
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Seoul
- Population
- 51,486,343 (2025 est.)
- Area
- 99,720 sq km
- Government
- presidential republic
- Religions
- Protestant 17%, Buddhist 16%, Catholic 6%, none 60% (2021 est.)
- Ethnic Groups
- Korean
- Currency
- South Korean won (KRW)
- Life Expectancy
- 83.4 years (2024 est.)
- Internet Domain
- .kr
- Climate
- temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter; cold winters
- Terrain
- mostly hills and mountains; wide coastal plains in west and south
- Natural Resources
- coal, tungsten, graphite, molybdenum, lead, hydropower potential
- Major Exports
- integrated circuits, cars, refined petroleum, plastics, machine parts (2023)
Source: CIA World Factbook (public domain)
Overview
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.