Area Total | 99,720 sq km |
Climate | temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter; cold winters |
Natural Resources | coal, tungsten, graphite, molybdenum, lead, hydropower potential |
Imports | China 20.5%, Japan 11.5%, US 10.5%, Germany 4.2%, Saudi Arabia 4.1% (2017) – crude oil/petroleum products, semiconductors, natural gas, coal, steel, computers, wireless communication equipment, automobiles, fine chemicals, textiles |
Government | presidential republic |
Capital | Seoul |
Population | 51,835,110 (July 2020 est.) |
Ethnicity | homogeneous |
Language | Korean, English (widely taught in elementary, junior high, and high school) |
Exports | China 25.1%, US 12.2%, Vietnam 8.2%, Hong Kong 6.9%, Japan 4.7% (2017) – semiconductors, petrochemicals, automobile/auto parts, ships, wireless communication equipment, flat displays, steel, electronics, plastics, computers |
News about South Korea
- Gov't to deploy more military doctors as senior doctors at 5 major hospitals take weekly breaksby webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on April 29, 2024
Second Vice Health Minister Park Min-soo said Monday that the government plans to deploy more military doctors and other medical staff as senior doctors at five major hospitals in Seoul decided to take a weekly day off starting this week.
- Late Dutch veteran of Korean War to be laid to rest in S. Koreaby webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on April 29, 2024
The remains of a late Dutch veteran of the 1950-53 Korean War arrived in South Korea on Monday in line with his wishes to be buried in the country, Seoul's veterans ministry said.
- Police launch investigation into death of 2 dolphins at theme park in Geojeby webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on April 29, 2024
Police said Friday they have booked the staff of a theme park in the southern coastal city of Geoje in connection to the death of two dolphins that were thrown into a dolphin show despite being ill.
- Singaporean Embassy, CICI host lecture on nuclear proliferation, climate change, AI risksby hyunbin@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on April 29, 2024
The Embassy of Singapore in Seoul, together with the Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI), hosted a lecture, April 23, focusing on the escalating challenges caused by nuclear proliferation, climate change and artificial intelligence (AI).
- Court confirms 13-year sentence for teacher who made child porn involving 120 childrenby webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on April 29, 2024
The Supreme Court on Thursday finalized a 13-year prison sentence for an elementary school teacher on charges of producing sexually exploitative videos involving some 120 children and adolescents.
- S. Korean, African FMs to gather in Seoul in June for summit preparationsby webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on April 29, 2024
Top diplomats of South Korea and African nations will hold a meeting in Seoul in June for final preparations for the upcoming summit of their leaders, Seoul's foreign ministry said Monday.
- More med professors considering weekly breaks amid prolonged doctors' walkoutby webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on April 29, 2024
Professors from around 20 major medical schools nationwide will decide Friday whether to take a weekly day off while struggling to fill the void of trainee doctors who have walked off their jobs for more than two months, officials said.
- Yoon, opposition leader set to hold first-ever meeting Mondayby webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on April 29, 2024
President Yoon Suk Yeol and opposition leader Lee Jae-myung are set to hold their first-ever meeting this week amid interest in what demands Lee will make in the wake of his party's landslide victory in the April 10 parliamentary elections.
- Top court orders state compensation to ex-Minister Cho Kuk over illegal surveillanceby webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on April 29, 2024
The Supreme Court has finalized a ruling ordering the state to pay 10 million won ($7,273) in compensation to former Justice Minister Cho Kuk for illegally collecting information through a state spy agency during previous conservative administrations, judicial officials said Friday.
- Police conduct additional raid on new head of doctors' associationby webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on April 29, 2024
Police on Friday conducted an additional raid on Lim Hyun-taek, the president-elect of the Korean Medical Association (KMA), who is accused of having instigated collective resignations by junior doctors.
- Polish-Korean Business Forum explores diverse partnership opportunitiesby hyunbin@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on April 29, 2024
Over 160 business leaders, government officials and diplomats from Korea and Poland gathered in Seoul for the Polish-Korean Business Forum, April 25.
- Presidential committee on medical reform launched amid prolonged walkout by doctorsby webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on April 29, 2024
A presidential committee on medical reform was formally launched on Thursday with the aim of seeking a breakthrough over a prolonged walkout by doctors, as their labor action has disrupted public health services for more than two months.
- Police nab over 1,000 teens during online gambling crackdownby webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on April 29, 2024
Police have nabbed 2,925 people, including over 1,000 teenagers, during a six-month crackdown on online gambling targeting adolescents, officials said Thursday.
- Man who murdered neighbor over blocked sunlight dispute gets 23 years in jailby ktimes@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on April 29, 2024
A man has been sentenced to 23 years in prison for murdering his elderly neighbor following a dispute over a tree that blocked sunlight from reaching his solar panels.
- How Korea's World Scout Jamboree became a global fiascoby jdunbar@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on April 29, 2024
Poor communication, oversight, accountability and responsibilities led to the failures behind the organization and execution of last year's World Scout Jamboree in Korea, according to a report authored by an independent review panel of Scouting leaders from around the world, and released April 16.
- S. Korea, US, Japan decry NK' satellite launch, arms shipments to Russiaby webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on April 29, 2024
Defense officials of South Korea, the United States and Japan condemned North Korea's purported satellite launch, ballistic missile tests and weapons transfers to Russia during their virtual talks this week, the three countries said Thursday.
- Korea Coast Guard to transfer 3,000-ton ship to Ecuadorian Navyby jjh@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on April 29, 2024
The Korea Coast Guard’s (KCG) first 3,000-ton vessel, which was deployed in 1994, will be transferred to Ecuador after completing 30-years of service in Korea.
- Beer brewers of Korea throw down for Daegu Stout Smackdownby jdunbar@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on April 29, 2024
As my train pulls into Dongdaegu Station, I ask myself, “Why don’t more people leave Seoul?” Daegu is a major metropolis with a lot to offer. For me specifically, it’s Korea’s premiere home-brewing competition - the Daegu Stout Smackdown.
- Korea, Japan could consider simplified entry agreement amid warming ties: Seoul officialby webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on April 29, 2024
Korea and Japan could consider adopting a simplified entry procedure for people traveling between the two countries, as an effort to keep the momentum going in the dramatic improvement in bilateral relations, a Seoul official said Friday.
- Korea, Sweden to join forces for green transitionby hyunbin@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on April 29, 2024
Anne Hoglund, acting Swedish ambassador to Korea, emphasized the importance of working together for net zero and the global shift toward sustainability, during the Sweden Plus Korea Green Transition Alliance event in Seoul, April 25.
- Constitutional Court strikes down inheritance rule mandating portions to siblingsby webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on April 29, 2024
The Constitutional Court on Thursday struck down an inheritance rule that mandates certain portions of an inheritance be given to siblings of the dead.
- Stronger cooperation with Africa 'no longer choice but necessity': S. Korean envoysby webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on April 29, 2024
A stronger partnership between South Korea and African countries is 'no longer a choice but a necessity,' South Korean envoys stationed in Africa said Thursday, ahead of the upcoming Korea-Africa Summit.
- Korean FM discusses bilateral ties with Lithuanian counterpart in Seoul as embassy opensby webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on April 29, 2024
Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul met with his Lithuanian counterpart to discuss bilateral cooperation as the Lithuanian Embassy opened here Friday, his office said.
- US election outcome won't affect Seoul-Washington alliance: Korean envoyby lhj@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on April 29, 2024
Whoever becomes the next U.S. president will not affect the robust Seoul-Washington alliance, Korean Ambassador to the United States Cho Hyun-dong said Thursday, amid concerns that the possible return of former U.S. President Donald Trump could potentially make bilateral relations unpredictable once more.
- More than 1 out of 4 sex crimes in Korea take place onlineby yistory@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on April 29, 2024
More than one out of four sex crimes in Korea are committed online as digital technology continues to play an ever greater role in people’s daily lives, a report showed, Thursday.
- Doctor convicted for illegally administering propofol to actor Yoo Ah-inby webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on April 29, 2024
A doctor indicted for illegally administering propofol, a powerful anesthetic commonly used for surgeries, to disgraced actor Yoo Ah-in and injecting the substance into himself was convicted by a court and given a suspended prison sentence on Thursday.
- PM again appeals medical professors to remain at workplacesby webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on April 29, 2024
In another conciliatory gesture, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo pleaded with medical professors Friday to remain at their workplaces and with their patients, as they are considering taking weekly breaks in support of the ongoing walkout by junior doctors.
- President, opposition leader to meet on Mondayby namhw@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on April 29, 2024
President Yoon Suk Yeol and Rep. Lee Jae-myung, chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), will have their first official meeting on Monday, as the two sides agreed that a prompt face-to-face discussion was necessary to address pending state affairs.
- Presidential medical reform committee kicks off without doctorsby namhw@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on April 29, 2024
A presidential committee to discuss the government's medical system reform drive was launched on Thursday, but got off to a shaky start as doctors, key stakeholders in the talks, boycotted the meeting to protest President Yoon Suk Yeol's plan to increase the enrollment quota at Korea's medical schools.
- Seoul's annual Space-Out Competition returns in Mayby jjh@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on April 29, 2024
Seoul City’s annual Space-Out Competition will return at 4 p.m. on May 12 on Jamsu Bridge over the Han River, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Friday.