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
- Yoon's approval rating falls for 4 weeks straight to 36.5%by webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on March 28, 2024
President Yoon Suk Yeol's approval rating fell for a fourth consecutive week to 36.5 percent, while support for his ruling People Power Party (PPP) also slid just about two weeks before the parliamentary elections, surveys showed Monday.
- Chinese part of Mount Paekdu named UNESCO global geoparkby webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on March 28, 2024
The Chinese part of Mount Paekdu has been listed as one of UNESCO's new global geoparks in the name of 'Mount Changbaishan,' the U.N. cultural agency's website showed Thursday.
- Difficulties remain for government-doctors dialogueby jjh@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on March 28, 2024
The government is attempting to hold talks with the doctors' community over the prolonged walkout by trainee doctors protesting against its plan to hike the quota of medical school students starting next year. But it seems unlikely for the two sides to reach a breakthrough anytime soon due to their clearly different positions.
- Yoon vows to grant more autonomy to 4 'special cities'by webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on March 28, 2024
President Yoon Suk Yeol vowed Monday to push for legislation that will grant more autonomy to four 'special cities,' including Yongin and Suwon, and allow them to foster strategic industries and design urban development plans on their own.
- Yoon instructs PM to communicate more closely with medical communityby webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on March 28, 2024
President Yoon Suk Yeol instructed Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on Monday to communicate more closely with the medical community regarding the government's medical reform plans, his spokesperson said.
- Minister asks for US Congress' bipartisan support for Seoul's unification visionby webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on March 28, 2024
Unification Minister Kim Yung-ho on Monday asked for U.S. lawmakers' bipartisan cooperation and support for South Korea's efforts to seek a peaceful unification with North Korea.
- Election watchdog busts over 200 deepfakes related to April electionsby webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on March 28, 2024
The National Election Commission (NEC) said Tuesday it found more than 200 deepfakes related to the April parliamentary elections in violation of the election law and took steps for the removal of the content.
- Police investigating message vowing to kill opposition lawmakerby webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on March 28, 2024
Police are tracking down the writer of a message vowing to kill Rep. Ko Min-jung of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, officials said Tuesday.
- Civic group files complaint against Coupang over employment blacklistby webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on March 28, 2024
A civic group filed a complaint against retail giant Coupang on Tuesday over suspicions the company kept a blacklist of people it does not want to hire again.
- [RESTAURANT OF THE WEEK] Get curried at Songtan's Curry Yaby jdunbar@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on March 28, 2024
In the Songtan Entertainment District, a stone's throw from Osan Air Base's front gate in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, Curry Ya simmers with a delightful escape for those craving authentic Japanese-style curry. This restaurant serves a lineup of comforting and flavorful dishes, perfect for refueling after a day of exploring or grabbing a quick bite before […]
- PPP leader's visit to disgraced ex-president brings little benefitby lhj@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on March 28, 2024
The visit of ruling People Power Party (PPP) interim leader Han Dong-hoon to former President Park Geun-hye, primarily aimed at rallying support from conservative voters amid its declining support rate, may potentially lead to the alienation of centrist voters as his courtesy call to the impeached leader may not resonate well with the public, according to […]
- US lawmakers to visit S. Korea this weekby webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on March 28, 2024
A bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation will visit Seoul this week for talks with South Korean officials, multiple sources said Saturday.
- Andrei Lankov to lecture on NK labor in Russiaby jdunbar@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on March 28, 2024
Andrei Lankov, a professor at Kookmin University in Seoul, will give a lecture for the Royal Asiatic Society (RAS) Korea on Tuesday on the history of North Korean labor in Russia, Lankov's home country, and the changes in the way North Koreans have been employed there.
- Yoon vows to expand bio industry production size to $149 bil. by 2035by webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on March 28, 2024
President Yoon Suk Yeol announced an ambitious goal Tuesday to boost the size of the country's bio industry production to 200 trillion won ($149 billion) by 2035 through an increase in the government budget allocation for research and development (R&D).
- Russian YouTuber goes viral over unwavering love for sick husbandby skim@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on March 28, 2024
Polina is from Russia and came to Korea for her Korean husband. Less than a year into their life as a married couple, her husband was diagnosed with tongue cancer, and she is now the primary breadwinner for their family, working full-time as a courier for the e-commerce company Coupang.
- Korea, Romania discuss closer ties in nuclear energy, defenseby webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on March 28, 2024
Korea's industry ministry said Monday it has discussed ways to broaden its industrial partnership with Romania focusing on the nuclear energy and defense sectors.
- Korean-built nuclear reactor successfully connected to UAE power gridby webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on March 28, 2024
The fourth unit of the Korean-built Barakah nuclear power plant in the United Arab Emirates has been successfully connected to the Middle East nation's power transmission grid, Korea's state-run utility company said Sunday.
- Lending of driver's license to become criminal offense starting Sept.by hyunbin@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on March 28, 2024
Individuals who lend or borrow a driver's license will face criminal penalties, including a maximum imprisonment of two years, beginning from Sept. 20, the National Police Agency said Sunday.
- Korea welcomes UN resolution demanding ceasefire in Gazaby webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on March 28, 2024
Korea hailed the U.N. Security Council (UNSC)'s recent adoption of a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire between Israel and the Hamas militant group, the foreign ministry said Tuesday.
- Defense chief holds talks with chair of German parliament's defense committeeby webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on March 28, 2024
Defense Minister Shin Won-sik met with the chair of the German parliament's defense committee Tuesday to discuss regional security issues and ways to strengthen defense cooperation, his ministry said.
- Gov't takes steps to promote dialogue with doctorsby jjh@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on March 28, 2024
The government is aiming for flexibility in addressing the prolonged conflict with doctors regarding the medical school quota hike policy, the prime minister's office said on Sunday. It noted that relevant administrative efforts have already commenced to facilitate constructive dialogue.
- Overseas voting to kick off this week ahead of April 10 electionsby webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on March 28, 2024
Overseas voting for the April 10 general elections is set to kick off this week and run for the next six days at 220 polling stations across 115 countries, the National Election Commission (NEC) said Tuesday.
- PPP drops 'pro-North Korean forces' banner planby lhj@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on March 28, 2024
The ruling People Power Party (PPP) swiftly retracted its plan to display political banners likening its rival Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) to 'pro-North Korean forces' Tuesday, following concerns among some of its members that its campaign tactics would not resonate with voters.
- Rival parties clash over revoking voting rights of Chinese residentsby lhj@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on March 28, 2024
Rival parties have clashed over the idea of revoking the voting rights of foreign residents, a move pursued by the conservative ruling People Power Party (PPP) specifically targeting Chinese nationals.
- Climate change dampens Korea's iconic cherry blossom festivalsby lhr@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on March 28, 2024
Local governments, renowned for hosting iconic flower festivals every spring, find themselves grappling with flowerless venues this year.
- More than 18,000 pigs die in farm fire in Icheonby webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on March 28, 2024
More than 18,000 pigs died in a fire at a farm in Icheon, south of Seoul, on Monday, officials said.
- 96% of young people perceive children as expenses: researchby jjh@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on March 28, 2024
The financial burden of raising children is the biggest cause behind the country’s continually falling birthrate, with almost all people aged between 20 and 44, the age group mostly marrying and having children, feeling pressure about it, a survey by a state-run institute showed, Tuesday.
- Seoul's bus union threatens strike over wage disputeby webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on March 28, 2024
The union of city bus drivers in Seoul said Monday its leaders agreed to start a general strike by all members later this week after failing to reach a deal on wage hikes with the Seoul city government.
- New Zealand ambassador aims to bolster ties with Korea through literary connectionsby hyunbin@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on March 28, 2024
Ambassador of New Zealand to Korea, Dawn Bennet, expressed her aspirations to bolster bilateral relations through literary connections during the Korea-New Zealand Creative Sector Reception held at the ambassador's residence in Seoul on Thursday.
- Yoon wishes Princess of Wales 'full and speedy' recovery from cancerby webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr(KoreaTimes) (Korea Times News) on March 28, 2024
President Yoon Suk Yeol wished Kate, the Princess of Wales, a 'full and speedy' recovery from cancer Monday.