Korea, South: Background & Geography
| Introduction | Korea, South |
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Background:
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After World War II, a republic was set up in the southern half of the Korean Peninsula while a Communist-style government was installed in the north. During the Korean War (1950-1953), US and other UN forces intervened to defend South Korea from North Korean attacks supported by the Chinese. An armistice was signed in 1953, splitting the peninsula along a demilitarized zone at about the 38th parallel. Thereafter, South Korea achieved rapid economic growth with per capita income rising to roughly 18 times the level of North Korea. South Korea has maintained its commitment to democratize its political processes. In June 2000, a historic first North-South summit took place between the South's President KIM Dae-jung and the North's leader KIM Chong-il. |
| Geography | Korea, South |
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Location:
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Eastern Asia, southern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea |
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Geographic coordinates:
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37 00 N, 127 30 E |
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Map references:
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Asia |
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Area:
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total: 98,480 sq km
land: 98,190 sq km water: 290 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly larger than Indiana |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 238 km
border countries: North Korea 238 km |
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Coastline:
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2,413 km |
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Maritime claims - as described in UNCLOS 1982 (see Notes and Definitions):
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territorial sea: 12 NM; between 3 NM and 12 NM in the Korea Strait
continental shelf: not specified contiguous zone: 24 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 NM |
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Climate:
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temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter |
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Terrain:
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mostly hills and mountains; wide coastal plains in west and south |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 m
highest point: Halla-san 1,950 m |
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Natural resources:
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coal, tungsten, graphite, molybdenum, lead, hydropower potential |
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Land use:
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arable land: 17.44%
permanent crops: 2.05% other: 80.51% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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11,590 sq km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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occasional typhoons bring high winds and floods; low-level seismic activity common in southwest |
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Environment - current issues:
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air pollution in large cities; acid rain; water pollution from the discharge of sewage and industrial effluents; drift net fishing |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
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Geography - note:
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strategic location on Korea Strait |