1. SOUTH KOREA By: Srun Chantha Te: 012 346 682 Email: srunchantha@yahoo.com Website: http://www.srunchanthabbu.tk Build Bright University Faculty of Science of Education and Languages

2. Flag of South Korea

3. Location of South Korea: Asia

4. Geographical Location

6. Introduction Country in northeastern Asia that occupies the southern portion of the Korea Peninsula. Official name: The Republic of Korea. is bounded on the north by North Korea; on the east by the East Sea (Sea of Japan); on the southeast and south by the Korea Strait, which separates it from Japan; and on the west by the Yellow Sea. The capital and largest city: Seoul

7. Introduction South Korea was established in 1948 following the post-World War (1939-1945). After the Korean War (1950-1953), South Korea rose from devastation to become one of the world’s largest economies in the 1990s.

8. Land & Resources Mountainous country. The major rivers of South Korea flow generally east to west, where they empty into the Yellow Sea, or north to south, where they empty into the Korea Strait. Winters are cold and windy, and snow falls in all but the southernmost regions. Summers are hot, humid, and rainy.

9. Land & Resources In contrast to North Korea, South Korea is relatively poor in mineral resources. South Korea’s rapid industrialization during the second half of the 20th century dramatically increased pollution levels in the country. Heavy industries became the primary contributors to air and water pollution.

10. People of South Korea The population of South Korea is 49,232,844 (2008 estimate). Following the official division of the Korea Peninsula in 1948, about 4 million people from North Korea crossed the border to South Korea. The country’s largest city, national capital, and chief industrial center is Seoul, located in the northwest.

11. People of South Korea South Korea, like North Korea, is one of the most ethnically homogeneous countries in the world. South Korea’s national language is Korean. Buddhism and Christianity are the largest religions in South Korea. However, many South Koreans do not adhere to any one religion and in practice often combine different belief systems in their lives.

12. People of South Korea South Korea has a high literacy rate, as 98 percent of the adult population can read and write. Primary education is free and compulsory for all children between the ages of 6 and 14. Secondary education consists of three years of middle school and three years of high school.

13. People of South Korea There are more than 300 institutions of higher education in the country, with a total annual enrollment of 3.2 million students. The principal universities are Korea University (founded in 1905), Seoul National University (1946), Ewha Women’s University (1886), and Yonsei University (1885), all in Seoul.

14. Culture Historically, Korea was strongly influenced by Chinese culture and acted as a conduit of culture from China to Japan. Koreans adapted many Chinese art forms with innovation and skill, creating distinctively Korean forms. Koreans began to incorporate Western forms after Korea opened itself to the Western world in the late 1800s.

15. Economy South Korea’s economy was traditionally based on agriculture but experienced extraordinarily rapid industrialization beginning in the early 1960s. After the Korean War (1950-1953), economic aid, especially from the United States, was important to the economic recovery of the country. Subsequently, the government of South Korea gave priority to the development of manufacturing.

16. Economy In 2006 the total labor force was 25 million. Of this figure, some 8 percent were engaged in agriculture, forestry, and fishing; 27 percent in industry; and 65 percent in services. Women make up 41 percent of the labor force. South Korea has limited mineral resources.

17. Economy In the 1970s the country began to build nuclear power plants in an effort to lessen its dependence on imported oil, and in 2003 nuclear plants generated 38 percent of the country’s electricity. Another 1 percent came from hydroelectric installations.

18. Economy The country has about 100,279 km (about 62,310 mi) of main roads. The state-owned railroad system consists of 3,392 km (2,108 mi) of lines. Mass media have assumed large importance in South Korea. Freedom of the press has been constitutionally guaranteed since 1987, when a democratic system of government was instituted.

19. Government (Executive) Executive power is vested in a president who is directly elected by popular vote to a five- year term. The president is responsible for deciding all important government policies. The president performs executive functions through the cabinet, called the State Council. The prime minister is the principal executive assistant to the president.

20. Government The president appoints the prime minister with the approval of the legislature, or National Assembly. The president heads the State Council and appoints its members on the recommendations of the prime minister. The prime minister and the members of the State Council have the right to supervise the administrative ministries, deliberate major national policies, and voice opinions at meetings of the National Assembly.

21. Government (Legislature) Legislative power is vested in the unicameral (single chamber) National Assembly. The assembly’s members are elected by a dual- ballot system in which voters cast two votes: one for a specific candidate and one for a party under proportional representation.

22. Government (Court) The highest court in South Korea is the Supreme Court, consisting of 14 justices (including the chief justice). Below the Supreme Court are five appellate courts. District courts, which are located in the major cities, have jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases of the first instance.

23. Local Government For purposes of local administration, South Korea is divided into nine provinces and seven cities with provincial status. The main political parties in South Korea are the liberal Uri (Our Open) Party, the conservative Grand National Party (GNP), the centrist Millennium Democratic Party (MDP), and the left-wing Democratic Labor Party (DLP).

24. History At the end of World War II in 1945, the Korea Peninsula was liberated from Japanese colonial rule, which had been in place since 1910. To fill the power vacuum, Soviet forces occupied the northern portion of the Korea Peninsula, and United States forces occupied the southern portion.

25. History The Republic of Korea, commonly known as South Korea, was proclaimed on August 15, 1948. Its first president, Syngman Rhee, was elected by a legislature that had been popularly elected in May 1948. Relations between North Korea and South Korea were tense during the late 1960s and at times during the 1970s and 1980s.

26. Current President

27. First President

28. Thanks