🇰🇷 South Korea
South Korea at a glance, from the World Bank's development indicators and the IMF World Economic Outlook (dashed lines are IMF forecasts).
People
Population
inhabitants · net migration on the rightLife expectancy
years at birth, next to the Netherlands and the worldFertility and ageing
births per woman · share aged 65+ on the rightEconomy
GDP per capita
PPP, constant 2021 international $ · vs the Netherlands and the worldReal GDP growth
% a year · IMF WEO incl. forecastsInflation
% consumer prices, a yearUnemployment
% of the labour forceTrade
exports and imports of goods and services, % of GDPTourism
international arrivals · receipts (US$) on the rightGovernment and energy
Government finances
% of GDP · IMF (general government)Energy
net energy imports (% of use) · renewable share of electricityHistory
Population since 1500
inhabitants · HYDE, Gapminder and UN, via Our World in DataGDP per person, long run
Maddison Project Database 2023 · World Bank from 1990 (different price base)Life expectancy, long run
years at birth · Riley, Zijdeman et al., HMD and UN WPP via Our World in DataUrbanisation
% of people living in urban areas · HYDE long run, UN since 1950Timeline
14th century
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Yi Seong-gye founds Joseon, which rules Korea for over five centuries with Seoul (Hanyang) as capital. Wikipedia
15th century
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1446. King Sejong publishes the Korean alphabet in the Hunminjeongeum; 9 October is Hangul Day. Wikipedia
16th century
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Japan invades twice (1592–1598); Admiral Yi Sun-sin's navy and Ming China help repel it. Wikipedia
17th century
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The Qing invasion forces Joseon to become a tributary of the Qing. Wikipedia
19th century
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An unequal treaty forced by Japan opens Korean ports. Wikipedia
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King Gojong proclaims the Korean Empire. Wikipedia
20th century
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The Eulsa Treaty makes Korea a Japanese protectorate. Wikipedia
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29 August 1910. Japan annexes Korea; colonial rule lasts until 1945, with forced labour and wartime sexual slavery. Wikipedia
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1 March 1919. Nationwide protests for independence; the Provisional Government is founded in Shanghai. Wikipedia
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15 August 1945. Japan surrenders; the Soviet Union and the US occupy Korea north and south of the 38th parallel. Wikipedia
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15 August 1948. Syngman Rhee becomes the first president; North Korea is proclaimed in September. Wikipedia
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25 June 1950. North Korea invades on 25 June 1950; the armistice of 27 July 1953 leaves the peninsula divided. Wikipedia
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Student-led protests force Syngman Rhee to resign. Wikipedia
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16 May 1961. The 16 May coup begins 18 years of military-led rule. Wikipedia
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The first five-year economic plan starts export-led industrialisation, the "Miracle on the Han River". Wikipedia
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The Treaty on Basic Relations brings Japanese grants and loans used for industry. Wikipedia
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State-backed chaebol such as Hyundai and POSCO build steel, ships, cars and chemicals. Wikipedia
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18–27 May 1980. Protests against Chun Doo-hwan's martial law are crushed by the army; hundreds are killed. Wikipedia
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June 1987. Mass protests force direct presidential elections; the 1987 constitution founds the Sixth Republic. Wikipedia
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The Summer Olympics showcase the newly democratic, industrialised country. Wikipedia
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South Korea becomes the 29th member of the OECD. Wikipedia
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South Korea takes a US$58 billion IMF-led rescue; people donate gold to help repay it. Wikipedia
21st century
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June 2000. Kim Dae-jung meets Kim Jong Il in Pyongyang and receives the Nobel Peace Prize. Wikipedia
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South Korea and Japan co-host the World Cup; Korea reaches the semi-finals. Wikipedia
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PSY's video becomes the first on YouTube to pass one billion views, a milestone of the Korean Wave. Wikipedia
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10 March 2017. After the candlelight protests the Constitutional Court removes Park Geun-hye from office. Wikipedia
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North and South Korea march together; inter-Korean summits follow. Wikipedia
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9 February 2020. Bong Joon-ho's film is the first non-English-language winner of the Academy Award for Best Picture. Wikipedia
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3 December 2024. President Yoon Suk Yeol declares martial law on 3 December 2024; parliament overturns it within hours and impeaches him. He is removed on 4 April 2025. Wikipedia
29 key events, curated and summarised from the linked articles (mostly Wikipedia, CC BY-SA). Tap a theme to filter.
Politics
Head of government: Prime Minister of South Korea
29 holders on Wikidata, newest first| Han Seong-sook | independent politician | 2026–now |
| Kim Min-seok | Democratic Party of Korea | 2025–2026 |
| Han Duck-soo | 2022–2025 | |
| Choo Kyung-ho | People Power Party | 2022–2022 |
| Kim Boo-kyum | Democratic Party of Korea | 2021–2022 |
| Hong Nam-ki | 2021–2021 | |
| Chung Sye-kyun | Democratic Party of Korea | 2020–2021 |
| Lee Nack-yon | New Future Democratic Party | 2017–2020 |
| Hwang Kyo-ahn | Liberty Korea Party / independent politician / Freedom And Innovation / People Power Party | 2015–2017 |
| Lee Wan-koo | Liberty Korea Party | 2015–2015 |
Head of state: President of South Korea
15 holders on Wikidata, newest first| Lee Jae Myung | Democratic Party of Korea | 2025–now |
| Yoon Suk Yeol | People Power Party | 2022–2025 |
| Moon Jae-in | Democratic Party of Korea | 2017–2022 |
| Hwang Kyo-ahn | Liberty Korea Party / independent politician / People Power Party / Freedom And Innovation | 2016–2017 |
| Park Geun-hye | Liberty Korea Party / independent politician | 2013–2017 |
| Lee Myung-bak | Liberty Korea Party | 2008–2013 |
| Roh Moo-hyun | Democratic Party / Uri Party | 2003–2008 |
| Kim Dae-jung | Democratic Party | 1998–2003 |
| Kim Young-sam | Democratic Party / New Korea Party / Liberal Party | 1993–1998 |
| Roh Tae-woo | Democratic Justice Party | 1988–1993 |
Culture
Religious composition, 2010 and 2020
% of the whole population| Group | 2010 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Religiously unaffiliated | 41.3 | 48.3 |
| Christians | 32.1 | 32.0 |
| Buddhists | 25.6 | 19.0 |
| Other religions | 0.7 | 0.3 |
| Muslims | 0.2 | 0.3 |
| Hindus | 0.0 | 0.1 |
| Jews | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Public holidays
next 16- 25 Dec 2026 Christmas Day· 크리스마스
- 1 Jan 2027 New Year's Day· 새해
- 6 Feb 2027 Lunar New Year· 설날
- 8 Feb 2027 Lunar New Year· 설날
- 9 Feb 2027 Lunar New Year· 설날
- 1 Mar 2027 Independence Movement Day· 3·1절
- 3 May 2027 Labour Day· 노동절
- 5 May 2027 Children's Day· 어린이날
- 13 May 2027 Buddha's Birthday· 부처님 오신 날
- 6 Jun 2027 Memorial Day· 현충일
- 19 Jul 2027 Constitution Day· 제헌절
- 16 Aug 2027 Liberation Day· 광복절
- 14 Sept 2027 Chuseok· 추석
- 15 Sept 2027 Chuseok· 추석
- 16 Sept 2027 Chuseok· 추석
- 4 Oct 2027 National Foundation Day· 개천절
UNESCO World Heritage
17 sites · year inscribed- 1995 Haeinsa Temple Janggyeong Panjeon, the Depositories for the Tripitaka Koreana Woodblocks · cultural
- 1995 Jongmyo Shrine · cultural
- 1995 Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple · cultural
- 1997 Changdeokgung Palace Complex · cultural
- 1997 Hwaseong Fortress · cultural
- 2000 Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa Dolmen Sites · cultural
- 2000 Gyeongju Historic Areas · cultural
- 2007 Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes · natural
- 2009 Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty · cultural
- 2010 Historic Villages of Korea: Hahoe and Yangdong · cultural
- 2014 Namhansanseong · cultural
- 2015 Baekje Historic Areas · cultural
- 2018 Sansa, Buddhist Mountain Monasteries in Korea · cultural
- 2019 Seowon, Korean Neo-Confucian Academies · cultural
- 2021 Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats · natural
- 2023 Gaya Tumuli · cultural
- 2025 Petroglyphs along the Bangucheon Stream · cultural
Well-known people
ranked by the number of Wikipedia language editions- 185 Sung Jae-gi 1967–2013 · South Korean masculism activist (1967-2013)
- 153 Ban Ki-moon 1944 · 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations
- 104 Park Geun-hye 1952 · President of South Korea from 2013 to 2017
- 103 Moon Jae-in 1953 · 12th President of the Republic of Korea
- 99 Han Kang 1970 · South Korean writer
- 98 Park Chung-hee 1917–1979 · 3rd President of the Republic of Korea
- 97 Psy 1977 · South Korean singer (born 1977)
- 92 Kim Dae-jung 1924–2009 · 8th President of the Republic of Korea (1924–2009)
- 91 Yoon Suk Yeol 1960 · President of South Korea from 2022 to 2025
- 88 Syngman Rhee 1875–1965 · President of South Korea from 1948 to 1960
- 87 Rosé 1997 · South Korean-New Zealand singer (born 1997)
- 85 Roh Moo-hyun 1946–2009 · 16th President of the Republic of Korea (1946–2009)
- 82 Yun Ch'iho 1864–1945 · Korean independence activist (1864-1945)
- 79 Yun Hyon-seok 1984–2003 · South Korean poet, writer and LGBT activist
- 79 Jennie 1996 · South Korean singer-songwriter and rapper (born 1996)
- 78 Son Heung-min 1992 · South Korean association football player (born 1992)
- 78 Lee Min-ho 1987 · South Korean actor, singer and model
- 77 Lee Myung-bak 1941 · President of South Korea from 2008 to 2013
- 77 Sejong the Great 1397–1450 · fourth king of Joseon (Korea), creator of Hangul
- 72 Song Joong-ki 1985 · South Korean actor
Food
curated, with sourcesCultural exports
curated, with sources- K-pop BTS, Blackpink and others made K-pop a global industry, built on idol training systems. Wikipedia
- K-dramas Korean TV series, from Winter Sonata (2002) to Squid Game (2021), started the Hallyu (Korean Wave). Wikipedia
- Korean cinema Parasite (2019) won the Palme d'Or and the Oscar for Best Picture. Wikipedia
- Samsung and Hyundai Chaebol made South Korea a leader in memory chips, phones, ships and cars. Wikipedia