South Korea (Third Edition)

The Republic of Korea, commonly known as South Korea, lies in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula in East Asia. It borders North Korea to the north and is surrounded by sea on three sides. Since the 1960s, South Korea has attracted large amounts of foreign investment and technology, transforming itself in just half a century from a backward agricultural nation into an industrial powerhouse built on electronics, automobiles, shipbuilding, and finance. Its gross national product and per capita output both rank among the highest in Asia. Since China and South Korea established diplomatic relations in 1992, their friendly cooperation has developed rapidly, and they have become important trading partners for each other. This book provides a comprehensive overview of South Korea, covering its history, politics, economy, military, foreign relations, and other basic aspects of the country.