traditionally Buddhist and Confucianist, some Christian and syncretic Chondogyo (Religion of the Heavenly Way) note: autonomous religious activities now almost nonexistent; government-sponsored religious groups exist to provide illusion of religious freedom
Catholic 26.4%, Anglican 20.5%, other Christian 20.5%, Buddhist 1.9%, Muslim 1.5%, other 1.2%, unspecified 12.7%, none 15.3% (2001 Census)
Languages
Korean
English 79.1%, Chinese 2.1%, Italian 1.9%, other 11.1%, unspecified 5.8% (2001 Census)
Exports
coal, iron ore, gold, meat, wool, alumina, wheat, machinery and transport equipment
External Debt
$1,466,000,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.2059 (2008 est.), 1.2137 (2007), 1.3285 (2006), 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
3.000%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
6
46
Location
Eastern Asia, northern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Korea Bay and the Sea of Japan, between China and South Korea
Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean
Area
120,538 km sq
7,741,220 km sq
Coastline
2,495 km
25,760 km
Climate
temperate with rainfall concentrated in summer
generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east; tropical in north
