Ethnic composition of Korea. South Korea: geography, population and economy. Politics of South Korea

How has the population of Korea changed over the centuries? How many people lived there before, and how many live there now?

Answering these questions is not always easy. The main problem faced by those historians who study the demography of medieval Korea (and indeed any medieval state) is the lack of any reliable statistical materials. In this regard, historians of Korea are still in a rather advantageous position, because population censuses have been conducted here quite regularly since ancient times.

At first glance, these censuses were organized according to a harmonious pattern. Once every three years, village elders reported to officials how many families ("yards") there were in a particular village, and how many people lived in each yard. This information was sent to the district, and then to the province, and finally to the capital, where it was summarized.

However, it has long been known that the results of these ancient “censuses” are extremely unreliable. Firstly, they were carried out much less regularly than theoretically expected. Secondly, according to modern historians, censuses could underestimate the real population by more than two times. Often, two censuses taken just a few years apart would produce completely different results. There were several reasons for this. The main one was that the census was not carried out by the authorities for the purpose of idle demographic curiosity. The government needed to know how many taxpayers there were in the country and how many were liable for military service. Based on census data, tax and conscription quotas were determined for each province and each county. It is clear that the majority of the people were not particularly eager to pay taxes or join the glorious ranks of the armed forces. Therefore, any village, any county sought to understate the size of its population, because this meant that later they would have to pay less taxes and send fewer men to serve as soldiers. Thus, the data presented “to the top” were always underestimated to one degree or another. The few officials simply did not have the opportunity to seriously check them, and, often, they did not particularly strive to do so (especially if excessive bureaucratic curiosity was neutralized by expensive donations from interested residents of the county).

Therefore, all data on the population of Korea in the pre-colonial era, that is, in the period before 1910, are extremely unreliable. Apparently, in the 15th century, approximately 7-8 million people lived in the country, that is, 10 times less than now (I remind you that we are talking about both halves of Korea, and currently the total population of the North and South is 70 million Human). The 15 millionth milestone was overcome at the end of the 18th or beginning of the 19th century. The vast majority of Koreans, approximately 96-98%, then lived in villages. The population of Seoul, as far as we can judge now, during the five centuries of the Ly dynasty fluctuated between 100 and 150 thousand people. It was, of course, the largest city in Korea, because the population of even the largest provincial cities in those days did not exceed 10 thousand. Already in our century, in 1918, Seoul had 189,153 inhabitants, that is, more than six times more than in Kaesong, which, with a population of 27,659 people, was then the second city in the country. It is curious that Pyongyang was then in third place (21,869), in fourth and fifth place were the now completely provincial Sangju and Jeongju, while the current megacities of Busan, Daegu, and Gwangju occupied very modest places: twelfth, sixth, and... thirty sixth respectively.

The first reliable census, that is, organized according to modern scientific methods, was carried out in Korea only in 1910. It gave a result of 17 million 420 thousand people. For comparison, the population of Russia at that time was 160 million people, the USA - 92 million, France - 40 million, China - 450 million. In other words, in 1910, the population of Korea was 9 times less than the Russian population (now it is two times less) and 6 times less than the American population (now it is four times less). In 1945, when Korea was divided into North and South, there were already 28 million people living in it: about 19 million in the South, and about 9 million in the North. This ratio (2:1 in favor of the South) generally remains the same to this day.

Like everywhere else in the world, the population of Korea before the beginning of this century was very young. The birth rate was very high, a woman usually gave birth 7-10 times during her (usually short) life, but about a third of the children died before reaching the age of one, and another third did not live to reach the age of ten. This is not surprising: in the now idealized Tsarist Russia at the end of the last century, according to official data, out of every 1000 newborns, 279 died before reaching one year old! In Korea in 1910, the average life expectancy of men was only... 24 years. Women lived a little longer - 26 years. These numbers seem terribly low to us, but, again, for those times they were quite common. Therefore, the population of Korea, despite the high birth rate, grew very slowly. The high birth rate was “compensated” by the high death rate.

During the colonial era, the situation in Korea improved significantly. New drugs, European medicine and, especially, the spread of modern ideas about hygiene have made many diseases curable - from appendicitis to cholera - that were previously deadly. Therefore, by 1945, the average life expectancy for men was 43, and for women - 44 years, that is, almost two (!) times longer than just three decades earlier.

Generally speaking, the demographic situation in Korea in 1920-1960. was very similar to what now exists in Africa or the Middle East: during this time, the birth rate remained high, but the death rate declined rapidly. The result was rapid population growth. Over the past century, Korea's population has quadrupled, much of it happening in just 15 years: 1945-1960! For comparison: over the same century, the population of France increased by 1.4 times, Spain - by 2.0 times, Germany - by 1.2 times, Japan - by 1.9 times.

In the sixties, the rate of population growth caused considerable concern in Korea, then a poor country. The authorities even launched a birth control campaign at that time, although not as active as in present-day China. However, the best solution to problems, as always happens, was not loud slogans, posters and persistent calls for civic consciousness, but the economic development of the country. As living standards and education levels increased, the birth rate in Korea began to decline rapidly, very quickly. This happens always and everywhere: contrary to popular ideas in modern Russia, the better people live in a particular country, the fewer children they have, as a rule. In just two decades, Korea has transformed from a typical developing country into a typical highly developed country: with low birth rates, low deaths, and high life expectancy. In 1995, Korean men lived on average 70.4 years and Korean women lived 78 years, three times longer than just a century ago.

However, there is a downside to this new model. Like most developed countries, today in Korea even simple reproduction of the population is not ensured. Nowadays, a Korean woman has an average of 1.8 children. Given that most married women in Korea do not work, they no longer want to have as many children as their mothers or grandmothers had. This is understandable. In the old days, children, especially sons, were a guarantee of a secure old age. In addition, in peasant families (that is, in 9/10 of all families), children began to work at the age of 10-11, and their labor contribution to the family budget could be very significant. Now the situation has changed. Children’s education is very expensive, they start working very late, and many ways to provide for themselves in old age have appeared.

It is clear that in order for the population to remain at a more or less stable level, on average there should be a little more than two births per woman. This situation, for example, exists in the United States, where on average a woman has 2.1 children. However, among developed countries, the United States, with its cult of family and “family values,” is an exception, while Korea, with its 1.8 children per family, is much more typical. The population of Korea, however, continues to grow, but this is happening solely due to the continuing increase in life expectancy and the constant decrease in mortality to this day.

In 1998, the population of South Korea was 46 million 440 thousand people. Data on the population of the North are not very reliable, but it is most likely around 23-24 million. If you count both northerners and southerners, then Korea is in 12th place in the world in terms of population. Even if we talk about South Korea alone, then it is not the smallest country: South Korea with its 46 million inhabitants is in approximately the same “weight category” as England (57 million), Poland (38 million), France (58 million), Spain (40 million).

Over the next 10 years, 80% of G20 countries will face unprecedented population declines that will profoundly change the global economy. Developed economies are literally on their way to extinction, while less developed economies grow like weeds.

UN population forecasts are too optimistic and have little in common with reality. Extremely low fertility rates in industrialized countries contradict UN forecasts.

The South Korean government's forecast shows that within 7 years the country's population will begin to decline and if this trend continues, the country's population will simply die out in the future.

South Korea's demographic collapse coincides with China's, and Japan's population is already declining. The world's second, third and eleventh largest economies will see their workforce and consumer base become smaller and smaller, but renowned analysts see no problem with this. Typically, the working-age population, which produces and consumes the most, begins to decline 10 years earlier.

The country with the most homogeneous population and Asia's 4th largest economy is about to decline. South Korea has the world's lowest birth rate (16 years in a row), resulting in a rapidly aging population. 2016 saw the lowest birth rate in 7 years.

Although the population grew rapidly from 1946, it began to decline in 1966 due to the birth control program.

Urbanization, availability of higher education, and increased participation of women in the labor force have affected the population size. As in many cultures, in South Korean culture, male descendants are very important to the principle of family continuity, as they provided financial support and took care of their parents in old age, so everyone strived to have sons.

If the first child was not a boy, it was necessary to produce as many children as needed until a son was born. In 1973, a law on selective abortion was passed, but, as it turned out, there were abuses of the law in the event that a woman was pregnant with a female child.

Overall, the population has increased in most provinces. Then the government intervened, introducing the slogan “It is better to give birth to one child and give him a full education.” In 2016, the total population of South Korea was more than 51 million people, 1 million were foreigners.

Any demographic forecast predicts a sharp decline in population. In 2050 there will probably be 40-48 million Koreans, and in 2100 there will be about 20 million.

All these social phenomena and government measures contribute to a decrease in the birth rate of the country's population and its aging. Although population growth in Korea will likely continue for several years, it will soon begin to decline rapidly, so that by 2750 the population of South Korea will simply die out.

By 2045, Korea could become the oldest country in the world: the average age of residents here will be 50 years. The population pyramid has begun to expand, which means that the number of older people is increasing, while the number of young people and children is decreasing.

In 2016-2017 For the first time, there was a decline in the working-age population aged 15-64 years, which means that consumption levels in Korea have begun to decline. Now people aged 65 years make up 14.12% of society, and those aged 0-14 years make up only 13.21%.

It is likely that in less than 50 years, the number of elderly people will reach more than 40% of the total population of South Korea.

Some of the reasons for Korea's low birth rate are similar to those in Japan in the early 1990s. Couples are reluctant to have a large family due to the high cost of living, including housing and education. South Koreans have the longest working hours in the world, so they don't have time to start a family.

At the same time, there is a high level of unemployment among young people. Women do not want to have children at an early stage of life, preferring to build a career, not being able to get maternity leave, and faced with low levels of male participation in raising children and doing housework. On average, women have their first child at age 31. Many people don't feel the need to start a family.

Low birth rates are not the only problem in South Korea: mortality is another problem. South Korea is one of the countries with the highest suicide rates in the world. 40 Koreans commit suicide every day. This problem very often affects older people.

Half of people aged 65 live in relative poverty, and 1/4 of them live alone. They haven't saved for retirement. They can't find work, and levels of isolation and depression are rising in an aging society.

Among young people, the most common cause of suicide is stress in the workplace and in the education system. 40% of suicides are committed under the influence of alcohol: South Korea is the world's largest consumer of strong alcoholic beverages.

On average, there are 14 suicides per week in this country (compared to three in the United States). Koreans feel overwhelming shame about the psychological problems they experience, yet they are reluctant to undergo appropriate treatment.

Alcohol abuse is considered a more acceptable option here than trying to seek help from a specialist in solving the problem. This undoubtedly contributes to a large number of suicides.

The demographic situation will negatively affect South Korea's economic growth. Seoul, whose residents make up 20% of the entire nation, will feel the biggest change in its population structure: its workforce will shrink. Seoul's population is expected to decline by at least 1 million people by 2040. Already throughout the country, healthcare costs have increased (from 3.8% to 7.2% of GDP).

Economists have suggested that the best option for Japan and Korea may be to end gender discrimination and bring more women into the workforce. Of course, Wall Street economists know that these policies have led to lower birth rates in Europe. Still, financial analysts in New York are desperately looking for ways to expand the workforce in the world's most productive countries.

Korean President Moon Jae-in attaches great importance to the elderly, who now make up the majority of society, and notes the need to create suitable living conditions for such a large population group. As life expectancy has increased, it is worth creating jobs for this age group, especially as the labor force declines.

The president's plan is to raise pensions, double the number of jobs for older workers, increase monthly wages, fund Alzheimer's and dementia care, and make social housing more affordable for seniors.

The South Korean government needs help getting more robots into households. A good solution to the demographic crisis in South Korea would be reunification with North Korea, where the population situation looks more stable. The homogeneity of the race will be preserved, although for now this seems unrealistic.

The situation of South Korea, the world's 11th largest economy and 5th exporter, will affect many countries. It is a global manufacturer of phones, integrated circuits, automobiles, automotive parts, LCD displays and petroleum products, focusing on technology and design. In terms of trade relations, circumstances in South Korea will have the greatest impact on China, the US, Japan, Germany, Australia and Saudi Arabia.

The demographic crisis will also affect the country's security. This will change the geopolitical balance as Japan and South Korea are extensions of the US military in East Asia.

The future of South Korea is extremely uncertain. And there is very little time left to avoid the worst. However, some analysts predict that a downward trend is inevitable.

As of 2013, the population of South Korea was more than 49 million people. This Asian country ranks 25th in the world in terms of population. At the same time, almost 11 million people live in Seoul, the capital of the state. The population of South Korea is increasing due to both natural and migration growth. Migrants mainly come from China.

Peoples of South Korea

The Republic of Korea is a state with a very homogeneous ethnic composition. More than 98% of the country's population is Korean. The second largest ethnic group is the Chinese, there are about 100 thousand of them in South Korea. At the same time, the majority of the Chinese are citizens of Taiwan - formally a Chinese province, but actually an independent state.

There are relatively few representatives of other nationalities permanently residing in South Korea. These are mainly labor migrants from countries such as:

• Philippines;
• Malaysia;
• Japan;
• India.

There are also about 28 thousand American military personnel permanently residing in the country. They serve at South Korean military bases.

Languages ​​of the peoples of South Korea

The only official language of the country is Korean. It is compulsory to study in all schools in South Korea, just like English. The latter is very good for many residents, especially in Seoul and other large cities. Ethnic Chinese also mostly speak Korean and English. Among foreign workers, many speak the national language.

The third most widely spoken language, after Korean and English, is Chinese. It is used for everyday communication by ethnic Chinese living in the country.

Characteristics of local residents

One of the main features of the Korean national character is hard work. Residents of the Land of Morning Freshness (this is what South Korea is often called) really work a lot. For many young Koreans, career traditionally comes first.

Foreign tourists note that at first Koreans may not seem very friendly and reserved people. This is true, because in South Korea it is not customary to express your emotions in public - it is considered uncultured. But if you make friends with representatives of this nation, then make sure that they are very welcoming and open. You just need to gain confidence in the Koreans, and then your opinion about them will change dramatically.

Other distinctive features of Koreans are:

• the desire to “save face” in any situation. Koreans try not to raise their voices or show their resentment, weakness or anger in public;
• respect for guests. If a guest comes to the house, all the best is put on the table for him;
• respectful attitude towards elders is emphasized. A Korean will never raise his voice to an elder, much less an elderly person, even if he is wrong. Instead, the younger man will simply remain silent and lower his eyes;
• cohesion and solidarity. Koreans are a very patriotic nation; they always come to the aid of each other both at home and abroad. The worst thing a tourist can do in South Korea is to speak disrespectfully about the country or its individual citizens.

We wish you a pleasant holiday in South Korea! Travel to this amazing country and appreciate its beauty with your own eyes!

Here are the main demographic indicators of South Korea for 2017:

• Births: 464,145 people
• Deaths: 280,210 people
• Natural population increase: 183,935 people
• Migration population growth: 61,312 people
• Males: 25,379,536 (est. 31 December 2017)
• Women: 25,536,587 (est. December 31, 2017)

Population of South Korea in 2018

In 2018, the population of South Korea will increase by 246,434 people and at the end of the year it will be 51,162,557 people. Natural population growth will be positive and amount to 184,826 people. Over the entire year, approximately 466,392 children will be born and 281,566 people will die. If the level of external migration remains at the level of last year, then due to migration reasons the population will change by 61,609 people. That is, the total number of people entering the country for the purpose of long-term stay (immigrants) will be greater than the number of people leaving the country (emigrants).

Dynamics of population changes in South Korea in 2018

Below are the coefficients of change in the population of South Korea, calculated by us for 2018:

• Birth rate: average 1,278 children per day (53.24 per hour)
• Deaths: average 771 people per day (32.14 per hour)
• Migration population growth: average 169 people per day (7.03 per hour)

The population growth rate of South Korea in 2018 will be 675 people per day.

South Korea Population Density

According to the United Nations Department of Statistics, the total area of ​​South Korea is 99,720 square kilometers.

The total area refers to the land area and the area of ​​all water surfaces of the state within international boundaries. Population density is calculated as the ratio of the total population living in a given territory to the total area of ​​that territory. According to our calculations, at the beginning of 2018, the population of South Korea was approximately 50,916,123 people.

Thus, the population density of South Korea is 510.6 people per square kilometer.

Population distribution by age groups

According to our calculations, at the beginning of 2018, the population of South Korea had the following age distribution:

In absolute numbers:

• 7,969,392 people under 15 years of age (men: 4,156,792 / women: 3,812,599)
• 37,128,037 people over 14 and under 65 (men: 18,955,563 / women: 18,172,473)
• 5,818,695 people over 64 (men: 2,359,962 / women: 3,458,732)

We have prepared a simplified model of the age-sex pyramid, which represents only three age groups, the data about which was given above:

Note: The scale of the pyramid differs from the absolute values ​​given above because each age group contains a different number of years.

As we can see, the age pyramid of South Korea has a regressive or decreasing type. This type of pyramid is usually found in highly developed countries. Such countries usually have a fairly high level of healthcare, as well as the level of education of citizens. Due to relatively low mortality and birth rates, the population has a high life expectancy. All these factors, along with many others, lead to an aging population (increasing the average age of the population).

Dependency ratio

The dependency ratio shows the burden on society and the economy from the population that is not part of the working population (the dependent part of the population). The population that is not considered to be of working age is understood as the total population under 15 years of age and the population over 64 years of age. The age of the working-age population (the productive part of the population) is, respectively, between 15 and 65 years.

The dependency ratio directly reflects financial expenditures on social policy in the state. For example, if this coefficient increases, expenses for the construction of educational institutions, social protection, healthcare, pension payments, etc. should be increased.

Overall load factor

The overall dependency ratio is calculated as the ratio of the dependent part of the population to the working-age or productive part of the population.

For South Korea, the dependency ratio is 37.1%.

The value of 37.1% is relatively low. It shows that the working age population is more than twice the size of the non-working age population. This attitude creates a relatively low social burden for society.

Potential replacement rate

The potential replacement rate (child load rate) is calculated as the ratio of the population below working age to the working age population.

The potential replacement rate for South Korea is 21.5%.

Pension load factor

The pension burden coefficient is calculated as the ratio of the population above working age to the working age population.

The pension burden ratio in Korea (South) is 15.7%.

Source: Data in this section are based on the latest publications of the United Nations Department of Statistics in the field of demographic and social statistics.

Life expectancy

Life expectancy is one of the most important demographic indicators. It shows the average number of years of a person's life expectancy. That is, the number of years that a person can theoretically live, provided that current fertility and mortality rates remain unchanged throughout the person's life. Typically, “life expectancy” refers to life expectancy at birth, that is, at age 0 years.

Average life expectancy at birth (for both sexes) in Korea (South) is 79.1 years (years).
This is higher than the global average life expectancy, which stands at around 71 years (according to the Population Division of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs).

Average life expectancy for men at birth - 75.8 years (years).
Average life expectancy for women at birth - 82.5 years (years).

Currency in South Korea. How much is 1 won?

Speaking about South Korea, it is not entirely correct to count prices in units; it is more convenient to count in thousands (since you will not find practically anything cheaper than 1000 won). However, for completeness of information, we still note that 1 Korean won is equal to approximately 6 Russian kopecks. In the case of 1000 won, it is more convenient to assume that this amount is, on average, equal to 57 Russian rubles.

Cost of renting housing in Seoul

A hotel, apartment or hostel is always one of the main expenses when it comes to a tourist trip. In South Korea, you can quite easily find profitable options for renting housing (even free accommodation with just a deposit!), but this is all true only in cases where you enter into a long-term contract with the landlord. In cases where you rent housing only for a short period, you should expect that the apartments will cost at least 50,000 rubles per month, and the alternative option in a hotel is approximately 2,000 rubles per day.

You can read more about how to choose accommodation in Korea in a separate article, and you can choose an inexpensive hotel in Seoul using the form below.

Daily Expenses in Korea (Food and Dining)

The second most important expense item, no matter where you are, is food costs. Food in Korea is also quite expensive and a dish even in the simplest cafe will cost 10,000 won (about 500 rubles); for dinner for two in an average Korean restaurant (for example, a Korean barbecue) you will have to pay about 50,000 won.

Korean Restaurant

You can slightly reduce this expense item by cooking at home, but prices in supermarkets are also at a fairly high level, for example: milk costs 3,000 won (175 rubles), chicken fillet 5,000 won (300 rubles), pasta 3,000 won. The most surprising thing is the fruit; a watermelon, for example, can easily cost 25,000 won (1,500 rubles).

General information about South Korea

The official name is the Republic of Korea (ROK). It occupies the part of the Korean Peninsula south of the 38th parallel. Area 99.2 thousand km2, or 45% of the entire territory of Korea. Population: 47.340 million people. (2001). The official language is Korean. The capital is Seoul (10.3 million people, 2000). Public holiday - Liberation Day on August 15. On this day in 1945, Korea was liberated from 35 years of Japanese colonial rule. This day also marks the anniversary of the creation of the government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, formed in 1948. Other important public holidays are Sol, or Lunar New Year (the first day of the first month according to the lunar calendar), Independence Movement Day (March 1), Buddha's Birthday (the eighth day fourth month according to the lunar calendar), Remembrance Day (those who died in wars, celebrated on July 6), Constitution Day (adopted in 1948, celebrated on July 17), Chuseok (the day of remembrance of ancestors, celebrated on the fifteenth day of the eighth month according to the lunar calendar), Education Day state (celebrates the formation of the first Korean state in 2333 BC, celebrated on October 1), Christmas (celebrated on December 25). The monetary unit is the won.

Member of the UN (since 1991) and its specialized organizations, OECD (since 1996), WTO (since 1995), APEC (since 1989), etc.

Sights of South Korea

Geography of South Korea

It is located between 124°11'00'' and 131°52'42'' east longitude and 33°06'40'' and 43°00'39'' north latitude. In the north, Korea borders with the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation. The western coast of Korea is washed by the Yellow Sea, the eastern coast by the Sea of ​​Japan. The depth of the seas does not exceed 100 m, so the bottom forms a shallow continental shelf. Shallow seas are favorable for fishing. On the shallow shelf since the 1990s. Geological survey work is underway to search for mineral resources. The weak and warm Kuroshio Current, coming from the Philippines, bifurcates at the southern tip of the Korean Peninsula. One current goes to the Yellow Sea along the western coast of Korea, the other to the Sea of ​​Japan. These currents do not have a significant effect on winter temperatures. The strong East Korean Current (Donghan Current) runs along the east coast in a northerly direction and has a high temperature gradient compared to neighboring waters. The main part of the east coast experiences higher winter temperatures than the west due to the influence of the monsoon and warm currents.

The east coast has a relatively flat coastline. The largest bays located here are Yongkhyn and Yenil. A network of lagoons, including the most famous Gyeongpo and Hwangjinpo, create favorable conditions for tourism. The west coast has an indented coastline, characterized by an abundance of tidal flats and a wide range of high and low tides (6-9.3 m). The largest island, Jeju Island, with an area of ​​1,777 km2, is located off the southern coast of the Korean Peninsula.

Most (70%) of Korea's territory is occupied by hills and mountains. The Nangnim mountain ranges in the North and Taebaek in the South stretch in a north-south direction and serve as a watershed between the western and eastern slopes. Smaller mountain ranges run parallel to each other from northeast to southwest. In the area of ​​the Cam Plateau, at an altitude of 1500 m above sea level, the highest peak on the Korean Peninsula is located - Mount Paekdusan (2744 m). Other mountain peaks are Mount Nannimsan in the Nannim Range region in the North, Mount Hallasan on Jeju Island (1950 m) of volcanic origin, as well as Mount Seoraksan (1780 m) and Mount Kumgangsan (1638 m), which attract tourists with their picturesqueness. Largest rivers (km): Amnokkan (790), Naktong (525), Tumangang (521) and Hangan (514).

Most of the soils are of granitic or gneiss origin with an admixture of limestone and volcanic rocks. Agriculture is based on artificial soils formed by humans over a long period of time.

In Korea, reserves of hard and brown coal, iron ore, polymetallic ores, gold, silver, graphite, and salt have been identified. The bulk of mineral resources are located in the north of the Korean Peninsula.

The wild fauna in Korea is represented by large mammals (tiger, leopard, black Himalayan and brown Ussuri bear, lynx, sika deer, wapiti, musk deer), as well as birds (379 species registered), small mammals (badger, marten, weasel), 25 species reptiles, 14 amphibians and 130 freshwater fish. The tiger, lynx, and other large mammals live in high mountain areas in the north of the Korean Peninsula.

The climate of Korea is continental, monsoon. The summer monsoon brings heavy rainfall. The winter monsoon is dry and brings low temperatures. The average January temperature is 0-3.5°C in the South of the peninsula and from -6°C (in the flat part) to -26°C (in the Kama plateau area) in the North, the average July temperature is +25.3°C in the South and +22-25°C in the North. Average annual precipitation ranges from 500 mm in the central and eastern regions to 1400-1500 mm on the southern coast. 70% of precipitation falls from June to September. There is a large fluctuation in annual indicators: once every 8 years, annual precipitation in the South falls below 1000 mm.

The climate of the Korean Peninsula is influenced by two types of cyclones. One type is spring, bringing heavy rainfall in March-April and early summer. The second type is typhoons that come to Korea in July-August. Every 2-3 years there is a strong typhoon that can cause significant damage.

Population of South Korea

Population density 476 people. per 1 km2. In terms of population, the Republic of Kazakhstan ranks 26th in the world, and in terms of population density - 3rd. The 1960s, which became the first peaceful decade after many years of wars and post-war reconstruction, saw high rates of population growth (about 3% per year). In the 1970s this figure dropped to 2%, and in the 1990s. and the first years of the 21st century. - up to less than 1%. In the coming quarter century, according to current forecasts, population growth rates may drop to zero. The ratio of the male and female population is close to one: in 2001, the number of men was 28.8 million people, and women - 28.5 million people. Urban population 79%.

Average life expectancy is 76 years. For women this figure is 79.5 years, for men - 72 years. The economically active population (aged 15-64 years) is 72%. The population of the Republic of Korea is homogeneous: non-Koreans account for less than 1% of the population.

A little more than half of the country's population consider themselves to be staunch adherents of any religious denomination. Of these, 51% are followers of Buddhism, 34% of Protestantism, 11% of Catholicism, 2% of Confucianism, 2% of other faiths.

History of South Korea

Korea is one of the oldest states in East Asia. The earliest state formation in the history of Korea is Ancient Joseon, which flourished in the 5th-6th centuries. BC. Translated from Korean, “Joseon” means “Land of Morning Freshness” or “Land of Morning Calm.”

In the 1st century BC. The early feudal states of Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla are formed on the Korean Peninsula. This historical period of time is called the “Three Kingdoms Period.”

The three states were at the stage of early feudal development. Confucianism and Buddhism were established in them.

Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla waged a long internecine struggle for leadership. The Chinese empires of Sui and Tang intervened in the bloody conflicts between the Korean states.

In the 7th century. Silla was victorious in the wars against Goguryeo and Baekje. A united Silla was created - the first unified state in Korean history. In the 8th century. the united Silla turned into a strong centralized feudal state. At the beginning of the 9th century. Silla declines as a result of feudal strife.

In 918, commander Wang Gon united the lands of the Korean Peninsula and formed the state of Koryo (hence the European name Korea). The entire period of the existence of Koryo (10th century - late 14th century) was marked by constant wars with the Khitans, Jurchens, and a courageous struggle against the Mongol invasions.

At the end of the 11th century. The state of Koryo began to noticeably weaken. The country was ravaged not only by the Khitans, Jurchens, and Mongols, but also by feudal cliques. The weakening of the state was accompanied by increased feudal exploitation, which led to popular uprisings. In con. 12th century In Korea, there were three major peasant uprisings that covered a significant part of Korea.

In 1392, the commander Yi Song Gye carried out a coup d'etat and proclaimed a new dynasty - the Yi dynasty, which ruled Korea until 1910. The founder of the dynasty, Yi Song Kyo, gave a new name to the state he created - Joseon in memory of Ancient Joseon.

The new wang (king) and his followers carried out a number of reforms aimed at reviving Korea and strengthening the centralized state.

In the 15th-17th centuries. Korea put up stubborn resistance to foreign conquerors. In 1592-98, Korea, with the help of China, repelled the Japanese invasion. In the long destructive war (known in history as the Imjin War) against Japan, the Korean people showed courage and heroism. The Korean fleet, using the iron-clad ship "Kobukseon" ("Turtle"), won several victories over the Japanese fleet. The Korean navy was led by the outstanding military leader Admiral Yi Sun-sin.

In the beginning. 17th century The Korean people also repelled the invasions of the Manchu tribes.

Fearing new foreign invasions, the ruling aristocracy of Korea in the 17th century. began to pursue a policy of isolation from the outside world. Korea began to be called a “hermit country.” Barrier outposts were built along the Korean coast, and the population was prohibited from communicating with foreigners. Even fishermen were not allowed to go far into the sea, so as not to have contact with sailors of foreign ships. Nevertheless, in the end. 18th century European missionaries began to penetrate into Kazakhstan, bringing with them the ideas of Christianity. The Christian religion gradually established itself in Korean society.

Internal life of Korea in the 17th and 18th centuries. marked by conflicts, internecine strife, conspiracies and coups, and the struggle of various “parties.” Nevertheless, this period in the history of Korea is also characterized by the development of crafts and trade, and the emergence of workshops. Mining began to develop, and the extraction of gold, silver, and copper was established. Commodity-money relations gradually formed.

An outstanding page in the history of Korean culture of the 18th century. There was an ideological movement called “sirhak” (“real sciences”), which arose as a counterweight to orthodox Confucianism. Sirhakists opposed the brutal exploitation of the peasantry, for the introduction of equal land use, and the development of national industry and trade. They called for adopting all the best that other nations have, and protested against social inequality and superstition. Supporters of this trend demanded an end to the policy of “sadezhuyi” (“kowtowing” to the “elder brother”, which was China). The views of the Sirhak ideologists reflected the growing democratic tendencies in Korean society and the beginning of the crisis of the feudal system.

Beginning 19th century marked by the instability of the Korean state, the growth of protests by peasants and artisans against the dominance of feudal lords and aristocracy. During this period, a new teaching, “tonghak” (“eastern teaching”), emerged, incorporating the ideas of Buddhism, Confucianism, Christianity and Korean shamanism. The main idea of ​​tonhak is that all people are equal.

In the 19th century Korea becomes the target of expansion by countries that tried to “open” Korea by force. In 1876, Japan was the first to impose an unequal treaty on Korea. Then other states - the USA (1882), Great Britain (1883), Russia (1884), France (1886) - concluded similar agreements with it. A struggle developed between the main powers for dominance in Korea.

In the 1870-90s. In the conditions of the crisis of feudal relations and external influence in Korea, the “kaehwa undong” (“reform movement”) movement was born, the ideological basis of which was the “movement for real sciences” (“sirhak”). Supporters of “kaehwa undong” opposed feudalism, for the development of capitalist relations, against Chinese influence in the country, and for expanding ties with foreign countries. Their program included the suppression of corruption, the reorganization of the Armed Forces, improving the situation of the people, and learning the best practices of other countries.

On December 4, 1884, the reformers carried out a coup d'etat, but 2 days later, with the help of Chinese troops under the command of Yuan Shikai, the reform movement was suppressed.

In con. 19th century A broad peasant movement against feudal oppression developed in Korea. This movement resulted in the Peasants' War of 1893-94, which, at the insistence of the ruling circles of Korea, was suppressed by Chinese troops. China's military action displeased Japan, which sent troops to Korea under the pretext of protecting its subjects and defeated the Chinese forces. As a result of the defeat of China in 1895, Korea freed itself from Chinese vassalage and became an independent state.

In 1896, the Korean royal court relied on Russia in the hope of preventing Korea from being enslaved by Japan. Russia stands for preserving Korea's independence. After defeat in the war with Japan in 1905, Russia was unable to resist Japanese influence in Korea. In November 1905, Japan imposed a defense treaty on Korea, which meant establishing a Japanese protectorate over it. In August 1910, Japan completely annexed Korea, turning it into a Government General - part of the Japanese Empire.

Japanese colonial rule in Korea continued for almost 40 years, bringing untold disasters and suffering to the Korean people. Over the years, Korea has gone through three stages of Japanese governance: the first is the “saber regime”, the second is the “cultural management” or “velvet cat’s paw”, and the third is “integration”, i.e. attempts to involve Koreans in lower-level power structures.

An important stage in the history of the national liberation movement of Korea was the March First Uprising of 1919, in which up to 2 million Koreans took part. The March First movement was crushed by the Japanese colonialists.

During World War II, Korea was turned by Japan into a military-strategic bridgehead. Hundreds of factories were built in Korea to produce weapons and military equipment for the Japanese army. A number of Korean industries (metallurgical, chemical), and railway transport served the Japanese Empire. Japan exported significant amounts of rice produced in Korea for its own needs.

The brutal suppression of freedoms, national oppression and lack of rights pushed the Korean people to fight against colonial enslavement. A partisan movement developed in Korea. One of the partisan detachments was led by Kim Il Sung, the future leader of North Korea. The Korean provisional government operated in Shanghai. More than 5 thousand Koreans fought in the ranks of the armies of the anti-Hitler coalition.

The defeat of the Japanese Kwantung group by the Soviet Army in August 1945 brought liberation to the Korean people. However, the confrontation that began between the USSR and the USA did not allow the creation of a unified Korean state. In May 1948, on the initiative of the United States, parliamentary elections were held in South Korea (US area of ​​responsibility). On August 15, 1948, the Republic of Korea was proclaimed. Syngman Rhee becomes the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

In August 1948, elections to the Supreme People's Assembly were also held in North Korea. On September 9, the creation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is proclaimed. Kim Il Sung is appointed Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers. He is also the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea.

After the formation of two Korean states, confrontation on the peninsula intensified. In 1950, the Korean conflict broke out, responsibility for the outbreak of which lies both with the leaders of the DPRK and the Republic of Korea, Kim Il Sung and Syngman Rhee, and with the allied states of the North and South (USSR and the USA).

The armed forces of the PRC (on the side of North Korea), as well as the United States and its allies (on the side of South Korea) took part in the Korean War. The USSR provided material assistance to the DPRK in the war. The UN Security Council resolution of June 25, 1950 recognized the DPRK as an aggressor. The Korean War, which lasted 3 years, ended with the signing of an armistice agreement in July 1953, which is still in effect today.

Government and political system of South Korea

According to the Constitution, the political system of the Republic of Kazakhstan is defined as democratic, and its people are endowed with sovereign rights. The Constitution was adopted on July 17, 1948; later amendments were made to its text.

Administratively, the country is divided into 9 provinces (Gyeonggin-do, Gangwon-do, Chungcheongbuk-do, Chungcheongnam-do, Jeollapuk-do, Jeollanam-do, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Gyeongsangnam-do, Jeju-do) and 7 cities with administrative rights of provinces (million people, 2000): Seoul, Busan (3.8), Daegu (2.5), Incheon (2.5), Gwangju (1.4), Daejeon (1.4), Ulsan (1.0). In addition, there are 232 lower-level administrations: 72 administrations of “si” (large cities), 89 administrations of “kun” (counties), 69 administrations of “ku” (urban districts within large cities).

The Republic of Kazakhstan is a presidential republic. The highest body of legislative power is a unicameral legislative assembly consisting of 273 deputies elected for 4 years by direct vote. 1/6 of the total number of deputies is elected according to party lists, 5/6 - in single-mandate electoral districts.

The main function of parliament is legislative. Other functions include adopting a budget, overseeing the conduct of foreign policy, declaring war and sending troops abroad, stationing foreign troops in the country, and monitoring or investigating special matters of national importance.

The President is elected by direct universal suffrage for a term of 5 years, after which he has no right to run again. The President is both the head of state and the executive branch. As the leader of a political party, he appoints senior government officials according to his party's recommendations. The President appoints the Prime Minister and other heads of the executive branch. The President is also the Supreme Commander-in-Chief and directs the state's foreign policy.

The president carries out the functions of the head of the executive branch through the State Council, consisting of 15-30 people appointed by the president and reporting only to him. Members of the State Council can head or supervise ministries, act on behalf of the president, and have the right to attend and speak at meetings of the National Assembly.

The Prime Minister, who heads the government, is appointed by the President with the approval of the National Assembly. Under the administration of President Kim Dae-jung (1998-2003), public administration reform was carried out. In 1998-2001, as a result of the reorganization of government bodies, the number of ministerial posts was reduced from 43 to 31, and the total number of civil servants (in the government apparatus and in local authorities) decreased by 10% to 829,816 people.

The leading political parties are the Democratic Party of the New Millennium (more often called the Democratic Party), the Great Country Party, and the United Liberal Democrats. There are also a number of small parties whose political influence is negligible. In the parliamentary elections of 2000, the opposition Great Country Party won. Its faction as of June 2002 consisted of 133 deputies, the Democratic Party faction - 119 deputies (including 4 independent deputies who joined the faction after the parliamentary elections), the United Liberal Democrats faction - 17 deputies, the Democratic People's Party - 2 deputies, independents - 4 deputies .

Syngman Rhee was elected as the first president of the Republic of Kazakhstan in 1948, whose reign occurred during the Korean War and the reconstruction period, which was characterized by a difficult political and economic situation. In April 1960, under pressure from powerful student protests, Syngman Rhee was forced to resign from his post.

With the formation of the government by the representative of the Democratic Party Chang Myung, the transitional stage of the country's development began, which ended in May 1961 with a military coup and the coming to power of General Park Chung-hee, who then won the presidential election of 1963. This period was marked by an authoritarian style of government, in which the administration of Park Chung-hee , tightly controlling socio-political processes in the country and suppressing opposition speeches, achieved the concentration of financial, material and human resources in strategic areas of economic development. Under President Park Chung-hee, the foundations of a development model were laid that allowed the country to achieve impressive economic success and remained without significant changes until the crisis of 1997-98.

After the assassination of President Park Chung Hee in October 1979, a short transition period followed, during which the country was led by President Choi Kyu Ha, who took office. As a result of a military coup in December 1979, General Chung Doo-chwan came to power and was elected president of the country in August 1980 by the National Unification Conference (electoral college).

In 1987, the country's Constitution reinstated the provision for direct presidential elections, and in the same year, former General Roh Dae Woo was elected to the highest government post.

As a result of the progressive transformations taking place in the country, in 1992 a civilian politician, a representative of the ruling party, Kim Yong Sam, was elected president.

In 1997, a symbolic event for the Republic of Kazakhstan took place: for the first time, a peaceful transfer of power as a result of democratic elections took place from the ruling party to the opposition, when Kim Dae-jung, who for many years was considered a symbol of opposition to the authoritarian regimes that ruled in the Republic of Kazakhstan until the beginning, was elected president. 1990s

In December 2002 he won, and in February 2003 the representative of the Democratic Party of the New Millennium, Noh Moo-hyun, began to perform his duties.

The armed forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan consist of the Ground Forces, Navy and Air Force. The total number of Armed Forces is 690 thousand people, of which 560 thousand are Ground Forces, 67 thousand are Navy, 63 thousand are Air Force (2001). Military expenditures amounted to 15,388 billion won (11.92 billion US dollars) in 2001. The South Korean army is armed with 2,360 tanks, 2,400 armored personnel carriers, 5,180 artillery pieces, 160 ships and 6 submarines, approx. 550 fighters, etc.

The cornerstone of Kazakhstan's foreign policy is the strategic military-political alliance and close trade and economic relations with the United States. Since the normalization of diplomatic relations between the ROK and Japan in 1965, South Korean-Japanese ties in the fields of politics, security, economics and culture have been actively expanding. In August 1992, the Republic of Kazakhstan established diplomatic relations with the PRC, after which bilateral relations began to develop dynamically in many areas, primarily in the economy. China has become one of the most important foreign trade partners of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

In the beginning. 21st century The Republic of Kazakhstan pays priority attention to the state of relations with the countries of East Asia. Since 1999, the Republic of Kazakhstan has participated in annual meetings of the heads of state and government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, China and Japan, during which current issues of international relations are discussed, with priority given to a joint search for ways to solve economic problems. The Republic of Kazakhstan is also actively developing contacts with the countries of Southeast Asia within the framework of the “ASEAN+three” dialogue (10 member countries of ASEAN and the Republic of Kazakhstan, China, Japan).

The ROK established diplomatic relations with the USSR in September 1990. Russian-South Korean ties cover the areas of politics, security, economics, science and culture. Meetings between the leaders of the two countries at the highest level have become regular. However, economic cooperation has significant untapped reserves. The volume of trade turnover is $3.2 billion, the declared South Korean investments in the Russian Federation are approx. $270 million (2002).

Economy of South Korea

Over the 55 years of its existence, the Republic of Kazakhstan has gone from being an underdeveloped country, gaining in the 1970s. the status of a “new industrial economy”, to recognition as an industrialized state, which was formalized by joining the OECD in 1996. The volume of GDP amounted to 545 billion won (422 billion US dollars) in 2001 (increased from 1995 by 1.3 times).

After World War II, Korea found itself thrown back far in its economic development. The Korean War completed the destruction of industrial potential in the south of the peninsula. Established at the beginning 1960s The authoritarian regime of General Park Chung Hee was able to carry out accelerated industrialization and ensure high rates of economic growth, which made it possible to build a highly developed economy in a compressed historical period. The concentration of human, material, financial, scientific and technical resources in strategic areas of development of export-oriented industries played a major role. With the assistance of the government, large conglomerates, or chaebols, were formed (Hyundai, Samsung, etc.), and support was provided for their advancement into world markets. The government was helped in this by banks controlled by it, through which financial flows were redistributed.

At the same time, the state's efforts were aimed at forming the foundations of a market economy: a legislative system was developed, a network of financial institutions and exchanges was developed, a securities market was formed, and the mechanism of relations with the world market was improved.

The sociocultural factor played an extremely important role in the formation of modern South Korea. The Koreans' commitment to Confucian ethics with its preaching of hard work, desire for education, discipline, and reverence for elders was fully used by the state and business for development purposes. Length of the working week in the 1960s and 70s. was actually not regulated, reaching 60 or even 70 hours a week. The duration of the vacation was only a few days. And in modern conditions, the vast majority of Koreans do not dare to leave their workplace for more than a week. The activities of trade unions were allowed only at the enterprise level and were strictly regulated.

With the assistance of the state, large national businesses were able to successfully reproduce on Korean soil the advanced methods of organizing business activities borrowed from developed countries. The strictly organized economic system created by Park Chung-hee, although it was deformed and weakened in the 1980s, nevertheless existed, retaining its main features, until the middle. 1990s The search for new forms of development was hampered by the bloc of politicians, bureaucrats and representatives of big business that had formed in the previous period, which contributed to the reproduction of large-scale corruption. This turned out to be the price to pay for the deep involvement of the state in economic processes.

Under these conditions, only a sharp change in the economic situation could break the existing status quo. The monetary and financial crisis that spread in East Asia in 1997 not only destabilized the economic situation in South Korea, but also made it impossible for the economic mechanism that existed at that time to function.

The core of the economic reforms carried out in 1998-2002 by the Kim Dae-jung administration was the curtailment of direct government intervention in the economy and, accordingly, the formation of fundamentally different relationships between state institutions and business. A course was taken to ensure the independence of the banking and credit sector and create equal conditions for commercial structures to access credit resources, to support progressive industry reforms and strengthen competitive principles, incl. by expanding access to the domestic market for external investors. The administration of President Roh Moo-hyun has announced its desire to continue and develop the economic reforms it has begun. After the recession of 1997-98, the South Korean economy quickly reached pre-crisis levels and restored the sustainability of economic development. The country's external debt in 2002 was $128.8 billion, while foreign exchange reserves reached $121.4 billion.

The leading role in the South Korean economy is played by the manufacturing industry (32% of GDP) and the service sector (52%). The share of construction accounts for 8.2%, agriculture 4.5%, electric power 3%, mining industry 0.3%.

Extractive industries production in the 1990s. and in the first years of the 21st century. stagnates or even declines. Coal reserves are estimated at 1.5 billion tons, but its production, which amounted to 24.5 million tons in 1985, then constantly decreased to 5 million tons (2000). In turn, the production of iron ore, after its maximum of 665 thousand tons in 1985, also decreased to 180 thousand tons. The same trend characterizes the production of graphite and other mineral resources. The process of reducing the production of domestic raw materials is associated with growing competition from the import of cheaper and higher-quality fuel and raw materials, mainly from Australia, Canada, the USA, and Indonesia.

Metallurgy, the chemical industry, and shipbuilding play an important role in the country's economy. The production of sea vessels in the Republic of Kazakhstan increased 7 times in 1980-2000 (total carrying capacity 12 million tons), steel production - 1.7 times (41 million tons). Industries such as electronics, automotive, and biotechnology are developing dynamically. Car production in 1980-2000 increased 23 times (2.8 million units).

Traditionally, the so-called system is widespread in the Republic of Kazakhstan. lifetime employment, in which the employee has a high chance of connecting his activities with the only place of work in his work history. Under these conditions, unemployment in the Republic of Kazakhstan is usually insignificant - 2-4%. From the end 1990s The labor market is changing, acquiring features inherent in a developed market economy (mobility, flexibility), while unemployment remains low (2.9% in 2002).

The South Korean economy is characterized by low inflation, the level of which in the 1990s. It fluctuated between 2-5%, with the exception of the crisis year of 1998, when price growth increased to 7.5%. In the post-crisis period, price dynamics decreased again. Inflation based on the dynamics of retail prices was 2.7% in 2002.

The leading role in the economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan is played by a small group of large companies - chaebols. They account for 57% of the country's exports. By their nature, these are conglomerates, the structure of which evolved in the 1960-90s with the accumulation of financial, human and technological resources. in favor of increasingly advanced industries: from light industry and basic industry to automotive, electronics, computer science, biotechnology and aerospace engineering. The number of strategic industries sometimes grew to 8-10. After the crisis of 1997-98 and under pressure from the state, the chaebols reduced the number of strategic business areas to 2-3. Leaders of South Korean business occupy significant positions in the world market in such industries as metallurgy (POSCO), automotive and shipbuilding (Hyundae), and production of electronics and information systems (Samsung and El G).

The dynamic development of the South Korean economy over the past four decades has been accompanied by profound structural changes that have led to a decrease in the role of the agricultural sector in the country's economic complex. Although the volume of agricultural production increased almost 15 times in 1970-2000, the share of the agricultural sector in GDP decreased from 26.1 to 4.5%, while at the same time a significant decrease in the share of the agricultural population in the total population of the country during this period from 44.7 to 9. 5%. In Kazakhstan's agriculture, the average farm size is 1.3 hectares. Only 6.3% of farmers have a land plot of 3 hectares or more. The trend of aging of the agricultural population, which has been observed for a long time, has led to the fact that the share of farmers aged 60 years and older increased from 24% in 1990 to 41% in 2001. The development of social infrastructure (education, healthcare) and housing construction in rural areas is still lagging behind. The accumulated problems have negatively affected the profitability of the agricultural business. The income level of rural households in 2000 was only 80% of that of urban households, whereas in 1990 this figure was 97%.

At the same time, positive processes are taking place in agriculture: increasing its concentration and specialization, increasing the efficiency of a number of industries. The number of farms specializing in rice production with arable land of 3 hectares or more increased in 1990-98 from 18 thousand to 35 thousand. These farms ensured a decrease in the 1990s. cost of rice by 30%. The concentration of production in pig farming is growing: 7% of farms containing more than 1000 pigs produced 52% of pork (1998).

In providing support to agriculture, the government proceeds not only from purely economic calculations. It considers the development of the agricultural economy as a guarantee of maintaining a favorable social environment that facilitates the transmission to new generations of national traditions that are under threat in the context of globalization. According to the OECD, the level of support for agriculture in South Korea is 5 times higher than the average indicators of the member countries of this organization. With the support of the state, the volume of agricultural products produced has doubled over the past 15 years. Rice production reached 5.5 million tons (2001), which covers the country's needs for this important product and allows the Republic of Kazakhstan to provide food assistance to the DPRK. The production of citrus fruits is 644 thousand tons, apples 400 thousand tons, grapes 450 thousand tons. Noticeable changes are taking place in livestock farming: due to the growth of cheaper imports, the number of beef cattle decreased in 1995-2001 from 2.6 million to 1.4 million heads, the number of dairy cows remains stable at 550 thousand, while in the context of strengthening the competitiveness of pig and poultry farming, the number of pigs increased in the same period from 6.5 million to 8.7 million, poultry - from 85.8 million to 102.4 million. Currently, the main emphasis in agricultural policy is not so much on increasing quantitative indicators, but on increasing production efficiency in the agricultural sector.

The Republic of Kazakhstan has a developed transport and communications system. The length of commercially operated railways is 3.12 thousand km. At the same time, the length of double tracks is 1 thousand km, 668 km are electrified, or 21% of all railways. Railways transported 43.86 million tons, or 10.281 billion tkm, in 2001. There is a 412 km high-speed railway line connecting Seoul and the port city of Busan in the southeast of the country. The total length of paved roads is 91.5 thousand km (2002). The first expressway, 24 km long, between Seoul and Incheon was built in 1968. In 1970, the Seoul-Busan highway (428 km) was put into operation, the construction of which became an important milestone in the development of transport infrastructure in the Republic of Kazakhstan. By 2002, the length of expressways was more than 2.6 thousand km. In the Republic of Kazakhstan there are approx. 13 million cars, of which 8.9 million are passenger cars, which is more than 35 times higher than in 1980. The material and technical base of air transport is constantly being strengthened in the Republic of Kazakhstan. In 2002, the first stage of the new Incheon International Airport near Seoul opened. At the same time, Gimpo Airport is gradually reorienting itself to serving domestic routes. Two South Korean airlines, Korean Airlines and Asiana Airlines, with a fleet of 118 and 59 aircraft, respectively, provide transportation of passengers and air cargo to the Republic of Kazakhstan and more than 70 countries around the world. In 2000, the country carried a total of 22.5 million passengers, and 19.5 million passengers on international flights. The leading role in ensuring the delivery of commercial cargo to the country and abroad belongs to maritime transport. The country's largest seaports are Busan, Ulsan, Incheon, and Mokpo. In total, 530 million tons of cargo were processed in the international seaports of the Republic of Kazakhstan in 2000.

As part of the national program of the national network of telecommunications and information science in the country “Cyber ​​K. 21”, a unified, developed information system accessible to any type of user has been created, uniting 34 thousand government agencies, 10 thousand schools, 1000 computer education centers for the population. There are more than 15 million personal computers in the country, and there are 44 regular and 50 cell phones per 100 residents. Covering 22.3 million Internet users, the South Korean Internet market is the fourth largest in the world in terms of capacity after the United States, Japan and Germany.

Domestic trade and the service sector in the Republic of Kazakhstan are developing dynamically. Moreover, this applies to different market segments. The volume of retail trade through the discounter chain amounted to 12 trillion won in 2001 (10 trillion in 2000). TV sales amounted to 2 trillion won, Internet sales at the beginning. 21st century doubled annually, and the turnover of department stores amounted to 16.1 trillion won.

From the 2nd half. 1980s The tourism industry is developing intensively in the Republic of Kazakhstan. This is facilitated by the regular holding of international exhibitions, business forums, cultural festivals, and major sports competitions in the Republic of Kazakhstan (1988 Summer Olympics, 2002 FIFA World Cup, 2002 Asian Games and world championships in various disciplines). As a result, the number of foreign tourists visiting the Republic of Kazakhstan annually increased from 170 thousand in 1970 to 5.5 million in 2002. The growth in the well-being of the population led to a significant increase in the number of South Koreans traveling abroad on vacation. In 2001, 6 million people spent their holidays in other countries: approx. 4 million visited Asia (mainly China and Japan), more than 800 thousand visited the USA, approx. 400 thousand - in Europe, 260 thousand - in Australia and Oceania.

The leading role in the monetary system of the Republic of Kazakhstan is played by the Korean Bank, created in 1950, which performs the functions of a central bank. The Korean bank carries out issuing operations, implements monetary policy, and lends to the banking system. For several decades, until the financial crisis of 1997-98, the banking and credit system was under strict state control. Control over the banking system made it possible to direct financial flows to those areas of the economy that the government designated as priorities. However, the regulatory role of officials, sometimes guided by selfish interests, led to ineffectiveness of banking and credit operations and a deterioration in the financial position of credit institutions. Since 1998, the banking and credit system has been undergoing a reform process under the control of the Financial Supervision Commission: the commission is developing a plan for implementing reforms, establishing general principles for the operation of the banking system, and forming a new system of supervision over banking and credit institutions and non-banking financial institutions. Using privatization, admission of non-residents and a number of other measures in its policy, the government is rehabilitating banking and credit institutions. By 2002, 20 banks and 1,528 non-banking institutions operated in the Republic of Kazakhstan, among them 3 commercial banks, 44 insurance companies, 121 mutual savings companies, 1,268 credit unions, 129 investment trust companies and a number of others.

The budgetary and financial system of the Republic of Kazakhstan combines the finances of the central government, provincial and local authorities. The 2001 budget amounted to 100.2 trillion won ($85.9 billion). The volume of taxes collected in 2001 amounted to 95 trillion won (82 billion dollars). Of these, income tax accounted for 19.5%, corporate tax 17.7%, value added tax 27%, and customs duties 6.2%. At the same time, as part of the ongoing reform of the tax system in 2001, the government reduced income tax rates by 10% (from 10-40% to 9-36%), the corporate tax rate was lowered by 1 point to 15-27%.

In terms of foreign trade turnover ($314.57 billion in 2002), the country ranks 12th in the world. At the same time, exports amounted to $162.47 billion (8th highest in the world), imports - $152.1 billion, with a positive balance of $10.37 billion (2002). Leading South Korean exports: household and industrial electronics and electrical equipment (34.5%), light industry products (15.6%), passenger cars (8%), industrial equipment (7.7%), chemical products (7.3 %), sea vessels (6.6%), ferrous metallurgy products (6.3). Having become one of the world's leading shipbuilding powers, the Republic of Kazakhstan has become the world's largest manufacturer of sea vessels for the transportation of liquefied gas. South Korean companies are among the leading exporters of electronics and telecommunications equipment, steel and automobiles. The top 10 export products in South Korea account for 26.6% of exports. 100 export goods provided 60.7% of South Korea's exports in 2000. Almost half (48.5%) of South Korean imports are fuels and raw materials. A significant share falls on the import of high-tech goods: electronics and electrical engineering (24%), machinery and equipment (12%). Expanding domestic consumer demand has led to consumer durables accounting for 5% of imports.

The main foreign economic partners of the Republic of Kazakhstan are the USA, Japan and China. In 2001, the United States accounted for 20.7% of exports and 14.6% of imports; for Japan, the same figures were 11 and 18.9%, and for China, respectively, 12.1 and 9.4%. The share of trade turnover with the Russian Federation is approx. 1%.

The dynamic development of the South Korean economy since the beginning. 1960s led to a significant improvement in the financial situation of the population. The average monthly salary in 2000 was 1.75 million won (about $1,400) with an average working week of 46.6 hours. The longest working week is observed in the transport and communications industries - 48.8 hours. The shortest in construction - 44 ,4 hours

Serious changes have occurred in the provision of housing for South Koreans. In the Republic of Kazakhstan, 79% of the population lives in cities (in 1960 - 38%). The government developed a program for the construction of 92 2 million apartments in 1988, which was successfully exceeded: 2.7 million apartments were built during these years. In 1992-97, 500-600 thousand apartments were built annually, which made it possible to reduce housing prices and improve the living conditions of South Koreans. Half of the population of the 7 largest cities of the Republic of Kazakhstan lives in apartment buildings.

Social insurance in the Republic of Kazakhstan began to be used on a large scale only from the end. 1980s Since 1988, the state pension system initially extended to employees of institutions and companies of 10 people. and more, since 1992 - with the number of employees 5 people. and more, since 1995 it began to cover also those employed in agriculture and rural residents who are self-employed. The health insurance system began to be introduced in the Republic of Kazakhstan only in 1988-89. Over the past period, medical care for the population has significantly improved. The number of medical institutions increased in 1996-2001 from 31 thousand to 41.3 thousand, and the average number of beds in them increased from 209 to 304. Great efforts are being made to prevent some (viral) and early diagnosis of other (oncological) diseases. In 2001, as part of the national program to combat cancer (1st place among the causes of death in the Republic of Kazakhstan), the National Oncology Center-Hospital was opened, which was entrusted with the function of coordinating relevant research and treatment activities. The program for free screening and early diagnosis of cancer covers 20% of the country's population.

Traditionally, women have played a minor role in business and public life in the country. However, in the 1990s. The opposite trend began to clearly appear: marriage and the birth of children for a growing number of young Korean women does not become a reason for abandoning a business or public career. Supporting the growing activity of women, the government initiated in 2000 an increase in the quota of civil service positions reserved for women to 20%.

Cost of entertainment in Korea

But if there are any prices that please you in Korea, it’s the prices for entertainment. Having spent a large amount of money on such necessary needs as housing and food, you can relax a little with the thought that not so much money will be spent on a cultural and tourism program in Korea. Many interesting places (such as the Seoul Tower) are free to visit, and admission to other popular tourist spots, such as Gyeongbokgung Palace or the Seoul Zoo, costs comparable to similar activities in other countries.

Zoo in Seoul

In general, in Seoul you can spend several days just in various parks and areas (each of which has its own characteristics), in which, if you do not buy souvenirs and gifts, you will only need money for pocket expenses. One of the main Korean attractions, the chimchilbang (which, by the way, can also be used as a hotel, thereby saving on housing) is also inexpensive; a day in a “Korean spa” will cost about 10,000-20,000 won.

Science and culture of South Korea

Government and business circles of the Republic of Kazakhstan are aware that the economic prospects of South Korea will largely depend on how successful the development of science and education will be. The education system consists of six years of primary education, three years of secondary education, and three years of secondary education in advanced schools. Higher education can be obtained at colleges and universities (about 230 in 2001), which also operate master's and postgraduate programs that provide the opportunity to obtain a scientific degree.

Payment for school education is provided by central and local authorities (in the proportion of 78%: 22%), so it is practically accessible to all: only a small part of the costs of purchasing educational materials is covered by parents. Although higher education institutions are 80% private, the government provides financial support to both the universities themselves and parents of students, providing preferential loans to pay for their children's education. Officials are encouraged to improve their educational level in the country and abroad. The number of college and university students in 2001 was 1.73 million. Leading universities in the country: Seoul National University, Korea University, Kyung Hee University, Korea University of Education. Tens of thousands of South Korean students are pursuing or continuing their education at higher education institutions in the United States, Europe and Japan.

The development of a strategy for the development of science in the Republic of Kazakhstan is determined by the Council of Science and Technology, headed by the president of the country. The committees included in the Council coordinate the activities of government departments and the private sector in the scientific field. Particular attention is paid to the balance of forces in the triangle “scientific laboratories - universities - private business”.

The Ministry of Science and Technology is responsible for the specific financing and implementation of scientific and technical programs and their distribution among scientific centers. The Ministry of Economy, Industry and Energy is responsible for implementing priority areas for the development of high-tech industries. The Ministry of Informatics and Communications provides support for the development of information infrastructure.

The country has created a modern scientific base, the funding of which in 2001 reached $12 billion, or 2.7% of GDP (1/3 - budget expenditures, 2/3 - private). The annual increase in spending on science in 1998-2001 was 14%. Among the leading industries are medicine, precision instrument making, and electronics. In these industries, R&D expenses accounted for 5 and 4.2% of sales, respectively. However, the share of spending by the largest South Korean companies on R&D is lower than that of leading Western corporations. Government spending will increase on nuclear research, biotechnology, etc. Meanwhile, the 20 largest private companies account for 40% of all employees in science and 47% of scientists with a doctorate, 55% of all capital investments in R&D.

Institutional transformations are becoming an acute problem, since the hierarchical and complex structure of large business and its concentration on solving tactical problems to the detriment of strategic goals impede innovation. Reforming the innovation sector implies its commercialization by encouraging the restructuring of large conglomerates, supporting the development of small venture businesses and stimulating the expansion of domestic demand for high-tech products. Only during 2001, declared by the government as the “year of biotechnology,” and until the end. 2002 With the help of the government, up to 600 venture companies specializing in biotechnology were created.

Since 2001, the Ministry of Science and Technology has sharply increased spending on financial support for scientific personnel. For this purpose, the practice of providing awards, grants, and scientific scholarships is expanding. The goal of modern government policy is to significantly improve the financial situation of those employed in science and strengthen the prestige of scientific work, to increase the status of South Korean scientists in society, who for a long time were in the shadow of the bureaucracy, military and businessmen, and also suffered significant material losses as a result of the crisis of 1997-98.

There are 233 museums in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Among the largest are the National Museum of Korea and the State Museum of Folk Art (Seoul). Museum complexes located in the ancient cities and former capitals of Gyeongju and Buyeo are famous. In addition to state, municipal and university museums, there are more than 80 museums in the country created by individuals and corporations.

Activities in the 1950s played an important role in the development of modern fine art in the South of the Korean Peninsula. National exhibition, supported by the state and giving priority to the realistic direction of painting and sculpture. In the subsequent period, other artistic directions developed in the country. Of great importance for the modern cultural life of the Republic of Kazakhstan was the holding of the international art festival “Gwangju Biennale” in 1995 in Gwangju, which reflected the diversity of artistic trends in the art of the Republic of Kazakhstan, its growing ties with world cultural centers.

Modern Korean literature (including modern prose and poetry) develops under the significant influence of Western literature.

Korean musical and theatrical art has its roots in primitive religious rites. Traditional colorful theatrical performances combining dance, song and oral storytelling are presented on the stage of the Jeongdong Theater (Seoul). The first Western-style theater opened in Seoul in 1908. In the Republic of Kazakhstan, there are several theaters and stage venues that stage performances of various genres. A number of them are located on Daehanno Street in central Seoul.

South Korean cinema after rapid growth in the 2nd half. 1950s experienced a long decline. Since the 1980s The film industry in Kazakhstan is on the rise again. The popularity of South Korean films is growing, many of which have received recognition at international film festivals in Cannes, Berlin, Venice, and Moscow.

Opera, symphonic music, classical and modern ballet are becoming increasingly popular in the country. Currently, there are 30 symphony orchestras in Seoul and other cities of the country. Korean singers and musicians, many of whom were educated in the best educational institutions of the Republic of Kazakhstan and other countries, regularly perform on the stages of famous theaters and at leading concert venues in the world.

Travel and transport

Travel in South Korea is also not a significant expense item. Travel by metro (which, by the way, has a very wide network) costs 1350 won (about 80 rubles), travel by bus 1300 won. You can save a little by purchasing a T-Money card in one of the minimarkets (paying with it, trips are a little cheaper).

How much does a vacation in Seoul cost? (tickets, accommodation, meals)

Summarize! How much money do you need to organize a month-long trip to Seoul?

— Air tickets to Korea — 30 thousand rubles round trip per person (cheap air tickets to Korea can be found on aviasales.com or on passonboard.com)

— Accommodation — 50 thousand rubles (it’s most convenient to search for hotels on booking.com, and apartments on airbnb.com)

— Everyday expenses — 60 thousand rubles per person

Travel to Seoul. South Korea

Life style

21. One of the manifestations of friendship for Koreans is touching. Don't be surprised if you see guys on the streets of Korea patting each other on the shoulder, fiddling with their hair and even giving each other a light neck massage :)

22. In Korea they like to make noise; there it is not customary to complain to the police about neighbors who listen to music loudly. Loud advertising on the streets is also within normal limits.

23. South Korea is a fairly safe country; here you can walk through remote neighborhoods late at night without fear.

24. Popular sports are baseball and golf. Baseball is played by children and adults, while golf is fun for middle-aged people. Another type of physical activity that all Koreans love to do is going to the mountains.

25. When to go to Korea? Depends on what you want to do. If you are a fan of skiing, then winter is the ideal time, but if you prefer to bask in the sun, then go on a trip in the summer, as South Korea has many beaches, and if you just want to admire this country, then plan your trip in the spring, when sakura blossoms everywhere, or in the fall, when the leaves turn yellow.

26. If you decide to write a letter or postcard to a Korean, then put red ink aside, as it is believed that the name written with it will bring trouble and even death to the person.

27. Respect for elders is the most important thing in Korean etiquette. Before going to this country, you should carefully study all types of requests so as not to find yourself in an uncomfortable situation.

28. Serving in the army in Korea is considered prestigious, so many K-pop stars go to serve even despite their career.

29. Another interesting fact about the Korean army: there is no deferment for Korean students, but those who have only primary school education are not accepted into the army.

30. Young couples in Korea cannot just decide to “live together”, as this is considered immoral. Those who dare to do this will be condemned not only by their elders, but also by their peers. A couple can move into the same apartment only after the wedding.

Education

31. To get an education in South Korea, you will have to pay a tidy sum; it is really expensive. By the way, unlike Russia, legal education is much less popular in South Korea.

32. Education is taken very seriously in this country. Even the school day is more like a work day, since along with all the classes, additional, but practically obligatory, clubs and courses it ends late in the evening.

33. The academic year in a Korean school is divided not into quarters, but into semesters and, accordingly, schoolchildren rest not four, but twice a year: in the summer from mid-July to the end of August and in the winter from mid-February to early March.

34. In almost all Korean schools, students wear uniforms.

35. Physical education is not considered a compulsory subject in many schools in South Korea; it is usually introduced as an additional discipline.

36. Koreans study in elementary school for 6 years, in middle and high school for 3 years. Then you can go to college for 2 years, and then to university for 4.

37. Although you can study at school for only 12 years, you will not be able to literally become a “twelfth grader.” The fact is that after the 6th grade of primary school there is the first grade of secondary school and education ends, accordingly, after the 3rd grade of high school.

38. Exams at Korean universities are a serious test. It even goes so far that newspapers publish reminders so that girls do not overdo it with perfume and do not wear high-heeled shoes, so as not to distract themselves and those around them from fateful exams.

39. A unique form of our Unified State Exam is also available in Korea. Almost all exams and tests take the form of tests and students just need to remember a huge list of correct answers.

40. The high school program in Korea prepares the student for further study in a specific specialty, however, it is not necessary to complete it.

41. Koreans are very hardworking. The school daily routine continues at work - the working day begins at 7.30-9.00 depending on the company and ends late in the evening. Although officially the working day should last until 18.00, many Koreans try not to leave before their boss.

42. By the way, it is customary for only men to wait for their bosses to leave; women can leave earlier.

43. A 30-day vacation for Koreans is an unaffordable luxury. Some companies literally force their employees to go on vacation for one or two weeks, as stubborn Koreans refuse to rest in order to prove their professionalism to their superiors.

44. Living in Seoul, the capital of South Korea, is quite expensive, so many who work in this city buy housing in the suburbs, where everything is comparatively cheaper, but saving money comes at the cost of travel time.

45. There are only 11 official days off in Korea.

46. ​​If public holidays fall on Saturday or Sunday, they are not moved to Monday, so some years are especially difficult for Koreans.

47. Koreans spend their single weekends with their families - they go to visit each other or go out into nature together.

48. It is difficult for bank employees to stay in one place for a long time. The fact is that many bosses believe that in 2-3 years an employee has too many acquaintances and connections and they become higher for him than the interests of the company.

49. Competition in South Korea is very strong. If an employee nevertheless decides to go on a long vacation, then when he returns, he will most likely find his place occupied.

50. Even small family businesses have the same strict rules as large corporations: exactly the same long working hours and exactly the same short vacations.

51. A marriage proposal in Korea is usually made purely formally, when a restaurant has already been booked and a guest list has been drawn up. Why then do this at all? It's simple - to make the future bride happy :)

52. Wealthy families hold two weddings - in a European style and in a traditional Korean one.

53. The head of the family in Korea is always a man, this is not discussed.

54. A husband and wife should not quarrel and scold friends in the presence of older relatives.

56. Even within a family circle, it is not customary to address each other by name; this amounts to an insult. There is a special respectful treatment for each family member.

57. A pregnant wife is treated very carefully in a Korean family; all close relatives try to look after her and show all possible care. But the meeting from the maternity hospital is not as festive as in Russia.

58. It is customary for children in Korea to be greatly pampered; they are not denied practically anything, but in return they are required to give a lot of effort in terms of their studies.

59. Children are raised mainly by mothers, since fathers spend most of the day at work and return closer to night and communicate with their children mainly on weekends. However, the father is still the authority for the child.

60. In Korea, the husband’s parents are called “in-law” in relation to the child, and the wife’s parents are called “external”. But these are just names; usually both “relative” and “external” grandparents communicate with children equally enthusiastically :)

Population census in ancient times

The state of Korea has a long history. Since ancient times, the population of Korea (South and North) was under strict registration. This was done by village elders, who every three years provided information to officials about the number of families and people in each village. Information was collected by district, then by province, and compiled into general figures in the capital.

However, the reliability of this information has long been questioned, since it was possible to underestimate the real number (presumably by at least 2 times). Each village and province was interested in a lower number of people living in order to pay less taxes or join the army.

Scientists estimate that in the 15th century the population of Korea was about 8 million people, and by the beginning of the 19th century it had grown to 15 million. Most Koreans lived in villages (about 97%). The number of residents of the capital fluctuated during this time from 100 to 150 thousand people (during the reign of the Li dynasty).

Population of Korea in the 20th and 21st centuries

The first completely reliable census took place only in 1910 and gave a figure of 17 million people. For comparison: the population of Russia at that time was 160 million.

In 1948, the country was divided into two states: North Korea and South Korea (9 and 19 million citizens, respectively). Since then, the percentage of people living at different ends of the peninsula has remained almost unchanged (2:1 - South:North).

By 1998, the population in South Korea was already 46.44 million people, and it could already compete in size with large European countries: England (57 million), Poland (38 million), France (58 million), Spain (40 million).

Demographics

Until the early 20th century, Korea's female population was young and the birth rate was very high. One Korean woman gave birth to an average of 7-10 children, but a third of them died in infancy and another third before the age of 10 years. Life expectancy for men was 24 (!), and for women - 26 years. Thus, in those years, the high birth rate was fully compensated by the high child and adult mortality, therefore the total population increased rather slowly.

During the era of the country's colonization by Japan (the first half of the 20th century), demographic figures improved due to the emergence of new treatment methods, new medicines and a decrease in mortality. By 1945, the average life expectancy for men was 43 years, for women - 44, i.e. almost 2 times longer.

The biggest jump in birth rates occurred between 1945 and 1960 (the period when the economy was emerging), at which time the government began to worry that South Korea's population was growing too quickly. In this regard, there were attempts to limit the birth rate of Koreans.

The economic progress of the country brought changes to these figures: as education grew and life improved, the birth rate began to fall. By 1995, Koreans had been living for 70 years, and Korean women for 78, which was 3 times more than at the beginning of the 20th century.

In 2004, the number of Koreans was 48.4 million, the duration for women was 72.1, for men 79.6 years.

Personal competition, the cult of food and plastic surgery

I have always liked Asian culture.

I entered the Korean language department at Moscow State University and after my second year I went to Seoul for a month-long internship.

When I finished my bachelor's degree, I immediately applied to the master's program at Seoul National University. This was four years ago. Now I live in Seoul, writing a dissertation and teaching at a private Russian language academy.

This is me at Changdeokgung Palace in Seoul - it was built in the 15th century for the royal family of the Joseon Dynasty

While studying for my master's degree, I received a D-​2 student visa, which allows me to work part-time for several hours a day. To do this, you needed a passport, an application, two photographs, a bank account statement, an invitation from the university and permission from the university to apply for a visa - it states that the work will not interfere with the educational process. The visa application fee is $60. The study visa can be extended; you do not need to leave the country.

A year ago, I changed my visa to E-2: it allows me to work as a teacher in private language academies. It can be applied for by those who graduated from a university in Russia and received a bachelor's degree. To change my visa, I brought to the immigration center an agreement with the employer, the employer’s license, a Moscow State University diploma with an apostille, a medical examination certificate, and a certificate of no criminal record. The visa application fee is $60.

The visa was issued for one year - this is the duration of my work contract. If the employer renews the contract with me, I will extend the visa.

does it cost to obtain a visa?

To work full time, you need to obtain a residence permit - an F-​2 visa. It is given for 3 years, after which it can be extended. Each visa applicant is assessed according to a point system: you must score at least 80 out of 120. Age, education, knowledge of the Korean language, income, and volunteer work experience are assessed. It is also usually required to complete the Korean Integration Program - a special course for foreigners about life in the country.

Now I just passed the exam to determine the level of the Korean language - I have the fifth, maximum. All that remains is to listen to 50 hours of the integration program - and you can submit documents.

Those who do not know the Korean language well find it difficult to obtain a residence permit.

Every foreigner who plans to stay in Korea for more than 90 days must apply for a registration card or an alien card. For a non-resident this is the main document.

The card is called “vegugin tynnokchyn”. "Wegugin" means "foreigner" in Korean. Using this word in a search engine you can find stories about the life of Russian emigrants in South Korea

To get a registration card, you need to come to the immigration center and submit documents: I brought an invitation from the university, an order for admission to the university, a completed application form and a photograph. Three weeks later I received the finished card.

The card shows your home address - if it changes, you must inform the immigration center within two weeks. One day I forgot about this rule and I was fined $70 (3900 RUR).

fine for incorrectly indicated address on a foreigner’s card

There are two large offices of immigration centers in Seoul. I only met polite and friendly specialists who were never rude. The inspectors don't know English well, so without knowing Korean it will be difficult. You can find volunteer translators at the immigration center - perhaps they can help, but it will not be quick.

Documents are accepted here only by prior electronic registration. This is not always convenient: you cannot get an appointment during peak months. Last time I waited in line for a month, because a new academic semester had begun and there was an influx of students. Urgent questions should be accepted out of turn: for example, if my visa is about to expire, they will extend it on the same day. I have not checked how this works in practice.

Salaries and work

The Korean currency is called the won. 100 ₩ is approximately 5 RUR.

The minimum salary in Korea is 7,530 ₩ (398 R) per hour, 1,573,770 ₩ (83,278 R) per month. The amount is set each year by the Ministry of Labor. This is approximately what people working in the service sector earn. My friend worked in the mobile communications department and after 2 years of work he received 1,700,000 ₩ (90,500 RUR) per month.

Young, educated Koreans strive to work in large national corporations. The salary of a young specialist in such a company starts from 2.5 million won (RUR 133,000) per month.

Students begin looking for work in their fourth year. At the beginning of the semester, Korean corporations publish vacancies, students choose the ones they like and send a portfolio. Next, applicants will be invited to take tests - psychological and intelligence tests. Those who pass will be called to a series of interviews, usually three. I also have to go through all this: when I finish my master’s degree, I will look for a full-time job.

Young Koreans who have received good education complain that they have difficulty finding work and are angry at the system. They have equally good education, internship experience in local and foreign companies, but there are not so many high-paying jobs on the market. There are plenty of less prestigious jobs. The official unemployment rate in South Korea is 3.3%.

Koreans work a lot. The standard vacancy states that the working day is from 9:00 to 18:00. In fact, everyone is delayed; the employee cannot leave before his immediate superior. The normal situation is when a newbie works until two in the morning, comes cheerfully in the morning at 9:00, and then works on the weekend.

South Korea has a hierarchical system: if you are older in age or position, you can manage the younger ones. This is especially noticeable in local companies, where all employees are Koreans. Usually managers, people of the old school, drive young people away: if they don’t like something, they will yell at you or even slap you in the face.

After work, it is common for men to have a drink with their colleagues. On the eve of the weekend, such groups will have fun all night: they will eat in one cafe, drink in another, then go to karaoke, then go for coffee. Men drink a lot; drinking on weekdays is considered normal. It’s even surprising that Koreans consider Russians to be a better drinking nation. Korean vodka is called soju, its strength is 20%.

The promotion depends on how many years you have been working for the company. When applying for a job, the applicant is told when he can be promoted and what needs to be done for this: for example, pass some kind of qualifying exam. Usually they are promoted after 3-4 years of work.

you need to work at least in a Korean company to get a promotion

Vacation in Korea is short: a maximum of 10 days, so everyone tries to relax on national holidays. On the Korean New Year, in February, they rest for 4-5 days. At the end of October - November, three dates are celebrated at once: Thanksgiving Day, Korean Writing Day and the founding day of the Korean state. Last year, these three holidays stood side by side and the whole country rested for 11 days.

Personal income tax is calculated and deducted from the salary by the employer. For employees working in Korean companies, the tax rate varies from 8 to 35%, depending on the amount of income.

Our academy retains 3.3% from foreigners. But if your annual salary is less than 24 million won per year, you can apply for a tax deduction.

Value added tax - 10%. It is indicated directly on the check.

There are about 10 large banks in Seoul; their offices can be found near any subway station. There are also local banks, such as Busan Bank, but they are not particularly visible in Seoul.

Opening an account is easy. I didn’t choose the bank on purpose - I went to the first branch I came across, located on the campus of my university. I filled out the form, after which they issued me a card. The card design can be selected in advance on the bank’s website.

I use what is called a check card - this is an improved debit card. Unlike regular Korean debit, it can be used at any time, not just during bank opening hours. Check cards are accepted in all stores, and you do not need to enter a password when paying. Service is free.

Many ATMs have Russian language

You can control your spending using a mobile application. In Korea, banks are obsessed with security: to pay for a purchase online, you need to verify your identity four times.

This is how I pay my rent. I open the application, access to the account is by fingerprint. I enter the account number and amount and confirm it again with my fingerprint. Then I enter the PIN card and password from a special card. It is issued at the bank along with a debit card, this is a mandatory requirement for all banks in South Korea.

To confirm the operation, you must enter the last two digits of password No. 30 and the first two digits of password No. 17

Buying something online in South Korea is terribly inconvenient, but you don’t have to worry about scammers. I have never heard of anyone having their money stolen from their card.

It’s easy to pay with a card in a store: in large cities there are cashless payments everywhere. Except that the market may not accept the card if the seller is a Korean grandmother. Sometimes sellers ask to pay in cash, but they can be refused.

It is easy for a foreigner to rent an apartment in Seoul, but decent housing is not cheap. As a rule, apartments are rented through real estate agencies - the metro is full of their offices. The agency will charge a commission for its services.

I pay a month for a one-room studio

The rental price depends on the size of the deposit: the larger it is, the less you pay per month. Therefore, in Korea there are two ways to rent housing: “wolse”, with a small deposit and regular monthly payments, and “jeongse”, with a huge deposit, about 90% of the cost of housing, but without monthly rental payments. In this case, you only pay for housing and communal services. This is beneficial for apartment owners, because they will put a huge amount of collateral into circulation.

Room. I lived in a dormitory at my university for a year and a half, I had a double room with a shower and toilet. Monthly rent cost 216,000 ₩ (11,600 RUR). I made a separate deposit - the amount of one month's rent. It was returned when I left the hostel, only a small amount was deducted for the lost keys.

My dorm room at Seoul National University

Students who do not have enough space in the dormitory rent a “koshiwon” or “hasukchib”. Koshiwon is a room in an apartment building, designed like a dormitory. Khasukchib is a room in a private house where the owner also cooks food.

Studio. Now I rent a studio apartment near the university. In Korea, such housing is called rooms. There are several types of them: “one room” (one room), “turum” (two rooms) and “ofistel” - studio apartments that can also be used as offices.

I have a oneroom. Singles live in such rooms, for example a man who came to Seoul to work, or an out-of-town student.

My apartment before I moved into it. In Korean - "wanrum"

Prices vary by area. In my area, near Seoul University and civil service academies, there are many rental housing options, so prices are lower. I pay 400,000 ₩ (21,500 RUR) per month for one room. I pay separately for gas - 20,000 ₩ (1100 RUR) and electricity - 15,000 ₩ (800 RUR). I don't pay for water and internet. There is no central heating in Korea; apartments are heated with underfloor heating or air conditioning.

Renting my one-room studio 3 years ago cost 1,600,000 ₩ (86,500 RUR). I made a deposit - 1,000,000 ₩ (54,000 RUR), paid the first month - 400,000 ₩ (21,500 RUR) and gave 200,000 ₩ (11,000 RUR) commission to the agency.

Apartment. Renting an apartment costs much more. For example, an office-style apartment with an area of ​​23 m² will cost 700,000 ₩ (37,000 RUR) per month, and another 70,000 ₩ (3600 RUR) will have to be paid for utilities. The problem is the huge deposit - 10,000,000 ₩ (520,000 RUR).

These apartments are inhabited by people who have already gotten a job, but have not yet started their own family.

deposit for a one-room apartment in Seoul

It is convenient to search for an apartment through applications, the most popular being “Zigbang” and “Da-bang”. There you can filter offers by distance from the metro, rental amount, deposit, and so on.

Deposit for this apartment is 10 million won, monthly rent is 700,000 won

Public transport

All transport in Seoul is very comfortable. It is cool in summer and warm in winter. In the subway, for example, the seats are heated.

In the Go PyeongChang app, you can view travel times and costs for all types of transport. It was released specifically for the Winter Olympics:

Metro. The metro has good mobile communications and Wi-Fi. The price of one trip within 10 km is 1250 ₩ (65 RUR).

Unlike the Moscow metro, there are free, clean toilets at every station. The only negative is that you have to wait a long time for the train, about 10-15 minutes. Unless it's rush hour, of course.

The metro in Seoul is not as beautiful as in Moscow, but it is clean and convenient to use. These vending machines sell transport cards. Travel money is placed on the card. If you pay for travel in cash, then each trip will be 100 ₩ (5 R) more expensive. Metro transport card, they have a different design. Cards are sold in terminals at metro stations and in convenience stores

Buses. The trip can be paid for by transport card or cash. Large bills will not be accepted - prepare money in denominations of 1000 or 5000 ₩. The price of a 12 km trip is 1200 ₩ (63 RUR). The transfer system is very convenient. If you make up to 3 transfers within half an hour (after 21:00 - within an hour), then you only pay an additional 100 won.

Routes are distinguished by colors. Green buses run short distances in one area. Blue buses travel through the entire city, connecting remote areas. Red and yellow buses travel to the suburbs.

Taxi. The trip is paid according to the meter. The price of a 12 km trip is 10,700 ₩ (560 RUR). I rarely use taxis, only if I'm traveling with friends.

Bicycles. Convenient bicycle rental appeared in Seoul a couple of years ago, and this network is constantly expanding. They made a mobile application for rental. There you can see how many bicycles there are at a particular stop.

The first hour of rental costs 1000 ₩ (53 R), every subsequent half hour - the same amount.

You can also select and book a bike through the mobile application

In Korea, slightly more than half of the population are atheists, Protestants are in second place, and Buddhists are in third place. Therefore, the first thing that may surprise you in Seoul is the huge number of churches that do not have outstanding architecture. Often a church is an ordinary building, sometimes even a residential one, with a cross rising above it.

In Seoul there are churches of different directions of Protestantism. Believers want to expand their parish, so they preach on the streets. Church representatives can be found in the subway, on the streets near churches, at train stations and in tourist places, even in universities. They often walk around subway cars shouting that it’s time for everyone to believe in God.

If you decide to talk to the preacher, they will tell you that you speak Korean very well, offer you coffee and talk about problems and your life in Korea. If you listen to the end, they will begin to explain the philosophy of Protestantism to you and invite you to serve. At the end of the conversation, you will be asked to pay for the coffee that was offered to you.

Therefore, I advise you to immediately respond to intrusive preachers that you are busy or in a hurry.

Studying in South Korea is stressful.

As in Russia, children go to school from the age of 7. In Korea, age is calculated differently, so in Korean it is 8 years old. Education takes 12 years: primary school - 6 years, middle school - 3 years, high school - 3 years.

Koreans study from morning until evening. After classes, they do their homework - right there, at school - and then go to additional lessons at the so-called academies. These are small private schools where they teach piano and guitar, foreign languages, and additional school subjects.

Parents try to keep their children busy as much as possible, so schoolchildren return home at 11-12 pm. On the one hand, parents understand that this is very difficult for children. On the other hand, sitting at home and idle is not accepted in Korea. Koreans are dependent on other people's opinions: if the son of his mother's friend learns to play a musical instrument and additionally learns two foreign languages, then his child also needs to be enrolled in some courses.

Generally, Koreans go to public schools during primary and secondary school. They are free, except for additional services. In high school, they try to send the child to a private school - if the family, of course, has money. In Seoul, foreign language schools are considered the most prestigious; they are paid and there is a lot of competition.

lasts education in a regular Korean school

The main goal of an ambitious high school student is to pass the state exam with a decent grade and enter a good university. This is the only way to get a well-paid job in a large corporation - in Samsung or Hyundai. If a student does not pass the exam as well as he wanted, he can wait a year and take the exam again. Many people do this.

University

Higher education is paid. At Seoul National University, the cheapest faculties are Humanities, Law and Management. The cost of annual training is 2,611,000 ₩ (137,000 RUR). The most expensive faculties are veterinary and pharmaceutical, 4,650,000 ₩ (244,000 R) per year. Keep in mind that this is a state university, so the cost of studying here is several times lower than other universities.

costs a year of study at Seoul National University in the humanities

Most universities in South Korea are private. To study completely free of charge, you need to receive a scholarship from a foundation or corporation. It is necessary to pass a series of tests and serious interviews; few manage to be among the lucky ones.

In all of South Korea, only about ten universities are considered prestigious. For the three best universities, the Koreans came up with the designation SKY, based on the first letters of the names: Seoul National University (Seoul National University), Korea University (Korea University), and Yonsei University (Yonsei University). A Korean who wants to work for a large corporation will try to enroll in one of these three universities.

Many Koreans, especially men, graduate from university late - it is normal to study until the age of 30 in Korea. Studying is delayed due to the army: it is customary to leave for service after the first or second year. The service takes 2 years. It is impossible to refuse: bribes do not exist, and, most importantly, the Koreans themselves are suspicious of those who did not serve.

It is also common among students to take a sabbatical and go on internships abroad - for six months or a year. They do this to increase their value in the eyes of the employer. For this purpose, Koreans collect a portfolio - receive certificates of proficiency in computer programs, improve their second foreign language, and pass TOEIC - an exam on the level of English proficiency, which is required in all companies without exception. A maximum score of 990 can be earned on this test. A good score is 850 points and above. Samsung and Hyundai accept applications with scores of 900 points or more.

Medical insurance is optional for foreigners. For example, I don’t have it, no one has ever asked about it. Nevertheless, I am going to apply for it because medical services are expensive. Insurance will cover from 40 to 70% of the treatment amount, and in case of hospitalization, the insurance will pay 80% of the costs.

So far I know that the monthly cost of insurance for working foreigners depends on the size of the salary. The amount of earnings - at least 280,000 ₩ (15,000 R) - is multiplied by the insurance premium rate - 5.08%. An employee who earns 1.5 million ₩ (80,000 RUR) per month will pay 76,200 ₩ (4,000 RUR) for insurance every month. The employer compensates him for half of the amount.

It is better to take out insurance as soon as you arrive in Korea. I didn’t do this on time, and now I will be charged contributions for all the months I spent in the country. If you are going to Korea to study, you can negotiate with the university to arrange insurance for you.

All hospitals in South Korea are private, the largest are located at universities. There are many Russian patients there - they come to be examined or treated for serious illnesses, such as cancer. Typically, institutions have centers for foreigners with a staff of translators.

I went to appointments at more budget clinics. Recently, at a large medical center I had an ultrasound of the abdominal cavity - without insurance I paid 167,400 ₩ (9000 RUR), another 30,000 ₩ (1600 RUR) cost a doctor’s appointment.

I paid at the clinic for an abdominal ultrasound

With a cold, I went to therapists in small private hospitals - there are many of them near the metro. The doctor examined me, wrote out a prescription for pills, I paid for it and took the medicine. There is no need to pre-register - just show up and wait your turn. I paid about 30,000 ₩ (1,500 RUR) for a doctor’s appointment and pills.

In Seoul, 24-hour pharmacies are only open in certain areas; others close at 6 p.m. You can buy the simplest medicines, vitamins and ointments without a prescription.

Hospitals are also closed after 18:00, except for emergency departments. Koreans are ideal patients. In a situation where we call an ambulance, they will go to the hospital themselves, in their own car or taxi. I saw an ambulance on the streets only a few times.

Koreans often use IVs, including for minor ailments. There are even special droppers for hangovers. A cold can be cured with an injection if you see a doctor when the first symptoms appear.

Eastern medicine is popular among the older generation, where they treat, for example, acupuncture. Older people often go not to regular clinics, but to an oriental medicine clinic.

Cellular communications and Internet

Communication services in Korea are expensive. For 2 GB of Internet, 100 messages and 200 minutes of calls per month, I pay 43,000 ₩ (2300 RUR).

per month I pay for mobile communications

Buying a SIM card is the most difficult thing I've ever had to do while living in Seoul. Although you just need to come to the cellular office and sign an agreement. The difficulty is that you will be asked for a foreigner’s card, and its registration takes time. I was able to buy a SIM card only 3 weeks after my arrival - all this time I was without communication.

Foreigners can use prepaid SIM cards - they are easy to buy, but very expensive. For example, a SIM card for 5 days costs $28 (1600 RUR) - this amount includes 100 minutes of calls to local numbers and unlimited Internet.

The quality of communication in Korea is good. All operators have mobile applications where you can control your balance, see the remaining minutes, connect and disconnect services.

There are no problems with home Internet: as a rule, it is already provided to the rented apartment and is included in the rental price.

In large cities it is easy to connect to Wi-Fi; there are open networks in all public places, even in hospitals. In the metro, each telecom operator has its own Wi-Fi - only subscribers can connect to it.

Products and food

Korea has a cult of food. You cannot skip meals; you must have breakfast, lunch and dinner, preferably at the same time. At work, even the busiest employees take a lunch break. It is customary to have lunch with colleagues, in canteens or cafes.

The basis of Korean dishes is rice and kimchi, spicy pickled cabbage. All dishes are spicy. Koreans have two main seasonings - pepper powder and pepper paste; they are added everywhere. When moving, the hardest thing for me to adapt to was spicy food.

In a traditional Korean restaurant, your order will be accompanied by free snacks - kimchi, soybean sprouts, pickled radish, spicy oden - a Japanese fish meal snack. Korean carrots, popular in Russia, have not been heard of in Korea; they are served only in Russian or Uzbek restaurants.

Traditional Korean dish bibimbap. Usually the hot sauce is served separately, so the dish is loved by foreigners who are not yet accustomed to spicy Korean food. Costs from 6000 ₩ (320 RUR) There are many cafes with healthy salads in Korea. The most popular salad, especially among girls, is with salmon and avocado, costs 11,000 ₩ (590 RUR)

After eating, Koreans always drink coffee. There are many coffee shops in Seoul - near any subway exit you will find 4-5 establishments. There is always a Starbucks near the metro, where there are almost never empty seats, especially at lunchtime. An Americano at Starbucks costs 4100 ₩ (220 RUR), in other chain coffee shops - 3500-4500 ₩ (190-240 RUR).

I buy groceries in supermarkets, there is a large selection there. I try to go shopping at Costco - this is an American chain. It's cheaper there than in Korean supermarkets, and there's more European food.

In Seoul, I buy about the same as in Moscow. “Supermarket” is pronounced “matha” in Korean.

I can’t find cottage cheese among the usual products; it can be difficult to find hard cheese - it is sold only in large stores and costs much more than in Russia.

Prices in the supermarket are:

• Skim milk, 1 l - 2400 ₩ (128 RUR).
• Cucumbers, 5 pcs. - 1980 ₩ (105 R).
• Carrots, 4 pcs. - 1980 ₩ (105 R).
• Chicken breast, 400 g - 6000 ₩ (320 RUR).
• Bananas, branch - 3980 ₩ (212 RUR).
• Eggs, 30 pieces - 3480 ₩ (185 RUR).

In the hypermarket you can get a bonus card - “point-khady” in Korean, from the English point card. Then from each purchase you will return a certain percentage of the amount with points. You can use bonuses when buying movie tickets, cosmetics, and other things and thus save money. If you are traveling to Korea for a long time, I advise you to get such cards immediately upon arrival and register them in the application. Then, when purchasing, you can only show the electronic barcode.

Sometimes I go to markets. Thrifty housewives come here for fresh meat and fish, vegetables and fruits, and national pickles. Prices here are much lower than in supermarkets. Markets are usually located deep in residential areas and are difficult to find.

An application that stores information about my bonus cards. Bonus programs are very popular in Korea

Entertainment and relaxation

Korean families love to spend time in parks. There are many of them in Seoul, the most popular place is the park area along the Han River. Here you can ride bicycles and book excursions along the river. The cheapest excursion during the day costs 15,000 ₩ (800 RUR). At noon you can board the ship, where there is a buffet - it costs 39,000 ₩ (2100 RUR).

The excursion can be booked on the cruise company's website

But the main attraction in the park is to sit on the river bank, order fried chicken and beer and enjoy. A special name was even invented for such leisure - “chimek”, it combines the words “chicken” and “beer”. Chimek and picnics in general are entertainment for spring or autumn. Companies spread blankets on the lawn, take out or order food and communicate: chat, watch videos, play, drink. You can bring a tent with you and relax in it - as if you had left the city for nature.

Shopping is another popular holiday option with family or friends. Large cities are full of shopping centers with restaurants, bars, cinemas - you can spend the whole day in the mall.

Baths and saunas are popular in Seoul; people go to them with family or friends - mostly middle-aged people relax here. A simple option with showers and a shared bath costs 10-15 thousand won (550-800 RUR) on weekdays and 15-20 thousand won (800-1000 RUR) on Saturday. There are entire spas where you can order a massage or mask. There are also bathhouses where you can stay overnight. This option is often chosen by travelers who do not want to spend money on a hotel. You just have to sleep on the floor.

Schoolchildren and junior students spend time in Internet cafes playing computer games. "Pisi-ban", or computer rooms, are open until late at night. They often have their own cafes - you don’t even have to get up from your chair to order food.

Middle-aged and older Koreans love to go to the mountains. No matter where you are in South Korea, there will always be a small mountain nearby that you can climb.

It was me who climbed the mountain near Yonsei University

If there are several days off, they often travel to neighboring provinces: to Gangwon-do, famous for its beautiful nature, and to Jeju Island, the most popular resort in South Korea.

You can go abroad for three days. The most popular destination is Japan. There is a visa-free regime for Koreans; you can get there by boat, so the trip is quite affordable. You can also travel to China inexpensively.

If there is a lot of money and vacation days, they most often go to America or Western European countries. They especially love France; every Korean girl dreams of spending her honeymoon in Paris.

Beauty and Plastic Surgery

Korean women take great care of themselves. They definitely dye, curl or straighten their hair, change their look every two months - of course, if they can afford it. They won’t even throw away trash without makeup - that’s about them.

Seoul has a huge selection of hairdressers and beauty salons. I make an appointment for a haircut using the Cocoa Hairshop app. I choose a hairstyle, a stylist, a date and immediately pay for the service.

In the app you can choose your hair length and style. Then they look at the reviews, book an appointment and pay for the haircut.

A perm costs 182,000 ₩ (10,000 RUR), a haircut - 72,000 ₩ (3800 RUR), a perm with a restoration procedure and a haircut “My dear hair” costs 266,000 ₩ (14,000 RUR). Koreans like to give services unusual long names, such as “The Perm That Will Make Your Boyfriend Open His Wallet.”

For manicures I go to small salons near the metro. A manicure with gel polish costs from 40,000 ₩ (2100 RUR). Some hairdressers offer to make a deposit in cash - from 200,000 ₩ (10,500 RUR) - and for this they seriously reduce the price, by about 30%. This is called "hwaewon kaip" and literally means "get a membership" at the salon. Try it if you are going to Korea for a long time.

Cost of a haircut in the Cocoa Hairshop app

Beauty salons often offer sets: two services are combined and give an impressive discount. You can also buy a discount coupon for several visits - such promotions are often held when new salons open. For example, I bought a coupon for three visits to the salon, each visit included a haircut and a spa treatment. The coupon cost 120,000 ₩ (6400 RUR), while one visit to the salon would cost 90,000 ₩ (4800 RUR): 40,000 ₩ (2100 RUR) for a haircut and 50,000 ₩ (2700 RUR) for a spa treatment.

Appearance plays a huge role in Korea. Beauty is a guarantee of success and high salary. Appearance is taken into account when hiring and is often a deciding factor. Attractive foreigners with blond hair and blue eyes can easily find work in South Korea - the demand for such models is huge.

Therefore, plastic surgery in Korea is as common as skincare procedures. Koreans took the European type of face as their ideal: large eyes, a straight high nose, a V-shaped chin, a small oval face - the size of a fist, as the Koreans say. Operations that help transform the face to this standard are the most popular.

it costs surgery to change the shape of the eyelids in South Korea. It is much cheaper than in Russia or the USA

At the end of school, parents give their girls an operation to make a crease in the eyelid to make the eyes appear larger.

Another popular operation is changing the shape of the face. Korean women break their cheekbones to create a triangular, V-shaped chin.

One of the most popular procedures is changing the shape of the eyes. This girl had her eyes enlarged, the shape of her jaw and nose was corrected, her forehead was made more voluminous, her breasts were reduced and she had liposuction. Now it will be easier for her to find a good job and get married successfully

South Korea is considered one of the capitals of plastic surgery. Thousands of companies offer tours to Seoul to cosmetologists and surgeons. I think this is the result of the so-called Korean wave, when Korean music and TV series became popular in Asian countries. The girls who watched them wanted to be like popular actresses - and Korean surgeons offered a solution.

Plastic surgery in Korea is much cheaper than in Europe or America. In Korea, blepharoplasty - surgery to change the shape of the eyelids - costs about $1,000, while in America you will have to pay at least $6,000.

These are the girls who look at me every day on the way to work. I am traveling on the third line - it is on this line that all the most prestigious plastic surgery clinics are concentrated at the Shchinsa and Apgujeong stations

Language and communication

The Korean language is based on the alphabet - only 44 letters, Chinese characters are very rarely used. The main difficulty lies in the abundance of sounds that do not exist in the Russian language. The Korean alphabet also has two letters “o”, “e” and “n” - it is difficult to distinguish them.

I first came to Korea when I was in my second year. By that time, I had studied Korean for two years at Moscow State University - they focused on studying grammar, so I didn’t understand the language well and spoke it poorly. I could say simple phrases: “How much does it cost,” “It’s delicious,” “It’s spicy,” but I couldn’t get a SIM card and explain myself at the immigration center. Only after studying in Korea for a year did I begin to feel confident in everyday situations.

In major cities you can find free Korean language courses. Volunteers work there, so I’m not sure that you can learn the language well this way. In addition, Seoul has immigrant adaptation programs and a support center for multicultural families. In particular, foreigners are taught the Korean language, told about traditions, explained how to behave in stores, banks and solve other everyday issues.

If you know English, you won't have any problems in the tourist areas of South Korea. At the airport, all signs and signs are in English; in the metro, stations are announced in four languages. But English will not help in solving everyday issues: in general, Koreans speak this language poorly because they learn, first of all, grammar and writing.

Cultural differences

While living in Korea, I got used to the fact that employees in the service sector are polite and friendly. I never once felt uncomfortable because I was a foreigner or maybe dressed differently. Here they will always offer you to sit down, drink tea, and bring you a pillow.

But this standard politeness extends to personal relationships. Koreans never show their emotions. When you meet someone, it is difficult to understand what the person really thinks about you. If a Korean doesn't like something, he will never say so directly. But they will definitely discuss it behind your back.

Life in Korea is competition in all areas. I have a lot of Korean friends, but, for example, in graduate school I didn’t make friends with anyone. From a Korean point of view, every student is a competitor. You will only be treated well if you are completely immersed in your studies and go everywhere with a teacher. If you work and because of this you sometimes accomplish less than others, they will try not to mess with you.

Koreans are very dependent on other people's opinions. I see this in my friends: if they find out that a friend has a new car or a new good job, they will worry and try to catch up with them. You can’t sit still: you need to study more, earn more, get the most prestigious job, buy a good apartment and car. It’s contagious - I also got involved in this race.

Population growth of Korea, its capital and demographic indicators in the 20th and 21st centuries

Using the table, you can trace the dynamics of the increase in the number of residents of the Republic and significant changes in demographic indicators over more than 100 years.

Capital Seoul, number of inhabitants, people.

Average life expectancy (men/women), years

9.9 million (excluding suburbs)

23 million (with suburbs)

By 2017, the Republic of Korea had become one of the most highly developed countries in the world. Modern Korean women have an average of 1.18 children. Although most of them do not work, they do not show any desire to have many children. This is due to the expensive education that needs to be provided to children and the later age at which children begin to work and contribute to the family budget.

Nationality of Koreans

The official language is Korean, although it has 6 dialects with differences in pronunciation and grammar. Since the mid-20th century, texts began to be written from left to right, with 50% of words borrowed from Chinese.

What is the population of South Korea by national composition and religion? Koreans make up 90% of the country's population, and 10% are national. minorities, among which the Chinese predominate (20 thousand). A large number of people from China, the Philippines and the islands of Malaysia come to the country to work.

According to the latest statistics from 2016, 46% of Koreans do not identify themselves with any religion, the rest adhere to Buddhist and Confucian religious movements, and there are also Protestants and Catholics.

The population density is quite high - 508 people/km 2, with 47% of the population living in two cities - Seoul (11 million) and Busan (4 million).

In 2016, the population of the Republic was 51.634 million. The largest cities are Seoul, Busan, Incheon, Daegu, Daejeon, Ulsan.

Korean Character Traits

The most important feature of Koreans is hard work, which underlies the national character. A career for young citizens is the main life goal.

Features of the Korean character:

• always “save face”, do not raise their voice, do not show resentment, anger or weakness,
• respectful attitude towards guests, all the best goes to them,
• respect for elders, the young man always agrees with the elder (brother, father, grandfather) in everything,
• patriotic solidarity, always ready to help their friend both at home and abroad.

Hardworking Koreans only recently switched to a 5-day work week and an 8-hour workday (before that there was a 6-day workweek of 10 hours a day). Koreans study or work almost constantly; it is not even customary for them to go to a bar and drink beer with friends, and it would never even occur to them to play for several hours a day on the computer. On average, a Korean child spends 1 hour a day having fun and spending 10-12 hours studying, then taking exams, becoming a student, etc.

Economic development

Now the Republic of Korea has become an industrial country with a highly developed industry.

But after the end of the Korean War in 1953, it found itself with a dilapidated economy, its GDP was below the level of underdeveloped African countries. Moreover, natural resources in this country were at a minimum level.

A little over 60 years have passed - and now it is an industrial country with a highly developed industry. GDP per capita (South Korea) in 2016 amounted to more than 37 thousand dollars, the unemployment rate for 2016 was 3.6%.

What is the mystery of this transformation? Experts say that the answer to this question must be sought, first of all, in the Koreans themselves. After all, both the government (starting from 1961, when President Park came to power) and the population of South Korea itself set the goal of creating a country with highly educated specialists, and all forces and means were subordinated to this. The country has produced a whole generation of people with a high level of education, who laid the foundation for industrial and economic prosperity.

Also, President Park, by increasing his powers and power control, forced wealthy Koreans to invest in the industry of their country, in particular in the creation of shipbuilding.

South Korea's employment rate in 2016 was 65% for working-age residents (15-64 years old) who have well-paid jobs. This figure is higher among men (76%) than among women (55%).

Koreans are rightfully proud of their level (85% of adults have completed secondary education) and the quality of education. The country has a very high standard of living; the average family income per person in 2016 was more than $19 thousand per year.

Urban and rural population

During the period of the “Korean economic miracle” (1960-1985), South Korea rapidly transformed from an agricultural to an urbanized country with a high level of industry. In agriculture, due to mechanization, fewer and fewer people were required, and in cities, with such industrial growth, more and more people were needed. This process has affected the urban population of South Korea. The population of cities over these years has grown from 34 to 65% due to the massive relocation of peasants.

Until 1970, the South Korean capital was a chaotic jumble of one-story houses. Now Seoul surprises tourists with its ultra-high density of buildings, which is explained not only by the high cost of land, but also by the traditions that have developed even earlier in Korean villages to allocate as much area as possible to scarce land for plowing.

Megacity Seoul

The population of South Korea is characterized by high density - 453 people/sq km on average across the country, as well as a high proportion of urbanization: over the past 60 years, the percentage of the urban population has increased from 34% (1960) to 80% (2015).

A special role in urbanization is given to Seoul, which has been inhabited by 100-150 thousand people for almost the last 5 centuries. But in 1936, Seoul was already inhabited by 727 thousand, in 1945 - 901 thousand, in 1960 - 1.5 million. Since 1993, when the number of its inhabitants reached 10.9 million, the number began to fall and by 2000 it had decreased by 9%.

Economists attribute this to the emergence of satellite cities of Seoul, to which residents of the capital began to move. They are attracted there by cheaper housing, fresh air and good ecology. All of these satellites are connected to Seoul by subway lines.

In the huge area of ​​Seoul and its satellites (more than 80 km in circumference), 45% of the total population of the Republic now lives, which is an example of an ultra-high concentration of population in the metropolitan area (for example, only 13% of the English population lives in London).

Thrifty Nation

Koreans are a very frugal nation. Interested to know how and how much the population of South Korea spends on utilities and other expenses? The main principle here is the separation of bills and expenses. Any Korean family opens several accounts, which allows them to split expenses for education, food, etc.

The biggest part is university education, for which people begin saving money from the first months of a child’s life. For the purchase of food and visiting a restaurant (national tradition) - your own separate account, for utilities - also. Moreover, Koreans most often buy groceries online (this is 40% cheaper than in a store). And they even came up with the idea of ​​paying for travel on public transport with a credit card.

Is Korea dying?

Recently, the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea predicted that the South Korean population is gradually dying out due to low birth rates in recent decades. Researchers estimate that this will happen by 2750.

With the current number of 50 million people, the total number of Koreans is projected to decrease to 10 million people by 2136. The coming years will confirm or refute these statements.

Watch the video: How much does it cost to live in Korea? How much money is needed?

The population of South Korea is more than 48 million people.

National composition:

• Koreans (99%);
• other nations (Chinese, Filipinos, Thais, Vietnamese, Americans).

Koreans are confident that they are descendants of Altai or proto-Altai tribes: they compare themselves with the Turks, Mongols and Tungus. Their confidence is based on archaeological data, according to which tribes from the southern and central regions of Siberia actually migrated to the Korean Peninsula during the Neolithic and Bronze Ages.

There are 480 people living per 1 sq. km, but the most densely populated is the Seoul district of Yangcheon-gu (population density is over 27,000 people per 1 sq. km), and the least populated is Inje-gun County (Gangwon Province): here per 1 sq. km. km there are 20 people living there.

The official language is Korean, but English is also widely used in the country.

Major cities: Seoul, Daejeon, Busan, Iacheon, Daegu, Gwangju, Ulsan, Suwon,

Half of the residents of South Korea (51%) profess Buddhism, the rest - Protestantism, Catholicism, Confucianism, and shamanism.

Lifespan

The female population lives on average to 80, and the male population to 73 years. Despite fairly high indicators, South Korea does not allocate much money to healthcare ($2000 per year per person).

Koreans boast the lowest obesity rate at 4%, while the European average is 18% and Mexico is 40%. And this is surprising, because they do not adhere to a healthy diet: they eat few vegetables and fruits, and their diet consists of meat, fatty and fried foods, as well as inedible, according to Europeans, dishes in the form of fried insects.

Surely, Koreans would live even longer if not for their craving for smoking and alcoholic beverages.

Traditions and customs of South Koreans

Koreans are a devout people who respect ancestors, family, parents and friends, as well as all cultures and foreigners.

In South Korea, it is interesting that a man, regardless of his age, will be considered an adult by others only after he gets married.

A special event in the life of Koreans is the birth of a child: on the 100th day after his birth, the family organizes a small evening, inviting close relatives and friends to it. And when the child turns one year old, this event is celebrated with special pomp. In addition to the fact that many people are invited to this event, the child is dressed in a bright silk suit, and a special ritual is held in his honor - fortune telling for his future.

Koreans love to celebrate holidays. For example, on the Seokhonje holiday (March, September), people go to Confucian chapels, where costumed processions are held, accompanied by a traditional orchestra. And on Buddha's birthday (May), Koreans organize a spectacular spectacle - a lantern parade.

If you are invited to some establishment in Korea, know that it is customary here for everyone to pay for themselves, and if you are invited to visit, you must praise the hostess for the food (this is very highly valued).