USEFUL BUSINESS INFORMATION ON SOUTH KOREA

1. Country Brief

A. Introduction - The Korean peninsula is located in Northeast Asia, where it is bordered on the north by China and Russia and faces Japan to the southeast across the Sea of Japan. Since 1948 the country has been divided along the 38th parallel, with the Republic of Korea to the south and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to the north. The Republic of Korea, the subject of this country page, is made up of nine provinces with Seoul, in the northern part of the country, as the capital city. Other major cities include Pusan, Daegu, Incheon, Gwangju and Daejeon.

B. Climate - Korea has four distinct seasons. The summers are very hot and humid, and the winters are cold and dry. The springs and autumns, which finish much too quickly, provide a welcome relief from the extremes of summer and winter.
The rainy season (changma) starts in late July and lasts through mid-August and often causes flooding of low areas. Don't go anywhere without an umbrella during this time.

http://www.lifeinkorea.com

C. Geographical Area - The total area of the peninsula is 222,154 square kilometers. Seventy percent of the land is covered with mountains, particularly to the north and east.

D. Language - The Korean language belongs to the Ural-Altic family of languages which also includes Turkish and Mongolian. Although the language contains many words derived from Chinese and printed media still use Chinese ideographs to represent many of those words, structurally the two languages are very different. Korean is closer to the Japanese language linguistically

E. Currency With Exchange Rate - South Korea Won

1 KRW = 0.00108709 USD

1 USD = 919.890 KRW

F. Population - over 46.9 million (1999 est.)

G. Major Cities - Pusan, Daegu, Incheon, Gwangju and Daejeon.

2. Transportation:

A. Railway - total: 3,125 km (2002).

B. Road -  Highways: total: 86,990 km; paved: 64,808 km (including 1,996 km of expressways); unpaved: 22,182 km (1999 est).

C. Airports -102 (2002).

D. Waterways - 1,609 km.

E. Sea ports -Chinhae, Inch'on, Kunsan, Masan, Mokp'o, P'ohang, Pusan, Tonghae-hang, Ulsan, Yosu.

3. Economy:

A. Major Manufacturing -

B. Major Export - semiconductors, LCD panel, mobile phone, computers related, television, and others], motor vehicle, steel, ships, petrochemicals

C. Import - machinery, electronics and electronic equipment, oil, steel, transport equipment, organic chemicals, plastics

D. Major Industry -electronics, automobile production, chemicals, shipbuilding, steel, textiles, clothing, footwear, food processing

E. Trade balance -

4. Trade Associations, Chamber of Commerce, Trade shows and Exhibitions in South Korea:

Major Trade Associations

Korean Automotive Manufacturers Association, Inc. (KAMA)

658-4, Deungchon-dong Gangsu-gu, Seoul 157-030, KOREA

Telephone: +82 -2 -3660-1800

Telefax: +82 -2 -3660-1900

Internet: www.kama.or.kr

E-mil : webmaster@kama.or.kr

Chambers of Commerce

The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry

45, Namdaemunno 4-ga, Chung-gu,

Seoul 100-743

Tel.: 316-3114

Fax.: 757-9475

E-Mail : trade@www.kcci.or.kr

Major Trade Show

(1) SEOUL MOTOR SHOW

Seoul, Korea

6th Seoul Motor Show

www.auto-fairs.com

(2) Korea Autoparts & Accessories Show (KOAA Show)

Start Date: 17-SEP-07

End Date: 20-SEP-07

Korea Autoparts & Accessories Show (KOAA Show) is the first exclusive Korean exhibition specializing in autoparts and accessories. From the first day of its existence, KOAAshow has targeted all commercial and international markets.

Venue:

Exhibition Centre, Seoul, Seoul-T'Ukpyolsi, Korea.

(3) Korea Autoparts & Accessories Show (KOAA Show)

Start Date: 17-SEP-07

End Date: 20-SEP-07

Venue:

Seoul- T'Ukpyolsi, Country-Korea

Event Profile:

Korea Autoparts & Accessories Show (KOAA Show) is the first exclusive Korean exhibition specializing in autoparts and accessories. From the first day of its existence, KOAAshow has targeted all commercial and international markets

Organizer:

IMAG, Germany

AM Messesee-2, 8120,

Munich, Germany.

Tel: +(49)-(89)-94922121

Fax: +(49)-(89)-94922350

5. Useful links: