Overview:

South Korea Country Analysis Report analyzes the political, economic, social, technological, legal and environmental (PESTLE) structure of South Korea. The report provides a holistic view of the country from historical, current and future perspectives. Insightful analysis on critical current and future issues is presented through detailed SCPT (strengths, challenges, prospects and threats/risks) analysis for each of the PESTLE segments. In addition, the PESTLE segments are supplemented with relevant quantitative data to support trend analysis.
 
 Uses of Country Analysis Reports:
 
 Understanding gained from country profiles can be used to plan business investment or market entry in a particular country. The insights provide ideas about key business opportunities. The profiles also provide an overview of the legal and regulatory framework to start or operate a business in the country. Typical uses of each PESTLE segment are:
 • Political section provides understanding about the political system and key figures relevant to business in the country and governance indicators.
 • Economic section deals with the economic story of a country that provides a balanced assessment of significant macro-economic issues.
 • Social section enables understanding of customer demographics through income distribution, rural-urban segmentation and centres of affluence, healthcare and educational scenario.
 • Technological section provides strategic information on technology and telecom, technological laws and policies, technological gaps, patents and opportunity sectors in the country.
 • Legal section provides information about the legal structure, corporate laws, laws to start a new business and the tax regime.
 • Environmental section provides information on the country’s performance on environmental indicators and policies. 

Overview 1
 Catalyst 1
 Summary 1
 Key facts and geographical location 10
 Key facts 10
 Geographical location 11
 PESTLE analysis 12
 Summary 12
 Political analysis 13
 Economic analysis 16
 Social analysis 20
 Technological analysis 23
 Legal analysis 26
 Environmental analysis 29
 Environmental analysis 29
 Political landscape 32
 Summary 32
 Evolution 32
 Structure and policies 35
 Performance 40
 Outlook 41
 Economic landscape 42
 Summary 42
 Evolution 42
 Structure and policies 44
 Performance 46
 Outlook 58
 Social landscape 60
 Summary 60
 Evolution 60
 Structure and policies 61
 Performance 65
 Outlook 67
 Technological landscape 68
 Summary 68
 Evolution 68
 Structure and policies 68
 Performance 69
 Outlook 73
 Legal landscape 75
 Summary 75
 Evolution 75
 Structure and policies 75
 Performance 80
 Outlook 81
 Environmental landscape 82
 Summary 82
 Evolution 82
 Structure and policies 82
 Performance 85
 Outlook 86
 APPENDIX 88
 Ask the analyst 88
 Datamonitor consulting 88
 Disclaimer 88
 
 
 TABLE OF FIGURES
 Figure 1: Map of South Korea 11
 Figure 2: South Korea – key political events since independence 33
 Figure 3: South Korea – key political figures 35
 Figure 4: Distribution of seats by political parties in the 2008 elections of South Korea 37
 Figure 5: Evolution of GDP growth in South Korea, 1991–2009 43
 Figure 6: GDP and GDP growth rate of South Korea, 2003–13f 47
 Figure 7: Sector-specific GDP in South Korea, 2008 48
 Figure 8: Agricultural output in South Korea, 2004–09 49
 Figure 9: Industrial output in South Korea, 2004–09 50
 Figure 10: Services output in South Korea, 2004–09 51
 Figure 11: Current account balance in South Korea, 2003–08 53
 Figure 12: South Korea’s external trade position, 2005–09 54
 Figure 13: CPI and CPI-based inflation in South Korea, 2003–13f 56
 Figure 14: Unemployed population and unemployment rate, 2003–13f 58
 Figure 15: Major religions in South Korea 62
 Figure 16: Healthcare expenditure in South Korea, 2003–09 66
 Figure 17: Growth of fixed and mobile phones in South Korea, 2002–10f 70
 Figure 18: Internet users in South Korea, 2002–12 71
 Figure 19: R&D personnel in South Korea, 1995–2007 73
 Figure 20: Judicial structure in South Korea 76
 Figure 21: Carbon dioxide emissions in South Korea, 2002–12 86
 
 
 TABLES
 Table 1: South Korea – key fundamentals 5
 Table 2: South Korea – key facts 10
 Table 3: Analysis of South Korea’s political landscape 13
 Table 4: Analysis of South Korea’s economic landscape 16
 Table 5: Analysis of South Korea’s social landscape 20
 Table 6: Analysis of South Korea’s technology landscape 23
 Table 7: Analysis of South Korea’s legal landscape 26
 Table 8: Analysis of South Korea’s environmental landscape 29
 Table 9: Mid-year population by age (m) in 2009 61
 Table 10: Patents received by USPTO, 2001–08 69
 Table 11: International environmental treaties signed and ratified by South Korea 85