country statistical
profile no.4
south korea
country statistical
profile no.4
october 2008
october 2008
south korea
Statistical Profile
Compiled by Jungui Lee, with Min-A Jung
introduction to south korea
South Korea, also known as The Republic of Korea, is located in Eastern Asia, on southern
half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the East Sea and the Yellow Sea. It is neighbored
by China to the west, Japan to the east and borders North Korea to the north. South Korea
is composed of nine provinces, with Seoul as the capital city. The country’s total area is
100,032 km2 and total population is 48.61 million in 2008.1
About this Statistical Profile Organizations striving to be employers-of-choice in different countries
around the world need access to current information about the economic, social, political, and demographic
characteristics of the countries where
their employees live and work.
The Country Profile Series focuses
on statistics that can guide decisionmaking at the workplace: workforce
highlights, economic highlights, and
population highlights. This Country
Profile is part of a set of resources
about South Korea available on the
website of the Global Perspectives
Institute: www.bc.edu/agingandwork.
Having a history of 5,000 years, South Korea is one of the oldest civilizations in the world.
Its long history contains stories of successes and struggles. In the aftermath of World War
II, the Republic of Korea was established in the southern half of the Korean Peninsula while
a Communist government was installed in the north in 1948, called The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. In 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea starting the Korean War
(1950-53). The conflict ended with an armistice agreement which split the peninsula along
a demilitarized zone. The first historic inter-Korean summit between the South’s President
and the North’s leader was held in 2000.2
Since the 1960s, South Korea has achieved incredible and rapid economic growth. In 1996,
South Korea became a member of the OECD.3 Along with many of its Asian neighbors,
South Korea suffered the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, but the country was able to recover
quickly and continue its growth into a major economic power. In 2004, South Korea joined
the trillion dollar club of world economies.4
South Korea now leads several key industries in the world, particularly in the fields of
science and technology. South Korea is one of the world leaders in information technology such as telecommunications, semiconductors, LCD displays, computers and mobile
phones, with a very advanced infrastructure in these sectors.5
The South Korean economy continues to grow and improve. Real GDP growth had lowered
to 4 percent in the first quarter of 2007, but recovered to 5 percent in the second quarter. Growth was mainly caused by improving domestic demand in addition to continued
strength in exports.6
Sponsored by:
agework@bc.edu
1
labor force highlights
àà 51.2% of the total South Korean population is in the labor force. 7
àà The economically active population is projected to increase from 24.7 million in
2008 to 26.3 million in 2020. 8
àà The unemployment rate was 3.0% in May 2008. This was a 0.2% point decrease
from the same period of the previous year. 9
àà In 2006, the average working hours per week per person was 45.3 hours. It is the
longest hours among the people in the 32 member countries of the OECD 10
àà In 2006, 8.8% of the total labor force was working part-time 11
àà 32.8% of total civilian employed labor force was self-employed in 2006 12
àà As noted in Figure la, 51.2% of the total South Korean population is in the labor
force, compared to 59.9% in China and 51.0% in Japan. 13
àà The employment rates among persons aged 15-64 years are presented in Figure 2.
South Korea has a relatively low rate of employment for women compared to other
OECD countries.
figure 1a. Percent of total population in labor force, selected Asian countries, 2008
59.9
China
56.2
Thailand
54.4
Vietnam
South Korea
51.2
Japan
51.0
Cambodia
49.7
48.6
Mongolia
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
Source:ILO Bureau of Statistics
2
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country statistical
profile no.4
south korea
october 2008
Figure 1b compares the percent of
total population in labor force in
South Korea with other countries
with high gross national incomes.
figure 1b. Percent of total population in labor force, selected high GNI countries, 2008
Canada
55.5
United States
52.5
Australia
51.4
South Korea
51.2
United Kingdom
Japan
51.1
51
Germany
50.2
48.6
Spain
41.8
Italy
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
Source: ILO Bureau of Statistics
figure 2. Employment rates, Ages 15-64 by Gender: South Korea and comparable
OECD nations, 2006
100.0%
81.0
78.8
78.1
78.4
76.8
72.9
70.5
69.0 67.5
66.1
65.5
66.8
61.5
58.8
57.1
46.3
74.6
80.0%
53.1
60.0%
40.0%
ly
Ita
Ki
ng
do
m
lia
ra
st
m
Un
ite
d
er
G
Women
Un
ite
d
Men
Au
y
an
e
nc
Fr
a
a
ad
Ca
n
n
pa
Ja
So
ut
h
Ko
re
a
0.0%
St
at
es
20.0%
Source: OECD Factbook 2008: Economic, Environmental and Social Statistics
figure 3. Employment rates in South Korea, within age group, 2008
Figure 3 shows the employment
rates for the different age groups in
South Korea in 2008.
80.0%
73.5
70.0%
78.9
71.8
60.0
60.0%
50.0%
39.4
40.0%
30.0%
20.0%
10.0%
0.0%
6.3
15-19
20-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
60+
Source: Korea National Statistical Office(2008), Employment Trends
agework@bc.edu
3
figure 4. Employment rates in South Korea compared to selected countries,
within age group, 2006
100.0%
Figure 4 compares the South Korean
employment rates for three age
groups with the United States, Japan
and China.
80.0%
60.0%
40.0%
20.0%
25-54
15-24
South Korea
55-64
United States
Japan
China
Source: OECD Factbook 2008: Economic, Environmental and Social Statistics
figure 5. Current and Projected Percent of Population in South Korean Labor Force by gender,
2008 and 2020
0.6
34.2
2008 Male
24.1
Figure 5 shows the current and projected economically active population by gender.
0.6
23.5
2008 Female
17
0.4
2020 Male
28.4
29
0.4
2020 Female
0.0%
19.7
10.0%
22
20.0%
Under 20
30.0%
40.0%
20 - 44
50.0%
60.0%
70.0%
45 and up
Source: ILO Bureau of Statistics
4
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country statistical
profile no.4
south korea
october 2008
economic highlights
àà The estimate of the gross national income (GNI) per capita in South Korea was
$18,372 in 2006. This compares to $35,095 in Japan and $43,877 in the United
States in the same year. 15
àà The gross domestic product (GDP) of South Korea shrunk by -6.9 percent in 1998
and dramatically increased by 9.5 percent in 1999. It fluctuated until 2003 and was
stabilized to an average 4.63 percent from 2004 to 2006. (Figure 6) 16
àà The South Korean national debt 11 has increased steeply, from 14.8 percent of their
GDP in 1998 to 31.7 percent of their GDP in 2006. (Figure 7)18
figure 6. GDP Growth, South Korea, Japan, and the U.S. 1995-2006
10
8
6
4
2
0
-2
-4
-6
-8
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
South Korea
Japan
United States
Source: The Bank of Korea Economic Statistics System
figure 7. National debt as a percent of GDP, selected high GNI countries, 1998-2006
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
Germany
United States
France
United Kingdom
Canada
South Korea
Japan
Australia
2005
2006
Netherlands
Source: OECD, StatExtracts, http://stats.oecd.org
agework@bc.edu
5
demographic highlights
àà 2008 mid-year population for South Korea was 48,379 thousand compared to
127,288 thousand for Japan and 303,825 thousand for the United States. 19
àà Figure 8 shows that the median age of the South Korean population in 2008 was
36.4 years, or 35.3 years for men and 37.4 years for women. 20
àà Figure 9 s hows that the life expectancy at birth for the South Korean population was
77.42 years in 2008, or 74 years for men and 81.1 years for women.21
àà South Korea’s population is one of the most ethnically and linguistically homogenous
in the world.
àà The fertility rate in South Korea was 1.29 children per woman as of 2008. 22
figure 8. Median Age, selected countries, 2008
36.4
33.6
Total
43.8
36.7
35.3
33.1
Male
South Korea
China
42.1
35.4
Japan
37.4
United States
34.2
Female
45.7
38.1
0
10
20
30
40
50
Source: The World Factbook, 2008
figure 9. Life Expectancy at birth, selected countries, 2008
77.4
73.2
82.1
78.1
Total
74.0
71.4
78.7
75.3
Male
South Korea
China
Japan
81.1
United States
75.2
Female
85.6
81.1
0
20
40
60
80
100
Source: Asian Development Bank
6
http://www.bc.edu/agingandwork
àà In South Korea, 8.2% of the male population and 11.9% percent of the female
population is 65 and older in 2008. In comparison: 23
country statistical
profile no.4
south korea
àà In the Unites States, 10.9% of the male population and 14.5% percent of
the female population is 65 and older.
october 2008
àà In France, 13.8% of the male population and 18.6% percent of the female
population is 65 and older.
àà In Japan, 18.8% of the male population and 24.3% percent of the female
population is 65 and older.
àà Figure 10a through Figure 10d shows the population distribution by age in South
Korea, Japan, France and the United States. 24
figure 10a. Population Distribution by age, South Korea, 2008
Male
10%
8%
6%
Female
80+
75-79
70-74
65-69
60-64
55-59
50-54
45-49
40-44
35-39
30-34
25-29
20-24
15-19
10-14
5-9
0-4
4%
2%
0% 0%
2%
4%
6%
8%
10%
% of Population
Source: Korea National Statistical Office, Calculated by U.S. Census Bureau, International Database
figure 10b. Population Distribution by age, Japan, 2008
Male
8%
6%
4%
80+
75-79
70-74
65-69
60-64
55-59
50-54
45-49
40-44
35-39
30-34
25-29
20-24
15-19
10-14
5-9
0-4
2%
0%
0%
Female
1
2%
3
4%
5
6%
7
8%
% of Population
Source: Korea National Statistical Office, Calculated by U.S. Census Bureau, International Database
agework@bc.edu
7
figure 10c. Population Distribution by age, France, 2008
Male
8%
6%
4%
Female
80+
75-79
70-74
65-69
60-64
55-59
50-54
45-49
40-44
35-39
30-34
25-29
20-24
15-19
10-14
5-9
0-4
2%
0%
0%
1
2%
3
4%
5
6%
7
8%
7
8%
% of Population
Source: Korea National Statistical Office, Calculated by U.S. Census Bureau, International Database
figure 10d. Population Distribution by age, the United States, 2008
Male
8%
6%
4%
Female
80+
75-79
70-74
65-69
60-64
55-59
50-54
45-49
40-44
35-39
30-34
25-29
20-24
15-19
10-14
5-9
0-4
2%
0%
0%
1
2%
3
4%
5
6%
% of Population
Source: Korea National Statistical Office, Calculated by U.S. Census Bureau, International Database
àà As noted in Figure 11a, through Figure 11c, South Korean population aged 65 years
and over will have dramatically increased due to a sharp decline in fertility rates and
rising life expectancy. In 1990, the population of those aged 65 and older accounted
for 5.0 percent of the total population. In 2008, the percentage increased to 10.5 and
it is projected to continuously increase to 37.6 by 2050. 25
8
http://www.bc.edu/agingandwork
figure 11a. Population Distribution by age, South Korea, 2008
Male
country statistical
profile no.4
south korea
october 2008
10%
8%
6%
Female
80+
75-79
70-74
65-69
60-64
55-59
50-54
45-49
40-44
35-39
30-34
25-29
20-24
15-19
10-14
5-9
0-4
4%
2%
0% 0%
2%
4%
6%
8%
10%
% of Population
Source: Korea National Statistical Office, Calculated by U.S. Census Bureau, International Database
figure 11b. Projected Population Distribution by Age, South Korea, 2020
Male
10%
8%
6%
Female
80+
75-79
70-74
65-69
60-64
55-59
50-54
45-49
40-44
35-39
30-34
25-29
20-24
15-19
10-14
5-9
0-4
4%
2%
0%
0%
2%
4%
6%
8%
10%
% of Population
Source: Korea National Statistical Office, Calculated by U.S. Census Bureau, International Database
figure 11c. Projected Population Distribution by Age, Korea, 2050
Male
Female
80+
75-79
70-74
65-69
60-64
55-59
50-54
45-49
40-44
35-39
30-34
25-29
20-24
15-19
10-14
5-9
0-4
10%
8%
6%
4%
2%
0%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
% of Population
Source: Korea National Statistical Office, Calculated by U.S. Census Bureau, International Database
agework@bc.edu
9
references
1 Korea’s geographic and demographic information provided at http://www.korea.net/?from=mcst and http://
oberon.sourceoecd.org/vl=1765470/cl=20/nw=1/rpsv/factbook/010202.htm
2 Korean Culture and Information Service. (2008). About Korea: Founding of the Republic. Retrieved July 02,
2008, from http://www.korea.net/korea/kor_loca.asp?code=M07
3 Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development. (2008). Korea: Country Web Pages. Retrieved
June 18, 2008, from http://www.oecd.org/country/0,3377,en_33873108_33873555_1_1_1_1_1,00.html
4 Central Intelligence Agency. (2008). The World Factbook: Korea, South -- Economy. Retrieved August 24,
2008, from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ks.html#Econ
5 Korean Culture and Information Service. (2008). About Korea: Economy. Retrieved July 09, 2008, from http://
www.korea.net/korea/kor_loca.asp?code=R01
6 World Bank. (2008). Country Brief: South Korea. Retrieved July 02, 2008, from http://web.worldbank.org/
WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/EASTASIAPACIFICEXT/KOREAEXTN/0,,menuPK:324653~pagePK:141132
~piPK:141121~theSitePK:324645,00.html
7 International Labor Organisation. (2008). LABORSTA Internet. Retrieved August 06, 2008, from http://laborsta.ilo.org/
9 Korean National Statistical Office. (2008). [Employment Trends]. Retrieved June 18, 2008, from http://
nso.go.kr/nso2006/k04___0000/k04b__0000/k04ba_0000/k04ba_0000.html?method=view&board_
id=70&seq=123&num=123
10 Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development. (2008). SourceOECD: Factbook 2008: Economic, Environmental and Social Statistics: Hours Worked. Retrieved June 18, 2008, from http://masetto.
sourceoecd.org/vl=16675532/cl=20/nw=1/rpsv/factbook/060302-g1.htm
11 Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development. (2008). SourceOECD: Factbook 2008: Elderly
population by region. Retrieved July 09, 2008, from http://oberon.sourceoecd.org/vl=3754604/cl=49/nw=1/
rpsv/factbook/010202.htm
12 Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development. (2008). SourceOECD: Factbook 2008: Elderly
population by region. Retrieved July 09, 2008, from http://oberon.sourceoecd.org/vl=3754604/cl=49/nw=1/
rpsv/factbook/010202.htm
13 International Labor Organisation. (2008). LABORSTA Internet. Retrieved August 06, 2008, from http://laborsta.ilo.org/
14 International Labor Organization. Retrieved on August 06, 2008 from http://laborsta.ilo.org/
15 Korean National Statistical Office. (2008). Korean National Statistical Office: Web Site. Retrieved August 02,
2008, from http://www.kosis.kr/
16 Bank of Korea. (2008). Economics Statistics System. Retrieved August 02, 2008, from http://ecos.bok.or.kr/
17 It refers to the central government debt and does not include local government debts and social security funds
18 Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development. (2008). OECD.StatExtracts. Retrieved August 04,
2008, from http://webnet.oecd.org/wbos/index.aspx
19 U. S. Census Bureau. (2008). International Data Base: Country Summary: Korea, South. Retrieved July 02,
2008, from http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/idb/country/ksportal.html#DI
20Central Intelligence Agency. (2008). The World Factbook: Korea, South. Retrieved July 09, 2008, from https://
www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ks.html
21 Central Intelligence Agency. (2008). The World Factbook: Korea, South. Retrieved July 09, 2008, from https://
www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ks.html
22 Central Intelligence Agency. (2008). The World Factbook: Korea, South. Retrieved July 09, 2008, from https://
www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ks.html
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country statistical
profile no.4
south korea
october 2008
23 Central Intelligence Agency. (2008). The World Factbook: Korea, South. Retrieved July 09, 2008, from https://
www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ks.html
24 U. S. Census Bureau. (2008). International Data Base: Country Summary: Korea, South. Retrieved July 02,
2008, from http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/idb/country/ksportal.html#DI
25 Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development. (2008). SourceOECD: Factbook 2008: Ageing
Societies. Retrieved July 09, 2008, from http://titania.sourceoecd.org/vl=744028/cl=13/nw=1/rpsv/factbook/010201.htm
agework@bc.edu
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about the institute
Global Research Team &
Research Affiliates
Established in 2007 by the Center on Aging & Work, the Global Perspectives Institute is an
international collaboration of scholars and employers committed to the expansion of the
quality of employment available to the 21st century multi-generational workforce in countries around the world.
Armenia: Shoghik Hovhannisyan
Australia: Libby Brooke, Phil Taylor
China: Ce Shen, Qingwen Xu
The Global Perspectives Institute focuses on innovative and promising practices that might
be adopted by employers and policy-makers.
France: Emilie Bargues, Étienne
Campens, Mélanie Burlet, Ariane OllierMalaterre, Julien Pelletier,
Phillippe Trouvé
The Institute’s research, publications, and international forums contribute to:
Israel: Michelle Mor Barak
àà a deeper understanding of the employment experiences and career aspirations of
employees of different ages who work in countries around the world;
àà informed decision making by employers who want to be employers-of-choice in
different countries; and
àà innovative thinking about private-public partnerships that promote sustainable,
quality employment.
Italy: Louisa Diana Brunner, Simona
Cuomo, Chiara Paolina
Japan: Masa Higo, Noriko Kameda,
Atsuhiro Yamada
South Korea: Min Jung, Jungui Lee,
Othelia Lee, Patricia Yu
Pakistan: Farooq Pasha
Russia/US: Natasha Sarkasian
Uruguay: Celina Pagani-Tousignant
UK: Richard Croucher, Matt Flynn, Suzan
Lewis, Emma Parry
Jungui Lee, Ed.D, a native of South Korea, is a post doctoral researcher at the Sloan Center on Aging and Work.
Min-A Jung is a doctoral student at the Graduate School of Social Work at Boston College, and a native of
South Korea.
The Sloan Center on Aging & Work at Boston College was founded in 2005 with a multi-million dollar grant
from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. The Center partners with workplace decision-makers in evidence-based
research on employer and employee responses to the increasingly global multi-generational workforce.
These collaborations focus on quality of employment with the aim to inform employers with research data
to attract, engage and retain high quality industry talent. As of 2008, the Center has three research streams
– the US National Initiatives, the State Initiatives and the Global Initiatives. Their collective mission is to
gather information and collaborate with leaders in the public, non-profit and business sectors in an effort
to leverage today’s multi-generational workforce and globalization as competitive advantages in the 21st
century economy.
For all of the Sloan Centers’ Publications, visit our website at www.bc.edu/agingandwork
Global Statistical Profile
Global Statistical Profile 01 - Japan
Global Statistical Profile 02 - United States
Global Statistical Profile 03 - Pakistan
12
http://www.bc.edu/agingandwork
US: Janet Gornick, Ariane Hegewisch,
Kathy Lynch, Tay McNamara, Marcie PittCatsouphes, Chantel Sheaks,
Martin Tracy