Korea, South

South Korea, officially known as the Republic of Korea (ROK) (Korean: 대한민국, , ) is an East Asian state on the southern half of the Korean Peninsula. To the north, it is bordered by North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea), with which it was united until 1945. To the west, across the Yellow Sea, lies China (People's Republic of China) and to the southeast, across the Korea Strait, lies Japan. Approximately one-half of South Korea's population lives in or near the capital Seoul, the country's largest city. Seoul is one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world, a major centre of business and commerce in Asia and home to many of the world's largest transnational corporations such as Samsung, Hyundai, SK and LG.
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Chief of state: President LEE Myung-bak (since 25 February 2008)

Head of government: Prime Minister HAN Seung-soo (since 29 February 2008)

Cabinet: State Council appointed by the president on the prime minister's recommendation

Elections: president elected by popular vote for a single five-year term; election last held 19 December 2007 (next to be held on in December 2012); prime minister appointed by president with consent of National Assembly; deputy prime ministers appointed by president on prime minister's recommendation

Election results: ROH Moo-hyun elected president on 19 December 2002; percent of vote - ROH Moo-hyun (MDP) 48.9%; LEE Hoi-chang (GNP) 46.6%; others 4.5%; LEE Myung-bak elected president on 19 December 2007; percent of vote - LEE Myung-bak (GNP) 48.7%; CHUNG Dong-young (UNDP) 26.1%); LEE Hoi-chang (independent) 15.1; others 10.1%
  

The spellings of names of South Korean officials have been changed to reflect widely recognized spellings. Pres. ….. LEE Myung-bakPrime Min. ….. HAN Seung-sooChief Sec. ….. CHO Jung-pyoMin. of Culture, Sports, & Tourism ….. YOU In-chonMin. of Education, Science, & Technology ….. KIM Doh-yeonMin. of Environment ….. LEE Man-euiMin. for Food, Agriculture, Forestry, & Fisheries ….. CHUNG Woon-chunMin. of Foreign Affairs & Trade ….. YU Myung-hwanMin. of Gender Equality ….. n.a.Min. for Health, Welfare, & Family Affairs ….. n.a.Min. of Justice ….. KIM Kyung-hanMin. of Knowledge Economy ….. LEE Youn-hoMin. of Labor ….. LEE Young-huiMin. of Land, Transport, & Maritime Affairs ….. CHUNG Jong-hwanMin. of National Defense ….. LEE Sang-heeMin. of Public Admin. & Security ….. n.a.Min. of Strategy & Finance ….. KANG Man-sooMin. of Unification ….. KIM Ha-jungChmn., Board of Audit & Inspection ….. JEON Yun-churlChmn., Civil Service Commission ….. KWON Oh-ryongChmn., Fair Trade Commission ….. KANG Chul-kyuChmn., Financial Services Commission ….. JUNG Kwang-wooChmn., Korea Independent Commission Against Corruption ….. CHUNG Soung-jinChmn., Korean Broadcasting Commission ….. NOH Sung-daiChmn., Presidential Ctte. on the Northeast Asian Cooperation Initiative ….. LEE Su-hoonHead Commissioner, Presidential Truth Commission on Suspicious Deaths ….. HAN Sang-bumPres., National Human Rights Commission ….. KIM Chang-kukChief of Staff, Office of the Pres. ….. MOON Jae-inChief Sec. to the Pres. for National Policy, Office of the Pres. ….. BYEON Yang-kyoonChief Sec. to the Pres. for Unification, Foreign, & Security Policy, Office of the Pres. ….. BAEK Jong-chunDir., National Intelligence Service ….. KIM Sung-hoGovernor, Bank of Korea ….. LEE Seong-taeAmbassador to the US ….. LEE Tae-sikPermanent Representative to the UN, New York ….. CHOI Young-jin