Republic of Korea at a Glance

• Population: approx. 48,1 million


• Capital city: Seoul, approx. 10,4 million


• Language: Korean


• Religions: Buddhists (12 million), Protestants (9 million), Catholics (3 million)


• Form of government: Presidential republic

Economy

Economic relations are close. Korea is the third largest market for German goods in Asia after the People's Republic of China and Japan. Germany remains the prime European trading partner with exports and imports last year rising above average. Also due to the strong euro, total bilateral trade in 2004 reached a record of about US-Dollar 17 billion, twice Indo-German trade. Germany is the second largest European investor in Korea, with total investments amounting to approx. US-Dollar 6 billion. About 200 German firms are engaged in South Korea. German and German-Korean enterprises employ over 100,000 Koreans.

Culture and Science

Cultural relations between the Federal Republic of Germany and the Republic of Korea are very close; Koreans feel a strong affinity to Germany and its culture – particularly its literature and music. The cultural activities of German institutions are held in high regard (particularly the Goethe Institute, lecturers from the German Academic Exchange Service and the German School in Seoul). Cooperation between German and Korean universities is exemplary. A major bond are the 35 Korean-German cultural associations and the large number of Korean students living in Germany (about 30,000) and studying there (about 5,400 at present). Many former students keep in contact with Germany in alumni associations. Due to the keener interest of Koreans in recent years in the languages of their neighbours China and Japan, German teaching has declined in schools and universities. As part of the Korea Year in Germany in 2005 a Korean Festival took place to coincide with the anniversary of Hamburg’s port in May. Korea was the focus country of the Asia-Pacific Weeks in Berlin in September and guest country at the Frankfurt Book Fair in October 2005.

Links

www.koreamb.de (Korean Embassy in Germany)
www.gembassy.or.kr/de/home/ (German Embassy in Korea)
www.oav.de (German Asia-Pacific Business Association)
www.mofat.go.kr (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT))
www.mct.go.kr (Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MCT))