International Relations of South Korea

Country profile & diplomacy overview · 83 relations tracked

South Korea is a country located in East Asia, on the Korean Peninsula. It shares borders with North Korea to the north and with China and Japan to the east and southeast, respectively. South Korea is a democratic, industrialized country with a strong economy and a highly educated population.

Population

51.7M#29 of 205

Land area

99.9K km²#106 of 205

GDP

$1.9T#13 of 199

Military expenditure

$47.6B#11 of 167

Global influence

#27Medium

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Closest relations Strained relations South Korea No data

Since its founding in 1948, South Korea has undergone rapid economic development and democratization. Today, it is a major player in the global economy, with a strong focus on technology, manufacturing, and services. The country is a member of the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, and other international organizations.

South Korea has a complicated relationship with its neighbor, North Korea, which is a totalitarian state with a nuclear weapons program. The two countries technically remain at war, as the Korean War ended in 1953 with an armistice rather than a peace treaty. However, relations have improved in recent years, and there have been some efforts towards reunification.

South Korea is also an important ally of the United States, and the two countries have a strong military alliance. South Korea is also a member of the G20, an international forum for the world's largest economies.

Geography & terrain

Roughly 70% mountainous and hilly terrain, with a temperate climate marked by hot, monsoonal summers and cold winters. It occupies the southern half of a peninsula with a long, indented coastline on three seas. The rugged interior aids defense, and the single land border — the heavily fortified DMZ with North Korea — funnels any overland invasion through a narrow, well-anticipated corridor.

Key facts

Diverse sources: UN, World Bank, South Korea Statistics Office/Department. Most recent available data
Capital	Seoul (9.5M people, 18.4% of total population)
Population	51.7M (2025) (#29 of 205 countries)
Land area	99.9K km² (#106 of 205 countries)
Main religion	Buddhism, Christianity
Life expectancy	81 years

Source: World Bank Open Data. Most recent available data (2025)
Currency	South Korean Won
Main language(s)	Korean
Government type	Presidential republic
Time zone	UTC+9.0
GDP	$1.9T (#13 of 199 countries)
GDP per capita	$36.2K (#38 of 199 countries)
International calling code	+82
Driving side	Right
UNESCO World Heritage Sites	17
Military expenditure	$47.6B (2024)
Land military expenditure (estimation)	$21.4B
Air military expenditure (estimation)	$11.9B
Naval military expenditure (estimation)	$14.3B
Military expenditure (% of GDP)	2.6%
Military expenditure per capita	$920
Nuclear power	No
European Union	Not a member
NATO	Not a member
Other groups	G20

Shares a land border with 1 country — here is how those relations stand

South Korea's relations with its neighbors

1 North Korea 6.3/10 See relation →

Most similar countries, by language, currency, GDP per capita, borders & international groups

Rank #27 Medium International Influence

South Korea's actions have a limited effect on the world or on other countries.

See the full world influence ranking →

Most intense relations

Top 5 relations of South Korea by overall intensity. Intensity reflects the level and significance of interaction—not whether the relationship is positive or negative.