South Korea

South Korea - Is officially known as the Republic of Korea. South Korea is an Asian Country and is the southern half of the Korean Peninsula. South Korea shares borders with North Korea, the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea. South Korea is a major economic power and one of the wealthiest Asian countries. It is a highly developed country with a high standard of living, the fourth largest economically in Asia. South Korea is working towards a peaceful reunification with North Korea which would be beneficial to both parties. Since the 1960s, South Korea has achieved an incredible record of growth and integration into the high-tech modern world economy. Four decades ago, GDP per capita was comparable with levels in the poorer countries of Africa and Asia. In 2004, South Korea joined the trillion dollar club of world economies. Today its GDP per capita is roughly the same as that of Greece and Spain.
South Korea shares its traditional culture with North Korea, but the two Korea's have developed distinct contemporary forms of culture since the peninsula was divided in 1945. The South Korean Ministry of Culture and Tourism actively encourages the traditional arts, as well as modern forms, through funding and education programs. The industrialization and urbanization of South Korea have brought many changes to the way Korean people live.