南韩(Korea, South)

正式名称大韩民国（Republic of Korea）

东亚朝鲜半岛南半部国家。位於日本西北方，包括北距朝鲜半岛97公里远的济州岛。面积99,274平方公里。人口约47,676,000（2001）。首都︰汉城。在人种上，几乎全是朝鲜人。语言︰朝鲜语（亦称韩语，官方语）。宗教：佛教、基督教新教、儒家学说（普遍），以及天道教。第二次世界大战期间外国传教团皆被逐出。货币︰韩元（won）。近3/4土地是山地，人口十分稠密的低地地区以种植水稻为主。洛东江和汉江是该国主要河川。南韩经济大部分以服务业和工业（包括石化产品、电子物件和钢）为基础。政府形式为多党制中央集权共和国，一院制。国家元首是大统领（总统），政府首脑是国务总理。

早期历史参阅朝鲜。1948年在朝鲜半岛南部成立大韩民国，第二次世界大战後曾被美军占领。1950年北韩入侵南韩，陷入韩战。联合国军队帮助南韩，而北韩有中共撑腰，1953年才签署停战协定。战後此残破的国家在美国援助下重建，并繁荣起来，发展了一种以出口为导向的强大经济。1990年代中叶经历了一次经济衰退，在亚洲区受到许多经济的冲击。2000年南、北韩领袖举行一次高峰会谈，燃起统一的希望。

English version：

Korea, South

Country, occupying the southern half of the Korean peninsula, East Asia. It is located northwest of Japan and includes Cheju Island, located about 60 mi (97 km) south of the peninsula. Area: 38,330 sq mi (99,274 sq km). Population (1997 est.): 45,628,000. Capital: Seoul. The population is almost entirely ethnically Korean. Language: Korean (official). Religions: Buddhism, Protestant Christianity, Confucianism (widespread); Ch'ondogyo. Currency: won. Nearly three-fourths of the total land area of South Korea consists of mountains and uplands; the densely populated lowlands are heavily cultivated for wet rice. The Naktong and Han are the country's principal rivers. South Korea's economy is based largely on services and industry (including petrochemicals, electronic goods, and steel). It is a republic with one legislative house; its head of state and government is the president, assisted by the prime minister. For early history, see Korea. The Republic of Korea was established in 1948 in the southern portion of the Korean peninsula, which had been occupied by the U.S. after World War II. In 1950 North Korean troops invaded South Korea, precipitating the Korean War. UN forces intervened on the side of South Korea, while Chinese troops backed North Korea in the war, which ended with an armistice in 1953. The devastated country was rebuilt with U.S. aid, and South Korea prospered in the postwar era, developing a strong export-oriented economy. It experienced an economic downturn in the mid-1990s that affected many economies in the area. In 2000 the leaders of North and South Korea held a summit that revived hopes for reunification.