Since their division, South Korea has developed into one of Asia's most affluent countries, while the North has slipped into totalitarianism and poverty.

OVERVIEW

The Republic of Korea was proclaimed in August 1948, and received UN-backed support from the United States after it was invaded by the North two years later.

 The following four decades of authoritarian rule saw the country's transformation into one of the world's major economies.

 After the return to multiparty politics in 1987, President Roh Tae-Woo launched an anti-corruption campaign against both his own party and his political predecessor.

Despite the historic handshake in Pyongyang in 2000, coming after five decades of hostility, relations with its northern neighbour remain a major concern in Seoul, particularly over the North's fragile economy and its nuclear ambitions.

 The demilitarised zone (DMZ) between South and North Korea remains the world's most heavily-fortified border. But the United States, which maintains some 37,000 soldiers in South Korea, is pulling its forces away from the front line and plans to reduce troop numbers.

FACTS

• Population: 48.2 million (UN, 2005)
• Capital: Seoul
• Area: 99,313 sq km (38,345 sq miles)
• Major language: Korean
• Major religions: Buddhism, Christianity
• Life expectancy: 72 years (men), 79 years (women)(UN)
• Monetary unit: won
• Main exports: Electronic products, machinery and transport equipment GNI per capita: US $12,020 (World Bank, 2003) Internet domain: .kr
• International dialling code: +82

LEADERS

President: Roh Moo-hyun

Parliament voted to impeach Roh Moo-hyun in March 2004, but two months later the Constitutional Court overturned the move, saying the charges against him were "not serious or grave enough to justify the unseating of the president".

 He was immediately reinstated. Roh Moo-hyun: Reinstated after impeachment vote overturned The president had become mired in a political stand-off, sparked by a breach of election rules.

Mr Roh, and his political rivals, had also become embroiled in a scandal over illegal election funds. The outcome of general elections in April, which gave the pro-Roh Uri party a parliamentary majority, were seen as a boost for the embattled president.

 A liberal reformer from the governing Millennium Democratic Party, Mr Roh won closely-fought presidential elections in December 2002. Mr Roh had argued that South Korea should have greater jurisdiction over US troops on its territory. He favours Seoul's "Sunshine Policy" of constructive engagement with North Korea, a source of tension with Washington.

A former lawyer, Mr Roh was born in 1946 to a peasant family in the southeast of the country. He became a strong advocate of human rights and was a key player in South Korea's 1987 pro-democracy movement. He was briefly imprisoned for his activities. Mr Roh entered the National Assembly in 1988 and made a name for himself by spearheading corruption investigations. He is married and has a son and a daughter.

• Prime minister: Lee Hae-chan
• Foreign minister: Ban Kee-moon
• Finance minister: Han Duck-soo

MEDIA

Television is an influential medium; the major terrestrial networks command the lion's share of viewing and advertising revenue. Many South Koreans are connected to cable TV services and a digital satellite TV service, launched in 2002, competes for multichannel subscribers.

 Newspaper readership is high, and there are more than 100 daily titles with national or local coverage. The press often carries criticism of the government.

 Many newspapers are controlled or depend on advertising from the country's industrial conglomerates.

Since Kim Dae-jung's summit in North Korea, South Korea's media have adopted a warmer tone towards the northern neighbour. But there have been cases of South Korean journalists being intimidated for giving favourable coverage to North Korea's communist leadership.

The press

• Chosun Ilbo - private, English-language edition
• Dong-a Ilbo - private, English-language edition
• Korea Times - private, English-language
• Hankook Ilbo - private
• Hangyore Sinmun - daily
• JoongAng Ilbo - English-language edition
• Korea Daily News - private
• Korea Economic Daily
• Korea Herald - private, English-language
• Munhwa Ilbo Segye Times

Television

• Korea Broadcasting System (KBS) - public, operates two networks
• Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) - public
• Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS) - private
• Education Broadcasting System (EBS) - public, educational programmes
• Inchon Television (iTV) - private, Inchon-based
• Jeonju Television Corporation (JTV) - commercial, Jeonju-based
• American Forces Network Korea (AFN Korea) - TV for US military personnel, also watched by many Koreans
• SkyLife - digital satellite TV operator

Radio

• Korea Broadcasting System (KBS) - public, operates six networks
• Radio Korea International - external broadcaster, operated by KBS
• Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation - public, operates MBC Radio and music-based MBC FM
• Seoul Broadcasting System - operates SBS-FM Christian
•  Broadcasting System (CBS) - Christian network Buddhist
• Broadcasting System (BBS) - Buddhist network Far East
• Broadcasting Corporation (FEBC) - religious American
• Forces Network Korea (AFN Korea) - radio for US military personnel

News agency

Yonhap News Agency