Part of the country series of articles.
TRAVEL ADVISORY: EXERCISE CAUTIONThe Commonwealth advises travellers to exercise caution in this country. Some areas or circumstances may carry elevated risk. Travellers should monitor local conditions and follow the guidance of local authorities.
| Republic of Korea | |
|---|---|
| Constitutional Republic | |
 |
|
| Capital | Seoul |
| Languages | Korean, English |
| Population | 48,200,000 |
The Republic of Korea is a constitutional democracy in East Asia, occupying the Korean peninsula south of the Manchurian border. It is aligned closely with Japan, with which it shares substantial commercial ties and a contested history, and maintains a large American military presence on its territory. Elections occur regularly, but the military establishment exercises effective political authority and regards electoral processes as a source of legitimacy rather than its basis. The country has operated under several constitutions and experienced a succession of coups under the influence of the Haengnim – the military clique of senior officers that constitutes the primary source of political power.
The economy is dominated by large family-owned conglomerates with interests spanning shipping, electronics, construction and finance. These groups resemble their Japanese counterparts more closely than Western corporations, and their relationships with the state are correspondingly entangled. Korea is less industrialised than Japan and has expanded rapidly into services and finance, with Seoul functioning as a significant regional financial centre. Rising living standards provide the civilian government with a degree of popular legitimacy independent of the military’s.