ROK

Republic of Korea

(from ROK National Report)

In 2000, the total population of the Republic of Korea was 47,274 thousand. According to recent population projections, as shown in Table 1, the population of The Republic of Korea is expected to grow to 50 million by 2010. There has been rapid growth in the number and proportion of people over 65. In 2000, 7.1% of the Korean people were over 65. This number is expected to grow to 5 million (9.9%) by 2010. The total population growth in the Republic of Korea is slowing down. In accordance with the extension of life expectancy, the Republic of Korea is moving toward an aging society, which is expected to be more attentive to environmental issues.

Table 1. Population Related Indicators

 

Indicator / Year	1995	2000	2010	2020
Population (1000 Person)	44,609	47,275	50,618	52,358
Population Growth (%)	0.95	0.77	0.42	0.13
Economic Activity Participation Rate (%)	62.0	63.8	66.9	68.0
Life Expectancy (age)	73.5	74.1	76.7	78.1

It is expected that the majority of Korean people (92%) will live in urban areas by the year 2020. In line with the 1960s Korean Economic Development Plan, the urbanization rate has increased from 40% in the 1970s to 80% in the 1990s. Migration to Korea's six major cities has profoundly increased, raising the percentage of people in the ROK who live in these six cities from 28.2% in the 1970s to 50% in the 1990s.

The primary drive for Korean economic development began in 1960. Since then, average annual economic growth has been 8-9%. Government support for economic development and an export strategy has led to major improvements in the Korean standard of living. In 1970, Korea's GNP per capita was about US $252. By 2000, the GNP per capita increased to US $10,070 (Korea Statistical Yearbook 2000). Thanks to this economic development, The Republic of Korea has become an economically developed country in terms of trade and economic size. The Republic of Korea joined the OECD in 1996, becoming its 29th member.

Due to a decrease in the population growth rate and shortened working hours, Korean economic growth is expected to be about 5.1% per year in the period from . This is a slower growth rate than the 6.7% observed in the 1990s. By the year 2010, the GDP is expected to be about US $11 trillion while the GDP per capita is expected to be US $21,000 (Economic White Paper 1999).

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Steady growth of the Korean economy along with industrial restructuring is expected in the 21st Century. The portion of industry, which is either primary or manufacturing, is decreasing while the service industry portion is increasing. According to Table 2, the service industry represented 65.7% of the GDP in 1995 and is expected to reach 69.3% by 2010. This means the service industry will be the leading growth sector in the economy. Although the Korean environmental pollution load increases with economic growth, the ratio of the environmental pollution load to the economy growth is expected to decrease with industrial restructuring.

Table 2. Major Economic and Environmental Indicators from 1995 to 2020

Indicators / year			1995	2000	2010	2020
Economic Size & Industrial Structure		GDP (US $ billion)	3,177 (98)	4,760	11,050	-
		GDP per capita (US $)	6,823 (98)	10,070	21,820	-
		Primary industries (%)	5.4	4.6	2.7	2.5
		Manufacturing industries (%)	29.5	28.4	28.0	25.0
		Service industries (%)	65.7	67.0	69.3	72.3
		Sub-Total (%)	100.0	100.0	100.0	-
Population		Population (1000 persons)	44,609	47,275	50,618	52,358
		Over 65 years old (%)	5.9	7.1	9.9	13.2
Urbanization		Urbanization ratio (%, Year)	86 (98)	-	-	92
Energy Demand		Primary energy demand (million TOE)	150	194	260	309
		Primary energy consumption per capita (TOE/person)	3.3	4.1	5.1	5.9
		Energy/ GDP (TOE/Million Won, at 90 Constant)	0.58	0.65	0.51	0.41
Water Resources demand (million m3)			30,597	-	37,230	38,270
Environmental Pollution	Domestic waste (million tons)		13.31	14.48	15.50	16.04
	Industrial waste (million tons)		13.46	19.06	31.34	51.53
	Domestic sewage (million tons)		45.07	47.25	51.61	55.97
	Industrial waste water (million tons)		3,190	3,528	4,203	4,879

Sources:          1)Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements, 1999, The 4th Comprehensive National Physical Plan (Draft);

        2) Ministry of Environment, 2000, The First National  
             Nature Conservation Plan (Draft).

Cooperation between DPRK and ROK is close through the meeting of dispersed family. The ROK has been constructing for the reconnection of railroad from Seoul in ROK and to Uiju in DPRK. In addition, trade between ROK and DPRK has been increasing.