Head of state: LEE Myung-Bak 
Head of government: KIM Hwang-sik
Type of state: Republic
Land area: 99,678 km2
Capital: Seoul
Population: 48.88m
Ethnic groups: ethnically homogeneous, but with a small Chinese minority
Religions: 12m Buddhists, 9 million Protestants, 3 million Catholics
Language: Korean
Currency: Won (KRW)
Gross domestic product (GDP) 2010: USD 1,014.48bn
Change over previous year: +6.2%
Per capita GDP: USD 20,757
Swiss colony: 223 persons
Swiss exports 2010: CHF 2,271.61m
Change over previous year: +19.9%
Swiss imports 2010: CHF 439.54m
Change over previous year: +5.6%