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Line 39: − + − Half of the population actively practices religion. Among this group, [[Christianity]] (49%) and [[Buddhism]] (47%) comprise Korea's two dominant religions. Though only 3% identified themselves as [[Confucianism|Confucianists]], Korean society remains highly imbued with Confucian values and beliefs. The remaining 1% of the population practice [[Shamanism]] (traditional spirit worship) and Chondogyo ("Heavenly Way"), a traditional religion. Line 52:
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Korea's population is one of the most ethnically and linguistically homogenous in the world. Except for a small [[Chinese]] community (about 20,000), virtually all Koreans share a common cultural and linguistic heritage. With 48.85 million people, South Korea has one of the world's highest population densities. Major population centers are located in the northwest, southeast, and in the plains south of the [[Seoul]]-[[Incheon]] area.
Korea's population is one of the most ethnically and linguistically homogenous in the world. Except for a small [[Chinese]] community (about 20,000), virtually all Koreans share a common cultural and linguistic heritage. With 48.85 million people, South Korea has one of the world's highest population densities. Major population centers are located in the northwest, southeast, and in the plains south of the [[Seoul]]-[[Incheon]] area.
Korea has experienced one of the largest rates of emigration, with ethnic Koreans residing primarily in China (1.9 million), the [[United States]] (1.52 million), [[Japan]] (681,000), and the countries of the former [[Soviet Union]] (450,000).
Korea has experienced one of the largest rates of emigration, with ethnic Koreans residing primarily in China (1.9 million), the United States (1.52 million), [[Japan]] (681,000), and the countries of the former [[Soviet Union]] (450,000).
The Korean language is related to Japanese and [[Mongolian]]. Although it differs grammatically from Chinese and does not use tones, a large number of Chinese cognates exist in Korean. Chinese ideograms are believed to have been brought into Korea sometime before the second century BC. The learned class spoke Korean, but read and wrote Chinese. A phonetic writing system ("hangul") was invented in the 15th century by [[Sejong|King Sejong]] to provide a writing system for commoners who could not read classical Chinese. Modern Korean uses hangul almost exclusively with Chinese characters in limited use for word clarification. Approximately 1,300 Chinese characters are used in modern Korean. English is taught as a second language in most primary and secondary schools. Chinese and Japanese are widely taught at secondary schools.
The Korean language is related to Japanese and [[Mongolian]]. Although it differs grammatically from Chinese and does not use tones, a large number of Chinese cognates exist in Korean. Chinese ideograms are believed to have been brought into Korea sometime before the second century BC. The learned class spoke Korean, but read and wrote Chinese. A phonetic writing system ("hangul") was invented in the 15th century by [[Sejong|King Sejong]] to provide a writing system for commoners who could not read classical Chinese. Modern Korean uses hangul almost exclusively with Chinese characters in limited use for word clarification. Approximately 1,300 Chinese characters are used in modern Korean. English is taught as a second language in most primary and secondary schools. Chinese and Japanese are widely taught at secondary schools.
*Population (2006): 48,846,823.
*Population (2006): 48,846,823.
*Population annual growth rate (2006): 0.42%.
*Population annual growth rate (2006): 0.42%.
*Health (2006): Infant mortality rate--6.16/1,000. Life expectancy--77.0 yrs (men 73.6 yrs.; women 80.8 yrs).
*Health (2006): Infant mortality rate--6.16/1,000. Life expectancy--77.0 yrs (men 73.6 yrs.; women 80.8 yrs).
*Work force (2005): 23.53 million. Services--67.2%; mining and manufacturing--26.4%; agriculture--6.4%.
*Work force (2005): 23.53 million. Services--67.2%; mining and manufacturing--26.4%; agriculture--6.4%.
===Religion===
According to 2005 census data, the% ages of adherents to the predominant religious communities are: Buddhist, 22.8%; Protestant, 18.3%; and Roman Catholic, 10.9% .<ref> See [http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2008/108411.htm U.S. State Department "International Religious Freedom Report 2008"]</ref>
No official figures were available on the membership of other religious groups, which include Jehovah's Witnesses, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), Seventh-day Adventist Church, Daesun Jinrihoe, Unification Church, and Islam.
According to Gallup Korea's 2004 survey on the state of religion in the country, 36% of those who practiced a faith reported that they attended religious services or rituals at a church or temple more than once a week, 11% attended two to three times per month, 21% attended once or twice a year, and 4.9% did not attend services. Of those who attended more than once a week, Protestants had the highest attendance rate at 71%, Catholics 43%, and Buddhists 3.5%.
The Government observes Buddha's Birthday and Christmas as national holidays. The Government does not permit religious instruction in public schools. Private schools are free to conduct religious activities.
Religious leaders regularly met both privately and under government auspices to promote mutual understanding and tolerance. The media gave public meetings wide and favorable coverage. For example, the Korean Council of Religious Leaders holds an annual event, the Republic of Korea Religious Culture Festival, which aims to promote reconciliation and mutual understanding among religious groups. The most recent festival, which was held on October 20, 2007, in Seoul, was attended by the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, Christian Churches of Korea, Won Buddhism, the Korea Religious Council, and the Catholic Church, among others.
==Government and Political Conditions==
==Government and Political Conditions==