Special Report: Going Global

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South Korea

Population (July, 2007): 49,044,790
Languages: Korean, English
Exchange rate (June, 2007): $1 = 924.87 South Korean won (KRW)
GDP per capita (2006, PPP): $24,500
Real GDP growth (2006): 4.8%
Ease of Doing Business rank: 23
Days required to start a business: 22
Internet users per 1,000 pop. (2005): 683.5
Resident patent filings per 1 million pop. (2004): 2,188.96
Government's business info Web site: www.korea.net

South Korea has a strong, export-based, high-tech economy. Reforms that followed the Asian economic crisis 10 years ago helped the country bounce back quickly, attracting foreign investors.

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