ASIA · KOR

South Korea geopolitical profile

National context alongside 194 of 194 possible reviewed directions from South Korea. Relationship scores remain directional: the reverse country view may differ.

1Partner17Cooperative174Mixed2Competitive

LATEST AVAILABLE · SOURCE YEAR SHOWN

Country snapshot

Comparable national indicators provide context only. They do not enter the geopolitical relationship score.

Economy

GDP$1.9T2025 · World Bank

GDP, purchasing power$3.3T2025 · World Bank

GDP per capita$36.2K2025 · World Bank

GNI per capita$37.9K2025 · World Bank

GDP growth1%2025 · World Bank

Inflation2.1%2025 · World Bank

Unemployment2.7%2025 · World Bank

People & place

Population51.7M2025 · World Bank

Population density529.8/km²2023 · World Bank

Surface area100.5K km²2023 · World Bank

Life expectancy83.6 years2024 · World Bank

Global context

Trade openness86.4%2025 · World Bank

Military expenditure2.6%2024 · World Bank

2026 OUTLOOK · ESTIMATES

Current-year economic outlook

IMF projections are shown separately from observed World Bank data and may be revised.

GDP$1.9TESTIMATE 2026 · latest actual 2025

GDP per capita$37.4KESTIMATE 2026 · latest actual 2025

Real GDP growth1.9%ESTIMATE 2026 · latest actual 2025

Inflation2.5%ESTIMATE 2026 · latest actual 2025

Unemployment2.8%ESTIMATE 2026 · latest actual 2025

IMF World Economic Outlook · April 2026 database · published 2026-04-14 · downloaded 2026-09-25

GDP per capita$36.2K

2015 $30.2K → 2025 $36.2K

GDP growth1%

2015 2.9% → 2025 1%

Inflation2.1%

2015 0.7% → 2025 2.1%

Population51.7M

2015 51M → 2025 51.7M

World Bank Indicators API · downloaded 2026-09-17 · each card uses its latest available year · CC BY 4.0

ATLAS-DERIVED · ENGINE 1.0

Geopolitical position

A relational fingerprint calculated only from reviewed directions. Coverage is stated beside every aggregate.

Average toward reviewed countries+4194 directions reviewed

Average from reviewed countries+4194 directions reviewed

Cooperative or stronger18Scores of +10 or above

Competitive or worse2Scores of −10 or below

Strongest reviewed direction

United States+58

KOR → USA · Partner Most difficult reviewed direction

North Korea-27

KOR → PRK · Competitive

CURRENT REVIEWED LAYER

Relationships from South Korea

Sorted from highest to lowest for navigation, not as a league table. Differences below 5 points are treated as practical ties. Select a row for the evidence-backed directional page and its reciprocal comparison.

CountryScoreBandConfidenceEvidence

United StatesKOR → USA+58Partner95%Broad sourced evidence JapanKOR → JPN+23Cooperative95%Broad sourced evidence ChinaKOR → CHN+21Cooperative92%Broad sourced evidence GermanyKOR → DEU+16Cooperative74%Broad sourced evidence SpainKOR → ESP+16Cooperative68%Documented bilateral evidence AustraliaKOR → AUS+14Cooperative71%Broad sourced evidence CanadaKOR → CAN+14Cooperative71%Broad sourced evidence FranceKOR → FRA+14Cooperative71%Broad sourced evidence TürkiyeKOR → TUR+14Cooperative71%Broad sourced evidence United KingdomKOR → GBR+14Cooperative74%Broad sourced evidence IndiaKOR → IND+13Cooperative68%Documented bilateral evidence BrazilKOR → BRA+10Cooperative71%Documented bilateral evidence ItalyKOR → ITA+10Cooperative57%Documented bilateral evidence NetherlandsKOR → NLD+10Cooperative57%Documented bilateral evidence PolandKOR → POL+10Cooperative57%Documented bilateral evidence QatarKOR → QAT+10Cooperative71%Documented bilateral evidence Saudi ArabiaKOR → SAU+10Cooperative68%Documented bilateral evidence United Arab EmiratesKOR → ARE+10Cooperative68%Documented bilateral evidence MexicoKOR → MEX+8Mixed60%Documented bilateral evidence BelgiumKOR → BEL+7Mixed57%Documented bilateral evidence BulgariaKOR → BGR+7Mixed57%Documented bilateral evidence CroatiaKOR → HRV+7Mixed57%Documented bilateral evidence CyprusKOR → CYP+7Mixed57%Documented bilateral evidence CzechiaKOR → CZE+7Mixed57%Documented bilateral evidence DenmarkKOR → DNK+7Mixed57%Documented bilateral evidence EstoniaKOR → EST+7Mixed57%Documented bilateral evidence FinlandKOR → FIN+7Mixed57%Documented bilateral evidence GreeceKOR → GRC+7Mixed57%Documented bilateral evidence IndonesiaKOR → IDN+7Mixed57%Documented bilateral evidence IrelandKOR → IRL+7Mixed57%Documented bilateral evidence LatviaKOR → LVA+7Mixed57%Documented bilateral evidence LithuaniaKOR → LTU+7Mixed57%Documented bilateral evidence LuxembourgKOR → LUX+7Mixed57%Documented bilateral evidence MalaysiaKOR → MYS+7Mixed57%Documented bilateral evidence MaltaKOR → MLT+7Mixed57%Documented bilateral evidence PhilippinesKOR → PHL+7Mixed57%Documented bilateral evidence PortugalKOR → PRT+7Mixed57%Documented bilateral evidence RomaniaKOR → ROU+7Mixed57%Documented bilateral evidence SingaporeKOR → SGP+7Mixed57%Documented bilateral evidence SlovakiaKOR → SVK+7Mixed57%Documented bilateral evidence SloveniaKOR → SVN+7Mixed57%Documented bilateral evidence SwedenKOR → SWE+7Mixed57%Documented bilateral evidence ThailandKOR → THA+7Mixed57%Documented bilateral evidence VietnamKOR → VNM+7Mixed57%Documented bilateral evidence IraqKOR → IRQ+6Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only AlbaniaKOR → ALB+5Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only AndorraKOR → AND+5Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only AustriaKOR → AUT+5Mixed57%Documented bilateral evidence Bosnia and HerzegovinaKOR → BIH+5Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only GeorgiaKOR → GEO+5Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only HungaryKOR → HUN+5Mixed57%Documented bilateral evidence IcelandKOR → ISL+5Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only LiechtensteinKOR → LIE+5Mixed42%Quantitative indicators only MoldovaKOR → MDA+5Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only MonacoKOR → MCO+5Mixed42%Quantitative indicators only MontenegroKOR → MNE+5Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only New ZealandKOR → NZL+5Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only North MacedoniaKOR → MKD+5Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only NorwayKOR → NOR+5Mixed42%Quantitative indicators only San MarinoKOR → SMR+5Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only SwitzerlandKOR → CHE+5Mixed42%Quantitative indicators only UkraineKOR → UKR+5Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only BruneiKOR → BRN+4Mixed57%Documented bilateral evidence CambodiaKOR → KHM+4Mixed57%Documented bilateral evidence DR CongoKOR → COD+4Mixed57%Documented bilateral evidence HaitiKOR → HTI+4Mixed57%Documented bilateral evidence LaosKOR → LAO+4Mixed57%Documented bilateral evidence MyanmarKOR → MMR+4Mixed57%Documented bilateral evidence SeychellesKOR → SYC+4Mixed57%Documented bilateral evidence Vatican CityKOR → VAT+4Mixed56%Documented bilateral evidence AngolaKOR → AGO+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only Antigua and BarbudaKOR → ATG+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only ArmeniaKOR → ARM+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only AzerbaijanKOR → AZE+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only BahamasKOR → BHS+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only BahrainKOR → BHR+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only BangladeshKOR → BGD+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only BarbadosKOR → BRB+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only BelizeKOR → BLZ+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only BhutanKOR → BTN+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only BotswanaKOR → BWA+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only Cape VerdeKOR → CPV+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only ChadKOR → TCD+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only ChileKOR → CHL+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only ColombiaKOR → COL+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only ComorosKOR → COM+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only Costa RicaKOR → CRI+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only DjiboutiKOR → DJI+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only DominicaKOR → DMA+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only Dominican RepublicKOR → DOM+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only EcuadorKOR → ECU+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only EgyptKOR → EGY+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only El SalvadorKOR → SLV+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only EthiopiaKOR → ETH+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only FijiKOR → FJI+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only GabonKOR → GAB+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only GambiaKOR → GMB+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only GhanaKOR → GHA+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only GrenadaKOR → GRD+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only GuatemalaKOR → GTM+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only GuineaKOR → GIN+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only Guinea-BissauKOR → GNB+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only GuyanaKOR → GUY+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only HondurasKOR → HND+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only Ivory CoastKOR → CIV+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only JamaicaKOR → JAM+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only JordanKOR → JOR+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only KazakhstanKOR → KAZ+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only KenyaKOR → KEN+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only KuwaitKOR → KWT+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only KyrgyzstanKOR → KGZ+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only LebanonKOR → LBN+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only LesothoKOR → LSO+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only LiberiaKOR → LBR+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only LibyaKOR → LBY+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only MalawiKOR → MWI+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only MaldivesKOR → MDV+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only Marshall IslandsKOR → MHL+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only MauritaniaKOR → MRT+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only MauritiusKOR → MUS+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only MicronesiaKOR → FSM+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only MongoliaKOR → MNG+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only MoroccoKOR → MAR+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only MozambiqueKOR → MOZ+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only NamibiaKOR → NAM+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only NauruKOR → NRU+2Mixed57%Documented bilateral evidence NepalKOR → NPL+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only NigeriaKOR → NGA+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only OmanKOR → OMN+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only PakistanKOR → PAK+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only PalauKOR → PLW+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only PalestineKOR → PSE+2Mixed56%Documented bilateral evidence PanamaKOR → PAN+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only PeruKOR → PER+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only Republic of the CongoKOR → COG+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only RwandaKOR → RWA+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only Saint Kitts and NevisKOR → KNA+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only Saint LuciaKOR → LCA+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only SamoaKOR → WSM+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only São Tomé and PríncipeKOR → STP+2Mixed57%Documented bilateral evidence SenegalKOR → SEN+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only SerbiaKOR → SRB+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only Sierra LeoneKOR → SLE+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only Solomon IslandsKOR → SLB+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only SomaliaKOR → SOM+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only South AfricaKOR → ZAF+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only South SudanKOR → SSD+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only Sri LankaKOR → LKA+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only SurinameKOR → SUR+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only TajikistanKOR → TJK+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only TanzaniaKOR → TZA+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only Timor-LesteKOR → TLS+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only TongaKOR → TON+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only Trinidad and TobagoKOR → TTO+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only TunisiaKOR → TUN+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only TuvaluKOR → TUV+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only UgandaKOR → UGA+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only UruguayKOR → URY+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only UzbekistanKOR → UZB+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only VanuatuKOR → VUT+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only YemenKOR → YEM+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only ZambiaKOR → ZMB+2Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only AfghanistanKOR → AFG0Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only AlgeriaKOR → DZA0Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only ArgentinaKOR → ARG0Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only BelarusKOR → BLR0Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only BeninKOR → BEN0Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only BoliviaKOR → BOL0Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only Burkina FasoKOR → BFA0Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only BurundiKOR → BDI0Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only CameroonKOR → CMR0Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only Central African RepublicKOR → CAF0Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only CubaKOR → CUB0Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only Equatorial GuineaKOR → GNQ0Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only EritreaKOR → ERI0Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only EswatiniKOR → SWZ0Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only IranKOR → IRN0Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only IsraelKOR → ISR0Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only KiribatiKOR → KIR0Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only MadagascarKOR → MDG0Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only MaliKOR → MLI0Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only NicaraguaKOR → NIC0Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only NigerKOR → NER0Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only Papua New GuineaKOR → PNG0Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only ParaguayKOR → PRY0Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesKOR → VCT0Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only SudanKOR → SDN0Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only SyriaKOR → SYR0Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only TogoKOR → TGO0Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only TurkmenistanKOR → TKM0Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only VenezuelaKOR → VEN0Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only ZimbabweKOR → ZWE0Mixed54%Quantitative indicators only RussiaKOR → RUS-18Competitive92%Broad sourced evidence North KoreaKOR → PRK-27Competitive85%Broad sourced evidence

Methodology v1.1.1 frozen

Every component begins at zero. Only documented rules and measured thresholds alter the score; unavailable evidence is not converted into a neutral assumption. Gaps below 5 points should not be interpreted as a meaningful ranking.