South Korea is a sovereign state in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula.[1] Highly urbanized at 92%,[2] South Koreans lead a distinctive urban lifestyle; half of them live in high-rises[3] concentrated in the Seoul Capital Area with 25 million residents[4] and the world's sixth-leading global city[5] with the fourth-largest economy[6] and seventh-most sustainable city in the world.[7]
Driven by a highly educated and skilled workforce, it has the world's eighth-highest median household income, the highest in Asia, and its singles in particular earn more than all G7 nations. Globally, it ranks highly in personal safety,[8] job security, and healthcare quality, with the world's third-highest health adjusted life expectancy and fourth-most efficient healthcare system.[9] It is the world's largest spender on R&D per GDP, leading the OECD in graduates in science and engineering[10] and ranking third in the Youth Wellbeing Index.[11] Home of Samsung, POSCO, LG and Hyundai-Kia, South Korea was named the world's most innovative country in the Bloomberg Innovation Index,[12] ranking first in business R&D intensity and patents filed per GDP. As of 2014, it has the world's fastest Internet speed and highest smartphone ownership, ranking first in ICT Development, e-Government[13] and 4G LTE coverage.
For further information on the types of business entities in this country and their abbreviations, see "Business entities in South Korea".
Largest firms
This list shows firms in the Fortune Global 500, which ranks firms by total revenues reported before 1 February 2025.[14] Only the top five firms (if available) are included as a sample.
Notable firms
This list includes notable companies with primary headquarters located in the country. The industry and sector follow the Industry Classification Benchmark taxonomy. Organizations which have ceased operations are included and noted as defunct.
See also
- Chaebeol
- Economy of South Korea
- Education in South Korea
- KOSDAQ
- KOSPI
- Mobile phone industry in South Korea
- Green Optics Co., Ltd.
- Small and medium-sized enterprises in South Korea
References
- {{CIA World Factbook}}^
- http://www.index.go.kr/potal/main/EachDtlPageDetail.do?idx_cd=1200 Index.go.kr, July 24, 2015, retrieved June 20, 2016^
- [수도권]‘응팔 아파트’ 만들기 서울시의 이색 도전 : 뉴스 : 동아닷컴. News.donga.com (January 7, 2016). Retrieved June 20, 2016.^
- Current population of the Seoul National Capital Area Statistics Korea^
- Institute for Urban Strategies, The Mori Memorials Foundation (2015). Global Power City Index 2015. Retrieved March 2, 2016^
- Global Metro Monitor |Brookings Institution. Brookings.edu (January 22, 2015). Retrieved June 20, 2016.^
- Sustainable City Index 2016 - Comparing cities Arcadis^
- Crime Index by Country 2016. Numbeo.com. Retrieved June 20, 2016.^
- Lisa Du lisadont Wei Lu. U.S. Health-Care System Ranks as One of the Least-Efficient Bloomberg, September 29, 2016^
- These are the 10 smartest countries in the world when it comes to science Business Insider, December 4, 2015, retrieved October 26, 2016^
- Archived copy retrieved 2016-11-07^
- The Bloomberg Innovation Index Bloomberg^
- UN E-Government Survey 2014. Unpan3.un.org. Retrieved June 20, 2016.^
- Scott DeCarlo. The Fortune 2024 Global 500 Fortune, 1 February 2025^
- AJU Group: Private Company Information - Bloomberg^
- Dongkuk Steel Mill Co., Ltd.: Private Company Information - Bloomberg^
- Doosan Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd.: Private Company Information - Bloomberg^
- 연혁 | EUGENE^
- Hyundai Asan Corporation: Private Company Information - Bloomberg^