external: $137 billion (November 2000)

Economic aid - recipient: $NA

Currency: South Korean won (KRW)

Currency code: KRW

Exchange rates: South Korean won per US dollar - 1,271.89 (January
2001), 1,130.96 (2000), 1,188.82 (1999), 1,401.44 (1998), 951.29
(1997), 804.45 (1996)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Korea, South Communications

Telephones - main lines in use: 24 million (1999)

Telephones - mobile cellular: 27 million (June 2000)

Telephone system: general assessment: excellent domestic and
international services

domestic: NA

international: fiber-optic submarine cable to China; the
Russia-Korea-Japan submarine cable; satellite earth stations - 3
Intelsat (2 Pacific Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Inmarsat
(Pacific Ocean region)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 106, FM 97, shortwave 6 (1999)

Radios: 47.5 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations: 121 (plus 850 repeater stations and
the eight-channel American Forces Korea Network) (1999)

Televisions: 15.9 million (1997)

Internet country code: .kr

Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 11 (2000)

Internet users: 15.3 million (2000)

Korea, South Transportation

Railways: total: 6,240 km

standard gauge: 6,240 km 1.435-m gauge (525 km electrified) (1998
est.)

Highways: total: 87,534 km

paved: 65,388 km (including 1,996 km of expressways)

unpaved: 22,146 km (1999)

Waterways: 1,609 km

note: restricted to small native craft

Pipelines: petroleum products 455 km; note - additionally, there is
a parallel petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) pipeline being
completed

Ports and harbors: Chinhae, Inch'on, Kunsan, Masan, Mokp'o, P'ohang,
Pusan, Tonghae-hang, Ulsan, Yosu

Merchant marine: total: 496 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling
5,421,993 GRT/8,757,034 DWT

ships by type: bulk 105, cargo 168, chemical tanker 38, combination
bulk 5, container 49, liquefied gas 16, multi-functional large-load
carrier 1, passenger 3, petroleum tanker 70, refrigerated cargo 27,
roll on/roll off 4, short-sea passenger 1, specialized tanker 4,
vehicle carrier 5 (2000 est.)

Airports: 102 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 68

over 3,047 m: 2

2,438 to 3,047 m: 18

1,524 to 2,437 m: 16

914 to 1,523 m: 11

under 914 m: 21 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 34

914 to 1,523 m: 2

under 914 m: 32 (2000 est.)

Heliports: 203 (2000 est.)

Korea, South Mil