The websites listed below provide useful facts about the Republic of Korea as well as contacts and tools for companies operating in the Republic of Korea:

• International Finance Corporation: Global SME Toolkit
  Guide to sustainable business management practices for SMEs.
• Business Fighting Corruption
  An online resource centre for business on collective action to avoid corruption which contains a guide and resources for partnerships with companies and other stakeholders to fight against corruption.
• CIA World Factbook: South Korea Profile
• The World Bank: Republic of Korea Data Profile

Sources for further reading:

• US Commercial Service: Doing Business in Korea: A Country Commercial Guide for US Companies 2011.
• The Bertelsmann Foundation: Transformation Index - South Korea 2010.
• Freedom House: Freedom in the World - South Korea 2010.
• US Department of State: Human Rights Report - South Korea 2010.
• Global Integrity: South Korea Country Report 2009.
• Transparency International: National Integrity Systems Country Study Report Korea 2006.

OECD Anti-Bribery Convention Status: Deposit of Instrument of Ratification 4 January 1999. Entry into Force of the Convention 5 March 1999. Entry into Force of Implementing Legislation 15 February 1999.

This field describes the country's status on the OECD Convention on Bribery of Foreign Officials in International Business Transactions. Please note any declarations and reservations made upon ratification. View the list of signatories to the OECD Convention. Read more about the OECD Convention.

UNCAC Status: Signed 10 December 2003. Ratified 27 March 2008.

This field describes the country's status on the United Nations Convention against Corruption. Please note any declarations and reservations made upon ratification. The list of signatories can be found on the UNODC website. Read more about the UNCAC.

Other Relevant Conventions or Treaties:

• ADB & OECD Anti-Corruption Initiative for Asia-Pacific Anti-Corruption Action Plan for Asia and the Pacific: Endorsed 30 November 2001.
  Read Transparency International's summary and assessment of the action plan.
• United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime: Signed 13 December 2000. Not Ratified.
  Read Transparency International's summary and assessment of the convention.

Transparency CPI: 2011: 43/182 (Score: 5.4)

Transparency CPI
This field consists of the score for the country in question on the Corruption Perceptions Index from Transparency International as well as its ranking.

World Bank CORR Index (-2.5 - +2.5): 2010: +0.42

World Bank Corruption Index
This field consists of the score for the country in question on the 'Control of Corruption' indicator in the World Bank Governance Research Indicator Country Snapshot (GRICS): 1996-2010.

OECD Country Risk Classification (0-7): 2011: 0

Country Risk Classification
The classification of countries by risk category has the aim of providing OECD countries with a basis for calculating the premium interest rate to be charged to cover the risk of non-repayment of export credits. Countries are placed in risk categories 0 - 7, with 0 being the lowest risk category and thus the least expensive. Conversely, premium group 7 is the highest risk category. Each classification is comprised of 2 components: 1) an assessment of the country's economic/financial situation, and 2) its overall political stability. Access the complete list of OECD Country Risk Classification figures.

Data Verification:

Publication date: August 2011

Data verified by: Global Advice Network