South Korea

=== Energy ===
{{Main|Energy in South Korea}}

South Korea is the world's fifth-largest [[Nuclear power in South Korea|nuclear power producer]] and the third-largest in Asia {{As of|2010|lc=y}}.<ref name="koreanuke">{{cite news |url=https://thediplomat.com/2010/07/19/another-korean-nuclear-issue/ |title=Another Korean Nuclear Issue |work=The Diplomat |date=19 July 2010 |access-date=14 August 2010 |archive-date=4 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120904073323/http://thediplomat.com/2010/07/19/another-korean-nuclear-issue/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Supplying 45% of its electricity production, nuclear research is very active with investigation into a variety of advanced reactors, including a small modular reactor, a liquid-metal fast/[[nuclear transmutation#Artificial transmutation of nuclear waste|transmutation]] reactor and a high-temperature [[hydrogen]] generation design. Fuel production and waste handling technologies have also been developed locally. It is also a member of the [[ITER]] project.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iter.org/proj/Countries |title=ITER Members |publisher=ITER |access-date=2 March 2017 |archive-date=15 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170315012916/http://www.iter.org/proj/Countries |url-status=live }}</ref>

South Korea is an emerging exporter of [[nuclear reactors]], having concluded agreements with the United Arab Emirates to build and maintain four advanced nuclear reactors,<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSLDE5BQ05O20091227 |title= South Korea wins landmark Gulf nuclear power deal |work= Reuters |date= 29 December 2009 |access-date= 28 March 2024 |archive-date= 22 October 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201022112006/https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSLDE5BQ05O20091227 |url-status= live }}</ref> with [[Jordan]] for a research nuclear reactor,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.upi.com/Science_News/Resource-Wars/2010/03/31/South-Korea-Jordan-sign-130M-nuclear-deal/UPI-16251270062075/ |title=All systems go for Jordan's first nuclear reactor |publisher=UPI |date=31 March 2010 |access-date=18 September 2010 |archive-date=22 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022080755/http://www.upi.com/Science_News/Resource-Wars/2010/03/31/South-Korea-Jordan-sign-130M-nuclear-deal/UPI-16251270062075/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/NN-All_systems_go_for_Jordans_first_nuclear_reactor-2707107.html |title= South Korea-Jordan sign $130M nuclear deal |work= World Nuclear News |date= 27 July 2010 |access-date= 18 September 2010 |archive-date= 4 August 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120804103858/http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/NN-All_systems_go_for_Jordans_first_nuclear_reactor-2707107.html |url-status= live }}</ref> and with Argentina for construction and repair of heavy-water nuclear reactors.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/09/17/2010091700995.html |title=Korea, Argentina Sign MOU for Nuclear Plant Project |work=[[The Chosun Ilbo]] |location=Seoul |date=18 September 2010 |access-date=18 September 2010 |archive-date=29 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120829022619/http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/09/17/2010091700995.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="argentinanuke">{{cite news |url=http://www.upi.com/Top_News/Special/2010/09/17/Argentina-eyes-nuclear-role-in-S-America/UPI-72711284755722/ |title=Argentina eyes nuclear role in S. America |publisher=UPI |date=17 September 2010 |access-date=18 September 2010 |archive-date=4 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120804103858/http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/NN-All_systems_go_for_Jordans_first_nuclear_reactor-2707107.html |url-status=live }}</ref> {{As of|2010}}, South Korea and Turkey are in negotiations regarding construction of two nuclear reactors.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2010/08/123_67686.html |title=Korea nearing Turkey nuclear plant contract |work=[[The Korea Times]] |location=Seoul |date=15 June 2010 |access-date=4 April 2015 |archive-date=26 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626192346/https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2010/08/123_67686.html |url-status=live }}</ref> South Korea is also preparing to bid on construction of a light-water nuclear reactor for Argentina.<ref name="argentinanuke" />

South Korea is not allowed to [[Enriched uranium|enrich uranium]] or develop traditional uranium enrichment technology on its own, because of U.S. political pressure,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/14/world/asia/14seoul.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |title=U.S. Wary of South Korea's Plan to Reuse Nuclear Fuel |author=Choe Sang-Hun |date=14 July 2010 |access-date=18 February 2017 |archive-date=26 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626194133/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/14/world/asia/14seoul.html |url-status=live }}</ref> unlike most major nuclear powers such as Japan, Germany, and France, competitors in the international nuclear market. This impediment to South Korea's indigenous nuclear industrial undertaking has sparked occasional diplomatic rows between the two allies. While successful in exporting its electricity-generating nuclear technology and nuclear reactors, it cannot capitalize on the [[Uranium market|market for nuclear enrichment facilities and refineries]], preventing it from further expanding its export niche. South Korea has sought unique technologies such as [[Nuclear reprocessing#Pyroprocessing|pyroprocessing]] to circumvent these obstacles and seek a more advantageous competition.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.armscontrol.org/act/2009_07-08/SouthKorea |title=S. Korean Pyroprocessing Awaits U.S. Decision |publisher=Arms Control Association |date=6 October 2010 |access-date=29 October 2010 |archive-date=30 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121030103028/http://www.armscontrol.org/act/2009_07-08/SouthKorea |url-status=live }}</ref> The U.S. has recently been wary of the burgeoning nuclear program, which South Korea insists will be for civilian use only.<ref name="koreanuke" />

South Korea is the 2nd highest ranked Continental Asian country in the World Economic Forum's [[Networked Readiness Index]] after Singapore—an indicator for determining the development level of a country's information and communication technologies. South Korea ranks 9th worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Countries – Network Readiness Index |url=https://networkreadinessindex.org/countries/ |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=networkreadinessindex.org |archive-date=28 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230928183112/https://networkreadinessindex.org/countries/ |url-status=live }}</ref>