The Republic of Korea (ROK) is the southernmost part of the Korean Peninsula. Half of its 51.7 million population lives in Seoul, the country’s capital. The ROK borders North Korea and are neighbours with China, Japan, and Russia. The ROK is a unitary presidential constitutional republic with a three-tiered government: the Legislative Branch, the Executive Branch, of which the president is head, and the Judicial Branch. The ROK has achieved remarkable economic success. A poor society post-Korean War and World War II, it has grown to become an economically advanced country. The ROK is the third-largest exporter in the global market of information and communications technology (ICT) and technological goods.

The South Korea Defence Force (SKDF ) consists of an Army, Navy and Air Force. It also includes special forces, a marine corps, and a collective Reserve Force structure. All men in South Korea between the ages of 18 and 35 must complete 18 months national service. Women are not required to perform military service, but they may join voluntarily. The ROK Army has over 6.5 million personnel enlisted in an active, reserve or paramilitary capacity. This equates to roughly 10% of the population. The SKDF has strong relationships with the US, Australia and Japan and participates in joint exercises.