Why children in South Korea need your help

South Korea has achieved significant strides in development since the end of the Korean war in 1953. Forty years ago, family income levels were comparable with the poorer countries in Africa, while today they are closer to the lesser economies of Europe.
Despite this, many communities within the country have remained marginalised, seeing few benefits from the country's economic progress.
ChildFund, which began working in South Korea in 1948 during the Japanese occuppation, is now focused on providing social welfare services, and has been registered by the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare.

Country facts

Korea existed as an autonomous nation for much of its history, until being forcibly annexed by Japan in 1910. Following Japan's surrender to the US, the country again achieved indendence in 1945, but was ultimately split in two - north Korea becoming the communist-government Democratic People's Republic of Korea, while the south became the Republic of Korea.
Following a three year war between the two nations, South Korea has emerged as the more successful economically, and is now a fully funtioning democracy, with the first civilian president being elected in 1993 after 32 years of miliary rule.

• Population: 21.1 million
• Capital: Seoul
• Major languages: Korean, English
• Major religions: Christianity, Buddhism
• Life expectancy: 77 years