The Korean manufacturers that produce electronics and automobiles dominate the consumer market in South Korea. Hyundai, Kia and Daewoo are the three major car companies. Samsung and LG are the two major electronic companies. Because of high tariffs, Koreans do not have a substantial amount of imports from other countries, whether it is automobile or electrical. Only the aristocratic portion of the populous can afford these luxuries.
The agricultural products of Korea include rice, root crops, barely, vegetables, fruit, cattle, pigs, chickens, milk, eggs and fish. Beef is very expensive there because of the scarcity of land of which to raise cattle. Agriculture composes about 4.4% of GDP, while industry is 41.6% and services 54%. Imports restrictions, sponsorship of specific industries and strong labor efforts have helped South Korea's GDP become equal to the lesser economies of Eastern Europe. I believe that the GNP would not be substantially smaller than the GDP due to all the exporting that South Korea does with other countries, mainly Japan and US. If I had to do a guess, the GNP would probably be around $12-$14,000 range.
The underground economy of South Korea is absolutely ramped, especially within the big cities. Drugs, fake brand name merchandise, prostitution, illegal gambling and bootleg CD's, DVD's and software are just a few of the merchandise that is provided within the "black market". However, the pocketing of tips is not a concern since tipping is not customary! I would estimate that about 5-7% of the population in South Korea thrives on the underground economy.
The non-market sector of South Korea is also substantial. Koreans pride themselves on making a majority of their foods in the home, from "scratch". Wives and mothers marry into the husband's family and stay at home. She is the primary homemaker and caretakers of not only their children, but also of her husband's parents.
