15 Most Respected Countries in Asia in 2024

2. South Korea

Human Development Index: 0.929

Human Rights Index: 0.88

Insider Monkey Average: 0.904

South Korea is one of the world’s most advanced and industrialized economies, recognized globally for its leadership in technology, manufacturing, and innovation. In the first quarter of 2024, the South Korean economy grew at its fastest rate in two years, with seasonally adjusted GDP rising by 1.3% compared to the previous three months. South Korea also ranks highly on the UNDP’s Human Development Index, achieving a score of 0.929 in 2023, which places it in the ‘very high human development’ category.