The most economic mineral resources, other than fuel, in South Korea are gold, silver, lead, zinc, copper, tungsten, molybdenum, iron, fluorite, graphite, kaolin, talc, and pyrophyllite. These mineral deposits are related closely to the geologic settings and tectonic patterns of the peninsula.

South Korea is divided geologically and tectonically into four segments. The Kyonggi-Pyongnam massif, composed of Precambrian schists and gneisses, constitutes a base for the succeeding formations. The Okchon geosynclinal zone stretches from southwest to northeast diagonally across the peninsula in a direction known as the "Sinian direction." Its northeastern part is composed primarily of Paleozoic to early Mesozoic sedimentary formations and the southwestern part is composed primarily of the late Precambrian Okchon metamorphic series. The Kyongsang sedimentary basin occupies the southeastern part of the peninsula and is made up of a thick series of Cretaceous terrestrial sedimentary and andesitic rocks. A few small Tertiary basins are scattered in the eastern coastal area and in Chej Island; they are composed of marine sedimentary and basaltic rocks.

Jurassic Daebo granites intrude the Kyonggi-Ryongnam massif and the Okchon zone, and Late Cretaceous Bulkuksa granites are randomly scattered in the Kyongsang basin.

Most of the mineral deposits are related to the acidic intrusives and are classified chiefly as hypothermal to mesothermal vein and metasomatic-replacement deposits, depending on the predominance of structural or lithologic control. In Precambrian terranes, gold-silver, lead-zinc, tungsten, molybdenum, and fluorite are present as vein deposits; and tungsten and iron deposits occur as metasomatic replacements.

In the Paleozoic terranes, gold-silver, lead-zinc, tungsten, and iron deposits are of metasomatic-replacement type, although some gold-silver deposits may be of vein type. In the Mesozoic terranes, iron, copper, and lead-zinc veins are common in the andesitic rocks and in cherty slate, whereas pyrophyllite deposits occur in acidic tuffs as a result of postigneous hydrothermal activity.

These mineralized areas, except the Kyongsang basin, are grouped into belts trending subparallel with the Sinian direction, and they generally show a rough zoning defined by the general gradient of genetic temperatures. The metallogenic epochs of these deposits are classified into four stages: Precambrian, Paleozoic, Jurassic to Early Cretaceous, and Late Cretaceous to early Tertiary.