"" The World Wars General Knowledge: Korea
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  • Friday, June 17, 2016

    Korea


    Pyongyang and Seoul, the capitals of North and South Korea, have grown rapidly since the 1950's. Pyongyang with its skyscrapers and broad boulevards, has become North Korea's most modern city. Seoul is the cultural, economic, and educational centre of South Korea.
    Symbols of South Korea. The South's flag and coat of arms feature a red and blue circle. This ancient Asian symbol repre­sents the balance in the universe between opposites—such as night and day, and life and death.
    Symbols of North Korea. The North's flag and coat of arms have a red star that represents Communism. Rice and an electric power plant on the coat of arms stand for the importance of ag­riculture and industry to the North.
    Housing styles in North and South Korea differ greatly. Most North Koreans live in apartment buildings, such as these in Pyongyang. Many South Koreans live in traditional-style houses with tile roofs.
    Buddhism has had a strong influence on Korean culture. Today, many South Koreans, such as these monks, follow Buddhism. North Korea discourages the practice of religion.
    Traditional Korean music features several types of stringed instruments as well as drums, flutes, and gongs. These South Korean musicians, members of the National Classical Music Insti­tute, are playing copies of instruments used hundreds of years ago.
    Manufacturing has helped make South Korea one of the world's fastest-growing economies. The production of clothing, shoes, and textiles provides jobs for many people, such as these workers in a Seoul garment factory.
    Talks between North and South Korea in 1991 resulted in a pact designed to reduce the threat of violence and increase communication between the two countries. Representatives of the two Koreas shake hands after signing the accord, above.
    The Southwestern Plain covers almost the entire western coast of South Korea. Like many of Korea's coastal areas, it con­sists of rolling hills and plains that make fertile farmland.
    The Northern Mountains region extends across almost all of central North Korea. For­ested mountains cover most of the region. This rugged land is an important source of minerals and forest products.

    Important dates in Korea
    108 B.C. China conquered the northern half of Korea.
    A.D. 313 Korean forces drove the Chinese from Korea.
    1259 Mongol armies conquered the Koreans.
    1368 The Koreans freed themselves of Mongol rule.
    1392 General Yi Songgye founded the Yi dynasty. It lasted until 1910.
    1590's Japanese forces invaded Korea but were driven out. 1630's Manchu armies invaded Korea and forced it to acknowl­edge the Manchu as feudal lords. But members of the Yi fam­ily continued as kings.
    1910 Japan took control of Korea.
    1945 Soviet forces occupied northern Korea, and U.S. forces oc­cupied southern Korea, after World War II.
    1948 The Republic of Korea (South Korea) and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) were created. 1950-1953 South Korea fought North Korea in the Korean War.
    Tension between the two Koreas continued after the war.
    1991 Talks between representatives of South Korea and North Korea resulted in several agreements, including an agree­ment not to use force against each other.

    Facts in brief about Korea
    South Korea
    Capital: Seoul.
    Official language: Korean.
    Official name: Taehan-minguk (Republic of Korea).
    Area: 99,263 km2, including islands and excluding the 1,262-km- demilitarized zone. Greatest distances— north-south, 480 km; east-west, 298 km. Coastline—1,318 km.
    Elevation: Highest Halla-san (Halla Mountain), 1,950 m above sea level; Lowest—sea level.
    Population: Estimated 1996population—45,516,000; density,
    459 people per km2; distribution, 78 per cent urban, 22 per cent rural; 1990 census— 43,520,199. Estimated 2001 popula­tion—47,174,000.
    Chief products: Agriculture— apples, barley, Chinese cabbage, melons, onions, potatoes, rice, soybeans, sweet potatoes. Manufacturing— cars, chemicals, clothing, computer equip­ment, electric appliances, iron and steel, machinery, plywood, processed foods, rubber tyres, ships, shoes, television sets, textiles. Mining— coal, tungsten. Fishing—filefish, oysters, pol­lock.
    Money: Currency unit— won. One won = 100 chon.

    North Korea
    Capital: Pyongyang.
    Official language: Korean.
    Official name Choson-minjujuui-inmin-konghwaguk (Demo­cratic People's Republic of Korea).
    Area: 120,538 km2, including islands and excluding the
    1,262-km2 demilitarized zone. Greatest distances— north-south, 595 km; east-west, 515 km. Coastline-1,070 km.
    Elevation: Highest— Paektu-san (Paektu Mountain), 2,744 m above sea level; Lowest—sea level.
    Population: Estimated 1996 population— 24,307,000; density,
    202 people per km2; distribution, 61 per cent urban, 39 per cent rural. Estimated 2001 population— 26,248,000.
    Chief products: Agriculture—barley, maize, millet, potatoes, rice, wheat. Manufacturing— cement, chemicals, machinery, metals, processed foods, textiles. Mining— coal, iron ore, magnesium, phosphates, salts, tungsten. Fishing— pollock, sardines, shellfish, squid.
    Money: Currency unit— won. One won = 100 zeuns.


    Korea is a land in eastern Asia that consists of two states. One is the Republic of Korea—usually called South Korea. Seoul is its capital and largest city. The other is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea— commonly called North Korea. Pyongyang is its capital and largest city. North Korea has a Communist govern­ment. South Korea has a government that is strongly anti-Communist.
    North and South Korea lie on the Korean Peninsula, which extends south from northeastern China. North Korea covers the northern half of the peninsula, and South Korea occupies the southern half. North Korea is slightly larger in area than South Korea, but the South has about twice as many people living within its borders as the North does.
    Plains stretch along the western, northeastern, and southern coasts of Korea. Mountains cover most of the rest of the peninsula. Islands dot the northeastern coast­line of North Korea, and the southern and southeastern coast of South Korea. Most of the Korean people by far live on the coastal plains or in river valleys.
    Until the early 1900's, Korea's economy was based en­tirely on agriculture, and virtually all Koreans worked as farmers. Since that time, the country has undergone a major transformation. Today, industry is far more impor­tant than agriculture in both North and South Korea. South Korea's industrial development, especially in the field of electronic and electrical items, has helped make it into one of the fastest-growing economies in the world.
    Scientists have evidence that people lived in what is now Korea at least 30,000 years ago. Various Korean and foreign states ruled the Korean peninsula from ancient
    times to the 1900's. Korea was a colony of Japan from 1910 until World War II ended in 1945. After Japan's de­feat in the war, Korea was split in two. The separate gov­ernments of South and North Korea were formed in 1948.
    Communists had gained control of the North in 1945. In 1950, North Korean troops invaded South Korea. This action started the Korean War, which was part of the Cold War struggle between Communist and non- Communist nations. The Korean War ended in 1953. But neither North nor South Korea won a complete victory, and a permanent peace treaty has never been signed. See Korean War.
    Since the war, small-scale fighting between South and North Korea has occasionally taken place. Since the early 1970's, representatives of the two states have held discussions from time to time about reunifying Korea, but they have brought in little change. In 1991, a series of talks resulted in several agreements, including a pact in which the North and the South agreed not to use force against each other. This pact represented the most significant development in North-South relations since the division of Korea.
    South Korea. According to its Constitution, South Korea is a republic. The Constitution calls for the elec­tion of national government leaders by the people. The Constitution guarantees such rights as freedom of the press and religion. But the government can also limit freedom. See South Korea in the History section of this article.
    National government. The president of South Korea is both the head of state and the head of the govern­ment. The people elect the president to a five-year term. The president cannot be reelected. The president ap­points a prime minister, who carries out the operations of the government. The president also appoints 15 to 30 State Council members, who head government depart­ments. South Korea's legislature, called the National As­sembly, has 299 members. Voters elect the members of the National Assembly to four-year terms. South Koreans 20 years old or older may vote.
    Local government. South Korea has nine provinces and five cities—Inchon, Kwangju, Pusan, Taegu, and Taejon—that have the same status as provinces. Seoul has a special status similar to that of a province. Each province is divided into two kinds of government units—cities and counties. The president appoints may­ors, provincial governors, and other high-ranking local officials. In 1991, elections were held for members of local governmental councils. They were the first local elections held in South Korea since the early 1960's.
    Politics. The Democratic Liberal Party, formed from three separate parties in 1990, is the strongest political party in South Korea. Its members hold more National Assembly seats than any other political party, and they hold most other national government offices. The main opposition party is the Democratic Party.
    Courts. The Supreme Court, South Korea's highest court, consists of a chief justice and up to 13 other jus­tices. The president appoints the chief justice—and the other justices, who are recommended by the chief justice—with the approval of the National Assembly. Su­preme Court justices serve six-year terms. South Korea has a Constitution Court that rules on such questions as the constitutionality of laws. Other courts include ap­peals courts, district courts, and a family court.
    Armed forces. The armies of both South and North Korea are among the world's largest. The South Korean army has about 650,000 members. South Korea also has a navy of about 60,000 and an air force of about 40,000.

    The government may conscript men 17 to 30 years of age for 2j to 3 years of service. Women join the armed forces on a volunteer basis.
    North Korea. The North Korean Constitution gives political power to the people. But the country's Commu­nist Party, called the Korean Workers' Party, holds the real political power within the country. The Constitution guarantees such rights as freedom of the press, religion, and speech. But the North Korean people have almost no real freedom. The Communists maintain strict control over all aspects of life to ensure their dominance of the country.
    National government of North Korea is headed by a president. The North's most powerful policymaking body is the Central People's Committee. The president of the country heads the committee. The Central Peo­ple's Committee varies in size, but it usually has about 20 members. North Korea's legislature, called the Supreme People's Assembly, elects the committee members. But these officials, who are all high-ranking members of the Communist Party, really hold office on the committee because of their positions in the party.
    A body called the State Administrative Council is re­sponsible for carrying out government policies. It is headed by a premier, who is appointed by the Supreme People's Assembly. Its other members consist of the heads of government ministries and commissions, who are appointed by the Central People's Committee.
    The Supreme People's Assembly has 687 members, elected by the people to four-year terms. According to the Constitution, it is North Korea's highest government authority. But the legislature has little power. It meets only one or two weeks a year and functions according to the wishes of the Communist Party.
    Local government. North Korea has nine provinces. Four cities—Chongjin, Hamhung, Kaesong, and Pyong­yang—have the status of provinces. Smaller political units include cities, counties, towns, villages, and work­ers' settlements. The people of each unit elect a people's assembly that directs the local government.
    Politics. The Korean Workers' Party is the ruling party
    of North Korea. Fewer than 15 per cent of the people be­long to the party. Even so, the party makes the country's laws, chooses all candidates for elections, and approves all people appointed to public office.
    Courts. The Central Court is North Korea's highest court. Its justices are chosen by the Communist Party and elected by the Supreme People's Assembly. Other courts in North Korea include provincial courts and peo­ple's courts.
    Armed forces of North Korea consist of a 1 million- member army, an air force of about 50,000 members, a navy of about 40,000, and local militia forces with up to 5 million members. Militia members serve part-time.
    The North Korean government conscripts men 20 to 25 years old for military service. Members of the army must serve 5 to 8 years. The air force requires 3 to 4 years of service, and the navy requires 5 to 10 years. Women join the armed forces on a volunteer basis.
    People
    Ancestry. Scientists have evidence that people had settled in what is now Korea by at least 30,000 years ago They came from regions to the north and northwest. It is not known when the ancestors of the Korean people ar­rived in the peninsula. They may have come from the north about 5,000 years ago.
    Population. For the total populations of North and South Korea, see the Facts in brief tables with this arti­cle. About 75 per cent of South Koreans and about 60 per cent of North Koreans live in cities or towns.
    Twelve South Korean cities have more than 400,000 people. The largest city is Seoul, with a population of about 10 million. Pusan, the second largest city in South Korea, has about 3-1 million people. Five cities in North Korea have more than 400,000 people. Pyongyang, with more than Z\ million people, is the largest city.
    Most Koreans have broad faces, straight black hair, olive-brown skin, and dark eyes that appear slanted be­cause of an inner eyelid fold. These people make up al­most the entire population of Korea. People of Chinese descent are Korea's largest minority group.
    Language. Korean is the official language of South and North Korea. Scholars classify it in the same lan­guage family as Japanese, but Korean is unlike any other language. About half of all Korean words come from Chinese. Korean has about six major dialects (local forms). Most Koreans understand all the dialects.
    The Korean alphabet, called hangul, has 24 letters. South Koreans use some Chinese symbols in addition to hangul in their writing. North Koreans use only hangul.
    Way of life
    Before the 1900's, Korea was an agricultural society built on strong family ties. Almost all the people lived in small villages and worked on farms. In many families, several generations lived together. The oldest male served as head of the family, and all people were ex­pected to obey their elders without question.
    This way of life began to change after Japan seized control of Korea in 1910. The Japanese brought industry to Korean cities and took much farmland away from the farmers. As a result, many young Koreans moved to the cities to work. The way of life changed even more after Korea's division in the 1940's. In the North, the Commu­nists took steps to make the country an industrial society and to weaken the importance of family ties. In the
    South, economic and political ties with Western nations have brought South Koreans under the influence of Western customs.
    City life. Changes in both North and South Korea since the 1950's have led to a rapid increase in the pro­portion of city dwellers. South Koreans are attracted to cities because of the opportunities there. Factories and businesses provide jobs. The cities have colleges and universities, better health-care facilities, and a variety of entertainment.
    Many high-rise apartment buildings and modern houses have been built in Seoul and other large South Korean cities. But it has been difficult to meet the rapidly rising need for housing, and many people have been forced to live in distant suburbs under poor conditions. The rise in population has also strained such public services as water, sewerage, and transportation. The crime rate in the cities has increased sharply. In addi­tion, the number of cars has risen rapidly since the 1960rs. Traffic jams are frequent, and major cities suffer from a severe pollution problem.
    Most city dwellers in North Korea work in factories. The majority of them live in one- or two-room apart­ments built since Korea's division. Few city people be­sides high-ranking government officials have houses. Pyongyang is North Korea's most modern city, with sky­scrapers, broad boulevards, cultural centres, and sports stadiums. However, it has few restaurants or places of entertainment. Few North Koreans own cars.
    Rural life. Most South Koreans, including those in rural areas, live in houses made of bricks or concrete blocks, with roofs of cement tiles and slate. Many houses are two or three storeys, though such houses are less common in rural areas than in the cities. Most houses have ondol— floors of thick stone slabs covered by oiled papers or mats. Traditionally, channels under the floors carried hot air from the kitchen or an indoor fireplace to heat the rooms. In many homes today, pipes carry heated water under the floors to provide heat. In the cities, many ondol are heated by electric coils. Al­most all rural homes also have electricity. The use of Western-style beds, tables, and sofas is spreading.
    The South Korean government maintains a campaign to improve roads, irrigation, and living conditions in rural areas. Most farmers have modern farm machinery.
    After the division of Korea, the Communists in the North built many apartments on collective farms in rural areas. All North Korean farmers work on such farms, which are operated cooperatively by a large group of farmers. Most farming is done with modern machinery, and virtually all homes have electricity.
    Clothing. Western clothing styles have become pop­ular in both North and South Korea. But many people in rural areas and some in the cities still wear traditional styles. Women tend to wear colourful traditional cloth­ing more often than men. Most traditional clothing is made of cotton material. Traditional clothing for women consists of a long, full skirt that extends below the knees and a tight-fitting jacket. The men wear loose-fitting trousers, shirts, and jackets.
    Food and drink. Rice is the basic food of most Kore­ans. Other common foods include barley; fish; such fruits as apples, peaches, pears, and melons; and such vegetables as beans, potatoes, and sweet potatoes. One of the most popular dishes other than rice is kimchi, a highly spiced mixture of Chinese cabbage, white rad­ishes, and several other vegetables. Consumption of meat and dairy products is small but increasing.
    Tea is a traditional drink in Korea, but many Koreans drink coffee. Adults drink soju, a distilled alcoholic bev­erage usually made from grain, as well as chongju, known in the West as sake or rice wine. In the rural areas, a home-brewed drink known as makkolli, made from rice, has also been popular. Young adults fre­quently drink beer.
    Recreation. South Koreans enjoy most sports com­mon in the West, including baseball, boxing, golf, soc­cer, table tennis, tennis, and wrestling. They also enjoy such martial arts as judo and tae kwon do. Television and radio broadcasts of local and national athletic meet­ings attract a wide audience. Each year, South Korea holds a National Sports Festival. In North Korea, the government operates gymnasiums and promotes participa­tion in organized sports.
    South Korean cities and towns have many cinemas and theatres for plays, and concerts. Korean and foreign films are popular. Orchestras perform classical and con­temporary Western music. Television networks regu­larly show dramas and comedies. In North Korea, most forms of entertainment are supported and controlled by the state. The cities have cinemas and theatres for drama and opera. Drama groups travel throughout the country to perform for workers in rural areas. Both North and South Koreans enjoy reading novels, short stories, and poems.
    Religion. The government of South Korea permits complete freedom of religion. The North Korean Constitution guarantees religious freedom. But the govern­ment discourages religion because it conflicts with the teachings of Communism.
    Confucianism, which is more a philosophy than a reli­gion, traditionally has been the most widely followed set of beliefs in Korea. It stresses the need for people to develop moral character and responsibility toward themselves and each other. Today, most South Koreans— no matter what religion they follow—believe in at least some of the teachings of Confucianism. For example, most families in the South follow the Confucian practice of honouring their ancestors in special ceremonies. A About 20 per cent of South Koreans are Buddhists, about 18 per cent are Protestants, and about 3 per cent are Roman Catholics. See Buddhism; Confucianism.
    Education. Since the late 1940's, South and North Korea have made special efforts to improve their educa­tional systems. As a result, the percentage of Koreans e who can read and write increased from less than 50 per cent in the mid-1940's to more than 90 per cent in the early 1990's.
    South Korea. South Korean law requires that all chil­dren complete primary school. State primary schools in c South Korea are free.
    After completing primary school, a South Korean stu­dent may go on to attend middle school and then high school. Parents must pay tuition for state as well as pri­vate secondary schools. Nevertheless, about 80 per cent of children aged 12 to 17 attend secondary school. Tech- D nical training, which prepares students for industrial jobs, begins in the middle schools and continues through all higher levels of education.
    Qualified high school graduates may enter one of South Korea's more than 250 college-level schools.
    These schools provide training in a wide variety of sub- E jects. More than 1 million students attend universities, colleges, and junior colleges in South Korea.
    North Korea requires children to attend school for 11 years, including a year of preschool. The state pays all educational expenses. Students must work for the state F during part of the summer.
    In North Korea, children progress from primary school to senior middle school. Students must have Communist Party approval to continue their education after senior middle school. Those who continue attend a two-year high school, a two-year general vocational G school, or a three- or four-year technical school that provides training for engineering and scientific jobs. Students who finish high school or technical school may go to college immediately. Vocational school graduates must complete a year of special study before they enter college.
    North Korea has one university—Kim II Sung Univer­sity in Pyongyang—and more than 200 specialized col­leges. Each college offers training in one area, such as agriculture, engineering, or medicine. The government provides night schools for adults, training schools in factories, and courses for workers to take by mail.
    Arts. Early Korean art developed under the influence of both Chinese art and the teachings of Buddhism and Confucianism. Popular themes included love of nature, respect for learning, and loyalty to the king. The most widely practised art forms included music, poetry, pot­tery, sculpture, and painting.

    In North Korea today, the government controls the work of artists. The government prohibits works of art that conflict with Communist principles. It encourages artists to show support in their work for the policies of the Communist Party.
    South Korean artists are free from government con­trol. In South Korea, artists work with traditional themes and with various forms of Western art. Western art has influenced all forms of South Korean art. This influence appears especially in the rapid development of Western forms of drama and of films since 1945.
    The Korean Peninsula extends southward from north­eastern China. It is about 1,078 kilometres long and about 515 kilometres wide at its widest point. Korea's coastline measures 2,388 kilometres. More than 3,000 is­lands, which are part of Korea, lie off the southern and western coasts of the peninsula. The peninsula and the islands cover a total area of 220,817 square kilometres. The Sea of Japan, east of the peninsula, separates Korea from Japan. The Yellow Sea lies west of Korea, and the Korea Strait lies to the south.
    Korea has six main land regions. They are (1) the Northwestern Plain, (2) the Northern Mountains, 13) the Eastern Coastal Lowland, (4) the Central Mountains, (5) the Southern Plain, and (6) the Southwestern Plain.
    The Northwestern Plain stretches along the entire western coast of North Korea. Rolling hills divide the re­gion into a series of broad, level plains. The Northwest­ern Plain has most of North Korea's farmland and its major industrial area, including Pyongyang. About half the North Korean people live in the region.
    The Northern Mountains region, east of the North­western Plain, covers almost all of central North Korea. Forested mountains make up most of the region. These mountains are an important source of valuable minerals and forest products.
    Korea's highest mountain, Paektu-san (Paektu Moun­tain), is in the Northern Mountains. It rises 2,744 metres on the border between North Korea and China. North Korea's longest river, the Yalu, flows westward from this mountain along the border for 789 kilometres to the Yel­low Sea. The Tumen River forms the border eastward from Paektusan to the Sea of Japan. Almost a quarter of North Korea's people live in the Northern Mountains re­gion.
    The Eastern Coastal Lowland covers almost all of North Korea's east coast. This strip of land between the Northern Mountains region and the Sea of Japan con­sists of a series of narrow plains separated by low hills. The plains provide much farmland, and the sea makes fishing important in the region. The Eastern Coastal Low­land also has some industrial areas. More than a quarter of North Korea's people live in this small but heavily populated region.
    The Central Mountains region extends throughout most of central and eastern South Korea and into a small part of southern North Korea. Forested mountains cover most of the region, including much of the seacoast.
    River valleys, hillsides, and some land along the coast are used for farming. The coastal waters yield large amounts of fish. More than a quarter of the South Ko­rean people live in the Central Mountains region.
    The Southern Plain covers the entire southern coast of South Korea. This important agricultural region con­sists of a series of plains separated by low hills. Pusan, an important industrial centre of South Korea, is located in the region. The Naktong River, which is 523 kilome­tres long, is South Korea's longest river. It flows through the Southern Plain from mountains in the north to the Korea Strait. Almost a quarter of the South Korean peo­ple live in the region.
    The Southwestern Plain extends along almost the entire western coast of South Korea. Like much of the rest of coastal Korea, this region consists of rolling hills and plains and is a farming centre. It also includes the South's major industrial area, around Seoul. The Han River flows through the region from mountains in the east to the Yellow Sea. About half of South Korea's peo­ple live in the region.
    Islands. Korea has more than 3,000 islands, most of which are unpopulated. People live on the larger ones. Cheju Island, about 80 kilometres south of the penin­sula, is the largest island. It covers about 1,800 square kilometres. Cheju has its own provincial government. The other islands are governed by mainland provinces. South Korea's highest mountain, Halla-san (Halla Moun­tain!, rises 1,950 metres on Cheju Island.
    Climate
    Seasonal winds called monsoons affect Korea's weather throughout the year. A monsoon blows in from the south and southeast during the summer, bringing hot, humid weather. A cold, dry monsoon blows in from the north and northwest during the winter, bringing cold weather.
    Summer weather varies little throughout Korea. July temperatures average between 21 ”C and 27 °C. Korea's massive mountains protect the peninsula's east coast from the winter monsoon. As a result, the east coast generally has warmer winters than does the rest of Korea. Average January temperatures range from about 2 ”C in southeastern Korea to about —21 °C in parts of the Northern Mountains region.
    Most of South Korea receives from 76 to 130 centime­tres of precipitation (rain, melted snow, and other forms of moisture) yearly. Precipitation averages from 76 to 150 centimetres a year in most of North Korea. Heavy rainfall from June to August accounts for about half of Korea's yearly precipitation. In most years, one or two typhoons hit the peninsula during July and August.
    Economy
    Since the Korean War ended in 1953, the economies of South and North Korea have grown rapidly. Before the war, the economies of both parts of Korea de­pended chiefly on agriculture, though North Korea had some heavy industry and South Korea had some light in­dustry. Since the war, industrial production, especially manufacturing, has gained much importance in both economies. South Korea's industrial expansion has made it one of the world's fastest-growing economies. In addi­tion, such service activities as communication, govern­ment, trade, and transportation have grown in impor­tance, particularly in South Korea. North Korea's economy remains dependent on heavy industry, and its technology lags behind that of South Korea.
    South Korea. The value of goods and services pro­duced each year in South Korea totals about 210 billion U.S. dollars. This value is the country's gross national product (CNP). Industrial production accounts for about 32 per cent of South Korea's CNP, and agriculture for about 10 per cent. The remaining 58 per cent comes from service activities. Agriculture employs about 20 pe_ cent of all South Korean workers, industry about 30 per cent, and service activities about 50 per cent.
    Service industries are economic activities that pro­duce services, not goods. Such industries are especialK important to the Seoul area.
    Wholesale and retail trade, hotels, and restaurants make up South Korea's main service industry. This in­dustry benefits heavily from tourist activities. It employs more than 20 per cent of all workers. Government serv­ices and such community, social, and personal services as education and health care also employ many people
    Other service industries are becoming increasingly important in South Korea. They include finance, insur­ance, and property; transportation and communication: and utilities. Transportation and communication are dis­cussed later in this section.
    Manufacturing and mining. South Korea has one of the world's fastest-growing industrial economies. Al­most all of the country's industry is privately owned. Manufacturing accounts for about 75 per cent of the South's industrial production. The manufacture of cloth­ing, shoes, and textiles employs more South Koreans than does any other industry. Food processing is also a major industry. Since the Korean War, South Korea has developed heavy industry and is a major producer of chemicals, fertilizers, iron and steel, machinery, and ships. In the 1970's and 1980's, South Korea expanded its production of cars, computer equipment and parts, electric appliances, optical goods, and television sets. Other manufactured products include paper, plywood, porcelain, and rubber tyres.
    South Korea's change from an agricultural economy to a modern industrial economy has spurred a boom in construction. Factories, office and apartment buildings, highways, and water and sewerage systems are being built throughout the nation. Construction accounts for about 23 per cent of industrial production, and mining accounts for about 2 per cent. Anthracite (hard coall and tungsten are the chief mining products. South Korea also mines graphite, iron ore, lead, and zinc.
    Agriculture and fishing. South Korea's 2 million farms average about 1 hectare in size. Almost all the farmland is privately owned. Rice is by far the country's chief crop. South Korean farms also produce apples, barley, Chi­nese cabbage, melons, onions, potatoes, soybeans, sweet potatoes, pigs, and chickens. The South's major agricultural areas lie along the western and southern coasts. A large orange crop is harvested on Cheju Is­land, off the southern coast.
    South Korea is one of the world's leading fishing countries. The catch includes filefish, oysters, and pol­lock. Many farmers add to their income by fishing.
    Foreign trade. South Korea's chief trading partners are Germany, Japan, and the United States. The South's main exports include cars, clothing, electrical equip­ment, electronics, fish, ships, shoes, steel, and textiles.
    Its main imports include chemicals, crude oil and other industrial raw materials, and machinery.
    Energy sources. Coal-, gas-, and petroleum-burning plants together provide about 60 per cent of South Korea's electricity. Most of these plants use petroleum. South Korea imports all its petroleum from abroad. About 30 per cent of the country's energy is generated by nuclear plants, and about 10 per cent by water power.
    Transportation. South Korea has an excellent government-owned railway system and a road network that in­cludes motorways between the principal cities. How­ever, traffic jams on the motorways occur frequently. South Korea has an average of about one car for every 30 people, but most city dwellers own a car. Buses and trains provide fast and frequent service. Seoul has an ex­tensive underground rail system. Many people in rural areas use bicycles for short trips. Korean Air, a privately owned airline, provides international flights and service between major South Korean cities. Seoul and Pusan have important international airports.
    Communication. Private and government-owned radio and television networks broadcast throughout South Korea. South Korea has about one TV set for every five people and about one radio per person.
    About 40 daily newspapers are published in South Korea. The largest ones— Choson llbo, Dong-A llbo, Hankook llbo, and Joong-ang llbo— are all privately owned, published in Seoul, and sold throughout the country. There are also two English-language daily newspapers.
    North Korea releases little information about its economy, and so the statistics in this section are esti­mates. North Korea's GNP totals an estimated 23 billion U.S. dollars yearly. Industrial production probably ac­counts for the largest part of the GNP. Agriculture em­ploys about 25 per cent of North Korea's workers, indus­try about 50 per cent, and service activities about 25 per cent.
    Until 1950, North Korea was the chief industrial region of the peninsula. But South Korea has surpassed it.
    North Korea has rivers suitable for producing electric power, as well as some of the richest mineral deposits in eastern Asia.
    Service industries. Community, government, and personal services form North Korea's main type of serv­ice industry. This field includes such activities as educa­tion, health care, government, and the military. Trade, transportation, and communication have some impor­tance. The government owns nearly all service indus­tries in North Korea.
    Manufacturing and mining. The North's chief manu­factured products are cement, chemicals, iron and steel, machinery, metals, processed foods, and textiles. The government owns nearly all North Korean factories, and it tightly controls all industry. North Korean mines yield coal, graphite, iron ore, lead, magnesium, phosphates, salt, silver, tungsten, and zinc.
    Agriculture and fishing. The government controls all of North Korea's farms. Most farms are collective farms, known in North Korea as cooperatives. Workers on these farms receive a share of the products and some cash payment. They may also help manage the farms. A few farms, called state farms, are owned and managed completely by the government. The workers on state farms receive wages.
    The North's main agricultural region is the Northwest­ern Plain. Rice is by far the chief crop. Other major farm products include barley, maize, potatoes, and wheat.
    North Korea's fishing industry is concentrated on its eastern coast. The catch includes pollock, sardines, shellfish, and squid. Fishing cooperatives are located on both coasts.
    Foreign trade. North Korea's chief trading partners are China, Japan, and Russia and the other former re­publics of the Soviet Union. North Korea's leading ex­ports are minerals, chiefly iron ore, lead, tungsten, and zinc. The North also exports cement, coal, machinery, rice, and textiles. Its major imports are grain, machinery, petroleum, and transportation equipment.
    Energy sources. About three-quarters of North Korea's energy is produced by coal-burning plants.
    North Korea mines all the coal it needs. The rest of the country's energy comes from water power.
    Transportation. Railways carry most of North Korea's long-distance freight and passenger traffic. North Korea has greatly expanded its road network since the mid­igeo's. Buses operate in the cities and for short dis­tances in rural areas. Almost all cars are government- owned and are intended for official business use. Many city people ride bicycles. North Korea operates an air­line. The state runs the entire transportation system.
    Communication. The government controls all broad­casting, publishing, and other means of communication in North Korea. It runs North Korea's radio and TV net­work and its broadcasting stations in the provinces. North Korea has about one radio for every 6 people and about one TV set for every 80 people. About 10 daily newspapers are published in North Korea.
    History
    Early years. Scientists have found evidence that peo­ple lived in the southwestern part of the Korean Penin­sula about 30,000 years ago. But little is known about prehistoric times in what is now Korea. In about the 2300's B.C., the first Korean state developed along the Taedong River, near present-day Pyongyang. It was called Choson. In 108 B.C., China conquered the north­ern half of the peninsula and established four territories there. Korean tribes won back three of the territories by 75 B.C. The other territory, called Lelang, remained under Chinese control.
    During the A.D. 100's, several Korean tribes united and formed the state of Koguryo in the northeastern part of the peninsula. Two other Korean states—Paekche in the southwest and Silla in the southeast—were formed during the late 200's. Historians call Koguryo, Paekche, and Silla the Three Kingdoms.
    Silla conquered Paekche and Koguryo in the 660's and thus took control of the entire peninsula. Korean art and learning flourished in the next 200 years. Confucianism, introduced into the peninsula from China, became a strong influence on Korean thought and behaviour.
    In the 80ffs, Silla broke apart as the kingdom lost con­trol over former Koguryo and Paekche territories to rebel leaders. But by 932, a general named Wang Kon had reunited Silla. He renamed the country Koryo. The word Korea comes from the word Koryo. The Koreans invented the first movable metal printing type in 1234.
    Mongol tribes from the north repeatedly attacked Koryo from the early 1230's until they conquered it in 1259. Koryo regained its freedom in 1368. Two groups in the country then fought for control until 1388, when a general named Yi Songgye led one group to victory.
    The Yi dynasty. General Yi became king of Koryo in 1392 and renamed the country Choson. Today, North Koreans use the name Choson for their country. South Korea is known as Taehan.
    Yi founded a dynasty (line of rulers of the same family! that lasted until 1910. Yi ended the government's official support of Buddhism, which had existed since the 700's. Buddhism declined in importance and did not become popular in Korea again until the 1900's.
    Yi and the rulers who followed him reunited Korea. But during the 1500's, government officials and wealthy landowners began to struggle for political power. This struggle weakened Korea's government.
    Japanese forces invaded Korea in the 1590's but were driven out. Manchu armies from the north invaded in the 1630's. The Manchus forced Koreans to submit trib­utes (payments), but members of the Yi family continued as kings.
    Beginning in the 1600's, Korea's rulers closed the country to all foreigners for almost 200 years. Roman Catholic missionaries from Europe first entered Korea during the 1830's. But the Korean authorities persecuted the missionaries and killed thousands of Koreans who had become Catholics. Korea was called the Hermit Kingdom during this period because it had little contact with any countries except China and Japan.
    Korea under Japan. In 1876, Japan forced Korea to open some ports to trade. Japan took complete control of Korea in 1910. The Japanese governed Korea as a col­ony to benefit their own interests. A great number of Koreans were forced to aid the Japanese war effort dur­ing World War II (1939-1945).
    A divided nation. Korea remained under Japanese control until 1945, when Japan was defeated in World War II. After Japan's defeat, United States troops occu­pied the southern half of Korea, and Soviet forces occu­pied the northern half. The United States and the Soviet Union tried to develop a plan for reuniting Korea. They failed, and the United States submitted the problem to the United Nations (UN) in 1947.
    The UN wanted to supervise elections to choose one government for Korea. But the Soviet Union refused to allow UN representatives into the North. In the South, in 1948, UN representatives supervised an election of rep­resentatives to a National Assembly. The Assembly drew up a constitution. In July 1948, the Assembly elected Syngman Rhee president of the Republic of Korea, which was formed on August 15. In northern Korea, the Communists announced formation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on September 9. Both gov­ernments claimed to represent all of Korea.
    North Korean troops invaded the South in June 1950, and the Korean War began. The fighting continued until an armistice was signed in July 1953. Neither side won complete victory. See Korean War.
    South Korea. The division of Korea left the South with a weak economy. Rhee's term was due to end in 1952. But he pushed through the Assembly a constitu­tional amendment that turned over election of the presi­dent to the people. The voters reelected Rhee by a wide margin. In 1955, Rhee had the Constitution amended again to permit him to serve more than two terms. He was reelected to a third term in 1956.
    In March 1960, Rhee ran for a fourth term. He was un­opposed because his opponent died before the elec­tion. Rhee and his party won. But during March and April, students led widespread demonstrations against the government. Rhee resigned in April.
    Elections were held in July 1960, and a new govern­ment took office. But South Korea's economic difficulties continued. In May 1961, a group of military officers led by General Park Chung Hee overthrew the government. Park then became head of the new government. In 1963, Park called for elections to restore democratic govern­ment in South Korea. Park won the election for presi­dent, and his Democratic Republican Party gained a ma­jority of the seats in the National Assembly.
    South Korea under Park. South Korea's economy de­veloped rapidly under Park. In 1967 and 1971, Park and his party won reelection by a large margin. In 1972, Park forced through a new constitution that gave him almost unlimited powers. It also provided that the president might serve an unlimited number of terms. Park was re­elected by the country's electoral college—whose mem­bers had been chosen by his supporters—in a special election held that year. Park was reelected again in 1978. His party won the National Assembly elections in 1973 and 1978.
    Park frequently used his power to hold down opposi­tion to his government. Freedom of speech and of the press were limited, and many South Koreans who op­posed Park were jailed. Park claimed that too much criti­cism might weaken his government and thus reduce its ability to guard against attack by North Korea. But many of Park's opponents denounced him as a dictator.
    President Park was assassinated by Kim Jae Kyu, head of South Korea's Central Intelligence Agency (now called the Agency for National Security Planning), in October
    In December, Prime Minister Choi Kyu Hah was elected president by the electoral college.
    The rise of Chun. President Choi's government ended some of the restrictions on freedom of expression that had existed under Park. But the government delayed a promised constitutional revision that would allow the direct election of the president by the people. Many South Koreans then staged demonstrations. In May
    South Korea's military leaders declared martial law and reestablished the restrictions on freedom of expres­sion. Choi remained president, but the military, led by Lieutenant General Chun Doo Hwan, dominated the government. Violent clashes took place between dem­onstrators and the military in the city of Kwangju. Hun­dreds of demonstrators were killed.
    In August 1980, Choi resigned and the electoral col­lege elected Chun president. In October, a new consti­tution was adopted. Martial law was repealed in January
    In February, Chun was again elected. The next month, Chun's Democratic Justice Party won a majority of seats in the National Assembly. Chun's government stabilized prices and increased exports, but scandals in­volving Chun's relatives weakened its popular support. Many students demonstrated against Chun and de­manded a new, more democratic constitution.
    Recent developments. In June 1987, Chun pledged to allow direct election of the president by the people rather than by the electoral college. The direct election was held in December, and Roh Tae Woo of the Demo­cratic Justice Party, a former general and close associate of Chun, was elected president. In 1990, the Democratic Justice Party merged with two smaller parties to form the Democratic Liberal Party (DLP).
    In October 1987, a new democratic constitution was adopted by a referendum of all the voters. The new con­stitution allows almost complete political freedom.
    Since its adoption, college students have demonstrated in large numbers demanding correction of many social problems. Labourers have staged frequent strikes for higher wages and better working conditions. The higher wages and increased political instability have caused in­flation and slowed South Korea's economic growth rate, still one of the highest in the world.
    In elections held in 1992, the DLP lost its majority in the National Assembly. Kim Young Sam of the United People's Party took office as the new president in 1993.
    North Korea. Kim II Sung became the leader of North Korea when the government was established in 1948. In 1946, when North Korea was still under Soviet occupation, the Communist government took over farm­land from wealthy landowners and gave it to the poor farmers. It also took control of most industries. Between 1953 and 1956, Kim's government organized all of the country's farmland into collective farms. In 1954, it an­nounced the first of a series of plans for economic de­velopment. North Korea emphasized the development of heavy industry and built up its military power.
    Kim's government operated as a strict dictatorship. It trained people to believe Kim was the "sun" of all the people and could do no wrong. Kim died in 1994. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Kim Chong II.
    North-South relations. In 1967, North Korean forces began to make frequent attacks into the demilitarized (neutral) zone between the North and the South and into South Korea itself. In 1968, about 30 North Korean com­mando troops raided Seoul. They tried to assassinate President Park but failed. The amount of small-scale fighting between the North and South increased at about the same time.
    North Korea's aggression involved the United States as well as South Korea. In January 1968, North Korea seized the U.S. intelligence ship Pueblo in the Sea of Japan. The North claimed the ship had been operating in North Korean waters and accused the crew of spying. The United States denied the charges. North Korea re­leased the 82 survivors of the 83-man crew in December 1968 but refused to return the Pueblo. In 1969, the North shot down a U.S. Navy plane almost 160 kilometres off the North Korean coast.
    In 1983, a bomb blast killed 17 South Koreans, includ­ing four cabinet ministers, during an official visit to Ran­goon, Burma. A court in Burma found North Korean agents guilty of the bombing. In 1987, a Korean Air Lines (now Korean Airplane) from South Korea exploded in midair near Burma, killing 115 people. The South Korean government accused North Korea of planting a time bomb on the plane. North Korea denied the charge.
    In September and October 1988, South Korea hosted the Summer Olympics. North Korea refused to partici­pate in the games after its request to be named co-host was denied.
    In 1991, the two governments agreed to accept each other's existence, and North and South Korea joined the UN as separate states. Also in 1991, talks resulted in sev­eral agreements, including a pact in which the two Koreas agreed not to use force against each other. As part of the pact, the governments of the two countries also agreed to increase trade and communication—which had been restricted—between them. Another accord prohibited North and South Korea from using or pos­sessing nuclear weapons. After this accord was signed, some tension arose over concerns that North Korea in­tended to withhold information about its nuclear capa­bility. Nevertheless, the two agreements represented the most significant development in North-South rela­tions since the end of the Korean War.

    Government
    People
    A. Ancestry B. Population
    Way of life
    City life
    Rural life
    Clothing
    Food and drink
    Land
    The Northwestern Plain
    The Northern Moun­tains
    The Eastern Coastal
    Lowland
    Climate
    Economy
    History
    Questions
    When were North Korea and South Korea established?
    What is the chief crop grown in Korea?
    What percentage of the workers in Korea are farmers?
    What percentage of Koreans can read and write?
    Why was Korea once called the Hermit Kingdom!
    What are Korea's main land regions?
    How do monsoons affect the weather in Korea?
    Flow does city life in North Korea differ from that in South Korea?
    What economic disadvantages did the South have after Korea was divided?

    Flow has the Korean way of life changed since 1900?

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