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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