South Korea

Map of South Korea

South Korea has a land area of 98,480 square kilometers, which is only about as great as Indiana state. Its population is much greater though. In 1995 its population was about 45,182,000, and has been steadily growing since. The city of Seoul accounts for about one fourth of the population. Other large cities include Pusan and Taegu.

Religion

Christianity 48.6%, Buddhism 47.4%, Confucianism 3%, other traditional Korean religions 0.4%. Freedom of religion is fully guaranteed in the Republic of Korea. Korea's traditional religions-Shamanism, Buddhism, and Confucianism-have all played an integral role in the country's religious development. There are also various minor religions based on various combinations of elements from these traditional religions. Christianity has developed a large following since its introduction in the late 18th century.

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Brief History

Korea is one of the ten oldest nations in the world. From 57 B.C. to 676 A.D. Korea was ruled by three kingdoms; Koguryo, Paekche, and Silla. Later Silla unified the three kingdoms and ruled Korea until 936 A.D. The Koryo Dynasty then took over until 1392. Yi Dynasty then ruled until the twentieth century. In 1910 Korea occupied Chosun forcefully until the end of the second world war. Since 1945 Korea has been divided into two parts, North and South. On June 20 1950 the North invaded and attacked the South. The war lasted until 1953. South Korea now enjoys a thriving economy while North Korea remains communism.

Korean War

The Korean war was speculated for some time. The Russians were on the North's side (communism) and the United States on the South's side (democratic). In 1950 the two sides were preparing their armies for war. Both party leaders said that military action would be necessary to unify Korea. The North Korean army was the first to strike and did so on June 25, 1950. This war lasted until 1953, and resulted in a separation of Korea. (North and South).

Education

Education in the past was only for the wealthy Koreans, but now most of the South Korean child population attends school and it is highly unlikely that you would find any person in Korea illiterate. Six years of elementary school begin at age 7 and children continue with school until they reach the end of high school. Students in Korea work very hard and pursue their academic goals enthusiastically. After high school, University is the next step. The exams are extremely hard and students refer to them as "exam hell". They are under great pressure from their parents to go to university. Because in Korea it is considered a great honor to have your son or daughter go to university. Many people graduate from university in Korea and go on to have a job. The work force in Korea is well over 17 billion. 17% of the work force is involved in agriculture, forestry, and fishing; 36% in industry and 47 % in services

Climate

South Korea's cold, dry winters and hot, rainy summers account for a continental climate. Winter temperatures are high along the southern coast but much lower in mountainous region. The southern coast has great typhoons during the late summer that bring strong winds and heavy winds. Autumn is the most pleasant season of the year with continental winds and clear, dry weather. In the winter there is not much snow but it can be cold.

Currency

The unit of currency in South Korea is the won (719 won equal U.S.$1; 1991). The Bank of Korea is the bank of issue. The symbol of won is a capital W with a line across the middle part.

Food

The main foods in Korea are, rice, millet, barley, and potatoes. Some traditional Korean food includes Kimchi (hot pickled cabbage), mandu (meat filled dumpling), kuksu (noodles), and tubu (bean curd). Most Koreans eat solid food with chop sticks.

Landscape

The official name of Korea is known as the Republic of Korea or Dae-Han-Min-Kuk. North Korea is to the north, the sea of Japan is to the east, the straight of Korea is to the south and the yellow sea to the west. Korea has a total area of 99,300 sq km (38,340 sq mi), with numerous islands surrounding the western and southern coast lines. The largest and most famous island is cheju.