Korea: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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{{dablink|This article is about the Korean civilization. For the modern political entities, see [[North Korea]] and [[South Korea]]. For other uses, see [[Korea (disambiguation)]].}}

~~There is no more to it, Koreans are not people, and Korea is not a country, its just some piece of unexplored part of the map.~~

{{Infobox Country

|conventional_long_name = <span style="line-height:1.33em;">Korea

|common_name = Korea

|image_flag = Unification flag of Korea.svg

|image_map = Locationmap Korea.png

|official_languages = [[Korean language|Korean]]

|capital = [[Seoul]], [[Pyongyang]]

|largest_settlement_type = conurbation (population)

|largest_settlement = [[Seoul]]

|area_rank = 84th if ranked

|area_km2 = 220,186

|area_sq_mi = 85,020

|percent_water = 2.8

|population_estimate_rank = 18th if ranked

|population_estimate_year = 2007

|population_estimate = 72,326,462

|population_density_km2 = 328.48

|population_density_sq_mi = 850.7

|currency = [[Korean won|Won]] ([[₩]]) ([[North Korean won|N]]/[[South Korean won|S]])

|time_zone = [[Korea Standard Time|KST]]

|utc_offset = +9

}}

[[Image:Korean royal palace entrance.jpg|thumb|Entrance to [[Gyeongbokgung]]]]

[[Image:Seoul Gyeongbokgung Throne.jpg|thumb|[[Joseon dynasty]] royal throne]]

'''Korea''' ([[Korean language|Korean]]: [[Hangul|한국 or 조선]], see below) is a geographic area, civilization, and a former state situated on the [[Korean Peninsula]] in [[East Asia]]. Korea is currently divided into [[North Korea]] and [[South Korea]]. Korea is often used to refer to [[South Korea]] due to its greater significance and influence in the world.

Although the [[border]]s of historical Korean dynasties fluctuated, the peninsula today is defined as [[wikt:coterminous|coterminous]] with the political [[Military Demarcation Line (Korea)|border]]s of the two Koreas combined. Thus, the peninsula borders [[People's Republic of China|China]] to the northwest and [[Russia]] to the northeast, with [[Japan]] situated to the southeast across the [[Korea Strait]].

The history of Korea began with the legendary founding of [[Gojoseon]] in 2333 BCE by [[Dangun]].

Limited linguistic evidence suggests probable [[Altaic languages|Altaic]] origins of these people, whose northern [[Mongolian steppe]] culture absorbed migration and trade with the peoples of [[Manchuria]] and [[China]]. The adoption of the [[Chinese writing system]] ("[[hanja]]" in Korean) in the 2nd century BC, and Buddhism in the 4th century AD, had profound effects on the [[Three Kingdoms of Korea]]. Koreans later passed on a modified version of these cultural advances to [[Japan]].<ref>"[http://www.bookrags.com/history/worldhistory/yayoi-period-ema-06/ Yayoi Period History Summary]," BookRags.com; Jared Diamond, "[http://www2.gol.com/users/hsmr/Content/East%20Asia/Japan/History/roots.html Japanese Roots]," ''Discover'' 19:6 (June 1998); Thayer Watkins, "[http://www2.sjsu.edu/faculty/watkins/japanorigin.htm The Genetic Origins of the Japanese]"; "[http://cache.britannica.com/eb/article-8481 Shinto - History to 1900]," ''Encyclopædia Britannica''; "[http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-23121?query=Yayoi&ct=%20 The Yayoi period (c. 250 BC–c. AD 250)]," ''Encyclopædia Britannica''.</ref><ref>"[http://theseoultimes.com/ST/?url=/ST/db/read.php?idx=580 Korean Buddhism Basis of Japanese Buddhism]," ''Seoul Times'', June 18, 2006; "[http://www.asiasocietymuseum.org/buddhist_trade/koreajapan.html Buddhist Art of Korea & Japan]," Asia Society Museum; "[http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2046.html Kanji]," JapanGuide.com; "[http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761568150_4/Pottery.html Pottery]," MSN Encarta; "[http://www.japanvisitor.com/index.php?cID=359&pID=334&cName=Japanese History of Japan]," JapanVisitor.com.</ref><ref>{{cite book | editor = Delmer M. Brown (ed.) | year = 1993 | title = The Cambridge History of Japan | publisher = Cambridge University Press | pages = 140-149 | url = http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0521223520&id=x5mwgfPXK1kC&pg=PA159&lpg=PA159&vq=buddhism&dq=Paekche+hostage+japan&sig=dwsfsmf80GCVdVXe90a5s9Tkq34}}; George Sansom, ''A History of Japan to 1334'', Stanford University Press, 1958. p. 47. ISBN 0-8047-0523-2</ref><ref>[http://gias.snu.ac.kr/wthong/publication/paekche/eng/paekch_e.html From Paekche to Origin of Yamato]</ref>

Since the [[Goryeo Dynasty]], Korea was ruled by a single government and maintained political and cultural independence until the nineteenth century, despite the [[Mongol invasions of Korea|Mongol invasions]] of the [[Goryeo]] Dynasty in the 13th century and [[Hideyoshi's invasions of Korea|Japanese invasions]] of the [[Joseon Dynasty]] in the 16th century. In 1377, Korea produced the [[Jikji]], the world's oldest movable metal print document.<ref>[http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID=3946&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html World's oldest printed Doc]</ref> In the 15th century, the [[turtle ship]]s, possibly the world's first [[ironclad warship]]s, were deployed, and King [[Sejong the Great of Joseon|Sejong the Great]] promulgated the Korean alphabet [[hangul|han-geul]] to increase literacy among his people who could not read nor write [[hanja]] (Chinese characters).

During the latter part of the Joseon Dynasty, Korea's isolationist policy earned it the Western nickname the "[[Hermit Kingdom]]". By the late 19th century, the country became the object of the colonial designs of [[Japan]] and [[Europe]]. In 1910, Korea was forcibly [[Korea under Japanese rule|annexed by Japan]] and remained occupied until the end of [[World War II]] in August 1945.

In 1945, the [[Soviet Union]] and the [[United States]] agreed on the [[surrender of Japan|surrender]] and disarming of Japanese troops in Korea; the Soviet Union accepting the surrender of Japan [[38th parallel north#Korea|north of the 38th parallel]] and the United States taking the surrender south of it. This led to [[division of Korea]] by the two [[great power]]s, exacerbated by their inability to agree on the terms of Korean independence. The two [[Cold War]] rivals then established governments sympathetic to their own ideologies, leading to Korea's current division into two political entities: [[North Korea]] and [[South Korea]].

==Names of Korea== {{main|Names of Korea}}

The name "Korea" derives from the [[Goryeo]] period of [[Korean history]], which in turn referred to the ancient kingdom of [[Goguryeo]]. Merchants of the [[Middle East]] called it ''Cauli'' (from the Chinese pronunciation), which then came to be spelled Corea and Korea. Korea is now commonly used in English contexts by both North and South Korea.

In the [[Korean language]], Korea as a whole is referred to as ''Han-guk (abbreviation of Dae Han Min Guk)'' ({{ko-hhrm|hangul=한국(대한민국)|hanja={{linktext|韓|國}}|rr=Hanguk|mr=Han'guk}}) by South Korea, and ''Chosŏn'' ({{ko-hhrm|hangul=조선|hanja={{linktext|朝|鮮}}|mr=Chosǒn|rr=Joseon|context= north}}) by North Korea. "The Land of the Morning Calm" is an [[English language]] nickname loosely derived from the [[hanja]] characters for [[Joseon]], the name derived from the [[Joseon Dynasty]] and the earlier [[Gojoseon]]. (Choson and Joseon are two Romanizations of the same name.)

==History==

{{seealso|Prehistoric Korea|History of North Korea|History of South Korea}}

=== Prehistory and Gojoseon ===

The earliest known Korean pottery dates to around [[10000 BCE]], and the [[Neolithic]] period begins around 6000 BCE. [[Gojoseon]]'s founding legend describes [[Dangun]], a descendent of heaven, as establishing the kingdom in 2333 BCE.<ref>[http://www.asianinfo.org/asianinfo/korea/history.htm Go-Choson]</ref> [[Archaeological]] and contemporary written records indicate it developed from a federation of walled cities into a centralized kingdom sometime between the 7th and 4th centuries BCE.

[[Image:Pressapochista9.jpg|left|170px|thumb|[[Goguryeo]] roof tile]]

The original capital may have been at the [[Manchuria]]-Korea border, but was later moved to what is today [[Pyongyang]], North Korea. In 108 BCE, the Chinese [[Han Dynasty]] defeated [[Wiman Joseon]] and installed four commanderies in the area of Liaoning and the northern Korean peninsula. Subsequent Chinese immigrations from [[State of Yan|Yan]] and [[State of Qi|Qi]] brought elements of Chinese culture to the peninsula. By 75 BCE, three of those commanderies had fallen, but the [[Lelang Commandery]] remained under successive Chinese control until 313.

=== Three Kingdoms ===

[[Image:thumb|140px|left|The Three Kingdoms of Korea in the 5th century.]]

The [[Three Kingdoms of Korea]] ([[Goguryeo]], [[Silla]], and [[Baekje]]) dominated the peninsula and parts of Manchuria during the early [[Common Era]]. They competed with each other both economically and militarily.

[[Goguryeo]] united [[Buyeo Kingdom|Buyeo]], [[Okjeo]], [[Dongye]] and other states in the former Gojoseon territory, in addition to destroying the last Chinese commandery.<ref>[http://www.asianinfo.org/asianinfo/korea/history.htm Koguryo]</ref> Goguryeo was the most dominant power, Goguryeo reached its tenth in the fifth century, when reign of the [[Gwanggaeto the Great of Goguryeo|King Gwanggaeto]] and his son, [[Jangsu of Goguryeo|King Jangsu]] expanded territory into almost all of Manchuria and part of inner Mongolia, and took the [[Seoul]] region from Baekje. Gwanggaeto and Jangsu subdued Baekje and Silla during their times. After the 7th Century, Goguryeo was constantly at war with the [[Sui Dynasty|Sui]] and [[Tang Dynasty|Tang]] dynasties of China.

Founded around today's [[Seoul]], the southwestern kingdom [[Baekje]] expanded far beyond [[Pyongyang]] during the peak of its powers in the 4th century. It had absorbed all of the Mahan states and subjugated most of the western Korean peninsula (including the modern provinces of [[Gyeonggi]], [[Chungcheong]], and [[Jeolla]], as well as part of [[Hwanghae]] and [[Gangwon]]) to a centralized government. Baekje acquired Chinese culture and technology through contacts with the [[Southern Dynasties]] during the expansion of its territory.

[[Image:Sillacrown.jpg|left|100px|thumb|[[Silla]] crown]]

Although later records claim that [[Silla]], in the southeast, was the oldest of the three kingdoms, it is now believed to have been the last kingdom to develop. By the 2nd century, Silla existed as a large state, occupying and influencing nearby city states. Silla began to gain power when it annexed the [[Gaya confederacy]] in 562 AD. The Gaya confederacy was located between Baekje and Silla. The three kingdoms of Korea often warred with each other and Silla often faced pressure from Baekje and Goguryeo but at various times Silla also allied with Baekje and Goguryeo in order to gain dominance over the peninsula.

In 660, King [[Muyeol of Silla]] ordered his armies to attack [[Baekje]]. General [[Kim Yu-shin]], aided by [[Tang dynasty|Tang]] forces, conquered Baekje. In 661, Silla and Tang moved on [[Goguryeo]] but were repelled. King [[Munmu of Silla|Munmu]], son of Muyeol and nephew of General Kim launched another campaign in 667 and Goguryeo fell in the following year.

=== Unified Silla and Balhae ===

In the 5th, 6th, and 7th centuries, Silla's power gradually extended across the Korean Peninsula. Silla first annexed the adjacent [[Gaya confederacy]]. By the 660s, Silla formed an alliance with the Tang Dynasty of China to conquer Baekje and later Goguryeo. After repelling Chinese forces, Silla partially unified the Peninsula, beginning a period often called [[Unified Silla]].

In the north, former Goguryeo General [[Dae Joyeong]] led a group of Goguryeo refugees to the [[Jilin]] area in Manchuria and founded [[Balhae]] (698 AD - 926 AD) as the successor to Goguryeo. At its height, Balhae's territory extended from northern Manchuria down to the northern provinces of modern-day Korea. Balhae was destroyed by the [[Khitan people|Khitan]]s in 926.

Unified Silla fell apart in the late 9th century, giving way to the tumultuous [[Later Three Kingdoms of Korea|Later Three Kingdoms period]] (892-935). [[Goryeo]] unified the Later Three Kingdoms and absorbed Balhae refugees.

[[Image:Goryeo Celadon .jpg|thumb|120px|Cheongja unhak sanggam mun maebyeong, the 68th [[national treasure of South Korea]].]]

=== Goryeo ===

The country [[Goryeo]] was founded in 918 and replaced Silla as the ruling dynasty of Korea. ("Goryeo" is a short form of "Goguryeo" and the source of the English name "Korea.") The dynasty lasted until 1392. During this period laws were codified, and a civil service system was introduced. [[Buddhism]] flourished, and spread throughout the peninsula. The development of [[celadon]] industry flourished in 12th and 13th century. The publication of [[Tripitaka Koreana]] onto 80,000 wooden blocks and the invention of the world's first metal [[printing press]] in 13th century attest to Goryeo's cultural achievements. Their dynasty was threatened by [[Mongol]] invasion from the 1230s into the 1270s, but the dynastic line continued to survive until 1392 since they negotiated a treaty with the Mongols that kept its sovereign power. In 1350s, [[Gongmin of Goryeo|King Gongmin]] was free at last to reform a Goryeo government. Gongmin had various problems that needed to be dealt with, which included the removal of pro-Mongol aristocrats and military officials, the question of land holding, and quelling the growing animosity between the Buddhists and Confucian scholars.

=== Joseon dynasty ===

[[Image:Hunmin jeong-eum.jpg|thumb|right|130px|''[[Hunmin jeong-eum]]'', After called hangul.]]

In 1392, the general [[Taejo of Joseon|Yi Seong-gye]] established the [[Joseon Dynasty]] (1392-1910) with a largely bloodless coup. The Joseon Dynasty is believed to have been the longest-lived actively ruling dynasty in East Asia. He named it the [[Joseon Dynasty]] in honor of the previous Joseon before (Gojoseon is the first Joseon. "Go", meaning "later", was added to distinguish between the two). King Taejo moved the capital to [[Hanseong]] (formerly [[Hanyang]]; modern-day [[Seoul]]) and built the [[Gyeongbokgung]] palace. In 1394 he adopted [[Confucianism]] as the country's official religion, resulting in much loss of power and wealth by the Buddhists. The prevailing philosophy was [[Neo-Confucianism]], which was developed by [[Zhu Xi]]. Joseon experienced advances in science and culture. [[Sejong the Great of Joseon|King Sejong the Great]] (1418-1450) promulgated [[hangul]], the Korean alphabet. The period saw various other cultural and technological advances as well as the dominance of neo-Confucianism over the entire peninsula. Between 1592 and 1598, [[Imjin War|Japan invaded]] Korea. [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]] led the forces and tried to invade [[Asia|the Asian continent]] through Korea, but was eventually repelled before even getting through Korea. This war also saw the rise of the career of Admiral [[Yi Sun-shin]] and his "[[turtle ship]]" or gobukseon. In the 1620s and 1630s Joseon suffered [[Manchu invasion of Korea|invasions by the Manchu]] who eventually also conquered the Chinese [[Ming Dynasty]]. After that, the Joseon dynasty [[Samjeondo Monument|swore allegiance]] to the [[Qing]] Court. During the Joseon dynasty, Koreans brought Roman Catholicism (and other forms of [[Christianity in Korea]] followed shortly thereafter) into Korea, at first in secret.

=== Japanese occupation ===

[[Image:China Japan Russia Coree.png|thumb|''Go Fishing'', [[Georges Ferdinand Bigot]], ''Tobae'', February 1887. It shows Korea as a fish which China, Russia, and Japan are all trying to catch.]]

Beginning in the 1870s, Japan began to force Korea to move out of China's sphere of influence into its own. Japan forced Korea to engage in foreign trade through the [[Treaty of Ganghwa]] in 1876. In 1895, [[Empress Myeongseong of Korea]] was assassinated by the Japanese under [[Miura Gorō|Miura Gorō's]] directive (Kim et al. 1976).<ref>[http://www.kimsoft.com/2002/jp-rape.htm Murder of Empress Myeongseong]</ref> In [[Manchuria]] on 1909, [[An Jung-geun]] assassinated the former [[Governor-General of Korea|Resident-General of Korea]], [[Itō Hirobumi]] for his role in trying to force Korea into occupation. In 1910, an already militarily occupied Korea was a forced party to the [[Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty]]. This is a controversial treaty since the treaty was never ratified by the Korean Emperor and the required Korean Imperial seal was absent.<ref>"서울대이태진교수의동경대생들에게들려준한국사 : 메이지일본의한국침략사", Yi Tae-jin (2005) ISBN 89-7626-999-3</ref>

Even before formal Japanese colonial rule, the [[Korean Independence Movement]] was already in existence. Korean resistance to the brutal<ref>[http://www.bartleby.com/67/2488.html 4. Korea, 1910-1945. 2001. The Encyclopedia of World History]</ref><ref>[http://uk.encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761557519_2/Korea.html Korea - MSN Encarta]</ref><ref>[http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Japan/GC10Dh01.html Asia Times Online :: Japan News and Japanese Business and Economy]</ref> Japanese occupation was manifested in the nonviolent [[March 1st Movement]] of 1919, where 7,000 demonstrators were killed by Japanese police and military.<ref>[http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9050797?query=march%20first%20movement&ct= March 1st Movement]</ref> The [[Korean independence movement|Korean liberation movement]] also spread to neighboring [[Manchuria]] and [[Siberia]].

Over five million Koreans were conscripted for labor beginning in 1939,<ref>[http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/SOD.CHAP3.HTM Statistics Of Japanese Genocide And Mass Murder]</ref> and tens of thousands of men were forced into Japan's military.<ref>山脇啓造 Yamawaki, Keizo. 近代日本と外国人労働者―1890年代後半と1920年代前半における中国人・朝鮮人労働者問題 ''Modern Japan and Foreign Laborers: Chinese and Korean Laborers in the late 1890s and early 1920s'', 明石書店 Akashi-shoten, 1994, et al. ISBN 9784750305684 </ref> Approximately 200,000 girls and women,<ref>Yoshimi Yoshiaki, ''Comfort Women. Sexual Slavery in the Japanese Military During World War II''. Translated by Suzanne O'Brien. Columbia University Press, 2001, ISBN 0-231-12032-X, originally published by 岩波書店, 1995. ISBN 978-4004303848 </ref> mostly from Korea and China, were forced into sexual slavery for the Japanese military.<ref>[http://edition.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/asiapcf/east/03/29/japan.comfort.women.02/ CNN.com - Japanese comfort women ruling overturned - March 29, 2001]</ref> In 1993, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yohei Kono acknowledged the terrible injustices faced by these euphemistically named "[[comfort women]]".<ref>[http://www.comfort-women.org/ Comfort-Women.org]</ref><ref>[http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/women/fund/state9308.html MOFA: Statement by the Chief Cabinet Secretary Yohei Kono on the result of the study on the issue of "comfort women"]</ref>

During Japanese Colonial rule, the Korean language was suppressed in an effort to eradicate Korean nationalism. Koreans were forced to take Japanese surnames, known as [[Sōshi-kaimei]].<ref>[http://www.han.org/a/fukuoka96a.html HAN: "Koreans in Japan: Past and Present"]</ref> Traditional [[Korean culture]] suffered heavy losses, as numerous Korean cultural artifacts were destroyed<ref>[http://www.lifeinkorea.com/Travel2/66 Gyeongbok Palace | Seoul City | South Korea]</ref> or taken to Japan.<ref>Newsweek.com. [http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6919593/site/newsweek/ Who rightfully owns Korean artifacts looted by Japan?]</ref> To this day, valuable Korean artifacts can often be found in Japanese museums or among private collections.<ref>Newsweek.com. [http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6919593/site/newsweek/ Who rightfully owns Korean artifacts looted by Japan?]</ref> One investigation by the South Korean government identified 75,311 cultural assets that were taken from Korea, 34,369 of which are in Japan, and 17,803 of which are in the [[United States]].<ref>http://news.naver.com/news/read.php?mode=LSD&office_id=001&article_id=0001429084</ref>

=== Korean War ===

[[Image:Taegukgi.jpg|thumb|The earliest surviving depiction of the flag was printed in a U.S. Navy book ''Flags of Maritime Nations'' in July 1882.]]

With the defeat of Japan in 1945, the [[United Nations]] developed plans for a trusteeship administration, the Soviet Union administering the peninsula north of the [[38th parallel north|38th parallel]] and the United States [[USAMGIK|administering the south]]. The politics of the [[Cold War]] resulted in the 1948 establishment of two separate governments, [[North Korea]] and [[South Korea]].

In June of 1950 North Korea invaded the South, using Russian tanks and weaponry. During the [[Korean War]] (1950-1953), millions of civilians died and the three years of fighting throughout the nation effectively destroyed most cities. Around 171,000 POWs were captured and held by the Americans and South Koreans on [[Geojedo]] (an island in the south)<ref>(Cumings 1997: 298)</ref> The war ended in a ceasefire agreement at approximately the [[Military Demarcation Line (Korea)]].

==Geography==

{{seealso|Geography of North Korea|Geography of South Korea|Provinces of Korea}}

[[Image:Daedongyeojido 1860.jpg|thumb|[[Daedongyeojido]], a map of Korea]]

[[Image:Seoraksan1.jpg|left|thumb|A view of [[Seoraksan]].]]

Korea is located on the [[Korean Peninsula]] in [[North-East Asia]]. To the northwest, the Amnok River ([[Yalu River]]) separates Korea from China and to the northeast, the Duman River ([[Tumen River]]) separates Korea from China and Russia. The [[Yellow Sea]] is to the west, the [[East China Sea]] is to the south, and the [[Sea of Japan]] (East Sea) is to the east of Korea.<ref>[http://www1.korea-np.co.jp/pk/064th_issue/98100708.htm Korean Map], The People's Korea, 1998.</ref> Notable islands include [[Jeju|Jeju-do]], [[Ulleung-do]], and [[Liancourt Rocks]] (''Dokdo'' in Korean).

The southern and western parts of the peninsula have well-developed plains, while the eastern and northern parts are mountainous. The highest mountain in Korea is [[Baekdusan]] (2744 m), through which runs the border with China. The southern extension of Baekdusan is a highland called [[Gaema Heights]]. This highland was mainly raised during the [[Cenozoic]] orogeny and partly covered by volcanic matter. To the south of Gaema Gowon, successive high mountains are located along the eastern coast of the peninsula. This mountain range is named [[Baekdudaegan]]. Some significant mountains include [[Sobaeksan]] (2,184 m), [[Baeksan]] (1,724 m), [[Geumgangsan]] (1,638 m), [[Seoraksan]] (1,708 m), [[Taebaeksan]] (1,567 m), and [[Jirisan]] (1,915 m). There are several lower, secondary mountain series whose direction is almost perpendicular to that of Baekdudaegan. They are developed along the tectonic line of Mesozoic orogeny and their directions are basically northwest.

Unlike most older mountains on the mainland, many important islands in Korea were formed by volcanic activity in the Cenozoic orogeny. [[Jeju-do]], situated off the southern coast, is a large volcanic island whose main mountain [[Hallasan]] (1950 m) is the highest in South Korea. [[Ulleung-do]] is a volcanic island in the Sea of Japan, whose composition is more felsic than Jeju-do. The volcanic islands tend to be younger, the more westward.

Because the mountainous region is mostly on the eastern part of the peninsula, the main [[Rivers of Korea|rivers]] tend to flow westwards. Two exceptions are the southward-flowing [[Nakdonggang]] and [[Seomjingang]]. Important rivers running westward include the Amnok River ([[Yalu]]), the [[Ch'ongch'on River|Cheong-cheongang]], the [[Daedonggang]], the [[Han River(Korea)|Han River]], the [[Geumgang]], and the [[Yeongsangang]]. These rivers have vast flood plains and provide an ideal environment for wet-rice cultivation.

The southern and southwestern coastlines of Korea form a well-developed [[ria]] coastline, known as ''Dadohae-jin'' in Korean. Its convoluted coastline provides mild seas, and the resulting calm environment allows for safe navigation, fishing, and seaweed farming. In addition to the complex coastline, the western coast of the Korean Peninsula has an extremely high tidal amplitude (at [[Incheon]], around the middle of the western coast. It can get as high as 9 m). Vast tidal flats have been developing on the south and west coastlines.

==Demographics==

{{main|Koreans|Demographics of South Korea|Demographics of North Korea}}

The combined population of the Koreas is about 73 million (North Korea: 23 million, South Korea: 50 million). Korea is chiefly populated by a highly [[wikt:homogeneous|homogeneous]] [[ethnic]] group, the [[Koreans]], who speak the [[Korean language]]. The number of foreigners living in Korea has also steadily increased since the late 20th century, particularly in South Korea, where more than 1 million foreigners currently reside. A minority population of [[Ethnic Chinese in Korea|ethnic Chinese]] (roughly 440,000 as of August 2007<ref name="million">{{cite web|url=http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200708/200708270012.html|title=Foreign Expatriates in Korea Top One Million|work=Chosun Ilbo|date=2007-08-27|accessdate=2008-01-08}}</ref>) live in South Korea and small communities of ethnic Chinese and [[Japanese people in North Korea|Japanese]] are also found in North Korea.<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/kn.html CIA - The World Factbook - Korea, North]</ref>

===Language===

[[Korean language|Korean]] is the official language of both North and South Korea, and of Yanbian Autonomous Prefecture in Manchuria area of China. Worldwide, there are around 100 million or more speakers of the Korean Language. South Korea has around 50 million speakers while North Korea around 27 million. Other large groups of Korean speakers are found in the [[United States]] (around 2.5 million speakers), [[People's Republic of China|China]] (around 2 million speakers), the former [[Soviet Union]] (around 500,000), [[Japan]] (around 900,000), [[Canada]] (100,000), [[Philippines]] (70,000) and [[Australia]] (150,000). It is estimated that there are around 700,000 people scattered across the world who are able to speak Korean because of job requirements (for example, salespersons or businessmen with Korean contacts), marriages to Koreans or out of pure interest in the language. {{Fact|date=February 2008}}

The genealogical [[#Classification|classification]] of Korean is debated. Some linguists place it in the [[Altaic languages|Altaic]] language family; others consider it to be a [[language isolate]]. Korean is [[Agglutinative language|agglutinative]] in its morphology and [[Subject Object Verb|SOV]] in its [[syntax]]. Like [[Japanese language|Japanese]] and [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]], Korean has borrowed much vocabulary from the genetically unrelated [[Chinese language|Chinese]] or created vocabulary on Chinese models.

Modern Korean is written almost exclusively in the [[hangul]] script, which was invented in the 15th century. While hangul may appear [[logographic]], it is actually a [[phonemic]] alphabet organized into [[syllable|syllabic]] blocks. Each block consists of at least two of the 24 hangul letters ''([[hangul#Jamo|jamo]]):'' at least one each of the 14 [[consonant]]s and 10 [[vowel]]s. Historically, the alphabet had several additional letters (see [[hangul#Obsolete jamo|obsolete jamo]]). For a phonological description of the letters, see [[Korean language#Phonology|Korean phonology]]. [[Hanja]] (Chinese characters) and [[romaja|Roman characters]] are sometimes included within hangul texts, particularly in South Korea.

==Culture and arts==

{{see also|Korean art|Korean pottery|Korean martial arts|Korean dance}}

[[Image:Korea south kangnung kyongpodae.jpg|thumb|Korean Buddhist architecture]]

In ancient Chinese texts, Korea is referred to as "Rivers and Mountains Embroidered on Silk" ({{lang|ko|금수강산}}, {{linktext|錦|繡|江|山}}) and "Eastern Nation of Decorum" ({{lang|ko|동방예의지국}}, {{linktext|東|方|禮|儀|之|國}}).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://100.naver.com/100.nhn?docid=714173|title=대한민국의 국호|work=Naver Encyclopedia|accessdate=2007-08-14}}</ref> During the 7th and 8th centuries, the [[silk road]] connected Korea to [[Arabia]]. In 845, Arab traders wrote, "Beyond China is a land where gold abounds and which is named [[Silla]]. The Muslims who have gone there have been charmed by the country and tend to settle there and abandon all idea of leaving.<ref>[http://ccbs.ntu.edu.tw/FULLTEXT/JR-EPT/hyghe.htm The kingdom of Silla and the treasures of Nara (ancient Korea kingdom; Buddhist temple in Nara, Japan)]</ref>"

Korean festivities often showcase vibrant colors, which have been attributed to [[Mongolian]] influences: bright red, yellow, and green often mark traditional Korean motifs.<ref>http://www.pacificasiamuseum.org/calendar/kcostumes.htm</ref> These bright colors are sometimes seen in the traditional dress known as [[hanbok]].

One peculiarity of Korean culture is its [[East Asian age reckoning|age reckoning system]]. Individuals are regarded as one year old when they are born, and their age increments on [[Korean New Year|New Year's Day]] rather than on the anniversary of their birthday. Thus, one born on December the 31st would be aged two on the day after they were born. Accordingly, a Korean person's stated age will be one or two years more than their age expressed in the Western tradition.

===Literature===

Korean literature written before the end of the [[Joseon Dynasty]] is called "Classical" or "Traditional." Literature, written in Chinese characters ([[hanja]]), was established at the same time as the Chinese script arrived on the peninsula. Korean scholars were writing poetry in the classical Chinese style as early as the 2nd century BCE, reflecting Korean thoughts and experiences of that time. Classical Korean literature has its roots in traditional folk beliefs and folk tales of the peninsula, strongly influenced by [[Confucianism]], [[Buddhism]] and [[Taoism]].

Modern literature is often linked with the development of [[hangul]], which helped spread literacy from the aristocracy to the common people and women. Hangul, however, only reached a dominant position in Korean literature in the second half of the 19th century, resulting in a major growth in Korean literature. ''Sinsoseol'', for instance, are novels written in hangul.

The [[Korean War]] led to the development of literature centered around the wounds and chaos of [[war]]. Much of the post-war literature in South Korea deals with the daily lives of ordinary people, and their struggles with national pain. The collapse of the traditional Korean value system is another common theme of the time.

===Religion===

[[Image:Goryeo Buddhist painting.jpg|thumb|''Amitabha and Eight Great Bodhisattvas'', Goryeo scroll from the 1300s]]

{{main|Korean Confucianism|Korean Buddhism|Christianity in Korea}}

[[Confucian]] tradition has dominated Korean thought, along with contributions by [[Buddhism]], [[Taoism]], and [[Korean Shamanism]]. Since the middle of the 20th century, however, [[Christianity]] has competed with Buddhism in South Korea, while religious practice has been suppressed in North Korea.

According to 2003 statistics compiled by the South Korean government, about 46% of citizens profess to follow no particular religion. [[Christianity in Korea|Christians]] account for 27.3% of the population (of which half are Catholics and half are various denominations of Protestantism) and [[Korean Buddhism|Buddhists]] 25.3%.

Koreans valued scholarship and rewarded education and study of [[Chinese classic texts]]; [[Yangban]] boys were highly educated in [[hanja]]. In [[Silla]], the [[bone rank system]] defined a person's social status, and a similar system persisted through the end of the [[Joseon Dynasty]]. In addition, the [[gwageo]] civil service examination provided paths of upward mobility.

===Cuisine===

Korean cuisine is probably best known for [[kimchi]]([[Hangul|한글]]: 김치), which uses a distinctive [[fermentation (food)|fermentation]] process of preserving vegetables, most commonly cabbage. [[Pepper (chilli) paste]]([[Hangul|한글]]: 고추장 - pronounced go-choo-jang) is also commonly used, often as [[pepper (chilli) powder]], earning the cuisine a reputation for being spicy.

[[Bulgogi]]([[Hangul|한글]]: 불고기) (roasted marinated meat, usually beef), [[galbi]] (ribs), and [[samgyeopsal]] (pork belly) are popular meat entrees. Meals are usually accompanied by a soup or stew, such as [[galbitang]] (stewed ribs) and [[doenjang]] [[jjigae]]([[Hangul|한글]]: 된장찌개) (fermentated bean paste stew). The center of the table is filled with a shared collection of sidedishes called [[banchan]].

Other popular dishes include [[bibimbap]]([[Hangul|한글]]: 비빔밥)which literally means "mixed rice" (rice mixed with meat, vegetables, and pepper paste) and [[naengmyeon]]([[Hangul|한글]]: 냉면) (cold noodles with soup).

===Video Games===

Korea is widely known as a global hub for professional video game players. Online games such as Starcraft and World of Warcraft are immensely popular. Top players in Korea are known to gain almost celebrity status, and are regarded as professional athletes by their fans. It is believed that the popular internet term "zerg rush keke", and "pwn" originated in Korean gaming circles.

==Education==

The modern Korean school system consists of 6 years in elementary school, 3 years in middle school, and 3 years in high school. Students are supposed to go to elementary and middle school, and do not have to pay for it.(The teachers are paid from taxes) Most public middle school and high school students have to wear uniforms, and are not supposed to grow their hair more than a particular length. The [[Programme for International Student Assessment]], coordinated by the [[OECD]], currently ranks South Korea's science education as the 11th best in the world, being significantly higher than the OECD average.<ref>http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/42/8/39700724.pdf</ref> Although South Korean students often rank high on international comparative tests, the education system is sometimes criticized for its emphasis on passive learning and memorization. The Korean education system is much more strict and structured than most western societies and Korean students rarely have free time to spend enjoying themselves as they are under a lot of pressure to perform and gain entrance to university.{{Fact|date=April 2008}}

==Science and technology==

[[Image:Cheomseongdae.jpg|thumb|[[Cheomseongdae]], one of the world's oldest surviving astronomical observatories]]

One of the best known artifacts of Korea's history of science and technology is [[Cheomseongdae]](첨성대, {{linktext|瞻|星|臺}}), a 9.4-meter high observatory built in 634. It is considered to be one of the world's oldest surviving astronomical observatories.

The world's first metal mechanical movable type printing was developed in Korea in 1232 by [[Choe Yun-ui]] during the [[Goryeo Dynasty]], modeled after widespread Chinese clay ([[Bi Sheng]] in 1041), several hundred years before [[Johann Gutenberg]] developed his [[printing press|metal letterset type]] (Cumings 1997: 65). Though the [[block printing]] was used much earlier, metal movable type printing press marked a significant development in printing allowing the same tools to be used for more diverse printings. The [[Jikji]] is the world's earliest remaining movable metal printed book, printed in Korea in 1377. The world's earliest known surviving example of woodblock printing is the [[Seokgatap#National treasure No.126|Mugujeonggwang Great Dharani Sutra]].<ref>[http://www.cha.go.kr/english/search_plaza/ECulresult_Db_View.jsp?VdkVgwKey=11,01260000,37 Cultural Heritage, the source for Koreans' Strength and Dream]</ref> It is believed to have been printed in Korea in 750-751 AD which, if correct, would make it older than the [[Diamond Sutra]]. Goryeo silk was highly regarded by [[China]], and Korean [[pottery]] made with blue-green [[celadon]] was of the highest quality in the world and sought after by even Arabian merchants. Goryeo had a bustling economy with a capital that was frequented by merchants from all over the known world.

During the [[Joseon Dynasty|Joseon]] period the earliest [[ironclad warship]]s, the [[Geobukseon]] ([[Turtle Ship]]) were invented,<ref>[http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/16thcentury/a/firstironclads.htm First Ironclad Warships]</ref> as well as other weapons such as the [[Bigyeokjincheolloe]] (비격진천뢰, {{linktext|飛|擊|震|天|雷}}) and the [[hwacha]].

The Korean alphabet [[hangul]] was also invented during this time by Sejong the Great.

==See also==

* [[List of rulers of Korea]]

* [[Famous Korean people]]

* [[Korean name]]

* [[National treasures of North Korea]]

* [[National treasures of South Korea]]

* [[Inter-Korean Summit]]

* [[List of divided nations]]

* [[Koreans]]

==Notes==

==References==

*Cumings, Bruce. ''Korea's Place in the Sun'', Norton, 1997. ISBN 0-393-31681-5

*Kim, et al. ''Women of Korea: A History from Ancient Times to 1945'', Ewha Womans University Press, 1976. ISBN 89-7300-116-7.

*[http://www.asianinfo.org/asianinfo/korea/history.htm Asian Info website]

*[http://www.parksassociates.com/press/press_releases/2005/gdl6.html Park's Associates]

*[http://ed.sjtu.edu.cn/rank/2007/ARWU2007TOP500list.htm]

*[http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/wofact2005/geos/ks.html#People]

*http://www.diamond-dilemma.com/kor/doc/TariqHussain_KoreaHerald_5Mar2007.pdf

==Further reading==

* Chun, Tuk Chu. "Korea in the Pacific Community." ''Social Education'' 52 (March 1988), 182. EJ 368 177.

* [[Bruce Cumings|Cumings, Bruce]]. ''The Two Koreas''. New York: Foreign Policy Association, 1984.

* ''Focus On Asian Studies''. Special Issue: "Korea: A Teacher's Guide." No. 1, Fall 1986.

* Gi-Wook Shin/Michael Robinson (Ed.). ''Colonial modernity in Korea,'' Cambridge, Mass. [u.a.] : Harvard University, Asia Center; Distributed by Harvard Univ. Press 1999, ISBN 0-674-14255-1

* Joe, W.J. & Choe, H.A. ''Traditional Korea: A Cultural History'', Seoul: Hollym, 1997.

* Joungwon, A.K. ''Divided Korea: The Politics of Development'', Harvard University Press, 1975.

* Lee Ki-baik. ''A New History Of Korea''. Cambridge: Harvard UP, 1984.

* Lee Sang-sup. "The Arts and Literature of Korea." ''The Social Studies'' 79 (July-August 1988): 153-60. EJ 376 894.

* Tae-Jin, Y. "The Illegality of the Forced Treaties Leading to Japan's Annexation of the Great Han Empire," In the ''Korean National Commission for UNESCO'', Vol. 36, No. 4, 1996.

* Dennis Hart, ''From Tradition to Consumption: Construction of a Capitalist Culture in South Korea''. Seoul:Jimoondang Pub. 2003.

==External links==

; Official

* [http://www.korea-dpr.com/ Government of North Korea]

* [http://english.president.go.kr/ President of South Korea]

* [http://pm.go.kr/en/en_index.html Prime Minister of South Korea]

* [http://www.cha.go.kr/english/new/index.action Cultural Heritage Administration]

; Informative

* {{wikia|Korea|Korea}}

* {{wikitravel|North Korea}}

* {{wikitravel|South Korea}}

* {{dmoz|Regional/Asia/Regions/Korean_Peninsula|Korea}}

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