1. KOREA
INTRODUCTION
Korea is a land in eastern Asia that consists of two nations. 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 is a Communist nation. South Korea is strongly anti-Communist.
The two nations lie on the Korean Peninsula, which extends southern China. The peninsula is
about the same size as the state of Utah. North Korea covers the northern half of it, and South
Korea occupies the southern half. North Korea is slightly larger than South Korea, but the South
has more than twice as many people as the North.
Population
In 1987, South Korea had a population of about 42 million, and North Korea had about 21
million persons. More than half of the people in both nation lived in cities or town.
Twenty-seven South Korean cities have populations of more than 100,000. The largest city is
Seoul, with more than 100,000 persons. Pyongyang, with more than 2 ½ million persons, is the
largest city.
Way of Life
Before the 1900’s Korean was an agricultural society built on strong family. Almost all the
people lived in small villages and work on farms. People owned their loyalty to their families.
The family’s interest was more important than that of the individual or the nation. In many
cases, grandparents, parents, their sons and unmarried daughters, and the sons’ wives and
children all lived together. This arrangement is called an “extended family”. The oldest male
served as the head of the family, and all persons were expected to obey their eldest without
question.
Clothing
Western clothing styles have become popular in South Korea, especially in the cities. But
most of in rural areas and some in the cities still wear traditional styles. Most of traditional
clothing is made of cotton materials, which is quilted to make it warm. Traditional clothing for
women consists of a long, full skirt that hangs to below the knees and a tight-fitting jacket. The
men wear loose-fitting trousers and jackets.
2. Housing
Many high-rise apartment building and modern houses have been built in Seoul and other
large South Korean cities. But most of housing in the south, especially in rural areas, consists of
traditional one-story houses made of stones or homemade bricks. Most houses in the north
were the same style as those in the south. The communists claimthat most such houses in rural
areas have been replaced by bricks houses with tile or slate roof.
Food
Rice is the basic food of most Koreans. Other common food includes barley; fish; such fruits
as apples, peaches, and pears; and such as vegetables as beans and potatoes. One of the most
popular dishes other than rice is “Kiamichi”, a highly spiced mixture of cabbage, onions, turnips,
and several other vegetables. Meat and dairy products are scarce is Korea.
Language
Korean is the official language of South Korea and North Korea. About half of all Korean
words came from Chinese. But the structure of Korean resembles that of Japanese. There are
about seven major dialects of Korean. Most Koreans can understand all the dialects except the
one spoken on Cheju, a Korean island south of the peninsula. The Korean alphabet, called
“hangul”, has 24 letters. South Koreans use some Chinese symbols in additions to hangul in
their writing. North Koreans use only hangul.
Education
Since the late 1940’s, South Korea and North Korea have made special efforts to improve
their educational systems. As result, the percentage of Koreans who can read and write
increased from less than 50 percent in the mid-1940’s to more than 90 percent in the early
1970’s.
Education of South Korea
South Koreans law requires that all children complete elementary schools, which in that
country goes through grade 6. Parents must pay some of the costs of their children’s education.
But in spite of this expense, more than 90 percent of the children finish sixth grade. After
completing elementary school, a South Korean student may go on to middle school (grade 7
through 9) and then to high school (grade 10 through 12). The costs of education increases
after elementary schools, but about 70 percent of the elementary school graduates continue
their schooling. Technical training which prepares students for industrial jobs, begins in the
middle schools and continues through all higher levels of education.
3. Education of North Korea
The North Korean government requires children to attend school for at least nine years.
The state pays all educational expenses. Student must work for the state two moths each
summer beginning after their fifth year of school. In North Korea, elementary school consists of
grades 1 through 4, and middle consists of grades 5 through 9. Students must have approval of
the Communist Party to continue their education after the middle school. Those who continue
attend a two-year high school, a two-year vocational school, or a three or four-year technical
school that provides training for engineering and scientific jobs.
Climate
Seasonal winds called “monsoons” affect Korea’s weather throughout the year. A monsoon
blows in summer, bringing hot, humid weather. A cold, dry monsoon blows in from the north
and northwest during the winter, bringing cold weather.
South Korea Economy
The value of goods and services produced each year in South Korea totals nearly $ 73 billion.
This total value is the country’s gross national product (GNP). Industrial production accounts for
about 37 percent of South Korea’s GNP, and agricultural production for about 16 percent. The
remaining 47 percent comes from service activities. Agriculture employs about 32 percent of all
South Korean workers, industry about 28 percent, and service activities about 40 percent.
South Korea has a small part of the peninsula’s mineral resources-chiefly anthracite (hard
coal), fluorite, graphite, iron ore, salt, and tungsten. In addition, the peninsula’s best rivers for
producing hydroelectric power are in North Korea. As a result, the south had few power plant
and little industry when the Korea was divided in 1948. Since then, South Korea has built more
than 20 electric power plants and had made much progress in developing its industries.
Industry
Almost all South Korean industry is privately owned. Manufacturing accounts for about 75
percent of the South’s industrial production. Construction accounts for about 27 percent and
mining for about 4 percent. South Korea has more than 24,000 manufacturing firms. Most of
them are in the Seoul and Pusan areas. The chief manufactured products are chemicals,
machinery, processed foods, and textiles.
4. Agriculture
South Korean’s 2 ½ million farms average about 2 ¼ acres (0.9 hectare) in size. Almost all
farm land is privately owned. Rice is by far the country’s chief crop. Other farm products include
barley, beans, potatoes, and wheat. The South’s major agricultural areas lie along the western
and southern coasts. Fishing is an important activity in these areas, and many of the area’s
farmers supplement their income by fishing.
Foreign Trade
South Korean trades chiefly with the United States and Asia nation, especially Japan. The
South’s chief exports include clothing, electronic devices, fish, raw silk, textiles, and tungsten.
Its main imports include chemicals, crude oil, and other industrial raw materials, machinery,
and motor vehicles.
Transportation
South Korean’s rapidly growing highway system carries most of the country’s passenger
traffic. The South has more than 23,000 miles (37,000 kilometers) of road. Most South Koreans
do not own an automobile, but buses run between and within almost all cities. Many peoples
use bicycles for short trips. The government-owned Korean National Railroad carries most of
the freight that is transported in South Korea. The South has more than 3,200 miles (5,150
kilometers) of railroad track. Korean Air, which is a privately owned airline, connects major
South Korean cities with Hong Kong, Japan, South Vietnam, Taiwan, Thailand, and the United
States.
Communication
For privately owned radio net works and one government-owned network serve South
Korea. Most families owned at least one radio. In rural areas that have no electricity, people
use battery powered transistor radios. Three television networks, one owned by the
government and two privately owned, operate in South Korea. Television broadcasts reach
most parts of the country. There is about one television set for every 6 persons in the South.
South Korean cities have public telephone service, but most rural areas do not. About 40 daily
newspapers are published in South Korea, about 15 of them in Seoul.
5. North Korea Economy
North Korean’s GNP totals about $ 18 billion yearly. Industrial production accounts for
about 70 percent of the GNP, agricultural production for about 20 percent, and service
activities for about 10 percent. Agriculture employs about 55 percent of North Korea workers,
industry about 25 percent, and service activities about 20 percent.
North Korea traditionally has been the chief industrial region of the peninsula. It has rivers
suitable for the producing electric power, as well as some of the richest mineral deposits in
eastern Asia. North Korea ranks among the too five nation of the world in the production of
graphite and magnesium.
Industry
Manufacturing accounts for about 80 percent North Korea’s industrial production,
construction for nearly 15 percent, and mining for over 5 percent. The North’s chief
manufactured products are chemicals, iron and steel, machinery, processed foods, and textiles.
These and all other major products are made in government-owned factories. Some minor
industries, such as handicrafts, may be privately owned. Most manufacturing takes place in the
coastal regions.
Agriculture
The communists have organized all farmland in North Korea into government-owned
collective farms. The government operates the collectives, and the workers receive a share of
the products and some cash payment. North Korea has about 3,700 collective farms. About 300
families live on each one. The North’s major agriculture region is the Northwestern Plain. Rice is
by far North Korea’s chief crop. Other important farm products include barley, corn, millet, and
wheat.
Foreign Trade
North Korea carries on about 90 percent of its foreign trade with communist nations,
especially China and Russia. North Korea’s leading exports are minerals, chiefly copper, iron
ore, lead, tungsten, and zinc. The North also exports food products and machinery. North
Korea’s major imports are crude oil, fuels, machinery, rubber, and wheat.
6. Transportation
Railroads carry most of North Korea’s freight and passenger traffic. The North has about
3,000 miles (4,800 kilometers) of rail road track and more than 12,000 miles (19,300
kilometers) of roads. Buses operate in the cities and for short distances in rural areas. Few
North Koreans own an automobile. Many people in the cities ride bicycles. North Korea’s airline
is used chiefly for government business. The state controls the entire transportation system.
Communication
The government controls all broadcasting, publishing, and other means of communication
in North Korea. It runs the nation’s only radio network, which has stations in every province.
Few families own a radio, but almost every home has a load speaker that receives radio
broadcasts. Limited television broadcasting has begun in Pyongyang, but nowhere else in the
country. North Korean cities have public telephone service, but most rural areas do not. About
30 daily newspapers are published in North Korea.
References
The World Book Encyclopedia
By
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