• Korea is a peninsula attached to eastern
Asia in between China and Japan.
• Korea is divided into two sections
– North Korea
– South Korea
• South Korea is smaller in size, but has nearly double the population of North Korea.

• 70% of Korea is covered by steep, low mountains
• Only 25% of population lives in Mts.
• Most live on coastal plains
• Northeast
• West and Southern

• North Korea Capital= Pyongyang (pee awng yahng)
• South Korea Capital= Seoul
• Temperate climate (hot summers cold winters) North
Korea more harsh climate
– North=one crop per year vs 2 harvests in South Korea (lots of rice)
• South has more farm land (60% arable vs 20% in the north)
• North Korea has more minerals in their mountains

• 95% literacy rate
• Almost all attend elementary school
• Homogeneous- Same ethnicity
• Have their own language
• Despite their recent division, they consider themselves the same

• China has had a profound impact on the development of
Korea
• They absorbed most of Chinese tradition
• Buddhism, Confucianism and other ideas were transmitted through trade
• Many Koreans went to China to study Confucianism

– Silla (668 ce)– Golden age with trade and prosperity from
Asia and Middle East
– Koryo– 918–1392 (1 st ruler-Wang Kon)
• Introduce civil service exams (unlike China, only open to aristocrats
(upper class)
• Stressed arts
• 81,000 wood-blocks carved for printing
• Buddhism was at its height (temples writing)
• Lots of invasions from mainland and Japanese pirates
• Mongols conquered in 1200s
– Choson 1392– Yi Song-gye
• Confucianism
• Isolation (“The Hermit Kingdom”)
• Treated China like an older brother but maintained identity

• 1592 Invasion by
Japan. Lots of battles. (Turtle boats)
• Chinese help fight off
Japanese.
Nevertheless weakened
• Manchus invade in
1600s while making their way to China
• Complete isolation as a result

• Mid-1800s – Imperialists force their way in, begin trading and exerting influence
• Japan takes over in 1905
– Good– improve farming and education, build factories
– Bad– exploit resources (including people—ie slave labor and brutal treatments)
• March 1, 1919 peaceful demonstration to demand independence – Japanese respond by killing 2000 and imprisoning 19000
• Koreans fought for Japan in WWII
• No Korean language and made them take Japanese last names.

• After WWII Soviets and US thought Korea should be independent
• Soviets occupied North and US South until elections held
(or so everyone thought)
• Permanent division into Soviet backed “Democratic
People’s Republic of Korea” in the north and US supported “Republic of Korea” in the south.

• North invade south to reunite.
• South was ill-prepared and was forced to retreat.
• US and allies step in to prevent the “domino” effect from happening
• UN (15 countries) sent troops but US and South Korea fought mostly
• Ended in stalemate in 1953
• Divided along 38 th parallel
• 4 Million died in war and lots of destruction

• Large, well equipped army
• Authoritarian Govt. was initially established but gradually relinquished power.
Nevertheless, there are still many restrictions on rights.
• Economic progress is impressive. One of the “4 Asian Tigers” along with Taiwan,
Hong Kong, and Singapore.
• Confucian Tradition remains strong

• Communist Dictatorship
• Isolated. Preached selfreliance
• Standard of living well below
South Korea yet still industrialized
• 1995 weather disaster led to
10% of the population’s death.
• Nuclear testing