South Korea Facts

South Korea Facts and History

Asia

South Korea is located on the Korean Peninsula, with Korea being a peninsula in East Asia.

It has been divided into the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea in the south by a demilitarized zone along the 38th parallel since 1948. The previous Korean War from June 25, 1950 to June 27, 1953 cost the lives of around 3 million civilians, 40,000 UN soldiers, 500,000 Korean and 400,000 Chinese soda data.

On March 8, 2013, North Korea terminated the ceasefire with effect from March 11, 2013.

And on March 30, 2013, North Korea declared that it was again at war with South Korea.

South Korea is a relatively small, very mountainous country. Its residents are largely Buddhist. You have made South Korea one of the leading economic nations in recent years.

In 1960 the country was still one of the poorest in the world. Today, the Korean industry, with companies such as Samsung, Hyundai and LG, is among the world’s best.

Name of the country Republic of Korea
Form of government republic
Geographical location East Asia
National anthem Aegukga
Population 50 million (Credit: Countryaah: South Korea Population)
Ethnicities Koreans and around 20,000 Chinese
Religions Protestans (approx. 14 million),Confucians (approx. 10 million),

Buddhists (approx. 9 million),

Catholics (approx. 3 million) and other religions

Languages Korean; Japanese and English (business languages)
Capital Seoul
Surface 99,600 kmĀ²
Highest mountain Halla-san with an altitude of 1,950 m
Longest river Naktong River with a length of around 525 km
Largest lake Soyang Lake with a length of about 70 km
International license plate ROK
National currency South Korean Won (KRW) = 100 Chon
Time difference to CET + 8 h
International phone code + 82
Mains voltage, frequency 110/220 volts, 50/60 hertz
Internet TLD (Top Level Domain) .kr

South Korea: history

Before the year 1000

The first tribal association to develop into a kingdom in what is now Korea was the Goguryeo from the 1st century onwards. The tribe developed into the leading power in Korea in the Middle Ages. The Goguryeo s promoted Confucian state ethics, built universities based on the Chinese model and brought cultural life to the peninsula. In the 6th and 7th centuries there was fighting with China and finally the submission of the Goguryeo. With the consent of China, the Sillas tribe ruled the entire peninsula after the victory and secured peace for 200 years. Under the Sillas, Buddhism became the state religion, the fine arts were promoted, and cultural life flourished. When the rising feudal nobility led to tax increases in the 9th century.

From the year 1000 to the 17th century

According to Abbreviationfinder website, from 918, the Goryeo empire developed in Korea and ruled the Korean peninsula for 500 years. Their power came to an end in the 13th century when Mongolian troops under Genghis Khan raided and sacked Korea. In 1260 the Goryeos had to recognize the rule of the Mongols. This foreign rule lasted 125 years. It was not until the middle of the 14th century that the Goryeos were able to drive the Mongols off the peninsula. Domestic political crises, however, replaced the fall of the Koryo Dynasty in favor of the Joseon Dynasty (old: Yi Dynasty). This dynasty was founded by Yi Seong-gye in 1392 and lasted until 1910. However, since pirates have repeatedly attacked Japan, China and the coasts over the centuries, a strict policy of isolation was followed in the 17th century.

In the 18th and 19th centuries

It was not until the 19th century that Korea opened up to the outside world again. As a result, conflicts arose with Japan and China as early as the late 19th century. Both states tried to assert their claim to power in Korea.

In the 20th and 21st centuries

With the annexation of Korea by Japan in 1910, the Yi Dynasty (Joseon Dynasty) ended. Korea became a colony of Japan and was ruled by a Japanese governor general. In 1919 there was a non-violent uprising of the Korean people against the occupying power, which was brutally suppressed by Japan with casualties of up to 7,000 dead, 15,000 wounded and 46,000 arrests. A government in exile founded the Communist Party of Korea in Shanghai in 1920, but it was unable to do anything against the occupiers. In Korea there was a strict Japanese assimilation policy. Only after the Second World War did the situation in the country change. In 1945 America, Russia, Great Britain and China took over the trust for Korea. In 1946 there was a political separation between North and South Korea. In the south, the Americans formed a democratic council; in the north, a people’s committee was set up by members of the Korean Communist Party. Since there was no agreement on the Korean question, the UN decided to hold free elections under observation. However, North Korea refused entry by the monitoring commission, so that elections could initially only be held in South Korea. The Republic of Korea was proclaimed on August 15, 1948. The Soviet Union was not ready to give up its influence in Korea. Under their pressure, the Choson People’s Democratic Republic was founded in North Korea. The division of the country was thus complete. The Americans and Soviets withdrew.

On June 25th, 1950 the Korean War broke out when North Korean troops marched into South Korea. The convened World Security Council assured the support of South Korea. In July the Americans intervened and were initially able to recapture the territories. But in early 1951 the Chinese entered the war on behalf of the North Koreans. A war of positions developed between the fronts, which could only be ended with the rapprochement of the Soviets with the UN. On July 27, 1953, the armistice agreement between North and South Korea was concluded. Nevertheless, South Korea continued to feel threatened by the north.

The Korean War from June 25, 1950 to July 27, 1953 killed around 3 million civilians, 40,000 UN soldiers, 500,000 Korean and 400,000 Chinese soda data.

During the Parks era, who ruled South Korea from 1961 to 1979, the South Korean economy flourished. The economic miracle, however, was based on the exploitation of the population. Domestically, the country stagnated. Democracy suffered under Park’s sole rule and the rule of the strong military. After Park was assassinated in 1979, democracy continued to develop in South Korea. However, there were demonstrations, strikes and riots as early as 1980. The military responded and proceeded with great brutality against the demonstrators.

In the 1980s there were repeated domestic unrest and protests against the government. It was not until 1988 that South Korea was democratized. In 1992 the country took its place at the United Nations.

In terms of foreign policy, South Korea came closer to North Korea. The first programs of family reunification and exchange of goods came about.

Unfortunately, North Korea broke off this policy of understanding with South Korea as early as 1992, which reignited tensions on the peninsula. In the years that followed, rapprochement between the two countries was only possible slowly, which was mainly due to the North Korean nuclear weapons program. South Korea’s so-called “sunshine policy” in the 1990s was intended to actively improve relations with North Korea. In 2000 there was a summit between the two leaders in the North Korean capital Pyongyang. The first agreements were made, but it soon emerged that North Korea was not ready for close cooperation. Apart from programs for family reunification, only bilateral cultural and trade contacts could be continued. In 1998, Kim became Dae-jung (born 1925) President of the country, he ruled until 2003, in 2000 he received the Nobel Peace Prize.

Roh Moo-hyun (1946-2009) was President of the country from February 25, 2003 to February 25, 2008. Prior to becoming a politician, he was a human rights lawyer and committed suicide by jumping off a rock near his home village of Bongha on May 22, 2009. He was succeeded by Lee Myung-bak (born in 1941 in akasaka, Japan), who was previously mayor of Seoul. Lee Myung-bak is a member of the conservative Grand National Party (GNP). He was the winner of the December 19, 2007 presidential election.

On March 8, 2013, North Korea terminated the ceasefire with effect from March 11, 2013. And on March 30, 2013, North Korea declared that it was again at war with South Korea.

South Korea Facts