South Korea is one of the world's wealthiest nations, and is a member of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the G-20 major economies. South Korea has a market economy that ranks 13th in the world by nominal GDP and 13th by purchasing power parity (PPP). It is a developed country, with a developed market and a high-income economy. South Korea is the only developed country included in the group of Next Eleven countries. South Korea had one of the world's fastest growing economies from the early 1960s to the late 1990s, and remains one of the fastest growing developed countries in the 2000s. South Koreans refer to this growth as the Miracle on the Han River of Heavy-Chemical Industry Drive, and top four chaebol generate 90% of South Korean conglomerate profits. By creating favorable policy directive for economic development as preceded by Japanese economic recovery as the logistic supplying bastion for American troops in the Korean peninsula during and after the Korean War, South Korea's rigorous education system and the establishment of a highly motivated and educated populace is largely responsible for spurring the country's high technology boom and rapid economic development Having almost no natural resources and always suffering from overpopulation in its small territory, which deterred continued population growth and the formation of a large internal consumer market, South Korea adapted an export-oriented economic strategy to fuel its economy, and in 2012, South Korea was the seventh largest exporter and seventh largest importer in the world. Bank of Korea and Korea Development Institute periodically release major economic indicators and economic trends of the economy of South Korea.
NATURAL RESOURCES: Less than 1/4 of the republic's area is cultivated. Rice is the most important crop including fruits, veggies, (especially cabbage) and flowers. Ginseng is highly valued. 2.3 total value of mineral resources. Graphite and tungsten are amongst the largest distributions. CURRENCY: South Korea is a homogeneous society with absolute majority of the population of Korean ethnicity. In 1970, an estimate of 120,000 Chinese resided in South Korea. Due to economic restrictions by the Korean government, the number officially fell to around 21,000 today. However, many "foreigners" hailing from other Asian countries (Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, etc.) Americans, Africans, and Europeans have created a larger number of non-Koreans.
Chuseok (추석)Chuseok is sometimes referred to as the 'Korean Thanksgiving', 'Hangawi', 'Jungchujul', or 'Gabe' and is celebrated on the brightest full moon of the year, which occurs on the 15th day of the eighth month on the lunar calendar, landing somewhere between September to early October on the solar calendar. Unlike Western society, Koreans still use the lunar calendar for important dates, so a lot of their holidays are centered around the moon and its cycle. For 2014, the day of Chuseok falls on September 8th, and in 2015, the holiday will be celebrated on September 27th. Chuseok is essentially a celebration of a good harvest, as it's around this time that grains and fruits will be at their ripest and freshest for harvesting. To celebrate a year of successful farming, families will all pack up and head home to their ancestral hometowns and 'bon-ga' (directly translated to 'main house', but it's usually the home of the oldest or head of the household, e.g., grandparents, parents), where they'll dress up in traditional clothing, cook delicious food, and pay their respects to their ancestors. As you've probably noticed by now, respect for the elderly is a highly important trait for Koreans. Chuseok isn't simply just a feast celebration, as there are three major duties that must be completed: 1. 'bulcho': Weeds and such that have grown around the graves of family members all summer long must be picked and discarded. This is an especially important task for families because Korea (and Asian society in general) places a lot of emphasis on saving face before the public. When one commits a mistake, the first thought isn't, "Oh no, I am embarrassed," it's usually, "What would others think of this mistake?" Graves with weeds still growing around them after the Chuseok holiday will make others assume that they have undutiful children, and is considered an embarrassment for the family. 2. 'sungmyo': Respect must be paid to the grave, often in the form of bowing before it and offering alcohol, fruits, meat, and shikhye. 3. 'charye': An elaborate table setting of food offered to the ancestors at home. There are several meticulous steps to setting this up and doing it properly, like lighting candles before the alcohol is poured in exactly three different cups and bowing twice after it. Each dish also has a specific area of the table it needs to go on. Once the tasks are completed, it's time to play. These games are outdated and families will normally gather to just chat and drink after dinner or play go-stop, but they're still often put on display at public events. 1. 'kangkangsullae': A game specifically for women, where several dozens will gather under the moon and dance in a circle, linking arms. 2. 'sonori'/'geobuknori': Two people will throw on a cape made of hanji (traditional Korean paper made from mulberry trees) and run around town under the guise of a cow or a turtle, going from house to house, asking for food. The food will often be shared with families who cannot afford Chuseok meals. Others include wrestling, tug of war, and archery. Songpyeon is one of the representative food items of Chuseok, and it's made from the newly harvested rice. It's essentially a small, crescent-shaped rice cake that contains either red beans, chestnuts, jujubes, powdered sesame, or just brown sugar. When you make the songpyeon, you make a wish as you scoop in the contents and carefully fold it up into a crescent shape so that your wish doesn't fall out. The elders will often nag to shape them as pretty as possible, as there's a saying that the prettier you shape your songpyeon, the prettier your future daughter will be. Seollal (설날)Seollal – the lunar New Year – is a major event on the Korean calendar. Although many countries celebrate the solar equivalent on January 1, Koreans have been ringing in the New Year on the second new moon following the winter solstice for well over 1,000 years. Seollal traditionsThis annual celebration is all about insuring both a happy afterlife for ancestors and one’s own longevity. On Seollal morning, the family, dressed in their spanking new hanbok (traditional garb), begins the ancestral rites, or jesa (제사). Along with the ancestral tablet, dishes of ritual food like tteokguk, galbijim, japchae, hangwa and savory pancakes adorn the table. Many Koreans believe if the food isn’t both a treat for the mouth and the eyes, the ancestors won’t be satisfied; so all Seollal specialties are made with extreme care. After the family completes a series of deep bows to greet the ancestor spirits, prayers and scrumptious bites are offered to the dearly departed. Then the family bids the spirits farewell for another year – and promptly tackles the feast. Second only to food is the exchange of Seollal gifts between family and friends. Back in the day, it was common to give and receive traditional treats like ginseng, honey, dried fish or fruits. These days, however, Spam gift sets (yes, you read that correctly), massage chairs, department store gift cards and cash top most Koreans’ wish lists. Children in particular love this next bit. After the mountain of food has been cleared, children pay their respects to the older generations with deep bows and small gifts, an act called sebae (세배). If their bows are satisfactory, the kiddos are rewarded with a little pocket money. The rest of the day is all about relaxing, enjoying each other’s company, playing traditional games, and, of course, more food. Despite the commercialization, Seollal is a great time to spot a number of Korean traditions in action. For one, it’s highly likely you’ll see families out and about in full traditional hanbok. These beautiful bell-shaped gowns and jacketed suits are purchased just for the occasion and can range from simple and classic to sassy and modern. It’s also common for families to visit parks, temples, palaces and other significant historical sites, play traditional outdoor games, and even catch movies and shows. Hanbok (한복)Hanbok (South Korea) or Joseon-ot (North Korea) is the traditional Korean dress. It is often characterized by vibrant colors and simple lines without pockets. Although the term literally means "Korean clothing", hanbok today often refers specifically to clothing of theJoseon period and is worn as semi-formal or formal wear during traditional festivals and celebrations. Throughout history, Korea had a dual clothing tradition, in which rulers and aristocrats adopted different kinds of mixed foreign-influenced indigenous styles while commoners continued to use a distinct style of indigenous clothing that today is known as Hanbok. In 1996, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism made "Hanbok day" to encourage people to wear Hanbok. Korean CustomsThe People
Korea is one of the most homogeneous countries in the world, racially and linguistically. It has its own culture, language, dress and cuisine, separate and distinct from its neighboring countries. Hard work, filial piety and modesty are characteristics esteemed by Koreans. They are proud of their traditional culture and their modern economic success. Education is highly valued as the path to status, money and success. Meeting and Greeting
Kimchi (김치)Dating to the Shilla Dynasty (approximately 2,000 years ago), kimchi is the beloved spicy sidekick at every Korean table. It's made by salting and preserving fermented cabbage in a bed of pepper, garlic, ginger and scallion. Samgyeopsal (삼겹살)This dish is simply pork belly which is super chewy. Served with lettuce, perilla leaves, sliced onions and raw garlic kimchi, it's smudged in ssamjang (a mix of soybean paste called 'doenjang' and chili paste called 'gochujang') or salt and pepper in sesame oil. Jjajangmyeon (짜장면)Although originally a Chinese dish, Koreans have taken the noodles and created a thicker, yummier version that holds only a vague resemblance to its Chinese predecessor. It would not be an understatement to say Korean diets would not be the same without this dish -- most Koreans eat it at least once a week, and have their favorite jjajangmyeon delivery shop on speed dial. Ramyeon/Instant Noodles (라면)Anyone can follow the directions on the back of the ramyeon package to boil water and sprinkle in the spice packet, but connoisseurs will add extras like canned tuna, eggs, and cheese for enhanced flavor. Ramyeon dishes are varied from bean sprouts and tofu to mussels and sea mustard. And as if that isn’t enough, all meals come with a complimentary supply of eggs, glutinous rice, and toast. Tteokbokki (떡볶이)This iconic red-orange street food is so popular there’s an entire town in Seoul just devoted to the steamed and sliced rice cakes (tteok), cooked with fish cakes (oden) and scallions in a sweet and spicy sauce made of chili paste. Chefs have been known to put all sorts of things inside the sauce, from the black soybean paste to plain old ketchup. Bibimbap (비빔밥)This Korean lunch-in-a-bowl mixes together a simple salad of rice, mixed vegetables, rice, beef, and egg, with sesame oil and a dollop of chili paste for seasoning. Although Korean kings from yesteryear have eaten this not in a palate of the masses it is still a great meal and everyone loves how cheaply and quickly they can devour their favorite lunch. Gimbap (김밥)The process of making gimbap resembles the Italian glasswork technique of millefiori or the overrated Japanese sushi and indeed, the finished gimbap often looks too pretty too eat. Sautéed vegetables, ground beef, sweet pickled radish, and rice, rolled and tightly wrapped in a sheet of laver seaweed (gim), and then sliced into bite-sized circles. Haemul Pajeon (해물파전)Crunchy and filling, Korean pancake tastes best when it comes studded with shellfish, cuttlefish, and other varieties of seafood, to make haemul (seafood) pajeon. And with its traditional companion of Korean rice wine, makgeolli, pajeon makes the perfect meal for a rainy day. Sundae (순대)Another street food, sundae is a type of sausage, similar in content to blood pudding, with roots in Mongolian cuisine. “Real” sundae is pig intestine with a stuffing of cellophane noodles, vegetables, and meat, but even if you eat the street vendor version, which uses a synthetic replacement for the pig intestine, you will still be able to enjoy the lungs and liver on the side. Galbi (갈비)Galbi, which means “rib,” can technically come from pork and even chicken, but when you just say “galbi” sans modifiers, you’re talking about thick slabs of meat marinated in a mixture of soy sauce, chopped garlic, and sugar and grilled over a proper fire. Japchae (잡채)Japchae, a side dish of cellophane noodles, pork, and assorted vegetables sautéed in soy sauce, makes its most frequent appearances at feasts and potlucks. There are no precise rules governing the precise assortment of vegetables in japchae, but most recipes won’t stray far from the standard collection of mushrooms, carrots, spinach, onions, and leeks. Hobakjuk (호박죽)This viscous, yellow-orange juk, or porridge, gets its distinctive color and flavor from the pumpkin, its namesake and its main ingredient. The pumpkin is peeled, boiled, and blended with glutinous rice flour, and the result is a bowl of porridge so creamy, golden, and sweet that in some ways it seems more pudding than porridge. Hobakjuk is often served as an appetizer to meals, or as a health food: it is supposedly beneficial to those suffering from intestinal problems. The specifics of medicinal science aside, it’s not difficult to imagine that this mellow, mildly flavored meal can heal. Naengmyeon (냉면)In Korea we wait for summer just so we can start eating naengmyeon every week. The cold buckwheat noodles are great as a lightweight lunch option or after Korean barbecue, as a way to cleanse the palate. Mul naengmyeon, or “water” naengmyeon, hailing from North Korea’s Pyeongyang, consists of buckwheat noodles in a tangy meat or kimchi broth, topped with slivers of radish, cucumber, and egg, and seasoned with vinegar and Korean mustard (gyeoja). Bibim naengmyeon, or “mix” naengmyeon, generally contains the same ingredients, but minus the broth. The noodles are instead covered in a sauce made from chili paste. Bulgogi (불고기)If galbi represents Korean barbecue, then bulgogi’s playing field is Korean cuisine as a whole. This well-known sweet meat dish, which has existed in some form for over a thousand years, was haute cuisine during the Joseon Dynasty. The dish is also a fusion favorite: bulgogi-flavored burgers are part of the menu at fast food franchise Lotteria, and there have also been sightings of other adaptations like the bulgogi panini. Bingsu (빙수)In this delectable summer dessert, sweetened red beans (pat) and tteok are served on a bed of shaved ice (bingsu). Variations will include condensed milk, misutgaru, syrup, ice cream, and corn flakes.
Then there are, of course, the variations on the bingsu, where the pat is sometimes entirely replaced by ice cream or fruit. Classic patbingsu, however, is too beloved to lose ground to the newcomers -- come summer, every bakery and fast food restaurant in Seoul will have patbingsu on its dessert menu. The government of South Korea (officially, The Government of Republic of Korea) is divided into executive, judicial, and legislative branches. The executive and judicial branches operate primarily at the national level, although various ministries in the executive branch also carry out local functions. Local governments are semi-autonomous, and contain executive and legislative bodies of their own. The judicial branch operates at both the national and local levels. The South Korean government's structure is determined by the Constitution of the Republic of Korea. This document has been revised several times since its first promulgation in 1948 (for details, see History of South Korea). However, it has retained many broad characteristics; with the exception of the short-lived Second Republic of South Korea, the country has always had a presidential system with a relatively independent chief executive.
Chief of State: President Park Geun-hye Head of Government: Prime Minister Jung Hong-Won (resigned) Government Name: Republic of Korea Constitution: Adopted: 1987; Protects individual rights in additional to economic provisions, such as stable and balanced growth rates, proper distribution of income, and preventing abuse of economic power. Government Type: Republic Of the South Korean population in 2005, 46.5% were classified as non religious, 22.8% were Buddhist, 29.2% were Christians (18.3% were Protestants and 10.9% were Catholics), and the rest adhered to various minority religions including Jeung San Do, Daesun Jinrihoe, Cheondoism, Taoism, Confucianism and Won Buddhism.
Buddhism (불교 Bulgyo) Buddhism entered Korea from China during the period of the three kingdoms (372, or the 4th century).[17] Buddhism was the dominant religious and cultural influence in the Silla (668-935) and subsequent Goryeo (918-1392) states. Confucianism was also brought to Korea from China in early centuries, and was formulated as Korean Confucianism in Goryeo. However, it was only in the subsequent Joseon kingdom (1392–1910) that Korean Confucianism was established as the state ideology and religion, and Korean Buddhism underwent 500 years of suppression.[19][20] Buddhism in the contemporary state of South Korea is stronger in the east of the country, namely the Yeongnamand Gangwon regions, as well as in Jeju. Christianity (기독교 Gidoggyo) Christianity in South Korea is predominantly constituted by communities pertaining to Protestantism (개신교 Gaesingyo, "renewed teaching") and Catholicism (천주교 Cheonjugyo, "religion of the Lord of Heaven", or 카톨릭교 Katolliggyo), respectively with 8.6 million and 5.3 million members as of the 2005 census. There are also small communities of Orthodox Christians (정교 Jeonggyo), founded by Russian Orthodox missionary endeavors in the 19th century, and Mormons (몰몬교 Molmongyo). Christianity grew exponentially in the 1970s and 1980s. In the 1990s it continued to grow, but at a slower rate. Christianity is especially dominant in the west of the country including Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi and Honam regions. Seoul is home to Yoido Full Gospel Church, the largest Pentecostal megachurch in the country. Confucianism (유교 Yugyo) Only 0.2% of contemporary South Koreans identify as adherents of Confucianism. However, the influence of Confucian ethical thought on other religious practices, and on Korean culture in general, remains ubiquitous and pervasive. Besides the other numerous numbers of historical locations in South Korea, here are two that stand out. GYEONGBOKGUNG 경복궁 Located in Seoul, Gyeongbokgung Palace was the first royal palace built by the Joseon Dynasty, three years after the Joseon Dynasty was founded. Built in 1395, Gyeongbokgung Palace was located at the heart of newly appointed capital of Seoul (then known as Hanyang) and represented the sovereignty of the Joseon Dynasty. The largest of the Five Grand Palaces (the others being Gyeonghuigung Palace, Deoksugung Palace, Changgyeonggung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace), Gyeongbokgung served as the main palace of the Joseon Dynasty. Gyeongbokgung Palace continued to serve as the main palace until the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592 – 1598), when all of the palaces were severely damaged. It was not until about 1868 that the palace was reconstructed and expanded greatly. Gyeongbokgung Palace flourished for several decades in this state until the Japanese once again demolished the palaces during their occupation of Korea (1910-1945). Most of the restored buildings were torn down. An effort by the Korean government has been ongoing since 1990 to rebuild and restore the buildings that were destroyed during the Japanese occupation. This 40-year restoration project aims to fully restore Gyeongbokgung Palace to its original form in the next twenty years. Currently, the palace is open to the public and houses the National Palace Museum of Korea and the National Folk Museum of Korea.9 GYEONGJU 경주Known as ‘the museum without walls’, Gyeongju holds more tombs, temples, rock carvings, pagodas, Buddhist statuary and palace ruins than any other place in South Korea. Most visitors touring the city centre are taken aback by the distinctive urban landscape created by round grassy tombs – called tumuli – and traditional architecture with colourful hip roofs set against a canvas of green rolling mountains. In 57 BC, around the same time that Julius Caesar was subduing Gaul, Gyeongju became the capital of the Shilla dynasty, and it remained so for nearly a thousand years. In the 7th century AD, under King Munmu, Shilla conquered the neighbouring kingdoms of Goguryeo and Baekje, and Gyeongju became the capital of the whole peninsula. The population of the city eventually peaked at around one million people, but the Shilla eventually fell victim to division from within and invasion from without. The city began a cultural revival in the late 20th century – with much preservation and restoration work thanks to President Park Chung-hee in the 1970s.
Although South Korea's full timeline is extremely informative and lengthy, this is where it is shortened and has just a few specific events that occurred from the past years. (1950-1953) THE KOREAN WAR
South declares independence, sparking North Korean invasion.Armistice ends Korean War, which has cost two million lives.The Korean war killed at least 2.5 million people. It pitted the North - backed by Chinese forces - against the South, supported militarily by the United Nations. (1980) GWANGJU MASSACRE Martial law declared after student demonstrations. In the city of Gwangju (Kwangju) at least 200 killed by the army, causing resentment that has yet to fade. Fifth republic and new constitution. (1991) UNISON North and South Korea join the United Nations. (2004) NEW CAPITAL Yeongi-Kongju area selected as site for new capital, to replace Seoul by 2030. (2014) SEWOL FERRY Captain of the Sewol ferry which sank killing more than 300 people, is found guilty of dereliction of duty and sentenced to 36 years in prison. (2015) The captain was then given a life sentencing. |