The Koreas

The Koreas

Geography North Korea

• Find:– Korea Bay -Haeju– Yellow Sea -Kanggye– Yulu River -Hyesan– Tumen River-Najin– Taedong River -Cho’ongjin– Imjin River -Kinch’aek– P’yongyang -Wonsan– Sinuiju -Sariwon– Namp’o

Geography South Korea

• Find:– T’aebaek Mts. -Seoul-Chonju– Sea of Japan-Kangnung -Taegu– Yellow Sea -Chuncheon -Masan– Korea Strait -Inch’on -Kwangju– Cheju Strait -Suwon -Mokp’o– Han River -Wonju -Pusan– Naktong River -Andong -Yosu– Kum River -Kunsan -P’ohang

Climate

• North Korea: temperate with rainfall concentrated in the summer

• South Korea: temperate, with rainfall heavier in the summer than winter

Size- Slightly smaller than Mississippi

North Korea Mississippi

Size- Slightly larger than Indiana

South Korea Indiana

Korean War

• June 25, 1950- July 1953• North Korea invaded South Korea• Created an Armistice line at the 38th parallel• North Korea- Russia and China• South Korea- US and UN

• Part of Japanese empire until WWII• South (anti-communist)- Syngman Rhee • North (communist)- Kim II Sung • Neither planned on staying separate• 10,000 killed before war began

• N. Korea made first move• Outside forces believed in containment• Use military force• Step in before it goes too far

• Koreas looked at as a symbol • East vs. West• Evil vs. Good• Fight against communism

• General Douglas MacArthur– In charge of Asian fights– Liberate the North from communists– Use Nationalist Chinese forces from Taiwan

(Chiang Kai-shek)– Wanted to use nuclear weapons on

Chinese/Korean border – President Truman fired him for insubordination

• Amphibious attack on Inchon• N. Koreans from Seoul to their side• US makes it close to border • Chinese join attack• Mao Zedong sends troops to N.Korea warn US

• July 1951 President Truman and commanders start peace talks in Panmunjom

• Two years• What to do with POWs (repatriated)• July 27, 1953 armistice was signed• S. Korea gained 1500 square miles• 2-mile-wide demilitarized zone

• Short but deadly• 5 million people die• 10% of Korea’s causalities were civilian• 40,000 Americans died in action• 100,000 wounded

38th ParallelNorth invaded South

Kim II-SungNorth Korean dictator. Dictator from 1948-1994 when he died.

Syngman RheeSouth Korean Dictator. Ruled 1948-1960 when he was forced to resign and flee the country.

General Douglas MacArthur

Chinese Communist Troops Captured

Inchon LandingAmphibious launch on North Koreans

Guards in front of Korean Peace Conference

President Dwight D. Eisenhower and General Van Fleet

UN POWs released to Freedom

Korean War Veterans Memorial

Demilitarized ZoneNorth Korea in front, South Korea in back.38th Parallel runs through the middle

Hillary ClintonNorth Korean Solider looking through the glass as she shows support for South Korea.

• Korean War• MacArthur• Operation Inchon• Chinese Attack

Unified Silla Dynasty

• Unified Silla Dynasty (668-935)• Originally part of three kingdoms– Silla, Paekche, Koguryo

• Joined Tang China (618-907)– Conquered Paekche in SE in 660– Conquered Koguryo in N Korea in 668

• 1st time Korea has been unified in history• After a decade they got rid of Tang forces• Culture, language, & geography is similar to

what it is today

• After unification Chinese recognized Korea• Divided into 9 provinces• Class system based on merit– Old aristocracy remained in control

Parhae

• Remaining Koguryo people in northern Manchuria– Leader: Tae Cho-yong

• Age of separate southern & northern states• Chinese called it “Prosperous Country of the

East”• Since conquered it has not been part of Korea

• Buddhism was the main religion for the aristocracy

• Underprivileged were attracted to Pure Land Buddhism– Promised bliss in the next world

• Confucianism prospered among low level aristocrats

• Rebellions were common• Many aristocratic families prospered in their

own province• Fought each other• Government weakened causing its demise

Koryo Dynasty

• Reason for western name: Korea• Established in 918– Leader: Wang Kon

• 936 established a unified kingdom• Absorb people of overthrown states– Silla & Parhae

• Expanded to Yalu River

• Aristocrats continued to rule• Family lineage was very important• Maintaining or elevating social & political

status was important• Families of 5th out of 9 grades did not have to

take exams to receive official jobs

• Government:– Two Groups:• Three Chancelleries• Royal Secretariat

• Together formed the Supreme Council of State• Families above 5th grade received land for

permanent possession• Land was a source of wealth

• Military officials were looked down upon• Civilians were allowed to own more land• Military rebelled• Buddhism was banned

• 1231 Mongols attack• Could not overpower Koryo• 1258 created a peace treaty

• Demand for land reform• Demand for freedom of religion• Demand for free range of districts• Dynasty falls in 1392

Choson (Yi) Dynasty

• 26 monarchs who ruled from 1392 to 1910• Seoul was the capital• Confucian replaced Buddhism • Printing was developed in 1234– Medicine– Astronomy– Geography– History– Agriculture

• 1443 Phonetic Alphabet was completed

• Japanese went through Korea to attack China• Military leaders and monks joined fight• Korea left in shambles• Japan withdrew

• Standard of living increased• Production increased• Created own money• Changed from theory to practical relevance• Christianity was introduced in S. Korea• Christianity was banned

Isolation

• Korea became isolationist– Closed ports– Close borders– Ignored foreign ideas

• Mid 1800’s west wanted ports open• “Hermit Kingdom”• China supported• Unequal treaties

• In 1910 Japan annexed Korea• Koreans resented their rule• Created peaceful demonstration– March 1st Movement

• Japanese killed 2,000 and jailed 19,000• Leaders fled

• Japan ruled until WWII• Japan tried to diminish the Koreans– Forbade language– Take Japanese– Change last names

Government & Economics

• South Korea:– Fear of invasion– Authoritarian rule

• Syngman Rhee/ President Park Chung Hee– Harsh control– Stability and economic growth

• North Korea:– Communist dictator– Totalitarian state– Complete obedience to “Great Leader”

• Isolated N. Korea– Juche (self-reliance)– Built heavy industry– Limited imports and exports

• South Korea:– Strong economic growth since Korean War– Four Asian Tigers• South Korea• Taiwan• Singapore• Hong Kong

• Quick economic growth (10-15% growth per year GDP)

• Four Tigers– Comparative advantage

• Hong Kong/ Singapore: international financial centers• S. Korea/ Taiwan: information technology

• Comparative Advantage:– the ability to produce a product most efficiently given all other

products that could be produced• Absolute Advantage:– The ability to produce more of a given product using a given

amount of resources• Opportunity Cost:– What you give up in order to produce a certain product.

• Free market economy– Tight control by government

• Manufacturing for exports– Automobiles– Textiles– Electronics

• Closely tied to global economy

• Raised standard of living– Paid price:• Air and water in Seoul are polluted

• Economic crisis in 1997– Reforms brought recovery

• Economic progress– New middle class– Move from rural to urban– City growth

• Families became smaller• Women’s rights– Factory jobs

• Confucian beliefs– Respect elders– Education

• Families take care of each other• Marriage still arranged with consent

• North Korea under Kims:– More industrialized– More urbanized

• Low standard of living

• 1995 problems:– Floods– Drought– Low food supply– Famine• Killed millions

• Caused government to encourage trade and foreign investment

North and South Today

• Attempt to reunite in 90’s• Signed nonaggression act• South sent food aid to North• Obstacles:– Fear– Suspicion– Overthrow government

• North Korea developed nuclear weapons• Tested long range missiles– Sold missiles and nuclear weapons to terrorist

groups• Western powers fear nuclear use and attack• Labeled as “axis of evil” by President George

W. Bush

• The Korean people won a historic victory in the Fatherland Liberation War (Korean war between 1950 and 1953) against aggression of the United States. The US, which had boasted of its “greatest” might, hurled into the war two-million-strong forces, including the forces from its 15 satellite states, the south Korean puppet army and the remnants of the former Japanese army, who, aware of being the masters of their own destiny, turned out in the struggle to defend their national dignity and sovereignty honorably.

Koryo King and Queen attire

Silla King and Queen attire

HwarotTraditional Wedding Dresses

KimchiCabbage soaked in ginger, garlic, scallions, and chili pepper

JokbalPig’s Feet

Dolsotbap

BindaeddeokBean Pancake

Portrait of a BeautyHeywon (1758)

Punjang SagiCeladon Bowl

Cheongja unhak sanggam mun maebyeongKroyo Dynasty

BuchaechumFan Dance

Gain jeon mokdanBeautiful women picking peonies

TaepyeongmuGreat Peace

Jinju geommuSword dance

NongakFarmers’ dance

Dabo Pagoda

Gyeongbok Palace

Bulguk Temple

Tomb of the General

Sungyang SeowonAcademic Institute