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The Koreas: North and South
Main Ideas• The Korean peninsula is
divided into two separatecountries.
• North Korea is a Communistcountry, and South Korea is a
republic.
Places & TermsThree Kingdoms
Seoul
Pyongyang
Connect to the Issuestrade South Korea is one of the economic
tigers of the region, and much of itsprosperity depends
uponindustry and trade.
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A HUMAN PERSPECTIVE Korea is surrounded by water on three
sidesand by mountains on its northern border. In the 17th and 18th
centuries,Korea chose self-protected isolation and became known as
“the hermitkingdom.” This isolation has continued in North Korea,
which has littlecontact with other nations even today. However,
that may be changing.
A Divided PeninsulaKorea is a peninsula. To the east lies the
Sea of Japan. To the west lies theYellow Sea. To the south lies the
Korea Strait. To the north lie China andRussian Siberia. Korea’s
location has shaped its history.
ANCIENT KOREA AND FOREIGN INFLUENCES The ancestors oftoday’s
Koreans probably migrated into the peninsula from Manchuriaand
North China many thousands of years ago. Over the course of
thecenturies, different clans or groups controlled different parts
of thecountry. About 2000 B.C., the first state, called Chosen,
arose in Korea.
Around 100 B.C., China conquered the northern half of the
peninsula.This began the history of invasions by China and Japan.
Because of itslocation, Korea has been a buffer between the two
countries.
After being partially conquered by China, the Koreans gradually
wonback their territory. By the late 300s, the Three Kingdoms had
formed inthe peninsula. These were Koguryo in the northeast,
Paekche in thesouthwest, and Silla in the southeast. In the 660s,
Silla conquered theother two kingdoms and controlled the peninsula
for hundreds of years.
PLACE Kyungbok Palace islocated in Seoul, South Korea. What does
the setting ofthe palace amidst thebustle of Seoul suggestabout the
culture?
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648 CHAPTER 28
In 1392, a general named Yi Songgye became ruler of Korea.
Hefounded a dynasty that lasted for hundreds of years. But the
dynastyended in 1910, when Japan took control of the entire
peninsula. TheJapanese ruled Korea until they were defeated in
World War II in 1945.
TWO KOREAS: NORTH AND SOUTH After Japan’s defeat in the war,the
northern part of Korea was controlled by the Soviet Union, and
thesouthern half was supported by the United States. In 1950,
Koreantroops from the North invaded South Korea, starting the
Korean War.The war ended in 1953 with a treaty that divided the
peninsula betweenthe Communist state of North Korea and the
democratic country ofSouth Korea. The two nations remained hostile
toward each other, butin the year 2000, they began discussions on
reuniting.
Influences on Korean CultureThe shadow cast by China has fallen
across the Korean peninsula. Koreanculture, including language,
art, and religion, shows this influence. Morerecently, western
economic influences have been very important.
THE CHINESE INFLUENCE In philosophy and religion, Korea has
adapt-ed many ideas from China. Confucianism (see Section 1) is a
system ofteachings based on the beliefs of the Chinese scholar
Confucius. His ideasstressing social order have influenced many
Koreans. Buddhism, whichcame to Korea by way of China, has also
influenced many Koreans.
The Korean War, 1950–1953
SKILLBUILDER: Interpreting MapsMOVEMENT Which forces moved south
almost to Pusan?
REGION Compare maps 1 and 4 above. Did either sidegain more
territory?
0
0 100 200 kilometers
100 200 miles
Lambert Conformal Conic ProjectionNorth Korea Invasion, 1950
UN Offensive, 1950
Chinese Offensive, 1950
Stalemate and Armistice, 1953
Area occupied by Communist forces
Area occupied by UN forces
Movement of Communist forces
Movement of UN forces
1
2
3
4
PrewarBoundary
130°E
35°N
38°N
40°N
125°E
YellowSea
Sea ofJapan
Pusan
Seoul
NORTHKOREA
JAPAN
SOUTHKOREA
CHINA
SOVIET UNION
Yalu
J iang
InchonLanding
130°E
35°N
38°N
40°N
125°E
YellowSea
Sea ofJapan
Pusan
SeoulInchon
NORTHKOREA
JAPAN
SOUTHKOREA
CHINA
SOVIET UNION
Yalu
J iang
UN TroopEvacuations
130°E
35°N
38°N
40°N
125°E
YellowSea
Sea ofJapan
Pusan
Seoul
NORTHKOREA
JAPAN
SOUTHKOREA
CHINA
SOVIET UNION
Yalu
J iang
Panmunjom
ArmisticeLine
130°E
35°N
38°N
40°N
125°E
YellowSea
Sea ofJapan
Pusan
Seoul
NORTHKOREA
JAPAN
SOUTHKOREA
CHINA
SOVIET UNION
Yalu
J iang
1 2 3 4
N N N N
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The Koreas: North and South 649
Young people, like most other South Koreans, follow at least
some ofthe teachings of Confucius. For example, education is highly
valued. Thestate requires by law that students obtain a primary
education, and thisschooling is free. The majority of children
attend secondary schools. Morethan one million students attend
college-level schools in South Korea.
However, in addition to traditional ideas and ways of life,
there is astrong western influence in South Korea. This can be seen
in the Westernclothes worn by these students as they enjoy an
outing in the Nampodongshopping district in Pusan, South Korea.
If you lived in South Korea, you would pass these
milestones:
OTHER CULTURAL INFLUENCES Since World War II, two major
influ-ences have had a profound effect on Korea. First, Communism
hasmolded the culture of North Korea. Non-Communist South Korea,
onthe other hand, has been greatly influenced by Western
culture.
In North Korea, the government only allows art that
glorifiesCommunism or the folk tradition. In South Korea, artists
have morefreedom of expression. They work with themes drawn from
their ownhistory and culture, as well as themes drawn from Western
art.
Moving Toward Unity The most important recent development in
North Korea and SouthKorea is the movement toward unification.
However, the communistNorth and democratic South must overcome
years of mutual hostility.
AN ARMED SOCIETY After World War II, both North Korea and
SouthKorea built up huge armies. The armed forces of South Korea
numbermore than 600,000 soldiers and sailors. The armed forces of
NorthKorea are even larger, numbering well over one million.
Both countries have existed with large armies and the threat
ofanother war for many years. Only recently has there been an
attempt todefuse the situation to prevent an outbreak of war. War
has been a realpossibility along the border between North Korea and
South Korea,which is guarded by nearly 2 million troops on both
sides.
A SINGLE FLAG There are signs of hope, however. In June 2000,
theleaders of both Koreas held a summit meeting at which they
declaredtheir intention to reunite the two countries. Shortly
after, the defense
• You would be required by law toattend school through 6th
grade.
• You would next attend middleschool—grades 7 through 9.
• You would then probably attendhigh school—grades 10 through
12.
• You would be able to vote at age 20.
• The average age for a first marriage is 29 for men and 26 for
women.
• The average age of women at thebirth of their first child is
27.
Seeing PatternsWhat have
been the main dif-ferences dividingNorth Korea andSouth
Korea?
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650 CHAPTER 28
chiefs of the two Koreas met and agreed to reduce tensions along
theirborder. They agreed to discuss clearing land mines so they
could rebuilda rail link between the two countries. Perhaps most
importantly, familiesin North Korea and South Korea were allowed to
visit each other.
At the summer Olympics held in Sydney, Australia, in 2000,
therewas another sign of a thaw. The two Koreas marched into the
OlympicStadium under a new flag designed for a single, unified
Korea.
Economic and Human ResourcesBefore the Korean War, the economies
of North Korea and South Koreawere agricultural. After the war,
industry gained in importance in bothcountries. In many ways, the
resources of each country balance oneanother.
ECONOMIC PATTERNS If North Korea and South Korea reunite,
theywill form an economic powerhouse. North Korea will be able to
providenatural resources and raw materials for South Korea’s
industries.
South Korea, like Taiwan, is one of the economic tigers of Asia.
It isa highly successful and competitive economy. It has the
world’s largestshipbuilding industry, as well as large automobile,
steel, and chemicalindustries. South Korea is today one of the
world’s top trading nations.
POPULATION PATTERNS Most of the people in Korea live on
plainsalong the coast or in river valleys among the mountains of
the penin-sula. South Korea has 45 percent of the Korean
peninsula’s land areabut about 66 percent of its people. Seoul is
by far the largest city inSouth Korea, with a population of more
than 10 million. The largest cityin North Korea is Pyongyang, with
more than 2.5 million people.
In the next section, you will read about the history, culture,
econom-ics, and daily life in Japan.
Places & TermsIdentify and explain thesignificance of each
ofthe following in theregion.
• Three Kingdoms
• Seoul
• Pyongyang
Taking Notes REGION Use your notes toanswer the questions
below.
• In which ways has Chinainfluenced the culture of Korea?
• Which countries in the regionhave invaded Korea?
Main Ideas a. What impact has the
border between NorthKorea and South Korea hadupon life in both
countries?
b. How is the economy ofSouth Korea different fromthat of North
Korea?
c. Which two majorinfluences have shapedNorth Korea and
SouthKorea since World War II?
Geographic ThinkingDrawing Conclusions Howhas Korea’s physical
locationaffected its history? Thinkabout:
• the definition of a peninsula
• the location of Korea’sneighbors
See SkillbuilderHandbook, page R5.
SEEING PATTERNS Both Taiwan and South Korea are considered
economic tigers of East Asia.What are some characteristics that
they share? Make a Venn diagram showing the similaritiesand
differences between the two.
TheKoreas
East Asia
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