Report on Country

Geography



The Korean Peninsula, located in Northeast Asia, is bordered on the north by China and Russia and just toward Japan to the southeast. Since 1948, the Peninsula has been divided roughly along the 38th parallel with the Republic of Korea (South Korea) to the south and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) to the North; the total land area of the Republic of Korea is 99,394 square kilometers. Approxiately 50 million people live in Korea.

The Republic of Korea is composed of nine provinces, with Seoul as the capital city. Other major cities include Pusan, Taegu, Incheon, Kwangju, and Taejon. The landscape of the country is spectacular in its variations and about 70 percent of it is mountainous, with more than 3000 islands dotting the coastline. There are several major rivers in the South, one of which is the Han River which cuts through Seoul.

Like other countries in the temperate zone, Korea has four distinct seasons. In spring and autumn, the weather is superb: clear, blue skies and warm, gentle sunshine. Summer is relatively hot and humid, with heavy rainfall occurring during the monsoon season. Winter is cold and dry, with occasional snow.

 History and Government

South Korea is democratic. Political history is very important to understand Korea. In the late 19th Century, there was Chosen dynasty in the Korean Peninsula. In that time, Korea's foreign relations were basically limited to China, and as its traditional patron and ally struggled in coping with the West and the rising might of Japan, Chosen, already weakened by the increasingly inefficient bureaucracy, became vulnerable to exploitation and was annexed by Japan in 1910. Korea was finally liberated from Japanese rule at the end of World War II -- but only to become entangled in the fierce Cold War ideological conflict that led to the formation in 1948 of two separate states, the Republic of Korea in the south and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in the north, divided along the 38th parallel. In 1950, North Korea launched an all-out attack on the Republic of Korea, triggering the Korean War, which raged until 1953. The devastating conflict was ended by an armistice agreement which established the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that now divides the Peninsula.

Reunification remains the long-cherished but elusive goal of all Koreans on both sides of the vigilantly guarded Military Demarcation Line. The fall of Communism in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe and the unification of Germany raised expectations in Korea that unification could be achieved in the not very distant future. Some apparent progress in promoting trust and cooperation between the two halves of the peninsula was made in 1991 and 1992, but the threat of North Korea's suspected nuclear weapons development program undermined such progress. However, there was very impressive thing on June 13th, 2000. South Korean president Kim Dae Jung visited North Korean Worker's Party Chief Kim Jeong Il. This astonishing meeting was the first time in 55 years that the leaders of the two nations had met. They talked of the possibility of reunification and arranged for an Independence Day (August 15th) gathering to reunite families separated by the Korean War. Because of it, Kim Dae Jung was selected as the winner of the 2000 Nobel Prize for Peace on October 13th.

 Language and culture





The Koreans are one ethnic family speaking one language. They share certain distinct physical characteristics which differentiate them from other Asian peoples including the Chinese and the Japanese, and they have a strong cultural identity as one ethnic family. Also the Koreans were a homogeneous people by the beginning of the Christian era.

Koreans all speak and write the same language, which has been a crucial factor in their strong national identity. There are several different dialects, but they are similar enough so that speakers have little trouble in understanding each other.

The written alphabet, Hangul, was developed by a group of scholars at the behest of King Sejong the Great, the fourth monarch of the Chosen Dynasty (1392-1910). Hangul consists of 10 vowels and 14 consonants, which can be combined to form numerous syllabic groupings. Korean society retains a strong Confucian tradition, which is clearly manifested in the strong devotion to the family and the emphasis on hierarchy and vertical relationships, although modified to adapt to modern conditions. This tradition combined with the passionate nature of Koreans can perhaps explain the strong loyalties felt between relatives, co-workers, classmates, and friends.


Food


Korean foods are definitely different from foods elsewhere in the world. The one attribute which stands out the most is spiciness. The other is that many dishes are served at room temperature (yet some are served boiling hot). Korean food has a distinctive flavor, with the use of various vegetables and spices to complement the meats. Hanjongshik literally means "full course Korean meal" which consists of grilled fish, steamed short ribs, and multiple side dishes. The usual Korean meal is rather elaborate when served in a restaurant even if defined only by the quantity offered.The staple of the Korean diet is kimchi. It has become, through tradition and enduring style, almost a religious activity to prepare. Kimjang which occurs in the autumn harvest season is the most important annual social event of Korea, at which time the dish is prepared in great quantities. The ingredients are trucked in huge piles. The women gather in groups to spend hours cutting, washing and salting the cabbage and white radishes. Then they are rubbed with red pepper, then garlicked and pickled. The concoction is then buried in huge earthenware crocks to keep it fresh yet fermenting though the winter months. By the time the moment arrives for people to feast upon the final product, it is fiery hot.
Numerous meat dishes are available. The most popular of these is pulgogi, or "fire beef". Also Bibimbap is very popular which is made from cooked rice mixed with bits of meat, seasoned vegetables, and egg. It is sometimes prepared with kochujang, a red pepper sauce. Vegetable dishes are also very popular in Korea. In fact, rice is meant to be the main course of a meal, and the additional foods are intended to enhance its flavor. Soups in Korea vary in taste and potency. Twoenjang-guk is a fermented soybean paste soup. Miyok-guk is a vegetable soup prepared with dried spinach, sliced radish, or dried seaweed. Also popular is a light broth boiled from highly seasoned dried anchovies.Korean food is characteristic of Korean tradition. The serving style of multiple side dishes and at-your-table cooking creates a warm, homely feel. The long and thorough preparation makes the taste completely fill a dish, through the broth cooking and fermentation.

http://www.zkorean.com/about_korea/


http://www.prkorea.com/ Voluntary Agency Network of Korea (VANK)


http://www.ikorea.ac.kr/ The Academy Korean Studies