Essay Contest On Korea's National Image

Essay Contest on Korea's National Image
What is your impression of Korea? What do you like about Korea? What do you
dislike about Korea?
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade seeks the input of people like you to
understand how Korea is perceived by non-Koreans. Please share your
impressions and opinions about Korea's national image. The Grand Prize winner
will receive a Korean brand laptop.
◇ Contest open to all foreigners without regard to age or gender.

- Those of Korean descent are not eligible.
* Please note that there is a separate contest for those of Korean nationals, in
which Korean descent may participate.(please refer to www.mofat.go.kr for
details)
◇ Submissions will be accepted from Sep. 3 until Oct. 19, 2012

- Please complete the attached application form and submit it with your
essay(English or Korean) to culturemofat@gmail.com
◇ Prizes will be announced as follows in November 2012.

Grand Prize 1 person Korean Brand Laptop + Tablet PC
Gold Prize 4 persons Korean Brand Tablet PC
Silver Prize 10 persons Korean Brand Digital Camera
◇ Please write an essay of no more than 2,000 words on the following.

* Essays dealing with all three themes are preferred, but essays dealing with
one or two themes are also acceptable.
a. What are the positive images of Korea that distinguish it from other nations?
b. What are the negative images of Korea, and what can be done to improve them?
c. What do you think Korea should adopt as its national vision, value, image,
brand, or slogan?
◇ Guidelines
- Prizes will be forfeited if an essay is plagiarized.
- Prizes may vary.
- Submissions may be utilized for the promotion of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
Trade of the Republic of Korea. All submitted works are the copyrights of the Ministry.
- Submissions will not be returned.
- Final decisions cannot be appealed.
<application form>
*Please complete the following form and submit it with your essay
(a maximum 2,000 words)
A. Personal Information (*in capital letters)
a. Name:
b. Age (please check "v")
① 10s ② 20s ③ 30s ④ 40s ⑤ 50s and more
c. Occupation (if applicable) :
d. Nationality:
e. Gender:
f. contact information
- e-mail address:
- telephone number (with national code) :
B. Basic Information (*please check "v")
a. Have you visited Korea?

① yes ② no
a-1. (If yes) How long did you stay in Korea?

① less than 1 week ② less than 1 month ③ more than 1 month but less than 1
year ④ more than 1 year
a-2. (If no) Do you intend to visit Korea in the future?

①yes ② no
b. What comes to your mind when you think of "Korea"? (check all that apply)
① Economic development ② IT ③ Korean War ④ K-Pop ⑤ Korean food ⑥
scenery and landscape ⑦ Television drama and movies ⑧ Korean industrial
products (car; computer; cell-phones etc.) ⑨ friendly Koreans ⑩ North Korea ⑪
Sports ⑫ others (feel free to describe)
C. Subject of the Essay(s) (please check "v")
a. What are the positive images of Korea that distinguish it from other nations?
b. What are the negative images of Korea, and what can be done to improve them?
c. What do you think Korea should adopt as its national vision, value, image,
brand, or slogan?
People of South Korea
Population 49,232,844 (2008 estimate)

501 persons per sq km
Population density
1,299 persons per sq mi (2008 estimate)
Urban population distribution 81 percent (2005 estimate)
Rural population distribution 19 percent (2005 estimate)
Seoul, 9,714,000 (2003 estimate)
Largest cities, with population Busan, 3,657,840 (2005 estimate)
Daegu, 2,512,670 (2002 estimate)
Official language Korean
Christian, 41 percent
Chief religious affiliations Indigenous beliefs, 16 percent
Buddhist, 15 percent
Life expectancy 77.4 years (2008 estimate)
Infant mortality rate 6 deaths per 1,000 live births (2008 estimate)
Literacy rate 98.4 percent (2005 estimate)
The population of South Korea is 49,232,844 (2008 estimate). The country’s population
density of 501 persons per sq km (1,299 per sq mi) is one of the highest in the world. The
majority of the population lives in the southern and western parts of the country.
Fashion Contrasts
Fashion Contrasts
Most people in South Korea sport Western-style clothing, but some still wear hangbok,
or traditional garments. For men, that means paji, baggy trousers tied tightly at the
ankles, and a chogori, a jacket fastened with bone buttons, strings, or ribbons in neutral
colors. Women and children wear clothing in bright primary colors, plus pastel pink and
purple. South Koreans don traditional clothing for special occasions such as May
Festival, Full Moon Festival, and Buddha's Birthday.
Encarta Encyclopedia
Alain Evrard/Photo Researchers, Inc.
Full Size
The annual rate of population increase in South Korea has dropped steadily from more than 3
percent in the late 1950s to 0.37 percent in 2008. Urbanization of the country has proceeded
rapidly since the 1960s, with substantial migration from rural to urban areas; 81 percent of
the population is now classified as urban.
Following the official division of the Korea Peninsula in 1948, about 4 million people from
North Korea crossed the border to South Korea. This sudden population increase was partly
offset over the next 40 years by emigration from South Korea, especially to Japan and the
United States. However, South Korea’s burgeoning economy and improved political climate
in the early and mid-1990s slowed the high emigration rates typical of the late 1980s. Many
of those who emigrated chose to return to South Korea.
A.
Principal Cities
Seoul, South Korea
Seoul, South Korea

The Korean War nearly destroyed Seoul, South Korea. However, the city was rebuilt
into a modern metropolis serving as the cultural center of the country. Efforts have also
been made to repair and restore the ancient shrines, temples, palaces, and fortresses.
Robin Laurance/Photo Researchers, Inc.
Full Size
Seoul's Old City Hall

In the capital city of Seoul, located in South Korea's northwest region, the Old City
Hall is one of few buildings more than 30 years old. Much of the city was destroyed
during the Korean War, which ended in a truce in 1953. Rebuilt afterwards, Seoul is
now one of the world's largest and most cosmopolitan cities. It has served as a Korean
capital for more than 500 years.
Porterfield-Chickering/Photo Researchers, Inc.
Full Size
Busan, South Korea

Busan is the second largest city in South Korea. Only Seoul is larger. Busan’s seaport,
on the Korea Strait, supports major manufacturing and commercial industries, as well
as a large fishing fleet. Its textile industry is noted for the cotton and silk textiles it
produces and exports.
Kevin Morris/ALLSTOCK, INC.
Full Size
The country’s largest city, national capital, and chief industrial center is Seoul, located in the
northwest. Other major cities include Busan, the country’s principal seaport, in the southeast;
Daegu, the principal commercial and manufacturing center of the south; Incheon, the major
port on the Yellow Sea, near Seoul; Gwangju, the principal transportation and commercial
center of the southwest; and Daejeon, a transportation hub for the west-central agricultural
area and a center of science and technology. Also significant is the southeastern city of
Gyeongju, which was the capital of the Silla kingdom that established unified rule of the
Korea Peninsula in AD 668.
B.
Ethnic Groups
South Korea, like North Korea, is one of the most ethnically homogeneous countries in the
world. Almost all of its people are ethnically Korean. Koreans are the descendants of
Neolithic people who began to migrate to the Korea Peninsula from the northeastern Asia
mainland, including the Siberian region, as early as 5000 BC. These people replaced earlier
Paleolithic cultures that had inhabited some areas of the peninsula for about 40,000 years.
See also Stone Age.
People of Chinese descent make up the country’s largest minority group. The resident
population also includes a growing number of foreign nationals, which include migrant
laborers from South and Southeast Asia, as well as business people, diplomats, and other
professionals from many parts of the world.
C.
Language
Ban Ki Moon, born in 1944, foreign minister of South Korea who was elected in October
2006 to succeed Kofi Annan as secretary general of the United Nations (UN). Ban’s term as
UN secretary general was to begin in January 2007. Ban is a career diplomat with more than
ten years of experience in UN-related missions.
Born in Eumseong, a village near Chungju in South Korea’s North Chungcheong Province,
Ban received his B.A. degree in international relations from Seoul National University in the
nation’s capital in 1970. He earned a master’s degree in public administration from the
Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in 1985.
Ban’s career in foreign service began in 1975 when he served on the staff of the UN Division
of the South Korean Home Office. Other UN-related positions include his appointment as
first secretary to South Korea’s UN mission in New York City from 1978 to 1980, director of
the South Korean foreign ministry’s UN Division until 1983, and chef-de-cabinet (chief
envoy) when South Korea assumed the presidency of the UN General Assembly in 2001.
Ban’s experience also includes involvement with issues regarding nuclear weapons and
nuclear weapons proliferation. In 1992, as special adviser to South Korea’s foreign minister,
he served as vice chair of the South-North Joint Nuclear Control Commission, which resulted
in an historic joint declaration between North and South Korea for denuclearization of the
Korean peninsula. During a stint as South Korea’s ambassador to Austria, Ban was appointed
in 1999 as chairman of the preparatory commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban
Treaty Organization. After he became South Korea’s foreign minister in 2004, he played an
instrumental role in the six-party talks aimed at persuading North Korea to abandon its
nuclear weapons program.
Ban has been an adviser to several South Korean presidents. He was national security adviser
to President Kim Young Sam and foreign policy adviser to presidents Kim Dae Jung and Roh
Moo Hyun.
Ban is married to Yoo Soon Taek, and the couple has one son and two daughters.
Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
South Korea’s national language is Korean, a distinct language that linguists have not firmly
categorized in any language grouping, although it is most often included in the Altaic
language family. Of all languages, Korean is most similar in grammar to Japanese. Because
of a long history of contacts with China, the Korean vocabulary contains many Chinese
words. Korean is written in a unique phonetic script known as Hangeul (called Chosŏn'gŭl in
North Korea), which was introduced in 1446 under King Sejong of the Chosŏn dynasty
(1392-1910).
The Korean language did not have its own alphabet before the invention of Hangeul. Until
then, the Korean language was written in a modified Chinese script. The Chinese ideographs,
or characters, represent words and meanings rather than pronunciation. Because they were
developed for a completely different language, they did not reflect the sounds and grammar
of Korean. For this reason, King Sejong commissioned a group of scholars to invent Hangeul,
a script composed of phonetic symbols that accurately represent spoken Korean.
Although sophisticated, Hangeul is easily learned, as King Sejong had intended in order to
increase literacy among all classes in Korea. Chinese characters remained the more
prestigious, and preferred, script of the educated elite until the 20th century, when Hangeul
was widely adopted in South Korea as a symbol of national identity. Today, written Korean
often combines Hangeul symbols with some Chinese characters.
D.
Religion
Buddha’s Birthday,
South Korea
Buddha’s Birthday, South Korea

The Buddha’s birthday is an important holiday in all Buddhist countries. The
countrywide celebrations in South Korea include ceremonies in which many parents
send their children to live for a month in a Buddhist monastery as part of their religious
training.
Yun Suk-Bong/REUTERS
Full Size
Buddhism and Christianity are the largest religions in South Korea. However, many South
Koreans do not adhere to any one religion and in practice often combine different belief
systems in their lives. As a result, religious distinctions are often blurred.
Confucianism, more a moral philosophy than a religion, is in many ways more prominent in
Korean culture than any organized religion. Confucianism was introduced from China as
much as 2,000 years ago. Many of its teachings are an integral thread in the social and moral
fabric of South Korea. Confucianism is evident in practices such as giving priority to
education and respect to elders, as well as the performance of memorial ceremonies for
ancestors.
The Mahayana form of Buddhism was introduced from India by way of China in the 4th
century. Successive Korean kingdoms recognized Buddhism as the official religion from the
early 500s until 1392, when the Chosŏn dynasty began to promote Neo-Confucianism as the
state ideology and discourage the practice of Buddhism. Today Buddhism is prevalent
throughout South Korea, and there are many Buddhist monasteries and temples. Sŏn
Buddhism, which emphasizes meditation, originated in China as Chan Buddhism and was
eventually transferred from Korea to Japan, where it became known as Zen Buddhism.
Confucian Ceremony, South Korea
Confucian Ceremony, South Korea

Confucianism was the dominant philosophy of moral conduct in Korea from the 14th
century until the early 20th century and the basis for Korean society and ideals. Today,
only a tiny minority of the population of South Korea claims to follow this philosophy,
although much of the country’s culture remains imbued with Confucian beliefs and
practices. As the country modernizes and becomes increasingly materialistic, some
South Koreans advocate a conscientious return to the values of Confucianism. Shown
here is a Confucian ceremony at the Munmyo Shrine in Seoul.
Nathan Benn
Full Size
Daoism (Taoism), known in Korean as To-gyo (the Way), is a mystical philosophy also
introduced from China about the same time as Buddhism. Many of its principles emphasizing
harmony with nature, simplicity, purity, and longevity are evident in Korean culture.
Korea was officially closed to Christian missionaries until 1882, although knowledge of
Christianity was evident well before then. Membership in various Christian denominations
has grown considerably since the 1950s, and today South Korea is the most Christianized
country in East Asia. About three-quarters of South Korea’s Christians are Protestant, while
most of the remainder are Roman Catholic.
Hundreds of so-called new religions have been founded in South Korea. Most of these new
religions are syncretic, meaning they blend different belief systems. One of the most
prominent is the Unification Church, founded in 1954 by Sun Myung Moon. The oldest of
the new religions is Ch’ŏndogyo (Teaching of the Heavenly Way), founded in 1860. It fuses
elements of Confucianism, Buddhism, Daoism, Christianity, and shamanism.
Korean shamanism has its roots in the ancient cultures of northeastern Asia. It is the
indigenous belief system and is recognized in South Korea as an important aspect of cultural
heritage. Based in animistic beliefs, shamanism emphasizes the performance of healing and
divination ceremonies (kut) by shamans (spiritual mediums) called mudang, most of whom
are women. Although shamanism is not an organized religion, many South Koreans consult
shamans when experiencing illness or other difficulties. In addition, shamanism’s precept that
every natural object has a soul is a widely held belief in South Korea.
E. Education
Commitment to Education
Commitment to Education
One of Confucianism's legacies is a strong commitment to education. A well-educated
work force takes much of the credit for South Korea's impressive progress in
modernization and development since the 1950s. But education is not only
economically important to the nation, it is also of utmost social importance to
individuals. A South Korean's social standing depends upon graduation from an elite
institution, and parents make great sacrifices to ensure that their children have all the
educational advantages.
Allen Green/Photo Researchers, Inc.
Full Size
South Korea has a high literacy rate, as 98 percent of the adult population can read and write.
Primary education is free and compulsory for all children between the ages of 6 and 14.
Secondary education consists of three years of middle school and three years of high school.
In the 2000 school year some 4 million pupils were enrolled annually in kindergarten and
elementary schools and 4 million in middle and high schools, including vocational high
schools. Private schools play an important role, especially above the primary level.
There are more than 300 institutions of higher education in the country, with a total annual
enrollment of 3.2 million students. The principal universities are Korea University (founded
in 1905), Seoul National University (1946), Ewha Women’s University (1886), and Yonsei
University (1885), all in Seoul. Major universities, both private and public, are also located in
provincial capitals.
INTRODUCTION
Korean Art and Architecture, the art and architecture of Korea since the New Stone Age
(Neolithic period). Korea is noted for its unsurpassed traditions in pottery. Korean art is often
a synthesis of Chinese influences and native artistic traditions—such as the use of bold color,
natural forms, and lively surface decoration—which produced styles that, in turn, were
transmitted to Japan.
II.
PREHISTORIC
PERIOD
Bronze Bell
Bronze Bell
Bronze casting was brought to ancient Korea by the Mongols in 1000 BC. During that
period Korean artisans made mirrors, small weapons, and bells such as this one, which
is in the Seattle Art Museum in Seattle, Washington.
Seattle Art Museum/Corbis
Full Size
The use of pottery was an important feature of the New Stone Age throughout East Asia, and
this is reflected in the earliest known Korean artifacts. Coarse-bodied earthenware has been
recovered from the late Neolithic period (about 3000 BC). Bronze metallurgy, transmitted
from the Mongols about 1000 BC, was quickly mastered by Korean casters. Excavations have
revealed bronze and iron objects, including an assortment of ritual bells, small weapons, and
mirrors as well, all dating from the 1st millennium BC.
III.
THE THREE KINGDOMS (1ST CENTURY BC-7TH CENTURY
AD)
Pulguksa Temple, South Korea
Pulguksa Temple, South Korea

The Pulguksa Temple, dating from AD 751, is one of the most ornate Buddhist temples
in South Korea. The stairways leading to the temple entrances are symbolic of the
Buddhist journey toward spiritual enlightenment. They were constructed without
mortar by placing cut stones in perfect arrangement.
Bohemian Nomad Picturemakers/Corbis
Full Size
More is known of Korean history and art after the 2nd century BC, during the Three
Kingdoms period, when China controlled the northern portion of Korea, and the south
continued under native rule. Three states—Koguryŏ (Goguryeo), Paekche (Baekche), and
Silla—produced art that laid the foundation for much of Korea's artistic development.
Paekche, poor in mineral resources, continued the long-established pottery tradition,
producing glazed funerary vessels and intricately decorated architectural tiles. Koguryŏ and
Silla, while also contributing distinctive gray-bodied stoneware, are most famous for their
metalwork, for example, the gold burial crowns worn by the Silla monarchs—tall, delicate
headdresses, often embellished with a profusion of small spangles and commalike forms in
gold and jade.
The introduction of Buddhism in the 6th century AD provided one of the most significant
sources for artistic expression. Silla and Koguryŏ metallurgy is well illustrated by the gilt
bronze statues from this period depicting Buddhist deities. The oldest examples of Korean
architecture also reflect Buddhist influence. One of South Korea’s renowned Buddhist
temples, Pulguksa, was built in the 8th century under the royal patronage of the Silla
kingdom, which formally adopted Buddhism in the 6th century.
IV.
UNIFIED SILLA (668-
935)
Sokkuram Cave Temple, South

Korea
Sokkuram Cave Temple, South Korea

This statue of a seated Buddha is located in the Sokkuram cave temple in southeastern
South Korea. The carved-granite temple was constructed on a mountainside near
Gyeongju, the capital of the Silla kingdom, in the 8th century. The small dome-shaped
temple resembles a cave because its exterior is covered in a thick layer of sod and grass.
Carmen Redondo/Corbis
Full Size
The unification of Korea under a powerful Silla monarch stimulated continued artistic growth
within the native styles. The technology for highly refined, glazed stoneware was attained
during this period and laid the foundation for the remarkable celadon ware of the succeeding
dynasty. Buddhism continued to exert a powerful influence in Korean art, with gilt bronzes of
the Three Kingdoms period joined by sculpture in gold, cast iron, and stone. Temple building
proliferated, and the remains of numerous sites still exist. The Sŏkkuram cave temple, built
high on a mountain near Gyeongju in 751, is still in a remarkable state of preservation.
Evidence also remains of secular architecture, such as the oldest known observatory in East
Asia. The Chomsongdae observatory, which is some 6 m (some 20 ft) high, attests to the level
of scientific skill attained by the Koreans in the 7th century.
V.
KORYŎ (918-1392)
Korean Celadon Vessel
Korean Celadon Vessel

This is an example of celadon from the Korean Koryŏ (Goryeo) dynasty (918-1392). It
is light green celadon with inlaid mishima decoration. The unique color is the result of
combining the gray clay underneath with the translucent green glaze on top. The floral
designs are carved into the surface and filled with white and brown clay.
Bridgeman Art Library, London/New York
Full Size
Korean Ceramics, Koryŏ Dynasty

Korean pottery reached the height of its development during the Koryŏ dynasty. During
the 12th century Korean potters developed a technique of painted inlay for decorating
their ceramics.
De Agostini Editore S.p.a.
Full Size
The last Silla kings were weak and were succeeded by the Koryŏ (Goryeo) dynasty. The
ancient ceramics tradition reached an apogee at this time in the incomparable green-glaze
stoneware called celadon; it is characterized by the distinctive color resulting from the gray
clay body under a translucent green glaze and is often decorated with motifs stamped or
carved onto the surface and then filled with white or brown clay. The most popular forms
were vases, desk utensils, and vessels that served either secular or religious functions.
Changgyeong Palace, Seoul
Changgyeong Palace, Seoul

A temple in Seoul, South Korea, sits within the Changgyeong Palace grounds. The
palace compound was originally built in the early 1100s as the summer residence of the
Koryŏ (Goryeo) dynasty.
Porterfield-Chickering/Photo Researchers, Inc.
Full Size
Gilt bronze and gold statuary were widely produced during the Koryŏ period, continuing the
sculptural tradition within Buddhist art. The Koryŏ era is most notable, however, for other
religious artifacts. Bronze architectural ornaments reveal the decorative sophistication found
within temple complexes. Elaborate rituals required utensils of various kinds; the most
beautiful were executed in gilt bronze or celadon. In the Koryŏ period, painting first gained
importance, again within the Buddhist context. The remaining 14th-century examples reveal
an impressive level of accomplishment, which would fully flourish in the succeeding Chosŏn
(Joseon) period.
VI.
CHOSŎN (1392-
1910)
Korean Pottery, Chosŏn
Dynasty
Korean Pottery, Chosŏn Dynasty

This ceramic vase dates from the Korean Chosŏn (Joseon) dynasty (1392-1910). The
vase exhibits the blue and white style characteristic of traditional Chosŏn pottery. Noted
for its elaborate decoration, Chosŏn pottery ranks as some of the most beautiful in the
world.
Philadelphia Museum of Art/Continuum Productions Corporation
Full Size
The Korean government was restructured in the 14th century, which prepared for the artistic
accomplishments of the Chosŏn period. The major artistic achievements in the Chosŏn
dynasty were in two areas: ceramics and painting. The so-called punch'ŏng wares, highly
decorated folk pottery, served both artistic and functional purposes. In contrast to this robust
pottery are the delicate porcelain wares, most notably the blue and white style that was
transmitted from China in the 15th century and which occurs as small vases, water droppers,
and brush pots, revealing its favored status among the scholarly class.
From the 15th century on, a professional painting “bureau” existed in Korea. The most
important works, however, were produced by amateur-scholars, a tendency found in China as
well. In the early Chosŏn period, the most influential force in Korean painting was the
landscape tradition of China's Northern Song (Sung) artists. The Koreans did not adhere
strictly to the Chinese styles and produced a distinct form of expression using bolder colors,
freer brushwork, and subtle humor. Painting of the later Chosŏn dynasty reflects both the
conservatism of the Chinese Che school and the individualism of the Korean artists, who
experimented with Zen brush painting and innovative styles in calligraphy and continued to
use bright colors and lively, secular themes.
The 20th-century art of Korea is still dominated by ceramics, particularly by revivals of

interest in Koryŏ celadon and the Chosŏn blue and white style, as well as by painting styles,
all of which continue much of the individualism established in the 18th and 19th centuries.
See also Chinese Art and Architecture; Japanese Art and Architecture.
Korean Language, language spoken by 49 million people in South Korea and 23 million
people in North Korea. In addition, more than 5 million Korean emigrants and their
descendants speak Korean, primarily in China, Japan, North America, and Russia.
Scholars have not firmly established a historical relationship between Korean and any
language family. Korean does not belong to the same language family as Chinese and also
differs from the Chinese language in structural characteristics. In grammatical structure,
Korean is closest to the Japanese language. The most widely accepted hypothesis is that
Korean, like Japanese, is related to the Altaic language group, which includes Mongolian,
Turkish, and other languages of Asia. Within that group scholars consider Korean closest to
the Tungusic branch, which consists chiefly of languages spoken in Siberia and Mongolia.
Korean Newspaper
Korean Newspaper
In the Korean language, each symbol represents a letter, and the letters that make up a
syllable appear together in syllable blocks, several of which appear in this newspaper’s
headline. Most texts are written from left to right, and from top to bottom.
Dan Silverstein/SILV1/Bruce Coleman, Inc.
Full Size
Korean is written in Han’gŭl, a simple yet sophisticated script invented in Korea in the mid-
1400s. The Korean writing system is known as Han’gŭl (or Hangeul) in general but as
Chosŏn’gŭl in North Korea. It is composed of phonetic symbols that accurately represent the
distinctive sounds of Korean. Several systems have been developed to represent Korean in
the Roman alphabet, which is used for English and other Western languages. These
romanization systems enable English-speaking readers to approximate Korean pronunciation.
rowed from Chinese continue to be used in forming new words, it is hard to tell exactly what
percentage of the total Korean vocabulary is of Chinese origin. In recent years, there have
been purification movements, especially in North Korea, to drive all foreign elements out of
the Korean language, including Chinese words and characters.
Korean is an agglutinative language—that is, it forms words by combining simple words or

word components without alteration. Korean creates words by adding suffixes to a word stem
(basic part of a word). Suffixes attached to a verb stem indicate things such as verb tense
(past, present, or future), verb aspect (an action complete, repeated, or continuing), and
honorification (marking the relative status of the person addressed or referred to from the
speaker’s point of view—such as an elder, a stranger, or a close friend). Suffixes also signify
the type of situation (the degrThis article uses the common McCune-Reischauer system of
romanization.
II.
LETTERS AND WRITING
Korean is the only language to have a true alphabet completely native to East Asia. In a true
alphabet, each character corresponds to a phoneme (a basic sound unit that represents a
vowel, a consonant, or a vowel-like consonant called a glide). In Japanese each character
corresponds to a syllable; in Chinese, each character corresponds to a word or a morpheme
(the smallest language unit that carries an independent meaning).
Han’gŭl has many characteristics not found in any other alphabet. For example, in Han’gŭl, letters
are assembled in blocks to form syllables. Instead of being strung together in a line, characters
appear above or below one another as well as side by side, as in the Korean word for Han’gŭl:
This word is made up of the letters:
Perhaps the most unusual characteristic of Han’gŭl is that it did not evolve over centuries as
most alphabets did. King Sejong of Korea invented it and introduced it to the country in
1446.
Han’gŭl also differs from all other alphabets because the letter shapes are not random designs
but are constructed to represent various characteristics of the Korean sound system. For
example, Han’gŭl has two clearly recognizable kinds of graphic shapes for consonants and
vowels. Consonant letters were originally constructed from simpler, basic elements, which
schematically represented specific characteristics shared by a group of sounds articulated at
the same place in the mouth. Thus, the sounds n, t, t’, tt, and r/l, which are produced by
placing the tongue on the ridge above and behind the teeth, are represented by letters that
include the basic symbol that shows the tongue in that position, like n:
The letters for Han’gŭl vowels are made up of the three basic symbols in East Asian
cosmology: a dot (·) representing Heaven, a horizontal line (—) representing Earth, and a
vertical line (|) representing a human being. Not long after the invention of the Korean
alphabet, the dot was replaced by a short line, possibly for ease of calligraphy done by brush.
For centuries, Koreans combined the syllables into sentences without spaces to separate
words, and they wrote sentences vertically, starting from the top right-hand corner of the
page. Spaces between words began to appear in 1896. In the mid-20th century, Western-style
writing in horizontal lines, starting from the top left and using Western-style punctuation
marks, became the norm in North Korea and gained favor in South Korea.
III.
SOUND SYSTEM
both mean “crumpling,” but the former has the Yang meaning while the latter has the Yin one.
Two vowels, i and ŭ, are neutral.
IV.
WORDS
Before Han’gŭl was invented—and for many years afterward—Koreans wrote their language
using Chinese characters. In the process they borrowed heavily from Literary Chinese, just as
English has borrowed from Literary Latin. Today, many technical and literary words contain
roots borrowed from Chinese, as do about 10 percent of Korean’s basic nouns. Many of these
nouns turn into verbs with the addition of the suffix (word ending) ha (meaning “do”). As
roots boree of formality or intimacy). Grammatical markers attached to a noun indicate the
noun’s function in the sentence (subject or object) as well as in the discourse (focus, topic).
V.
SENTENCE STRUCTURE
The basic word order in Korean is subject-object-verb, but grammatical markers on words
allow them to appear in different orders within a sentence without changing the basic
meaning of the sentence. For example, to write the sentence Yujin reads a newspaper, the
name Yujin would be given as yujin-i, with the i marking yujin as the subject. The word
newspaper would be given as sinmun-ŭl, with the ŭl marking sinmun as the object. The verb
read would be given as po-n-da, with the po indicating to read, the n putting po in the present
tense, and the da as a plain declarative ending.
The only strict requirement of sentence structure is that the verb must appear at the end of a
sentence. So, the two sentences yujin-i sinmun-ŭl po-n-da and sinmun-ŭl yujin-i po-n-da are
both translated into English as Yujin reads a newspaper. Speakers can omit words when the
context makes them clear. For example, to answer the question Does Yujin read a
newspaper? the speaker could simply say po-n-da, meaning reads.
All modifiers precede the nouns they modify. Therefore, the sentence My son Yujin reads a
newspaper that comes from Korea would be written as uri yujin-i han’gug-esŏ o-nŭn sinmun-
ŭl po-n-da. The Korean sentence translated literally means Our/Yujin/Korea-from/come-
[present tense marker]/newspaper/read-[present tense marker]-[plain declarative].
There are no articles in Korean, such as a, an, and the in English. There is no grammatical
gender marking—that is, no words are considered masculine or feminine as in French,
Spanish, or German. Plural marking is not obligatory, nor is there a true plural marker in
Korean. Korean verbs are not marked for grammatical person, gender, and number, either.
Thus there is no agreement in such categories between the predicate and the subject of the
sentence. Native Korean speakers often have difficulty in learning these agreements in
European languages, where these agreements are important. However, in Korean the verb has
to agree with the exaltedness of what is referred to in the subject or the object position and
also the listener or addressee’s relationship to the speaker or addresser.
Recognizing social relationships is important in the Korean language. Honorifics establish

whether the addressee (listener) is higher or lower in the social order, whether the speaker is
familiar with the listener, and so on. There are two kinds of honorifics, addressee-honorific
and referent-honorific. The sentence in the paragraph above is stated in a plain or unguarded
style, which is used when speaking to a younger person or a childhood friend. When speaking
to a clearly senior person or a stranger, the speaker would change the verb to po-mnida
(deferential and formal) or to po-ayo (respectful but informal). Verbs can also include the
suffix –(ŭ)si to mark the speaker’s deference to the subject referent of the sentence, as in Kim
Yujin sŏnsaengnim-i sinmun-ŭl po-si-mnida (Mr. Kim Yujin reads a newspaper). The
particular situation brings another dimension to the way people talk. For example, the way a
husband and wife address each other often depends on who else is present.
VI.
HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT
Scholars know little about Proto-Korean, the ancestor of current Korean, but the dominant belief
is that Korean either branched off from the Altaic language group or from another language from
which both Korean and Altaic descended. The Korean language is generally divided into four
historical stages: Old Korean, Middle Korean, Modern Korean, and Contemporary Korean. These
stages have distinct linguistic features but also refer to historical eras.
A.
Old Korean
Old Korean was spoken from the 1st century BC to the 10th century AD. It was the language
of Silla, one of three early kingdoms on the Korean Peninsula. In the 7th century AD, Silla
conquered the other two kingdoms, and its language became dominant on the unified
peninsula.
Old Korean was written using Chinese characters, which were adapted to represent sounds
and meanings of the Korean words. Koreans continued to write mostly in Literary Chinese,
however. In writing Chinese, Koreans sometimes added Korean grammatical markers called
kugyŏl (oral formulae) to Chinese text to make it easier to read. In adapting Chinese
characters, which themselves represented words, Koreans borrowed characters that captured
either the meaning or the sound of Korean words (without regard to the Chinese meanings)
and put the characters together following Korean word order and grammar. This system,
called hyangch’al (local letters), is used by the 25 hyangga (local songs) that are the oldest
surviving texts written in Korean. Another writing system was idu (clerk readings), which
began from a base of written Chinese, mixing pure Chinese words and phrases with Korean
words and grammatical elements. The term idu is often used to refer to any kind of
representation of Korean that uses Chinese characters.
B.
Middle Korean
The Old Korean language of Silla was the parent of Middle Korean, which spans the period
from the rise of the Koryŏ dynasty (918-1392) to an invasion by Japan in 1592. Middle
Korean itself had two periods, early and late. Early Middle Korean was the language of the
Koryŏ dynasty. Late Middle Korean was the language of the Chosŏn dynasty from its rise in
1392 until the Japanese invasion. During the Chosŏn dynasty, the Koreans developed the
Han’gŭl alphabet, originally called Hunmin chong’um (the Correct Sounds for the Instruction
of the People). This alphabet allowed them to write their language without using Chinese
characters. The theoretical underpinnings of the writing system are clearly recorded in
Hunmin chŏng’ŭm haerye (Explanations and Examples of the Correct Sounds for the
Instruction of the People), a scholarly commentary that accompanied the announcement of
the new script in 1446.
Some scholars say that the invention of Han’gŭl was the result of a joint effort by King
Sejong and his associates of the Chiphyŏnjŏn (Academy of Worthies). However, various
pieces of evidence, including several textual records and evidence of Sejong’s own linguistic
knowledge, point to the conclusion that the Korean script was the king’s personal creation.
In spite of the invention of the new efficient writing system, idu continued to be used, and
writings in idu were actually far more common, especially in official writings, than those in
Han’gŭl, up to modern times.
C.
Modern Korean
Modern Korean extends from the early 1600s at the end of the Japanese invasion of 1592-
1598 to the late 1800s. It saw several linguistic changes, including the disappearance of the
letters for the consonant z and the vowel Λ. During this time Han’gŭl gained little acceptance,
and Chinese continued to enjoy prestige and recognition among the intellectual and social
elite. Han’gŭl, widely dismissed as ŏnmun (vernacular, or common, writing), was used
mainly by women and Buddhist monks.
D.
Contemporary Korean
The two parts of the Korean peninsula also have different approaches to the use of Chinese
characters. In North Korea, schools teach Chinese characters as a separate subject from Korean,
and people never use them in writing. In South Korea, Chinese characters are used more widely,
although in recent years the use of Chinese characters has been drastically reduced in schools. In
everyday use, people continue to mix Chinese and Korean characters, especially in academic and
technical publications.
VII.
ROMANIZATION SYSTEMS
Scholars have developed romanization systems to express Korean in the Roman alphabet.
The McCune-Reischauer system, created in 1939, became the most widely used system in
English and other European languages. The Yale system, created in 1968, is used mainly in
linguistic literature. The McCune-Reischauer system long served as the official system in
South Korea. However, in 2000 the South Korean government introduced and officially
adopted a new system known as the Revised Romanization System. North Korea has
traditionally used its own official system, which is a slightly modified version of McCune-
Reischauer.
The McCune-Reischauer system represents the Han’gŭl forms in the Roman alphabet in such
a way that a reader who does not know Korean may approximate a pronunciation that would
be recognizable to a Korean. The Yale system, which is preferred by most linguists, is
designed to reflect a one-to-one correspondence with Han’gŭl spellings. For example, the
word Han’gŭl, written in McCune-Reischauer, represents the actual pronunciation with a g
sound. The Yale system romanizes it as Hankul, with each Roman letter representing a
Korean phoneme. This is the form that would appear in written Korean, but it is somewhat
removed from the spoken form.
The South Korean government’s new system, like the McCune-Reischauer system, attempts
to represent spoken Korean as accurately as possible. The government had deemed it
necessary to develop a system that does not use diacritics (marks added to letters to indicate a
specific pronunciation). These marks, which are used in McCune-Reischauer, are often
dropped for typing convenience. Without the marks, however, the same letters can represent
different sounds. (For example, the breve mark on the vowels ŏ and ŭ helps distinguish them
from the regular o and u.) Although the new system is less prone to inconsistency, more
Internet-friendly, and easier to use, it has been criticized for its own shortcomings and has not
gained widespread acceptance in the West.
Historically, Korea was strongly influenced by Chinese culture and acted as a conduit of
culture from China to Japan. Koreans adapted many Chinese art forms with innovation and
skill, creating distinctively Korean forms. For many centuries, metalwork, sculpture, painting,
and ceramics flourished throughout the Korea Peninsula. Buddhism provided one of the most
significant sources for artistic expression. Confucianism, also prominent, emphasized the
importance of literature and calligraphy, as well as portrait and landscape painting.
Customs of South Korea
Marriage and Family
Most South Koreans today choose their own spouses. Many forgo the elaborate traditional-
style wedding and marry in public wedding halls wearing contemporary clothes. Women
retain their birth names after they marry.
The family is bound together by a strong sense of duty and obligation among its members.
The father is the head of the family; he and the eldest son receive the greatest respect. In the
extended family, the oldest members are shown particular respect. The eldest son is
traditionally given the best opportunities for education and success. Professional
opportunities for women have expanded in recent years.
Although the nuclear family is now more common, especially in the cities, sons still expect to
care for their aging parents. Because of the Confucian emphasis on family hierarchies,
detailed genealogies are kept. These go back centuries and include each person’s birth,
relations, achievements, and place of burial. A Korean name consists of a one-syllable family
name followed by a one- or two-syllable given name. Kim and Yi are the most common
family names.
Eating
Rice is the main staple food. It is often combined with red beans or vegetables and kimch’i, a
spicy pickled cabbage. Korean cuisine uses a lot of spices. Soup is often part of a meal, and
chicken, beef, and fish are common. A favorite delicacy is bulgogi, strips of marinated and
barbecued beef. Barley tea is served with most meals. Soju and beer are common alcoholic
drinks. Fruit is popular as a dessert. In recent years western food such as hamburgers and
pizza have become popular, especially among young people. Many restaurants now cater to
this change in tastes.
Chopsticks and spoons are the most commonly used eating utensils. At a dinner party, the
meal is usually served first, before socializing. Items are passed and drinks are poured with
the right hand, while the left hand supports the forearm or wrist. When holding a glass to
receive a drink, it is polite to use both hands. Eating while walking on the street is not
appropriate for adults.
Socializing
A gentle nod is the traditional greeting. A slight bow shows respect but should not be
exaggerated. Among urban South Korean men, a nod is often accompanied by a handshake.
The left hand may support or rest under the right forearm during the handshake to show
respect. Women shake hands less often than men. Between professionals meeting for the first
time, business cards are exchanged; they are presented face up and accepted with both hands
after a handshake. Special deference is shown to elders.
The use of someone’s title shows respect. Foreign visitors should always address people
formally unless asked to do otherwise. A common greeting is Annyong haseyo?, which means
'How do you do?' Young children often greet each other with a simple Annyong? To show
special respect, an honorific is added to the greeting: Annyong hashimnikka? Young children
bow or nod when greeting adults.
It is not unusual to see South Korean men (usually younger) holding hands or walking with a
hand on a friend’s shoulder. Touching older people or members of the opposite sex is
generally not appropriate, however.
Guests invited to a home remove their shoes upon entering. While European-style furniture is
common, in traditional Korean homes guests are seated on cushions on ondol floors that are
heated from below. Men sit cross-legged and women tuck their legs to one side behind them.
The guest receives the warmest or best position. Guests invited for a meal or party
customarily bring a small gift in appreciation, often something that can be served at the
gathering. Refreshments are usually served, and it is impolite to refuse them.
Recreation
Baseball and soccer are the most popular spectator sports. Because Seoul hosted the 1988
Olympic Games, the capital has some excellent facilities. Koreans also enjoy basketball,
swimming, tennis, boxing, and golf—many Japanese travel to South Korea just to play golf.
Walking and hiking are popular, and the mountains provide opportunities for skiing and
mountain climbing. The national sport is the martial art tae kwon do. Another local sport is
ssirum, in which the contestants wrestle while wearing cloth harnesses. Cinemas, art exhibits,
and theaters also provide entertainment.
Holidays and Celebrations
The New Year is celebrated over two days, on 1 and 2 January. Lunar New Year is celebrated
for three days in January or February. For this holiday, families gather to exchange gifts,
honor their ancestors, and enjoy large meals. Generally, everyone dresses in traditional
clothing. After memorial services, family members bow to each older person in a show of
respect, and to exchange well wishes for the New Year. Games are played and fortunes are
told. The other important family holiday is Ch'usok (Korean Thanksgiving Day), when family
members visit the ancestral tomb to offer food in honor of their ancestors. Other holidays
include Independence Movement Day (1 March), Children’s Day (5 May), Buddha’s
Birthday (in May, observed according to the lunar calendar), Memorial Day (6 June),
Constitution Day (17 July), Liberation Day (15 August), National Foundation Day (3
October), and Christmas Day (25 December). Arbor Day (5 April), Armed Forces Day (1
October), and Korean Language Day (9 October) are marked by various celebrations but are
not public holidays.
On a person’s 60th birthday, members of the extended family gather for a grand celebration,
called Hwan’gap. New members of the family are also celebrated. One hundred days after a
child's birth, a small feast is held in honor of the child; this celebration is a legacy of South
Korea's past high infant mortality rates. A much more significant celebration, called Tol, is
held at the first birthday. The first gift a child picks up from among the many gifts offered is
thought to signal his or her fortunes in life.
Source: Encarta Interactive World Atlas

South Korea has a rich oral tradition consisting of lyric folk songs, shaman chants, myths,
legends, and folktales. Korean folk songs are diverse and numerous. They include ceremonial
and work songs as well as popular songs about everyday life. “Arirang,” one of South
Korea’s best-known folk songs, has numerous variations.
In foreign relations, meanwhile, Kim encouraged dialogue with North Korea and offered
unconditional economic and humanitarian aid in the hope of improving political relations. As
a result of his so-called Sunshine Policy, communication and trade between the two countries
increased. In June 2000 Kim and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il met in P’yŏngyang, the
North Korean capital, in the first face-to-face meeting between the leaders of North and
South Korea since 1945. They agreed in principle to promote reconciliation and economic
cooperation between the two countries. The landmark event was seen as a preliminary step
toward the goal of eventually reunifying the Korea Peninsula. In recognition of his efforts to
bring about reconciliation with North Korea, Kim was awarded the 2000 Nobel Peace Prize.
Although Kim was constitutionally barred from seeking reelection, the candidate of the
Millennium Democratic Party, Roh Moo Hyun, won the December 2002 election after
staking his campaign on the continuation of Kim’s policy of engagement with North Korea.
In foreign relations, meanwhile, Kim encouraged dialogue with North Korea and offered
unconditional economic and humanitarian aid in the hope of improving political relations. As
a result of his so-called Sunshine Policy, communication and trade between the two countries
increased. In June 2000 Kim and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il met in P’yŏngyang, the
North Korean capital, in the first face-to-face meeting between the leaders of North and
South Korea since 1945. They agreed in principle to promote reconciliation and economic
cooperation between the two countries. The landmark event was seen as a preliminary step
toward the goal of eventually reunifying the Korea Peninsula. In recognition of his efforts to
bring about reconciliation with North Korea, Kim was awarded the 2000 Nobel Peace Prize.
Although Kim was constitutionally barred from seeking reelection, the candidate of the
Millennium Democratic Party, Roh Moo Hyun, won the December 2002 election after
staking his campaign on the continuation of Kim’s policy of engagement with North Korea.
1997: Korea
On December 18, 1997, South Korea, in the grips of a severe economic crisis, elected a
longtime dissident, Kim Dae Jung, as president; he was the first opposition candidate ever
elected to rule the nation. In North Korea, the de facto leader, Kim Jong Il, formally assumed
the top post in the ruling party, as that nation continued to struggle with a weak economy and
severe food shortages. Talks aimed at negotiating a peaceful future for the Korean Peninsula
were held during the year, and South Korea's president-elect appeared to be placing North-
South dialogue high on his political agenda.
South Korea.
Financial woes struck South Korea, the world's 11th-largest economy, and the stock market
and the value of the won plummeted, as the country headed toward the presidential election.
Economic Crisis
As economic crisis engulfed several Asian countries during the summer, it became
increasingly clear that South Korea, despite its reputation as an economic powerhouse, faced
serious problems of its own. Foreign debt, much of it short term, reached record heights,
raising fears of default. The won plunged in value. A number of major industrial
conglomerates, or chaebol, faced bankruptcy. At least nine major banks, overwhelmed with
bad loans, suspended operations.
In early December a record $57 billion international financial aid package was arranged for
South Korea. A large portion of the money was to come from the International Monetary
Fund (IMF), with the rest provided by the World Bank and by the United States, Japan, and
other countries. The package was similar to rescue plans undertaken for two other members
of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, Thailand and Indonesia. It entailed the
introduction of economic austerity policies that, if implemented, would mean increased
interest rates, higher taxes, and slow growth. Faced with possible wage reductions or layoffs,
union leaders threatened major strikes. Skepticism as to whether adequate austerity policies
would be implemented helped fuel a continuing decline in the won, which the government
sought to halt in mid-December by removing trading restrictions in a confidence-building
move.
Earlier in the year, in a move that added to the country's economic concerns, the United
States, pressing its claim that South Korea was impeding foreign auto imports, invoked the
Super 301 clause of the 1988 U.S. Trade and Competitiveness Act, targeting South Korea for
possible trade sanctions.
Presidential Elections.
The economic crisis added uncertainty to the December presidential elections. With President
Kim Young Sam barred from running for another term, Kim's ruling New Korea Party
nominated former Prime Minister and Supreme Court Justice Lee Hoi Chang as its standard-
bearer. Lee soon suffered from scandals involving his party and family. In October, President
Kim's son, one of his closest advisers, was convicted of influence peddling. Accusations that
Lee's father had collaborated with the Japanese before 1945 and had gotten improper
exemptions from Army service for his two sons also undermined Lee's campaign, as did the
news that Korea had to be rescued from economic crisis by the IMF. Kim Dae Jung, Lee's
main opponent, took the lead in polls during the last weeks before the election. He won about
40 percent of the vote, with Lee winning 39 percent. A third candidate, Rhee In-je, won most
of the rest, about 19 percent.
Kim, who had attempted three times before to win the presidency, had spent over five years
in prison for political activities and many more in exile or under house arrest. During a 1971
campaign he was wounded in an assassination attempt. A populist with close ties to labor
unions, Kim had indicated a desire to renegotiate terms of South Korea's accord with the
IMF; after the election, seeking to reassure foreign investors, he stressed a commitment to the
IMF accord and free-market policies. He was due to take office February 25, 1998.
Two days after the election, lame duck President Kim Young Sam granted political amnesty
to two former military dictators, along with some 20 associates, jailed in connection with
slush fund scandals, a 1979 military coup, and a 1980 army massacre. The president-elect
agreed to the pardons, in the interest of national reconciliation.
Labor Conflict.
Labor strife during the year resulted in a revised labor law. In December 1996 the New Korea
Party had used its legislative majority to pass legislation reducing job security and limiting
the right to form unions. In response the Korea Federation of Trade Unions in January
spearheaded demonstrations that turned violent. The administration backed off and sought a
compromise with the KFTU. In March the Assembly passed legislation that made it easier to
form unions but also enabled companies to lay off workers in 'managerial emergencies' and
did not force them to pay striking workers.
North Korea.
In October de facto North Korean leader Kim Jong Il assumed his late father's position as
general secretary of the ruling Korea Workers' (Communist) Party. Although he stopped short
of claiming his late father's title of president, the announcement ended the three-year period
of mourning during which North Korea's top party rank was vacant. North Korea continued
to experience widespread famine conditions, with hundreds of thousands of deaths, as well as
severe economic decline.
Grim Prospects.
Early in the year, North Korea's top party theoretician, Hwang Jang Yop, defected to the
South via the Philippines and Beijing; he drew a gloomy picture of prospects on the Korean
Peninsula, reporting that North Korea was proceeding with war preparations against the
South and that the country might well resort to an attack in order to break out of its desperate
situation.
Other defectors testified about grim conditions and cast further doubt on the viability of the
North Korean economic and political system. Erosion and poor soil quality, combined with
severe weather and a lack of fertilizer, had contributed to a nationwide food crisis. The
international community rallied to send food aid but worried that the regime would divert
humanitarian assistance to the military.
Foreign visitors reported a breakdown of the infrastructure, pointing to poor electrical
service, a stalled transportation system, and a dramatic shortage of fuel.
Energy Projects.
One positive sign was the continuation of the international effort to ease North Korea's
energy crisis by providing two light-water nuclear power plants through the consortium
known as the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO). Created in
1995, KEDO was designed to address North Korea's energy needs while replacing its existing
nuclear facilities.
North-South Relations.
South Koreans differed over how to respond to the emergency in the North. Some, including
North Korean refugees seeking an early collapse of the Communist system, urged
noninterference. Others asserted their common ties with the North and appealed for massive
aid. The South Korean business community also sought opportunities to develop the
economy in the North through joint-venture investments.
China, North and South Korea, and the United States met in New York to pursue four-way
talks on the long-term future of the peninsula. At issue was a proposal to replace the 1953
armistice that halted fighting in the Korean War with a peace treaty that would recognize two
separate Korean states and lay the basis for peace and possible reunification. The talks
foundered on North Korea's insistence that the United States withdraw its troops from South
Korea and render increased economic assistance as preconditions for further discussion. After
the talks broke down in September, negotiators met again in Geneva late in the year, with
further talks slated for 1998. South Korea's president-elect was known as a strong proponent
of improved relations with the North; just after his election he called for broad dialogue
between the two countries.
In November South Korea announced it had broken up a North Korean spy ring.
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), international

organization founded in 1961 to coordinate the economic policies of industrialized nations.
The OECD succeeded the Organization for European Economic Cooperation, an agency
founded in 1948 to direct reconstruction efforts in European nations devastated by World War
II (see European Recovery Program). The OECD has 30 member nations, including the
United States, Canada, Japan, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, South Korea and
Australia.
1953: United Nations
News Events and Trends.
The political event which, during 1953, overshadowed all other developments in the United
Nations was the armistice in Korea. By itself, the armistice did not solve the Korean problem,
but it was by far the most important step towards attaining a solution. The first effort to
enforce the principle of collective security through a world-wide organization was thus
successfully ended. With the repelling of aggression and the cessation of fighting in Korea,
the initial objectives of the United Nations had been realized. The United Nations was now
left free to exert all of its efforts toward the achievement of its ultimate objective, namely, the
attainment of a unified, independent and democratic Korea by peaceful means, and to take
further steps to aid the relief and reconstruction of the country.
South Korea has a temperate climate, with four distinct seasons. Winters are cold and windy,
and snow falls in all but the southernmost regions. Summers are hot, humid, and rainy. The
weather in South Korea is affected by the Asian continent and the surrounding seas. The
Asian monsoon (large-scale wind systems that reverse direction seasonally) brings frigid air
from the Arctic in winter and warm, moisture-laden air from the South China Sea in summer.
South Korea’s rapid industrialization during the second half of the 20th century dramatically
increased pollution levels in the country. Heavy industries became the primary contributors to
air and water pollution. Industrial development entailed massive land-reclamation projects,
drainage of wetlands, and damming of rivers. Population densities increased rapidly in cities
where industries were located, creating urban congestion and demand for additional
development. All of th
1979: Korea
The major event in Korea this year was the fatal shooting of South Korean President Park
Chung Hee in late October by the chief of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency (KCIA).
Martial law was then declared, and Premier Choi Kyu Hah was named acting president.
Park's death came after a series of student riots had led his government to send troops into
three major cities. These and other harsh measures had helped reverse an earlier trend toward
improved U.S. relations.
In North Korea, internal conditions showed little change, and there was no sign of an
immediate attempt to exploit the instability generated by Park's sudden death. The two
Koreas held face-to-face reunification talks early in the year, but they quickly broke down.
Republic of Korea (South Korea)
Park's slaying.
President Park, who had ruled South Korea for 18 years, was fatally shot on October 26, at a
dinner meeting with top aides in a KCIA building next to the presidential residence. An
'interim report' issued two days later said KCIA chief Kim Jae Kyu shot the 62-year-old
president, along with the head of the Presidential Security Service, Cha Chi Choi, because of
a conflict over Park's hard-line policies and Choi's role in promoting them. After these shots
were fired at the meeting, KCIA agents reportedly killed five other presidential guards
nearby, by pre-arrangement with Kim. In a later report, military investigators concluded that
Kim had been planning a coup d'état since June, with the object of making himself president,
but that he had overestimated his personal support within the armed services and was unable
to win backing after the assassination from top officials. Instead, Kim was arrested and held
for trial.
While Premier Choi Kyu Hah, in accord with the constitution, was named acting president,
much of the real power immediately after Park's death went to General Chung Seung Hwa,
who was appointed martial law administrator. He decreed press censorship, closed all
universities, and banned demonstrations. The United States put its troops in South Korea on
increased alert and issued a warning, directed mainly at North Korea, against outside
intervention. Acting President Choi announced that a president would be chosen before year's
end by an electoral college, as prescribed by the 1972 constitution. He added, however, that
the constitution should then be revised and new elections held under the new provisions 'as
soon as realistically possible.'
Electoral politics.
Elections held in December 1978 had given 68 National Assembly seats to the pro-
government Democratic Republican Party and 61 seats to the opposition New Democratic
Party, although the latter received a slightly larger percentage of the popular vote (34 percent
as against 32 percent). The small Democratic Unification Party (which merged with the NDP
in August 1979) won three seats, and independents won 22 others. However, President Park
Chung Hee's DRP subsequently picked up 15 additional seats by the adherence of most
independently elected members, and was assured of 77 more seats by the president's right
under the 1972 constitution to appoint one-third of the total membership. Park himself was
inaugurated for a fourth six-year term, having been reelected earlier in 1978 by an electoral
college.
The NDP held a long-postponed national convention in May. Kim Young Sam wrested the
party presidency from its moderate former head, Yi Ch'olsung, although his election was
challenged in the courts. Kim immediately set the party on a course of confrontation. On
October 4 he was expelled from the National Assembly, after a vote by pro-government
legislators. The other opposition members all resigned in protest.
Human rights.
The human rights situation was initially mixed. In December 1978 and on three occasions the
following spring and summer, groups of political prisoners—chiefly those detained under the
notorious Emergency Measure No. 9—were released from prison or given reduced sentences.
Among those released was opposition leader and former presidential candidate Kim Dae
Jung, who had been jailed after his abduction from a Tokyo hotel room in 1973. (A report
released by the U.S. government this year placed blame for the abduction on the Korean
Central Intelligence Agency.) And the poet Kim Chi Ha's life prison sentence (for sedition)
was reduced to 20 years.
On the other hand, six staff members of the Korean Christian Academy were arrested in April
for activities promoting labor rights; some reporters were sentenced to prison for circulating
reports of labor and student unrest; and the editor of the NDP newspaper was arrested.
Warnings were issued against criticism of the established 'Yushin' (renovation) system of
government, and opposition figures claimed that the government stepped up pressure on
dissident groups, especially around the time of Carter's visit at midyear.
The expulsion of Kim Young Sam from the National Assembly in October led to a significant
worsening of the political climate. Sporadically violent student-led riots—the largest since
those that drove Syngman Rhee from the presidency in 1960—erupted in Kim's home city of
Pusan and spread to Masan and Changwon as well. Troops were brought in, and over 1,000
demonstrators were arrested.
International relations.
President Carter's state visit to the republic, June 30 to July 2, climaxed a brief recovery of
U.S. relations from earlier tensions. Human rights was still a sore point, however, and after
the expulsion of Kim Young Sam from the National Assembly, the United States called its
ambassador home for consultation. The question of South Korean influence-peddling in the
United States did recede from view, when the Justice Department dropped charges against
alleged Korean agent Park Tong Sun in August.
One battalion of U.S. infantry departed from South Korea in December 1978, as a part of
scheduled ground force withdrawals. In early 1979, however, intelligence indications of
greater North Korean military strength than previously estimated prompted suspension of the
schedule. In July, with about 32,000 U.S. troops still in Korea, President Carter announced
that there would be no further withdrawals, except for a missile unit, until tensions in the area
eased.
The effectiveness of a new U.S.—South Korean combined command, organized in November
1978, passed its first test in March, when 100,000 South Korean and 56,000 U.S. troops
participated in the largest maneuvers staged in South Korea in many years. Reaffirming the
U.S. commitment to the country's security, they coincided with the abortive resumption of
North-South unification talks and were sharply criticized in North Korean propaganda.
Economy.
After many years of sustained rapid growth, the republic faced problems brought on by world
recession and by the very success of its export-oriented policies: trade barriers were erected
abroad to restrict its exports to Europe and the United States, there was an upsurge in the
money supply (resulting partly from earnings sent home by Koreans working on construction
projects in the Middle East), and domestic consumer demand continued to grow. OPEC oil
price hikes in May led to increases averaging 59 percent in oil-related commodity prices,
adding to the inflationary pressures.
Most observers expected South Korea to cope more or less successfully with its economic
problems, meeting its 1979 export target of $15 billion and at least holding down inflation to
25 percent. Per capita gross national product was expected to exceed $1,500 in current prices.
New government programs adopted for 1979 included liberalized import policies to meet
domestic demand and respond to foreign complaints, a tight-money policy, and an emphasis
on austerity and saving.
However, the slowing of economic activity caused the first rise in unemployment in several
years, from 3.2 percent to an expected 4.2 percent at year's end. And reduced foreign income
and tight money bankrupted the Yulsan Group, one of South Korea's largest trading and
industrial combines.
Area and population.
Area, 38,022 sq. mi. Pop. (est. 1979), 37.6 million. Principal cities: Seoul (cap.; est. 1978),
7.8 million; Pusan, 2.6 million; Taegu, 1.3 million.
Government.
Republic with centralized presidential power. Acting pres., Choi Kyu Hah.
Finance.
Monetary unit, won; 1 won = US$0.0022. Budget (1978-1979): revenue, $4,657.9 million;
expenditures, $4,548.5 million.
Trade (1978).
Imports, $14,972 million; exports, $12,711 million.
Education (1978).
Enrollment: public primary schools, 5,609,732; public secondary schools, 3,743,175; higher
education, 383,984.
Armed forces (est. 1979).
Army, 520,000; navy, 47,000; air force, 32,000; marines, 20,000.
Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea)
Politics and government.
Principal party and government leaders of North Korea remained in power during 1979, with
few known changes in personality or jurisdiction. Rumors continued that President Kim Il
Sung, now nearing the age of 70, was grooming his son, Kim Chong Il, as a successor.
Contradicting previous stories that the son had been incapacitated in an accident, reports
circulated in Tokyo that he had become a principal leader of the Korean Workers'
(Communist) Party, as one of the four secretaries of its 30-member Central Standing
Committee. However, there was virtually no reference to him in published or broadcast
materials from Pyongyang.
The government and ruling party continued to focus attention on the Great Leader, as Kim Il
Sung is called, and his writings, which were quoted to validate and support all policies and
programs. Kim's concept of chuch'e (self-reliance) not only received extensive publicity
within the country but was exported to India at a conference of the International Institute for
Chuch'e.
The sixth Supreme People's Assembly met in March to hear reports from the leadership and
approve the budget and various law proposals.
Economics.
North Korea's gross national product for 1978 was roughly estimated at $8 billion to $9
billion. Economic data reported by the government purported to show great advances in many
fields, but failed to state specific percentage increases in key areas, such as consumer goods.
The few foreign travelers who visited North Korea described the capital city as modernized
and attractive, and observed no serious privation among the people. In general, however,
living standards in the North did not seem to have risen as rapidly as in the South. The drain
of resources for defense spending continued at a high rate—perhaps 20 percent or more of
gross national product.
International relations.
The North Korean government continued its efforts to solidify ties with the Third World and
with Communist parties in Europe and the United States. Chiefs of government of Burma and
Madagascar and high officials of several other African and Asian countries visited North
Korea, and North Korean officials themselves traveled extensively. The World Table Tennis
Championships were held in Pyongyang in May, the same month that Cambodian Prince
Sihanouk took up residence in the city as an exile.
The North Korean government launched an international drive to collect signatures on a
statement of support for its unification formula and solicited support for an 'anti-U.S. month,'
starting on June 25, the 29th anniversary of the beginning of the Korean war. At the
conference of nonaligned nations held in Havana this September, North Korea supported the
Cuban (and Soviet) position of denying a seat to the ousted, Chinese-supported Pol Pot
regime. At the same time, North Korea continued to maintain close relations with China, and
the vice-chairman of China's Central Standing Committee made a visit to Pyongyang this
year.
Reacting to the assassination of President Park, the official North Korean press agency called
it a sign of political disorder and social chaos in the South.
Area and population.
Area, 46,540 sq. mi. Pop. (est. 1979), 17.5 million. Pyongyang (cap.; est. 1976), 1.8 million.
Government.
People's republic controlled by the Korean Workers' (Communist) Party. Pres., Kim Il Sung;
prem., Lee Jong Ok.
Finance.
Monetary unit, won; official rate, 1 won = US$0.47. Budget (est. 1978): balanced at
$7,113,110,000.
Trade (est. 1976).
Imports, $830 million; exports, $650 million.
Armed forces (est. 1979).
Army, 560,000-600,000; navy, 27,000; air force, 45,000; security forces and border guards,
40,000.
effect, a guide to understanding the soul of that country and its people. The following Sidebar
is intended to provide a glimpse into the unique world of this nation’s customs: how people
marry, how families celebrate holidays and other occasions, what people eat, and how they
socialize and have fun.
Customs of South Korea
Marriage and Family
Most South Koreans today choose their own spouses. Many forgo the elaborate traditional-
style wedding and marry in public wedding halls wearing contemporary clothes. Women
retain their birth names after they marry.
The family is bound together by a strong sense of duty and obligation among its members.
The father is the head of the family; he and the eldest son receive the greatest respect. In the
extended family, the oldest members are shown particular respect. The eldest son is
traditionally given the best opportunities for education and success. Professional
opportunities for women have expanded in recent years.
Although the nuclear family is now more common, especially in the cities, sons still expect to
care for their aging parents. Because of the Confucian emphasis on family hierarchies,
detailed genealogies are kept. These go back centuries and include each person’s birth,
relations, achievements, and place of burial. A Korean name consists of a one-syllable family
name followed by a one- or two-syllable given name. Kim and Yi are the most common
family names.
Eating
Rice is the main staple food. It is often combined with red beans or vegetables and kimch’i, a
spicy pickled cabbage. Korean cuisine uses a lot of spices. Soup is often part of a meal, and
chicken, beef, and fish are common. A favorite delicacy is bulgogi, strips of marinated and
barbecued beef. Barley tea is served with most meals. Soju and beer are common alcoholic
drinks. Fruit is popular as a dessert. In recent years western food such as hamburgers and
pizza have become popular, especially among young people. Many restaurants now cater to
this change in tastes.
Chopsticks and spoons are the most commonly used eating utensils. At a dinner party, the
meal is usually served first, before socializing. Items are passed and drinks are poured with
the right hand, while the left hand supports the forearm or wrist. When holding a glass to
receive a drink, it is polite to use both hands. Eating while walking on the street is not
appropriate for adults.
Socializing
A gentle nod is the traditional greeting. A slight bow shows respect but should not be
exaggerated. Among urban South Korean men, a nod is often accompanied by a handshake.
The left hand may support or rest under the right forearm during the handshake to show
respect. Women shake hands less often than men. Between professionals meeting for the first
time, business cards are exchanged; they are presented face up and accepted with both hands
after a handshake. Special deference is shown to elders.
The use of someone’s title shows respect. Foreign visitors should always address people
formally unless asked to do otherwise. A common greeting is Annyong haseyo?, which means
'How do you do?' Young children often greet each other with a simple Annyong? To show
special respect, an honorific is added to the greeting: Annyong hashimnikka? Young children
bow or nod when greeting adults.
It is not unusual to see South Korean men (usually younger) holding hands or walking with a
hand on a friend’s shoulder. Touching older people or members of the opposite sex is
generally not appropriate, however.
Guests invited to a home remove their shoes upon entering. While European-style furniture is
common, in traditional Korean homes guests are seated on cushions on ondol floors that are
heated from below. Men sit cross-legged and women tuck their legs to one side behind them.
The guest receives the warmest or best position. Guests invited for a meal or party
customarily bring a small gift in appreciation, often something that can be served at the
gathering. Refreshments are usually served, and it is impolite to refuse them.
Recreation
Baseball and soccer are the most popular spectator sports. Because Seoul hosted the 1988
Olympic Games, the capital has some excellent facilities. Koreans also enjoy basketball,
swimming, tennis, boxing, and golf—many Japanese travel to South Korea just to play golf.
Walking and hiking are popular, and the mountains provide opportunities for skiing and
mountain climbing. The national sport is the martial art tae kwon do. Another local sport is
ssirum, in which the contestants wrestle while wearing cloth harnesses. Cinemas, art exhibits,
and theaters also provide entertainment.
Holidays and Celebrations
The New Year is celebrated over two days, on 1 and 2 January. Lunar New Year is celebrated
for three days in January or February. For this holiday, families gather to exchange gifts,
honor their ancestors, and enjoy large meals. Generally, everyone dresses in traditional
clothing. After memorial services, family members bow to each older person in a show of
respect, and to exchange well wishes for the New Year. Games are played and fortunes are
told. The other important family holiday is Ch'usok (Korean Thanksgiving Day), when family
members visit the ancestral tomb to offer food in honor of their ancestors. Other holidays
include Independence Movement Day (1 March), Children’s Day (5 May), Buddha’s
Birthday (in May, observed according to the lunar calendar), Memorial Day (6 June),
Constitution Day (17 July), Liberation Day (15 August), National Foundation Day (3
October), and Christmas Day (25 December). Arbor Day (5 April), Armed Forces Day (1
October), and Korean Language Day (9 October) are marked by various celebrations but are
not public holidays.
On a person’s 60th birthday, members of the extended family gather for a grand celebration,
called Hwan’gap. New members of the family are also celebrated. One hundred days after a
child's birth, a small feast is held in honor of the child; this celebration is a legacy of South
Korea's past high infant mortality rates. A much more significant celebration, called Tol, is
held at the first birthday. The first gift a child picks up from among the many gifts offered is
thought to signal his or her fortunes in life.
Source: Encarta Interactive World Atlas
Decades later, Koreans still seek reconciliation and eventual reunification of their torn nation.
In 2002 South Korea and Japan cohosted the World Cup, one of the most popular
international sporting events. It marked the first time the soccer tournament was held in Asia,
and the first time it was jointly hosted by two countries.
Kim was constitutionally barred from seeking a second term. The candidate of the
Millennium Democratic Party (MDP), Roh Moo Hyun, won the December 2002 presidential
election. Roh had staked his campaign on the continuation of Kim’s so-called Sunshine
Policy of diplomatic and economic engagement with North Korea. Despite the growing
détente on the Korea Peninsula achieved through this policy, the situation became
increasingly unstable due to tensions between the United States and North Korea over the
nuclear issue.
In March 2004 Roh was impeached by a two-thirds vote in the National Assembly for
allegedly violating South Korea’s electoral laws. It was the first time in South Korea’s history
that a president was impeached. The electoral laws require government officials to remain
neutral in election campaigns, but Roh had indicated his support for the Uri Party prior to the
legislative elections scheduled for April 2004. The Grand National Party (GNP) and
Millennium Democratic Party (MDP), which together controlled the legislature, initiated the
vote to impeach Roh. Although Roh had been elected as the candidate of the MDP in 2002,
he later split with the party. A faction of the MDP left the party and formed the Uri Party to
support Roh.
Public opinion polls showed that the majority of South Koreans did not support the
impeachment. In the April elections both the GNP and the MDP lost seats in the National
Assembly while the Uri Party more than tripled its representation and gained a slim majority
with 152 of 299 seats. It was the first time in more than 40 years that a liberal party won
control of the legislature. The Constitutional Court subsequently ruled that Roh’s infraction
of the electoral law was too minor to warrant impeachment and dismissed the case against
him.
The presidential election held in December 2007 gave the conservative GNP candidate, Lee
Myung-bak, a landslide victory. A former chief executive of Hyundai and mayor of Seoul,
Lee campaigned on a promise to increase the economic growth of South Korea.

Essay Contest On Korea's National Image

Загружено:

Сведения о документе

Оригинальное название

Авторское право

Доступные форматы

Поделиться этим документом

Поделиться или встроить документ

Параметры публикации

Этот документ был вам полезен?

Это неприемлемый материал?

Авторское право:

Доступные форматы

Essay Contest On Korea's National Image

Загружено:

Авторское право:

Доступные форматы

Essay Contest on Korea's National Image

◇ Contest open to all foreigners without regard to age or gender.

◇ Submissions will be accepted from Sep. 3 until Oct. 19, 2012

◇ Prizes will be announced as follows in November 2012.

◇ Please write an essay of no more than 2,000 words on the following.

A. Personal Information (*in capital letters)

B. Basic Information (*please check "v")

a. Have you visited Korea?

a-1. (If yes) How long did you stay in Korea?

a-2. (If no) Do you intend to visit Korea in the future?

C. Subject of the Essay(s) (please check "v")

Population 49,232,844 (2008 estimate)

Seoul, South Korea

Seoul, South Korea

Seoul's Old City Hall

Busan, South Korea

Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Buddha’s Birthday, South Korea

Confucian Ceremony, South Korea

Confucian Ceremony, South Korea

Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Pulguksa Temple, South Korea

Pulguksa Temple, South Korea

Sokkuram Cave Temple, South

Sokkuram Cave Temple, South Korea

Korean Celadon Vessel

Korean Celadon Vessel

Korean Ceramics, Koryŏ Dynasty

Changgyeong Palace, Seoul

Changgyeong Palace, Seoul

Korean Pottery, Chosŏn Dynasty

The 20th-century art of Korea is still dominated by ceramics, particularly by revivals of

Korean is an agglutinative language—that is, it forms words by combining simple words or

This word is made up of the letters:

Recognizing social relationships is important in the Korean language. Honorifics establish

Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Customs of South Korea

Marriage and Family

Holidays and Celebrations

Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), international

Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

1953: United Nations

News Events and Trends.

Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Republic of Korea (South Korea)

Area and population.

Imports, $14,972 million; exports, $12,711 million.

Armed forces (est. 1979).

Army, 520,000; navy, 47,000; air force, 32,000; marines, 20,000.

Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea)

Politics and government.

Area and population.

Trade (est. 1976).

Imports, $830 million; exports, $650 million.

Armed forces (est. 1979).

Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.