Cagayan State University

LAL-LO CAMPUS
Sta. Maria, Lal-lo, Cagayan
College of Teacher Education

Korea

Romantically called "Land off the Morning Calm" (Chosun) because of its calm, misty mornings.
The history of this rugged land, brave and diligent people, has been full of sorrow and hardship.
Korea is a nation where Filipinos and UN forces fought Chinese and Korean communist armies in
the 1950s, and it was divided by that war- the North becoming a communist dictatorship, and the
South, a multi-party democracy. Korea's people are praying for reunion. The remarkable thing
about it is that in the last fifty years or so, part of it (South Korea) has become the enclave of
Christianity in East Asia.

Land and People

 Korea is a 600-mile peninsula jutting down from China into the Sea of Japan. It has a total land
area of 221,000 sq km. The area of North Korea is larger, (120,538 sq km); and South Korea,
8,484 sq km. Pyongyang is the capital of North Korea, and Seoul, the capital of South Korea.

 The Country is almost completely covered by mountain ranges separated by narrow valleys. Its
rugged mountain landscape reminds Koreans of their precarious cxistence, also inspires their
spirit. The Amnok (Yalu) River separates Korea from China, and the Duman (Tumen) River,
from China and Russia. The climate is temperate, with cold winters and hot summers. Principal
crops arc rice, corn, wheat, barley, cotton, and soy beans. Korea has rich mineral resources
mainly coal and iron, especially in the North.

 Koreans belong to the yellow race. Although they look like Chinese and Japanese, they are a
different nation and they have painful memories of the others. Korea has its own language
(Korean), literature, and customs. Population in the communist North is less, at 23 million; more

Lecture Notes in Asian Studies BSEd I – Social Science

 Cagayan State University
LAL-LO CAMPUS
Sta. Maria, Lal-lo, Cagayan
College of Teacher Education
in the democratic South, at 50 million. North Korea does not allow any religion; South Korea is
significantly Christian (mostly Protestants; others Catholics), followed by Buddhist and
Confucian. There are over a million foreigners in South Korea, many of them Filipinos, who
work or marry and raise families. Koreans also disperse abroad. Due to their love for education
and the English language, many South Koreans go abroad, even to the Philippines, for language
studies. Many Koreans work or own business abroad, and there are many houses, schools, food
stores, restaurants, beauty parlors, and medical clinics (acupuncture, natural medicine, etc.)
specifically for Koreans abroad. The Korean diet of kimchi, tofu and noodles areas famous as
Japanese and Chinese cuisine.

Early History

According to myth, a
centralized Gojoseon kingdom was
founded a mighty hero named Dangun
(Tangun) in 2333 BC. It was Dangun
who gave the name Chosun (Land of
the Morning Calm) to the country. His
capital was in present-day Pyongyang.
China's Han dynasty attacked Korea
and overthrew the last king in 108 BC.
China then occupied the northwest
area of Korea until 313 AD. Thus,
began an historical animosity with
China.

Meanwhile, three independent

kingdoms ruled Korea they were the
Shilla, Koryo, and Kokuryo. The
Shilla kingdom unified the Korean
Peninsula and reigned from 668 to
935 AD. During their supremacy, new
arts and sciences flourished. From China came Buddhism, and other influences in their culture. In
750-751 AD, a Buddhist text, the Great Dharani Sutra, was printed on woodblock, which may
make it older than the Diamond Sutra of China by a hundred years.

A new kingdom called Koryo (935- 1392) destroyed the Shilla rule. It gave the country
its modern name, Koryo (Goryeo). The Koryo dynasty fought against Mongol invasion for 45
years and kept the independence of the country. During this era, laws were codified and a civil
service organized. Choe Yun-ui invented the world's first mechanical metal printing 'press in
1234 AD, which printed the Jikji (Buddhist text) in 1377. This was an improvement on Chinese
wooden blocks, and two centuries ahead of Gutenberg's printing press in Europe.

The three kingdoms competed for domination of the peninsula. The Kokuryo (Goguryeo)
destroyed the last Chinese command and became the dominant power. Kokuryo expanded
territory into almost all of Manchuria, Inner Mongolia, and South Korea. It was constantly at war
with China's Tang dynasty. The Joseon dynasty of General Yi Seong-gye (1392-1910) made its
capital at Seoul, introduced Chinese ways, and proclaimed Confucianism as the state religion,
thus slowing Buddhism. The Yi Joseon dynasty became the longest reigning kingdom in East
Asia (1 592-1910).

Lecture Notes in Asian Studies BSEd I – Social Science

 Cagayan State University
LAL-LO CAMPUS
Sta. Maria, Lal-lo, Cagayan
College of Teacher Education
The first century of the Yi Joscon dynasty was Korea's "Golden Age." At this time, the
Koreans developed an easy alphabet the angul, fostered literature and scholarship, and gave free
education for the masses. The angul alphabet helped the masses to read revolution. The emperor
kept a record of like the aristocrats and created a knowledge rainfall, believed to be the world's
oldest rainfall record. Koreans are keen scientists, dating to a 10-meter high observatory built in
634 AD, which is one of the world's oldest Surviving astronomical observatories.

The Birth of Two Koreas

Immediately after the Second World War, on August 15, 1945, Korea was liberated after
35 years of Japanese occupation. But it was soon occupied by U.S. and Soviet forces, who took
control of the southern and northern parts of the peninsula, respectively. The occupation forces
promoted the establishment of two Korean states similar to their own: the U.S. helped to establish
a democratic state called the Republic of Korea (ROK)—or South Korea—on August 15, 1948,
while the Soviets helped to establish a communist state in their occupation zone called the
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)—or North Korea—on September 9, 1948. The
occupation forces left the Peninsula in 1949, making Koreans independent but divided into two
ideologically contrasting systems.

Both the DPRK and ROK claimed to be the only legitimate government for the whole of
Korea and tried to deny the existence of the other side. The situation in East Asia was also
changing drastically as the civil war in China, which started in 1946, ended in victory for the
Communist Party, which gave a great boost to North Korea which had been supporting the
Chinese Communists. With the approval of Stalin and Mao Zedong, the young North Korean
leader Kim II-sung started the Korean War to solve the problem of division by military means.
The U.S. mobilized the UN Security Council, and on the same day a resolution was issued
demanding that North Korea withdraw its forces north of the 38th Parallel.

Kim Il Sung, left, signs the Korean Armistice Agreement in Pyongyang in 1953.

North Korea

The Communist. North Korea and Castro's Cuba are the last relics of the Cold War (1949
1989). Ii occupies the northern portion of the Korean Peninsula, with an area of 120,540 sq. km,
and a capital at Pyongyang. Its population of 23 million is threatened by low fertility rates, high
infant mortality, famine, defections and oppression. Life expectancy is 63 years old, lower than
the Philippines' 67 years old. North Korea calls itself a juche (self- reliant) state. It is a communist
dictatorship with a cult of personality organized around.

Lecture Notes in Asian Studies BSEd I – Social Science

 Cagayan State University
LAL-LO CAMPUS
Sta. Maria, Lal-lo, Cagayan
College of Teacher Education
Today, North Korea remains one of two closed communist countries, even though other
communist states have opened their economics and people to the world. Few outsiders can enter
North Korea and see what is really going on. North Korea is one of the most repressive regimes,
and many people suffer from famine and tyranny, though some are greatly favored.

Many international agencies, like Amnesty International, accuse North Korea of having
one of the "worst human rights records of any nation." North Korean defectors have told of
prisons and detention camps with hundreds of thousands of inmates. It is a capital crime,
punishable by death, to listen in a radio broadcast from the outside world.

North Korea has the fourth-largest army in the world, with an estimated 1,200,000
soldiers. Its military budget takes much of its annual income. It was one of the states listed as
sponsors of terrorism for many deadly acts by its agents in South Korea, Japan, Burma, etc. After
the 9/11/200| terrorist attack on the U.S. President George Bush Jr. called North Korea part of an
"axis of evil" with Iran and Iraq, and an "outpost of tyranny" In October 2006, North Korea
became a nuclear power, with the help of Pakistan's nuclear scientists. It has developed some
nuclear weapons and international ballistic missiles, causing serious concern for South Korea,
Japan and other countries. Its development of nuclear weapons is also, as former US State
Secretary Madelaine Albright said, "a cash crop to sell to other interested countries or groups,
even international terrorists looking for nuclear bombs. Hence, some Western powers regard
North Korea as a "rogue state."

Long before North Korea's nuclear weapons, its massive artillery installations deterred
a US or South Korean invasion.

A test-launch of a North Korean ballistic

missile

South Korea
The Republic of Korea
(ROK) occupies 100,032 sq km of

North Korea launching four missiles in an

undisclosed location
Lecture Notes in Asian Studies BSEd I – Social Science
 Cagayan State University
LAL-LO CAMPUS
Sta. Maria, Lal-lo, Cagayan
College of Teacher Education
the southern peninsula, with a capital at Seoul and a population of 50 million. It is one of the most
densely populated countries.

South Korea is a modern democracy, except for a 32-year martial law era (1961-93).
Since then it has had peaceful turnovers of power from one civilian president to another.
Due to the threat posed by the separation of the two Koreas, South Korea maintains the
sixth largest army in the world, and a big military budget (but no nuclear weapons).
From time to time, it has sent its troops to join international forces abroad, e.g. n Vietnam
and Iraq. The U.S. also stations about 30,000 troops in several camps to defend South Korea.

South Korea is a major global economy the 15th largest economy in the world the 4th
largest in Asia, Next to Japan, it is the second most advanced country in Asia, ahead of China (for
now). The international respect for South Korea shows in the election of Ban Ki-moon as UN
Secretary General in 2007.

It is one of the top exporters of electronics, automobiles, ships, machinery,

petrochemicals, and robotics its big Companies are familiar names, Samsung LG, Hyundai-Kia,
Daewoo, etc. It is the largest shipbuilder in the world. It has become a developed economy,
despite lack of resources and a small territory, due to the blessings of Christianity and the
diligence and discipline of its people. It has the world's sixth largest gold and foreign currency
reserves. It has the second highest savings rate in the world. It has one of the highest numbers of
copyright patents for inventions and research. It has the highest rate of research and development
expenditures in the world. It is called a "knowledge" economy, due to its high technology and
highly literate and education-hungry people. In 2008, average income in Korea was $27,646.

The wealthy district in Seoul, South Korea

Answer the following:

1. Describe the early
Korea.
2. Why are there Two Koreas? Why the two countries have not re-unified?
3. Why do you think North Korea was regarded as “Rogue State"? Cite some instances to
support your answer.
4. What were some of the reasons for South Korea’s “rags-to-riches achievement”? Give
at least 3 examples of its achievement.

Lecture Notes in Asian Studies BSEd I – Social Science