The Koreas: North and South

Main Ideas• The Korean peninsula is

divided into two separatecountries.

• North Korea is a Communistcountry, and South Korea is a republic.

Places & TermsThree Kingdoms

Seoul

Pyongyang

Connect to the Issuestrade South Korea is one of the economic tigers of the region, and much of itsprosperity depends uponindustry and trade.

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A HUMAN PERSPECTIVE Korea is surrounded by water on three sidesand by mountains on its northern border. In the 17th and 18th centuries,Korea chose self-protected isolation and became known as “the hermitkingdom.” This isolation has continued in North Korea, which has littlecontact with other nations even today. However, that may be changing.

A Divided PeninsulaKorea is a peninsula. To the east lies the Sea of Japan. To the west lies theYellow Sea. To the south lies the Korea Strait. To the north lie China andRussian Siberia. Korea’s location has shaped its history.

ANCIENT KOREA AND FOREIGN INFLUENCES The ancestors oftoday’s Koreans probably migrated into the peninsula from Manchuriaand North China many thousands of years ago. Over the course of thecenturies, different clans or groups controlled different parts of thecountry. About 2000 B.C., the first state, called Chosen, arose in Korea.

Around 100 B.C., China conquered the northern half of the peninsula.This began the history of invasions by China and Japan. Because of itslocation, Korea has been a buffer between the two countries.

After being partially conquered by China, the Koreans gradually wonback their territory. By the late 300s, the Three Kingdoms had formed inthe peninsula. These were Koguryo in the northeast, Paekche in thesouthwest, and Silla in the southeast. In the 660s, Silla conquered theother two kingdoms and controlled the peninsula for hundreds of years.

PLACE Kyungbok Palace islocated in Seoul, South Korea. What does the setting ofthe palace amidst thebustle of Seoul suggestabout the culture?

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In 1392, a general named Yi Songgye became ruler of Korea. Hefounded a dynasty that lasted for hundreds of years. But the dynastyended in 1910, when Japan took control of the entire peninsula. TheJapanese ruled Korea until they were defeated in World War II in 1945.

TWO KOREAS: NORTH AND SOUTH After Japan’s defeat in the war,the northern part of Korea was controlled by the Soviet Union, and thesouthern half was supported by the United States. In 1950, Koreantroops from the North invaded South Korea, starting the Korean War.The war ended in 1953 with a treaty that divided the peninsula betweenthe Communist state of North Korea and the democratic country ofSouth Korea. The two nations remained hostile toward each other, butin the year 2000, they began discussions on reuniting.

Influences on Korean CultureThe shadow cast by China has fallen across the Korean peninsula. Koreanculture, including language, art, and religion, shows this influence. Morerecently, western economic influences have been very important.

THE CHINESE INFLUENCE In philosophy and religion, Korea has adapt-ed many ideas from China. Confucianism (see Section 1) is a system ofteachings based on the beliefs of the Chinese scholar Confucius. His ideasstressing social order have influenced many Koreans. Buddhism, whichcame to Korea by way of China, has also influenced many Koreans.

The Korean War, 1950–1953

SKILLBUILDER: Interpreting MapsMOVEMENT Which forces moved south almost to Pusan?

REGION Compare maps 1 and 4 above. Did either sidegain more territory?

0

0 100 200 kilometers

100 200 miles

Lambert Conformal Conic ProjectionNorth Korea Invasion, 1950

UN Offensive, 1950

Chinese Offensive, 1950

Stalemate and Armistice, 1953

Area occupied by Communist forces

Area occupied by UN forces

Movement of Communist forces

Movement of UN forces

1

2

3

4

PrewarBoundary

130°E

35°N

38°N

40°N

125°E

YellowSea

Sea ofJapan

Pusan

Seoul

NORTHKOREA

JAPAN

SOUTHKOREA

CHINA

SOVIET UNION

Yalu

J iang

InchonLanding

130°E

35°N

38°N

40°N

125°E

YellowSea

Sea ofJapan

Pusan

SeoulInchon

NORTHKOREA

JAPAN

SOUTHKOREA

CHINA

SOVIET UNION

Yalu

J iang

UN TroopEvacuations

130°E

35°N

38°N

40°N

125°E

YellowSea

Sea ofJapan

Pusan

Seoul

NORTHKOREA

JAPAN

SOUTHKOREA

CHINA

SOVIET UNION

Yalu

J iang

Panmunjom

ArmisticeLine

130°E

35°N

38°N

40°N

125°E

YellowSea

Sea ofJapan

Pusan

Seoul

NORTHKOREA

JAPAN

SOUTHKOREA

CHINA

SOVIET UNION

Yalu

J iang

1 2 3 4

N N N N

The Koreas: North and South 649

Young people, like most other South Koreans, follow at least some ofthe teachings of Confucius. For example, education is highly valued. Thestate requires by law that students obtain a primary education, and thisschooling is free. The majority of children attend secondary schools. Morethan one million students attend college-level schools in South Korea.

However, in addition to traditional ideas and ways of life, there is astrong western influence in South Korea. This can be seen in the Westernclothes worn by these students as they enjoy an outing in the Nampodongshopping district in Pusan, South Korea.

If you lived in South Korea, you would pass these milestones:

OTHER CULTURAL INFLUENCES Since World War II, two major influ-ences have had a profound effect on Korea. First, Communism hasmolded the culture of North Korea. Non-Communist South Korea, onthe other hand, has been greatly influenced by Western culture.

In North Korea, the government only allows art that glorifiesCommunism or the folk tradition. In South Korea, artists have morefreedom of expression. They work with themes drawn from their ownhistory and culture, as well as themes drawn from Western art.

Moving Toward Unity The most important recent development in North Korea and SouthKorea is the movement toward unification. However, the communistNorth and democratic South must overcome years of mutual hostility.

AN ARMED SOCIETY After World War II, both North Korea and SouthKorea built up huge armies. The armed forces of South Korea numbermore than 600,000 soldiers and sailors. The armed forces of NorthKorea are even larger, numbering well over one million.

Both countries have existed with large armies and the threat ofanother war for many years. Only recently has there been an attempt todefuse the situation to prevent an outbreak of war. War has been a realpossibility along the border between North Korea and South Korea,which is guarded by nearly 2 million troops on both sides.

A SINGLE FLAG There are signs of hope, however. In June 2000, theleaders of both Koreas held a summit meeting at which they declaredtheir intention to reunite the two countries. Shortly after, the defense

• You would be required by law toattend school through 6th grade.

• You would next attend middleschool—grades 7 through 9.

• You would then probably attendhigh school—grades 10 through 12.

• You would be able to vote at age 20.

• The average age for a first marriage is 29 for men and 26 for women.

• The average age of women at thebirth of their first child is 27.

Seeing PatternsWhat have

been the main dif-ferences dividingNorth Korea andSouth Korea?

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chiefs of the two Koreas met and agreed to reduce tensions along theirborder. They agreed to discuss clearing land mines so they could rebuilda rail link between the two countries. Perhaps most importantly, familiesin North Korea and South Korea were allowed to visit each other.

At the summer Olympics held in Sydney, Australia, in 2000, therewas another sign of a thaw. The two Koreas marched into the OlympicStadium under a new flag designed for a single, unified Korea.

Economic and Human ResourcesBefore the Korean War, the economies of North Korea and South Koreawere agricultural. After the war, industry gained in importance in bothcountries. In many ways, the resources of each country balance oneanother.

ECONOMIC PATTERNS If North Korea and South Korea reunite, theywill form an economic powerhouse. North Korea will be able to providenatural resources and raw materials for South Korea’s industries.

South Korea, like Taiwan, is one of the economic tigers of Asia. It isa highly successful and competitive economy. It has the world’s largestshipbuilding industry, as well as large automobile, steel, and chemicalindustries. South Korea is today one of the world’s top trading nations.

POPULATION PATTERNS Most of the people in Korea live on plainsalong the coast or in river valleys among the mountains of the penin-sula. South Korea has 45 percent of the Korean peninsula’s land areabut about 66 percent of its people. Seoul is by far the largest city inSouth Korea, with a population of more than 10 million. The largest cityin North Korea is Pyongyang, with more than 2.5 million people.

In the next section, you will read about the history, culture, econom-ics, and daily life in Japan.

Places & TermsIdentify and explain thesignificance of each ofthe following in theregion.

• Three Kingdoms

• Seoul

• Pyongyang

Taking Notes REGION Use your notes toanswer the questions below.

• In which ways has Chinainfluenced the culture of Korea?

• Which countries in the regionhave invaded Korea?

Main Ideas a. What impact has the

border between NorthKorea and South Korea hadupon life in both countries?

b. How is the economy ofSouth Korea different fromthat of North Korea?

c. Which two majorinfluences have shapedNorth Korea and SouthKorea since World War II?

Geographic ThinkingDrawing Conclusions Howhas Korea’s physical locationaffected its history? Thinkabout:

• the definition of a peninsula

• the location of Korea’sneighbors

See SkillbuilderHandbook, page R5.

SEEING PATTERNS Both Taiwan and South Korea are considered economic tigers of East Asia.What are some characteristics that they share? Make a Venn diagram showing the similaritiesand differences between the two.

TheKoreas

East Asia

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