Korea is a formerly unified country, situated on the Korean Peninsula in north East Asia adjacent to China in the west and Russia in the north. When World War II ended in 1945, the country was divided into two: the Republic of Korea ( South Korea) and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea ( North Korea). The Unification Flag is often used to represent Korea at international sporting events , but it is not an official flag of either country.
1 Overview
Archaeological evidence indicates that early humans appeared 2.5 million years ago and although the written language is only 5000 years old, by evaluating archeological, DNA data, geological, cosmological, language and fossil studies the prehistory of the Korean people can be determined. Paleolithic and archaelogic evidence indicates that people have lived in Korea for the past 40,000 years. For much of the past millennium, Korea was politically a single state, which led to the development of a fairly homogeneous and unique culture. Korea is characterised by a distinct people ( Koreans) and language ( Korean).
According to ancient Chinese scripts Korea is referred to as Kumsu Kangsan literally meaning "the river and mountains are embroidered on silk". In addition, the Chinese credited the Koreans of being the producer of some of the best silk in the world. During the 7th-8th centuries there existed via land and sea routes trading networks between Korea and Arabia. Koreans used wooden printing blocks by 751. The publication technique of using metal movable type was invented in Korea as early as 1232 (although clay prints were invented by Bi Sheng about 200 years earlier in China), long before Gutenberg in Europe developed metal letterset type. During the Goryeo period, the silk industry became widepsread and blue-green celadons became a Korean specialty. Also during this time the first ironclad warships in the world were developed and deployed in Korea. Korea achieved rapid cultural growth during the Joseon eraThe Joseon Dynasty was founded in 1392 by Korean general Yi Seonggye ( Taejo), who overthrew the former kingdom of Goryeo and established the kingdom of Joseon in a coup d'etat, simultaneously ending the period of Mongol domination that had begun in 1259., developing a culture unique from Ming China. The Joseon era also presided over progress in traditional arts and crafts, such as white glazed celadons, better silk and better paper, beatiful fans and clothes, and the completion of the Korean alphabet, hangulHangul is the native alphabet used to write the Korean language (as opposed to the Hanja system borrowed from China). For other romanized spellings of "Hangul," please see Names below. While Hangul writing may appear ideographic to the uninitiated, it is.
Korea is currently divided into the capitalistIn economics, a capitalist is someone who owns capital, presumably within the economic system of capitalism. Not all usages of the word assume actual ownership of capital. Some philosophers and political theorists, such as Ayn Rand and David Friedman, use Republic of Korea (ROK) and the communist Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). This division occurred in effect since Japan's defeat in 1945Events January January 5 The Soviet Union recognizes the new pro-Soviet government of Poland. January 7 British General Bernard Montgomery holds a press conference in which he claims credit for victory in the Battle of the Bulge. January 12 World War II: which put an end to World War IIWorld War II was the most extensive and costly armed conflict in the history of the world, involving the great majority of the world's nations, being fought simultaneously in several major theatres, and costing tens of millions of lives. The war was fough whereas permanent division came after the Korean War in 1953.
North Korea pursues a policy of self reliance ( Juche). Its borders are open for travel for almost all countries, but its harder to get an entry Visa if you are a US Citizen since Korea and the US are still officially at war. In contrast, South Korea, which pursues an export-driven economy, enjoys the 11th largest economy in the world. However, both Korean states proclaim eventual reunification as a goal; that is, the restoration of Korea as a single state. Even though Korea is no longer one nation in real political terms, it is very much alive in the minds of Koreans and as an ethno-cultural space critical to Korean national identity.
