Korea. Early History The Korean peninsula juts off the edge of China, just across the Sea of Japan...
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Transcript of Korea. Early History The Korean peninsula juts off the edge of China, just across the Sea of Japan...
Korea
Early History
• The Korean peninsula juts off the edge of China, just across the Sea of Japan (East Sea) from Japan
• Korean, Chinese, and Japanese cultures are closely related as areas were invaded and conquered over the years
• Japan added Korea to its empire in the early 20th century
• After Japan lost World War II, the Soviet Union an the U.S. took control of Korea
Korean War
• They split the country at the 38th parallel and the Soviets controlled the North, the US set up a democracy in the South
• In 1950, the North invaded and the Korean War began – 50,000 American soldiers
lost their lives fighting in this war
Still at it?
• Both sides came to a “cease-fire”, but never signed a peace treaty, so they’re still technically at war – even though there are no battles
• That’s why there’s a North and a South Korea
• Created a Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) to act as a buffer– No military troops can enter
it– 150 miles long and 2.5 miles
wide
Don’t mess with them…
• The Korean border is one of the most fortified and tense borders in the world
• Barbed wire, concrete walls, armed guards, mines, etc
• But almost no humans…
New Ecosystem
• The almost complete lack of humans in that area for over 50 years has allowed a unique ecosystem to develop
• Many species nearly extinct on the rest of the peninsula thrive inside the DMZ
Reconciliation
• South Korea hopes that the whole peninsula will one day be reunited
• Until then, families are separated by more than just distance…
Korean People
• Nearly all inhabitants are ethnic Koreans who speak a single language
• Their written language, hangul, is easily recognizable and MUCH easier to learn than Chinese or Japanese– It has a 24 letter alphabet– Because of this, Koreans were always more
literate than Japanese or Chinese (until recently)
Religion
• About 30% of Koreans are Buddhist
• About 30% are Christian• About 30% are classified
as “other”• Strong influence of
Confucianism from China
Seoul
• The capital city of South Korea is Seoul
• It’s the 10th largest city in the world with over 10 million inhabitants!
Beautiful countryside and architecture
Education
• Very competitive, challenging system• Many students are not done with school until
8-12 at night!• Parents pay for extra tutors to help b/c getting
into university is so competitive • School rules are very strict!• All middle and high school students wear
uniforms
Korean high school students
in uniform
Regular clothes for the rest of
the time….
The Singing Rooms
• Naraebang are singing rooms – kind of like karaoke, only instead of singing in front of the whole bar, your group gets a private room so you can make total fools of yourselves in private
• Very popular activity – it’s a lot of fun!
Food
• Korean food is mostly very healthy– Lots of vegetables and
fish• Kimchi is a major part
of the diet and is served daily – it’s a fermented cabbage dish
A popular dish is Bulgogi, which is a beef barbecue you make yourself at your table.
It’s YUMMY!
Notice all the dishes?
Why didn’t I think of this?
More interesting ideas…
South Korea’s Economy
• The economy of South Korea is a remarkable story
• In 30 years, they went from being a poor farming country to one of the strongest industrial economies in the world!
• It took England and the U.S. over a hundred years to do it.
North Korea
• North Korea is a different story…• It’s a communist country under the control of
Kim Jong Il and it’s very very poor• We’ll learn more about it next time…
