History of Korea
Prehistory
The Korean Academy claimed ancient hominid fossils originating from about 100,000 BCE in the lava at a stone
city site
in Korea. Fluorescent and high-magnetic analyses indicate the volcanic fossils may be from as early as
300,000 BCE. The
best preserved Korean pottery goes back to the paleolithic around 10,000 BCE and the Neolithic period begins
around 6000 BCE.
Gojoseon
According to Korean legend, Dangun, a descendant of Heaven, established Gojoseon in 2333 BCE. In 108 BCE, the
Han dynasty defeated Gojoseon and installed four commanderies in the northern Korean peninsula. Three of the
commanderies fell or retreated westward within a few decades, but the Lelang Commandery remained as a center
of cultural and economic exchange with successive Chinese dynasties for four centuries. By 313, Goguryeo
annexed all of the Chinese commanderies.
Proto–Three Kingdoms
The Proto–Three Kingdoms period, sometimes called the Multiple States Period, is the earlier part of what is
commonly called the Three Kingdoms Period, following the fall of Gojoseon but before Gogureo, Baekje, and
Silla
fully developed into kingdoms.
This time period saw numerous states spring up from the former territories of Gojoseon, which encompassed
northern Korea and southern Manchuria. With the fall of Gojoseon, southern Korea entered the Samhan period.
Located in the southern part of Korea, Samhan referred to the three confederacies of Manhan, Jinhan and
Byeonhan. Mahan was the largest and consisted of 54 states. Byeonhan and Jinhan both consisted of twelve
states,
bringing a total of 78 states within the Samhan. These three confederacies eventually developed into Baekje,
Silla and Gaya.
Three Kingdoms
The Three Kingdoms of Korea consisted of Goguryeo, Silla and Baekje. Silla and Baekje controlled the southern
half of the Korean Peninsula, maintaining the former Samhan territories, while Goguryeo concrolled the
northern
half of the Korean Peninsula, Manchuria and the Liaodong Peninsula, uniting Buyeo, Okjeo, Dongye, and the
other
states in the former Gojoseon territories.
Goguryeo was a highly milisaristic state; it was a powerful empire and one of the great powers in East Asia
reaching its zenith in the 5th century when its territories expanded to encompass most of Manchuria to the
north, parts of Inner Mongolia to the west, parts of Russia to the east, and the Seoul region to the south.
Goguryeo experienced a golden age under Gwanggaeto the Great and his son Jangsu, who both subdued Baekje and
Silla during their times, achieving a brief unification of the Three Kingdoms of Korea and becoming the most
dominant power on the Korean Peninsula. In addition to contesting for control of the Korean Peninsula,
Goguryeo
had many military conflicts with various Chinese dynasties, most notably the Goguryeo-Sui War, in which
Goguryeo
defeated a huge force said to number over a million men. In 642, the powerful general Yeon Gaesomun led a coup
and gained complete control over Goguryeo. In response, Emperor Tang Taizong of China led a campaign against
Goguryeo, but was defeated and retreated. After the death of Tang Taizong, his son Emperor Tang Gaozong allied
with the Korean kingdom of Silla and invaded Goguryeo again, but was unable to overcome Goguryeo's stalwart
defenses and was defeated in 662. However, Yeon Gaesomun died of a natural cause in 666 and Goguryeo was
thrown
into chaos and weakened by a succession struggle among his sons and younger brother, with his eldest son
defecting to Tang and his younger brother defecting to Silla. The Tang-Silla alliance finally conquered
Goguryeo
in 668. After the collapse of Goguryeo, Tang and Silla ended their alliance and fought over control of the
Korean Peninsula. Silla succeeded in gaining control over most of the Korean Peninsula, while Tang gained
control over Goguryeo's northern territories.
However, 30 years after the fall of Goguryeo, a Goguryeo general
by the name of Dae Joyeong founded the Korean-Mohe state of Balhae and successfully expelled the Tang presence
from much of the former Goguryeo territories.
The southwestern Korean kingdom of Baekje was founded around modern-day Seoul by a Goguryeo prince, a son of
the
founder of Goguryeo. Baekje absorbed all of the Mahan states and subjugated most of the western Korean
peninsula
(including the modern provinces of Gyeonggi, Chungcheong, and Jeolla, as well as parts of Hwanghae and
Gangwon)
to a centralised government; during the expansion of its territory, Baekje acquired Chinese culture and
technology through maritime contacts with the Southern Dynasties. Baekje was a great maritime power; its
nautical skill, which made it the Phoenicia of East Asia, was instrumental in the dissemination of Buddhism
throughout East Asia and continental culture to Japan. Historic evidence suggests that Japanese culture, art,
and language were influenced by the kingdom of Baekje and Korea itself; Baekje also played an important role
in
transmitting advanced Chinese culture to the Japanese archipelago. Baekje was once a great military power on
the
Korean Peninsula, most notably in the 4th century during the rule of Geunchogo Liaoxi and Shandong in China,
taking advantage of the weakened state of Former Qin, and Kyushu in the Japanese archipelago; however, Baekje
was critically defeated by Gwanggaeto the Great and declined.
Although later records claim that Silla was the oldest of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, it is now believed to
have been the last kingdom to develop. By the 2nd century, Silla existed as a large state in the southeast,
occupying and influencing its neighboring city-states. In 562, Silla annexed the Gaya confederacy, which was
located between Baekje and Silla. The Three Kingdoms of Korea often warred with each other and Silla was often
dominated by Baekje and Goguryeo. Silla was the smallest and weakest of the three, but it used cunning
diplomatic means to make opportunistic pacts and alliances with the more powerful Korean kingdoms, and
eventually Tang China, to its great advantage. In 660, King Muyeol ordered his armies to attack Baekje.
General
Kim Yu-shin, aided by Tang forces, conquered Baekje after defeating General Gyebaek at the Battle of
Hwangsanbeol. In 661, Silla and Tang attacked Goguryeo but were repelled. King Munmu, son of Muyeol and nephew
of General Kim Yu-shin, launched another campaign in 667 and Goguryeo fell in the following year.
North-South States Period
Beginning in the 6th century, Sills's power gradually extended across the Korean Peninsula. Silla first
annexed
the adjacent Gaya confederacy in 562. By the 640s, Silla formed an alliance with the Tang dynasty of China to
conquer Baekje and later Goguryeo. After conquering Baekje and Goguryeo, Silla repulsed Tang China from the
Korean peninsula in 676. Even though Silla unified most of the Korean Peninsula, most of the Goguryeo
territories to the north of the Korean Peninsula were ruled by Balhae. Former Goguryeo general or chief of
Sumo
Mohe Dae Jo-yeong led a group of Goguryeo and Mohe refugees to the Jilin and founded the kingdom of Balhae, 30
years after the collapse of Goguryeo, as the successor to Goguryeo. At its height, Balhae's territories
extended
from southern Manchuria down to the northern Korean peninsula. Balhae was called the "Prosperous Country in
the
East".
Later Silla carried on the maritime prowess of Baekje, which acted like the Phoenicia of medieval East Asia,
and
during the 8th and 9th centuries dominated the seas of East Asia and the trade between China, Korea and Japan,
most notably during the time of Jang Bogo; in addition, Silla people made overseas communities in China on the
Shandong Peninsula and the mouth of the Yangtze River. Later Silla was a prosperous and wealthy country, and
its
metropolitan capital of Gyeongju was the fourth largest city in the world. Later Silla was a golden age of art
and culture, as evidenced by the Hwangnyongsa, Seokguram, Emille Bell. Buddhism flourished during this time,
and
many Korean Buddhists gained great fame among Chinese Buddhists and contributed to Chinese Buddhism,
including:
Woncheok, Wonhyo, Uisang, Musang, and Kim Gyo-gak, Silla prince whose influence made Mount Jiuhua one of the
Four Sacred Mountains of Chinese Buddhism.
Later Silla fell apart in the late 9th century, giving way to the tumultuous Later Three Kingdoms period
(892–935), and Balhae was destroyed by the Khitans in 926. Goryeo unified the Later Three Kingdoms and
received
the last crown prince and much of the ruling class of Balhae, thus bringing about a unification of the two
successor nations of Goguryeo.
Goryeo Dynasty
Goryeo was founded in 918 and replaced Silla as the ruling dynasty of Korea. Goryeo's land was at first what
is
now South Korea and about 1/3 of North Korea, but later on managed to recover most of the Korean peninsula.
Momentarily, Goryeo advanced to parts of Jiandao while conquering the Jurchens, but returned the territories
due
to the harsh climate and difficulties in defending them. The name "Goryeo" is a short form of "Goguryeo" and
was
first used during the time of King Jangsu. Goryeo regarded itself as the successor of Goguryeo, hence its name
and efforts to recover the former territories of Goguryeo. Wang Geon, the founder of Goryeo, was of Goguryeo
descent and traced his ancestry to a noble Goguryeo clan. He made Kaesong, his hometown, the capital.
During this period, laws were codified and a civil service system was introduced. Buddhism flourished and
spread
throughout the peninsula. The development of celadon industries flourished in the 12th and 13th centuries. The
publication of the Tripitaka Koreana onto more than 80,000 wooden blocks and the invention of the world's
first
metal movable type in the 13th century attest to Goryeo's cultural achievements.
Goryeo had to defend frequently against attacks by nomadic empires, especially the Khitans and the Mongols.
Goryeo had a hostile relationship with the Khitans, because the Khitan Empire had destroyed Balhae, also a
successor state of Goguryeo. In 993, the Khitans, who had established the Liao dynasty in 907, invaded Goryeo,
demanding that it make amity with them. Goryeo sent the diplomat Seo Hui to negotiate, who successfully
persuaded the Khitans to let Goryeo expand to the banks of the Amnok (Yalu) River, citing that in the past the
land belonged to Goguryeo, the predecessor of Goryeo.
During the Goryeo-Khitan War, the Khitan Empire invaded
Korea twice more in 1009 and 1018, but was defeated.
After defeating the Khitan Empire, which was the most powerful empire of its time, Goryeo experienced a golden
age that lasted a century, during which the Tripitaka Koreana was completed, and there were great developments
in printing and publishing, promoting learning and dispersing knowledge on philosophy, literature, religion,
and
science; by 1100, there were 12 universities that produced famous scholars and scientists.
Goryeo was invaded by the Mongols in seven major campaigns from the 1230s until the 1270s, but was never
conquered. Exhausted after decades of fighting, Goryeo sent its crown prince to the Yuan capital to swear
allegiance to the Mongols; Kublai Khan accepted, and married one of his daughters to the Korean crown prince,
and the dynastic line of Goryeo continued to survive under the overlordship of the Mongol Yuan dynasty as a
semi-autonomous vassal state and compulsory ally. The two nations became intertwined for 80 years as all
subsequent Korean kings married Mongol princesses, and the last empress of the Yuan dynasty was a Korean
princess.
In the 1350s, King Gongmin was free at last to reform the Goryeo government when the Yuan dynasty began to
crumble. Gongmin had various problems that needed to be dealt with, which included the removal of pro-Mongol
aristocrats and military officials, the question of land holding, and quelling the growing animosity between
the
Buddhists and confucian scholars. During this tumultuous period, Goryeo momentarily conquered Liaoyang in
1356,
repulsed two large invasions by the Red Turbans in 1359 and 1360, and defeated the final attempt by the Yuan
to
dominate Goryeo when General Choe Yeong defeated a Mongol tumen in 1364. During the 1380s, Goryeo turned its
attention to the Wokou threat and used naval artillery created by Choe Museon to annihilate hundreds of pirate
ships.
Joseon Dynasty
In 1392, the general Yi Seong-gye overthrew the Goryeo dynasty after he staged a coup and defeated General
Choe
Yeong. Yi Seong-gye named his new dynasty Joseon and moved the capital from Kaesong to Hanseong (formerly
Hanyang; modern-day Seoul) and built the Gyeongbokgung palace. In 1394, he adopted Confucianism as the
country's
official ideology, resulting in much loss of power and wealth by the Buddhists. The prevailing philosophy of
the
Joseon dynasty was Neo-Confucianism, which was epitomized by the seonbi class, scholars who passed up
positions
of wealth and power to lead lives of study and integrity.
Joseon was a nominal tributary state of China but exercised full sovereignty, and maintained the highest
position among China's tributary states, which also included countries such as the Ryukyu Kingdom, Vietnam,
Burma, Brunei, Laos, Thailand, and the Philippines, among others. In addition, Joseon received tribute from
Jurchens and Japanese until the 17th century, and had a small enclave in the Ryukyu Kingdom that engaged in
trade with Siam and Java.
During the 15th and 16th centuries, Joseon enjoyed many benevolent rulers who promoted education and science.
Most notable among them was Sejong the Great (r. 1418–50), who personally created and promulgated Hangul, the
Korean alphabet. This golden age saw great cultural and scientific advancements, including in printing,
meteorological observation, astronomy, calendar science, ceramics, military technology, geography,
cartography,
medicine, and agricultural technology, some of which were unrivaled elsewhere.
Joseon implemented a class
system
that consisted of yangban the noble class, jungin the middle class, yangin the common class, and cheonin the
lowest class, which included occupations such as butchers, tanners, shamans, entertainers, and nobi, the
equivalent of slaves, bondservants, or serfs.
In 1592 and again in 1597, the Japanese invaded Korea; the Korean military at the time was unprepared and
untrained, due to two centuries of peace on the Korean Peninsula. Toyotomi Hideyoshi intended to conquer China
and India through the Korean Peninsula, but was defeated by strong resistance from the Righteous Army, the
naval
superiority of Admiral Yi Sun-sin and his turtle ships, and assistance from Wanli Emperor of Ming China.
However, Joseon experienced great destruction, including a tremendous loss of cultural sites such as temples
and
palaces to Japanese pillaging, and the Japanese brought back to Japan an estimated 100,000–200,000 noses cut
from Korean victims. Less than 30 years after the Japanese invasions, the Manchus took advantage of Joseon's
war-weakened state and invaded in 1627 and 1637, and then went on to conquer the destabilized Ming dynasty.
After normalizing relations with the new Qing dynasty, Joseon experienced a nearly 200-year period of peace.
Kings Yeongjo and Jeongjo led a new renaissance of the Joseon dynasty during the 18th century.
In the 19th century, the royal in-law families gained control of the government, leading to mass corruption
and
weakening of the state, with severe poverty and peasant rebellions spreading throughout the country.
Furthermore, the Joseon government adopted a strict isolationist policy, earning the nickname "the hermit
kingdom", but ultimately failed to protect itself against imperialism and was forced to open its borders,
beginning an era leading into Japanese imperial rule.
Korean Empire
Beginning in 1871, Japan began to exert more influence in Korea, forcing it out of China's traditional sphere
of influence. As a result of the Sino-Japanese War (1894–95), the Qing dynasty had to give up such a position
according to Article 1 of the Treaty of Shimonoseki, which was concluded between China and Japan in 1895. That
same year, Empress Myeongseong of Korea was assassinated by Japanese agents.
In 1897, the Joseon dynasty proclaimed the Korean Empire (1897–1910). King Gojong became emperor. During this
brief period, Korea had some success in modernizing the military, economy, real property laws, education
system,
and various industries. Russia, Japan, France, and the United States all invested in the country and sought to
influence it politically.
In 1904, the Russo-Japanese War pushed the Russians out of the fight for Korea. Korea became a protectorate of
Japan the following year. In Manchuria on 26 October 1909, An Jung-geun assassinated the former
Resident-General
of Korea, Itō Hirobumi, for his role in trying to force Korea into occupation.
Japanese Occupation and Japan-Korea Annexation
In 1910, an already militarily occupied Korea was a forced party to the Japan–Korea Annexation Treaty. The
treaty was signed by Lee Wan-Yong, who was given the General Power of Attorney by the Emperor. However, the
Emperor is said to have not actually ratified the treaty according to Yi Tae-jin. There is a long dispute
whether this treaty was legal or illegal due to its signing under duress, threat of force and bribes.
Korean resistance to the brutal Japanese occupation was manifested in the nonviolent March 1st Movement of
1919,
during which 7,000 demonstrators were killed by Japanese police and military. The Korean liberation movement
also spread to neighbouring Manchuria and Siberia.
Over five million Koreans were conscripted for labour beginning in 1939, and tens of thousands of men were
forced into Japan's military. Nearly 400,000 Korean labourers died. Approximately 200,000 girls and women,
mostly from China and Korea, were forced into sexual slavery for the Japanese military. In 1993, Japanese
Chief
Cabinet Secretary Yohei Kono acknowledged the terrible injustices faced by these euphemistically named
"comfort
women".
During the Japanese annexation, the Korean language was suppressed in an effort to eradicate Korean national
identity. Koreans were forced to take Japanese surnames, known as Sōshi-kaimei. Traditional Korean culture
suffered heavy losses, as numerous Korean cultural artifacts were destroyed or taken to Japan. To this day,
valuable Korean artifacts can often be found in Japanese museums or among private collections. One
investigation
by the South Korean government identified 75,311 cultural assets that were taken from Korea, 34,369 in Japan
and
17,803 in the United States. However, experts estimate that over 100,000 artifacts actually remain in Japan.
Japanese officials considered returning Korean cultural properties, but to date this has not occurred. Korea
and
Japan still dispute the ownership of the Dokdo islets, located east of the Korean Peninsula.
There was significant emigration to the overseas territories of the Empire of Japan during the Japanese
occupation period, including Korea. By the end of World War II, there were over 850,000 Japanese settlers in
Korea. After World War II, most of these overseas Japanese repatriated to Japan. Migrants who remained
squatted
in informal settlements.
Division and Conflict
In 1945, with the surrender of Japan, the United Nations developed plans for a trusteeship administration,
the
Soviet Union administering the peninsula north of the 38th parallel and the United States administering the
south. The politics of the Cold War resulted in the 1948 establishment of two separate governments, North
Korea
and South Korea.
The aftermath of World War II left Korea partitioned along the 38th parallel on 2 September 1945, with the
north
under Soviet occupation and the south under US occupation supported by other allied states. Consequently,
North
Korea, a Soviet-style socialist republic was established in the north and South Korea; a Western-style regime,
was established in the South.
North Korea is a one-party state, now centred on Kim Il-sung's Juche ideology, with a centrally planned
industrial economy. South Korea is a multi-party state with a capitalist market economy, alongside membership
in
the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the Group of Twenty. The two states have
greatly
diverged both culturally and economically since their partition, though they still share a common traditional
culture and pre-Cold War history.
Since the 1960s, the South Korean economy has grown enormously and the economic structure was radically
transformed. In 1957, South Korea had a lower per capita GDP than Ghana, and by 2008 it was 17 times as high
as
Ghana's.
According to R. J. Rummel, forced labor, executions, and concentration camps were responsible for over one
million deaths in North Korea from 1948 to 1987; others have estimated 400,000 deaths in concentration camps
alone. Estimates based on the most recent North Korean census suggest that 240,000 to 420,000 people died as a
result of the 1990s famine and that there were 600,000 to 850,000 unnatural deaths in North Korea from 1993 to
2008. In South Korea, as guerrilla activities expanded, the South Korean government used strong measures
against
peasants, such as forcefully moving their families from guerrilla areas. According to one estimate, these
measures resulted in 36,000 people killed, 11,000 people wounded, and 432,000 people displaced.
Korean War
The Korean War broke out when Soviet-backed North Korea invaded South Korea, though neither side gained much
territory as a result. The Korean Peninsula remained divided, the Korean Demilitarized Zone being the de facto
border between the two states.
In June 1950 North Korea invaded the South, using Soviet tanks and weaponry. During the Korean War (1950–53)
more than 1.2 million people died and the three years of fighting throughout the nation effectively destroyed
most cities. The war ended in an Armistice Agreement at approximately the Military Demarcation Line, but the
two
governments are officially at war. In 2018, the leaders of North Korea and South Korea officially signed the
Panmunjom Declaration, announcing that they will work to end the conflict.
In November 2020, South Korea and China agreed to work together to mend South Korea's relationship with North
Korea. During a meeting between President Moon and China's top diplomat, Wang Yi, Moon expressed his gratitude
to China for its role in helping to foster peace in the Korean Peninsula. Moon was quoted telling Wang during
their meeting that “[the South Korean] government will not stop efforts to put an end (formally) to war on the
Korean Peninsula and achieve complete denuclearization and permanent peace together with the international
community, including China.”
Geography
Korea consists of a peninsula and nearby islands located in East Asia. The peninsula extends southwards for
about 1,100 km (680 mi) from continental Asia into the Pacific Ocean and is surrounded by the Sea of Japan to
the east and the Yellow Sea (West Sea) to the west, the Korea Strait connecting the two bodies of water. o the
northwest, the Amnok River separates Korea from China and to the northeast, the Duman River separates it from
China and Russia. Notable islands include Jeju Island, Ulleung Island, Dokdo. The southern and western parts
of
the peninsula have well-developed plains, while the eastern and northern parts are mountainous. The highest
mountain in Korea is Mount Paektu (2,744 m), through which runs the border with China. The southern extension
of
Mount Paektu is a highland called Gaema Heights. This highland was mainly raised during the Cenozoic orogeny
and
partly covered by volcanic matter. To the south of Gaema Gowon, successive high mountains are located along
the
eastern coast of the peninsula. This mountain range is named Baekdu-daegan. Some significant mountains include
Mount Sobaek or Sobaeksan (1,439 m), Mount Kumgang (1,638 m), Mount Seorak (1,708 m), Mount Taebaek (1,567 m),
and Mount Jiri (1,915 m). There are several lower, secondary mountain series whose direction is almost
perpendicular to that of Baekdu-daegan. They are developed along the tectonic line of Mesozoic orogeny and
their
directions are basically northwest. Unlike most ancient mountains on the mainland, many important islands in
Korea were formed by volcanic activity in the Cenozoic orogeny. Jeju Island, situated off the southern coast,
is
a large volcanic island whose main mountain, Mount Halla or Hallasan (1,950 m), is the highest in South Korea.
Ulleung Island is a volcanic island in the Sea of Japan, the composition of which is more felsic than Jeju.
The
volcanic islands tend to be younger, the more westward. Because the mountainous region is mostly on the
eastern
part of the peninsula, the main rivers tend to flow westwards. Two exceptions are the southward-flowing
Nakdong
River and Seomjin River. Important rivers running westward include the Amnok River, the Chongchon River, the
Taedong River, the Han River, the Geum River, and the Yeongsan River. These rivers have vast flood plains and
provide an ideal environment for wet-rice cultivation. The southern and southwestern coastlines of the
peninsula
form a well-developed ria coastline, known as Dadohae-jin in Korean. This convoluted coastline provides mild
seas, and the resulting calm environment allows for safe navigation, fishing, and seaweed farming. In addition
to the complex coastline, the western coast of the Korean Peninsula has an extremely high tidal amplitude (at
Incheon, around the middle of the western coast, the tide can get as high as 9 m). Vast tidal flats have been
developing on the south and west coastlines.
Climate
Korea has a temperate climate with comparatively fewer typhoons than other countries in East Asia. Due to the
peninsula's position, it has a unique climate influenced by Siberia in the north, the Pacific Ocean in the
east
and the rest of Eurasia in the west. The peninsula has four distinct seasons: spring, summer, autumn and
winter.
Spring
As influence from Siberia weakens, temperatures begin to increase while the high pressure begins to move
away.
If the weather is abnormally dry, Siberia will have more influence on the peninsula leading to wintry weather
such as snow.
Summer
During June at the start of the summer, there tends to be a lot of rain due to the cold and wet air from the
Sea of Okhotsk and the hot and humid air from the Pacific Ocean combining. When these fronts combine, it leads
to a so-called rainy season with often cloudy days with rain, which is sometimes very heavy. The hot and humid
winds from the south west blow causing an increasing amount of humidity and this leads to the fronts moving
towards Manchuria in China and thus there is less rain and this is known as midsummer; temperatures can exceed
30 °C (86 °F) daily at this time of year.
Autumn
Usually, high pressure is heavily dominant during autumn leading to clear conditions. Furthermore,
temperatures
remain high but the humidity becomes relatively low.
Winter
The weather becomes increasingly dominated by Siberia during winter and the jet stream moves further south
causing a drop in temperature. This season is relatively dry with some snow falling at times.
Biodiversity
Animal life of the Korean Peninsula includes a considerable number of bird species and native freshwater
fish.
Native or endemic species of the Korean Peninsula include Korean hare, Korean water deer, Korean field mouse,
Korean brown frog, Korean pine and Korean spruce. The Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) with its forest and
natural wetlands is a unique biodiversity spot, which harbours eighty-two endangered species. Korea once
hosted
many Siberian tigers, but as the number of people affected by the tigers increased, the tigers were killed in
the Joseon Dynasty and the Siberian tigers in the South Korea became extinct during the Japanese colonial era
period. It has been confirmed that Siberian tigers are only on the side of North Korea now. There are also
approximately 3,034 species of vascular plants throughout the peninsula.
Culture
In ancient Chinese texts, Korea is referred to as "Rivers and Mountains Embroidered on Silk" (금수강산, 錦繡江山) and
"Eastern Nation of Decorum" (동방예의지국, 東方禮儀之國). Individuals are regarded as one year old when they are born, as
Koreans reckon the pregnancy period as one year of life for infants, and age increments increase on New Year's
Day rather than on the anniversary of birthdays. Thus, one born immediately before New Year's Day may only be
a few days old in western reckoning, but two years old in Korea. Accordingly, a Korean person's stated age (at
least among fellow Koreans) will be one or two years more than their age according to western reckoning.
However, western reckoning is sometimes applied with regard to the concept of legal age; for example, the
legal age for purchasing alcohol or cigarettes in the Republic of Korea is 19, which is measured according to
western reckoning.
Literature
Korean literature written before the end of the Joseon Dynasty is called "Classical" or "Traditional."
Literature, written in Chinese characters (hanja), was established at the same time as the Chinese script
arrived on the peninsula. Korean scholars were writing poetry in the classical Korean style as early as the
2nd century BCE, reflecting Korean thoughts and experiences of that time. Classical Korean literature has its
roots in traditional folk beliefs and folk tales of the peninsula, strongly influenced by Confucianism,
Buddhism and Taoism. Modern literature is often linked with the development of hangul, which helped spread
literacy from the aristocracy to the common people. Hangul, however, only reached a dominant position in
Korean literature in the second half of the 19th century, resulting in a major growth in Korean literature.
Sinsoseol, for instance, are novels written in hangul. The Korean War led to the development of literature
centered on the wounds and chaos of war. Much of the post-war literature in South Korea deals with the daily
lives of ordinary people, and their struggles with national pain. The collapse of the traditional Korean value
system is another common theme of the time.
Music
Traditional Korean music includes combinations of the folk, vocal, religious and ritual music styles of the
Korean people. Korean music has been practised since prehistoric times. Korean music falls into two broad
categories. The first, Hyangak, literally means The local music or Music native to Korea, a famous example of
which is Sujechon, a piece of instrumental music often claimed to be at least 1,300 years old. The second,
yangak, represents a more Western style.
Religion
Confucian tradition has dominated Korean thought, along with contributions by Buddhism, Taoism, and Korean
Shamanism. Since the middle of the 20th century, however, Christianity has competed with Buddhism in South
Korea, while religious practice has been suppressed in North Korea. Throughout Korean history and culture,
regardless of separation; the influence of traditional beliefs of Korean Shamanism, Mahayana Buddhism,
Confucianism and Taoism have remained an underlying religion of the Korean people as well as a vital aspect of
their culture; all these traditions have coexisted peacefully for hundreds of years up to today despite strong
Westernisation from Christian missionary conversions in the South or the pressure from the Juche government in
the North. According to 2005 statistics compiled by the South Korean government, about 46% of citizens profess
to follow no particular religion. Christians account for 29.2% of the population (of which are Protestants
18.3% and Catholics 10.9%) and Buddhists 22.8%. In North Korea, around 71.3% claim to be non-religious or
atheists, 12.9% follow Cheondoism and 12.3% Korean Folk Religion, while Christians count for 2% of the
population, and Buddhists as 1.5%. Islam in South Korea is practised by about 45,000 natives (about 0.09% of
the population) in addition to some 100,000 foreign workers from Muslim countries. While in North Korea it's
estimated to be around 3000 Muslims, which is around 0,01% of the popultation. The Ar-Rahman Mosque is the
only mosque in DPRK, and it is located at the Iranian Embassy grounds in Pyongyyang.
Cuisine
Koreans traditionally believe that the taste and quality of food depend on its spices and sauces, the
essential ingredients to making a delicious meal. Therefore, soybean paste, soy sauce, gochujang or red pepper
paste and kimchi are some of the most important staples in a Korean household. Korean cuisine was greatly
influenced by the geography and climate of the Korean Peninsula, which is known for its cold autumns and
winters, therefore there are many fermented dishes and hot soups and stews. Korean cuisine is probably best
known for kimchi, a side dish which uses a distinctive fermentation process of preserving vegetables, most
commonly cabbage. Kimchi is said to relieve the pores on the skin, thereby reducing wrinkles and providing
nutrients to the skin naturally. It is also healthy, as it provides necessary vitamins and nutrients.
Gochujang, a traditional Korean sauce made of red pepper is also commonly used, often as pepper (chilli)
paste, earning the cuisine a reputation for spiciness. Bulgogi (roasted marinated meat, usually beef), galbi
(marinated grilled short ribs), and samgyeopsal (pork belly) are popular meat entrees. Fish is also a popular
commodity, as it is the traditional meat that Koreans eat. Meals are usually accompanied by a soup or stew,
such as galbitang (stewed ribs) or doenjang jjigae (fermented bean paste soup). The center of the table is
filled with a shared collection of sidedishes called banchan. Other popular dishes include bibimbap, which
literally means "mixed rice" (rice mixed with meat, vegetables, and red pepper paste), and naengmyeon (cold
noodles). Instant noodles, or ramyeon, is a popular snack food. Koreans also enjoy food from pojangmachas
(street vendors), which serve tteokbokki, rice cake and fish cake with a spicy gochujang sauce; gimbap, made
of steamed white rice wrapped in dried green laver seaweed; fried squid; and glazed sweet potato. Soondae, a
sausage made of cellophane noodles and pork blood, is widely eaten. Additionally, some other common snacks
include "Choco Pie", shrimp crackers, "bbeongtwigi" (puffed rice grains), and "nurungji" (slightly burnt
rice). Nurungji can be eaten as it is or boiled with water to make a soup. Nurungji can also be eaten as a
snack or a dessert. Korea is unique among Asian countries in its use of metal chopsticks. Metal chopsticks
have been discovered in archaeological sites belonging to the ancient Korean kingdoms of Goguryeo, Baekje and
Silla.
Sports
North Korea and South Korea usually compete as two separate nations in international events. There are,
however, a few examples of them having competed as one entity, under the name Korea. While association
football remains one of the most popular sports in South Korea, the martial art of taekwondo is considered to
be the national sport. Baseball and golf are also popular. The board game Go, known in Korea as baduk, has
also been popular for over a millennium, first arriving from China in the 5th century CE; baduk is played both
casually and competitively.
Taekwon-Do
Taekwon-Do is Korea's most famous martial art and sport. It combines combat techniques, self-defence, sport
and exercise. Taekwon-Do has become an official Olympic sport, starting as a demonstration event in 1988 (when
South Korea hosted the Games in Seoul) and becoming an official medal event in 2000. The two major Taekwon-Do
federations were founded in Korea. The two are the International Taekwon-Do Federation and the World Taekwondo
Federation.
Hapkido
Hapkido is a modern Korean martial art with a grappling focus that employs joint locks, throws, kicks,
punches and other striking attacks like attacks against pressure points. Hapkido emphasises circular motion,
non-resisting movements and control of the opponent. Practitioners seek to gain advantage through footwork and
body positioning to employ leverage, avoiding the pure use of strength against strength.
Ssireum
Ssireum is a traditional form of wrestling that has been practised in Korea for thousands of years, with
evidence discovered from Goguryeo of Korea's Three Kingdoms Period (57 BCE to 688). Ssireum is the traditional
national sport of Korea. During a match, opponents grip each other by sash belts wrapped around the waist and
the thigh, attempting to throw their competitor to the sandy ground of the ring. The first opponent to touch
the ground with any body part above the knee or to lose hold of their opponent loses the round. Ssireum
competitions are traditionally held twice a year, during the Dano Festival (the 5th day of the fifth lunar
month) and Chuseok (the 15th day of the 8th lunar month). Competitions are also held throughout the year as a
part of festivals and other events.
Taekkyon
Taekkyon is a traditional martial art, considered the oldest form of fighting technique of Korea. Practiced
for centuries and especially popular during the Joseon dynasty, two forms co-existed: one for practical use,
the other for sport. This form was usually practised alongside Ssireum during festivals and competitions
between villages. Nonetheless, Taekkyon almost disappeared during the Japanese Occupation and the Korean War.
Though lost in North Korea, Taekkyon has enjoyed a spectacular revival from the 1980s in South Korea. It is
the only martial art in the world (with Ssireum) recognised as a National Treasure of South Korea and a UNESCO
Intangible Cultural Heritage.