North and South
Korea
The Koreas: North and South

Korea is surrounded by
water on three sides
 Because
of this
isolation, it became
known as the “hermit
kingdom”
 This
has continued
today in North Korea,
which still has limited
contact with the
world around it
History of Korea

Migrated people from Chinabroken up into different kingdoms

660-1200 A.D.
 The
country was unified under
the Silla Kingdom
 Koreans
created a common
culture uniquely their own
 Korean
language
 Korean
customs and beliefs
A
blend of religions -Buddhism, Christianity and
Shamanism all play major roles
with Confucianism as philosophy
1910-1945 – Japanese Imperialism
 Japan
began westernizing in the
mid-1800s
 Believed
it should join the West in
colonizing other parts of the
world.
 Used
Korea as a land bridge to
fight and take territory from both
China and Russia in two wars in
the early 1900s
1910-1945 – Japanese Imperialism

took control of Korea

Very harsh conditions toward the Korean people
 Forced
Koreans into labor camps
 Thousands
 Women
were killed
forced into prostitution as “comfort women”
 Took
over education system and forced the
destruction of Korean history books
 children
 Tried
forcibly renamed Japanese names
to destroy Korean culture (cultural genocide) in
order to destroy national pride and dominate the
people.
After WW2:
Two Koreas: North and South

After Japan’s defeat in WWII, Koreans thought their
independence would return.

However, in 1945 Russia and USA divided Korea
along the 38th parallel into two military occupation
zones without asking the Koreans and decided Korea
would regain its independence “in due course”.

5 years of negotiations ended with no agreement
 the
Communists gained control of the North while
 democratic
government was set up in the South.
The Korean War

In 1950, troops from the
north (under Kim Il-Sung)
invaded the south

The US supported the
South.

Russia supported the
North.

The war ended in
ceasefire in 1953
 Treaty
created a
communist north and
democratic south
South Korea Today

Capital: Seoul

Heavily influenced by the West
 Modernized
 Rigorous
after the Korean War
education system
 Extreme
competition to go to college (must pass
an entrance exam)
 Continues
to be religiously diverse
 Today,
South Korea has a strong trading economy
in shipbuilding, automobile parts, steel and
chemical industries

Major recent political scandal forced leader to
resign.
South Korea and Japan

Has a contradictory relationship with Japan

On the one hand:
 Respect
for Japan as an economic power.
 Some
aspects of colonization helped South Korea to
modernize and become economically strong.

On the other hand:
 Koreans
 Have
still resentful of the colonial period.
asked that Japanese textbooks accurately reflect that
history and Japan has mostly refused to do this.
Seoul, 1955
Lindsey Barnes, 2014
Seoul 2016
North Korea


Capital: Pyongyang
North Korea controlled by Kim Il-Sung (Great Leader)
from 1948 until 1994
 Communism
was put in under his rule
 Economy suffered
 All religion is suppressed

1994-2011 Kim Jong-Il (General)
 New leader= Kim Jong-Un

Population is now at 24.9 million with an estimated
annual per capita income of $1,800
 $150 a month ($5 a day)
“Cult of Personality”

Most important lesson is “juche,” supremacy of Kim.

Juche is taught to every North Korean through
doctrine, priests and ceremonies. Examples:
 Kim
family possesses supreme supernatural powers
 Kim
Jong-Il had a miraculous birth atop a legendary
mountain (actually born in the Soviet Union)

Biggest holiday is the birthday of the leader – called
Sun Day.

Everything is censured

Anyone who speaks out against the government is
subject to torture, execution, or imprisonment in a
concentration camp
North Korea vs. South Korea
DMZ
– Demilitarized Zone on the border one of the most
tense ongoing military situations in the world. U.S. military
troops provide support for South Korea. (60 minutes clip)
In
2013, North Korea launched a satellite into space
 This
threatens South Korea due to the possible capability
of having long distance nuclear missiles.
 UN
responded with sanctions
Tensions
growing between the two countries toward a
possible war.
North Korea and the U.S.

No diplomatic relations since the Korean War

North Korea considers the U.S. its sworn “enemy.”
 Between
1995 and 2008, the United States provided
North Korea with over $1.3 billion in assistance.
 Since
early 2009, the United States has provided
virtually no aid to North Korea.

2012- Agreed to ending their nuclear program and allow
inspectors in


U.S. responded with food aid (ended w/satellite launch)
This winter, North Korea has tested nuclear missiles and
tensions are high.
A typical student’s day in South Korea

6:50 a.m. Wakes, gets dressed for school and eats some toast
7:40 a.m. Walks to school
8:10 a.m. Attends a 40-minute English comprehension lesson
8:50 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Classes
5 p.m. Eats some rice cakes, starts homework
6 p.m. Private math tutorial
8 p.m. More homework
8:50 p.m. Leaves home for cram school
9:20 p.m. Attends English lesson at cram school
Midnight Teacher drives her home
12:30 a.m. Arrives home, takes a shower, does more homework, has a snack,
plays computer games
2:00 a.m. Time for sleep—for less than five hours