Where is korea

Although some would claim that these regional differences go back to the ancient Three Kingdoms period, in fact modern South Korean regionalism is mostly a phenomenon originating in the rapid industrialization that began in the s. Meanwhile, Cholla remained relatively backward and was seen as a place of dissenters, including long-time opposition figure Kim Dae Jung. After Kim Dae Jung became president in , he attempted to bring more regional balance to economic and political development in South Korea, but regional identification and prejudice remain strong.

The division of Korea into North and South was imposed upon the Korean people by outside forces, and many if not most Koreans insist that the two Koreas must one day be reunited.

In the early s, mids, and early s, the two Koreas appeared to be reaching breakthroughs in inter-Korean relations, but each movement toward reconciliation and reunification ended in frustration. This was the first time such a summit meeting had ever taken place, and the event once again raised expectations of reconciliation and eventual reunion between the two halves of the divided peninsula.

However, there is still very little contact between the governments or the people of North and South Korea, and barring a dramatic turn of events, the hope for reunification appears to be a long way off. In addition to the 46 million people in South Korea and 23 million in the North, some 6 to 7 million people of Korean descent, or approximately 10 percent of the population of the two Koreas combined, live outside the Korean peninsula.

The largest communities of overseas Koreans are in China two million , the United States over one million , Japan , , and the former Soviet Union , , mostly in the Central Asian republics of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The Korean diaspora is distinctive both for its relative size and the fact that it is almost entirely a twentieth-century phenomenon, with the exception of Koreans in China and Russia, who began to immigrate there in large numbers in the s.

There were no Koreans in U. Koreans were first brought to Hawaii in as workers in the sugarcane fields. Later, Koreans settled increasingly on the U. Koreans in the U. By the s, Koreans were among the most rapidly growing groups of immigrants to the United States. Immigration from Korea leveled off after and began to decline in the early s, but increased slightly again after the Asian financial crisis hit South Korea in The main concentrations of Koreans in the U.

At the beginning of the twenty-first century, South Korea is among the major industrialized nations of the world and is widely recognized as a success in economic development and political democratization. South Korea has evolved remarkably from the poor, backward country that emerged from the shadows of Japanese colonial rule in It is also a country with a strong sense of national identity and great pride in its culture, traditions, and accomplishments.

At the same time, Korea remains divided into North and South, with nearly two million men under arms on the peninsula and a high state of military tension. As it has for more than a century, Korea occupies a strategic place on the world map, and any conflict on the peninsula would have the potential to draw in neighboring countries, if not farther.

Unsupported Browser Detected. Korean History and Political Geography. The Two Koreas Since , North and South Korea have evolved from a common cultural and historical base into two very different societies with radically dissimilar political and economic systems.

The Korean Diaspora In addition to the 46 million people in South Korea and 23 million in the North, some 6 to 7 million people of Korean descent, or approximately 10 percent of the population of the two Koreas combined, live outside the Korean peninsula. Author: Charles K. Additional Background Reading. Personality Quizzes. Funny Fill-In.

Amazing Animals. Weird But True! Party Animals. Try This! Explore More. Shoppers crowd an outdoor market in South Korea. Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Map created by National Geographic Maps. Watch "Destination World". Now Playing. Up Next. North America. South America. More to explore. Habitats Learn about the different natural environments of plants and animals. Police investigations of traffic accidents usually involve long waits at police stations.

Police may take the passport of a foreigner involved in a traffic accident if there is any personal injury or a dispute about the cause of the accident. Criminal charges and heavy penalties are common in accidents involving injury, even if negligence is not proven. If you are arrested due to an accident involving serious injury or death, you may be detained until the conclusion of the police investigation and legal process. When driving in the Republic of Korea, you may wish to carry a disposable camera to document any traffic accidents, even minor ones.

You are considered legally intoxicated in the Republic of Korea when you have a blood-alcohol level of 0. All drivers are required to submit to a breathalyzer test. Refusal to take the breath-test can result in cancellation of your license. Driving while intoxicated can result in significant fines and license suspension or even cancellation. For specific information about ROK driver's permits, vehicle inspection, road tax, and mandatory insurance, you can refer to our Road Safety page.

Also, we suggest that you visit the website of the Korea Tourism Organization KTO or call the office at and contact the national authority responsible for road safety. Where is Korea, South located? What countries border Korea, South? Food and Recipes: Families rarely have time to eat daily meals together. Fathers often leave early in the morning and return late at More Family: The family remains an important part of Korean life. More Fashion: For special occasions or holidays traditional clothing is often worn.

Women frequently wear the "hanbok", a two-piece, long colorful dress More Visiting: Koreans do not commonly visit one another unannounced, and arranged social visits are infrequent. Generally, people visit relatives for the More Recreation: Koreans enjoy traditional sports like tae-kwon-do, a form of martial arts that originated in Korea years ago as an More Cultural Attributes: One should be aware of the pervasive influence of self reliance on the Korean psyche.

It impacts every aspect Korean More Dating: Western-style dating is now more common in the South, while parental consent for marriage is essential in both South and More Diet: Spicy pickled cabbage called Kimch'i and rice are the mainstays of the diet around which most other dishes revolve.

Ethnic Groups homogeneous except for about 20, Chinese Languages Korean is spoken in both North and South Korea and is written in a phonetic alphabet created and promulgated in the midth century. More Suffrage: 19 years of age; universal More Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of South Korea dual citizenship recognized Overview: Located on a peninsula squarely between China and Japan, Korea is a mountainous and ruggedly beautiful land of diverse geographical More Climate: Korea's climate is marked by four very distinct seasons.

The winters are dry and cold, with snow usually appearing in More Terrain: mostly hills and mountains; wide coastal plains in west and south More. Source: Google News. According to Korean mythology, Tan-gun, half-human, half-divine and the king of sandalwood, is the ancestor of all Koreans because he became the first king of the people of the Korean peninsula.

January 1st is every Korean's 'birthday. Birthdays are special celebrations, particularly the first and the sixtieth ones. Acupuncture, or the application of very fine needles to specific locations on the body, is a popular treatment for pain and illness in Korea. It is good manners to pass and receive objects with both hands. If you want to take someone's business card, put out your right hand to accept the card and place your left hand under the wrist.