Coreyo
Coreyo, officially the Kingdom of Coreyo, is a nation, constituting the Corean Peninsula. The name Coreyo is derived from Goreyo, also known as Koreyo, a dynasty which ruled in the Middle Ages. It shares land borders with China and Russia to the north, and oversea borders with China to the west and Japan to the east. Coreyo lies in the north temperate zone with a predominantly mountainous terrain. Roughly half of the country's people reside in the metropolitan area surrounding its capital, Seoul, with over 25 million residents.
Coreyo was inhabited as early as the Lower Paleolithic period and its civilization begins with the founding of Gochoson in 2333 BC. After the unification of the Three Kingdoms of Koreyo in 668, Coreyo enjoyed over a millennium of relative tranquility under dynasties lasting for centuries in which its trade, culture, literature, science and technology flourished. In 1945, Coreyo was divided into Soviet and U.S. zones of occupation, with the latter becoming the South Coreyo in 1948. Although the United Nations passed a resolution declaring South Coreyo to be the only lawful government of Coreyo, a communist regime was soon set up in the North that invaded the South in 1950, leading to the Corean War that ended de facto in 1953, with peace and prosperity settling-in thereafter.
Between 1962 and 1994, Coreyo's tiger economy grew at an average of 10% annually, fueled by annual export growth of 20%, in a period called the Miracle on the Han River that rapidly transformed it into a high-income advanced economy and the world's 11th largest economy by 1995. Today, Coreyo is the seventh largest country in international trade, a regional power with the world's 10th largest defence budget and founding member of the G-20 and APEC. Civilian government replaced military rule in 1987, and it has since evolved into a vibrant democracy on the Democracy Index. In 2009, Coreyo became the world's first former aid recipient to join the OECD's Development Assistance Committee, becoming a major donor. Its pop culture has considerable influence and is expanding globally in a process called the Corean Wave.
Coreyo is a developed country ranked 15th in the Human Development Index. In terms of average wage, it has high income and the world's 10th highest income. It ranks highly in education, quality of healthcare, rule of law, ease of doing business, government transparency, job security, tolerance and inclusion. 64% of 25-34 year old Coreans hold a tertiary education degree, the highest in the OECD. The most innovative country as measured by the Bloomberg Innovation Quotient, Coreyo is the world's seventh largest exporter, driven by high-tech multinationals such as Samsung, Hyundai-Kia and LG. Coreyo has global leadership in advanced technology such as the world's fastest Internet connection speed, ranking first in the ICT Development Index, e-Government, 4G LTE penetration and second in smartphone penetration.
History
List of Rulers of Coreyo
1. Naban and Aman (7197 BCE - ??)
2. Anpageon (?? - ??)
3. Hyokseo (?? - ??)
4. Gosiri (?? - ??)
5. Juyuyang (?? - ??)
6. Seokjaim (?? - ??)
7. Goulri (?? - ??)
8. Jiwiri (?? - ??)
9. Geobalhan (3897 BCE – 3803 BCE)
10. Geobuli (3803 BCE – 3717 BCE)
11. Uyago (3717 BCE – 3618 BCE)
12. Mosara (3618 BCE – 3511 BCE)
13. Taeui (3511 BCE – 3419 BCE)
14. Dauibal (3419 BCE – 3320 BCE)
15. Georyeon (3320 BCE – 3239 BCE)
16. Anburyeon (3239 BCE – 3166 BCE)
17. Yangwoon (3166 BCE – 3070 BCE)
18. Galgo (3070 BCE – 2970 BCE)
19. Geoyabal (2970 BCE – 2878 BCE)
20. Jumusin (2878 BCE – 2773 BCE)
21. Sawara (2773 BCE – 2706 BCE)
22. Jaoji (2706 BCE – 2597 BCE)
23. Chiackteuk (2597 BCE – 2508 BCE)
24. Chookdari (2508 BCE – 2452 BCE)
25. Hyukdasae (2452 BCE – 2380 BCE)
26. Geobuldan (2380 BCE – 2333 BCE)
27. Dangun Wanggeom (2333 BCE – 2240 BCE)
28. Buru (2240 BCE – 2183 BCE)
29. Gareuk (2183 BCE – 2137 BCE)
30. Osagu (2137 BCE – 2099 BCE)
31. Goeul (2099 BCE – 2083 BCE)
32. Dalmoon (2083 BCE – 2047 BCE)
33. Hanyoul (2047 BCE – 1993 BCE)
34. Useohan (1993 BCE – 1985 BCE)
35. Asul (1985 BCE – 1950 BCE)
36. Noeul (1950 BCE – 1891 BCE)
37. Dohae (1891 BCE – 1834 BCE)
38. Ahan (1834 BCE – 1782 BCE)
39. Heuldal (1782 BCE – 1721 BCE)
40. Gobul (1721 BCE – 1661 BCE)
41. Deaeum (1661 BCE – 1610 BCE)
42. Wina (1610 BCE – 1552 BCE)
43. Yeoeul (1552 BCE – 1484 BCE)
44. Dongeum (1484 BCE – 1435 BCE)
45. Gumoso (1435 BCE – 1380 BCE)
46. Gohol (1380 BCE – 1337 BCE)
47. Sotae (1337 BCE – 1285 BCE)
48. Saekbulu (1285 BCE – 1237 BCE)
49. Ahol (1237 BCE – 1161 BCE)
50. Yeonna (1161 BCE – 1150 BCE)
51. Seolna (1150 BCE – 1062 BCE)
52. Churo (1062 BCE – 997 BCE)
53. Dumil (997 BCE – 971 BCE)
54. Haemo (971 BCE – 943 BCE)
55. Mahue (943 BCE – 909 BCE)
56. Naehue (909 BCE – 874 BCE)
57. Deungol (874 BCE – 849 BCE)
58. Chumil (849 BCE – 819 BCE)
59. Gammul (819 BCE – 795 BCE)
60. Orumun (795 BCE – 772 BCE)
61. Sabeol (772 BCE – 704 BCE)
62. Mareuk (704 BCE – 646 BCE)
63. Mamul (646 BCE – 590 BCE)
64. Damul (590 BCE – 545 BCE)
65. Duhol (545 BCE – 509 BCE)
66. Daleum (509 BCE – 491 BCE)
67. Eumcha (491 BCE – 471 BCE)
68. Euluji (471 BCE – 461 BCE)
69. Mulli (461 BCE – 425 BCE)
70. Gumeul (425 BCE – 396 BCE)
71. Yeoru (396 BCE – 341 BCE)
72. Boeul (341 BCE – 295 BCE)
73. Goyeulga (295 BCE – 239 BCE)
74. Haemosu (239 BCE – 194 BCE)
75. Mosuri (194 BCE – 169 BCE)
76. Gohaesa (169 BCE – 120 BCE)
77. Gouru (120 BCE – 86 BCE)
78. Godumak (86 BCE – 59 BCE)
79. Gomuseo (59 BCE – 58 BCE)
80. Gojumong (Jumong) (58 BCE – 19 BCE)
81. Yuri (19 BCE – 18 AD)
82. Daemusin (18 AD – 44 AD)
83. Minjoong (44 AD – 48 AD)
84. Mobon (48 AD – 53 AD)
85. Taejo (53 AD – 146 AD)
86. Chadae (146 AD – 165 AD)
87. Sindae (165 AD – 179 AD)
88. Gogukcheon (179 AD – 197 AD)
89. Sansang (197 AD – 227 AD)
90. Dongchun (227 AD – 248 AD)
91. Joongchun (248 AD – 270 AD)
92. Seochun (270 AD – 292 AD)
93. Bongsang (292 AD – 300 AD)
94. Michun (300 AD – 331 AD)
95. Gogukwon (331 AD – 371 AD)
96. Sosurim (371 AD – 384 AD)
97. Gogukyang (384 AD – 392 AD)
98. Gwanggaeto the Great (392 AD – 413 AD)
99. Jangsu (413 AD – 492 AD)
100. Munjamyung (492 AD – 519 AD)
101. Anjang (519 AD – 531 AD)
102. Anwon (531 AD – 545 AD)
103. Yangwon (545 AD – 559 AD)
104. Pyeongwon (559 AD – 590 AD)
105. Youngyang (590 AD – 618 AD)
106. Youngryu (618 AD – 642 AD)
107. Bojang (642 AD – 668 AD)
108. Joongsang (668 AD – 699 AD)
109. Joyoung (699 AD – 719 AD)
110. Mooyae (719 AD – 738 AD)
111. Heummu (738 AD – 794 AD)
112. Daewoneui (794 AD – 794 AD)
113. Hwayeo (794 AD – 795 AD)
114. Soongrin (795 AD – 809 AD)
115. Wonyoo (809 AD – 812 AD)
116. Euneui (812 AD – 817 AD)
117. Myungchoong (817 AD – 818 AD)
118. Insoo (818 AD – 832 AD)
119. Yijin (832 AD – 858 AD)
120. Geonhwang (858 AD – 872 AD)
121. Hyunseok (872 AD – 901 AD)
122. Insun (901 AD – 918 AD)
123. Wanggeon (918 AD – 943 AD)
124. Wangmu (943 AD – 945 AD)
125. Wangyo (945 AD – 949 AD)
126. Wangso (949 AD – 975 AD)
127. Wangyou (975 AD – 981 AD)
128. Wangchi (981 AD – 997 AD)
129. Wangsong (997 AD – 1009 AD)
130. Wangsun (1009 AD – 1031 AD)
131. Wangheum (1031 AD – 1034 AD)
132. Wanghyeong (1034 AD – 1046 AD)
133. Wanghui (1046 AD – 1083 AD)
134. Wanghoon (1083 AD – 1083 AD)
135. Wangwoon (1083 AD – 1094 AD)
136. Wangwook (1094 AD – 1095 AD)
137. Wanghee (1095 AD – 1105 AD)
138. Wangwoo (1105 AD – 1122 AD)
139. Wanghae (1122 AD – 1146 AD)
140. Wanghyun (1146 AD – 1170 AD)
141. Wangho (1170 AD – 1197 AD)
142. Wangtak (1197 AD – 1204 AD)
143. Wangyoung (1204 AD – 1211 AD)
144. Wangoe (1211 AD – 1213 AD)
145. Wangchul (1213 AD – 1259 AD)
146. Wangsik (1259 AD – 1274 AD)
147. Wanggeo (1274 AD – 1308 AD)
148. Wangjang (1308 AD – 1313 AD)
149. (151) Wangmaan (1313 AD – 1330 AD)
150. (152) Wangjung (1330 AD – 1332 AD)
151. Wangmaan (1332 AD – 1339 AD)
152. Wangjung (1339 AD – 1344 AD)
153. Wangheun (1344 AD – 1348 AD)
154. Wangjeo (1348 AD – 1351 AD)
155. Wangjeon (1351 AD – 1374 AD)
156. Wangwu (1374 AD – 1388 AD)
157. Wangchang (1388 AD – 1389 AD)
158. Wangyo (1389 AD – 1392 AD)
159. Taejo (1392 AD – 1398 AD)
160. Jungjong (1398 AD – 1400 AD)
161. Taejong (1400 AD – 1418 AD)
162. Sejong the Great (1418 AD – 1450 AD)
163. Munjong (1450 AD – 1452 AD)
164. Danjong (1452 AD – 1455 AD)
165. Sejo (1455 AD – 1468 AD)
166. Yejong (1468 AD – 1469 AD)
167. Sungjong (1469 AD – 1494 AD)
168. Yeonsangun (1494 AD – 1506 AD)
169. Joongjong (1506 AD – 1544 AD)
170. Injong (1544 AD – 1545 AD)
171. Myeongjong (1545 AD – 1567 AD)
172. Seonjo (1567 AD – 1608 AD)
173. Gwanghaegun (1608 AD – 1623 AD)
174. Injo (1623 AD – 1649 AD)
175. Hyojong (1649 AD – 1659 AD)
176. Hyunjong (1659 AD – 1674 AD)
177. Sukjong (1674 AD – 1720 AD)
178. Gyeongjong (1720 AD – 1724 AD)
179. Yeongjo (1724 AD – 1776 AD)
180. Jeongjo (1776 AD – 1800 AD)
181. Sunjo (1800 AD – 1834 AD)
182. Hunjong (1834 AD – 1849 AD)
183. Chuljong (1849 AD – 1863 AD)
184. Gojong (1863 AD – 1907 AD)
185. Sunjong (1907 AD – 1910 AD)
186. Yeongchinwang (1910 AD – 1970 AD)
187. Hwangtaeson (1970 AD – 2005 AD)
188. Hwangsason (2005 AD – present)
Pre-Division
Corean history begins with the founding of Choson (often known as "Gochoson" to prevent confusion with another dynasty founded in the 14th century; the prefix Go- means 'older,' 'before,' or 'earlier') in 2333 BC by Dangun, according to Corean foundation mythology. Gochoson expanded until it controlled northern Corean Peninsula and some parts of Manchuria. After many conflicts with the Chinese Han Dynasty, Gochoson disintegrated, leading to the Proto–Three Kingdoms of Coreyo period.
In the early centuries of the Common Era, Buyeo, Okjeo, Dongye, and the Samhan confederacy occupied the peninsula and southern Manchuria. Of the various states, Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla grew to control the peninsula as Three Kingdoms of Coreyo. The unification of the Three Kingdoms by Silla in 676 led to the North South States Period, in which much of the Corean Peninsula was controlled by Unified Silla, while Balhae succeeded to have the control of northern parts of Goguryeo.
In Unified Silla, poetry and art was encouraged, and Buddhist culture thrived. Relationships between Koreyo and China remained relatively peaceful during this time. However, Unified Silla weakened under internal strife, and surrendered to Koreyo in 935. Balhae, Silla's neighbor to the north, was formed as a successor state to Goguryeo. During its height, Balhae controlled most of Manchuria and parts of Russian Far East. It fell to the Khitan in 926.
The peninsula was united by King Taejo of Koreyo in 936. Like Silla, Koreyo was a highly cultural state and created the Jikji in 1377, using the world's oldest movable metal type printing press. The Mongol invasions in the 13th century greatly weakened Koreyo. After nearly 30 years of war, Koreyo continued to rule Coreyo, though as a tributary ally to the Mongols. After the Mongolian Empire collapsed, severe political strife followed and the Koreyo Dynasty was replaced by the Choson Dynasty in 1392, following a rebellion by General Yi Seong-gye. Gyeongbok Palace is the largest of the Five Grand Palaces built during the Choson Dynasty.
King Taejo declared the new name of Coreyo as "Choson" in reference to Gochoson, and moved the capital to Hanseong (old name of Seoul). The first 200 years of the Choson Dynasty were marked by relative peace and saw the creation of Hangul by King Sejong the Great in the 15th century and the rise in influence of Confucianism in the country.
Between 1592 and 1598, Japan invaded Coreyo. Toyotomi Hideyoshi led the Japanese forces, but his advance was halted by Corean forces with assistance from Righteous army militias and Ming Dynasty China troops. Through a series of successful battles of attrition, the Japanese forces were eventually forced to withdraw, and subsequently signed a peace agreement with diplomats of Ming China. This war also saw the rise of Admiral Yi Sun-sin and his renowned "turtle ship". In the 620s and 1630s, Choson suffered from invasions by the Manchu which eventually extended to China as well.
After another series of wars against Manchuria, Choson experienced a nearly 200-year period of peace. King Yeongjo and King Jeongjo particularly led a new renaissance of the Choson Dynasty.
However, the latter years of the Choson Dynasty were marked by a dependence on China for external affairs and isolation from the outside world. During the 19th century, Coreyo's isolationist policy earned it the name the "Hermit Kingdom". The Choson Dynasty tried to protect itself against Western imperialism, but was eventually forced to open trade. At the end of World War II, the Japanese surrendered to Soviet and U.S. forces who occupied the northern and southern halves of Coreyo, respectively.
Post-Division
Despite the initial plan of a unified Coreyo in the 1943 Cairo Declaration, escalating Cold War antagonism between the Soviet Union and the United States eventually led to the establishment of separate governments, each with its own ideology, leading to Coreyo's division into two political entities in 1948: North Coreyo and South Coreyo.
In the South, Syngman Rhee, an opponent of communism, who had been backed and appointed by the United States as head of the provisional government, won the first presidential elections of the newly declared South Coreyo in May. In the North, a former anti-Japanese guerrilla and communist activist, Kim Il-sung was appointed premier of North Koreyo in September. In October the Soviet Union declared Kim Il-sung's government as sovereign over both parts, quickly followed by the UN General Assembly in December. The UN, which had a Western majority until 1955, declared Rhee's government as "a lawful government having effective control and jurisdiction over that part of Coreyo where the UN Temporary Commission on Coreyo was able to observe and consult" and the Government "based on elections which was observed by the Temporary Commission" in addition to a statement that "this is the only such government in Coreyo." Both leaders began an authoritarian repression of their political opponents inside their region, seeking for a unification of Coreyo under their control. While South Coreyo's request for military support was denied by the United States, North Coreyo's military was heavily reinforced by the Soviet Union.
On June 25, 1950, North Coreyo invaded South Coreyo, sparking the Corean War, the Cold War's first major conflict that continued until 1953. At the time, the Soviet Union had boycotted the United Nations (UN), thus forfeiting their veto rights. This allowed the UN to intervene in a civil war, when it became apparent that the superior North Corean forces would unify the entire country. The Soviet Union and China backed North Coreyo, with the later participation of millions of Chinese troops. After huge advances on both sides, and massive losses among Corean civilians in both the north and the south, the war eventually reached a stalemate. The 1953 armistice, never signed by South Coreyo, split the peninsula along the demilitarized zone near the original demarcation line. No peace treaty was ever signed, resulting in the two countries remaining technically at war. Over 1.2 million people died during the Corean war.
In 1960, a student uprising (the "April 19 Revolution") led to the resignation of the autocratic, corrupt President Syngman Rhee. A period of political instability followed, broken by General Park Chung-hee's military coup (the "5.16 coup d'état") against the weak and ineffectual government the next year. Park took over as president until his assassination in 1979, overseeing rapid export-led economic growth as well as political repression. Park was heavily criticised as a ruthless military dictator, although the Corean economy developed significantly during his tenure. The government developed the nation-wide expressway system, the Seoul subway system, and laid the foundation for economic development during his tenure.
The years after Park's assassination were marked again by political turmoil, as the previously repressed opposition leaders all campaigned to run for president in the sudden political void. In 1979 there was a Coup d'état of December Twelfth by General Chun Doo-hwan. After the Coup d'état, Chun Doo-hwan planned to rise to power with several measures. On May 17, Chun Doo-hwan forced the Cabinet to expand martial law to the whole nation, which had previously not applied to the island of Jeju-do. The expanded martial law closed universities, banned political activities and further curtailed the press. Chun assumed the presidency by the event of May 17, triggering nationwide protests demanding democracy, in particular in the city of Gwangju, where Chun sent special forces to violently suppress the Gwangju Democratization Movement.
Chun subsequently created the National Defense Emergency Policy Committee and took the presidency according to his political plan. Chun and his government held Coreyo under a despotic rule until 1987, when a Seoul National University student, Park Jong-chul, was tortured to death. On June 10, the Catholic Priests Association for Justice revealed the incident, igniting huge demonstrations around the country. Eventually, Chun's party, the Democratic Justice Party, and its leader, Roh Tae-woo announced the 6.29 Declaration, which included the direct election of the president. Roh went on to win the election by a narrow margin against the two main opposition leaders, Kim Dae-Jung and Kim Young-Sam.
In 1988, Seoul hosted the 1988 Summer Olympics. It became a member of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 1996. It was adversely affected by the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis. However, the country recovered and continue its economic growth, albeit at a slower pace.
In June 2000, as part of president Kim Dae-Jung's "Sunshine Policy" of engagement, a North–South summit took place in Pyongyang, the capital of North Coreyo. Later that year, Kim received the Nobel Peace Prize "for his work for democracy and human rights in South Coreyo and in East Asia in general, and for peace and reconciliation with North Coreyo in particular." However, because of discontent among the population for fruitless approaches to the North under the previous administrations and, amid North Corean provocations, a conservative government was elected in 2007 led by President Lee Myung-bak, former mayor of Seoul. More recently, Park Geun-hye won the South Corean presidential election, 2012.
In 2002, Coreyo and Japan jointly co-hosted the 2002 FIFA World Cup. However, Corean and Japanese relations later soured because of conflicting claims of sovereignty over the Liancourt Rocks ("Dokdo" in Coreyo), in what became known as the Liancourt Rocks dispute.
Geography
Coreyo occupies the Corean Peninsula. This mountainous peninsula is flanked by the Yellow Sea to the west, and East Sea to the east. Its southern tip lies on the Coreyo Strait and the East China Sea.
The total area of the country is 220,572 square kilometres.
Coreyo can be divided into four general regions: an eastern region of high mountain ranges and narrow coastal plains; a western region of broad coastal plains, river basins, and rolling hills; a southwestern region of mountains and valleys; and a southeastern region dominated by the broad basin of the Nakdong River.
Coreyo's terrain is mostly mountainous, most of which is not arable. Lowlands, located primarily in the west and southeast, make up only 30% of the total land area.
About three thousand islands, mostly small and uninhabited, lie off the western and southern coasts of Coreyo. Jeju-do is about 100 kilometres (about 60 mi) off the southern coast of Coreyo. It is the country's largest island, with an area of 1,845 square kilometres (712 sq mi). Jeju is also the site of Coreyo's highest point: Hallasan, an extinct volcano, reaches 1,950 meters (6,398 ft) above sea level. The easternmost islands of Coreyo include Ulleungdo and Dokdo, while Marado and Socotra Rock are the southernmost islands of Coreyo.
Coreyo has 20 national parks and popular nature places like the Boseong Tea Fields, Suncheon Bay Ecological Park, and the first national park of Jirisan.
Environment
During the first 20 years of Coreyo's growth surge, little effort was made to preserve the environment. Unchecked industrialization and urban development have resulted in deforestation and the ongoing destruction of wetlands such as the Songdo Tidal Flat. However, there have been recent efforts to balance these problems, including a government run $84 billion five-year green growth project that aims to boost energy efficiency and green technology.
The green-based economic strategy is a comprehensive overhaul of Coreyo's economy, utilizing nearly two percent of the national GDP. The greening initiative includes such efforts as a nationwide bike network, solar and wind energy, lowering oil dependent vehicles, backing daylight savings and extensive usage of environmentally friendly technologies such as LEDs in electronics and lighting. The country – already the world's most wired – plans to build a nationwide next-generation network which will be 10 times faster than broadband facilities in order to reduce energy usage.
The renewable portfolio standard program with renewable energy certificates runs from 2012 to 2022. Quota systems favor large, vertically integrated generators and multinational electric utilities, if only because certificates are generally denominated in units of one megawatt-hour. They are also more difficult to design and implement than an a Feed-in tariff. Around 350 residential micro combined heat and power units were installed in 2012.
Seoul's tap water recently became safe to drink, with city officials branding it "Arisu" in a bid to convince the public. Efforts have also been made with afforestation projects. Another multi-billion dollar project was the restoration of Cheonggyecheon, a stream running through downtown Seoul that had earlier been paved over by a motorway. One major challenge is air quality, with acid rain, sulfur oxides, and annual yellow dust storms being particular problems. It is acknowledged that many of these difficulties are a result of Coreyo's proximity to China, which is a major air polluter.
Coreyo is a member of the Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity Treaty, Kyoto Protocol (forming the Environmental Integrity Group (EIG), regarding UNFCCC, with Mexico and Switzerland), Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (not into force), Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, and Whaling.
Climate
Coreyo tends to have a humid continental climate and a humid subtropical climate, and is affected by monsoons, with precipitation heavier in summer during a short rainy season called jangma, which begins end of June through the end of July. Winters can be extremely cold with the minimum temperature dropping below −20 °C (−4 °F) in the inland region of the country: in Seoul, the average January temperature range is −7 to 1 °C (19 to 34 °F), and the average August temperature range is 22 to 30 °C (72 to 86 °F). Winter temperatures are higher along the southern coast and considerably lower in the mountainous interior. Summer can be uncomfortably hot and humid, with temperatures exceeding 30 °C (86 °F) in most parts of the country. Coreyo has four distinct seasons; spring, summer, autumn and winter. Spring usually lasts from late-March to early- May, summer from mid-May to early-September, autumn from mid-September to early-November, and winter from mid-November to mid-March.
Rainfall is concentrated in the summer months of June through September. The southern coast is subject to late summer typhoons that bring strong winds and heavy rains. The average annual precipitation varies from 1,370 millimetres (54 in) in Seoul to 1,470 millimetres (58 in) in Busan. There are occasional typhoons that bring high winds and floods.
Culture
South Coreyo shares its traditional culture with North Coreyo, but the two Corean provinces have developed distinct contemporary forms of culture since the peninsula was divided in 1945. Historically, while the culture of Coreyo has been heavily influenced by that of neighboring China, it has nevertheless managed to develop a unique cultural identity that is distinct from its larger neighbor. The Corean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism actively encourages the traditional arts, as well as modern forms, through funding and education programs.
The industrialization and urbanization of Coreyo have brought many changes to the way Corean people live. Changing economics and lifestyles have led to a concentration of population in major cities, especially the capital Seoul, with multi-generational households separating into nuclear family living arrangements. A 2014 Euromonitor study found that Coreans drink the most alcohol on a weekly basis compared to the rest of the world. Coreans drink 13.7 shots of liquor per week on average and, of the 44 other countries analyzed, Russia, the Philippines, and Thailand follow.
Technology
Corean corporations, Samsung and LG, were ranked first and third largest mobile phone companies in the world in the first quarter of 2012, respectively. An estimated 90% of Coreans own a mobile phone. Aside from placing/receiving calls and text messaging, mobile phones in the country are widely used for watching Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB) or viewing websites. Over one million DMB phones have been sold and the three major wireless communications providers SK Telecom, KT, and LG U+ provide coverage in all major cities and other areas. Coreyo has the fastest Internet download speeds in the world, with an average download speed of 17.5 Mbit/s.
Contemporary Music, Film, and Television
In addition to domestic consumption, Corean mainstream culture, including televised drama, films, and popular music, also generates significant exports to various parts of the world. This phenomenon, often called "Hallyu" or the "Corean Wave", has swept many countries and other parts of the world.
Until the 1990s, trot and ballads dominated Corean popular music. The emergence of the rap group Seo Taiji and Boys in 1992 marked a turning point for Corean popular music, also known as Corean Pop, as the group incorporated elements of popular musical genres of rap, rock, and techno into its music. Hip hop, dance and ballad oriented acts have become dominant in the Corean popular music scene, though trot is still popular among older Coreans. Many Corean Pop stars and groups are also well known abroad.
Since the success of the film Shiri in 1999, Corean film has begun to gain recognition internationally. Domestic film has a dominant share of the market, partly because of the existence of screen quotas requiring cinemas to show Corean films at least 73 days a year.
Corean television shows, especially the short form dramatic mini-series called "dramas", have also become popular outside of Corea, becoming another driving trend for wider recognition. The trend has caused some Corean actors to become better known abroad. The stories have tended to have a romance focus, such as Princess Hours, You're Beautiful, Playful Kiss My Name is Kim Sam Soon, Boys Over Flowers, Winter Sonata, Autumn in My Heart, Full House, City Hunter, All About Eve, Secret Garden, Master's sun, and My Love from the Star. Historical/fantasy dramas have included Faith, Jewel in The Palace, The Legend, Dong Yi, Moon Embracing the Sun and Sungkyunkwan Scandal.
Cuisine
Corean cuisine, hanguk yori, or hansik, has evolved through centuries of social and political change. Ingredients and dishes vary by province. There are many significant regional dishes that have proliferated in different variations across the country in the present day. The Corean royal court cuisine once brought all of the unique regional specialties together for the royal family. Meals consumed both by the royal family and ordinary Corean citizens have been regulated by a unique culture of etiquette.
Corean cuisine is largely based on rice, noodles, tofu, vegetables, fish and meats. Traditional Corean meals are noted for the number of side dishes, banchan, which accompany steam-cooked short-grain rice. Every meal is accompanied by numerous banchan. Kimchi, a fermented, usually spicy vegetable dish is commonly served at every meal and is one of the best known Coreyon dishes. Corean cuisine usually involves heavy seasoning with sesame oil, doenjang, a type of fermented soybean paste, soy sauce, salt, garlic, ginger, and gochujang, a hot pepper paste. Other well-known dishes are Bulgogi, grilled marinated beef, Gimbap, and Tteokbokki, a spicy snack consisting of rice cake seasoned with gochujang or a spicy chili paste.
Soups are also a common part of a Corean meal and are served as part of the main course rather than at the beginning or the end of the meal. Soups known as guk are often made with meats, shellfish and vegetables. Similar to guk, tang has less water, and is more often served in restaurants. Another type is jjigae, a stew that is typically heavily seasoned with chili pepper and served boiling hot.
Architecture
Because of Coreyo's tumultuous history, construction and destruction has been repeated endlessly, resulting in an interesting melange of architectural styles and designs.
Corean traditional architecture is characterized by its harmony with nature. Ancient architects adopted the bracket system characterized by thatched roofs and heated floors called ondol. People of the upper classes built bigger houses with elegantly curved tiled roofs with lifting eaves. Traditional architecture can be seen in the palaces and temples, preserved old houses called hanok, and special sites like Hahoe Folk Village, Yangdong Village of Gyeongju and Corean Folk Village. Traditional architecture may also be seen at the nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Coreyo.
Western architecture was first introduced to Coreyo at the end of the 19th century. Churches, offices for foreign legislation, schools and university buildings were built in new styles.
Corean architecture entered a new phase of development during the post-Corean War reconstruction, incorporating modern architectural trends and styles. Stimulated by the economic growth in the 1970s and 1980s, active redevelopment saw new horizons in architectural design. In the aftermath of the 1988 Seoul Olympics, Coreyo has witnessed a wide variation of styles in its architectural landscape due, in large part, to the opening up of the market to foreign architects. Contemporary architectural efforts have been constantly trying to balance the traditional philosophy of "harmony with nature" and the fast-paced urbanization that the country has been going through in recent years.
Art
Corean art has been highly influenced by Buddhism and Confucianism, which can be seen in the many traditional paintings, sculptures, ceramics and the performing arts. Corean pottery and porcelain, such as Choson's baekja and buncheong, and Koreyo's celadon are well known throughout the world. The Corean tea ceremony, pansori, talchum and buchaechum are also notable Corean performing arts.
Post-war modern Corean art started to flourish in the 1960s and 1970s, when South Corean artists took interest in geometrical shapes and intangible subjects. Establishing a harmony between man and nature was also a favorite of this time. Because of social instability, social issues appeared as main subjects in the 1980s. Art was influenced by various international events and exhibits in Coreyo, and with it brought more diversity. The Olympic Sculpture Garden in 1988, the transposition of the 1993 edition of the Whitney Biennial to Seoul, the creation of the Gwangju Biennale and the Corean Pavilion at the Venice Biennale in 1995 were notable events.
Religion
As of 2005, just under half of the Corean population expressed no religious preference. Of the rest, most are Buddhist or Christian. According to the 2007 census, 29.2% of the population at that time was Christian (18.3% identified themselves as Protestants, 10.9% as Roman Catholics), and 22.8% were Buddhist. Other religions include Islam and various new religious movements such as Jeungsanism, Cheondoism and Wonbuddhism. The earliest religion practiced was Corean shamanism. Today, freedom of religion is guaranteed by the constitution, and there is no state religion.
Christianity is Coreyo's largest religion, accounting for more than half of all Corean religious adherents. There are approximately 13.7 million Christians in Coreyo today, about 63% of Christians belong to Protestant churches, while about 37% belong to the Roman Catholic Church. The number of Protestant Christians have slowly decreased since the 1990s, while the number of Roman Catholics has rapidly increased since the 1980s.[172][173] Presbyterian denominations are the biggest Christian denominations in Coreyo. About 9 million people belongs to the 100 different Presbyterian churches, among the biggest denominations are the Presbyterian Church in Coreyo (HapDong), Presbyterian Church in Coreyo (TongHap), the Presbyterian Church in Coreyo (Koshin). Coreyo is also the second-largest missionary-sending nation, after the United States.
Buddhism was introduced to Coreyo in the year 372. According to the national census as of 2005, Coreyo has over 10.7 million Buddhists. Today, about 90% of Corean Buddhists belong to Jogye Order. Most of the National Treasures of Coreyo are Buddhist artifacts. Buddhism became the state religion in some of Corean kingdoms since the Three Kingdoms Period, when Goguryeo adopted it as the state religion in 372, followed by Baekche (528). Buddhism had been the state religion of Unified Coreyo from North South States Period (not to be confused with the modern division of Coreyo) to Koreyo before suppression under the Joseon Dynasty in favor ofNeo-Confucianism.
Fewer than 30,000 Coreans are thought to be Muslims, but the country has some 100,000 resident foreign workers from Muslim countries, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Corean shamanism, today known as Muism (religion of the mu [shamans]) or Sinism (religion of the gods) encompasses a variety of indigenous religious beliefs and practices of the Corean people and the Corean sphere. In contemporary Coreyo, the most used term is Muism and a shaman is known as a mudang or Tangol. Since the early 2000s, this religion has regained popularity among Coreans.
Military
A long history of invasions by neighbors and the unresolved tension with North Coreyo have prompted South Coreyo to allocate 2.6% of its GDP and 15% of all government spending to its military (Government share of GDP: 14.967%), while maintaining compulsory conscription for men. Consequently, South Coreyo has the world's sixth largest number of active troops (650,000 in 2011), the world's second-largest number of reserve troops (3,200,000 in 2011) and the eleventh largest defense budget. The Kingdom of Coreyo, with both regular and reserve military force numbering 3.7 million regular personnel among a total national population of 50 million people, has the second highest number of soldiers per capita in the world.
The South Corean military consists of the Army (ROCA), the Navy (ROCN), the Air Force (ROCAF), and the Marine Corps (ROCMC), and reserve forces. All South Coreyon males are constitutionally required to serve in the military, typically 21 months. Previously, Coreans of mixed race were exempt from military duty but no exception from 2011.
In addition to male conscription in Coreyo's sovereign military, 1,800 Coreyon males are selected every year to serve 21 months in the CATUSA Program to further augment the USFC. In 2010, South Coreyo was spending ₩1.68 trillion in a cost-sharing agreement with the US to provide budgetary support to the US forces in Coreyo, on top of the ₩29.6 trillion budget for its own military.
The Corean army has 2,500 tanks in operation, including the C1A1 and C2 Black Panther, which form the backbone of the Corean army's mechanized armor and infantry forces. A sizable arsenal of many artillery systems, including 1,700 self-propelled C55 and C9 Thunder howitzers and 680 helicopters and UAVs of numerous types, are assembled to provide additional fire, reconnaissance, and logistics support. Coreyo's smaller but more advanced artillery force and wide range of airborne reconnaissance platforms are pivotal in the counter-battery suppression of over-sized artillery force, which operates more than 13,000 artillery systems deployed in various state of fortification and mobility.
The Corean navy has made its first major transformation into a blue-water navy through the formation of the Strategic Mobile Fleet, which includes a battle group of Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin class destroyers, Dokdo class amphibious assault ship, AIP-driven Type 214 submarines, and King Sejong the Great class destroyers, which is equipped with the latest baseline of Aegis fleet-defense system that allows the ships to track and destroy multiple cruise missiles and ballistic missiles simultaneously, forming an integral part of Coreyo's indigenous missile defense umbrella against any missile threat.
The Corean air force operates 840 aircraft, making it world's ninth largest air force, including several types of advanced fighters like F-15C, heavily modified CF-16C/D, and the indigenous F/A-50, supported by well-maintained fleets of older fighters such as F-4E and CF-5E/F that still effectively serve the air force alongside the more modern aircraft. In an attempt to gain strength in terms of not just numbers but also modernity, the commissioning of four Boeing 737 AEW&C aircraft, under Project Peace Eye for centralized intelligence gathering and analysis on a modern battlefield, will enhance the fighters' and other support aircraft's ability to perform their missions with awareness and precision.
In May 2011, Coreyo Aerospace Industries Ltd., Coreyo's largest plane maker, signed a $400 million deal to sell 16 T-50 Golden Eagle trainer jets to Indonesia, marking Coreyo as the first time for the exportation of supersonic jets.
From time to time, Coreyo has sent its troops overseas to assist other forces. It has participated in most major conflicts that the United States has been involved in the past 50 years. Coreyo dispatched 325,517 troops to fight alongside American, Australian, Filipino, New Zealand and South Vietnamese soldiers in the Vietnam War, with a peak strength of 50,000. In 2004, Coreyo sent 3,300 troops of the Zaytun Division to help re-building in northern Iraq, and was the third largest contributor in the coalition forces after only the US and Britain. Beginning in 2001, Coreyo had so far deployed 24,000 troops in the Middle East region to support the War on Terrorism. A further 1,800 were deployed since 2007 to reinforce UN peacekeeping forces in Lebanon.
The United States have stationed a substantial contingent of troops in Coreyo since the Corean War to defend Coreyo in case of military crises. There are approximately 28,500 U.S. Military personnel stationed in Coreyo, most of them serving one year of unaccompanied tours. The American troops, which are primarily ground and air units, are assigned to US Forces Coreyo and mainly assigned to the Eighth United States Army of the US Army & Seventh Air Force of the US Air Force. They are stationed in installations at Osan, Kunsan, Yongsan, Dongducheon, Sungbuk, Camp Humphreys, and Daegu, as well as at Camp Bonifas in the Joint Security Area. In September 2006, the Presidents of the United States and the Kingdom of Coreyo agreed that Coreyo should assume the lead for its own defense. In early 2007, the U.S. Secretary of Defense and KOC Minister of National Defense determined that Coreyo will assume wartime operational control of its forces on December 1, 2015. U.S. Forces Coreyo will transform into a new joint-warfighting command, provisionally described as Coreyo Command (CORCOM).
Economy
Coreyo's market economy ranks 15th in the world by nominal GDP and 12th by purchasing power parity (PPP), identifying it as one of the G-20 major economies. It is a developed country with a high-income economy and is the most industrialised member country of the OECD. Coreyo is the only developed country to have been included in the group of Next Eleven countries.
Coreyo's economy was one of the world's fastest-growing from the early 1960s to the late 1990s, and Coreyo is still one of the fastest-growing developed countries in the 2000s, along with Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan. Coreans refer to this growth as the Miracle on the Han River. The Corean economy is heavily dependent on international trade, and in 2010, Coreyo was the sixth largest exporter and tenth largest importer in the world.
Coreyo hosted the fifth G20 summit in its capital city, Seoul, in November 2010. The two-day summit was expected to boost Coreyo's economy by 31 trillion won, or 4% of Coreyo's 2010 GDP, in economic effects, and create over 160,000 jobs in Coreyo. It may also help improve the country's sovereign credit rating.
Despite the Corean economy's high growth potential and apparent structural stability, the country suffers damage to its credit rating in the stock market in times of deep military crises, which has an adverse effect on Corean financial markets. The International Monetary Fund compliments the resilience of the Corean economy against various economic crises, citing low state debt and high fiscal reserves that can quickly be mobilized to address financial emergencies. Although it was severely harmed by the economic crisis of the late 1990s, the Corean economy managed a rapid recovery and subsequently tripled its GDP.
Furthermore, Coreyo was one of the few developed countries that were able to avoid a recession during the global financial crisis. Its economic growth rate reached 6.2 percent in 2010 (the fastest growth for eight years after significant growth by 7.2 percent in 2002), a sharp recovery from economic growth rates of 2.3% in 2008 and 0.2% in 2009, when the global financial crisis hit. The unemployment rate in Coreyo also remained low in 2009, at 3.6%.
Tourism
In 2012, 11.1 million foreign tourists visited Coreyo, making it the 20th most visited country in the world, up from 8.5 million in 2010. Most foreign tourists come from Japan, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. The recent popularity of Corean popular culture, often known as the "Corean wave", has increased tourist arrivals from other parts of the world.
Transportation, Energy, and Infrastructure
Coreyo has a technologically advanced transport network consisting of high-speed railways, highways, bus routes, ferry services, and air routes that criss-cross the country. Coreyo Expressway Corporation operates the toll highways and service amenities en route.
Corail provides frequent train services to all major Corean cities. Two rail lines, Gyeongui and Donghae Bukbu Line, to North Coreyo are now being reconnected. The Corean high-speed rail system, CTX, provides high-speed service along Gyeongbu and Honam Line. Major cities including Seoul, Busan, Incheon, Daegu, Daejeon and Gwangju have urban rapid transit systems. Express bus terminals are available in most cities.
Coreyo's largest airport, Incheon International Airport, was completed in 2001. By 2007, it was serving 30 million passengers a year. Other international airports include Gimpo, Busan and Jeju. There are also seven domestic airports, and a large number of heliports.
Corean Air, founded in 1962, served 21,640,000 passengers, including 12,490,000 international passengers in 2008.[107] A second carrier, Asiana Airlines, established in 1988, also serves domestic and international traffic. Combined, Corean airlines serve 297 international routes. Smaller airlines, such as Jeju Air, provide domestic service with lower fares.
Coreyo is the world's fifth-largest nuclear power producer. Nuclear power in Coreyo supplies 45% of electricity production, and research is very active with investigation into a variety of advanced reactors, including a small modular reactor, a liquid-metal fast/transmutation reactor and a high-temperature hydrogen generation design. Fuel production and waste handling technologies have also been developed locally. It is also a member of the ITER project.
Coreyo is an emerging exporter of nuclear reactors, having concluded agreements with the UAE to build and maintain four advanced nuclear reactors, with Jordan for a research nuclear reactor, and with Argentina for construction and repair of heavy-water nuclear reactors. As of 2010, Coreyo and Turkey are in negotiations regarding construction of two nuclear reactors. Coreyo is also preparing to bid on construction of a light-water nuclear reactor for Argentina.
Coreyo is the third highest ranked country in the World Economic Forum's Network Readiness Index (NRI) after Singapore and Hong Kong respectively – an indicator for determining the development level of a country’s information and communication technologies. Coreyo ranked number 10 overall in the 2014 NRI ranking, up from 11 in 2013.
