South Korea Cultural Awareness

Korea

• Location of Korea Republic

Here!!

Republic of Korea

Seoul

38,368 sq miles

48,000,000

won

1 Roh Moo-Hyun President (head of government)

2 Han Duck-Soo prime Minister (head of state)

)

3 9 provinces, 7 metropolitan cities

4 Republic (Government)

Korean

Imports and Exports

Imports and Exports - strengths

Well developed

high tech industry

Demand from China,

particularly from

World ‘s most cars

successful shipbuilder

Imports and Exports - weaknesses

1 High level of indebtedness and vulnerability to international capital movemen

2 Increasingly militant workforce since 1997

3 State sector a burden on the economy

4 Strong Competition from Japan, especially as the ten weaknens

Imports and Exports

Iron & Steel Shipbuilding

Fish

Garments major processing

business

Vehicle

Chemicals assembly

Electronics Telecommunications

Imports and Exports- economics

1 Natural Resources : Limited coal, tungsten, iron ore,

limestone, kaolinite, and graphite

2 Agriculture, including forestry and fisheries: Rice, vegetables,

fruit, root crops, barley; cattle, pigs, chickens, milk, and fish

3 Industry: Types-Electronics and electrical products, telecommunications, mot

shipbuilding, mining and manufacturing, petrochemicals, industrial machinery

Trade: Exports-electronic products, automobiles, machinery

4 and equipment, steel, ships, petrochemicals.

5 Imports- crude oil, food, machinery and transportation equipment,

chemicals and chemical products, base metals and articles.

Statistics

World GNP ranking: 13th

GNP per capita: 15,000

Balance of payments: $6.09bn

Unemployment: 4%

Gross National Product(GNP): $448bn

nflation 4.5%p.a. (1990-2001)

xchange rates against the US$ over the last year: 1195 South Korean won (12

Korean

History

1910 - 45: During its occupation, Japan built up Korea's infrastructure,

especially the street and railroad systems. However, the Japanese ruled

with an iron fist and attempted to root out all elements of Korean culture

from society. People were forced to adopt Japanese names, convert to the

Shinto (native Japanese) religion, and were forbidden to use Korean

language in schools and business. The Independence Movement on March

1, 1919, was brutally repressed, resulting in the killing of thousands, the

maiming and imprisoning of tens of thousands, and destroying of hundreds

of churches, temples, schools, and private homes. During World War II,

Japan siphoned off more and more of Korea's resources, including its

people, to feed its Imperial war machine. Many of the forced laborers were

never repatriated to Korea.

1945 - 60: The Japanese surrender on August 15, 1945, cause the peninsula to

came under divided rule: the USSR occupied Korea north of the 38th parallel, while

the U.S. occupied the southern section. Under UN auspices, a democratic

government established the Republic of Korea (South Korea) in 1948 with its

capital in Seoul. The Communists established the Democratic People's Republic

of Korea (North Korea) with its capital in P'yongyang. On June 25, 1950, the North

Korean Army invaded the South, starting the Korean War. UN forces helped the

South while Communist Chinese volunteers sided with the North, resulting in a

three year war which left millions dead on both sides. (The Korean War section

gives greater detail about this period, including a day-by-day calendar with

historical events, diary entries from people who were there, and period

photographs.) Student protests against the corrupt government caused Syngman

Rhee to step down as president in 1960.

1961 - 79: On May 16, 1961, General Park, Chung Hee organized a military coup

and toppled the civilian government. He then established martial law and later

had himself elected president. Though his leadership was oppressive, President

Park instigated many economic and social changes which helped elevate Korea

into and industrializing nation. Major infrastructure enhancements, including the

Seoul-Pusan expressway and the Seoul subway system, began under his regime.

The Korean CIA chief assassinated President Park on October 26, 1979.

1980 - 87: In the power vacuum left by President Park's death, General Chun, Doo

Hwan staged a military coup and seized power on May 17, 1980. After re-

establishing martial law, he had himself elected President and banned several

hundred former politicians from campaigning. A military crackdown against

student protests in the southern city of Kwangju resulted in hundreds of deaths

and injuries. Although his rule was more lenient than General Park's, and he

adopted many reforms, the Korean people became tired of military rule. Violent

student demonstrations in 1987 forced President Chun to implement more social

reforms and hold presidential elections in 1988.

1988 - 92: General Noh, Tae-woo, Chun's chosen political successor, won the

presidential election. The opposition party failed to field a single candidate,

splitting the opposition vote and giving Noh a comfortable win. During his term,

President Noh's government established diplomatic relations with many non-

capitalist countries, including the People's Republic of China and the Soviet Union,

both long-term allies of communist North Korea. The successful hosting of the

1988 Olympic Games brought Korea to the center stage of world recognition.

1992 - 1996: The election of President Kim, Young-sam ushered in a

new era of civilian rule. Since taking office he worked hard to reform

the widely criticized regulatory system through his "New Economy"

and "Globalization" programs. The implementation of the real-name

financial transaction act put an end to the easy hiding of hot money.

Another 2,000 rules and regulations were abolished or amended

during Presdient Kim's term. Despite the many contibutions he made,

Kim, Young-sam will probably be remembered most for the dismal

economic situation the country was in when he left office.

1997 - present: The election of President Kim, Dae-jung marked the first time an

opposition leader has been elected as president in Korea. After failing in four other

attempts to win the popular vote, his party joined with the party of Kim, Jong-pil,

and riding the population's growing resentment towards the ruling party, gained

the narrow majority needed to gain the presidency. His term immediately got off to

the rocky start when the former ruling party boycotted the National Assembly

session which was to have confirmed President Kim's choice of cabinet and prime

minister candidates.

Korean

Festivals

Seol - Lunar New Year

Koreans celebrate the Lunar New Year.

This year it was on February 1st. On this very day the year of the Horse began.

The New Year's greeting is "say hay boke-mahn he pah du say oh".

Chu Suk

Simply put is the Western Version of Thanksgiving

During Chu Suk families from all around Korea pack up and head on the road to visit their

families ancestral sites.

Memorial

services

Memorial services are rituals held by descendants in

memory of the deceased. Koreans hold rituals on the

anniversary of an ancestor's death, New Year's Day, and

Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) to express gratitude for

their blessings and to pay their respects. The foods

prepared for these rituals are not extravagant.

On New Year's Day, tteokguk (rice cake soup) is

prepared, and on Chuseok, taro soup and songpyeon are

served. The assortment of dishes and their arrangements

vary from family to family and according to region.

Common offerings include alcoholic beverages, fruit

(both fresh and dried), dried beef, and fish. Again, rice

cakes are a standard food which are prepared with mung

bean powder or husked red bean powder sprinkled on

top.

Korea Holidays

•Children's Day

May 5th represents a day of celebration for children, both young and old. Amusements

parks, zoos, and national parks become crowded with families enjoying the holiday in

the Spring weather.

•Constitution Day

July 17 marks the day in 1948 when the Republic of Korea's Constitution was

proclaimed. A day of celebrations and memorials recognizes the cornerstone of the

new republic.

•Liberation Day

With the official surrender of Japan to the Allied forces on August 15, 1945, the 35-year

colonization of Korea by the Japanese came to an end. August 15, 1948 also marks the

establishment of the Republic of Korea.

Korean

Entertainers

Film

John Cho – actor; Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle, etc…

Yun jin Kim – actress, the Lost, etc…

Sports

Ji sung Park – pro soccer player for Manchester United

Chan-ho Park – pro baseball player for New York Nets

Hines E. Ward – pro football player for Pittsburg Steelers

Korean Food

Kim chi

•The five cardinal color of East Asian cosmology

are found in Kim chi green, red, yellow, black and

white.

•Garlic, ginger, fermented shrimp or anchovies,

red peppers, white radish, green onions and

other vegetables, all provide color as well as

flavor.

Gim

bab

Strips of ham, pickled radish, seasoned

spinach, and egg are then placed close together

on the rice;

it is then carefully rolled together until the roll is

evenly shaped. The street vendors usually sell a

mini-roll.

Main meat

Bulgogi ( 불고기 ): thinly sliced beef marinated in

soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, sugar, green onions

and black pepper, cooked on a grill (sometimes at

the table). Bulgogi literally means "fire meat".

Variations include pork (Dweji bulgogi), chicken

(Dak bulgogi), or squid (Ojingeo bulgogi).

Galbi ( 갈비 ): pork or beef ribs, cooked on a

metal plate over charcoal in the centre of the

table. The meat is sliced thicker than bulgogi. It is

often called "Korean BBQ", and can be seasoned

or unseasoned. A variation using seasoned

chicken is called (Dakgalbi).