SOUTH KOREA

History, Cultures, Beliefs, and Literatures

 SOUTH KOREAN HISTORY

 Korea is a peninsular country in East Asia.

 Was one nation but has been divided into 2, communist North and
non-communist South, since 1945.

 Korea’s total area – 85,238 sq mi

 Korean people are part of the Tungusic branch of the Mongoloid

race who came from the cold northern regions of central Asia.
 SOUTH KOREAN HISTORY

 As a result of the Korean War from

1950-1953, brought on by North
Korea’s invasion of the South, the
country is no longer divided at the 38th
parallel but by a demilitarized zone of
487sq mi along the armistice line.
 SOUTH KOREAN HISTORY
Famous People

 Kim Dae Jung

• President of South Korea in 1998.
• Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his
efforts for pursuing the policy of
reconciliation with North Korea.
 SOUTH KOREAN HISTORY
Famous People

 Kim Young Sam

• First civilian president of South Korea since
Gen. Park Chung Hee assumed power in 1961.
• Kim went into politics in 1954, winning a seat
in the National Assembly two years after
graduating from Seoul National University. His calls for democratic
reforms during General Park’s rule resulted in his eviction from the
national assembly and a two year house arrest.
 SOUTH KOREAN HISTORY
Famous People

 Roh Tae Woo

• 1988 President of South Korea.
• South Korea was admitted to the UN
in 1991 under Predisent Woo’s
leadership.
• Supported Kim Young Sam in the
1992 presidential elections. Kim won
and succeeded Roh in early 1993.
 SOUTH KOREAN HISTORY
Famous People

 Syngman Rhee
• First president of the Republic of South
Korea in 1948 and ran the country
through the korean War after the
invasion of the North in 1950.
• He was forced to go into exile because
his rule grew increasingly totalitarian
and, after riots started suddenly (1960).
 SOUTH KOREAN HISTORY
Famous People

 Kim Il Sung
• Leader of North Korea from 1948 until his
death (1994).
• Joined the Korean Communist party in 1932
at the age of 19.
• Served as a guerrilla fighter against the
Japanese in the 1930s and was a Solviet
Soldier in Korea during WW-II.
• He caused the beginning of the Korean War (1950) for trying to
extend his power to South Korea.
 SOUTH KOREAN HISTORY
Historical Places

 Changgyeong Palace
• Originally the Summer Palace of the
Goryeo King, it later became one of
the Five Grand Palaces of the Joseon
Dynasty.
 SOUTH KOREAN HISTORY
Historical Places

 Bulguksa Temple
• One of the most elaborate temples
in South Korea.
• Built without mortar by placing cut
stones in perfect arrangement.
• The stairways leading to the temple
entrances are symbolic of the
Buddhist journey toward spiritual
enlightenment.
 SOUTH KOREAN HISTORY
Historical Places

 The Gyeongbok Palace

• First constructed in 1395 as
the royal residence of the
Choson (Joseon) dynasty.
• Ruined during Japanese
invasion (1592) and was
reconstructed (1867).
 SOUTH KOREAN HISTORY
Historical Places

 The Dongdaemun
• One of the five (5) remaining gates
of the original nine (9) entryways to
Seoul.
• Built during the 14th Century by King
T’aejo of the Choson dynasty.
• Part of an 18.5 km wall around the
capial.
 SOUTH KOREAN HISTORY
Historical Places

 P’yŏngyang
• Capital of North Korea
• Almost damaged completely
during the Korean War.
• The city was rebuilt with the
Chinese and Soviet assistance.
 SOUTH KOREAN HISTORY
Historical Places

 Tower of Juche
• Prominent monument in P’yongyang.
• Rising to a height of 170m (560ft) in the city
center.
• The tower glorifies juche idea, a philosophy of self-
reliance that is a central tenet of the communist
nation
• The monument commemorates the 70th birthday
of Kim Il Sung, the “Great Leader”, who
introduced the juche idea.
 SOUTH KOREAN HISTORY
Significant Events

 The Atlantic Charter

• According to the principles of the Atlantic Charter of
August 1941 asserting rights of self-determination for
subject peoples, US, Britian, and China announced on
December 1,1943, that in the due course Korea shall
become free and independent. The USSR abided by this
statement on August 8, 1945.
 SOUTH KOREAN HISTORY
Significant Events

 Election in Korea  Korean War

• The UN organized elections
in Korea that led to the
creation of the Reoublc of
Korea south of the 38th
parallel (1948).
• Started on June 25, 1950
when the forces of the
Democratic People’s
Republic of Korea (North
K) occupied the Republic
of Korea (South K).
 SOUTH KOREAN CULTURE

 Korean culture was predominantly influenced by Chinese from

ancient times until the 20th Century.

 However, Korea developed its own unique styles over the

centuries.

 Paintings, Ceramics, Music, and Literature.

 SOUTH KOREAN CULTURE

Paintings

 Koreans can remember the masterworks of the distant past from

the Three Kingdoms of Koguryo, Silla, and Paekche, which were
joined together by Silla in the 7th Century.
 SOUTH KOREAN CULTURE

Ceramics

 Pottery and ceramics were perfected in Korea.

 Korea learned the Chinese techniques of high-

fired porcelains and used them to create porcelain
with a distinctive green glaze called, celadon.

 Korean celadon was called “one of the ten best

things in the world” by Chinese.
 SOUTH KOREAN CULTURE

Music

 Sinawi
• Perfomed for the deities during a female shaman ritual
dance.
• The musicians must follow the shaman’s dance and
create interesting melodic and rhythmic patterns to help
her perform.
• Melody – kyemyon
• Main soloist - piri
 SOUTH KOREAN CULTURE

Music

 Sinawi
 SOUTH KOREAN CULTURE

Literature

 Korean classical literattue combined indigenous folk traditions with

religious and philisophical principles of Buddhisn, Confucianism, and
Daoism.

 Wrote in Chinese script in earlier times.

 Hangul was introduced in 1446 but not gain widespread acceptance as

a literary language until the 20th Century.
 SOUTH KOREAN CULTURE

Literature
 SOUTH KOREAN CULTURE

Traditions

 Marriage and Family

• Most South Koreans today decide on their
spouses.
• Many abstain from the traditional-style
wedding.
• Women retain their birth names after they
marry.
• Father is the head of the family
• Eldest son enjoy greatest respect.
 SOUTH KOREAN CULTURE

Traditions

 Marriage and Family

• In North Korea, marriage happen only with the
consent of the parents.
• Minimum marriage ages - 27 for men, 25 for women
– to allow for the completion of military service and
other obligations.
 SOUTH KOREAN CULTURE

Food

 Rice is the main staple food in Korea eaten with variety of side
dishes, main of which is kimchi. Soup is often part of a meal,
and chicken, beef, and fish are common.

 Naengmyon – favorite food in North Korea.

 SOUTH KOREAN CULTURE

Recreation

 Traditional Korean sports like archery, kite flying, and wrestling

survive until today though without huge popularity.

 Koreans have enjoyed international success in boxing, foot-racing,

weightlifting, wrestling, and mountain climbing.

 Korean favourites include changgi (Korean chess), paduk

(Japanese go), and yut (played with four sticks).
 SOUTH KOREAN CULTURE

Recreation

Changgi

Yut
Paduk
 SOUTH KOREAN BELIEFS

 Most Koreans in the south stick firmly to Buddhist and Confucianist

beliefs. Many Koreans in rural areas adhere to Shamanism.

 Approximately, quarter of the people in the south are Christians,

mainly Protestants.

 Chondogyo, teaching of the Heavenly Way, is the only other

significant – organized faith that is native to Korea.

 In the North, the government discourages all religious

observances.
 LITERARY PIECES

 Two Lies (Korean Folktale)

- An Zong Og

 Song of Peace
- Hwang Tonggyu

 Cranes
- Hwang Sun Won

 The Nonrevolutionaries
- Yu-Wol Chong-Nyon