Human Geography of North and South Korea Ch. 30.2

Video questions 1. By its appearance, how does Seoul resemble most modern cities? 2. Whom do South Koreans compare themselves to in the areas of business and progress? Why? 3. How might the religious makeup of South Korea affect some of its traditions, such as the wedding in the video?

Answers to video 1. The city has large apartment blocks, corporate office buildings, and busy highways. 2. South Koreans measure themselves against the Japanese. They do this because the two countries came out of destructive wars in similar situations. 3. One in four South Koreans is a practicing Christian, so its culture is a combination of Western religious ritual and Korean customs.

Greatly influenced by China, Korea adopted the principles of Confucianism, which provided the basis for a complex bureaucracy.

Korea became a hermit kingdom, until Japan forced Korea to open its ports in 1876.

Japan annexed Korea in 1910, creating anti-Japanese sentiment.

After World War II, the Soviets set up a government in what became North Korea.

Today, North Korea remains isolated, while South Korea is an open, democratic society.

The peninsula is one of the most ethnically homogenous regions in the world, with nearly all inhabitants originating from China and central Asia.

North Korea’s population is about half of South Korea’s.

Food shortages and political persecution plague life in North Korea.

South Korea’s population is mostly urban, and population density is high.

Both nations speak Korean.

Despite their shared ethnicity, the two countries have created a cultural divergence, separations of people with regard to beliefs because of differing political systems.

With little freedom in North Korea, many things are prohibited, such as religion, and artistic and personal expression. http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/01/asia/north-korea-schwarz-human-rights/

With more opportunities, women in South Korea have become increasingly active in the economy.

North Korea has a command economy, where the state plans and controls all economic production.

North Korea has a massive food problem, with many citizens facing starvation.

South Korea has transformed from one of the poorest nations to a highly industrialized society.

High tech manufacturing, along with the service industry, forms much of South Korea’s economy.

North Korea remains aloof, engaging in limited trade with its partners.