1. Koreas
A Land of Opposites

2. Common Cultural Characteristics
Invasions throughout history
Borrowed from Chinese culture
writing system
Language
Daoism, Confucianism, Buddhism

3. At end of WWII, USSR occupied North Korea and USA occupied South Korea
USSR established communist gov’t in North Korea
1949: US withdrew from south
1950: North Korea launched a surprise attack on South Korea
USSR and China supported North Korea
US and UN supported South Korea
Fought for 3 years
Korean War

4. Korean War Results: Why was it fought? 4 million people died
Cease-fire agreement in 1953 at 38N parallel – still in effect today
Demilitarized zone
Still divided and hostile
Why was it fought?
The goal of North Korea attacking South Korea was to unite the two countries as a single communist country.

5. North Korea Today 23 million people Continental climate – cold
Lower population density
Rural
Continental climate – cold
Mountainous and rugged
Hydroelectric power
Resource poor

6. North Korea Today Agricultural economy Isolated, secretive Communist
Low standard of living since 1991 (fall of USSR)
Kim Jong-un
Withdrew from Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1993

7. South Korea Today 47 million people
¼ population in Seoul
Densely populated
Climate mild because of surrounding water
Less mountainous, plains
More arable land

8. South Korea Today Industrialized Nuclear energy
Economic growth with international trade
Exporter of textiles, automobiles, electronics