FACTS ABOUT

FACTS ABOUT

FACTS ABOUT KOREA

2015 Edition

Copyright © 1973

Published by

Korean Culture and Information Service

Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

408, Galmae-ro, Sejong-si, Government Complex-Sejong,

Republic of Korea

Telephone: 82-44-203-3339~47

Fax: 82-44-203-3595

All rights reserved

Printed in Seoul

ISBN 978-89-7375-584-4 03910

For further information about Korea,

please visit:

www.korea.net

Contents

Korean Life _ 04Clothing and Fashion

Food

Housing

Festivals, Celebrations and Holidays

Religion

Society _ 34

South Korea – Summary

Education, Research, and Industry

Labor and Social Welfare System

Transformation into

a Multicultural Society

Culture _ 60

UNESCO Heritage in Korea

Traditional Arts

Hallyu (Korean Wave)

Tourism _ 120

Historical Heritage of Seoul

Tourist Attractions and Shopping Centers

Streets of Youth

Recreation in Nature

Tourist Attractions outside Seoul

Hanok Villages

Major Local Festivals in Korea

Sports _ 166

How South Korea Became

a Sporting Powerhouse

1988 Seoul Summer Olympics

2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan

2011 World Championships in Athletics

2012 London Summer Olympics

2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics

Taekwondo

History _ 184The Beginnings of the Country’s History

(Prehistoric Times - Gojoseon)

Three Kingdoms and other States

Unified Silla and Balhae

Goryeo

Joseon

The Fall of Joseon: Imperial Japan’s

Annexation of Korea

Independence Movement

Transition to a Democracy

and Transformation

into an Economic Powerhouse

Constitution and Government _ 224

Constitution

Executive, Legislative and the Judiciary

Independent Organizations

Local Government

International Relations

Economy _ 238

The Korean Economy

- the Miracle on the Hangang River

Korea’s Open Market Capitalist Economy

Industrial Brand Leaders and Korean Industrial

Standards

Efforts to Grow as a Global Power

Inter-Korean Relations _ 260

Historical Background

Simultaneous Admission of

the two Koreas to the UN

Inter-Korean Exchanges and Cooperation

Efforts for Lasting Peace

Relevant Websites _ 270

Sources of Photos _ 272

생활

Korean Life

Clothing and Fashion

Food

Housing

Festivals, Celebrations and Holidays

Religion

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1Korean Life생활

Since their settlement in prehistoric times on the land now known

as the Korean Peninsula, the Korean people have developed a

wealth of unique cultural traditions related to the way they dress,

eat, and behave at home. These traditions reflect the natural

environment of their homeland, a terrain predominately covered

by hills and mountains, bound by the sea on three sides and

marked by four distinct seasons.

Clothing and FashionThe Korean people learned to use various fabrics, such as sambe

(hemp), mosi (ramie), cotton and silk to make a range of clothing

that was not only attractive but also provided them with effective

protection even during the harshest winters and the hottest

summers. They made warm winter clothes using the technique

of filling soft cotton between two layers of material, silk or

cotton fabric, and sewing them together with fine stitching,

and produced cool summer clothes with hemp and ramie. These

clothes typically feature graceful lines and forms that create the

serene aura characteristic of the traditional Korean clothes we

know as hanbok.

History reveals that Korean people in the past tended to

prefer simple, white clothes to clothing decorated with different

A family wearing Hanbok (left)

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colors and designs. That is why they were often referred to as “the

white-clad people” among their neighbors who admired them

for being a peaceful people. Nonetheless, Korea has also had a

long tradition of enjoying colorful clothes with complex designs

depending on the period and the wearer’s social status.

Today, Korea is home to many talented fashion designers

who have earned an international reputation with their creative

designs which combine traditional Korean designs and patterns

with a modern artistic sensibility. The beauty of traditional Korean

clothes has been introduced to, and praised in, many parts of the

world thanks to the remarkable success in recent years of many

Korean films and TV dramas including Dae Jang Geum.

Korean people today seem to prefer clothes inspired by

modern Western styles to their traditional clothes, although some

people still insist on wearing the latter on traditional holidays

or for special family occasions such as weddings. Their love of

tradition and yearning for the new sometimes led to the creation

of attractive “modernized hanbok.”

Now a household name across the world thanks to “Gangnam

Style,” a K-Pop song that shook the world in 2012, Gangnam-

gu in Seoul is a large district where wealthy residential areas

sit alongside high-end art facilities and Korea’s busiest fashion

streets. The district now attracts numerous fashion-minded

tourists from across East Asia and beyond with annual fashion

festivals comprising international fashion shows and contests

participated in by many rising designers.

Another fashion district in Seoul that enjoys an international

reputation is Dongdaemun-gu, which has grown into a hub of the

regional fashion industry, providing creative, affordable fashion

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items for youth and the young at heart. With its fully developed

distribution and sales network, highly efficient production

facilities, and throng of talented, aspiring designers, the district

is now one of Seoul’s most popular attractions among foreign

tourists.

FoodSince ancient times, the Korean people have maintained a belief

that food and medicine have the same origin and hence perform

the same function, following the adage that ‘food is the best

medicine’. They believe that health and illness alike come from

the food they consume and how they eat it, and this idea has

played a crucial role in the development of traditional Korean

medicine whose basic principle is that we should use medicine

only after food has failed.

Fermentation of FoodOne of the key words to understanding traditional Korean

food is fermentation, a metabolic process that helps food to

‘mature’ so that it has improved taste and

nutritional properties and can be stored

for a longer period. The Korean foods

that best represent the tradition of

fermentation developed in Korea

include doenjang (soybean paste),

ganjang (soy sauce), gochujang (chili

paste) and jeotgal (fermented fish

sauce), whose fermentation can take

anywhere from several months to several

Doenjang Jjigae (Soybean Paste Stew)This stew-like Korean dish is made by boiling an assortment of ingredients such as meat, clams, vegetables, mushrooms, chili, tofu, and soy paste.

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years. The degree of fermentation is a key factor in the taste and

flavor of food cooked at home and in restaurants

Doenjang (Soybean Paste) and Ganjang (Soy Sauce)

Two of the most important items of traditional fermented food

in Korea are doenjang and ganjang. To make them, it is necessary

to soak soybeans in water and boil them until fully cooked. Then,

they must be pounded and ormed into brick-shaped lumps, and

left to dry and ferment. Then, they are placed in salted water in

a large pot along with dried red chili and heated charcoal, which

help remove impurities and odor during the fermentation process.

The beans thus prepared are then left for about two to three

months until they become fully fermented. This product should

then be divided into two, solids and liquid, of which the former

needs to be brewed for over five more months and the latter for

over three months to develop a full flavor and taste. Just like wine,

Jangdokdae (Soy Jar Terrace)An area outside the kitchen used to store large brown-glazed pottery jars containing soy paste, soy sauce, and chili paste.

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soy sauce tends to have a richer flavor and taste when brewed for

a longer period.

Gochujang (Chili Paste)

Gochujang (chili paste) is a traditional Korean condiment made

by fermenting a mixture of soybean malt, salt, and chili pepper

powder with a blend of powdered rice, barley, flour, and malted

barley. Gochujang has long been one of the most important

traditional condiments among Korean people, whose palates

have evolved towards a preference for hot and spicy foods since

they were introduced to chili several hundred years ago. Chili and

gochujang are now often regarded as a symbol of the vibrant,

energetic disposition of Korean people.

Jeotgal (Salted Seafood)

An almost indispensable ingredient for kimchi and a very popular

condiment used to enhance the taste of food, jeotgal (salted

seafood) is made by mixing one of a variety of seafood (such

as anchovy, shrimp, oyster, or clam) with salt, or with other

condiments in addition to salt, and fermenting it in a cool place.

They say that a longer period of fermentation makes it tastier.

The tradition of making fermented fish sauce yielded several

special delicacies including sikhae, which is made by fermenting

fish mixed with rice and condiments.

Kimchi

Now beginning to gain a worldwide reputation as a representative

food of Korea, kimchi has been praised for its anti-carcinogenic

properties and nutritional value, as well as numerous variations

Saeujeot (Salted Shrimp)One of the two most popular fish sauces in Korea, the other being anchovy sauce, this shrimp sauce made by fermenting salted shrimps is used to improve the taste of dishes, including kimchi.

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Ingredients for kimchi

Slice and wash kimchi cabbages and soak in salt water.

Clean the bottoms of the cabbages.

Mix seasonings with salted and fermented fish.

Spread seasonings evenly between the cabbage leaves.

Wrap the whole cabbage and store in a cool place.

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Making Baechu (Cabbage) Kimchi

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that create excitingly diverse flavors and tastes. The most

common type of kimchi is made by mixing salted white cabbage

with kimchi paste made of chili powder, garlic, spring onion,

Korean radish ginger, fish sauce and other ingredients like fresh

seafood. Kimchi is normally eaten after fermenting it for several

days although some prefer mugeunji (ripe kimchi) which is fully

fermented for over one year.

The ingredients of kimchi vary according to each region

and its special local produce and traditions. Seoul, for instance,

is famous for gungjung kimchi (royal kimchi), bossam kimchi

(wrapped kimchi), chonggak kimchi (whole radish kimchi), and

kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi), while Jeolla-do is well known for

its godeulppaegi kimchi (Korean lettuce kimchi) and gat kimchi

(leaf mustard kimchi).

In 2001, the Codex Alimentarius Commission listed Korean

kimchi in the internationally recognized standards, and in 2012

officially recognized the term “kimchi cabbage,” which had

previously been referred to as “Chinese cabbage” until then. In

2006, a US health magazine, Health Magazine, selected kimchi as

one of the five healthiest foods on earth.

Bibimbap

Bibimbap (literally “mixed rice”) is essentially a dish of cooked rice

served after mixing it with an assortment of fresh and seasoned

vegetables, fried egg, minced raw beef and other ingredients

before cooking. The dish is closely related with Jeonju, a UNESCO-

designated "City of Gastronomy", where food-related festivals,

including the Bibimbap Festival, are held every autumn, attracting

gastronomes from across Korea and beyond. Bibimbap has

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recently begun to attract worldwide attention for its nutritional

balance, which is said to help keep those who eat it free from

geriatric diseases, and is now generally cited as one of the three

most representative dishes of Korean cuisine along with kimchi

and bulgogi.

Bulgogi

Bulgogi, which literally means “fire meat”, refers to a traditional

Korean dish made by grilling beef or (rarely) pork after shredding

or slicing it and marinating it in sweet soy sauce mixed with a

great variety of condiments. It is one of the rare meat dishes

to have developed in Korea, where people were generally more

accustomed to eating vegetable dishes, and has won many

enthusiasts outside the country. Bulgogi has recently been

adopted by fast-food restaurants in Korea, resulting in the

emergence of bulgogi hamburgers and pizzas.

Tteok (Rice Cake)

Tteok, or Korean rice cake, refers to a range of sticky cakes made

by steaming powdered rice with other grains, usually beans,

or by pounding boiled rice into different shapes and textures.

While tteok was sometimes eaten as part of a meal, it was

more often one of a variety of special foods served at special

family or communal occasions such as birthday parties, wedding

receptions, memorial services and traditional holidays. Rice is the

main ingredient of tteok, but it is often mixed with other grains,

fruits, nuts and herbs such as mugwort, red bean, jujube, soybean

and chestnut.

Korean people in the past assigned various symbolic meanings

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Bibimbap: Cooked rice served with fresh and seasoned vegetables, minced raw beef and chili paste (above). Bulgogi: Stripped or shredded beef marinated with soy sauce-based condiments and grilled (below)

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to tteok and made and ate it according to those meanings. They

made (and still make) baekseolgi (white steamed rice cakes),

for instance, on the first birthday of a baby as it symbolizes a

long life, and they made patsirutteok (steamed red bean and

rice cake) whenever they started a business as its red color was

believed to help repel evil forces. They celebrate New Year’s Day

with tteokguk, consisting of a broth with rice flakes, and Chuseok

(the 15th Day of the Eighth Lunar Month) with songpyeon, bite-

sized half-moon shaped rice cakes stuffed with a honey, chestnut,

soybean, or sesame mixture. There are many famous tteok houses

in Nagwon-dong in downtown Seoul.

Juk (Porridge)

Juk is a Korean-style porridge made of various grains that is

usually served to children, the elderly, or people suffering from

Injeolmi Rice CakeThese Korean rice cakes are made by coating cubes of pounded glutinous rice with bean powder. They are marked by their soft and chewy texture and are easily digested.

Janggukjuk (Soy Sauce Porridge)This traditional Korean porridge (Juk) is made by boiling minced beef and Pyogo mushrooms with pounded rice and seasoned with soy sauce. It is rich in proteins and particularly good for people suffering from digestive problems.

Kongguksu (Noodles in Cold Soybean Soup)This Korean noodle dish is made by mixing boiled noodles with chilled bean soup. For Koreans, it is a fine source of protein.

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digestive problems. In recent years juk houses have begun to

appear in many parts of Korea. They usually prepare the dish with

a wide range of ingredients, mostly grains and vegetables, and it

has also been developed into numerous varieties, some of which

are now served at small specialty diners.

Noodles

Korean people have developed a wide range of noodle dishes

that are full of symbolic meanings. One such dish is janchi

guksu (literally “banquet noodles”), which is served in a hot

anchovy broth to the guests at a wedding reception, (hence the

name). This dish is so closely related with the idea of a happy

marriage in Korea that a question such as “When can we eat

noodles?” would readily be understood to mean “When do you

plan to get married?” It is also eaten to celebrate birthdays

because it symbolizes a long, healthy life. Korean people

also have a long established tradition of eating naengmyeon

(cold buckwheat noodles), served in either cold beef broth

(Pyeongyang naengmyeon) or with a spicy chili sauce (Hamheung

naengmyeon).

Hanjeongsik (Korean Set Menu)

Hanjeongsik, otherwise known as the Korean set meal, originally

consisted of cooked rice, soup, and anywhere from three to five,

(largely vegetable,) side dishes. As people are gradually becoming

better off due to the thriving national economy, today’s set meal

tends to be much more luxurious with tens of new dishes, meat

and fish included, although the three basic dishes, i.e. rice, soup,

and kimchi, still remain. Two cities in the southwestern part

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of Korea, Jeonju and Gwangju, are particularly famous for this

traditional Korean meal.

Korean Temple Cuisine

Korean Buddhist temples have maintained their own culinary

traditions, creating a wonderful range of vegetable dishes and

ingredients and developing recipes to provide the proteins and

other substances required for the monks and nuns to remain

healthy. Temple foods are now enthusiastically received by vegans

and other people who follow special diets for health-related

reasons.

Alcoholic Beverages

A wide variety of alcoholic beverages have been developed

across different parts of Korea to meet the needs of local

communities during holidays, festivals, memorial rites and other

Hanjeongsik (Korean Set Menu)This traditional Korean set meal typically consisted of rice and soup and an assortment of side dishes. The meal is often divided into subgroups according to the number of side dishes, i.e. 3, 5, 7, 9 and 12.

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commemorative occasions. Currently some 300 traditional

beverages have survived, including Munbaeju (wild pear liquor)

and Songjeolju (pine knot liquor) in Seoul; Sanseong Soju (distilled

liquor) in Gwangju of Gyeonggi-do; Hongju (red liquor) and

Leegangju (distilled liquor) in Jeolla-do; Sogokju (rice wine) in

Hansan of Chungcheong-do; Insamju (ginseng liquor) in Geumsan;

Gyodong Beopju (rice liquor) and Andong Soju (distilled liquor) in

Gyeongju of Gyeongsangnam-do; and Okseonju (distilled liquor)

in Hongcheon of Gangwon-do.

One of the most popular traditional alcoholic beverages

across Korea today is makgeolli (rice wine), which is also known

by other names such as nongju (farmer’s wine), takju (cloudy

wine) and dongdongju (rice wine). It is made by a process in

which steamed rice, barley or wheat is mixed with malt and left

MakgeolliThis rustic alcoholic beverage, which is widely popular in Korea, is made by fermenting steamed rice, barley, or wheat mixed with malt.

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to ferment, and has an alcohol content of 6-7%, making it a

fairly mild drink. It has recently begun to fascinate connoisseurs

and health-conscious young consumers across many parts of the

world, resulting in the opening of makgeolli brewery schools and

the appearance of well-trained sommeliers.

Another hugely popular alcoholic beverage of Korea is soju

which is made by adding water and flavoring to alcohol extracted

from sweet potatoes and grains. With an alcohol content that

varies but is significantly higher than makgeolli, it is much

appreciated by ordinary citizens across Korea and is rapidly

gaining enthusiasts outside Korea.

HousingKorean people have developed unique architectural techniques

to build housing that is properly adapted to the surrounding

natural environment, providing dwellers with better protection. A

Hanok, traditional Korean housesSeobaekdang, the head residence of the Gyeongju Sohn clan, in Yangdong Village located in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province

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distinctive feature of the hanok (traditional Korean house) is an

underfloor heating system called ondol. Literally meaning “warm

stones” and developed during the prehistoric period, ondol refers

to the system of channels running beneath the stone floor of a

room through which heat is delivered from the fireplace in the

kitchen. It is also designed to effectively draw out the smoke

through the under-the-floor passages connected to the chimney.

Another important element of the traditional Korean house

is the board-floored room (maru) located at the center and used

for multiple purposes. The room is usually larger than other rooms

and is raised from the ground to allow air to freely circulate under

it, creating a cool living environment during the warm summer

season. The smart system combining ondol and maru makes

the traditional Korean house a comfortable living space for its

residents not only in the harsh winter but also in the scorching

summer. The roof is typically covered with either ceramic tiles or

thatching. While most of the roof tiles are dark gray, some exhibit

more vibrant colors as demonstrated, for example, by the Official

Residence of the Korean President Cheong Wa Dae, which literally

means “Blue House” because, as the name shows, it is covered by

blue roof tiles.

While traditional Korean houses are generally wooden

structures, they can survive as long as other buildings

made with other materials if properly taken care of. Built

in 1363, Geungnakjeon Hall of Bongjeongsa Temple in

Andong, Gyeongsangbuk-do, for instance, is Korea’s oldest

remaining building, still maintaining its original structure intact

after 650 years. As an ideal location for their house, Korean

people preferred a site protected by hills or mountains on three

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of its sides, with a stream or river passing in front, thus providing

easy access to water. Houses built in such a place create a great

harmony with the surrounding environment, attracting more and

more admirers not just in Korea but outside it as well.

These days, over 60% of Seoul’s population live in modern

apartments but, interestingly, these tall, multistoried buildings

are almost without exception furbished with a heating system

inspired by the age-old ondol system. Similarly, newly built

detached houses are also reliant on the legacy of the ondol

system of heating the floor, although the traditional heat passages

are now replaced by under-floor metal pipes with running water

heated either by gas or electricity. This heating system has now

begun to be exported to other countries with wide variations in

daily temperature.

Hanok, traditional Korean housesThe ancient house of Yun Jeung, a Confucian scholar of the late Joseon (1392-1910) period, situated in Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province, also called Myeongjae Gotaek after his pen name

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Professor Robert Fouser and Hanok

Professor Robert Fouser, the first foreign national employed by Seoul

National University to teach students at the Department of Korean

Language Education, is a great enthusiast of the traditional Korean

houses known as hanok. His love of Korean language and culture has

a long history as his career, which includes opening, and teaching, a

Korean language course at Kagoshima University in Japan, attests. His

home in Korea was for a number of years an exquisite Hanok located

in Bukchon, downtown Seoul, until he moved to Seochon, another

historic district of the Korean capital, where he found a new hanok

which is still his home today. He loves not only the house he lives in but also the surroundings, a

complex network of narrow alleys winding between other hanok buildings and the natural environment

around it. Recently, he launched a campaign to increase public awareness of the value of the hanok as

a living space and the importance of preserving and reviving it for the present and future generations.

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Festivals, Celebrations and HolidaysFestivals

Until the mid-20th century, Korea was primarily an agricultural

society, and the seasonal rhythms of daily life were organized

by the lunar calendar. As a society where farming was hugely

important for the subsistence of its members, it developed a great

variety of semi-religious events where prayers were offered for a

good harvest and abundant food, and which gradually developed

into communal celebrations and festivals.

The Lunar New Year’s Day (Seol or Seollal), which is generally

regarded as the most important of all the traditional seasonal

festivals, is celebrated with a special festival food called tteokguk,

or “rice flake soup”. Eating it signified becoming one year older

(this means that a child born on the 29th of the twelfth lunar

month becomes two years old only two days later). The festival

is also related with the ceremony of performing the Sebae (New

Year’s Bow) before the elders of one’s family and neighborhood.

After Sebae, the elders present New Year’s gift money to their

juniors.

Another important seasonal festival called Daeboreum (Greater

Full Moon) celebrates the fifteenth day of the first month of the

year by the lunar calendar. On that day, people eat special festival

food called ogokbap, a dish made with five grains and served

with an assortment of cooked vegetables, play games aimed for

the unity of the local community and perform rituals for good

harvest. Chuseok, which is held on the fifteenth day of the eighth

lunar month, consists of thanksgiving services in which newly

harvested crops and fruits are offered to the ancestral spirits.

Generally held to be as important as the Lunar New Year’s Day,

1. Sebae (New Year Bow)Korea has a long tradition of starting the New Year (by the lunar calendar) with the ceremonious bows made by children to their parents

2. Chuseok and SongpyeonDuring the mid-autumn holiday of Chuseok (15th day of the 8th lunar month), families gather together and make songpyeon (half-moon shape rice cake).

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Chuseok is also one of the two annuals occasions when all the

family members gather together.

Celebrations

Korean parents mark the one-hundredth day anniversary

(baegil) and the first birthday (dol) of their baby with special

big celebrations in which their families, relatives and friends

participate. They generally hold a large celebratory banquet for

their baby with a ritual prayer for the baby’s health, success in life,

and longevity, and the participants give the baby gold rings as a

special gift.

Weddings have also been a very important family celebration

in Korea. Most Korean people today choose their own spouse

according to their heart’s desire. In pre-modern times, however,

Traditional WeddingThe traditional Korean wedding ceremony largely consists of three stages: Jeonallye, in which the groom visits the bride’s family with a wooden goose; Gyobaerye, in which bride and groom exchange ceremonious bows; and Hapgeullye, where the marrying couple share a cup of wine.

The photo shows a bride and groom exchanging ceremonious bows during the Gyobaerye stage of their wedding ceremony.

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husbands and wives were given by their parents or matchmakers

after an examination of their horoscopic data, called Saju (Four

Pillars of Destiny), which are determined by the hour and date

of their birth. The tradition of consulting a diviner on their luck

in the New Year and exchanging horoscopic data as part of the

matchmaking process is still maintained by some families.

In the past, a wedding ceremony was an important village

festival where the entire community would gather together to

celebrate the young couple dressed in luxurious wedding robes

and bejeweled headdresses. Today, the Western style of wedding

ceremony is widely regarded as the norm, but some traditional

rituals such as Pyebaek (traditional ceremony to pay respect to

the groom's family by the newly-wedded couple right after their

wedding) and Ibaji (wedding food that the bride presents to the

groom's family) are still maintained.

In Korea, a baby becomes one year old as soon as she is born,

and 60 years old on her 59th birthday. The age 60 has a profound

meaning for Korean people as it signifies the completion of a

sexagenary cycle. Someone who had reached the age of 60 was

admired greatly as he or she was regarded as old enough to

have experienced all the principles of heaven and earth. Today

Korean men and women live much longer—about 80 years on

average—than they did before and the 60th birthday is no longer

celebrated in such a grand manner as it was previously.

National Holidays

In Korea there are five national holidays designated by the

government: Independence Declaration Day (Samiljeol, March

1), which commemorates the March First Movement, one of

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Jan 1 New Year’s DaySeollal

The first day of the year. The first day of the year by the lunar calendar. Three Day Celebration.

Mar 1 Independence Day

Commemorates the March First Movement, non-violent public resistance against the Japanese colonial rule, and the declaration of Korean Independence in 1919

Apr 8 Buddha’s Birthday

Celebrates the birth of Shakyamuni Buddha. A variety of celebratory events are held in Buddhist temples across Korea,

May 5 Children’s Day A great variety of celebratory and fun events for children are held across the country.

Jun 6 Memorial Day

A national memorial service is held at the National Cemetery to honor and commemorate the achievements of war heroes and veterans

Aug 15 Liberation DayCelebrates the 1945 liberation of Korea from Japanese colonial rule.

Aug 15 Chuseok

Known by different names such as Chuseok and Hangawi, this seasonal festival on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month brings families together for memorial services for their ancestors and celebratory events.

Oct 3 National Foundation Day

Commemorates the foundation of Gojoseon, the first Korean state, by Dangun in 2333 BCE.

Oct 9 Hangeul Day Marks the invention and promulgation of Hunminjeongeum (Hangeul), the Korean writing system.

Dec 25 Christmas Celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ with a great variety of religious and secular events.

Public Holidays in Korea

the earliest public displays of Korean resistance against the

Japanese occupation of Korea, and the promulgation of the

Constitution of the Republic of Korea in 1948; Liberation Day

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(Gwangbokjeol, August 15), celebrating national liberation from

Imperial Japan in 1945; National Foundation Day, which marks

the foundation of Gojoseon, the first state of the Korean nation,

on the 3rd day of 10th lunar month, 2333 BCE; and Hangeul Day

(Hangeullal, October 9), which commemorates the invention and

proclamation of the Korean writing system.

Public Holidays

The public holidays during which work is suspended by law in

Korea include New Year’s Day, Seollal (or Lunar New Year’s Day,

celebrated for 3 days), Chuseok (Mid-autumn Festival on the

15th day of the 8th lunar month, celebrated for 3 days), Buddha’s

Birthday (on the 8th day of the 4th lunar month), Children’s Day

(May 5), Memorial Day (June 6) and Christmas Day. There are

fifteen public holidays in total on which businesses are closed by

law and employees have a day off, from which Constitution Day

is excluded.

ReligionKorea is a country where all the world’s major religions,

Christianity, Buddhism, Confucianism and Islam, peacefully coexist

with shamanism. Given the great diversity of religious expression,

the role of religion in South Korea's social development has been

complex; and some traditions are best understood as important

cultural properties rather than as rites of worship. According to

the 2005 statistics, 53% of the Korean population has a religion,

while the 2008 statistics show that there were over 510 religious

organizations in Korea. Among them Buddhism and Confucianism

have been more influential than any others upon the life of

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the Korean people and over half of the country’s listed cultural

heritage are related with the two religions. Since its arrival in

Korea in 372, Buddhism has produced several tens of thousands

temples across the country and currently has more adherents

than any other religion.

Adopted as the state ideology of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-

1910), Confucianism was more a system of ethics than religion

and stressed the importance of loyalty, filial piety and other

virtues. Confucian followers also valued ancestral worship in

the belief that the ancestral spirits can affect the life of their

descendants, and tried to find auspicious sites for the graves

of their ancestors. Today, however, more and more people are

turning from the practice of burial to cremation.

Catholicism was introduced to Korea from China through

the envoys of late Joseon who visited Beijing and the Western

priests who followed them. The early Roman Catholics in Korea

Size of Religious Groups

※ ‘Others’ include Confucianism, Won Buddhism, Jeungsangyo, Cheondogyo, Daejonggyo and Islam.

(Source: Statistics Korea)

Protestantism 34.5%

Roman Catholic 20.6%Others 1.9%

8,616,000Buddhism 43%

200510,726,000

5,146,000483,000

Diversity in Religious LifeNow rapidly on its way to becoming a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, and multi-religious society, Korea protects religious diversity by law. People in Korea are free to lead a religious life according to their own choice and convictions, whether as followers of one of the major religions, namely, Christianity, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Islam, or as adherents of Korean native religions such Won Buddhism and Cheondogyo.

1

2

1. Chungdong First Methodist Church in Seoul Korea’s first Protestant church founded in 1897.

2. Lotus Lantern FestivalThe festival celebrates the birth of Shakyamuni Buddha on the 8th day of the 4th lunar month.

31

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were subjected to severe persecution, but the religion continued

to spread among the common people across the country. The

persecution of Christian believers by Joseon’s rulers led Korea to

yield the world’s fourth largest number of Christian saints.

Protestantism was brought to Korea during the late 19th

century by North American missionaries, and quickly won

people’s hearts through school education and medical services.

Even today, Protestants in Korea operate a great number of

educational institutions, middle and high schools, colleges and

universities, and medical centers.

In Korea there is a rich array of native religions such as

Cheondogyo, Won Buddhism and Daejonggyo which, although

suffered various vicissitudes of modern Korean history, are still

active in increasing the number of their adherents. Cheondogyo,

The interior of Myeongdong Cathedral in Seoul

33

formed on the basis of the Eastern Learning (Donghak) of the

19th century, maintains the doctrine that “Man is Heaven,” which

exerted a strong influence upon the process of modernization

in Korea. Daejonggyo, established in the early 20th century

to worship Dangun, the founder of the first Korean state, also

affected the life of ordinary Korean people, boosting Korean

nationalism. In 1955, there appeared the Islamic Society of Korea

and the first Korean Imam, followed by the foundation of the

Korean Muslim Federation in 1967. Islam currently has about

60 places of worship across Korea and there are about 100,000

Korean Muslims. In addition to the major religions, shamanism

has also played an important part in the daily life of the Korean

people, trying to help them connect with the spiritual world and

making predictions about their future.

The Seoul Central Mosque in Itaewon, Seoul

사회

Society

South Korea – Summary

Education, Research, and Industry

Labor and Social Welfare System

Transformation into a Multicultural Society

2

36

China

Baekdusan

Myohyangsan

Geumgangsan

Seoraksan

Taebaeksan

Jirisan

Hallasan

Pyeongyang

Seoul

East Sea

West Sea

Incheon

Daegu

Ulsan

Busan

Daejeon

Gwangju

JindoScale

Legend

Geojedo

Ulleungdo

Jejudo

Dokdo

Ganghwado Baengnyeongdo

Russia

Japan

Kore

a Stra

it

Gaeseong

Jeju Strait

Demarcation line

Capital

City

Mountain

37

2Society사회

South Korea – SummaryGeographical and Topographical Features

The Korean Peninsula (lat. 33˚ - 43˚; long. 124˚ - 132˚) lies in

the middle of Northeast Asia, flanked by China to its west and

Japan to its east. The peninsula is 950km long longitudinally and

540km wide latitudinally, and has a total area of 223,405km2, of

which South Korea occupies about 100,267km2. The northern end

of the peninsula is joined to the Asian Continent. The peninsula

is predominantly mountainous, with flat land accounting for

only 30% of the entire territory. Mountains over 1,000m above

sea level make up only 15% of the mountainous areas, while

mountains lower than 500m account for 65%.

South Korea Overview

Country Name: Republic of Korea Standard Time: 9 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time

Capital City: Seoul (since 1392) Population: 51.141 million (2013)

National Anthem: Aegukga Political System: Free democracy; Presidential system

National Flag: Taegeukgi President: Park Geun-hye (since 2013)

National Flower: Mugunghwa (Rose of Sharon) Economic Indicator (2013)

Language: Korean; Hangeul - GDP: US$1,304.3 billion

Land Size: 223,405km2 (including North Korea) - Per Capital GNI: US$26,205

South Korea only: 100,267km2 - GDP growth rate: 3.0%

Geographical Location: The Korean Peninsula - Currency: won (US$1 = 1,095 won; floating exchange rate)

(lat. 33̊ - 43̊ ; long. 124̊ - 132̊ )

38

The Taebaeksan Mountain Range forms the backbone of the

peninsula, with the eastern part of the range rising higher than

the western part. Rivers, both small and large, originate from the

high mountainous areas in the east and flow toward the West and

South Seas, forming plains suitable for grain cultivation. The climate

created by the mountainous areas in the east has an impact on

people’s lives. The easterly wind’s passage across the mountainous

areas is subject to the Foehn effect, creating a warm and dry wind

in the western downwind side of the mountain range. People

living in the areas to the east of the high mountains experience

considerable inconveniences with regard to transportation, as these

areas have undergone very little development compared to the

area to the west of the high mountains. However, the slow pace of

development has brought at least one advantage to local residents:

the natural sceneries have remained unspoilt and many people

now choose these areas as travel destinations.

The East Sea has a relatively straight, featureless coastline,

and the difference between high and low tide is only 30 cm.

However, the sea along the coast is generally deeper than

1,000m. According to the result of a sonar measurement

carried out by the Korea Hydrographic and Oceanographic

Administration, the deepest part of the East Sea lies in the area

north of Ulleungdo Island (2,985m deep). In contrast, the sea

along the West Sea is shallow, which has led to the formation

of wide tidal flats. The deepest part of the West Sea is in the

waters surrounding Gageodo Island, Sinan-gun, Jeollanam-do

(124m deep). The rise and fall of the tide shows a considerable

difference, i.e. by as much as 7 - 8 m. The South coast has a heavily

indented rias coastline. About 3,000 mainly small islands lie off

39

the western and southern coasts of South Korea. Many beaches

around the peninsula boast beautiful scenery and world-class

facilities.

Changes in Weather around the Year

The Korean Peninsula belongs to a temperate zone. There are

marked changes in climate between the four distinct seasons.

Under the influence of the continental climate, there is a

considerable difference in temperature between summer and

winter. It is hot and humid in summer, and cold and dry in winter.

Over the past thirty years, the summer temperature range has

averaged 20.5 - 26.1˚C, while the winter temperature range has

averaged -2.5 - 5.7˚C.

Many Koreans take their summer holidays during this

period. During the peak season, the number of visitors to well-

known beaches, including Haeundae in Busan, Gyeongpodae in

Gangneung, and Daecheon on the West Sea, exceeds 1 million.

In winter, people enjoy skating and skiing across the country.

There are many ski slopes in Gangwon-do. Winter snowfall in the

mountainous areas of Gangwon-do sometimes reaches 50 - 60 cm

in a day or two. The average daytime temperature in spring and

fall is maintained at 15 - 18˚C. In these seasons, the sky is clear

and the weather is pleasant and agreeable, encouraging many

people to engage in outdoor activities or go on a trip.

Recently, the Korean Peninsula has shown signs of transition

to a subtropical climate amid the phenomenon of global warming.

In summer, the temperature rises above 35˚C. In spring, azaleas

and forsythias bloom earlier than in the past. Over the past 2 - 3

years, many new and extraordinary climate-related records have

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41

Four Seasons of Korea1. Spring of Baraebong in Jirisan Mountain2. Summer of Garibong Valley in Seoraksan Mountain3. Autumn of Gayasan Mountain4. Winner of Jeseokbong Peak in Jirisan Mountain

(Source: Korea National Park)

1

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4

been reported. In December 2010, a cold wave hit the peninsula

for 39 days, lasting well into January of the following year. Heavy

snowfall hit Donghae and Pohang, breaking a 79-year-old record.

In July 2011, the heavy rain concentrated on Seoul and its vicinity

was recorded as the heaviest daily rainfall in the meteorological

history of the country.

According to climate observation records, the average

temperature in the Korean Peninsula has risen by 1.5˚C over the

past century. Only ten years ago, it was usual for cold and warm

weather to succeed each other on the peninsula every three or

four days, but that pattern has disappeared.

The northern limit line for the growth of tree and plant species

such as apple trees and green tea plants is moving gradually

northward. The presence of more subtropical fish along the

coast of the Korean Peninsula constitutes further proof of global

warming. Researchers started observing coral reefs in the sea near

Busan. The number of subtropical marine plants is increasing in

the sea near Jejudo Island.

Population

Archaeologists think that people started settling in the Korean

Peninsula around B.C.700,000, during the Paleolithic Age. The

population of South Korea stands at 51.14 million (2013), with

49.4% of the population concentrated in Seoul and its vicinity.

The government views the current low birthrate as a serious

problem. The country’s birthrate fell to 1.08 per married couple

(2005), a record low. The figure rose slightly to 1.19 by 2013

through the government’s efforts. Still, the figure falls short of

the global average (1.71 in 2012). As for life expectancy, South

42

Koreans’ life expectancy was approximately 81.3 years (2010)

compared with an OECD average of 80.2 years.

Towards the end of the 19th century and throughout the early

20th century, a large number of Koreans left the country. Initially,

China, Russia, and the United States were their chief destinations,

but by the mid-20th century the destinations had become far more

diverse. The number of South Koreans living in foreign countries

amounts to 7.26 million, i.e. 2.7 million in China, 1.67 million in the

United States, 0.9 million in Japan, and 0.53 million in EU countries.

Since 2011, the net inflow of population has outnumbered the

net outflow. The number of foreign nationals residing or working

in the country has increased dramatically, particularly since 2000.

According to Statistics Korea, 369,000 foreign nationals arrived

in the country in 2013. Regarding the purpose of their arrival in

the country, employment (41.4%) topped the list, followed by

short-term stay (19.8%), long-term or permanent stay (6.4%),

sightseeing (6.0%), and study (5.2%). Recently, many foreigners

have come to the country for such diverse purpose as marriage to

South Koreans, work, and study, etc.

Language and Letters

Most linguists place Korean in the Altaic language family, though

some consider it to be a language isolate, meaning that it cannot

be simply related with any other language. The written form of

Korean uses Hangeul, a writing system commissioned by King

Sejong (1397-1450) during the Joseon Dynasty. Koreans are very

proud of this remarkable achievement, and Hangeul is a very

efficient and easy script to learn and use.

Hangeul is composed of fourteen consonants and ten vowels.

43

King Sejong the GreatSejong was the fourth king of the Joseon Dynasty. He made many great accomplishments in the spheres of science, economy, defense, art and culture. One of his greatest accomplishments was the creation of Hangeul in 1444, an easy-to-learn, efficient, and scientific writing system. He is respected as one of the country’s greatest kings among Koreans.

It can express virtually all the sounds produced by nature and

humans. Every year, UNESCO presents the King Sejong Literacy

Prize to people who have made a distinguished contribution

to the elimination of illiteracy. The inclusion of ‘King Sejong’ in

the name of the prize may be said to be tacit recognition of his

greatest accomplishment, the creation of Hangeul, which is easy

to learn and use.

National Flag (Taegeukgi)

The national flag of South Korea is composed of a red and blue

taegeuk pattern in the center and four black trigrams at each

corner, against a white background.

The white background symbolizes brightness, purity, and peace-

loving ethnic characteristics. The taegeuk pattern symbolizes yin

and yang (i.e. the idea that all things in the universe are created and

evolve through the interaction of yin and yang). The four trigrams

indicate the changes in and development of yin and yang by means

of their combination (“ ” represents yin while “ ” represents

yang; [geongwae] heaven; [gongwae] earth; [gamgwae]

water; and [igwae] fire. The four trigrams surrounding the

taegeuk represent unity.

The national flag, including the taegeuk pattern,

which our ancestors liked to use in their lives,

expresses the ideal of the Korean nation’s

pursuit of creativity and prosperity.

National Anthem (Aegukga)

The country’s national anthem was composed

in 1935 by Mr. Ahn Eak-tai, who added a melody

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Shanghai Expo 2010 The South Korean Pavilion decorated with Hangeul consonants and vowels

45

46

Geon (Sky)

Ri (Fire)

Gon (Earth)

Gam (Water)

Blue:Eum

Red:Yang

National flower: Mugunghwa (Rose of Sharon) National flag: Taegeukgi

National Symbol

Moderato

Until that day when the waters of the East Sea run dry and Baekdusan Mountain is worn away,

God protect and preserve our nation; Hurry to Korea

Three thousand ri of splendid rivers and mountains covered with mugunghwa blossoms.

Great Korean people, stay true to the Great Korean way!

Ahn Eak-tai

Aegukga: “Patriotic Song” (National Anthem)

47

to lyrics written in the early 1900s. It was officially adopted with

the establishment of the government of the Republic of Korea in

August 1948. Prior to that, the country sang the same lyrics to

the melody of Auld Lang Syne as the national anthem.

National Flower (Mugunghwa)

The Mugunghwa (Rose of Sharon) is thought to be deeply

associated with what are regarded as the most typical Korean

characteristics: a sincere heart, inwardness, and tenacity. Around

the late 9th century, the Chinese referred to Korea as “the

country of mugunghwa.” The Korean word mugunghwa literally

means a “never-withering flower.” The country’s national anthem

includes the line: “Three thousand ri of splendid rivers and

mountains covered with mugunghwa blossoms.” The emblem of

the government and the National Assembly contains the shape of

a mugunghwa.

Political System

The country has adopted a Presidential system in which the

President is elected by the direct vote of the people for a five-

year term. The current President Park Geun-hye was elected in

December 2012 for one term, which started on February 25, 2013.

The government is composed of three independent branches: the

Executive branch; the Legislative branch composed of 300 four-year

term members of the National Assembly; and the Judiciary branch,

which includes fourteen six-year term Supreme Court justices.

There are seventeen regional local governments and 227 basic local

governments. The heads of the local governments and the members

of local councils are each elected for a four-year term.

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Division

In 1948, the two Koreas established their respective governments.

Defined as two different countries under international law, they

joined the United Nations simultaneously in September 1991.

The Constitution of South Korea, however, regards North Korea as

part of the Republic of Korea.

Education, Research, and IndustryEducation System

Koreans regard education as very important. In the process of

industrialization, human resources emerged as an important

factor in connection with the need to cope with scarce capital

and resources more efficiently. Parents’ fervor regarding their

children’s education has resulted in the production of a large

number of well-educated people, which in turn has helped

Number of Schools in Korea (2013)

8,678

5,913

3,173

2,322

162 200

1,200

140

Unit: schools / Source: Ministry of Education

Kindergarten Middle School Special School University

Elementary School

High School

Junior College

Graduate School

49

the country achieve rapid economic growth. The basic school

system is composed of kindergarten (1 to 3 years), elementary

school (6 years), middle school (3 years), high school (3 years),

and university. There are also junior colleges (2 or 3 years) and

graduate schools (for masters and PhD degrees).

Since 2004, all South Koreans are required to finish middle

school under compulsory education. The government started

paying childcare allowances for all infants aged up to 5 in 2013.

“Korean style education will create a whirlwind of popularity as K-Pop does.”

U.S. President Barack Obama often refers to Korean parents’

fervent eagerness about their children's education to urge

American parents to make more strenuous efforts. It is

reported that the innovation campaign initiated by President

Obama in 2009 for the invigoration of education in science,

skills, engineering, and math for American middle and

high school students was modelled on the South Korean

experience. The most successful case of introducing Korean-

style education into the United States is the Democracy Prep

Charter School in New York. About 80% of the students of this school in Harlem, New York, which

is notorious for its high rate of narcotics and crimes, originate from low-income households.

Principal Seth Andrew (34) of this school taught English for one year in South Korea and saw that

Koreans believed that the only way out of poverty is education. He decided to make sure that

students of his school hold a similar belief and show respect for both teachers and education just

as Koreans do. Such efforts on his part have brought about noticeable results in six years.

In 2010, his school was selected as the best among the 125 charter schools in New York in

2010 -2011 in a school performance appraisal. Seth Andrews said, “I am sure that Korean-style

education will create a whirlwind of popularity as K-Pop does.”

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International Science OlympiadIn this international middle and high school students' competition encompassing math, physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy, and information, South Koreans record a good score every year.

High Educational Competitiveness

Thanks to a good system and the high regard for education, the

country has many skilled people in virtually all sectors. Korea’s

universities produce talented young people specializing in

basic science, including physics, and other major sectors, such

as electronics, mechanical engineering, business management,

economics, and accounting. Many educated adults can make

themselves understood in English, with some of them speaking

another foreign language. At present, the widespread availability

of vocational education sessions at high schools helps students

obtain qualifications in specialty areas.

According to the OECD’s Programme for International Student

Assessment (PISA), South Korean students display a high level of

academic achievement in reading, math, and science.

R&D Investment

South Korea has a large number of talented people engaged in

cutting-edge research. At government institutes, in universities,

and also within Korea’s many world-leading corporations, a

vast range of projects are undertaken: from basic research to

the development of advanced technologies and innovative new

commercial products.

The government R&D budget supports programs in a wide

variety of sectors, including high-end convergence, green

resources, bioscience, welfare, and machine parts.

A remarkable 12.4 out of ever 1,000 economically active

people were employed as researchers in 2012, a total of more

than 401,724; and their activities result in numerous patent

applications, both at home and abroad.

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Sophisticated Information Society

South Korea is a leading powerhouse in information and

communication technology. It is a country full of dynamism.

It became the first country in the world to commercialize the

CDMA and WiBro technologies and established a nationwide

network based on the use of these technologies in 2011. The

country has also made Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB)

part of people’s daily lives, while establishing a nationwide 4G

communication long-term evolution (LTE) network.

These sophisticated information and communication

technologies have led to changes in diverse social sectors,

including the innovation of government administration. With the

help of such advanced technologies, the procedures for reporting

a baby’s birth, moving home or registering a person’s death are

handled more efficiently. Under the Social Networking Service

(SNS), people now use an interactive communication system

in which the government provides useful information to people

A Digital Reading Room at the National Library of KoreaThis is a space where people can access and use a vast corpus of digital materials, and engage in media editing, documentation, and research.

Social Network ServiceThis service, which is represented by Twitter, Cyworld, and Facebook, is designed to help people build a solid network of collaboration between friends, colleagues, and acquaintances.

52

while members of the public can report cases of inconvenience

to the government. The country exported e-government-related

technologies worth US$873.18 million between 2002 and 2012.

In the biennial e-government evaluation conducted by the

UN, South Korea ranked No. 1 in terms of comprehensive scores

in 2010 and 2012 among the 193 countries evaluated. The

country took first place in development indices associated with

information/communication infrastructure and human resources

as well as in people’s online participation.

With the improvement of sophisticated communication

infrastructures and the increase in the number of mobile

communication devices, people can engage in real-time

communication and exchange of information with others

worldwide. Social Networking Services such as Twitter and

Facebook are bringing about revolutionary changes in society.

Especially, the SNS Kakao Talk (global mobile instant messenger)

developed in South Korea in 2010 has been attracting

considerable attention. The number of Kakao Talk subscribers

stands at 100 million worldwide. It is used by most South Korean

smart phone users. Pop Cast, another form of SNS, is establishing

a new area in the communication (broadcasting) sector. Now,

SNS even exerts an influence in politics through the formation of

public opinion, in addition to its inherent functions such as the

delivery of information or entertainment.

Changes and Vision

South Korea is rapidly changing into a knowledge-based society.

Human resources are regarded as the most important element of

society and as a primary source of national competitiveness.

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In South Korea, the development of creative good-quality

cultural products, in which human resources are combined with

cultural resources, is viewed as an industrial sector that will

play a leading role in the 21st century. Current examples of the

country’s promising cultural products include K-Pop, TV dramas

(e.g. Dae Jang Geum), and TV animations for infants (e.g. Pororo).

According to the United Nations Development Programme

(UNDP), the country’s Human Development Index (HDI) is rising,

apparently as a result of the growing emphasis on investment

and the development of human resources as key actors of

creative industrial sectors. The Human Development Index (HDI)

is a composite statistic of the life expectancy, education, and

income indices used to rank countries into four tiers of human

development.)

Labor and Social Welfare SystemSocial Security System

South Korea operates a labor and welfare system that meets

international norms. Workers’ three basic rights are guaranteed.

Administrative Agencies’ Information SystemInformation/communication technologies help administrative agencies carry out their assignments more efficiently by providing information services relating to individual sectors such as customs clearance, patents, budget accounting, disaster management, immigration control, mail classification, response to public complaints, employment, transportation, residents’ registration, etc.

United Nations E-Government Survey

(Source: UN DESA)

2005 2008 2010 2012 2014

E-government

development index5th 6th 1st 1st 1st

Online services 0.97(4th) 0.82(6th) 1.00(1st) 1.00(1st) 0.97(3rd)

Information/communication

infrastructure0.67(9th) 0.69(10th) 0.64(13th) 0.83(7th) 0.93(2nd)

Relevant capital 0.98(10th) 0.98(7th) 0.99(7th) 0.94(6th) 0.92(6th)

Online participation index 4th 2nd 1st 1st 1st

54

Public officials also have their basic rights guaranteed as workers

despite some restrictions on their right of collective action.

In the 1980s, the country adopted the minimum wage system in

an effort to enhance workers’ rights. The country has also enacted

the Equal Employment Opportunity Act and a system that assists

the disabled.

The country operates the social insurance system against

contingencies relating to disaster, disease, unemployment, and

death. Workers subscribe to Industrial Accident Insurance against

work-related accident, disease or death. It is obligatory for all

people to subscribe to the Health Insurance. As of 2014, end of

June, 50.14 million people (including foreigners), i.e. 98.5% of the

entire population, enjoyed the benefits provided under the state-

run health insurance system. The country’s medical insurance

system, which provides a high-quality medical service for

reasonable service fees, has been appraised as an exemplary case

Pororo, the country’s representative character for infants, plays a leading role in the progress of the country’s future cultural industry by introducing a variety of products using educational animations and characters.

The Four Social Insurances Relevant individuals, businesses, and the government share the burden of insurance premiums for the four social insurances.

55

by other countries.

Workers subscribe to Employment Insurance. When a

subscribed worker is dismissed, he/she is entitled to half of his/

her wage for a given period of time and to job transfer training.

Workers also subscribe to retirement pension and national

pension plans.

All people are required to subscribe to the four social

insurances (i.e. industrial accident, health, employment, and

pension insurances). As regards the payment of insurance

premiums, employers and the government bear part of the fees.

People pay insurance fees according to their income, which leads

to income redistribution.

The aim of the country’s public welfare system is “from the

cradle to the grave.” A pregnant worker is eligible for 90 days’

maternity leave, 60 days of which are paid leave, she is also

entitled to take a year of temporary leave for childcare, receiving

part of her wage. In 2013, the government also started paying

childcare allowances to parents with an infant aged 5 or less.

With the increase in the number of senior citizens, welfare for

the elderly has emerged as an important social issue. The country

adopted long-term care insurance for the elderly and the basic

old age pension system.

Role of Women

Samguk yusa (Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms) compiled by

the Buddhist Monk Iryeon in 1281 contains a very interesting

myth about the birth of the first Korean woman. It says that

a bear morphed into the first Korean woman after fulfilling a

difficult task given by a god, of which the bear endured twenty-

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one days of feeding only on mugwort and garlic without any

exposure to sunshine. The woman eventually married Hwanung,

the son of god, and gave birth to a son named Dangun, who is

the forefather of the Korean people. This founding myth of Korea

illustrates the main characteristics of Korean women, which are

said to be patience and tenacity.

In the 1st century BC, a heroine named Soseono played

a critical role in the foundation of Goguryeo and Baekje

Kingdoms. In the early 7th century, Queen Seondeok of Silla

accomplished many notable deeds, including the stabilization

of ordinary people’s lives, the provision of relief to the poor, and

the construction of Cheomseongdae Observatory and the nine-

tier pagoda at Hwangnyongsa Temple. In the early 10th century,

Queen Sinhye, the wife of King Taejo of Goryeo, distinguished

herself by assisting the King with the establishment important

national policies. Sin Saimdang of Joseon, who lived in the early

16th century, is respected as an exemplar of the wise mother

and good wife. Her portrait features on 50,000won banknotes.

Yu Gwan-sun lost her life at the age of 18 after being tortured by

the Japanese police following her arrest for involvement in the

independence movement in March 1919. She is regarded as one

of Korea’s leading patriots.

Foreigners who visited Korea towards the end of the 19th

century and in the early 20th century wrote that Korean

women enjoyed a considerably higher social status than their

counterparts in nearby countries.

In 2001, South Korea became the first country to launch a

Ministry of Gender Equality; its name was later changed to the

Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. In 2013, Park Gun-hye

57

became the first woman President in South Korea’s 65-year history.

Transformation into a Multicultural SocietySouth Korea has long been a culturally homogeneous society,

but the number of migrant workers and foreign students has

increased rapidly since the end of the 20th century. As of 2014,

the number of foreign-born people in the country stands at 1.57

million, with the number of foreign-born people married to South

Koreans amounting to 240,000. The number of migrant workers

in the country stands at 850,000. The country is turning into a

multicultural society.

Ethnic Koreans with Chinese citizenship account for the

greatest proportion of foreign nationals living in the country.

Recently, the number of multicultural households has increased

dramatically to 230,000, largely as a result of the high number

of marriages between Koreans and foreigners. The government

launched an office dedicated to providing support for foreign

citizens’ social activities within the country and enacted

the Multicultural Families Support Act. Under the said Act,

multicultural family support centers (www.liveinkorea.kr) have

been opened in 200 places around the country to provide the

following services: Korean language education sessions designed

to help foreigners adapt to life in Korea; psychological counseling;

events intended to celebrate the festivities of other countries; and

job seeking opportunities.

The government is taking diverse measures in recognition

of foreign cultures and making efforts to avoid social problems

that may result due to the inflow of foreign cultures. One

such measure consists in the provision of support to transform

58

multicultural villages into tourist destinations.

Chinatown in Seollin-dong in Incheon is perhaps the most

representative example of a unique foreign culture in Korea. The

history of the place began when ethnic Chinese settled there,

taking advantage of its geographical proximity to China, in the

late 19th century. Nowadays, the area serves as a forward base

for the country’s exchanges with China, and has emerged as a

new tourist destination for enthusiasts of history and culture.

There is a Special Multicultural Zone in Wongok-dong, Ansan,

Gyeonggi-do. People from China, India and Pakistan living here

can purchase specialties of their home countries in the zone.

There is a Japanese village in Ichon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul; a

Muslim village near the mosque in Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu,

Seoul; a French village (Seorae Village) in Banpo-dong, Gangnam-

gu, Seoul; a Vietnamese town is in Wangsimni, Seoul; and a

Nepalese town in Changsin-dong, Seoul.

Foreigners are also starting to take a more prominent role

Nationality of foreign residents in South Korea

(Source: Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs)

Chinese (including ethnic Koreans)(53.7%)

Others (21.1%)

South Asians

(4.8%)

Filipinos (4.1%)

Americans (4.5%)

Vietnamese (11.8%)

2013

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in their adopted country. For example, Jasmine Lee is a Filipina-

Korean who is currently serving as a member of the Gender

Equality and Family Committee of the 19th National Assembly

(May 2012 – May 2016). She is known for her efforts to protect

the welfare and advance the rights of people in multicultural

households.

As of November 2013, a total of fifty-six foreign-born Koreans

from thirteen countries are serving as public officials with the

central or local governments. Chinese-Korean Kim Mi-hwa, an

official of Changwon City, is one of them. The foreign-born

celebrities we frequently see in local TV programs include Robert

Holley (American-Korean) and Sam Hammington (an Australian).

All things considered, the recent foreign arrivals are integrating

well into South Korean society, and multiculturalism is bringing

many benefits: there is every indication that this harmonious

coexistence of diverse cultures will continue to flourish.

문화

Culture

UNESCO Heritage in Korea

Traditional Arts

Hallyu (Korean Wave) 3

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3Culture문화

Since the earliest settlements on the Korean Peninsula and in

southeastern Manchuria during prehistoric times, the people

of Korea have developed a distinctive culture based on their

unique artistic sensibility. The geographical conditions of the

peninsula provided Koreans with opportunities to receive

both continental and maritime cultures and ample resources,

which in turn enabled them to form unique cultures of interest

to and value for the rest of humanity, both then and now.

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Korea’s vibrant cultural legacy, comprising music, art, literature,

dance, architecture, clothing and cuisine, offers a delightful

combination of tradition and modernity, and is now appreciated

in many parts of the world.

At the present time, Korean arts and culture are attracting

many enthusiasts around the world. Korea’s cultural and artistic

achievements through the ages are now leading many of its

young talents to the world’s most prestigious music and dance

competitions, while its literary works are being translated into

many different languages for global readers. More recently, Korean

pop artists have attracted huge numbers of admirers across

the world, the most spectacular success being Psy’s global hit

Gangnam Style.

The cultural prosperity Korea has enjoyed lately would

have not been possible without its traditional culture and arts,

Gyeongju Historic AreasGyeongju was the capital of Silla for about one millennium. The city still contains a wealth of archaeological remains from the Kingdom, and hence is often dubbed as “a museum without walls or roof.” The photo shows a scene of the Silla mound tombs located in the city.

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which were built on the Korean people’s traits of tenacity and

perseverance combined with an artistic sensibility that has

matured throughout the country’s long history. The unique

artistic sensibility reflected in the diverse artifacts and tomb

murals of the Three Kingdoms Period became richer and more

profound as Korea progressed through the periods of Unified

Silla (676-935), Goryeo (918-1392) and Joseon (1392-1910).

This aesthetic sensibility has been handed down through the

generations to the Korean artists, and even ordinary members of

the public, of our time.

Korea preserves a wealth of priceless cultural heritage, some

of which have been inscribed on the lists of human legacies

protected by UNESCO. Currently, a total of thirty-eight Korean

heritage items are listed either as World Heritage Sites or

Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, or

have been included on UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register.

UNESCO Heritage in KoreaWorld Heritage Sites

Changdeokgung Palace

Changdeokgung Palace, located in Waryong-dong, Jongno-gu,

Seoul, is one of the five Royal Palaces of Joseon (1392-1910),

and still contains the original palace structures and other remains

intact. It was built in 1405 as a Royal Villa but became the Joseon

Dynasty’s official Royal Residence after Gyeongbokgung, the

original principal palace, was destroyed by fire in 1592 when

Japanese forces invaded Korea. Thereafter it maintained its

prestigious position until 1867, when Gyeongbokgung was and

renovated and restored to its original status. Changdeokgung was

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listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.

A l though i t was bu i l t du r i ng the Jo seon Pe r i od ,

Changdeokgung shows traces of the inf luence of the

architectural tradition of Goryeo, such as its location at the foot

of a mountain. Royal palaces were typically built according to

a layout planned to highlight the dignity and authority of its

occupant, but the layout of Changdeokgung was planned to

make the most of the characteristic geographical features of the

skirt of Bugaksan Mountain. The original palace buildings have

been preserved intact, including Donhwamun Gate, its main

entrance, Injeongjeon Hall; Seonjeongjeon Hall, and a beautiful

traditional garden to the rear of the main buildings. The palace

also contains Nakseonjae, a compound of exquisite traditional

buildings set up in the mid-19th century as a residence for

members of the royal family.

Injeongjeon Hall in Changdeokgung PalaceThe Palace Hall was used for important state events such as the Coronation of Kings, royal audiences, and formal reception of foreign envoys.

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Jongmyo Shrine

Jongmyo, located in Hunjeong-dong, Jongno-gu in Seoul, is the

royal ancestral shrine of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). It was

built to house eighty-three spirit tablets of the Joseon Kings, their

Queen Consorts, and direct ancestors of the dynasty’s founder

who were posthumously invested with royal titles. As Joseon was

founded according to Confucian ideology, its rulers considered

it very important to put Confucian teachings into practice and

sanctify the institutions where ancestral memorial tablets were

enshrined.

The two main buildings at the Royal Shrine, Jeongjeon Hall

and Yeongnyeongjeon Hall exhibit a fine symmetry, and there

are differences in the height of the raised platform, the height

to the eaves and the roof top, and the thickness of the columns

according to their status. The entire sanctuary retains its original

Jongmyo ShrineThe central Confucian shrine of Joseon housing the spirit tablets of Joseon Kings and their Consorts

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features, including the two shrine halls which exhibit the unique

architectural style of the 16th century. Seasonal memorial rites

commemorating the life and achievements of the royal ancestors

of Joseon are still performed at the shrine.

Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon

Located in today’s Jangan-gu of Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do,

Hwaseong is a large fortress (its walls extend for 5.7km) built

in 1796 during the reign of King Jeongjo (r. 1776-1800) of the

Joseon Dynasty. Construction of the fortress was begun after

the King moved the grave of his father, Crown Prince Sado,

from Yangju in Gyeonggi-do to its current location near the

fortress. The fortification is elaborately and carefully designed

to effectively perform its function of protecting the city

enclosed within it. The construction of the fortress and related

facilities involved the use of scientific devices developed by the

distinguished Confucian thinker and writer Jeong Yak-yong (1762-

1836), including the Geojunggi (type of crane) and Nongno

(pulley wheel) used to lift heavy building materials such as stones.

Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple

Seokguram, located on the middle slopes of Tohamsan Mountain

in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do, is a Buddhist hermitage with an

artificial stone cave built in 774 to serve as a dharma hall. The hall

houses an image of seated Buddha surrounded by his guardians

and followers carved in relief, which is widely admired as a great

masterpiece. The cave faces east and is designed so that the

principal Buddha receives the first rays of the sun rising from the

East Sea on his head.

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Completed the same year as Seokguram Grotto, Bulguksa

Temple consists of exquisite prayer halls and various monuments,

including two stone pagodas, Dabotap and Seokgatap, standing in

the front courtyard of the temple’s main prayer hall, Daeungjeon.

The two pagodas are widely regarded as the finest extant Silla

pagodas: the first is admired for its elaborately carved details, the

second for its delightfully simple structure.

Dabotap, or the Pagoda of Abundant Treasures, is marked by

a unique structure built with elaborately carved granite blocks. It

also features on the face of the Korean 10 won coin. By contrast,

Seokgatap, or the Pagoda of Shakyamuni, is better known for its

delightfully simple structure which exhibits fine symmetry and

balance. The pagoda is now generally regarded as the archetype of

all the three-story stone pagodas built across Korea thereafter.

Among the other treasures preserved at the temple are the

two exquisite stone bridges, Cheongungyo (Blue Cloud Bridge)

and Baegungyo (White Cloud Bridge), leading to Daeungjeon, the

temple’s principal dharma hall. The bridges symbolize the journey

every Buddhist needs to make to reach the Pure Land of Bliss.

Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty

The Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) left behind a total of forty-

four tombs of its Kings and their Queen Consorts, most of which

are located in and around the capital area including the cities

of Guri, Goyang and Namyangju in Gyeonggi-do. Some of these

Royal Tombs are arranged in small groups in the Donggureung,

Seooreung, Seosamneung and Hongyureung. Of these, forty

tombs are registered as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The Royal Tombs of Joseon are highly regarded as tangible

1. Hwaseong Fortress in SuwonThis 18th century fortification was built on the basis of the most advanced knowledge and techniques known to both East and West at that time.

2. Bulguksa TempleThis Silla temple established in the 6th century is architecturally known for being one of the finest examples of Buddhist doctrine anywhere in the world.

3, 4. Seokguram GrottoThe principal Buddha seated on a lofty lotus pedestal at the center of the grotto

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heritage that reflect the values held by the Korean people, which

were drawn from Confucian ideology and the feng shui tradition.

These historical remains are also valued highly for having been

preserved in their original condition for anywhere from one to six

hundred years.

Janggyeongpanjeon Depositories of Haeinsa Temple, Hapcheon

The Printing Woodblocks of the Tripitaka Koreana, which was

made during the Goryeo Period (918-1392), are housed in two

depositories specially made for that purpose in 1488 at Haeinsa

Temple. As the oldest remaining buildings at the temple, the

Tripitaka depositories are marked by the uniquely scientific and

highly effective method of controlling ventilation and moisture to

ensure the safe storage of the age-old woodblocks. The buildings

were built side by side at the highest point (about 700m above

sea level) in the precincts of Haeinsa Temple, which is located on

the mid-slope of Gayasan Mountain.

1. DonggureungA complex of Royal Tombs built for nine Joseon Kings and their seventeen Queens and Concubines.

2. YeongneungThe tomb of King Sejong and his consort Queen Soheon

3. MongneungThe tomb of King Seonjo and his consort Queen Inmok

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Stone Warrior, Guardian of the Royal Tombs

Each of the royal tombs of Joseon consists of one or more

semispherical mounds protected with curb stones set around the

base, and with elaborately carved stone railings and stone animals,

including a lamb and a tiger in particular, representing meekness

and ferocity. In the front area there is a rectangular stone table that

was used for offering sacrifices to the spirits of the royalty buried

there, a tall octagonal stone pillar, a stone lantern, one or more

pairs of stone guardians, and civil and military officials, with their

horses. The mound is further protected by a low wall standing at the back and on both sides.

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What makes these depositories so special is their unique

design which provides effective natural ventilation by exploiting

the wind blowing in from the valley of Gayasan. Open lattice

windows of different sizes are arranged in upper and lower rows

on both the front and rear walls of the depositories to promote

the optimum flow of air from the valley. Similarly, the floor, which

was built by ramming layers of charcoal, clay, sand, salt and lime

powder, also helps to control the humidity of the rooms.

Namhansanseong Fortress

Namhansanseong Fortress, located about 25km southeast of

Seoul, underwent large-scale restructuring in 1626, during the

reign of King Injo of the Joseon Dynasty, to create a refuge for

the King and his people in the event of a national emergency. The

foundations of Jujangseong Fortress, built almost one thousand

years earlier in 672, during the reign of King Munmu of Unified

Silla, served as the base of the renovated structure.

Namhansanseong FortressA mountain fortress that served as a temporary capital during the Joseon Dynasty, showing how the techniques for building a fortress developed during the 7th-19th centuries

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The defensive position of the fortress was reinforced by

exploiting the rugged topography of the mountain (average

height: at least 480m). The perimeter of its wall is about 12.3km.

According to a record dating from the Joseon Period, about 4,000

people lived in the town built inside the fortress.

Temporary palaces, Jongmyo Shrine, and Sajikdan Altar were

built in the fortress in 1711 during the reign of King Sukjong of

Joseon. The fortress is also a result of the wide-ranging exchanges

made and wars waged between Korea (Joseon), Japan (Azuchi-

Momoyama Period), and China (Ming and Qing) during the

16th-18th centuries. The introduction of cannons from western

countries brought many changes to the weaponry inside the

fortress and the way the fortress was built. The fortress is a “living

record” of the changes in the way fortresses were built during the

7th-19th centuries.

Memory of the World Register

Hunminjeongeum (The Proper Sounds

for the Instruction of the People)

Hangeul is the name of the Korean

writing system and alphabet, which

consists of letters inspired by the shapes

formed by the human vocal organs

during speech, making it very easy to

learn and use. Hangeul was promulgated

in 1446 by King Sejong, who helped

devise it and named it Hunminjeongeum, or The Proper Sounds

for the Instruction of the People. It was also in that same year

that he ordered his scholars to publish The Hunminjeongeum

Hunminjeongeum ManuscriptThe pages shown here contain a commentary on the three sounds, first, middle and last, that form the sound of a Korean character

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haeryebon (Explanatory Edition) to provide detailed explanations

of the purpose and guiding principles of the new writing system.

One of these manuscripts is currently in the collection of the

Kansong Art Museum and was included in UNESCO’s Memory of

the World Register in 1997.

The invention of the Hunminjeongeum opened up a broad

new horizon for all the Korean people, even women and those

in the lowest social class, enabling them to learn to read and

write and express themselves fully. The Hunminjeongeum

alphabet originally consisted of 28 letters, but only 24 are

used now. In 1989, UNESCO joined the Korean government

to create the UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize, which it

awards to organizations or individuals who display great merit

and achieve particularly effective results in contributing to the

promotion of literacy.

Joseon Wangjo Sillok: Annals of the Joseon Dynasty

The Joseon Dynasty left behind a vast collection of annual records

of Joseon rulers and their officials covering the 472 years from

1392 to 1863. The records, Joseon wangjo sillok (Annals of the

Joseon Dynasty), comprise 2,077 volumes and are stored at the

Kyujanggak Institute for Korean Studies, Seoul National University.

The annals of each Joseon ruler were usually compiled after

his death during the early phase of his successor’s rule based

on the daily accounts, called “historical drafts” (sacho), made by

historiographers. The annals are regarded as extremely valuable

historical resources as they contain detailed information about

the politics, economy, culture and other aspects of Joseon society.

Once the annals had been compiled and placed in the “history

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depositories” (sago), they would not be opened to anyone except

in special circumstances where it was necessary to refer to

past examples with regard to the formal conduct of important

state ceremonies such as the memorial rites for royal ancestors

or the reception of foreign envoys. Originally there were four

history depositories, one in the Chunchugwan (Office of State

Records) at the Royal Court, and three more in the main regional

administrative hubs in the south, namely, Chungju, Jeonju and

Seongju. However, these were destroyed in 1592 when Japan

invaded Korea, and the Joseon Dynasty was compelled to build

new depositories on some of the remotest mountains in the

country, Myohyangsan, Taebaeksan, Odaesan and Manisan.

Seungjeongwon Ilgi: Diaries of the Royal Secretariat

This collection of documents contains the records of the Joseon

rulers’ public life and their interactions with the bureaucracy;

they were made on a daily basis by the Seungjeongwon, or Royal

Secretariat, from the third month of 1623 to the eighth

month of 1910. The records are collected in 3,243

volumes and include the details of royal

edicts, reports and appeals from ministries

and other government agencies. The diaries

are currently kept in the Kyujanggak Institute for

Korean Studies, Seoul National University.

Ilseongnok: Daily Records of the Royal Court

and Important Officials

This vast collection of daily records made by

the Kings of the late Joseon Period (from 1760

IlseongnokPrivate journals concerning personal daily activities and state affairs kept by the rulers of late Joseon from 1760 to 1910

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to 1910) is compiled in a total of 2,329 volumes. The records

provide vivid and detailed information on the political situation

in and around Korea and the ongoing cultural exchanges between

east and west from the 18th to the 20th century.

Uigwe: Royal Protocols of the Joseon Dynasty

This collection of beautifully illustrated books contains

official manuals recording the details of Court Ceremonies

or events of national importance for the purpose of future

reference. The most frequently treated subjects in these books

are Royal Weddings, the investiture of Queens and Crown

Princes, State and Royal Funerals, and the construction of

Royal Tombs, although other state or royal occasions such as

the “Royal Ploughing”, construction or renovation of Palace

buildings, are included. As for the latter, those published to

mark the construction of Hwaseong Fortress

and K ing Jeong jo ’s fo rmal v i s i t to

the new walled city in the late 18th

century are particularly famous. These

publ icat ions were also stored in the

history depositories, sadly resulting in

the destruction of early Joseon works by

fire during the Japanese Invasion of Korea

in 1592. The remaining 3 ,895 volumes

of Uigwe were published after the war, some of which

were stolen by the French Army in 1866 and kept in the

Bibliothèque nationale de France until 2011, when they

were returned to Korea following an agreement between the

governments of Korea and France.

Protocol on the Marriage of King Yeongjo and Queen Jeongsun(Joseon, 18th century)This is a manual of the state ceremony held for the marriage between King Yeongjo, the 21st ruler of Joseon, and Queen Jeongsun in 1759

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Printing Woodblocks of the Tripitaka Koreana and Miscellaneous

Buddhist Scriptures

The collection of Tripitaka woodblocks stored at Haeinsa

Temple (established 802) in Hapcheon-gun, Gyeongsangnam-

do was made during the Goryeo Period (918-1392) under a

national project that started in 1236 and took fifteen years to

complete. The collection is generally known by the name Palman

Daejanggyeong , literally “the Tripitaka of eighty thousand

woodblocks,” as it consists of 81, 258 blocks of wood.

The Tripitaka Koreana woodblocks were made by the people

of Goryeo who sought the Buddha’s magical power to repel the

Mongol forces that had invaded and devastated their country in

the 13th century. The Tripitaka Koreana is often compared with

other Tripitaka editions produced by the Song, Yuan and Ming

Dynasties in China, and has been highly praised for its richer

and more complete content. The process of manufacturing the

woodblocks played an important role in the development of

printing and publication techniques in Korea.

Human Rights Documentary

Heritage 1980: Archives of the May 18th

Democratic Uprising in Gwangju

The May 18th Gwangju Uprising was

a popular rebellion that took place in

the city of Gwangju from May 18 to 27

1980, during which Gwangju’s citizens

made a strong plea for democracy in

Korea and actively opposed the then

military dictatorship. The pro-democracy

Tripitaka Koreana WoodblocksA total of over 80,000 woodblocks carved with the entire canon of Buddhist scriptures available to Goryeo in the 13th century

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struggle in Gwangju ended tragically but exerted a powerful

influence on similar democratic movements that spread across

East Asia in the 1980s. This UNESCO inscription consists of the

documents, videos, photographs and other forms of records

made about the activities of Gwangju’s citizens during the

movement, and the subsequent process of compensation for the

victims, as collected by The May 18 Memorial Foundation, the

National Archives and Records Service, the National Assembly

Library, and various organizations in the USA.

Representative List of the Intangible

Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Royal Ancestral Rite and Ritual Music

The Royal Ancestral Rite (Jongmyo Jerye) now held on the first

Sunday of May to honor the deceased Joseon Kings and their

Queen Consorts at the Jongmyo Shrine in Seoul remained one

of the most important state ceremonies after the establishment

Jongmyo Jeryeak (Royal Ancestral Rite and Ritual Music at Jongmyo Shrine)The Royal Ancestral Memorial Rite held seasonally at the Jongmyo Shrine involves the performance of the civil and military dances Munmu and Mumu.

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of Joseon as a Confucian state in 1392. Designed to maintain

the social order and promote solidarity, the ritual consists of

performances of ceremonial orchestral music and dances praising

the civil and military achievements of the Royal ancestors

of Joseon. This age-old Confucian ritual combining splendid

performances of music and dance is widely admired not only for

the preservation of original features formed over 500 years ago,

but also for its unique syncretic or composite art form.

Pansori

Pansori is a genre of musical storytelling performed by a vocalist

and a single drummer in which he or she combines singing (sori)

with gestures (ballim) and narrative (aniri) to present an epic

drama conceived from popular folk tales and well known historic

events. The art form was established during the 18th century and

has generated enthusiastic performers and audiences ever since.

Gangneung Danoje Festival

This summer festival held in and around Gangneung, Gangwon-

do, for about 30 days from the fifth day of the fifth lunar month

to Dano Day on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, is one of

Korea’s oldest folk festivals and has been preserved more or less

in its original form since its emergence many centuries ago. The

festival starts with the traditional ritual of honoring the mountain

god of Daegwallyeong and continues with a great variety of folk

games, events and rituals during which prayers are offered for a

good harvest, the peace and prosperity of villages and individual

homes, and communal unity and solidarity.

The first event of the Danoje Festival is related to the

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preparation of “divine drinks” (sinju) to be offered to gods and

goddesses, thus linking the human world with the divine world.

This is followed by a variety of festive events such as the Gwanno

Mask Dance, a non-verbal performance by masked players, swing

riding, ssireum (Korean wrestling), street performances by farmers’

bands, changpo (iris) hair washing, and surichwi rice cake eating.

Of these, the changpo hair washing event is particularly widely

practiced by women who believe that the extract of changpo will

give them glossier hair and repel the evil spirits that are thought

to bear diseases.

Ganggangsullae

This traditional event combining a circle dance with singing and

folk games was performed by women around the coastal areas of

Jeollanam-do during traditional holidays such as Chuseok (Harvest

Moon Festival/Thanksgiving) and the Daeboreum (the first full

moon of the New Year on the lunar calendar) in particular.

Gangneung Danoje FestivalA masked couple dancing at the Gwanno Mask Dance during the Dano festival, which is held to celebrate the change of the seasons from spring to summer.

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While today only the dance part is selected to be performed by

professional dancers, the original performance included several

different folk games such as Nams aengi n ori (Namsadang

vagabond clowns’ play), deokseok malgi (straw mat rolling) and

gosari kkeokgi (bracken shoot picking). The performers sing the

Song of Ganggangsullae as they dance, and the singing is done

alternately by the lead singer and the rest with the tempo of the

song and dance movements becoming faster and faster towards

the end.

Namsadang Nori

Namsadang n ori, generally performed by an itinerant troupe

of male performers, consisted of several distinct parts including

pungmul n ori (music and dance), jultagi (tightrope walking),

daejeop dolligi (plate spinning), gamyeongeuk (mask theater)

and kkokdugaksi noreum (puppet theater). The performers also

played instruments while they danced, such as the barrel buk

(drum), janggu (hourglass-shaped drum), kkwaenggari (small

metal gong), jing (large metal gong), and two wind instruments

called nabal and taepyeongso.

Yeongsanjae

Yeongsanjae, literally meaning “Rites of Vulture Peak”, is a

Buddhist ritual performed on the 49th day after a person’s death

to comfort his or her spirit, and guide it to the Buddhist land of

bliss. The ritual, known to have been performed since the Goryeo

Period (918-1392), consists of solemn Buddhist music and dance,

a sermon on the Buddha’s teachings, and a prayer recitation.

While it is an essential part of the Korean Buddhist tradition

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conducted to guide both the living and the dead to the realm of

Buddhist truths and to help them liberate themselves from all

defilement and suffering, it was sometimes performed for the

peace and prosperity of both the state and the people.

Jeju Chilmeoridang Yeongdeunggut

This age-old shamanic ritual was at one time performed in almost

all the towns and villages in Jejudo, with worshippers praying for a

good catch and the safety of fishermen working at sea. According

to the traditional folk belief of Jejudo islanders the second lunar

month is the month of Yeongdeung, during which Grandma

Yeongdeung, a wind deity, visits all the villages, farming fields

and homes across Jeju, bearing tidings about the harvest in the

oncoming autumn.

Taekkyeon

One of the surviving traditional martial arts developed in Korea,

Taekkyeon, which is quite different from Taekwondo, used to

be known by several different names such as Gakhui (“sport

of legs”) and Bigaksul (“art of flying legs”), although such

names suggest that it is related with the movement of kicking.

Like most other martial arts in which weapons are not used,

Taekkyeon is aimed at improving one’s self-defence techniques

and promoting physical and mental health through the practice

of orchestrated dance-like bodily movements, using the feet

and legs in particular. Contestants are encouraged to focus more

on defence than on offense, and to throw the opponent to the

ground using their hands and feet or jump up and kick him in

the face to win a match.

1. Falconry It was once a serious activity conducted to gain food but now an outdoor sport seeking a unity with nature

2. Namsadang NoriPerformance presented by a traveling troupe of about 40 performers led by a percussionist called Kkokdusoe

3. YeongsanjaeA Buddhist memorial ritual performed on the 49th day after one’s death to guide the spirit to the pure land of bliss

4. PansoriPerformance of a solo artist assisted by a drummer where singing is combined with dramatic narratives and gestures to present a long, epic story(National Center for Korean Traditional Performing Arts)

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4

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Jultagi

In the traditional Korean art of jultagi (tightrope walking), a

tightrope walker performs a variety of acrobatic movements,

as well as singing and comic storytelling, as he walks along a

tightrope. He is generally assisted by an eorit gwangdae (clown)

on the ground who responds to his words and movements with

witty remarks and comic actions intended to elicit an amused

response from the spectators. Tightrope walking was formally

performed at the Royal Court to celebrate special occasions such

as the (Lunar) New Year’s Day or to entertain special guests

such as foreign envoys. However the aspiration of Joseon’s rulers

towards a more austere lifestyle gradually pushed it toward

villages and markets, and it ultimately became an entertainment

for the common people. Whilst tightrope walking in other

countries tends to focus on the walking techniques alone, Korean

tightrope walkers are interested in songs and comedy as well as

acrobatic stunts, thereby involving the spectators more intimately

in the performance.

Falconry

Korea has a long tradition of keeping and training falcons and

other raptors to seize quarry, such as wild pheasants or hares.

Archaeological and historical evidence show that falconry on

the Korean peninsula started several thousand years ago and

was widely practiced during the Goryeo Period (918-1392) in

particular. The sport was more popular in the north than in the

south, and was conducted usually during the winter season

when farmers were free from farm work. Falconers would tie

a leather string around the ankle of their bird and an ID tag

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1. TaekkyeonA traditional Korean martial art marked by elegant yet powerful physical movements

2. JultagiPerformance of tightrope walking combined with singing, comedy and acrobatic movements

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and a bell to its tail. The Korean tradition was inscribed on

the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of

Humanity in 2010 along with those preserved in eleven other

countries around the world including the Czech Republic, France,

Mongolia, Spain, and Syria.

Arirang

Arirang is the name of a folk song sung by Korean people since

olden times. There are many variations of the song, although

the lyrics of their refrains have the words “arirang” or “arari” in

common. The song was sung for many different purposes such as to

reduce feelings of boredom during work, confess one’s true feelings

to one’s beloved, pray to the divine being for a happy and peaceful

life, and to entertain people gathered together for a celebration.

One element that has helped Arirang remain in the hearts of

Korean people for so many years is its form, which is designed to

allow any singer to easily add their own words to express their

feelings. The importance of Arirang in the daily life of the Korean

people is succinctly described in an essay, Korean Vocal Music,

written in 1896 by Homer B. Hulbert (1863-1949), an American

missionary and ardent supporter of Korean independence:

“The first and most conspicuous of this class is that popular

ditty of seven hundred and eighty-two verses, more or less, which

goes under the euphonious title of A-ri-rang. To the average

Korean this one song holds the same place in music that rice does

in his food—all else is mere appendage. You hear it everywhere

and at all times.

The verses which are sung in connection with this chorus

range through the whole field of legend, folklore, lullabies, drinking

Arirang The most widely loved of all Korean folk songs, Arirang features the refrain “Arirang, Arirang, Arariyo.”

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songs, domestic life, travel and love. To the Korean they are lyric,

didactic and epic all rolled into one. They are at once Mother

Goose and Byron, Uncle Remus and Wordsworth.”

Kimjang: Making and Sharing Kimchi in Korea

Kimjang is the activity of making kimchi that is conducted all

over Korea during late autumn as part of the preparations to

secure fresh, healthy food for the winter season. Now gaining a

worldwide reputation as a representative Korean food, kimchi

has always been one of the key side dishes required to complete

the everyday meals eaten by Korean people since olden times.

That is why Kimjang has long been an annual event of paramount

importance for entire families and communities across Korea.

The preparations for making kimchi for the winter season

follow a yearly cycle. In spring, households procure a selection

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of seafood including shrimps and anchovies in particular, which

they salt and leave to ferment until they are ready for use in the

Kimjang season. They then obtain fine-quality sun-dried sea salt

in summer and prepare red chili powder and the main ingredients,

kimchi cabbage and Korean white radish, in autumn. Then, with

winter approaching, members of families and communities alike

gather together on a mutually agreed date to make kimchi in

sufficient quantities to sustain families with fresh food through

the long, harsh winter.

While Korea is now a modern, industrialized nation, the age-

old tradition of making kimchi is still maintained as a collective

cultural activity contributing to a shared sense of social identity

and solidarity among today’s Korean people. The tradition was

registered by UNESCO on its Representative List of the Intangible

Cultural Heritage of Humanity on December 5, 2013.

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World Heritage Sites1 Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple Archetypes of Buddhist architecture developed in Silla. Location Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do Website www.sukgulam.org

2 Janggyeongpanjeon Depositories of Haeinsa Temple, Hapcheon The oldest buildings at Haeinsa Temple, storing over 80,000 woodblocks of the Tripitaka Koreana. Location Hapcheon-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do Website www.haeinsa.or.kr

3 Jongmyo Shrine A Confucian shrine storing the memorial tablets of Joseon’s Kings and their Queen Consorts. Location Jongno-gu, Seoul Website jm.cha.go.kr

4 Changdeokgung Palace The official Royal Palace of the Joseon Dynasty for 258 years from 1610 to 1868. Location Jongno-gu, Seoul Website www.cdg.go.kr

5 Hwaseong Fortress An architectural masterpiece of Joseon fortifications combining beauty and practicality. Location Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do Website www.swcf.or.kr

6 Gyeongju Historic Areas The well preserved remains of Gyeongju, the capital of Silla for one millennium. Location Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do Website guide.gyeongju.go.kr

7 Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa Dolmen Sites Countless lithic monuments dating from prehistoric Korea. Location Gochang-gun of Jeollabuk-do, Hwasun-gun of Jeollanam-do, and Ganghwa-gun of Incheon

8 Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes Volcanic cones and lava tubes formed by eruptions of Mount Hallasan, the highest mountain in South Korea Location Hallasan Mountain, Geomunoreum, and Ilchulbong of Seongsan, Jejudo Island Website jejuwnh.jeju.go.kr

9 Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty Fifty-three Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty preserved in their original condition. Location Seocho-gu of Seoul, and Guri-si and Yeoju-si in Gyeongggi-do

10 Historic Villages of Korea: Hahoe and Yangdong Villages formed by aristocratic families of Joseon based on Confucian ideology. Location Andong-si and Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do

11 Namhansanseong A Mountain fortress that served as a temporary capital during the Joseon Dynasty, showing how the techniques for building a fortress developed during the 7th -19th centuries Location Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi-do

Memory of the World12 Hunminjeongeum (The Proper Sounds for the Instruction of the People) A single-volume xylographic book printed in 1446, containing commentaries on the Korean writing system.

13 Joseon Wangjo Sillok: Annals of the Joseon Dynasty A huge collection of the annals of the Joseon dynasty from 1392 to 1863, bound in 1,893 volumes in 888 books. Website sillok.history.go.kr

14 Baegun Hwasang Chorok Buljo Jikji Simche Yojeol (vol. II), the second volume of an “Anthology of Great Buddhist Priests' Zen Teachings” An advanced-level textbook published for monk-scholars in medieval Korea. Website www.jikjiworld.ne

15 Seungjeongwon Ilgi: Diaries of the Royal Secretariat Daily records of Joseon’s rulers, containing a wealth of historical information. Website kyu.snu.ac.kr

16 Uigwe: Royal Protocols of the Joseon Dynasty Rare and exquisite collections of illustrated records on important state and royal occasions of the Joseon Dynasty. Website kyujanggak.snu.ac.kr

17 Printing Woodblocks of the Tripitaka Koreana and Miscellaneous Buddhist Scriptures A superb collection of the Buddhist canon of scriptures carved on 80,000 woodblocks, providing valuable information on the politics, culture and philosophy of Goryeo in the 13th century. Website www.haeinsa.or.kr

18 Dongui Bogam: Principles and Practice of Eastern Medicine An encyclopedic work on medicine developed in East Asia since ancient times.

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19 Ilseongnok: Daily Records of the Royal Court and Important Officials Diaries kept by Joseon rulers between 1752 and 1910, containing records of state affairs and the daily activities of Joseon’s Kings.

20 Human Rights Documentary Heritage 1980 Archives for the May 18th Democratic Uprising against Military Regime, in Gwangju A vast collection of documents, videos, photographs, etc. on the democratic movements that spread in and around Gwangju in May 1980.

21 Nanjung Ilgi: War Diary of Admiral Yi Sun-sin A collection of private journals kept by Admiral Yi Sun-sin, recording his daily activities and battle situations during the Imjin Waeran (Japanese Invasion, 1592- 1598).

22 The Archives of Saemaeul Undong A collection of historical records on the Saemaeul Undong (“New Community Movement”), an exemplary movement that led to the successful development of farming communities and the eradication of poverty in the 1970s

Intangible CulturalHeritage of Humanity23 The Royal Ancestral Rituals and Music at the Jongmyo Shrine A traditional performance of music, song and dance presented during the memorial rite held at the Royal Ancestral Shrine

24 Pansori The traditional art of the dramatic song performed by a solo performer to the accompaniment of a single drummer, presenting an epic story by combining singing, narratives and gestures.

25 Gangneung Danoje Festival A time-honored summer festival held on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month.

26 Ganggangsullae A traditional folk entertainment with singing and dancing performed by women to celebrate moon festivals.

27 Namsadang Nori Folk performances traditionally presented to rural communities by an itinerant troupe of about forty performers (Namsadang) led by the chief musician (Kkokdusoe).

28 Yeongsanjae A Buddhist ritual performed to comfort and guide the spirits of the dead to the Buddhist land of bliss.

29 Jeju Chilmeoridang Yeongdeunggut A traditional shamanic ritual practiced at Chilmeoridang, a shrine for the village tutelary of Geonip-dong, Jeju-si.

30 Cheoyongmu A Court dance performed by five dancers wearing Cheoyong masks and costumes in five cardinal colors.

31 Gagok, Lyric Song Cycles Accompanied by an Orchestra Traditional vocal music performed by putting a poem to a melody with an accompaniment of orchestral music.

32 Daemokjang, Traditional Wooden Architecture The art of building traditional works of architecture designed and supervised by a master builder.

33 Falconry The traditional art of keeping falcons and training them to hunt for quarry.

34 Jultagi A traditional folk entertainment in which a tightrope walker performs acrobatic movements and tells comic stories as he walks along the rope.

35 Taekkyeon A traditional Korean martial art practiced for self-defence purposes and known to be beneficial to one’s physical and mental health.

36 Weaving of Mosi (fine ramie) in the Hansan Region The tradition of weaving ramie, a fine-quality fabric used for the production of summer clothing, preserved in Hansan.

37 Arirang A folk song with many variations cherished by the Korean people throughout history.

38 Kimjang, Making and Sharing Kimchi in Korea The cultural tradition of preparing for and making kimchi to be eaten during the winter season, typically with the participation of an entire family or community

For further information on Korea’s cultural heritage, please visit ‘www.cha.go.kr’.

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Performance of Yeomillak (“Joy of the People”), court music composed during the reign of King Sejong in the 15th century.

Traditional ArtsGugak

The term gugak, which literally means “national music,” refers to

traditional Korean music and other related art forms including

songs, dances and ceremonial movements. The history of music

in Korea should be as long as Korean history itself, but it was only

in the early 15th century, during the reign of King Sejong of the

Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), that Korean music became a subject

of serious study and was developed into a system, resulting in the

creation of the oldest mensural notation system, called jeongganbo,

in Asia. King Sejong’s efforts to reform the court music led not

only to the creation of Korea’s own notation system but also to

the composition of a special ritual music to be performed during

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the Royal Ancestral Rite at the Jongmyo Shrine—inscribed on

UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of

Humanity in 2001—and Yeomillak, or “Joy of the People.” The term

gugak was first used by the Jangagwon, a government agency of

late Joseon responsible for music, to distinguish traditional Korean

music from foreign music.

Traditional Korean music is typically classified into several

types: the “legitimate music” (called jeongak or jeongga) enjoyed

by the royalty and aristocracy of Joseon; folk music including

pansori, sanjo and japga; jeongjae (court music and dance)

performed for the King at celebratory state events; music and

dance connected with shamanic and Buddhist traditions such

as salpuri, seungmu, and beompae; and poetic songs beloved of

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the literati elite such as gagok and sijo. Of the numerous folk

songs, Arirang—inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the

Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2012—is particularly

cherished by the common people as there are many variations

with special lyrics and melodies devised to touch their hearts.

The Korean people have also developed a wide range of

musical instruments. These traditional musical instruments are

generally divided into three categories: wind instruments such as

the piri, daegeum, danso and taepyeongso; stringed instruments

such as the gayageum, geomungo, haegeum, ajaeng and bipa;

and percussion instruments such as the buk, janggu, pyeonjong,

pyeongyeong, kkwaenggwari and jing.

Folk Dance

Korean people have inherited a great variety of folk dances such

as salpurichum (spiritual purification dance), gutchum (shamanic

Buchaechum (Fan Dance)A traditional form of Korean dance usually performed by groups of female dancers holding fans with floral designs on them.

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ritual dance), taepyeongmu (dance of peace), hallyangchum (idler’s

dance), buchaechum (fan dance), geommu (sword dance), and

seungmu (monk’s dance). Of these, talchum (mask dance) and

pungmul nori (play with musical instruments) are known for their

satirical targeting of the corrupt aristocracy of Joseon and their

close connection with rural communities, which had long been

the bedrock of Korean culture and tradition. Most performances

are presented in a marketplace or on the fields and involve

drumming, dancing, and singing.

Painting and Calligraphy

Painting has always been a major genre of Korean art since

ancient times. The art of ancient Korea is represented by the tomb

murals of Goguryeo (37 BCE – 668) which contain valuable clues

to the beliefs of the early Korean people about

humanity and the universe as well as to their

artistic sensibilities and techniques. The artists of

Goryeo (918-1392) were interested in capturing

Buddhist icons and bequeathed some great

masterpieces, while the literati elite of Joseon was

more attracted to the symbolism of plants and

animals, such as the Four Noble Lords (Sagunja,

namely, the orchid, chrysanthemum, bamboo, and

plum tree) and the Ten Creatures of Longevity

(Sipjangsaeng), as well as idealized landscapes.

Korea in the 18th century saw the arrival of

two great artists, Kim Hong-do and Sin Yun-bok,

both of whom developed a passionate interest

in depicting the daily activities of ordinary

“Myeong-Seon (Meditation with Tea)” by Kim Jeong-hui (pen-name: Chusa, 1786-1856) (Joseon, 19th century)

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Ssireum (Korean Wrestling) by Kim Hong-do (1745-1806)This genre painting by Kim Hong-do, one of the greatest painters of the late Joseon Period, vividly captures a scene of traditional Korean wrestling where two competing wrestlers are surrounded by engrossed spectators.

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people in their work. Kim Hong-do preferred depicting a

kaleidoscope of people in various situations and scenes of

everyday life, whereas Sin Yun-bok, for his part, devoted

his efforts to capturing erotic moments in works that were

surprisingly voyeuristic for the period.

Calligraphy, which developed in Korea under the influence

of China, is the art of handwriting in which the beauty of the

lines and forms of characters and the energy contained in

brush strokes and subtle shades of ink are appreciated. While

calligraphy is an independent genre of art, it has been closely

related with ink and wash painting since these forms use similar

techniques and the tools commonly called the “four friends of

the study” (i.e. paper, brush, ink stick and ink stone). Korea has

produced an abundance of master calligraphers of whom Kim

Jeong-hui (1786-1856) is particularly famous for developing his

own style, which is known as Chusache or Chusa Style (Chusa

was his pen name). His calligraphic works fascinated even the

Chinese masters of his time and are still widely admired for

their remarkably modern artistic beauty.

Pottery

Korean pottery, which nowadays attracts the highest praise

from international collectors, is typically divided into three

groups: Cheongja (blue-green celadon), Buncheong (slip-coated

stoneware), and Baekja (white porcelain). Celadon refers to Korean

stoneware which underwent major development in the hands of

Goryeo potters some 700 to 1,000 years ago. Celadon pottery is

marked by an attractive jade blue surface and the unique Korean

inlay technique used to decorate it. Gangjin of Jeollanam-do

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and Buan of Jeollabuk-do were its two main producers during

the Goryeo Period (918-1392). White porcelain ware represents

the ceramic art of the Joseon Period (1392-1910). While some

of these porcelain wares display a milky white surface, many are

decorated with a great variety of designs painted in oxidized iron,

copper, or the priceless cobalt blue pigment imported from Persia

via China. The Royal Court of Joseon ran its own kilns in Gwangju,

Gyeonggi-do, producing products of the very highest quality. The

advanced techniques used in the production of white porcelain

wares were introduced to Japan by Joseon potters kidnapped

during the Imjin Waeran (Japanese Invasion of Korea, 1592-1598).

The third main group of Korean pottery, Buncheong, was

made by Goryeo potters after the fall of their Kingdom in 1392.

This type of pottery is characterized by its slip-coated surface

and delightfully simple decorative designs created using several

different techniques.

Kiln Site in Gangjin, Jeollanam-doThe remains of ancient kilns can be seen in Gangjin, which was one of the main producers of celadon wares during the Goryeo period.

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1. Celadon Melon-shaped Bottle (Goryeo, 12th century)2. Celadon Jar with Peony Design (Goryeo, 12th century)3. Buncheong Bottle with Lotus and Vine Design (Joseon, 15th century)4. White Porcelain Bottle with String Design in Underglaze Iron (Joseon, 16th century)

(Source: National Museum of Korea)

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Handicrafts

In the past Korean craftsmen and women developed a wide range

of techniques to produce the items they needed at home. They

made pieces of wooden furniture such as wardrobes, cabinets

and tables marked by a keen eye for balance and symmetry, and

wove beautiful baskets, boxes and mats with bamboo, wisteria or

lespedeza. They used Korean mulberry paper to make masks, dolls

and ceremonial ornaments, and decorated diverse household

objects with black and red lacquer harvested from nature.

Later they developed the art of using beautifully dyed ox-

horn strips, and iridescent mother-of-pearl and abalone shell to

decorate furniture. Embroidery, decorative knot making (maedeup)

and natural dyeing were also important elements of traditional

Korean arts and crafts, which were widely exploited to make

attractive garments, household objects and personal fashion

ornaments.

Two-tier ChestThis exquisite wooden chest used for storing clothes is lavishly decorated with a mother-of-pearl inlay design.

(The National Folk Museum

of Korea)

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1. Women’s toiletry cases2. Naturally dyed fabrics3. Embroidered accessories4. Korean mulberry paper dolls

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Hallyu (Korean Wave)A term now widely used to refer to the popularity of Korean

entertainment and culture across Asia and other parts of the

world, Hallyu or the “Korean Wave” first appeared during the

mid-1990s after Korea entered into diplomatic relations with

China in 1992 and Korean TV dramas and pop music gained great

popularity in Chinese-speaking communities. When one of the

first successful TV dramas, What Is Love?, was aired by CCTV in

1997, it had an audience rating of 4.2%, meaning that over 150

million Chinese viewers watched it.

Korean pop music, especially dance music, began to gain

popularity among Chinese teenagers after it was introduced

in earnest in 1997 by a radio program called Seoul Music

Room broadcast from Beijing. The decisive moment in igniting

Korean pop culture fever in China was the concert of Korean

boy band H.O.T., held at the Beijing Workers' Gymnasium in

February 2000. Korean news reports used the term Hallyu, or

the Korean Wave, in describing this concert. The Korean Wave,

acknowledged in an article published by Beijing Youth Daily

as early as November 1999, began to finally be recognized by

Koreans themselves from this point.

The Korean Wave landed in Japan in 2003 when the KBS TV

drama series Winter Sonata was aired via NHK. The drama became

an instant mega hit, making its male hero, Yon Sama, a household

name, compelling his enthusiastic Japanese fans to visit various

film locations, including Namiseom Island, in Korea.

The ‘Korean Wave’ craze has expanded to Korean traditional

culture, food, literature and language, creating more and more

enthusiasts. According to the latest figures, there were 987

“Gangnam Style” by PsyThe Psy’s “Gangnam Style” took the world by storm with the horse riding dance. It became the first K-Pop title to break into and top the UK Official Singles Chart Top 40 in 2012. The song also spent seven weeks at the #2 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The photo shows Psy performing for his Korean fans gathered at the Seoul City Hall Plaza the same year.

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hallyu-related organizations as of July 2013 with a combined

membership of 9 million people.

A great majority of these organizations are K-Pop fan clubs,

but lately new groups of people whose interests are more diverse

have begun to emerge.

K-Pop

One area that is growing more rapidly than any other is 21st

century K-Pop, or Korean pop music, which spans dance-pop,

pop ballads, techno, rock, hip-hop, R&B, and so on. First gaining

popularity in East Asia, K-Pop entered the Japanese music market

towards the turn of the 21st century, and grew from a musical

genre into a subculture among teenagers and young adults of

East and Southeast Asia. Currently, the spread of K-Pop to other

regions of the world, via the Korean Wave, is seen in parts of Latin

America, Northeast India, North Africa, the Middle East, Eastern

Europe and immigrant enclaves of the Western world.

The rise of K-Pop on the global stage is probably best

represented by Psy’s Gangnam Style, which swept the world

as soon as it was released in late 2012. The song was the first

K-Pop title reach No. 1 on the British Official Singles Chart, took

2nd place on Billboard’s Hot 100 in the US, and also topped the

charts in more than 30 countries, including France, Germany,

Italy, Spain, Russia, Canada, and Australia. The YouTube video of

the song has been watched by more people than any other, with

over 2 billion so far.

The worldwide success of “Gangnam Style” was preceded

by a surge of K-Pop idol groups, such as TVXQ, Super Junior, Big

Bang, 2NE1, Beast, Girls’ Generation, 2PM and Wonder Girls, who

Two leading K-Pop idol groups: Big Bang (above) and 2NE1 (below)

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dominated pop music markets across Asia. TVXQ had a total of

65 tour concerts in Japan from 2006 to 2012, bringing together

about 700,000 fans and selling over 6.3 million albums, while in

late 2009 Wonder Girls became the first Korean group to enter

the US Billboard Hot 100 chart with the song “Nobody”.

The popularity of K-Pop singers is largely based on their

excellent vocal abilities, dazzling stage presence and well-

choreographed, impeccable dance performances among other

things. While they may look comfortable and charismatic on

stage, their performance is the result of many years of hard work

rather than any inborn talent.

More recently, K-Pop idol groups have tended to be more

interested in joint performances with other performers contracted

with the same agency. One of the most successful events

of this kind took place in June 2011 when the artists of SM

Entertainment staged a joint concert at Le Zenith de Paris in the

French capital, attracting over 7,000 fans. The event is regarded as

K-Pop fans in Spain

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an important momentum for K-Pop artists to be received more

seriously by the European music market.

The year 2011 saw similar events held in several different

cities around the world, starting with a K-Pop Festival that

attracted over 45,000 fans to the Tokyo Dome in July. JYJ

had concerts in Spain and Germany, and the artists of CUBE

Entertainment performed in Britain and Brazil. In October, Girls’

Generation held a special concert at Madison Square Garden

in New York whose success was covered on the front page of

New York Daily News with a large photo of a concert scene and

the rather sensational headline, “Attack of the K-Pop Stars.” In

February the following year, another major K-Pop festival was

held at the Palais Omnisports Bercy Stadium in Paris with over

10,000 fans coming from across Europe to fill the entire stadium.

TV Dramas

The great overseas success of What Is Love? (MBC) and Winter

Sonata (KBS) in China and Japan played an important role in

boosting the craze for Korean TV dramas across Asia and beyond.

These hits were followed by Dae Jang Geum (MBC), an epic TV

series about an orphaned kitchen cook who went on to become

the King's first female physician. Originally aired between 2003

and 2004, the drama became one of the highest-rated TV dramas

in Korea before being exported to 87 countries around the world

—including the Islamic states like Iran where it received as much

as 80% of the viewers—to fascinate viewers with its portrayal of

traditional Korean culture such as Korean Royal Court cuisine and

traditional costumes and medicinal knowledge.

The remarkable success story of Korean TV dramas continued

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in the 2010s with Big Thing (SBS, 2010), Giant (SBS, 2010), Secret

Garden (SBS, 2011), Love Rain (KBS, 2012) and That Winter, The

Wind Blows (SBS, 2013). Of these, Love Rain was exported to

Japan for KRW 9 billion and That Winter, the Wind Blows to some

local broadcasters in North America as well as ten Asian countries

including China and Japan.

Movies

The worldwide popularity of Korean pop culture resulted in the

reemergence of hallyu (Korean Wave) movie stars such as Bae

Yong-joon (better known as Yon Sama in Japan), Jang Dong-

gun, Lee Seo-jin, Kwon Sang-woo, Won Bin, Jang Keun-suk, Lee

Byung-hun, Rain, Jun Ji-hyun and Bae Doona. Of these, the last

four have appeared as main characters in Hollywood movies.

The outstanding international reputation that certain K-movie

directors and stars enjoy today is in part due to the international

film festivals held in Korea including the Busan International Film

K-Dramas that have charmed overseas viewers: Big Thing (left) and Love Rain (right)

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Festival (BIFF), the Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF) and the

Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival (PiFan).

International film communities have recently begun to show

a keen interest in Korean films and film directors. The Korean

directors who have attracted the attention of Western critics

include Im Kwon-taek, Lee Chang-dong, Park Chan-wook, Hong

Sang-soo, Kim Ki-duk, Kim Jee-woon, Im Sang-soo and Bong

Busan International Film Festival (October 2-11, 2014)

Quickly becoming a top Asian

film festival after its launch in

1996, the BIFF provides the

Asian movie community with

an opportunity to present,

watch, discuss and trade

new films, documentaries,

commercials, and independent

films, both digital and

analogue, amid worldwide

media coverage.

www.biff.kr

Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival(July 17-27, 2014)

Held every July in Bucheon,

Gyeonggi-do since 1997, PiFan

presents Korean movie lovers

with horror films, thrillers,

mystery and fantasy movies

produced in Korea and other

Asian countries.

www.pifan.com

Jeonju International Film Festival (May 1-10, 2014)

Launched in 2000 and held

annually in Jeonju, the home of

traditional Korean culture, the

JIFF focuses upon films that

are marked by their artistic

creativity whilst challenging

existing conventions.

www.jiff.or.kr

Film Festivals in Korea

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Joon-ho, all of whom have produced masterpieces as if to reward

their support and the expectations surrounding them, such as

Strokes of Fire (2002) by Im Kwon-taek, Secret Sunshine by Lee

Chang-dong (2007), Thirst (2009) by Park Chan-wook and The

Taste of Money (2012) by Im Sang-soo.

For Kim Ki-duk, a memorable moment came in September

2012 when he became the first Korean director to win the Golden

Lion at the 69th Venice International Film Festival with Pietà.

He made his debut as a director in 1996, just three years after

suspending his art studies for which he stayed in Paris from 1990

to 1993, and began to pour out such works as Birdcage Inn (1998),

The Isle (2000), and 3-Iron (2004), causing controversy among

film critics and audiences alike.

Alongside him, Park Chan-wook, Kim Jee-woon and Bong

Joon-ho who have all been successful both commercially and

critically and have been invited to Hollywood to make films for

the wider film going public. In 2012, The Thieves, a film by Choi

Dong-hoon, was invited to compete at the Contemporary World

Kim Ki-duk, Film Director Flanked by Lee Jung-jin and Jo Min-su (right) who acted in his film, Kim became the first Korean film director to win the Golden Lion at the 69th Venice International Film Festival with Pietà.

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Cinema Program of the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival.

The increased interest in Korean films among Korean

filmgoers has recently produced some mega box-office hits. The

Thieves, for instance, attracted 12.98 million viewers in Korea

alone, and was sold to eight Asian countries including Singapore,

Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia. Several other films also

attracted more than ten million viewers including Masquerade

(2012), Silmido (2003), Taegukgi (2004), The King and the Clown

(2005), The Hos t (2006) and Haeundae (2009). Meanwhile,

the Guanajuato International Film Festival designated Korea

as the guest of honor in July 2011, and showed a total of 76

Korean films including Wh ispering Corridor s and Bed eviled

under programs focused on Korean Horror Films and two film

directors, Bong Joon-ho and Kim Dong-won.

Music

The Korean classical music community has continued to produce

artists of the highest international standard in both vocal and

instrumental music. For instance, five young Korean artists won

five prizes in the disciplines of piano, solo vocal and violin at the

International Tchaikovsky Competition held in 2011, one of the

top three international music competitions.

Korea has continued to produce distinguished vocalists

of whom Sumi Jo (soprano), Hong Hei-kyung (soprano), Shin

Youngok (soprano), Kwangchul Youn (bass) and Samuel Yun (bass

baritone) are eagerly sought after by classical music lovers in

many parts of the world. Regarding instrumental music, Yeol Eum

Son (piano), Dong-hyek Lim (piano), Sarah Chang (violin) and Zia

Hyunsu Shin (violin) regularly perform for their fans - mostly in

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Korea, the USA, and various European countries. Lee Hee-ah, a

four-fingered pianist, is also a widely acclaimed pianist not only

for her great performances but also for her heroic fight against a

challenging physical condition.

They were preceded by Korea’s first generation of classical

musicians, including two pianists, Han Tong-il and Kun-woo Paik,

who fascinated international audiences between the 1950s and

the 1970s and who still play to many enthusiastic fans. Myung-

whun Chung, the current maestro of the Seoul Philharmonic

Orchestra, started his career in the world of classical music as a

pianist, regularly playing as a member of the Chung Trio with his

two sisters, Chung Kyung-wha, who won worldwide recognition

as a violinist, and Chung Myung-wha, who plays cello. Later he

turned to conductorship and has conducted some of the world’s

most prestigious orchestras including the Berlin Philharmonic,

London Philharmonic, and Paris Orchestra, before going on to

serve as music director and resident conductor of the Opéra de la

Bastille in Paris.

Maestro Chung Myung-whun served as music director and resident conductor of the Opéra de la Bastille in Paris. He received the Una Vita Nella Musica award from the Teatro La Fenice in Venice in July 2013.

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Musical Theater

Korean theater goers have recently begun to pay more attention

to musical comedies presented on theater stages. The increased

demand for good-quality musicals has resulted in the performance

of world-famous musicals such as Jekyll & Hyde, Chicago and

Cats either by the original or Korean teams, and the production

of new musicals written and directed by Korean talents. Some of

these Korean productions have been invited to perform in Japan

and Southeast Asia. Korea’s thriving musical theater scene has

resulted in the creation of a group of stars such as Choi Jung-won,

Nam Kyung-joo and Jo Seung-woo, whose reputation has grown

with stage musicals, and Yoon Bok-hee, Insooni and Ock Joo-hyun

who have become great musical actresses based on their success

on the K-Pop stage.

Modern Dance and Ballet

The launch of the National Dance Company of Korea in 1962

provided the momentum for a surge of interest in modern

Kim Ki-min and Olesya Novikova performing in Swan Lake by the Mariinsky Ballet and Orchestra. Kim is the first Asian dancer to join the Mariinsky Ballet.

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dance in Korea. The changed environment eventually led to the

birth of a great dancer, Sin Cha Hong (or Hong Sin-ja, born in

1943), who is now credited as Korea's first avant-garde dancer

and premier performance artist. She learned dance from Alwin

Nikolais in the United States and worked there until 1990, and

then returned to Korea to involve herself in various activities

related with modern dance.

Korea in the 1980s saw the foundation of two ballet

companies, Universal Ballet (1984) and Seoul Ballet (1986), which

are still actively producing classical ballet performances in Korea

and abroad. The increased popularity of ballet resulted in the

arrival of distinguished ballet dancers including Kang Sue-jin, who

became the first Asian to be a member of the Stuttgart Ballet in

1986, where she is now a principal dancer. Other successful ballet

dancers include Seo Hee who joined the ABT Studio Company in

2004 and became a principal dancer at the ABT in 2012, and Kim

Ki-min who became the first Asian ballerina to join and become

First Soloist at the Mariinsky Ballet in 2012.

Modern Art

The first generation of Korean modern artists

represented by Nam June Paik (1932-2006), who

is considered to be the founder of video art, was

followed by a new generation of distinguished

artists such as Chang Ree-seok, Chang Doo-kun,

Paek Young-su, Chun Kyung Ja, Tchang-Yeul Kim

and Suh Se-ok. More recently, the Korean art world

is represented by a group of painters and sculptors

such as Chun Kwang Young, Park Seo-bo, Lee Jong-

Gwangju BiennaleEmerged as a major installation art show in Asia, the Gwangju Biennale has played a key role in linking the city of Gwangju with the rest of Korea and the world via contemporary art since the establishment in 1995 as the first of its kind in Asia.

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sang, Song Soo-nam, Lee Doo-shik, Lee Wal-jong, Youn Myeung-

ro, Lee Il, Kang Ik-joong, Lim Ok-sang, Kim Young-won and Choi

Jong-tae, all of whom have gained international fans.

Korea’s rapid economic growth in the 1970s resulted in the

establishment of numerous public and private art institutions of

which about 60 are located in downtown Seoul, Insa-dong and

Samcheong-dong in particular, such as Gana Art Space, Seoul Art

Center Gongpyeong Gallery and Kyung-in Museum of Fine Art.

More recently, Cheongdam-dong in Gangnam-gu south of the

Hangang River has emerged as a hub of Korean fine art. As for

international art events, the Gwangju Biennale launched in 1995

has grown to be a major contemporary art exhibition in Asia.

Modern Literature

The publication in English of Please Look After Mom, a novel by

Shin Kyung-sook, by Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group in the

United States in April 2011 was regarded as a sign of the Korean

Wave spreading to the international literary world. The book was

listed in Amazon’s top ten bestsellers as soon as it was released

on the American market, and

was promptly published in

about 30 countries in Asia

(including Japan) and Europe,

and in Australia. In June 2012,

the author held a successful

meeting in Ljubljana, the

capital of Slovenia, to mark

the publication of her work in

the Slovenian language. Then,

The English edition of Please Look After Mom by Shin Kyung-sook (left), and Ko Un (right), one of the most widely admired poets in today’s Korea

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another work, Li Chin, was translated into French and published by

the French publishing company Philippe Picquier. Gong Ji-young

is another very successful Korean novelist of our time some of

whose works, Our Happy Hours (2005), My Joyful Home (2007)

and The Crucible (2009) were made into massive box-office hits

and translated into Japanese.

Korean contemporary poetry is represented by one big name,

Ko Un, who has routinely been mentioned as one of the front

runners for the Nobel Prize in Literature for quite a long time. He

has continued to write poems that touch his readers’ hearts since

his debut with Tuberculosis in 1958. He completed a massive

series of poems, Ten Thousand Lives, in 2010, and had anthologies

of his poems published in Germany and Turkey the following year.

For contemporary Korean novels, the last two decades have

offered novelists precious opportunities to find new readers

overseas. Korean novels translated into foreign languages during

the period include Secrets and Lies (Russian, 2009) by Eun

Heekyung, The Rainy Spell, Firewood, and Sailing Without a Mast

(Swedish, 2009) by Yun Heunggil, and A Distant and Beautiful Place

(Chinese and Turkish, 2010) and Contradictions (Bulgarian, 2010)

by Yang Gui-ja. The opening of the Korean Studies Department

in Sofia University, Bulgaria, in 1995 led to the interpretation of

a selection of Korean contemporary novels and short stories for

local readers including A Dwarf Launches a Little Ball by Cho Se-

hui and Our Twisted Hero by Yi Mun Yol.

The global craze for K-Pop has resulted in greater attention

being paid to Korean literary works and the Korean language,

particularly among young people. The King Sejong Institute,

an institution established in 2008 to support Korean language

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education conducted across the globe increased the number of its

affiliated schools from 17 in 2008 to 113 in 2013.

Meanwhile, the 78th International PEN Congress took place

in Gyeongju, the capital of the ancient Silla Kingdom for one

thousand years, in September 2012. The gathering, held in Korea

for the third time after 1970 and 1988, attracted 700 men and

women of letters from 114 countries across the world, including

Nobel laureates such as Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clézio of France,

Akinwande Oluwole Wole Soyinka of Nigeria, and Ferit Orhan

Pamuk of Turkey.

Korean Cuisine and Culinary Customs

The Korean Wave now seems to be expanding to other cultural

areas such as food and culinary traditions. Restaurants serving

traditional Korean dishes began to open in the world’s leading

metropolises such as New York, London and Paris, attracting praise

even from the choosiest gourmets. Kimchi, Bulgogi, Bibimbap and

other dishes loved by Korean people through many generations

are now beginning to appear in homes around the world.

Chefs in some restaurants in the United States began to

combine traditional Korean dishes with Western traditions,

creating the Bibimbap Burger, Kimchi Hotdog and Gochujang

Steak for New Yorkers who are always ready to accept whatever’s

new and exotic. Similarly, the number of Korean restaurants

increased to about 100 in Paris alone, with many customers

now being local French citizens, although in the past only

Korean expatriates and their Asian friends formed the majority

of customers. According to the latest research, the most popular

dishes served by the Korean restaurants in Paris are bibimbap and

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bulgogi of which the former is particularly highly regarded for it

nutritional balance as well as its flavor and taste. In July 2012,

a special Korean style dinner was held at the Victoria and Albert

Museum in London to celebrate the London Olympic Games. The

300 or so guests were greatly impressed by the Korean dishes

served at the dinner.

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National Museums in Korea

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National Museum of KoreaLocation: Yongsan-gu, Seoul

Closed: Mondays & NYD

www.museum.go.kr

Gyeongju National MuseumLocation: Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do

Closed: Mondays & NYD

gyeongju.museum.go.kr

Gwangju National MuseumLocation: Buk-gu, Gwangju

Closed: Mondays & NYD

gwangju.museum.go.kr

Jeonju National MuseumLocation: Jeonju-si, Jeollabuk-do

Closed: Mondays & NYD

jeonju.museum.go.kr

Buyeo National MuseumLocation: Buyeo-gun, Chungcheongnam-do

Closed: Mondays & NYD

buyeo.museum.go.kr

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Daegu National MuseumLocation: Suseong-gu, Daegu

Closed: Mondays & NYD

daegu.museum.go.kr

Cheongju National MuseumLocation: Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do

Closed: Mondays & NYD

cheongju.museum.go.kr

Gimhae National MuseumLocation: Gimhae-si, Gyeongsangnam-do

Closed: Mondays & NYD

gimhae.museum.go.kr

Jeju National MuseumLocation: Jeju-si, Jeju

Closed: Mondays & NYD

jeju.museum.go.kr

Chuncheon National MuseumLocation: Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do

Closed: Mondays & NYD

chuncheon.museum.go.kr

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Jinju National MuseumLocation: Jinju-si, Gyeongsangnam-do

Closed: Mondays & NYD

jinju.museum.go.kr

Gongju National MuseumLocation: Gongju-si, Chungcheongnam-do

Closed: Mondays & NYD

gongju.museum.go.kr

Naju National MuseumLocation: Naju-si, Jeollanam-do

Closed: Mondays & NYD

naju.museum.go.kr

Korea National Arboretum Location: Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi-do

Closed: Sundays, Mondays, NYD,

Lunar NYD & Chuseok

www.kna.go.kr

National Palace Museum of Korea Location: Jongno-gu, Seoul

Closed: Mondays

www.gogung.go.kr

The National Folk Museum of Korea Location: Jongno-gu, Seoul

Closed: Tuesdays & NYD

www.nfm.go.kr

National Museum of Korean Contemporary History Location: Jongno-gu, Seoul

Closed: Mondays & NYD

www.much.go.kr

Postal MuseumLocation: Cheonan-si, Chungcheongnam-do

Closed: Mondays, Public Holidays,

NYD, Lunar NYD & Chuseok

www.postmuseum.go.kr

The National Lighthouse Museum Location: Pohang-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do

Closed: Mondays, Lunar NYD & Chuseok

www.lighthouse-museum.or.kr

National Research Institute of Maritime Cultural Heritage Location: Mokpo-si, Jeollanam-do

Closed: Mondays

www.seamuse.go.kr

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관광

Tourism

Historical Heritage of Seoul

Tourist Attractions and Shopping Centers

Streets of Youth

Recreation in Nature

Tourist Attractions outside Seoul

Hanok Villages

Major Local Festivals in Korea

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4Tourism관광

Seoul, the capital of the Republic of Korea, is itself an important

part of Korea’s cultural heritage and the most popular attraction

among overseas visitors to Korea. Although it is now one of the

very largest modern metropolises in the world, its downtown

area is enclosed by historic walls that were originally built over

600 years ago and contains a number of valuable historical

heritage including Royal Palaces, fortress gates, and old

residential districts.

Historical Heritage of SeoulGyeongbokgung Palace

Located at the foot of Bugaksan, the main mountain

ove r l o o k i n g d ow n t ow n S e o u l , G ye o n g b o k g u n g wa s

the principal Royal Palace for about 200 years from its

construction in 1395, just three years after the foundation of

the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), until it was burnt down just

after the commencement of the Japanese invasion of Korea

in 1592. Thereafter it remained in ruins for 275 years until

1867 when it was restored; but, less than fifty years later, it

fell into the hands of Japanese colonialists who destroyed the

front part of the palace to build the Japanese Government-

General Building on the site. The latter building, a neo-classical

DancheongDancheong is a traditional method of decorating various palace and temple buildings with intricate patterns of the five cardinal colors, blue (symbolizing the east), white (west), red (south), black (north) and yellow (center). This type of painting also serves to protect wooden structures from the elements.

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1. Gyeongbokgung PalaceThe main Royal Palace of Joseon located at the heart of Seoul

2. Changdeokgung Palace GardenA view of the rear garden of Changdeokgung Palace, including Buyongjeong and Juhamnu Pavilions, with Buyongji Pond situated between them

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structure, continued to be used to house government offices

even after Korea was liberated in 1945 until it was demolished

in 1996 as part of an effort to remove the remaining vestiges

of the colonial period. Some of the ruins of the building were

moved to the Independence Hall of Korea in Cheonan, Korea

for public display.

Under a major renovation project to restore the palace

starting in 1990, some of its buildings were restored and its

main gate, Gwanghwamun, was moved to its original location.

Today, the palace features some of the country’s most popular

tourist attractions, including the majestic architectural pieces,

Geunjeongjeon Hall and Gyeonghoeru Pavilion.

Changdeokgung Palace Garden

The rear garden of Changdeokgung Palace, one of the Royal

Palaces of Joseon (1392-1910) still standing in Seoul, has been

widely praised for the harmony between exquisite architectural

structures and its natural surroundings, and is now one of the

most popular tourist attractions in Seoul. The garden, known

as the “secret garden” (biwon), the “forbidden” (geumwon) or

“rear garden” (huwon), was a preferred venue for royal events

such as banquets and picnics. It features a pond and several

exquisite pavilions that were built around it over a long period

of time. The garden was open to the general public until the

mid-1970s, but this caused severe damage which led to its

closure for several years to restore it to its original condition.

Only a part of the garden was reopened to the public in May

2004, but at present visitors need to make reservations in

order to visit.

Geummamun Gate at the Changdeokgung Palace Garden in Jongno, Seoul (left)

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Deoksugung Palace

To most Korean people today Deoksugung Palace is largely

connected with the desperate struggle of the Joseon Dynasty

to survive amid the incursions of the major imperial powers at

the turn of the 19th century. It was in 1897 that King Gojong

proclaimed the launch of the Korean Empire and designated

Deoksugung as the imperial palace after leaving the Russian

legation where he had taken refuge one year earlier in a

desperate attempt to keep his government free from the

interference of Imperial Japan.

With the proclamation of the Korean Empire the palace

began to draw attention from foreign diplomats working in the

legations of the United States, Russia, Great Britain and France

located around it.

Today, the clearest reminder of Deoksugung’s short-lived

glory as the only imperial palace in Korean history is the

Deoksugung PalaceUnlike other Royal Palaces of Joseon, Deoksugung contains both Western style stone buildings and traditional wooden structures.

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1. Sungnyemun Gate2. Heunginjimun Gate

Seoul, the capital of the Joseon Dynasty, was protected by a long stone wall with eight gates, two of which, Sungnyemun (Namdaemun or South Gate) and Heunginjimun (Dongdaemun or East Gate), can still be seen today. The first, literally “Gate of Exalted Ceremonies,” is famous for being the Korean National Treasure No. 1, while the second, Heunginjimun, is the only one of the eight fortress gates protected by a semicircular gate-guard wall.

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changing of the palace guard ceremony, which takes place three

times a day except for Mondays. The promenade along the

southern wall of the palace has been particularly popular among

young people seeking romantic ambiance.

Sungnyemun Gate (Namdaemun - South Gate)

Sungnyemun, or the ‘Gate of Exalted Ceremonies’, is the south

gate of the old fortress wall that was built to protect the

capital (todays’ downtown Seoul) of Joseon. It is the largest

of the old fortress gates still standing in Korea today, and was

designated as the National Treasure No. 1 in 1962. The pavilion-

style wooden building forming the upper part of the gate was

severely damaged by arson in February 2008, but was it was

returned to its original form after a full-scale restoration project

that took five years to complete.

The gate is often associated with the large complex of

shopping facilities formed around it, including a traditional

market which has steadily grown into a major tourist attraction.

The area is always bustling with Korean and international

shoppers seeking to purchase clothes, kitchen wares, domestic

appliances and other commodities offered at reasonably low

prices despite their good quality. Many of the shops doing

business in the area run their own factories to maintain

competitive pricing of the products they deal in.

The Namdaemun Market currently houses over 9,300 stores

and attracts over 500,000 shoppers a day. It has formed a huge

international trading network of Korean merchants scattered

around the world, spending and earning a large amount of

money through imports and exports.

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Heunginjimun Gate (Dongdaemun - East Gate)

Situated on the eastern part of the old fortified

wall of Seoul, Heunginjimun (Gate of Rising

Benevolence) attracts tens of thousands of

people from across Korea and neighboring

countries due both to its historic significance and

its proximity to several large markets that have

formed around it, including Gwangjang Market,

Pyeonghwa Market, Sinpyeonghwa Market and

Dongdaemun Market.

Al l of these markets are par t icular ly

famous for the diverse fashion items they

offer, clothes and accessories in particular.

Compared with depar tment stores that

usually sell higher-priced luxury products, these markets have

numerous wholesalers who supply competitively-priced good-

quality products to retailers across Korea.

Tourist Attractions and Shopping CentersInsa-dong

Insa-dong is a district in downtown Seoul that is packed

with antique shops, antiquarian booksellers, art galleries,

scroll mounters, craft workshops, brush shops, traditional

teahouses, restaurants and bars that provide tourists with ample

opportunities for an exciting cultural experience. The district had

many places frequented by Korea artists, writers and journalists

which have now begun to attract tourists from around the

country and beyond. The Seoul Metropolitan Government

designated Insa-dong as a District of Traditional Culture in 1998

Dongdaemun Shopping Mall

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and turns it into a car-free zone every weekend to create a more

comfortable environment for visitors.

Myeong-dong

Myeong-dong has long been the busiest and most thriving

shopping district in Korea where high-end shops and luxurious

boutiques attract shoppers from all across Korea and tourists

from different countries in Asia with luxury goods, brand

garments, cosmetics, shoes, fashion accessories and souvenirs.

The district has also been the national hub of finance and

culture as well as commerce since the Korean War (1950-1953)

and, in the 1970s and 1980s, was frequented by Korea’s most

energetic, fashion-conscious, outgoing people.

The position of Myeong-dong in the Korean fashion industry

has dwindled somewhat in recent times, but its influence on the

Korean fashion market remains significant. Many of the world’s

top fashion brands maintain or have opened new stores in the

district, winning back fashion-minded shoppers from the newly

emerging fashion streets in the Gangnam area as well tourists

from overseas. The district also contains Myeongdong Cathedral,

established in 1989 and a central figure to all Korean Catholics,

and the historic Chinese Embassy.

Apgujeong Rodeo Street

Named after Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, and home to some of

the most prestigious fashion stores in the region, Rodeo Street in

Apgujeong-dong is widely regarded as the “mecca of Korean fashion”

and a trendsetter in Korea. Rodeo Street is packed with luxury stores,

including the flagship stores of the world’s top fashion brands, and

1. Insa-dongOne of the most popular destinations among foreign tourists in Seoul, the district is packed with antique shops, art galleries, craft workshops, traditional teahouses, restaurants and bars.

2. Myeong-dongKorea’s busiest fashion district and the number one attraction among international shoppers visiting Seoul

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upscale restaurants, cafes and bars. The street also contains stores

selling special fashion items sought after by young fashionistas,

and fully meets all the diverse needs of shoppers. In October, the

street is transformed into the main venue for the Apgujeong Culture

Festival which presents movies, hair shows, fashion shows, dance

competitions and other exciting cultural events.

Streets of YouthJongno and Cheonggyecheon

Jongno was one of the two districts, the other being Myeong-

dong, that typified the early economic and cultural vibrancy of

Korea in the 1970s and 1980s. There were, and still are, between

today’s Jongno 2(i)-ga and 3(sam)-ga some of Seoul’s oldest

movie theaters, the nation’s major bookstores, and famous private

educational institutions including foreign language schools which

keep the districts perpetually crowded with students.

Cheonggyecheon, a historic stream cutting across the heart

of Seoul, was restored and remodeled a few years ago and quickly

emerged as one of the city’s top attractions. In the past the

stream was a source of water for the families living around it,

but it began to be covered over in the 1950s, and the overpass

built over it came to be regarded as a symbol of Korea’s industrial

growth during the 1960s and 1970s. The overpass, however, was

demolished in 2003 as part of the project to restore the stream,

which was completed two years later.

Hongdae Street (Hongik University Street)

It was during the early 1990s that Hongdae, or the area around

Hongik University, saw an explosion of cafes and live music clubs

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drawing young music lovers from all across Seoul, gradually

turning it into one of Seoul’s most dynamic cultural areas packed

with fun-seeking youngsters. What differentiate the streets of

Hongdae from other similar districts are the live performances

of indie bands held at the clubs scattered around the district. The

bands cover a variety of popular music genres, including rock,

funk and techno music, for the young audiences that gather there

every evening.

The Hongdae district also contains numerous art galleries

committed to displaying original works by emerging young

artists. Some of these artists join with others devoted to other

forms of art such as music and dance, to put on collaboration

performances in the streets.

1. Cheonggyecheon Stream PlazaAn attractive space for relaxation and refreshment in the heart of downtown Seoul

2. Hongdae DistrictStreets crowded with young and ambitious artists and spectators

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Garosu-gil Street of Sinsa-dong

Literally “the tree-lined street of Sinsa-dong”, Sinsa-dong Garosu-

gil is a street in Sinsa-dong in Gangnam-gu that is lined with

gingko trees on both sides. The street and nearby alleys have

recently grown into one of Seoul’s main attractions, attracting

tens of thousands of fashion-minded people to its array of high-

end coffee houses, art galleries, luxury boutiques and other

fashion stores every day.

In the 1990s Garosu-gil began to attract ambitious young

fashion designers, who opened shops along the road, eventually

transforming it into a “fashion street.” The success of their shops

was followed by the opening of other shops vending exquisite

interior objects, furniture and personal fashion items.

Itaewon

Itaewon, located south of Namsan Mountain in the heart of

Seoul, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the city,

particularly among foreign tourists seeking shopping, fun and

thrills in more comfortable surroundings. The development of

the district and the growth of its reputation among international

travelers visiting Korea are largely related with the presence,

since the Korean War (1950-1953), of the Eighth United States

Army Base in nearby Yongsan. Today the district, encompassing

Itaewon and nearby Hannam-dong, contains a number of foreign

embassies including those of Germany, Denmark, Argentina,

Rumania, Uruguay, Lebanon, Hungary, Brunei and Qatar, as well as

the Seoul Central Mosque and diverse foreign communities.

Itaewon’s streets are packed with shops selling fashionable

clothes and fashion items, nightclubs, bars and restaurants, many

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1. Garosu-gil of Sinsa-dongA street busy with fashion-minded young shoppers

2. ItaewonThe Korean hub of international cultures

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of them providing exotic, at least to Korean visitors, foods from

Mexico, India, Vietnam and Turkey among other countries, and a

distinctly cosmopolitan atmosphere. The district was designated

by the Korean government as a Special Tourist Zone in 1997, and

has since then held the Global Village Festival every October.

Furthermore, street performances are held for foreign tourists on

a daily basis

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Recreation in NatureJirisan Mountain

The highest and largest mountain in mainland South Korea, Jirisan

Mountain consists of numerous scenic peaks, including its highest

Cheonwangbong Peak (1,915m), Nogodan and Banyabong Peaks,

and ridges and valleys extending for 40km from east to west. The

mountain borders three provinces, Jeollanam-do, Jeollabuk-do and

Gyeongsangnam-do, and its forests account for about 20% of all

forestry in Korea. It was designated as Korea’s first National Park

in 1967.

Jirisan Mountain is located at the southern end of the Baekdu

Daegan, a great mountain range that forms the backbone of the

Korean Peninsula, running down from Baekdusan Mountain in the

A spring view of Jirisan Mountain

(Source: Korea National Park Service)

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northern most part of the peninsula to characterize geographical

features of the south. The mountain has been widely admired

for its majestic appearance and dense forests providing natural

habitats for rare animal and plant species such as the Siberian

musk deer, Korean goral, Asian birch, and the Royal Azalea.

The mountain’s main ridges, running from its tallest peak

Cheonwangbong in the east to Nogodan Peak in the west, form

deep valleys brimming with the headwaters of some of Korea’s

main rivers, Nakdonggang, Seomjingang and Namgang. Some of

these valleys are home to undisturbed forests, notably Piagol and

Baemsagol, creating breathtakingly scenic views that attract over

two million hikers every year.

Jirisan Mountain contains natural habitats for various animal

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and plant species which represent the ecological health and

balance of the mountain, including endangered animals such

as the Siberian musk deer and Korean goral, and some of the

Korea’s biggest natural attractions such as the immense colony of

royal azaleas covering the highland plain of Seseok Pyeongjeon,

the dense ancient forest of Piagol, the aged wind-stripped trees

scattered around high peaks creating unreal, eerie landscapes. This

priceless natural heritage embraces some of Korea’s most valuable

cultural assets, including historic Buddhist temples housing a

wealth of historical and cultural treasures.

Seoraksan Mountain

South Korea’s third highest mountain after Hallasan Mountain

and Jirisan Mountain, Seoraksan Mountain is located in the

Waterfall at Seoraksan Mountain (Sokcho, Gangwon)

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middle of the Baekdu Daegan, a great mountain range forming

the backbone of the Korean Peninsula, with its tallest peak

Daecheongbong (1,708m) overlooking Korea’s eastern coast.

The mountain is characterized by rocky peaks and cliffs

displaying grotesque shapes and deep valleys containing pools

of crystal clear water which have led to it being compared with

Geumgangsan, or the “Diamond Mountain” in the North, which

has long been admired as Korea’s number one scenic mountain.

The mountain covers a vast area on the mid-eastern part of

the Korean Peninsula which is divided into three areas, namely,

Oeseorak (Outer Snowy Mountain) in the east of Daecheongbong

Peak, Naeseorak (Inner Snowy Mountain) in the west, and

Namseorak (Southern Snowy Mountain), which contains the

famous mineral spring called Osaek Mineral Springs in the south.

Landscape of Seoraksan Mountain(Sokcho, Gangwon)

(Source: Korea National Park Service)

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The mountain also contains the source of the Namdaecheon

Stream, which flows through the Yangyang area into the East

Sea, and the Bukhangang and Soyanggang Rivers, which flow

westwards to form the Hangang River which cuts across Seoul.

Seoraksan Mountain provides a safe haven for many native

or endangered species such as the Manchurian trout, Korean

minnow, diamond bluebell (geumgang chorong), and edelweiss.

The mountain was designated as a National Park in 1970 and

registered on the World Network of Biosphere Reserves by

UNESCO in 1970. It is also home to many historic, cultural and

natural heritage including Buddhist temples such as Baekdamsa,

Sinheungsa and Bongjeongam, which is one of the five temples

enshrining the relics of Shakyamuni, the historical Buddha,

Heundeul Rock, and Ulsan Rock, an 873-meter-tall rocky peak of

majestic appearance.

Seoraksan Mountain is famous for the breathtakingly beautiful

landscapes created by its mountain peaks, deep valleys, stunning

rock formations, and historic Buddhist temples which draw millions

of hikers from all across the country every year. Meanwhile,

in Seorak-dong, a tourist town located on the foot of the

mountain containing an entrance to it, there is a fine network of

accommodations and recreational facilities that form a convenient

environment for tourists and hikers. Tourism in Seoraksan is

typically connected with the presence of Goseong Unification

Observatory, which is located close to the DMZ on the east coast.

Namsan Mountain and Bukhansan Mountain

Namsan Mountain, a 262-meter-tall mountain standing in the

heart of Seoul, is home to a number of attractive walking trails

A nighttime view of N Seoul Tower and an octagonal pavilion at Namsan Mountain (right)

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appreciated by the citizens of Seoul for hundreds of years. The

mountain is dense with trees that provide an abundance of

fresh air and flowers all year round. It usually takes about one

hour to reach the summit via any of the paths, although one

may opt to take the cable car. At the top of the mountain there

are several fine vantage points overlooking downtown Seoul,

including the N Seoul Tower (or Namsan Tower), one of Seoul’s

most popular attractions where visitors can enjoy exceptional

panoramic views of Seoul and, weather permitting, Incheon and

the West Sea coast, as well as a historic beacon fire station used

for long-distance communications during the Joseon Period

(1392-1910). At the foot of the mountain there are several

cultural institutions such as the National Theater of Korea, Seoul

Municipal Library, and Namsangol Hanok Village. The Bukhansan

National Park on the northern part of Seoul also provides

Rock climbing at Bukhansan Mountain

(Source: Korea National Park Service)

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popular venues for various outdoor activities, hiking and rock

climbing in particular.

Rivers of Korea

Two large watercourses originating from the mid-eastern

mountainous region of the Korean Peninsula merge together

to become the Hangang, or the Hangang River, which passes

through Seoul before flowing into the West Sea . The rivers have

provided water for all the fields and factories in and outside the

capital area and drinking water for many cities within it including

Seoul. The rivers are installed with multiple dams including those

for flood control and generating power.

The longest river on the Korean Peninsula is the Nakdonggang

which cuts a 520km-long course across Gyeongsangbuk-do

and Gyeongsangnam-do before flowing into the South Sea. Its

A view of the setting sun over Yeongsangang River, the main source of water for the southwest of Korea

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estuary contains a large delta called Eulsukdo where reeds grow

densely, forming Asia’s largest bird sanctuary. Other major rivers

in Korea include the Geumgang and Yeongsangang Rivers which

provide water for Korea’s largest granary in the southwest, and

the Imjingang, Mangyeonggang and Seomjingang Rivers, which

also constitute important sources of water for the rest of Korea.

Jejudo Island

Jejudo(do is Korean for island), Korea’s largest island (approx.

73km from east to west, 31km from south to north), lies in

the Korean Strait, southwest of the Korean mainland. The

oval-shaped island maintains a rich cultural heritage that is

distinctly different from that of the mainland. It is also the

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only province of Korea where mandarin oranges are grown

in natural conditions, providing a great source of income for

many households since the 1960s. It was an extremely popular

honeymoon destination among mainland Koreans during the

1970s and 1980s, and has since grown into one of Korea’s top

tourist attractions, drawing hundreds of thousands of tourists

from neighboring countries including Japan and China. In 2006,

the Korean government designated the island as Jeju Special

Self-Governing Province in an effort to turn it into a Free Trade

Zone. It is now a very popular venue for important international

gatherings including summit meetings.

Jejudo was formed by a series of volcanic eruptions and

is rich with the distinctive features of volcanic topography

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1. Baengnokdam Crater Lake of Hallasan MountainA cauldron-shaped volcanic crater (111m in depth and 1,720m in circumference) atop Hallasan Mountain

2. Seongsan Ilchulbong Tuff ConeOne of many parasitic cones scattered around Jeju

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including 368 oreum (parasitic cones) and about 160 lava tubes.

This unique natural heritage led to the island’s inclusion on the

UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves in 2002, World

Heritage Sites in 2007, and Global Geoparks Network in 2010.

The worldwide recognition of Jejudo as a global natural heritage

is expected to further promote the value of the island as a tourist

destination and as one of Korea’s key environmental assets.

Hallasan Mountain, a dormant volcano, soars upwards from

the center of Jejudo to a height of 1,950 meters, making it the

highest mountain in South Korea. The mountain is home to over

1,800 species of alpine plants that select their habitats according

to altitude and exhibits great diversity of vegetation. The mountain

largely consists of basalt, and slopes steeply in the south and more

gently in the north. There is a crater-lake, Baengnokdam, at the top

with over 300 parasitic cones scattered around it.

Seongsan Ilchulbong Tuff Cone, situated at the eastern tip

of Jejudo, is probably the most popular tourist attraction on the

island. This 182-meter-tall volcanic peak is said to resemble a

huge amphitheater with a deep, bowl-like center filled with reeds

and rimmed with rocky cliffs. Many visitors also compare this

popular sunrise celebration venue, which is now designated as a

Natural Monument, with a heavily fortified, impregnable castle or

a tall, full-circle tiara.

Other key attractions reflecting the natural wonders of Jeju

include Yongcheondonggul Cave, located in Woljeong-ri of Gujwa-

eup, which exhibits a unique combination of the characteristic

features of both lime caves and lava tubes, the lime caves in

Hyeopjae and Pyoseon, and the Gotjawal forests which formed

on the rocky areas thrown up during a volcanic eruption. These

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forests provide natural habitats for rare plants, some of which are

suited to cold climates while others are more typical of tropical

or subtropical areas. These untouched, densely wooded forests are

often referred to as the “lungs of Jeju.”

The Jungmun Tourist Complex located on the southern coast

in Seogwipo boasts many fascinating places and facilities for a

variety of outdoor activities, including swimming and sunbathing,

golfing, horse riding and hunting, world-class hotels, and

enchanting natural attractions such as the three-tier waterfalls of

Cheonjeyeon and coastal columnar jointing. A new attraction was

added to the already long list recently when one of Asia’s largest

aquariums, Aqua Planet, was opened in July 2012 at Seopjikoji

Beach in Seongsan-eup.

One of the island’s main attractions, the recently created Jeju

Olle Trail, comprises a set of nature trails along the coast that

lead hikers to fascinating views of Jeju, old villages and fields

enclosed or separated by basalt stone walls, coastal seas where

elderly women divers (haenyeo, “sea women”) harvest seafood

beneath the sea, and waves of wind rolling through fields of long

grass (Jeju has been called Samdado, literally, the “island of three

abundances”, namely, stones, women, and wind).

Jejudo is famous for its many special farming and marine

products of which the “prickly palm cactus” (Opuntia ficusindica),

also known as baengnyeoncho (hundred-year plant), has recently

amazed many scientists of the world for its extraordinary

beneficial effects on human health. For some Korean tourists, Jeju

is significant in that it has jurisdiction over the southernmost part

of the Korean territory, a tiny island called Marado located about

10km off its southwestern coast, and Ieodo, a submerged rock 4.6

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1. Dodong Port in UlleungdoA volcanic island lying in the East Sea

2. Dokdo (Ulleung, Gyeongsangbuk-do)Dokdo consists of two rocky islets, Dongdo and Seodo, situated about 150 meters apart, and 89 rocky outcrops around them.

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meters below sea level located 149km southwest of Marado, the

location of the Ieodo Ocean Research Station.

Ulleungdo and Dokdo

Located about 130km east of the Korean Peninsula, Ulleungdo

is a volcanic island of about 72km2 that is rimmed with steep

rocky cliffs and has a basin (called Nari Basin) on the top. It is

historically connected with a group of rocky islets called Dokdo

situated 87.4km to its southeast, thus forming the easternmost

part of the Korean territory. Now guarded by the Dokdo Coast

Guard, Dokdo consists of two large rocky islets and eighty-nine

small rocks, and is home to about seventy plant species, although

most of the islets are barren. It was designated as the Dokdo

Seabird Breeding Area and Natural Monument No. 336 in 1982

and then as the Dokdo Protection Area in 1999.

Hallyeosudo (Hallyeohaesang National Marine Park)

The area of coastal seas ranging from Yeosu in Jeollanam-do to

Hansando in Gyeongsangnam-do has long been praised for its

breathtakingly beautiful seascapes characterized by sparkling

blue seas, islands of all sizes, fantastically-shaped rocky cliffs, and

dramatic coastlines. The area is also famous as the habitat of

diverse marine species, and became Korea’s first national marine

park in 1968.

Yeosu, one of Korea’s leading industrial cities and host of the

World Expo in 2012, contains some of the most popular tourist

attractions in the national marine park such as Odongdo, a tiny

islet covered with camellia trees, beautiful beaches, and historic

sites related with the victories of the Joseon navy, under the

Odongdo CamelliaOdongdo, a tiny islet just off Yeosu, has about 3,000 camellia trees that remain in bloom from October to mid-winter.

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leadership of General Yi Sun-sin, against the Japanese forces that

invaded Korea in 1592. A new attraction was added in February

2013 with the opening of Yi Sun-sin Bridge, the world’s fourth

longest bridge, connecting two of the largest industrial cities in

the area, Yeosu and Gwangyang.

Namiseom Island

Namiseom Island - located 3.8km south of Gapyeong-gun,

Gyeonggi-do, in the middle of a large artificial lake created

by Cheongpyeong Dam, built in 1943 - has become a very

popular tourist attraction among Hallyu (Korean Wave) fans

across Asia thanks to the huge success of the TV series Winter

Sonata, parts of which were filmed here. The island is dense

with trees including Korean nut pine, dawn redwood, white

HallyeosudoKorea’s first national marine park - famous for the spectacular seascapes created by many differently-sized islands floating on blue seas.

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Metasequoia Forest Walkway on Namiseom Island

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birch and gingko, creating a number of romantic nature trails.

In addition to walking, the island offers visitors places and

facilities for various indoor and outdoor activities including

cycling courses, art galleries, museums, craft workshops,

bungalows and campsites.

Korean Demilitarized Zone

The cessation of the Korean War in 1953, following the signing

of the Korean Armistice Agreement, led to the creation of the

Military Demarcation Line (MDL) and the Korean Demilitarized

Prayer ribbons tied to a barbed wire fence located between the DMZ and Freedom Bridge

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Zone (DMZ), which is 250km long and approximately 4km wide,

i.e. 2km on the South’s side and another 2km on the North’s.

On the western part of the DMZ there is a farming village

called Daeseongdong, better known as “Freedom Village” among

South Koreans. The western part of the DMZ also contains the

Panmunjeom where the 1953 Korean Armistice Agreement was

signed. It is now known as the Joint Security Area (JSA) which

only those holding a permit issued by the Military Armistice

Commission (MAC) are allowed to visit. The prohibition of public

access to the DMZ for the last 60 years has helped maintain

the environment in pristine condition, a quality for which in

recent times it has attracted the interest of scientists and

conservationists the world over.

Tourist Attractions outside SeoulGyeongju, the Millennium Capital

Gyeongju in Gyeongsangbuk-do was once the capital of the

ancient Korean Kingdom of Silla (57 BCE – 935) for about

one millennium, and contains a great wealth of heritage sites

and relics that reflect its remarkable cultural achievements.

The remaining historical and cultural heritage led to the city’s

registration as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, under the name

of the Gyeongju Historic Areas, in 2000. Tangible evidences of

Silla’s cultural glory include Bulguksa Temple, which was founded

to represent the ideal world of Buddhism which Silla’s people

aspired to, Seokguram, a man-made grotto admired for its

unique architectural structure and outstanding sculptural works,

and Cheomseongdae, which is regarded as Asia’s oldest extant

astronomical observatory.

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The royalty and aristocracy of Silla left behind large tombs in

and around today’s Gyeongju. Archaeologists discovered priceless

treasures in some of these tombs, such as the image of a heavenly

horse painted on a piece of white birch bark (Cheonmachong

Tomb), and gold crowns lavishly decorated with exquisite and

advanced skills (Geumgwanchong Tomb). Apart from the fabulous

archaeological discoveries, these ancient tombs clustered in

downtown Gyeongju create fantastic and fascinating landscapes

in themselves.

Silla Buddhists in the 8th century made a great temple bell

now known to be the “Sacred Bell of Great King Seongdeok.”

As well as its imposing size, the bell is known for having several

unique devices designed to help produce a clear, long lingering

sound when struck, such as the “sound pipe”, and elaborate

carvings decorating the outer surface of its body. Some of the

most valuable treasures of Silla Buddhism, stone images and

pagodas in particular, can be seen in Namsan, making Gyeongju’s

guardian mountain one of the holiest places of Korean Buddhism.

Gongju and Buyeo, Capitals of Baekje

Gongju and Buyeo are two cities in Chungcheongnam-do,

each of which served as the capital city of the ancient Korean

Kingdom of Baekje during the period from the late 5th to the

7th century. The cultural achievements of Baekje in this period

are best represented by the Tomb of King Muryeong and other

ancient tombs in Gongju, Nakhwaam Rock, and Gungnamji

Pond in Buyeo.

The Ancient Tombs in Songsan-ri, Gongju consist of seven

tombs of Baekje’s royalty including that of King Muryeong and

1. Namsan Mountain in GyeongjuA seated Buddha image carved on a rock face on Namsan Mountain

2. Tomb of King Muryeong (Gongju, Chungcheongnam-do)The burial chamber of the tomb of King Muryeong, the 25th ruler of Baekje, and his consort shows the influence of the Chinese Southern Dynasties.

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his consort. Archaeologists discovered inside the tomb a wealth

of precious burial objects preserved in near original condition that

now provide important clues to the lifestyle of Baekje’s people.

Buyeo, which was the last capital of Baekje for 123 years until

660, also contains valuable relics dating from the cultural heyday

of a Kingdom that exerted a powerful influence on neighboring

countries. Other Baekje heritage sites preserved in the city,

including Nakhwaam Rock, which is connected with the last days

of Baekje, and Gungnamji containing the features of a Baekje

palace garden, have now become major tourist attractions.

Hahoe Village in Andong and Yangdong Village in Gyeongju

In 2010, two old villages, Hahoe in Andong and Yangdong in

Gyeongju, were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage Sites,

under the title “Historic Villages of Korea.” The villages were

created and developed by a few influential aristocratic families

of Joseon, and still preserve the original living conditions in

which the houses and their environments were built hundreds

of years ago. Each village was established in a site chosen

according to the traditional principles of feng shui, i.e. "Mountain

Behind and Water in Front", and consisted of dwelling houses

with family shrines, communal academies,

pavilions. It also had farming fields around it

which provided the villagers with all the basic

necessities they needed.

Hahoe Village in Andong was formed in

the 17th century when some families of the

Pungsan Ryu Clan settled there. The village,

now containing about 450 traditional tile-

1. Hahoe Byeolsingut TalloriA traditional mask dance preserved in Hahoe Village in Andong that satirizes the corrupt ruling elite of Joseon society

2. Yangdong Village in GyeongjuA village that has maintained the traditional lifestyle for over 500 years

Seonyu JulbulloriThis traditional firework festival involves hanging up bags of mulberry root charcoal powder upon four long (approx. 230m) ropes hung between Mangsongjeong Pavilion on the riverbank of Nakdonggang and the summit of Buyongdae Terrace across the river.

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roofed or thatched houses, is surrounded by the Nakdonggang

River, with pine trees crowding the riverbank, creating a beautiful

rural landscape. The village is also connected with a traditional

performance, byeolsingut tallori, which is performed to invoke

divine help for the village’s safety and prosperity, and Seonyu

julbullori, a local firework festival held at riverside beaches.

The other historical village, Yangdong, located 16km northeast

of Gyeongju, has a history of about 500 years. It consists of

about 160 traditional houses, both tile-roofed and thatched, and

is surrounded by attractive natural surroundings, shallow valleys

and gentle hills. The village is prized not only for its attractive old

houses but also for other heritage that preserve the influence of

Confucian ideology and ancient customs.

Hanok VillagesThe recent revival of interest in modernized traditional Korean

houses (called hanok) among architectural designers and house

1. Bukchon Hanok Village2. Jeonju Hanok Village3. Seongyojang House in Gangneung4. Bukchon guesthouse

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Tourism Korea

The number of foreign visitors to

Korea has increased rapidly in recent

years, rising from 5 million in 2001

to more than 12 million in 2013.

Observers believe that the

increase is largely connected with

Hallyu (Korean Wave) fans from

across Asia and people seeking

advanced medical services and

shopping in Korea.

Number of foreign tourists in Korea

Unit: 1,000

Source: Korea Tourism Organization

2012

11,140

2013

12,170

5,140

2001 2011

9,790

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buyers from across Korea has also helped attract numerous tourists

to Korea’s old villages and districts where they can experience the

traditional Korean lifestyle in an authentic environment. Two of

the most popular destinations for enthusiasts are Bukchon Hanok

Village in Seoul and Jeonju Hanok Village in Jeonju.

Bukchon Hanok Village in Seoul refers to a residential area

located north of the Jongno and Cheonggyecheon Stream area in

downtown Seoul—hence the name—once occupied by wealthy

aristocratic families during the Joseon Period. The area has become

one of Seoul’s main tourist attractions, largely because of the old-

world atmosphere and the well-preserved traditional houses and

the narrow winding alleys linking them. Flanked by the two main

Royal Palaces of Joseon, Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung, with

Inwangsan and Bukhansan Mountains rising directly behind them,

and modern skyscrapers in the south, the district exhibits a unique

harmony between Seoul’s present and past.

The largest Hanok district in Korea and one of the most

popular tourist destinations among visitors is that in Jeonju.

The Jeonju Hanok Village consists of about 700 traditional tile-

roofed houses, some of which have been turned into guesthouses,

restaurants, teahouses and workshops, providing visitors with

opportunities to experience the local cultural heritage. The district

also contains some of the city’s most important heritage sites

such as Gyeonggijeon Shrine, which houses the official portrait

of King Taejo, founder of the Joseon Dynasty, a local Confucian

school (hyanggyo), and Omokdae Terrace, which commands a

great view of the entire district.

There are but a few mansion houses dating from the Joseon Period

across Korea, of which Seongyojang in Gangneung is particularly

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famous for its exquisite, fully preserved 300-year-old buildings and

well-tended traditional garden. Built by a minor member of Joseon

royalty and still used as a dwelling house by one of his descendants,

Seongyojang is regarded as a fine example of a dwelling of the wealthy

ruling class of Joseon. It also consists of rooms such as an inner quarter

(anchae) for women, detached outer quarter (sarangchae) for guest

receptions, servants’ quarter (haengnangchae) for servants and separate

rooms (byeoldang), as well as an artificial pond at the entrance and a

pavilion called Hwallaejeong.

Local FestivalsAs in many other parts of the world, local communities in Korea

have developed a variety of cultural programs and events to

Andong International Maskdance FestivalThis festival contributes to the effort to preserve and revive the Hahoe byeolsingut tallori and boost other mask-related cultural activities around the world.

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mark their achievements or to celebrate the cultural and natural

heritage bequeathed to them. In Boryeong in Chungcheongnam-

do, for instance, the local mud festival attracts summer

holidaymakers from all over Korea and from overseas, while in

Andong of Gyeongsangbuk-do the annual international mask

dance festival entertains tourists visiting the city.

Other popular festivals include the Gimje Horizon Festival,

which is focused on the local agricultural heritage preserved

in Gimje, Jeollabuk-do, the Jeonju Hanji Culture Festival, and

the Jeonju Bibimbap Festival, which is held to celebrate the

heritage that has helped the city of Jeonju gain an international

reputation. In Jinju of Gyeongsangnam-do, the Jinju Namgang

Boryeong Mud FestivalOne of the most popular summer festivals in Korea today, the Boryeong Mud Festival attracts tens of thousands of international holidaymakers every year.

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Yudeung Festival has begun to serve a similar function. Held

to commemorate the ordinary people of Jinju, who fought

heroically to protect their hometown against invading Japanese

forces during the Imjin Waeran (Japanese Invasion of 1592)

at the turn of the 16th century, the festival provides tourists

with fantastic nighttime views of lanterns floating along the

Namgang River. In Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, the Chuncheon

International Mime Festival (CIMF) offers an exciting range of

performances presented by ‘mime theater’ companies gathered

for the event from across the world.

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Major Local Festivals in Korea

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Please visit ‘www.visitkorea.or.kr’

for further information

on Korea’s diverse festivals.

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Chungcheongnam-do

1. Cheonan Heungtaryeong FestivalThe festival entertains visitors with exciting festive events related to folk dances of the world.

Period: Sep 30-Oct 5, 2014.

Venue: Cheonan Samgeori Park, and Arario Park, Cheongan-si

Website: cheonanfestival.com

2. Geumsan Insam Festival This autumn festival focused on health and wellbeing presents an array of experience-based events and competitions related with insam, Korean ginseng grown in Geumsan.

Period: Sep 19-28, 2014.

Venue: Ginseng and Herbal Street, and Ginseng Expo Square, Geumsan-gun

Website: www.insamfestival.co.kr

Gangwon-do

3. Hwasan Sancheoneo Ice FestivalThis winter festival held on the frozen Hwacheoncheon Stream provides visitors with various fun events including an ice fishing contest and a competition to catch mountain trout with one’s bare hands.

Period: Jan 4-26, 2014.

Venue: Hwacheoncheon Stream and five eup and myeon districts in Hwacheon

Website: www.narafestival.com

4. Chuncheon International Mime FestivalThis festival presents a variety of performing arts and merrymaking events highlighting the human body as a powerful artistic medium.

Period: May 25-Jun 1, 2014

Venue: Chuncheon-si

Website: www.mimefestival.com

5. Yangyang Pine Mushroom FestivalThis festival celebrates the season of pine mushrooms with a range of exciting activities related with this special local product of Yangyang.

Period: Oct 1-5, 2014

Venue: Vicinity of Namdaecheon Stream in Yangyang-gun

Website: song-i.yangyang.go.kr

Gyeongsangnam-do

6. Hadong Wild Tea Cultural FestivalThis festival holds various entertaining events and programs focusing on the Korean tradition of tea drinking.

Period: May 16-18, 2014

Venue: Hadong Tea Culture Center, Hwagae-myeong and Agyang-myeon

in Hadong-gun

Website: festival.hadong.go.kr

7. Jinju Namgang Yudeung FestivalLaunched to mark the tradition of floating lanterns on the Namgang River during the Japanese Invasion in 1592, this festival offers a range of exciting history-based events including an exhibition of traditional lanterns from around the world, floating river lanterns, and a fireworks display.

Period: Oct 1-12, 2014

Venue: Vicinity of Namgang River, Jinju

Website: www.yudeung.com

Jeollabuk-do

8. Gimje Horizon FestivalThis festival offers a variety of experience-oriented events and programs focused on local agricultural traditions.

Period: Oct 1-5, 2014

Venue: Byeokgolje Plaza, Gimje

Website: festival.gimje.go.kr

Jeollanam-do

9. Hampyeong Butterfly FestivalThe festival presents diverse exhibitions and fun events centered on flowers and butterflies.

Period: May 2-11, 2014

Venue: Hampyeong Expo Park, Hampyeong-gun

Website: www.hampyeong.go.kr

10. Gangjin Celadon FestivalThis festival holds various activities and programs aimed at the preservation and further development of the cultural heritage of Goryeo celadon.

Period: Jul 26 – Aug 3, 2014

Venue: Goryeo Celadon Kiln Sites in Gangjin

Website: www.gangjinfes.or.kr

스포츠

Sports

5How South Korea Became a Sporting Powerhouse

1988 Seoul Summer Olympics

2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan

2011 World Championships in Athletics

2012 London Summer Olympics

2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics

Taekwondo

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5Sports스포츠

South Korea’s national team surprised the world by ranking 5th

place in the medals table (gold, silver and bronze) at the 2012

London Summer Olympics. It is also worth noting that the team

won the soccer bronze medal at those Games. The potential

of the country’s soccer is explained by the presence of several

South Korean players in European football (soccer) leagues. Also,

at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the South Korean team won the

gold medal for baseball with several South Korean players now

enjoying great popularity among fans in the United States and

Japan as members of local teams.

Asians used to do poorly in figure skating, but Yuna Kim, a

South Korean changed that by breaking world records in the

discipline. In fencing, which used to be regarded as a sport for

westerners and the nobility, South Korean athletes have won

many medals. It is a well-known fact that many South Koreans

have won both the PGA and LPGA championships. It is also

noteworthy that three or four Koreans continually rank in the

top ten at each LPGA championship. Formula 1 also visited Korea

between 2010 and 2013 with the Korean Grand Prix held at

Yeongam, Jeollanam-do, South Korea. And another international

sporting event held in South Korea is the Tour of Korea, an annual

professional road bicycle stage race.

1. Shin-soo Choo is an outfielder for the Texas Rangers of the Major League Baseball of the United States.

2. Yuna Kim won the World Figure Skating Championships in 2013.

3. In-bee Park was selected as the LPGA Player of the Year in 2013.

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How South Korea Became a Sporting PowerhouseThe most important factors behind South Korea’s transformation

into a sporting powerhouse are the country’s large number of sports

lovers and efficient investment. The country strives to find promising

young athletes, train them efficiently, and help them build their skills

by accumulating a wealth of experience in domestic competitions.

There are also professional sporting facilities dedicated solely to the

training of athletes selected for international events such as the

Olympic Games or the Asian Games.

National Sports Infrastructure

Many South Korean soccer lovers gather together early in the

morning of a holiday to enjoy the sport. Teams from neighboring

villages often take part in games and tournaments with the

number of teams composed of neighbors currently standing at

about 500,000.

The country’s sports infrastructure is solid and wide-ranging.

Chuncheon MarathonHeld in Chuncheon, Gangwon-do every October

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As of 2013, the number of ordinary sports lovers’ clubs came to

4.13 million, i.e. 8.1% of the entire population. The number of

soccer lovers who have joined clubs (590,000) is at the top of the

list, followed by the number of members of tennis, badminton,

table tennis, gate ball, and daily calisthenics clubs.

Olle Trail in JejuA hiking course in Jejudo Island“Olle” is a local word from the Jeju dialect that refers to a narrow path between a thoroughfare and the entrance of a house. Ms. Seo Myeong-suk, a journalist, started using the word for mountain hiking courses on the island after drawing inspiration from the pilgrimage trail to Santiago de Compostela in northern Spain.

(Source: Jeju Olle Foundation)

Changes in the number of neighborhood sports clubs and their members

(Unit: Thousands of clubs and people/

Source: Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism)

Clubs Members

2006

2,702 2,914 2,985 3,081 3,086 3,0813,646

4,132

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

83

93 9598 98

75

8290

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The government strives to encourage people to engage in

more positive physical activities by providing support for sports

clubs. Most sports clubs hold events from time to time. Over

the past few years, the number of marathon clubs has increased

drastically. In spring and fall, marathon competitions are held

every weekend all over the country. An amateur marathon

competition attracts thousands or even tens of thousands of

participants. A relevant organization estimates the number of

people engaging in jogging, running, and marathon events at

somewhere between 800,000 and 4 million.

More than 20,000 people, professionals and amateurs, took

part in a marathon event held recently.

As a mountainous country, South Korea has an ideal

environment for mountain climbers and hikers. There are many

mountains near large cities, enabling city dwellers to enjoy

mountain climbing and hiking conveniently. The country also has

KISSThe Korea Institute of Sport Science in Nowon-gu, Seoul engages in the development and distribution of physical exercise methods, research aimed at helping athletes enhance their skills, the training of future sports leaders, and comprehensive research on sports science.

Average number of spectators attending each game of major professional sports

2009

1,471 1,7441,472

5,3584,575

10,983

12,87311,562 11,402

2010 2011 2012 2013

10,709

7,1577,656

13,055 13,747

11,374

1,744 1,525

5,400 5,687

4,092

(Source:MCST)BaseballSoccerBasketballVolleyball

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many popular rock climbing spots.

In recent years, the hilly trails of Jejudo Island have emerged

as a favorite destination for hikers. Amid the new hiking boom,

local governments have vied with each other in their efforts to

establish good hiking paths. Bike riding has also become the focus

of attention as an environmentally friendly sport, and the number

of cycling clubs has increased accordingly. A vast network of bike

paths has been established across the country, and many people

now enjoy cycling along the country’s major rivers on weekends.

A large number of people are attracted to professional baseball,

soccer, and volleyball games. Rooting for one’s favorite team is a

fun pastime. Professional baseball and soccer games are attended

by 8 million and 3 million people, respectively, each year.

Collaboration of Sports and Science

At the 2012 London Summer Olympics, a South Korean won the

gold medal in the vault final. This achievement was the result

of collaboration between science and sports. Sports scientists

studied what the optimal conditions should be to pull through

the hardest skills. They reached the conclusion that the optimal

time span for an athlete to touch the vaulting horse was 0.15

seconds and that the optimal angle between arm and body was

22 degrees in order to stay in the air longer and make more rapid

turns. The South Korean athlete was able to win the gold medal

as a result of training based on optimal conditions suited to his

body structure.

The Korea Institute of Sport Science (KISS) employs experts

in sports dynamics, psychology, physiology, and so on. These

specialists help athletes to achieve the best possible results in

Jincheon Training Center The training center has a facility that can accommodate 350 athletes in twelve sports (i.e. athletics, shooting, swimming, tennis, soft tennis, volleyball, basketball, baseball, softball, rowing, canoeing, and rugby), ancillary facilities designed to help athletes adjust their physical condition, and convenience facilities.

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competitions. Five experts accompanied the national team during

the 2012 London Summer Olympics. There are sixteen sports-

related societies in the country in total, all of which exchange

information through an integrated computer system.

Korea has many practice and training facilities, including

the Taereung Training Center in Seoul. The center in Taereung

is equipped with training facilities, running tracks, indoor and

outdoor courts, an indoor swimming pool that meet international

standards, and a dormitory for 300 athletes.

In 2011, the country built a new training facility in Jincheon,

Chungcheongbuk-do for athletes selected for international events.

Among those who practiced here were the winners of gold and

silver medals in track and field, swimming, and rifle shooting at the

2012 London Summer Olympics. The facility in Jincheon will be

expanded to accommodate up to 800 athletes in 25 sports. Another

facility specializing in the enhancement of athletes’ cardiopulmonary

functions is in Hambaeksan Mountain near Taebaek.

1988 Seoul Summer Olympics The 24th Summer Olympic Games were held in Seoul in 1988,

with a record number of athletes (8,391 from 159 countries)

attending the event. The Games adopted “reconciliation and

progress” as the basic spirit. The organizing committee set

the following objectives: participation of the largest number

of athletes, worldwide harmony, best results, safety, and cost

saving. South Korea became the 16th country (and only the 2nd

in Asia) to host the Summer Olympic Games. The competitions

were held in 23 formal disciplines and 2 demonstration sports.

South Korea ranked 4th overall, winning 12 gold medals, 10

Emblem of the 1988 Olympics The emblem was designed based on the triple Taegeuk, a traditional pattern handed down among Koreans for many generations. The pattern has been widely used in entrances to private houses and handicrafts. It was used to symbolize wishes for the promotion of peace through the Olympics.

175

silver medals, and 11 bronze medals

The 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics were significant in that

they were focused on reconciliation between the Western and

Eastern Blocs, after the Western Bloc’s boycotting of the 1980

Moscow Olympics and the Eastern Bloc’s retaliatory boycotting

of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. The event in Seoul transcended

ideological conflict and racial discrimination pursuant to the

Olympic Charter, and served as an occasion for publicizing the

status of the country’s economic development and traditional

culture, and the potential of Koreans worldwide.

2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan Held for 31 days (May 31 to June 30), the 2002 FIFA World Cup

Korea/Japan was the first World Cup to be jointly hosted by

two countries. It was also the first World Cup Tournament to

Red Devils’ take to the Streets After their enthusiastic support for their national team in red T shirts during the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan, South Korean sports fans acquired the nickname Red Devils. It is said that about half of all South Koreans took part in the supporting events during the 2002 tournament.

South Koreans supporting the national team in front of Seoul City Hall during the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan. Many foreigners said that they were deeply impressed by the fans’ enthusiasm and unity.

176

be held outside Europe and the Americas. The event produced

a series of unexpected results, of which the most unexpected

was probably South Korea’s remarkable success in reaching

the semi-finals. The event also served as an occasion to reveal

another aspect of South Koreans to people all over the world:

soccer fans in red T shirts enthusiastically supporting their

national team. Tens of thousands of fans fervently cheering on

their team in the dead of night created quite a sight. During the

South Korean team’s match against Germany for 4th place, a

total of 6.5 million people filled the streets nationwide to cheer

on their national team.

2011 World Athletics Championships The event was held in Daegu, the country’s third largest city, from

August 27 to September 4, 2011, with more than 100 million

spectators over the world. Daegu Stadium is also the venue where

many other international sports competitions, including the 2002

FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan and the 2003 Summer Universiade,

were held. During the 2011 IAAF World Championships in Daegu,

the stadium’s high-definition electric signboard displayed minute

differences of hundredths of a second in the athletes’ times,

presenting vivid scenes of an athletics competition to spectators

all over the world.

2012 London Summer OlympicsAt the 2012 London Summer Olympics, South Korea took 5th

place in terms of the number of gold, silver, and bronze medals

it won. Among Asian countries, Korea ranked 2nd only after

China. South Korean athletes won 13 gold, 8 silver and 7 bronze

1

2

1. Competitors in the steeplechase at the 2011 IAAF World Athletics Championships in Daegu.

2. The South Korean national team enters the stadium for the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 London Summer Olympics.

177

178

South Korean Medalists in the 2012 London Summer Olympics

178

Ki Bo-bae won two gold medals in the women’s individual and team archery events.

Ki Bo-bae (Archery)

Park Tae-hwan won two silver medals in the men’s 200m freestyle and 400m freestyle.

Park Tae-hwan (Swimming)

Kim Jang-mi won the gold medal in the women’s 25m pistol event.

Kim Jang-mi (Shooting)

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Kim Jae-bum won a gold medal in the men’s 73-8kg category at the World Championship and the 2012 London Summer Olympics.

Yang Heok-seon presented the country with a gold medal in gymnastics. He ranked the highest score of 7.4 with his 180-degree, triple vault twist.

The country’s fencing team achieved notable results at the 2012 London Summer Olympics. Choi In-jeong won a silver medal in the women’s epee team event.

Kim Jae-bum (Judo)

Yang Hak-seon (Gymnastics)

Choi In-jeong (Fencing)

179

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medals in archery, rifle shooting, fencing, gymnastics, judo, and

swimming. It is noteworthy that the country won gold medals

in various men’s individual, women’s individual, and women’s

team events, and won the bronze medal in a men’s team event.

In rifle shooting, the country won 3 gold medals and 2 silver

medals, letting the world know that it is a powerhouse in rifle

shooting. One archer and one rifle shooter won two gold medals

each. The country also won 2 gold medals in judo and a gold

medal in wrestling.

More than any other country, the South Korean team

surprised the world in the London Olympics, with only the

three sporting superpowers and the host nation exceeding the

South Korean performance. To win six medals in fencing, once

regarded as a sport for Western aristocrats, is quite remarkable,

but perhaps the most notable achievement of South Korea’s

national team was the gold medal won in artistic gymnastics on

the pommel horse. Yang Hak-seon presented the country with

its first gold medal in the Olympic history of pommel horse,

displaying great skill. In Taekwondo, in which the country used

to win many gold meals, the team won only one gold medal,

apparently as a result of the sport’s adoption by many other

countries.

For its participation in the 2012 London Summer Olympics

the motto of the South Korean national team was “From London

to London”, referring to the team’s return to London after the

1948 London Olympic Games. It also refers to the shift in the

country’s status from a foreign aid recipient to an aid donor in

just 64 years and its wish to share the wealth and experience

accumulated by it with other countries.

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2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics The 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics will be held

between 9th and 25th February 2018. Pyeongchang’s

bids to host the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics

failed, but the city finally made it at the third attempt

for 2018. Thus, South Korea became the host of the

Olympic Games once again after the 1988 Seoul

Summer Olympics. The 2018 Pyeongchang Winter

Olympics will be the second winter Olympics held in

Asia after the Games held in Nagano, Japan in 1998.

The Summer and Winter Olympic Games, the FIFA World Cup,

and the IAAF World Championships in Athletics are said to be the

four most important international sporting events. South Korea

will be the sixth country to have hosted all of them by 2018 -

after France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Russia.

TaekwondoOriginated in Korea, Taekwondo is a martial art of self-defence

in which the competitors use both their hands and feet. In

ancient times, Koreans practiced Taekwondo as a mandatory

preparation for war.

With the passage of time, Taekwondo gradually became a

folk sport. In 1971, it was designated as Korea’s national sport.

In 1973, the 1st World Taekwondo Championship were held in

Seoul and in 1980, the IOC adopted it as an official event of the

Olympic Games. It has grown into an international sport with

around 100 million participants globally.

Taekwondo stresses the importance of spiritual discipline and

for this reason it enjoys popularity among both men and women.

2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics IOC President Jacques Rogge announces Pyeongchang as the Host City for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games.

182

The South Korean government assists with the dispatching of

Taekwondo masters worldwide. Active UN Peacekeeping Forces

teach Taekwondo to local residents in disputed territories, where

they are stationed. In many parts of the world, Taekwondo is

A Taekwondo demonstration in Times Square, New York

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viewed as a symbol of South Korea. As for its educational effects

associated with spiritual discipline and tenacity, Taekwondo

is emerging as an option for the treatment of young people

suffering from addictions.

역사

History

The Beginnings of the Country’s History

(Prehistoric Times - Gojoseon)

Three Kingdoms and other States

Unified Silla and Balhae

Goryeo

Joseon

The Fall of Joseon: Imperial Japan’s Annexation of Korea

Independence Movement

Transition to a Democracy and Transformation

into an Economic Powerhouse

6

186

Hand Axe This multifunctional tool dates back to the Paleolithic period, it was discovered in Jeongok-ri, Yeoncheon-gun, Gyeonggi-do.

187

6History역사

The Beginnings of the Country’s History

(Prehistoric Times - Gojoseon)The history of the Korean nation began in Manchuria and the

Korean Peninsula when people started settling there 700,000

years ago. Representative historic sites associated with the people

of the Paleolithic Age, who used tools made of animal horns and

chipped stone tools, include Geomeunmoru Cave in Sangwon,

Pyeongannam-do; Jeongok-ri in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi-do;

Seokjang-ri in Gongju, Chungcheongnam-do; and Durubong Cave

in Cheongwon, Chungcheongbuk-do. The early inhabitants of the

peninsula survived by hunting for animals and collecting edible

plants in groups.

In Korea, the Neolithic Age began around B.C.8,000. People

started farming, cultivating cereals such as millet, and used polished

stone tools. They started settling down permanently in places and

formed clan societies. One of the most representative features of

the Neolithic Age is comb-patterned pottery, examples of which

have been found all across the Korean Peninsula, including Amsa-

dong, Seoul; Namgyeong, Pyeongyang; and Suga-ri, Gimhae.

The Bronze Age started around the 10th century BC on the

Korean Peninsula and the 15th century BC in Manchuria. Historic

sites associated with the Bronze Age are found in Liaoning and

Comb-pattern PotteryThis object with a pointy bottom was discovered in Amsa-dong, Seoul, a representative historic site of the Neolithic Age.

(Source: National Museum of Korea)

188

Jilin Provinces, China and across the Korean Peninsula. With the

development of the Bronze culture, a society emerged in which

the head of a clan exercised great influence. The strongest clan

leaders started merging many clans into one, and these groups

very gradually developed into early states.

The tribes that played a central role in the establishment of

Gojoseon, which emerged as the first recognizable state of the

Korean people, believed in the King of Heaven and worshipped

bears. The two factions jointly upheld Dangun Wanggeom as their

chief priest and political leader. Gojoseon fostered an independent

culture in Liaoning, China and along the Daedonggang River.

By the 3rd century BC, kings such as King Bu and King Jun had

become powerful and bequeathed the throne to their sons.

They established a solid system of rule, backed by high-ranking

retainers and military officers.

Towards the end of the 3rd century, the Qin Dynasty was

replaced by the Han Dynasty in China, creating a period of

social upheaval. Many people moved southward to Gojoseon.

Their leader, Wiman, acceded to the throne in B.C.194 and

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Gojoseon expanded its territory under his rule. By this time,

Gojoseon had adopted iron culture, developed agriculture and

various handicrafts, and increased its military strength. It tried to

monopolize profit, while serving as an intermediate in the trade

between the Korean Peninsula and China, taking advantage of

its geographical proximity to China. This led to confrontation

between Gojoseon and Han China. Han attacked Gojoseon with

a large number of ground and naval forces. Gojoseon defiantly

resisted the attack and won a great victory in the early stage of

the war, but its capital at Wanggeomseong Fortress fell after a

year of war, and Gojoseon collapsed in B.C.108.

Dolmen

The Seven Wonders of the World include sites such as the Great

Pyramid of Giza, the Great Wall of China, and Stonehenge in

England among others. The many dolmens scattered around the

Korean Peninsula compare favorably with them for the following

reasons:

First, the Korea Peninsula has over 36,000 dolmens, or about Dolmen Park in Suncheon, Jeollanam-do

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half of all the dolmens in the world.

Second, diverse artifacts, including

human bones, stone objects, jade and

bronze artifacts, have been unearthed

from the dolmens, although many of

them were also found to contain no

objects. Such discoveries raised many

pertinent questions such as who

made the dolmens, when, and why? What kind of life did their

builders lead?

Third, one can only wonder about how such large stones were

transported and from where, and what kind of skills were used to

build the dolmens.

In the past, the dolmens in Korea used to be classified into

two categories: the northern type (table type), which includes the

dolmens located north of the Hangang River, and the southern

type (go-table type). However, after go-table dolmens were found

north of the Hangang River, and table-type dolmens were found

south of the river, the northern/southern-type appellations were

dropped. Meanwhile, other scholars have added new types to this

system of classification.

Dolmens are often referred to as tombs, but it is difficult to

make this claim with any certainty. Yi Gyu-bo, a great scholar

of Goryeo in the 12th century, left the following remarks about

dolmens: “People say that the saints put the dolmens there in the

olden days. It is indeed a wonderful technique (that enabled men

to position such huge rocks in that way).”

In the early 20th century, American missionary Horace Grant

Underwood claimed that dolmens were not tombs but rather

Table-type dolmens in Bugeun-ri, Ganghwa

Mandolin-shaped Bronze Dagger and Slender Bronze Dagger (Gojoseon)These two artifacts represent the Bronze Age. They are thought to be either weapons or ritual objects. The one on the left looks similar to a bipa (Korean mandolin), while the one on the right is more slender and displays a straight line.

(Source: National Museum of Korea)

191

that they were put there for sacrificial rituals offered to the gods

of the earth. A Korean folklorist named Son Jin-tae pointed to

a folktale in which dolmens were believed to be the houses of

witches (Mago halmeoni in local legends).

Dolmens are rarely found in China, except for Manchuria,

or Japan, yet many thousands of them can be seen across the

Korean Peninsula. They were erected over many thousands of

years, but this process stopped sometime before Christ. There

are many unsolved mysteries surrounding the dolmens, such as

the reason for their concentration in such great numbers on the

Korean Peninsula in Northeast Asia and their connectivity with

those found in Europe or India. UNESCO’s acceptance of the

South Korean government’s application for registration of the

dolmens in Ganghwa, Hwasun, and Gochang in 2000 as a world

cultural heritage attests to the world’s growing interest in their

importance in the field of cultural anthropology.

Three Kingdoms and other States Towards the end of the Gojoseon Period, tribal states came

into being one after another in Manchuria and on the Korean

Peninsula. Buyeo was established in the plains along the

Songhuajiang River in Manchuria and Jilin. The people of Buyeo

grew crops and raised livestock, including horses. They also made

furs. By the early 1st century AD, they started calling their main

leader the King and actively engaged with other countries, even

entering into diplomatic relations with China. By the end of

the 3rd century, Buyeo had been incorporated into Goguryeo.

The people of Buyeo held an annual festival called Yeonggo in

December. During the festival, they held a sacrificial rite for

Stele for Great King Gwanggaeto (Goguryeo; 5th Century)King Gwanggaeto the Great, the 19th king of Goguryeo, expanded the territory of his Kingdom into Manchuria and the Maritime Provinces of Siberia. In 414, his son King Jangsu set up a stele (6.39m high, 37 tons) in present-day Jian, Jilin Province, China to commemorate his father’s great achievements. The inscription, comprising 1,775 characters, explains how Goguryeo was founded and how it expanded its territory.

192

heaven, sang and danced together, and released prisoners.

The Kingdom fell apart during the establishment of the

regional confederation, but the factions that founded Goguryeo

and Baekje took pride in their status as the inheritors of Buyeo.

Samguk sagi (History of the Three Kingdoms) states that

Gojumong, who founded Goguryeo in B.C.37, was originally from

Buyeo. Goguryeo prospered greatly in areas close to Baekdusan

Mountain and along the Amnokgang (Yalu) River. Right after its

foundation, the Kingdom conquered a number of small states in

the area and moved its capital to Gungnaeseong (Tonggu) near

the Amnok. Through many wars, it drove away the factions loyal

to Han Dynasty and expanded its territory as far as Liaodong in

the west and to the north of the Korean Peninsula in the east. It

became a powerful state, exerting control over Manchuria and the

northern part of the Korean Peninsula.

There were also a number of small states, such as Okjeo

and Dongye, in present-day Hamgyeong-do and the north of

Gangwon-do along the East Coast of the Korean Peninsula.

Located in outlying areas, they did not develop very rapidly. Okjeo

offered tributes, such as salt and fish, to Goguryeo. The people

of Dongye held a sacrificial rite for heaven called Mucheon in

October, building a spirit of collaboration by singing and dancing

together. Their specialty products included an archery bow,

known as a dangung, and the gwahama (a horse small enough to

pass unhindered beneath fruit trees). These two states were also

incorporated into Goguryeo.

The area to the south of Gojoseon was occupied by a large

group of small states including Mahan, Jinhan, and Byeonhan.

Mahan was a confederacy of fifty-four small states (composed of

193

100,000 households in total) located in present-day Gyeonggi,

Chungcheong, and Jeolla Provinces. Byeonhan was located in

an area that included present-day Gimhae and Masan. Jinhan

was located in an area that included present-day Daegu and

Gyeongju. Each of the latter two was composed of 40,000 –

50,000 households. The three mini-states were collectively known

as Samhan (Three Han States). The people of Samhan held rites of

sacrifice for heaven in May and October. On such occasions, they

gathered together to enjoy liquor, food, singing and dancing.

Pyeongyang

Usanguk

Dokdo

Tamna

Geumseong (Gyeongju)

Ungjin (Gongju)Sabi (Buyeo)

Goguryeo

West Sea

East Sea

Baekje Gaya

Silla

The Three Kingdoms and Gaya (5th Century AD)

194

Along with the spread of iron culture and the development

of farming skills, powerful states such as Goguryeo, Baekje and

Silla gradually became established in Manchuria and the Korean

Peninsula.

Goguryeo

Goguryeo was the first of the three Kingdoms to firmly establish

itself as a sovereign country. It started expanding its territory in

the late 1st century and adopted a system centered on the King

by the late 2nd century. By the early 4th century, King Micheon

of Goguryeo had driven away factions loyal to Han Dynasty from

the Korean Peninsula.

In 372 (the 2nd year of King Sosurim’s reign), Goguryeo

adopted Buddhism and announced a code of laws in an effort

to establish a proper ruling system. It also established the

Taehak, a Confucian educational institute. King Gwanggaeto the

A painting of hunting scenes in the Tomb of the Dancers (5th century, Goguryeo Kingdom)Dynamic hunting activities of the people of Goguryeo (37 BCE-668 CE)

Jar with Clay Figurines (Silla; 5th Century)In ancient times, people made animal-shaped clay figurines for use as toys or burial accessories. This jar indicates the religious belief of the people of Silla. It is an important material for scholars and enthusiasts of history and art.

(Source: National Museum of Korea)

195

Great, a son of King Sosurim, drove away the Khitan, Sushen,

Dongbuyeo and expanded his territory into Manchuria. He also

captured many of Baekje’s fortresses in the south and helped Silla

overcome a crisis by driving away Wako invaders.

Baekje

Baekje was established in B.C.18 jointly by the people who lived

along the Hangang River, people originating from Buyeo and

Goguryeo, and migrants from elsewhere. By the mid-3rd century,

during the reign of King Goi, the Kingdom had seized complete

control over the areas along the Hangang River and established

a solid system of political governance by accommodating

the advanced culture of China. By the mid-4th century, King

Geunchogo occupied Mahan and expanded the territory as far as

the south coast of present-day Jeollanam-do. Along the northern

border, Baekje confronted Goguryeo in a bid to take control of

Gold Crown of GayaThis crown was unearthed in Goryeong, Gyeongsangbuk-do. It features upright decorations and curved jade pendants.

196

present-day Hwanghae-do. It also exerted control over Gaya in

the south. At that time, Baekje’s territory included present-day

Gyeonggi-do, Chungcheong-do, Jeolla-do, the middle reaches of

the Nakdonggang River, Gangwon-do, and Hwanghae-do.

Silla

Silla originated in Saroguk, one of the mini states of Jinhan. It was

established as a Kingdom in B.C.57 by the natives of present-day

Gyeongju and people from other regions. Those with the family

names Park, Seok, and Kim acceded to the throne in turn. By

around the 4th century, the Kingdom occupied most of the areas

east of the Nakdonggang River. During the reign of King Naemul,

Silla allowed Goguryeo troops to remain within the Kingdom to

help drive away Wako invaders. It also adopted Chinese culture

and civilization through Goguryeo.

In Byeonhan, located along the lower reaches of the

Nakdonggang River, the Gaya Confederation emerged, with

Geumgwan Gaya playing a leading role. The confederation

developed an iron culture and exerted considerable influence on

areas along the Nakdonggang River. Mini states of Gaya started

rice farming early on and traded actively with Wa (Japan) and

Lelang, taking advantage of locally produced iron and convenient

sea routes.

Unification of the Three Kingdoms under Silla

By the 5th century, each of the three Kingdoms (Goguryeo,

Baekje, and Silla) on the Korean Peninsula was committed to a

policy of territorial expansion under a firmly established ruling

apparatus centered on the King. In Goguryeo, King Jangsu, a son

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of King Gwanggaeto, moved the capital to Pyeongyang in 427.

He occupied Hanseong (present-day Seoul), the capital of Baekje,

and areas along the Hangang River, expanding his territory

down to present-day Jungnyeong Pass (Danyang and Yeongju)

and Namyang-myeon, Gyeonggi-do. Thanks to this territorial

expansion, Goguryeo emerged as a power to be reckoned with in

Northeast Asia

Looking at Baekje, the Kingdom moved its capital to Ungjin

(present-day Gongju) in 475, after yielding the areas along the

Hangang River to Goguryeo. It strived to rebuild its strength to

regain the lost territory. King Dongseong confronted Goguryeo

by reinforcing the alliance with Silla. King Muryeong reinforced

local control in an effort to lay the foundation for prosperity.

King Seong, a son of King Muryeong, relocated the Baekje

capital to Sabi (present-day Buyeo), strove to reform

the ruling system, and regained control over areas along

the Hangang River in an alliance with Silla.

As for Silla, Saroguk changed its name to Silla

in the early 6th century, reformed its political

system, and reorganized its administrative zones,

including the capital, during the reign of King Jijeung. King

Jijeung incorporated Usanguk (composed of present-day

Ulleungdo and Dokdo) into the territory of Silla in

512. King Beopheung stabilized the ruling system by

proclaiming laws, setting rules about official robes,

and adopting Buddhism as the official state religion.

He also incorporated Geumgwan Gaya in a drive to

expand the territory. King Jinheung reorganized

Hwarangdo into a national organization and

Great Gilt-bronze Incense Burner of Baekje (6th Century)This precious object has helped researchers broaden their understanding of the production skills, handicrafts, artistic culture, religion, and ideas of Baekje.

(Source: National Museum of Korea)

198

expanded the territory considerably. He seized lands along the

Hangang River from Baekje, conquered Dae Gaya in Goryeong,

wrested areas along the Nakdonggang River, and expanded the

territory as far as Hamheung along the East Coast.

In 612, Sui China, which unified all of mainland China into one

state, attacked Goguryeo, mobilizing more than a million troops.

General Eulji Mundeok of Goguryeo drowned most of the Chinese

invaders in the Salsu (present-day Cheongcheongang River). The

Sui Dynasty sustained enormous damage due to the failure of

the campaign and fell to the Tang Dynasty in 618. Tang China also

attacked Goguryeo several times, but failed at each attempt.

In the meantime, Baekje frequently attacked Silla. Silla

unsuccessfully sought the assistance of Goguryeo, and then

invaded in an alliance with Tang China. Silla troops led by Kim

Yu-sin defeated an elite force of Baekje troops commanded by

Gyebaek in Hwangsanbeol and marched to Sabi, the capital of

Baekje. Troops of Tang China invaded Baekje through the estuary

of the Geumgang River. Finally, Baekje surrendered to the Silla-

Sacred Bell of Great King Seongdeok(Unified Silla, 8th Century)Weighing 18.9 tons, this is the largest bell in the country. It is also called the Emille Bell. The Flying Apsaras in the picture on the right displays the exquisite decorative skills of Silla.

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Tang forces in 660.

The Silla-Tang forces then attacked Goguryeo, once the most

powerful Kingdom in Northeast Asia. However, Goguryeo had

depleted its resources in two large-scale wars against the two

dynasties of China, and fell in 668.

Upon conquering Baekje and Goguryeo in alliance with Silla,

Tang China attempted to exert control over the entire Korean

Peninsula, including Silla. Silla waged a war against Tang, defeated

its navy in Gibeolpo near the estuary of the Geumgang River, and

drove all of Tang’s forces out of the peninsula, thus accomplishing

the important feat of unifying the Korean Peninsula in 676.

North and South States Period:

Unified Silla and BalhaeWith the unification of the three Kingdoms on the Korean

Peninsula in 668, Silla enjoyed a marked expansion of both its

territory and population. Unified Silla entered a period of dazzling

economic development. It mended fences with Tang China. The

two countries saw vigorous exchanges between traders, monks,

and Confucian scholars. Silla exported gold/silver handiworks and

ginseng to Tang and imported books, chinaware, satin silk fabric,

clothes, and craftwork products. Goods from Central Asia were

introduced to Silla, and traders from that region paid visits to Silla

via the Silk Road and sea routes.

The major ports of Silla included Ulsan and Danghangseong

(present-day Hwaseong, Gyeonggi-do), through which numerous

goods from Central and Southern Asia were imported. In the early

9th century, General Jang Bo-go of Silla established a forward

base in Cheonghaejin (present-day Wando, Jeollanam-do) to

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deal with the pirate menace and encourage trade with nearby

countries including China and Japan.

In the meantime, the survivors of the fallen Kingdom of

Goguryeo resisted Tang China’s rule. In 698, a group of them led

by Dae Jo-yeong, jointly with the Mohe, founded Balhae near

present-day Dongmiaoshan in Jilin Province, China. The new

Kingdom would eventually confront Silla in the south.

Unified Silla and Balhae (8th Century)

Balhae

Sanggyeong

Pyeongyang

Tamna

Geumseong (Gyeongju)

Silla

Usanguk

DokdoWest Sea

East Sea

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Balhae started expanding its territory and regained control

over most of the former territory of Goguryeo. During the reign

of King Mu, Balhae controlled northern Manchuria. King Mun

reformed the system of governance and moved the capital to

Sanggyeong (present-day Ningan-xian, Heilongjiang Province)

in about 755. The people of Balhae took pride in their Goguryeo

inheritance. Letters held in Japan show that the kings of Balhae

referred to themselves as the Kings of Goguryeo. Balhae

eventually grew so large and strong that the people of Tang China

called it Haedong seongguk (“prosperous country in the east”),

but it fell in 926 as a result of the devastation caused by an

eruption of Baekdusan Mountain and an invasion of the Khitan.

GoryeoBy the late 8th century, Silla had been weakened by

an internal struggle for power among the nobility;

and, by the 10th century, leaders of powerful local

factions, such as Gyeon Hwon and Gungye, had

established their own regimes. In 892, Gyeon Hwon

established a Kingdom named Later Baekje, with

Wansanju as its capital, and gained control of present-

day Jeolla-do and Chungcheong-do.

In 901, Gungye, a member of the Silla royal family,

founded Later Goguryeo, exerting control over present-day

Gangwon-do and Gyeonggi-do. He expanded the territory,

reformed the ruling system, and relocated the capital to

Cheorwon. He also changed the name of the country to

Taebong.

Gungye lost popularity among his people while exerting

Celadon Prunus Vase with Inlaid Cloud and Crane Design (Goryeo, 12th Century) The jade green celadon ware represents the ceramics of the Goryeo period. The exquisite patterns on these objects were created by inlaying white and black clay into grooves etched on their surface. Inlaid designs such as this are recognized as a unique skill.

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control over local leaders and strengthening his claim to the

throne. In 918, he was driven away by Wang Geon, a local leader

from Songak. Wang Geon changed the name of the country to

Goryeo, announced that the country would inherit Goguryeo, and

moved the capital to Songak. Goryeo remained hostile to Later

Baekje and adopted a policy of positive engagement with Silla.

In 935, Unified Silla was peacefully incorporated into Goryeo.

Following a power struggle among leaders in Later Baekje, Gyeon

Hwon surrendered to Wang Geon. In 936, Later Baekje fell to

Goryeo. Thus, Wang Geon unified the Later Three Kingdoms on

the Korean Peninsula.

Goryeo adopted Confucianism as its political ideology and

established an effective education system by founding the

Gukjagam (a national higher education institution) and numerous

hyanggyo (local private schools). Buddhism also exerted a

considerable influence on Goryeo society in general. The Kingdom

adopted a more tolerant approach towards the acceptance of

other religions, as indicated by the Yeondeunghoe (Lotus Lantern

Festival) and Palgwanhoe (Festival of the Eight Vows), rites in

which prayers were offered for blessing, based on a syncretic mix

of folk religions and Buddhism.

Goryeo engaged in brisk trade with many countries, including

Song China. Many traders from Song China, Central Asia, Arabia,

Southeast Asia and Japan travelled to Byeongnando, the gateway

to the capital, Gaeseong. Traders from Song China sold satin, silk

and medicinal herbs, while traders from Goryeo sold hemp cloth

and ginseng. Gems such as ivory, crystal, amber were imported

from Arabia. And, finally, the name ‘Korea’ originated from Goryeo

during this period.

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The Goryeo Kingdom gave birth to a splendid culture. The

inlaid designs found on Goryeo jade-green porcelain attest to a

unique artistry unparalleled elsewhere in the world at that time.

The Tripitaka Koreana (a Korean collection of the Tripitaka, or

Buddhist scriptures, carved onto 81,258 wooden printing blocks),

which was made during the Goryeo Period, is the essence of

Buddhist culture and the pinnacle of achievement of wooden

printing block technology. The world’s first metal printing types

were also invented during the Goryeo Period. According to the

pertinent records, the people of Goryeo invented metal printing

Tamna

Usanguk

Dokdo

West Sea

East SeaSeogyeong(Pyeongyang)

Gaegyeong (Gaeseong)Namgyeong (Seoul)

Donggyeong (Gyeongju)

Goryeo (11th Century)

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types more than 200 years before

Johannes Gutenburg in Europe. A book

entitled Jikji (Anthology of Great Buddhist

Priests' Zen Teachings) was printed in 1377

with metal printing types, 78 years ahead

of its European homologue printed in 1455.

Jikji is kept at the National Library of France

and was registered as a Memory of the World in 2001.

War with the Mongols

In the early 13th century, the situation in China changed

abruptly. The Mongols conquered the Jin Dynasty of China and

expanded their influence into the Korean Peninsula. They invaded

Goryeo seven times between 1231 and 1259. In an effort to

resist these attacks, Goryeo moved its capital to Ganghwa. Even

ordinary people and slaves fought the invaders. In 1259, a peace

agreement was signed between the two countries. The Yuan

Dynasty of China established by the Mongols accepted Goryeo’s

six conditions for peace, including a guarantee of the continued

existence of the Goryeo Dynasty and Mongol troops’ immediate

withdrawal from the Korean Peninsula. The agreement was a

result of Goryeo’s persistent resistance to the Mongols’ plan to

bring Goryeo under its direct control.

Despite the agreement with the Mongols, a group of Goryeo

troops continued to fight them, moving their base of operations to

Jindo and then to Jejudo. They continued to fight until 1273. Their

forty-two-year campaign of resistance against the Mongols, the

world’s strongest power at that time, attests to their perseverance

and indomitable spirit. However, the national land was devastated

Jikji (1377), the oldest extant text printed with movable metal type

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and people’s lives were destroyed due to the long years of war. The

Mongols destroyed many precious cultural heritages, including the

nine-tier pagoda at Hwangnyongsa Temple.

JoseonTowards the end of the 13th century, Goryeo found itself in a

difficult situation due to internal and external problems, including

a struggle for power among the nobility and incursions by red-

Ulleungdo

DokdoWest Sea

East Sea

Hamgil-do (Hamgyeong-do)

Pyeongan-do Hamheung

Pyeongyang

Haeju

Wonju

Gongju

Jeonju Daegu

Hwanghae-do

Gangwon-do

Gyeongsang-do

Jeolla-do

Jejudo

Chungcheong-do

Gyeonggi-do

Joseon (15th Century)

Hanseong(Seoul)

206

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turbaned bandits and Wako pirates. At that time, General Yi

Seong-gye had become popular among the people for his role in

driving away foreign invaders. He overthrew the Goryeo Dynasty

and founded a new dynasty, Joseon. As the first King Taejo of

Joseon, he chose Hanyang (present-day Seoul) – judged to be a

propitious spot according to the principles of feng shui – as the

capital of the new dynasty. He also ordered the construction of

Gyeongbokgung Palace and Jongmyo Shrine, as well as roads

and markets. The new capital, located in the center of the Korean

Peninsula, was easily accessible via the Hangang River, which

flowed directly through its heart.

King Taejong, the third King and a son of the founder of the

dynasty, made a significant contribution to stabilizing the system

of governance. He adopted a system by which all people were

registered under the Hopae Act, and launched six ministries,

namely, the Ministries of Personnel Administration, Finance,

Protocol, Defense, Justice, and Public Works, to govern the

country. King Sejong, the fourth King and a son of King Taejong,

ushered in an era of great political, social, and cultural prosperity.

Scholars at the Jiphyeonjeon (Hall of Worthies) developed strong

and effective policies. During the reigns of Sejo, Yejong, and

Seongjong, the Gyeongguk daejeon (National Code) was drawn

up with the aim of establishing a long-lasting ruling system.

The Creation of Hangeul

Koreans had used Chinese characters as their alphabet and

writing system for many centuries. Idu and Hyangchal, systems

for writing the spoken word, using Chinese characters, had been

developed, but they left much to be desired. In 1443, King Sejong

Cheonsang yeolcha bunya jido (Joseon, 17th Century)This (on the left) astronomical chart from Joseon shows the constellations.

(Source: National Palace Museum of Korea)

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supervised the creation of Hangeul (the Korean alphabet) and

promulgated it to the people three years later, in 1446. The

shapes of the Korean alphabet were based on the shapes made by

the human vocal apparatus during pronunciation. Many scholars

have stated that Hangeul is the most scientific and easy-to-

learn writing system in the world. It certainly went a long way

towards enhancing communication between the people and the

government, and played a decisive role in laying the foundations

of a culturally advanced country.

Development of Science and Technology

During the Joseon period, the country’s science and technology

developed considerably. The Jagyeongnu (clepsydra), Angbuilgu

(sun dial), and Honcheonui (armillary sphere) were all invented

in the early period of the dynasty. A rain gauge, the first of its

particular kind in the world, was used. Devices for land survey and

mapmaking were also made. During the reign of King Taejo, the

Cheonsang yeolcha bunya jido (Celestial Chart) was made based

on a previous version drawn up during the Goguryeo Period.

During the reign of King Sejong, Chiljeongsan (Calculation of the

Motions of the Seven Celestial Determinants) was made based

Angbuilgu (Joseon; 17th~18th Centuries)A sundial capable of marking changes in both time and season (Left)

(Source: National Palace Museum of Korea)

Rain Gauge (Joseon, 18th Century)This rain gauge used to be installed in Seonhwadang, Daegu (Right)

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on the Shoushili calendar of China and the Islamic calendar of

Arabia. Noticeable advances were made in the sphere of medical

science. Hyangyak jipseongbang (Compilation of Native Korea

Prescriptions) and Uibang yuchi (Classified Collection of Medical

Prescriptions) were compiled. Metal printing types, such as

Gyemija and Gabinja, were made during the reigns of Taejong and

Sejong, making it possible to publish many books.

Joseon’s Foreign Relations

Joseon maintained friendly relations with Ming China. The two

countries exchanged royal envoys every year and engaged in

busy cultural and economic exchanges. Joseon also accepted

Japan’s request for bilateral trade by opening the ports of Busan,

Jinhae, and Ulsan. In 1443, Joseon signed an agreement with the

Tsushima Clan Leader of Japan for bilateral trade. Joseon also

traded with Asian countries, such as Ryukyu, Siam, and Java.

Development of Handcraft Skills

Chinaware is perhaps the most representative handcraft

of the Joseon Period. Grayish-blue-powdered celadon

or white porcelain was widely used at the Royal

Court or government offices. By about the 16th

century, Joseon’s chinaware production skills

had reached their zenith. Its white porcelain

typically exhibited clean, plain shapes based on

the tradition established during the Goryeo Period.

They were suited to the aristocratic taste of the

Confucian scholars.

White Porcelain Jar with Plum, Bamboo, Bird Design (Joseon; 15th Century)This vase made in the early Joseon Period displays a uniquely Korean atmosphere in its refined portrayal of bamboo, plum, and birds.

(Source: National Museum of Korea)

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Imjin Waeran (Japanese Invasion of 1592)

Throughout the 14th and 15th centuries, Joseon maintained good

relations with Japan. In the 16th century, however, Japan called

for a larger share of the bilateral trade, but Joseon refused to

comply with the request. Japanese threw the country into turmoil

by causing disturbances in 1510 and 1555. In Japan, Toyotomi

Hideyoshi brought the confusion of the 120-year-long Warring

States Period to a conclusion and unified the country. Then, in

1592, he invaded Joseon with around 200,000 troops, with the

aim of dissipating local lords’ strength and stabilizing his rule in

Japan. The war lasted until 1598.

Feeling threatened by the invading Japanese troops, King

Seonjo of Joseon fled to Uiju, close to Ming China, and asked the

Ming to come to his aid. The Japanese invaders marched into the

northern provinces of Joseon. Korean militias started fighting

the invaders here and there across the country. It is particularly

noteworthy that Korean naval forces led by Admiral Yi Sun-sin

won one victory after another against the invaders and defended

the nation’s breadbasket in Jeolla-do Province. The Japanese forces

pulled out of Korea, but invaded Joseon again in 1597. Although

Admiral Yi Sun-sin was left with only thirteen warships, he won

a devastating victory against the Japanese fleet of 133 ships. The

sea battle waged in the Strait of Myeongnyang was one of the

greatest military engagements of all time, and is surely worthy of

inclusion in any record of the world history of naval battles.

Following the death of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the Japanese

invaders returned home. During the seven-year war, many cultural

heritages in Joseon, including Bulguksa Temple, were destroyed.

The Japanese took away books, printing types, and works of art

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from Joseon. With these spoils of war, the Japanese were able

to enhance scholarship and the arts in their own country, while

porcelain makers whom the Japanese troops abducted from

Joseon helped Japan develop its own china culture.

Development of Grassroots Culture

In the late Joseon Period, commerce and industry entered a period

of rapid development. Many children could receive education

at private schools in their local neighborhood. With these

improvements in the quality of life of the people, they began to

enjoy diverse entertainments. Stories written in easily understood

Hangeul, as opposed to literary works published in Chinese,

were widely distributed. Pansori (a genre of musical storytelling)

and mask dance developed. In the late 19th century, Sin Jae-

hyo arranged pansori saseol (stories). Five leading pansori songs,

namely, Chunhyangga (The Song of Chunhyang), Simcheongga

(The Song of Sim Cheong), Heungboga (The Song of Heungbo),

SandaenoriThis is a type of traditional stage play, in which masked actors and actresses engage in gags, dances, songs, etc.

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Jeokbyeokga (The Song of Red Cliff), and Sugungga (The Song of

the Rabbit and the Turtle) have been handed down to the present

day. Mask plays such as Tallori and Sandaenori enjoyed great

popularity among ordinary people.

The Fall of Joseon:

Imperial Japan’s Annexation of KoreaWith the onset of the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century,

capitalism developed in Europe and large businesses came into

being. European countries expanded their colonies in Asia and

Africa. By the mid-19th century, the western powers had forced

Qing China and Japan to open their doors and then asked the

same of Joseon, but Joseon duly rejected such requests. Joseon

did not yield to pressure applied in the form of naval attacks in

1866 (by the French) and 1871 (by the Americans).

In the ensuing period, the western powers did not stop

exerting pressure. In 1875, Japan dispatched the battleship Unyo

Maru to attack Ganghwado and Yeongjongdo Islands, demanding

that Joseon open its doors to foreign trade missions. Ultimately,

Joseon was forced to sign the highly unequal, one-sided

Ganghwado Treaty with Japan in 1876 under the threat of force.

Subsequently, imperialist powers, including Japan, vied with each

other to pillage Joseon’s resources. In 1897, Joseon changed its name

to Imperial Korea and pushed ahead with reforms and the open-

door policy, but it was too late. Japan soon won major victories in

its wars against Qing China and Russia, emerged as a strong power

in Northeast Asia, and took steps to annex Joseon. Many Korean

patriots, including Ahn Jung-geun, resisted such a plan, but to no

avail. In August 1910, Imperial Korea became a Japanese colony.

Ganghwado TreatyThe Ganghwado Treaty was a highly unequal, one-sided trade treaty signed between Joseon and Japan on February 27, 1876 under threat of force.

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Independence MovementDuring the colonial period (1910-1945), the Japanese pillaged

Joseon’s resources, banned the use of the Korean language -

even going so far in 1939 as to require Koreans to change their

personal names to Japanese style surnames and given names

under the Name Order, and conscripted Koreans into their

work force or as uniformed soldiers in the Pacific War. Koreans

engaged in persistent struggles to regain their independence.

They organized clandestine organizations to fight the Japanese

Leaders of the Provisional Government They played a pivotal role in the independence movement between April 1919, when the Provisional Government was established in Shanghai, China, and the country's liberation in August 1945.

214

within the country. They also established forward bases for the

independence movement in China, Russia, and the United States.

In March 1919, Korean leaders announced the Declaration of

Independence. Students and ordinary people joined them by

staging street demonstrations across the country. These protests

continued for 12 months, involving about 2 million people, and

were violently suppressed by the Japanese, with many thousands

killed and wounded. The movement spread to the Koreans

resisting in Manchuria, the Maritime Provinces of Siberia, the

United States, Europe, and even to Japan. Following the March

1919 Independence Movement, organizations representing

Koreans were established in Seoul, the Maritime Provinces of

Siberia, and Shanghai. The Provisional Government of Korea

established in Shanghai was the country’s first democratic

republican government; it was equipped with a modern

Constitution and a political system that separated the three basic

branches (executive, legislative and judicial) of government.

Koreans also carried out armed struggles against the Japanese.

In the 1920s, more than thirty Korean independence army units

engaged in resistance activities in Manchuria and the Maritime

Provinces of Siberia. In June 1920, a Korean independence army

unit led by Hong Beom-do dealt a devastating blow to Japanese

troops in Fengwutung, Jilin Province, China. In October 1920,

Korean volunteers led by Kim Jwa-jin won a great victory against

Japanese troops in Helongxian, Manchuria. This is known as the

Battle of Cheongsalli among Koreans.

In 1940, the Provisional Government of Korea (PGK) organized

the Korean Liberation Army in Chungqing, integrating many

scattered volunteer independence fighters in Manchuria. The

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PGK declared war against Japan and dispatched troops to the

front lines in India and Myanmar to fight on the side of the Allied

Forces. Some young Koreans received special training from a

special military unit of the United States to better equip them

to attack Japanese forces in Korea. On August 15, 1945, Koreans

finally received what they had looked forward to for so long: the

country’s liberation as a result of Japan’s surrender in the Pacific

War. U.S. and Soviet troops were deployed to the south and

north of the 38th parallel, respectively to disarm Japanese troops

remaining on the Korean Peninsula.

Transition to a Democracy and Transformation

into an Economic PowerhouseIn May 1948, the country’s first democratic election was held

in South Korea under the UN’s supervision to elect the 198

Gyeongbu ExpresswayKorea's first national expressway connecting Seoul and Busan was opened in 1970.

216

members of the National Assembly. In July of the same year, the

Constitution was enacted and Rhee Syngman and Yi Si-yeong,

two independence fighters deeply respected by Koreans, were

elected as the country’s first President and Vice President. On

August 15, 1948, the Republic of Korea (ROK) was launched as

a free democracy, inheriting the legitimacy of the PGK. The UN

recognized the government of the ROK as the only legitimate

government on the Korean Peninsula.

However, to the north of the 38th parallel, a general election

under UN supervision could not be carried out due to the Soviet

Union’s opposition. On September 9, 1945, the Democratic

People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) was established as a

communist country, and Kim Il-sung, who had served as an officer

of the Soviet Russian Army, was sworn in as the President. Amid

the confrontation between a free democracy in the south and a

communist dictatorship in the north, the ROK government led by

President Rhee Syngman was burdened with many problems, such

as the establishment of domestic order, the elimination of any

remaining traces of the colonial rule, and conflicts between the

right and the left among others.

On June 25, 1950, North Korean troops armed with Soviet-

made tanks and fighters invaded the South, thus triggering an all-

out war. The UN Security Council unanimously condemned the

North Korean invasion and published a resolution recommending

that its member states provide military assistance to South

Korea. When the tide of the war turned against the North with

the intervention of the UN Forces, Red Chinese troops intervened

in the war on the North’s side. The two sides engaged in fierce

battles until, on July 27, 1953, the two sides finally signed the

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armistice agreement. President Rhee Syngman did not sign the

agreement, calling strongly for the prolongation of the war with

the goal of unifying the entire country in the South’s favor.

The three-year-long internecine war started by the

Communists reduced the entire Korean Peninsula to rubble.

Millions of troops and civilians were killed. Most of the country’s

industrial facilities were destroyed. South Korea became the

poorest country in the world. However, the war taught South

Koreans the preciousness of freedom. The experience provided

the foundation that inspired patriotism in the hearts of young

students and uniformed soldiers alike, and became the principal

engine of the country’s modernization.

President Rhee Syngman strengthened his authoritarian rule.

The 18th President, Park Geun-hyeShe was inaugurated in February 2013 as the country’s first female President.

218

In 1960, the ruling Liberal Party rigged the Presidential election.

Young students took to the streets in protest. The situation

deteriorated when many demonstrators were shot down by the

police. President Rhee Syngman announced his step-down and

took refuge in Hawaii. Shortly thereafter, the Constitution was

amended, and the Cabinet system and the bicameral National

Assembly were adopted. Under the new constitution, the regime

led by Prime Minister Jang Myeon was launched, but the political

situation became extremely fragile amid political struggles and

continued street demonstrations by students.

In May 1961, a group of young army officers led by General

Park Chung-hee seized power in a coup d’état. In the presidential

election held in October 1963, after two years of military rule,

Park Chung-hee, having retired from the military, was elected

as President and inaugurated in December that same year. The

government led by President Park set up a 5-year economic

development plan under the slogan of “modernization of the

fatherland” and achieved rapid economic growth by implementing

an export-oriented policy.

Observers called it “the Miracle on the Hangang River.”

The country vigorously pushed ahead with the development

of national land, including the construction of the Gyeongbu

Expressway and subway lines in large cities. The country also

carried out the Saemaeul Undong (New Community Movement),

turning the impoverished agricultural society into a country

focused mainly on manufacturing.

When the government announced the Yusin (Revitalization

Reform), which were designed to extend the term of the

incumbent government after eighteen years of dictatorship, in

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October 1972, students and ordinary people engaged in the

democratization movement. After the assassination of President

Park in October 1979, a new group of army officers led by General

Chun Doo-hwan (Singunbu) seized power through a coup d’état.

Singunbu suppressed the voices calling for democratization,

including the May 18 Democratization Movement, by force.

Chun Doo-hwan was sworn in as the President and ruled with an

authoritarian grip. The Chun Doo-hwan government concentrated

on economic stabilization, successfully bringing inflated prices

under control. Under his leadership, the country accomplished

continued economic growth.

In June 1987, Roh Tae-woo, a presidential hopeful of the

ruling party, made a special announcement to the effect that

he would accept the people’s request for democratization and

direct election of the President. In December of the same year,

he was elected to a five-year term as President. He was sworn in

as President in February 1988. The Roh Tae-woo administration

established diplomatic relations with Communist countries,

including the Soviet Union, China, and those in Eastern Europe.

During his term, the two Koreas joined the UN simultaneously, in

September 1991.

The Kim Young-sam government, which was inaugurated

in 1993, strove to eliminate corruption by making it a rule for

high-ranking public officials to register all their assets and by

prohibiting the use of false names in all financial transactions. The

level of transparency in business transactions was considerably

enhanced by this measure. The government also implemented

the local autonomy system in full force. Kim Dae-jung was

inaugurated as President in 1998. His government succeeded in

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overcoming the foreign exchange crisis that had hit the country

one year earlier, and strove to develop both democracy and the

market economy. In its relations with the North, the government

adopted the “sunshine policy.” In June 2000, the leaders of the

two Koreas met at a summit held in Pyongyang, North Korea,

and made a joint statement. Then, the two Koreas established

a system of reconciliation and cooperation, and agreed on

the reunion of dispersed family members, reconnection of

the Gyeongui and Donghae railroad lines, revitalization of the

unification movement led by the private sector, and the expansion

of economic cooperation, including sightseeing in Geumgangsan

Mountain.

The Roh Moo-hyun government, which was inaugurated in 2003,

concentrated on three leading objectives, namely, the realization

of democracy with the participation of the people, balanced social

development, and the construction of Northeast Asia with the focus

on peace and prosperity. The government also held the second

summit between the leaders of the two Koreas in Pyongyang in

October 2007 and signed an FTA with the United States.

The Lee Myung-bak administration, which was inaugurated

in February 2008, announced five leading indicators in a bid

for the establishment of a new development system with the

focus on changes and practicality. The government stressed that

it would be a government that would serve the people. It also

made efforts to reduce the government organization, privatize

public corporations (in addition to making them operate more

efficiently), and reform administrative regulations. Other policies

adopted by the government included the forging of a creative

alliance with the United States as befits the 21st century, and

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the creation of a global Korea under the South-North Economic

Community.

Ms. Park Geun-hye became the country’s first woman to be

elected President in the election held in December 2012. She was

inaugurated in February 2013. Her government presented a new

vision: Nation’s Development and People’s Happiness. Over the

past sixty-five years (1948-2013), the country has transformed

itself from one of the most impoverished countries in the world

to an economic powerhouse and an exemplar of free democracy.

This process may be viewed as a unique example in world history.

B.C. 5000 2000 1000 500 200 100 A.D. 200 300 400 500

Korea

China

The Paleolithic Age The Neolithic Age

The Iron Age Buyeo

The Bronze Age Gojoseon

The Samhan Period

The Three-Kingdom PeriodSilla (B.C.57 ~ A.D.935)Baekje (B.C.18 ~ A.D.660)Goguryeo (B.C.37 ~ A.D.668 )

Gold crown (Silla; the 6th Century)It features three twig-shaped upstanding decorations, two deer horn-shaped decorations, and decorations composed of round gold plates and comma-shaped jade. It also has two tree leaf-shaped hanging accessories.

Liaoning-style bronze dagger and Slender bronze daggerThey are bronze daggers representing the Bronze Age through the early Iron Age. Gaya (42~562)

Armor and helmetIt was made during the Gaya Period (5th Century). The steel plates were curved to meet the contours of the human body and attached to each other with nails.

Comb-patterned potteryThey are earthenware representing the Neolithic Age that contain geometric patterns, such as dots, lines, circles on the surface

Zhou (1046~256)

The Warring States Period (475~221)Qin (221~206)Former Han (B.C. 206~A.D. 25 )

The Chun Qiu Period (770~476)

Later Han (25~220) The Three-Kingdom Period (220~280)Chin (265~420)

South and North Dynasties (420~589)

Sui (581~618)

Mesopotamian civilizationDynasty of a Unified Egypt

Greek civilizationEstablishment of the Roman Empire (735)

Socrates (470~399)Alexander the Great (356~323)

The 1st Punic War (264~241)The 2nd Punic War (219~201)The 3rd Punic War (149~146)

Julius Caesar (101~44)

The Roman Empire declared Christianity the state religion (392)

East-west division of the Rome Empire(395)

Anglo Saxons built a kingdom in England (449)

Birth of Jesus Christ

Mahomet (570~632)

Samguk sagi (History of the Three Kingdoms) and Samguk yusa (Memorabilia of the

Three Kingdoms) divide the history of the Silla Dynasty into three periods: early, mid,

and late Silla Dynasty.

History at a Glance

222

Western

The Bronze Age

Shang (1600~1046)

Imperial Korea (1897-1910)

Unified Silla (676~935)

Goryeo (918~1392)

Janggyeongpanjeon Depositories of Haeinsa TempleTripitaka Koreana [a Korean collection of the Tripitaka (Buddhist scriptures) carved onto roughly 81,258 wooden printing blocks)] is the oldest extant collection of Buddhist scriptures with the most comprehensive contents.

HunminjeongeumThis book explains the principles on which Hangeul is based. Hangeul is the country’s writing system which was created by King Sejong (r. 1418~1450).

Buddha at Seokguram Grotto This work represents the esthetic beauty of Unified Silla. It displays the statue of Shakyamuni who reached the stage of enlightenment.

Establishment of the government of the Republic of Korea (1948)

The Korean War (1950~1953)

The 24th Seoul Summer Olympics (1988)

The 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan

Tang (618~907)

The Period of Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms (907~960)

Song (960~1279)

Yuan (1271~1368)

Ming (1368~1644)

Qing (1616~1911)

Establishment of the People’s Republic of China (1949)

Establishment of the Republic of China (1912)

Charles the Great became the Western Roman emperor (800)

First Crusade (1096~1099)

Marco Polo (1254~1324)Magna Carta (1215)

The Hundred Years’ War (1344~1434)

Gutenberg's printing technology (1455)Columbus’s discovery of America (1492)

Luther’s religious revolution (1517) The Thirty Years’ War (1618~1648)

The United States Declaration of Independence (1776)The French Revolution (1789~1793)

The American Civil War (1861~1865)

WW I(1914~1918)WW II(1939~1945)

600 700 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1800 1900 2000

Hijra (622), the first year of the Islamic calendar

The classification of periods based on ruling dynasties was the generally accepted

practice from the early 20th century. However, various new systems entered

widespread usage with the adoption of western methods of research on early

modern history.Joseon (1392-1910)

Balhae (698~926)

223

Constitution and Government

정부

Constitution

Executive, Legislative, and the Judiciary

Independent Organizations

Local Government

International Relations

7

226

7Government정부

The government of the Republic of Korea was launched on August

15, 1948. Three months earlier, the first members (198) of the

National Assembly had been elected in the country’s first general

election held under UN supervision. On July 17 of the same year,

the first National Assembly promulgated the Constitution. Its

members elected Rhee Syngman as the first President on July 20.

Rhee Syngman was widely known both in and out of the country

as a leader of the country’s independence movement. The 3rd UN

General Assembly held in Paris in December of that year passed

a resolution that the government established in the south of the

38th parallel was the only legitimate government on the Korean

Peninsula.

ConstitutionThe country’s Constitution was promulgated on July 17, 1948

after a month and half of work for its enactment. The government

observes it as a national holiday. The first amendment to the

Constitution was made in July 1952, while the 9th and last

amendment was passed by referendum on October 27, 1987.

The country’s Constitution adopts liberal democracy as the

basic principle of governance. The Constitution guarantees the

people’s freedom and rights under various laws. It also guarantees

227

equal opportunities in all sectors, including politics, economy,

society and culture, and recognizes the necessity of establishing a

welfare state. The Constitution also stipulates that all people have

the obligation to pay taxes, engage in national defense, educate

their children, and work.

The Constitution states that the country should endeavor

to maintain international peace. It stipulates that international

treaties signed by the country and general ly accepted

international laws have the same effects as domestic laws. Under

the Constitution, the status of aliens is guaranteed in accordance

with international laws and treaties.

Executive, Legislative, and the JudiciaryThe National Assembly is an institution that represents the

people’s opinions. All the laws of the country are made by the

National Assembly. At present, the National Assembly has 300

Seats of the 19th National Assembly Occupied by Political Parties

Independent (2)

Justice Party (5)

Unified Progressive Party (5)

New Politics Alliance for Democracy (130)

Saenuri Party (158)

The 19th National Assembly

228

members, each of whom is elected for a term of four years. The

National Assembly is composed of 246 members elected in

local constituencies and 54 members elected by political parties

for the purpose of proportional representation. The latter are

meant for vocational representation. At present, the ruling party

is the Saenuri Party, as it has the largest number of seats at the

Government Organization Chart

• The Board of Audit and Inspection of Korea

• National Intelligence Service

Ministry of

Oceans

and Fisheries

Ministry of

Land, Infrastructure

and Transport

Ministry of

Gender Equality

and Family

Ministry of

Agriculture, Food

and Rural Affairs

Ministry of

Unification

Ministry of

Foreign Affairs

Ministry of

Culture, Sports

and Tourism

Ministry of

Employment

and Labor

Ministry of

Strategy and

Finance

Ministry of

Justice

Ministry of

Trade, Industry

and Energy

Ministry of Science,

ICT and Future

Planning

Ministry of

National Defense

Ministry of

Health

and Welfare

Ministry of

Education

Ministry of Govern-

ment Administration

and Home Affairs

Ministry of

Environment

• Ministry of Public Safety and Security

• Ministry of Personnel Management

• Ministry of Government Legislation

• Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs

• Ministry of Food and Drug Safety

• Korea Fair Trade Commission

• Financial Services Commission

• Anti-corruption and Civil Rights

Commission of Korea

• Nuclear Safety and Security Commission

• Korea Communications Commission

President

Prime Minister

229

National Assembly. The leading opposition party is the New

Politics Alliance for Democracy. The first National Assembly was

launched in May 1948. The members of the current 19th National

Assembly (May 2012 – May 2016) were elected in the election

held in April 2012. The National Assembly building is located in

Yeouido near the Hangang River that flows through Seoul.

The executive right of the government is exercised by the

Executive Branch headed by the President. At present, the

President is elected through a direct election for a term of five

years. Under the Constitution, the President cannot be reelected

for a second term. The current President Park Geun-hye was

elected as the country’s first female president in December 2012

and was inaugurated in February 2013.

The Cabinet Meeting, in which the President and the Prime

Minister serve as the Chair and the Vice Chair, respectively,

deliberates on important policies under the rights accorded

to the Executive Branch of the government. In the absence of

the President, the Prime Minister controls the ministries of the

government on his/her behalf. At present, the Executive Branch

of the government operates two boards, five offices, twenty two

ministries, sixteen administrations, and six committees.

The Judiciary Branch of the government is composed of

the Supreme Court, appellate courts, district courts, family

courts, administrative courts, and the patent court among

others. The Supreme Court Chief Justice is appointed by the

President with the consent of the National Assembly, and other

Supreme Court justices are appointed by the President upon the

recommendation of the Chief Justice. The term for the Chief

Justice and justices is six years.

230

Presidents

Rhee Syngman

1st, 2nd and 3rd President (1948-1960)

Park Geun-hye

18th President (2013 - )

Yun Bo-seon

4th President(1960-1962)

Park Chung-hee

5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th President (1963-1979)

Choi Kyu-hah

10th President (1979-1980)

Chun Doo-hwan

11th and 12th President (1980-1988)

Roh Tae-woo

13th President (1988-1993)

Kim Young-sam

14th President (1993-1998)

Kim Dae-jung

15th President (1998-2003)

Roh Moo-hyun

16th President (2003-2008)

Lee Myung-bak

17th President (2008-2013)

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Independent OrganizationsBesides the Executive, Legislative, and Judiciary Branches of the

government, a number of other agencies carry out their respective

independent functions.

The Constitutional Court has the right to review whether

a specific law is unconstitutional, to judge an appeal for the

impeachment of a high-ranking official, and decide on the

disbandment of a political party under the Constitution. The

Constitutional Court is composed of three judges appointed by

the President, three judges appointed by the National Assembly,

and three judges appointed by the Supreme Court Chief Justice.

The President of the Constitutional Court is appointed by the

President with the consent of the National Assembly.

The National Election Commission handles matters

associated with elections, fair management of referendums,

polit ical parties, and polit ical funds. A member of the

commission is not allowed to join a specific political party

or engage in political activities. Their term is six years. The

chairman is elected from among the members.

The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK)

performs the role of respecting and realizing the dignity and

values of human beings as sovereign individuals by protecting

and promoting their basic rights. The commission was launched

in November 2001 in light of the people’s earnest desire

for improvement of the country’s human rights conditions

expressed during the democratization process. The commission

also handles cases concerning human rights infringement or

discrimination involving a foreigner residing or working in the

country.

232

Local GovernmentThe country adopted the local autonomous system in June 1995.

The Local Autonomy Act was enacted in 1949, but local autonomy

was not implemented during the period of political upheaval,

including the Korean War, the April 1960 Student Revolution, the

May 1961 Coup d’état.

Local governments are divided into high-level and low-

level local governments. With the inclusion of Sejong Special

Autonomous City in July 2012, the number of high-level local

governments was increased to seventeen (i.e. Seoul Special City,

six metropolises, eight provinces, and Jeju Special Self-Governing

Province). The number of low-level local governments stands at

227 (i.e. si/gun/gu).

The heads of local governments and councilors are elected

through direct election. The term for local government heads

is four years, and they can be reelected for up to three terms.

There is no limit on how many terms a local councilor may serve.

The local autonomous system is very significant as a means of

realizing the goal of grassroots democracy through local residents’

participation.

International RelationsSouth Korea strives to promote friendly and cooperative

relations with other countries. By July 2012, the country had

established diplomatic relations with 189 countries, operating

permanent embassies in 112 countries, in addition to 42

consular offices and 4 representative offices. In the past, the

country’s diplomacy focused on western countries, including

the United States, but it has pushed ahead with diversified

Sejong Special Self-Governing CityThis is the country’s 17th high-level local government. It was launched in July 2012 with a view to solving the problem of overpopulation in the Greater Seoul area by distributing the functions nationwide as well as to promoting the balanced development of national land and decentralization. The central government’s 17 ministries will move from Seoul to the said city by the end of 2014.

233

Local Governments Provincial Governments

12

4

5

6

7

8

3

9

11

12

10

15

16

14

13

17

Metropolitan Governments

SeoulOffice Location: Sejong-daero, Jung-guPopulation: 10.14 millionLand area: 650km2

www.seoul.go.kr

IncheonOffice Location: Jeonggak-ro, Namdong-guPopulation: 2.88 millionLand area: 1,041km2

www.incheon.go.kr

DaejeonOffice Location: Dunsan-ro, Seo-guPopulation: 1.53 millionLand area: 540km2

www.daejeon.go.kr

GwangjuOffice Location: Naebang-ro, Seo-guPopulation: 1.47 million Land area: 501km2

www.gwangju.go.kr

1

2

3

4

DaeguOffice Location: Gongpyeong-ro, Jung-guPopulation: 2.50 millionLand area: 884km2

www.daegu.go.kr

UlsanOffice Location: Jungang-ro, Nam-guPopulation: 1.16 millionLand area: 1,060km2

www.ulsan.go.kr

BusanOffice Location: Jungang-daero, Yeonje-guPopulation: 3.53 millionLand area: 770km2

www.busan.go.kr

SejongOffice Location: Guncheong-ro, Jochiwon-eupPopulation: 120,000Land area: 465km2

www.sejong.go.kr

6

7

8

5

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

Gyeonggi-doOffice Location: SuwonPopulation: 1.22 millionLand area: 10,171km2

www.gg.go.kr

Gangwon-doOffice Location: ChuncheonPopulation: 1.54 millionLand area: 16,874km2

www.provin.gangwon.kr

Chungcheongnam-doOffice Location: HongseongPopulation: 2.05 millionLand area: 8,204km2

www.chungnam.net

Chungcheongbuk-doOffice Location: CheongjuPopulation: 1.57 millionLand area: 7,406km2

www.cb21.net

Jeollabuk-doOffice Location: JeonjuPopulation: 1.87 millionLand area: 8,067km2

www.jeonbuk.go.kr

Jeollanam-doOffice Location: MuanPopulation: 1.91 millionLand area: 12,267km2

www.jeonnam.go.kr

Gyeongsangbuk-doOffice Location: DaeguPopulation: 2.7 millionLand area: 19,029km2

www.gyeongbuk.go.kr

Gyeongsangnam-doOffice Location: ChangwonPopulation: 3.33 millionLand area: 10,535km2

www.gsnd.net

Jeju Special Self-Governing Province

Office Location: JejuPopulation: 590,000 Land size: 1,849km2

www. jeju.go.kr

234

diplomacy through brisk exchanges even with socialist countries,

since the end of the 1980s.

The country is committed to carrying out positive activities as

a member of diverse international organizations such as UNESCO,

IMF, APEC, IAEA, ILO, WHO. South Korea became a member of

the UN in 1991, and joined the OECD in 1996. The country has

also carried out activities as a member of the IOC since 1947.

International Cooperation

South Korea does its best in the sector of international

cooperation in keeping with its enhanced economic strength. The

country takes part in programs designed to provide support for

impoverished countries through the World Bank, the IMF, and the

OECD. Recently, the country has also joined worldwide efforts

South Koreans serve the world as members of the international community through international cooperation carried out at the government level and through private organizations’ voluntary activities.

(Photo: South Korean COPION volunteers with locals in Kathmandu, Nepal)

235

for peacekeeping, global economic stabilization, environmental

conservation, etc.

South Korea chaired the G20 Summit held in Seoul in

November 2010, confirming its status as a leading country, under

the slogan “Shared Growth Beyond Crisis.” Observers said that

the country dealt with the foreign exchange issue, which was a

core agenda concerning the then current global economic crisis,

very efficiently. The Seoul event was the fifth G20 Summit and

the first one held in Asia.

The Nuclear Security Summit Seoul 2012 was another event

that showed the status of South Korea as a central country in

the struggle for world peace. The Seoul event was held to discuss

how to protect countries’ nuclear facilities, including power

plants, and how to organize international cooperation to block

nuclear terror attempts. It was the second nuclear security-

related summit after the one held in Washington DC in April

2010. At the Seoul event, the participating countries adopted

the 11-item Seoul Communique about concrete methods of

implementing nuclear security.

South Korea is enhancing its status in the international

community by achieving noticeable results in the Green Growth

sector. Leading examples of such initiatives include the opening of

the headquarters of the UN Green Climate Fund (GCF) in Seoul

and the transformation of the Global Green Growth Institute

(GGGI) into an international body. The GGGI, which was launched

in June 2010 with the South Korean government playing a

central role, had its status upgraded as an international body

based in Seoul at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable

Development (Rio+20) held in June 2012 in Rio de Janeiro,

236

Brazil. It is expected that the GGGI will be able to contribute

greatly to the development of the international community as an

international corporation.

Provision of Support for Developing Countries

“In only half a century, South Korea transformed itself from one

of the most impoverished countries in the world into a developed

country capable of providing aid to others. Given this phenomenal

success story, South Korea was a fitting host for the High Level

Forum on Aid Effectiveness, the largest-scale international

meeting in the development and cooperation sector, which was

held in Busan in November 2011.

South Korea’s foreign aid programs are coordinated by the

Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). This body was

The GCF is called the World Bank of the Environmental Sector. It is the first international financial institution that South Korea succeeded in attracting to Songdo, Incheon (in October 2012). At the 16th session of the conference of the parties to the UNFCCC held in Cancun, Mexico in 2010, the participants agreed to the establishment of the said fund.

(Photo: Central Park in Songdo International City, Incheon)

237

established in 1991, and organizes programs designed to provide

support for developing countries and to share South Korea’s

own development experience. KOICA provides ODA (Official

Development Assistance) of US$400-500 million annually to

developing countries in Asia and Africa; these funds contribute

to numerous areas, including education, health, agriculture/

forestry/fisheries, public administration, and industrial energy,

among others.

South Korea is also actively trying to improve governance

in developing countries by training public officials. The Central

Officials Training Institute provides education in many disciplines,

including leadership, personnel management, economic and

industrial planning, and rural development (modeled on South

Korea’s New Community Movement of the 1970s). A total of

1,500 foreign officials have attended these courses since 1984.

South Korea is also pleased to be making a contribution

to world peace and security through taking part in a wide

variety of UN peacekeeping operations and by supporting the

UN peacekeeping budget. Currently, South Korean troops are

stationed in eight countries including Lebanon, South Sudan,

India, Pakistan, and West Sahara, where they are tasked with

the maintenance of order, rehabilitation, medical services, and

other activities

Economy경제

The Korean Economy – the Miracle on the Hangang River

Korea’s Open Market Capitalist Economy

Industrial Brand Leaders and Korean Industrial Standards

Efforts to Grow as a Global Power

8

240

8Economy경제

The Korean Economy – the Miracle on the Hangang RiverThe Constitution of South Korea stipulates that “the right of

property shall be guaranteed for every citizen.” In short, the

country has adopted the market economy system, respects

individuals’ and businesses’ right to conduct free economic

activities, and guarantees the profits and properties made and

accumulated by them.

However, the Constitution does not guarantee the limitless,

unfettered pursuit of capitalistic free economy. The Constitution

Cars Exported from Hyundai Motor’s Ulsan Factory Cars are one of the country’s major export items.

241

South Korea’s five leading export items and export amounts

[Unit: Millions of dollars /Source: Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy]

Cars 48,635

Ships39,753

Semiconductors 50,430

Cars 47,201

Liquid crystal devices 28,160

Petroleum products56,098

2012

Ships37,168

Semiconductors 57,143

Petroleum products52,787

Liquid crystal devices 25,971

2013

stipulates that an unjust situation should be rectified if the abuse

of capital is found to cause damage to people as an apparatus set

to improve things relating to the free market economy.

South Korea has achieved economic growth at an unprecedented

speed. Observers called what the country has accomplished the

“Miracle of the Hangang River”, as most of the country’s industrial

facilities were destroyed during the three-year-long Korean War,

and the country was devoid of capital and natural resources.

In the early 1960s, the country pushed ahead with export-

oriented economic development plans. At first, the country’s

major export items were mainly light industrial products

manufactured in small factories, or raw materials. In the 1970s,

the country invested in heavy chemical facilities and laid the

basis for the export of heavy industrial products. At present, the

country has a number of industries that boast solid international

242

competitiveness, such as the shipbuilding, iron/steel, and chemical

industries. The foundation of such strong competitiveness was

built around that time.

The country hosted the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games, which

provided the country with the momentum to join the ranks of

semi-advanced countries. The international mass media called

the country one of the four Asian tigers, along with Taiwan,

Singapore, and Hong Kong. In December 1996, the country

became the 29th country to join the OECD, which is largely

composed of advanced countries.

In 1960, South Korea’s exports amounted to US$ 32.8 million;

but by 2013 they reached US$ 559.6 billion. In 1948 GDP per-

capita was a paltry US$ 60; whereas in 2013 it was US$ 26,205.

South Korea gradually established an export-oriented

Per-capita GNI

(Unit: Hundreds of millions dollars / Source: Bank of Korea)

GDP

2012 2012 22,48911,292

2013 2013 26,20513,043

2011 2011 22,48911,164

2010 2010 20,75910,147

2009 2009 17,1938,344

2008 2008 19,2969,309

2007 2007 21,69510,493

2000 2000 11,2925,335

1990 1990 6,3032,703

1980 1980 1,660643

1970 1970 22581

(Unit: Dollar / Source: Bank of Korea)

243

economic structure centered on large businesses in the process

of pursuing growth as a country with insufficient capital and

resources. Conglomerates came to dominate industry, while the

country’s economic structure became heavily reliant on exports

and imports, leaving it susceptible to external conditions.

In November 1997, a foreign exchange crisis hit the country,

forcing it to turn to the IMF for a bailout. It was the first ordeal

the country had had to face after years of rapid economic growth.

The country took the drastic step of driving poorly performing

businesses out of the market and then pushed ahead with

industrial restructuring. In only two years, the country regained its

previous growth rate and price levels as well as a current account

balance surplus. In the process, some 3.5 million people joined in

the campaign to collect gold to help the government repay the

(Unit: Billions of dollars / Source: IMF)

South Korea’s Foreign Trade Volume (2013)

4,1573,848

2,541

1,547

1,246 1,233 1,118 1,075 983 966

China U.S.A. Germany Japan Netherlands France U.K. South Korea Hong Kong Canada

244

fund borrowed from the IMF. A total of 227 tons of gold were

collected. The world marveled at the Koran people’s voluntary

participation in the determined effort to repay its national debts.

While making concerted efforts to extricate itself from the

foreign exchange crisis, the country benefitted from certain

ancillary effects, such as the adoption of the globalized economic

and financial system. However, the restructuring process also had

its dark sides. The government’s fiscal expenditure increased and

the income imbalance deepened.

After overcoming the economic crisis, the South Korean

economy continued to record solid growth. Nominal GDP

doubled from US$504.6 billion in 2001 to US$1,049.3 billion by

2007, recording a high growth rate of 4~5% a year, except during

the period of global economic crisis. In fact, during the period

2008-10, when most of the world was experiencing a devastating

financial crisis, the country recorded an amazing 6.3% economic

growth rate. The world’s major mass media organs referred to the

(Unit: Billions of dollars / Source: Bank of Korea)

Foreign Currency Reserves

2012 327.0

2013 346.5

2011 306.4

2010 291.6

2009 270.0

2008 201.2

2007 262.2

2000 96.2

245

country’s accomplishment as a “textbook recovery”.

By 2010, South Korea had emerged as the world’s 7th largest

exporting country. From 2011 to 2013, the total volume of

the country’s exports and imports stood at US$1 trillion. Thus,

the country became the world’s 9th country to attain the

target of US$1 trillion in annual foreign trade. The country’s

foreign currency reserves stood at US$346.5 billion as of the

end of December 2013, and the country is in a sufficiently

stable position to cope with a foreign exchange crisis, with the

percentage of its short-term foreign debts being 27.7% in 2013

The country’s sovereign credit rating has risen in recognition

of the dazzling economic results recorded by the country.

Korea’s Open Market Capitalist EconomySouth Korea has adopted the open market economy, and is

thus negotiating with other countries to sign more FTAs, as

well as allowing foreigners to invest in the country freely while

The Signing of the Korea-US FTAMr. Kim Hyun-jong, the representative of South Korea, and Deputy USTR Karan K. Bhatia, shake hands upon completing the bilateral FTA negotiations.

246

encouraging domestic businesses to invest in foreign countries

equally freely. The country offers advantages to foreign investors

under the long-term objective of establishing itself as a major

financial hub and logistics base of Northeast Asia.

Market Opening and FTAs

The country has opened its market in most sectors, including

agriculture. Koreans have traditionally attached great importance

to agriculture, viewing it as the basis of the universe. Nonetheless,

the country plans to open its rice market, which will be the last

item to be opened in the agricultural sector, completely by 2015.

The country is pushing ahead with the complete opening of

the market through FTAs. The country plans to sign FTAs with

numerous countries with the aim of expanding its economic

territory worldwide.

As of May 2013, South Korea has signed FTAs with 46

countries, including Chile, Singapore, EFTA, ASEAN, India, the EU,

Peru, the United States, and Turkey. The FTA signed with Columbia

is awaiting effectuation. The country is currently engaged in FTA-

related negotiations with RCEP, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

Support for FDI (Foreign Direct Investment)

South Korea encourages FDI under the Foreign Investment

Promotion Act. In South Korea, “FDI” refers to “a foreigner’s

acquisition of 10% or more of the equity share of a domestic

business through an investment of not less than 100 million won,

or a foreign-based business’s borrowing of a long-term (5 years or

longer) loan from its parent business in a foreign country and the like.”

Under the Foreign Investment Promotion Act, the government

247

guarantees the profits earned by foreign investors and offers them

a variety of benefits, such as tax incentives, cash support, and

mitigation of land-related regulations. The country also protects

foreigners’ intellectual property rights and foreign exchange

transactions. Foreign investors are allowed to take the profits they

earn in South Korea out of the country, on the basis of creative

and efficient operation.

Foreign investors are eligible for support from the South

Korean government concerning the land required for the

establishment of a factory or research facilities, the purchase or

lease or construction of a building, or the installation of electric

or communication facilities. They may ask for partial payment of

the amount for up to 20 years in cases involving the purchase of

land owned by either the central or a local government.

The government also provides cash support in consideration

A view of Busan Harbour, the largest port in South Korea

248

of the FDI amount and the number of locals to be employed. The

government is ready and willing to provide land and capital if

a foreign business displays excellent technological prowess and

maintains the employment of a given number of locals.

FDIs in the country surged right after the foreign exchange

crisis in 1998, with the increasing trend continuing. The

accumulated reported amount of FDI as of 3Q of 2014 stood

at $14.82 billion, the highest among the past 3Q accumulated

figures. The FDI amount suggests balanced growth trend in

terms of business types, regions, and investment types.

The government continues to improve the system for the

provision of support to foreign investors. In October 2010, the

government mitigated the criteria for cash support for foreign

investors and expanded the scope of state/municipality-owned

land eligible for private contracts in a bid to mitigate the FDI

conditions. Korea improved the conditions for FDI. In 2014, the

Enforcement Decree and the Enforcement Rules of the Foreign

Investment Promotion Act were amended to provide the basis

for the recognition of headquarters and R&D facilities of global

business. The country also plans to attract FDIs by providing cash

support for such headquarters and R&D facilities and incentives

such as tax reduction/exemption, including holding IR sessions, etc.

The country also invites newly emerging countries with surplus

funds, including China and the Middle Eastern countries, to invest

in the service sector of the country with high added value. To that

end, the “China Desk” was launched in May 2010, and a “red carpet

service” is also provided to foreign investors. The country also

designates locals in the Unites States, the United Kingdom, China,

and Japan as PR ambassadors for FDI in the country.

249

Investment to Become a Regional Logistics Hub

South Korea is making preparations for a period when its

combined export/import volume is expected to reach US$2

trillion. The country is also striving to become a major logistics

hub of Northeast Asia.

The country is investing heavily in automation and the

sophistication of export/import cargo stevedoring facilities, with

the aim of greatly enhancing its logistics competitiveness.

The country is striving to invigorate its air cargo network

and expand industrial complexes situated close to airports. The

country ranks third in the world in terms of ICAO-subscribed

heavy cargo transportation, while Incheon International Airport

ranks second in the world in terms of its international cargo

handling capacity.

Air cargo has high added value. It accounts for about one

(Unit: Millions of dollars / Source: Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy)

Foreign Direct Investment

3,204

15,454

9,093

11,563 11,712

13,673

16,28614,548

1996 1999 2002 2005 2008 2011 2012 2013

250

quarter of the total transportation charge, although it accounts

for only 0.2~0.3% of all forms of transportation cargoes in terms

of weight. The South Korean government has expanded the cargo

terminal of Incheon Airport and trains talented young people

to take charge of airfreight logistics at the relevant educational

institutions.

In addition, the country is committed to improving the

airfreight logistics system to a great extent, using high-end

information technology. Incheon International Airport operates a

sophisticated system for information-based operation of airfreight

logistics, which handles such matters as airfreight booking and

Incheon Airport as a Hub AirportOne important prerequisite for a regional hub airport i s a l l -weather round-the-clock operation. In Northeast Asia, the main regiona l hub a i rpor ts include Kansai Airport in Osaka, Chek Lap Kok Airport in Hong Kong , Pudong Airport in Shanghai, and Incheon Airport in South Korea.

(Photo: A view of Incheon International Airport)

251

tracking. It is expected that the volume of international cargo

handled at Incheon International Airport will increase dramatically

from 2.72 million tons in 2010 to 3.5 million tons by 2015.

It is noteworthy that Incheon International Airport has

ranked first in the world for nine consecutive years in the annual

evaluation of airport services conducted by the ACI (Aviation

Consultants, Inc), a consultative council for more than 1,700

airports around the world. This testifies to the sheer quality of

operation of Incheon International Airport. Furthermore, the

airport became the first airport in the world to be registered with

the Airports Council International Hall of Fame.

Located on the peninsula, South Korea has many international

trade ports including Busan, Incheon, Pyeongtaek, Gwangyang,

Trends in air Cargo through put and transshipment volume at Incheon International Airport

(Source: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport)Cargo throughput (in metric tons)

Transshipment volume (% of cargo throughput)

50.1

1.18

1.70 1.842.13 2.15

2.342.56

2.42 2.312.68 2.54 2.46 2.46

42.944.645.643.8

47.849.2

48.1

44.246.246.246.7 46.4

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

252

Ulsan, Pohang, and Donghae. In 2013, the volume of cargo

handled at the country’s ports stood at 1,358.96 million tons,

showing an overall increase of 1.5% year-on-year. Of this,

container throughput amounted to 23.47 million TEU and trans-

shipment volume amounted to 9.32 million TEU, a 4.1% increase

and 9.7% increase, respectively, from the previous year. Such

growth served to cement the nation’s role as a major logistics

base in Northeast Asia.

Industrial Brand Leaders and

Korean Industrial Standards The government is committed to diversifying export items and

enhancing their quality through the annual selection of first-

rate quality goods. Among the first-rate quality goods selected

Cargo Volume (including transshipment) handled at ports in South Korea

(Source: Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries)Container throughput (in millions of TEU)

Transshipment volume (% of container throughput)

31.1

35.434.9

35.5

36.435.5

35.134.5

3534.3

35.7

37.7

39.7

9.99

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

11.8913.19

14.52 15.22 15.9717.54 17.93

16.34

19.3721.61 22.55 23.47

253

in 2012, the number of those enjoying the highest world market

share stood at 143 items, including memory semiconductors,

TFT-LCDs, seawater desalination facilities, LNG carriers, and flash

memory. Their number has increased year on year.

Information technology is the strongest element of the

country’s economy, a sector that encompasses all the skills

required for management innovation and administrative reform

as well as skills relating to computer software, the Internet,

multimedia, and communication devices.

South Korea is the world’s leading force in mobile communications

technology, with a formidable communications infrastructure:

there are currently two nationwide 4G networks, using WiBro

and Long-Term Evolution (LTE) technologies. On the back of this

infrastructure, the country’s IT-related foreign trade recorded a

Competitiveness in shipbuilding South Korea's shipbuilding industry boasts a competitive edge in ships with high added value associated with resource development and transportation.

254

surplus of more than US$700 million in both 2011 and 2012. The

country displays solid international competitiveness in cellphones,

semiconductors, computers, and peripheral devices, and continues

striving to maintain its leading position in these sectors amid the

rapidly changing information technology environment.

Shipbuilding is another South Korean success story, and

in 2011, the country won orders worth 13.55 million CGT,

accounting for 48.2% of global shipbuilding orders. The country

boasts strong competitiveness- particularly in the building of

ships and structures with high added value, such as offshore

plants, large-sized container ships, and LNG ships.

In 2012, the country ranked 5th in the world in terms of the

Hanbit Nuclear Power PlantSouth Korea has made continuous investments in nuclear power generation. Nuclear power occupies an important position in the country’s power generation. The country displayed its technological prowess worldwide with the export of a Korean-type nuclear power plant to the UAE in 2011.

255

number of cars produced (4.56 million), apparently as a result

of efforts to improve quality and the signing of FTAs with other

countries. It is noteworthy that the number of cars produced in

2012 was a record figure achieved amid a worldwide economic

recession and high international oil prices.

Many countries use nuclear power, but most of these rely

upon a handful of countries to design and build their nuclear

power plants for them. Currently only five countries: the US,

Japan, Russia, France, and now South Korea are equipped with

nuclear power plant technology. The country became the

world’s 6th nuclear power plant exporting country by supplying

a Korean-developed plant to the UAE. The country also boasts

Video Games, Leading Cultural ContentsSouth Korea has emerged as a leading exporter of cultural contents, such as K-Pop, broadcast programs, and video games, as well as cars and electronic goods.

(Photo: young people playing video games at the G-Star 2013 event held in Busan.)

256

solid international competitiveness in the iron/steel and

chemistry sectors.

A relatively new export sector for South Korea, and one which

is growing strongly, is cultural products, including publishing,

music, video games, and TV and film production. In 2008-12 the

value of this sector grew from US$ 23.38 to 46.12 billion, partly

on the back of “hallyu” (the current vogue for South Korean pop

culture). The country is pouring considerable efforts into video

game contents, which are viewed as a promising sector that

combines film and computer technology with creative ideas.

South Korea is perhaps the only country in the world with so

many PC cafes across the country and where so many young

The G20 Seoul Summit 2010.

257

people spend their time playing video games in them.

In 2012, the country’s video game industry generated 10

trillion won in domestic sales and exported goods worth a

combined total of 2.853 billion won. The cultural contents

industry is important for its significant contribution to the

economy in terms of exports and job creation, and has great

growth potential as a promising sector of the future.

South Korea is doing its utmost to enhance its international

competitiveness in the information technology sector. The

country is pushing ahead with the work of integrating information

technology with other technologies under the blueprint Vision

2020 - A Country with IT-related Creative Ideas. Such ideas include

the convergence of communications technology with the car-

manufacturing industry or the enhancement of safety by fusion

information technology with the shipbuilding industry. It is

expected that such efforts will go a long way towards improving

quality and promoting the development of sectors with high

added value.

Efforts to Grow as a Global PowerAt present, South Korea is striving to transform itself into a global

economic system. Although the country accomplished rapid

growth within a short period of time, this led to the problem of

an imbalance in the development of large businesses and SMEs

due to the implementation of an economic policy that was

heavily dependent on the export of large enterprises. As such, the

need for shared growth was singled out as a potential solution to

the problem. The issue emerged as a problem that would have to

be resolved at the international level amid the global economic

258

crisis in 2008.

In 2010, the Presidential Commission for Shared Growth

for Large and Small Companies was launched with a view to

settling conflicts between large-sized businesses and SMEs.

The commission is assigned with the duties of fostering an

atmosphere conducive to shared growth in industries, monitoring

and announcing large businesses’ shared growth indices,

designating sectors and items suitable for SMEs, and settling

conflicts between large businesses and SMEs based on a social

consensus.

The G20 Summit in Seoul in 2010 was held under a similar

theme. The G20 Summit came into being following the global

economic crisis in 2008, based on the view that it was necessary

to have major emerging countries take part in international

economic discussions, as the G7 Summit inevitably had

certain limitations in this respect. It was pointed out that the

international financial system had failed to reflect the fact that

the share and role of emerging countries had expanded to a

considerable extent over the previous three decades.

At the G20 Summit held in Seoul in 2010, South Korea

assumed the position of the Chair, indicating that the country

had assumed a positive role in the international economic order.

The G20 Summit Seoul adopted the 20-item Seoul Summit

Leaders’ Declaration and came up with an agreement containing

74 items. Other results of the summit included the announcement

of the Seoul Development Consensus for Shared Growth, the

Multiyear Action Plan, and the Anti-Corruption Action Plan.

The Seoul Summit Leaders’ Declaration stressed the role of

developing and emerging countries in a move to put an end to

259

the foreign exchange war between major countries and to reform

the IMF, which used to be centered on industrialized countries.

Its contents were focused on the pressing need to stabilize global

financial markets and provide support for impoverished countries

striving for economic development. The declaration went a long

way towards enhancing the status of South Korea in global

economic and financial markets.

Inter-KoreaRelations

남북관계

Historical Background

Simultaneous Admission of the two Koreas to the UN

Inter-Korean Exchanges and Cooperation

Efforts for Lasting Peace

9

262

9Inter-Korea Relations남북관계

Although conflicts and confrontations have raged between the two

Koreas across the DMZ for over sixty-five years, an atmosphere of

dialogue and exchange and cooperation was fostered temporarily

between the two countries following the Summits held in 2000

and 2007. However, there is tension along the DMZ at present due

to the North’s continuing threats and provocations.

Historical BackgroundWith Japan’s surrender in the Pacific War in August 1945 four

decades of Japanese colonial rule ended and U.S. and Soviet

troops came to be stationed on the Korean Peninsula to both the

south and north of the 38th parallel respectively. This resulted in

The signing of the Armistice Agreement

1953. 7. 27.

Announcement of South-North Joint

Statement on July 4, 1972

1972. 7. 4.

Outbreak of the Korean War

1950. 6. 25.

263

the division of Korea into two separate countries.

On June 25, 1950, North Korea attacked the South on all

fronts, igniting a three-year internecine war. Since the signing of

the armistice agreement on the 27th July 1953, the Peninsula has

remained divided.

Simultaneous Admission of the two Koreas to the UNEven before the Inter-Korean Summits held in 2000 and 2007,

an atmosphere of reconciliation emerged as a result of the South

Korean government’s northern diplomacy. As a result, the two

Koreas agreed to join the UN simultaneously at the 46th UN

General Assembly in September 1991.

Their simultaneous admittance to the UN had historic

significance, as it brought to an end the legitimacy controversy

between the two countries and ushered in an era of reconciliation

and coexistence.

Inter-Korean Exchanges and CooperationBetween September 1990 and October 1992, the two Koreas

The first meeting of the South-North

Coordinating Committee

1972. 11. 30.

The first reunion of dispersed family

members

1985. 9. 20.~23.

Commencement of South Koreans’ visit to

Geumgangsan Mountain

1998. 11. 18.

264

engaged in a total of eight bilateral meetings, including the first

High-Level Talks held in Seoul. In December 1991, the two sides

signed the Agreement on Reconciliation, Nonaggression, and

Exchanges and Cooperation between the South and the North

(also called the Inter-Korean Basic Agreement). The agreement

was focused on mutual respect between the two nations, the

renunciation of armed aggression, exchange and cooperation

in many sectors, and the guarantee of free exchange of people

between the two countries.

From the mid-1990s onward, the South’s government

continued to provide support to the North, which was continuing

to experience serious economic difficulties.

In the period 1999-2007, the South supplied a total of 2.55

million tons of fertilizers to the North in an effort to help the

North Korean people who were suffering from a food shortage

caused by the inefficiency of the North’s farming system and a

lack of fertilizers and chemicals.

The Inter-Korean Summits held in 2000 and 2007 provided

the momentum for a dramatic invigoration of dialogue, exchange,

Athletes of the two Koreas at the opening

ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Olympics

2000. 9. 15.

Commencement of the work on the

Gaeseong Industrial Complex

2003. 6. 30.

The first inter-Korean Summit

2000. 6. 13~15.

265

and cooperation between the two sides. However, the South

temporarily suspended the supply of food and fertilizers after the

North’s continuing series of provocative actions culminated in the

launch of long-range missiles and nuclear tests, but did not stop

providing humanitarian support for children or emergency relief aid.

Reunion of Dispersed Family Members

There are about ten million dispersed family members in the

two Koreas.

The first Inter-Korean Red Cross meeting was held in August

1971 to discuss the possibility of reuniting dispersed family

members, but little progress was made due to differences of

opinion. The two sides resumed the meeting in the 1980s, and,

finally, reciprocal visits materialized. A group of thirty people

from the North paid a visit to the South while a group of thirty-

five people from the South paid a visit to the North for four days

from September 20, 1985. It was a truly significant event after 40

years of division. The two sides also allowed exchanges between

groups of artists during the event.

The joint statement on non-nuclearization of the Korean Peninsula

announced at the 4th Six-Party Talks

2005. 9. 19.

The second inter-Korean Summit

2005. 9. 19.

266

The family reunion became a routine event following the Summit

held in 2000, and was subsequently held on eighteen occasions

between August 2000 and October 2010. The North provided a

special venue at Geumgangsan Mountain for these reunions. In

addition, video reunions were carried out on seven different occasions

between August of 2005 and November of 2007.

Gaeseong Industrial Complex

The Gaeseong Industrial Complex Project carried out by the

North allows private businesses from the South to build factories

on leased land in Gaeseong (lease period: 50 years) and produce

goods. Gaeseong is the third largest city in the North after

Pyongyang and Nampo. The city offers clear advantages to

businesses from the South due to its close geographical proximity

to the South. Gaseseong is only 8km from Panmunjeom.

Following an initial proposal made in 2000, the project

was formally commenced in November 2002 with the North’s

promulgation of the Gaeseong Industrial District Act. The work

commencement ceremony was held in June 2003, with political

Commencement of South Koreans' visit to Gaeseong

2007. 12. 5.

Commencement of freight transportation on rail between Munsan

in the South and Bongdong in the North

2007. 12. 11.

267

and economic celebrities from the two sides in attendance. At

present, more than 130 manufacturers from the South and their

subcontractors are operating in the Gaeseong Industrial Complex,

while more than 50,000 North Koreans are working there. The

production of goods began in December 2004.

Concerning the Gaeseong Industrial Complex, the two sides

have signed four agreements on the Normalization of Gaeseong

Industrial complex, etc . in addition to the agreements on

communications, customs clearance, quarantine, and stay.

Efforts for Lasting PeaceThe government of the South has made efforts for a permanent

sett lement of peace on the Korean Peninsula and the

Production volume and workers of Gaeseong Industrial Complex

(Source: Ministry of Unification)Production volume (Unit: Millions of dollars)

Number of North Korean workers

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

6,013

1,491

7,373

18,478

25,142 25,648

32,332

40,18546,950

11,160

22,538

38,93142,561

46,28449,866

53,44852,329

22,378

268

development of good relations with the North through dialogues

and exchange and cooperation. It has stuck to its basic stance, i.e.

it will continue to strive to improve its relations with the North

through dialogue and cooperation even during periods of extreme

tension such as that occasioned by the North’s temporary closure

of the Gaeseong Industrial Complex. Generally speaking, the

government of the South and the South Korean people have

succeeded in maintaining a calm and stable social atmosphere.

The South copes flexibly with all outbreaks of tension on the

Korean Peninsula by continuing dialogue and cooperation to

maintain peace with neighboring countries. As such, South Korea

may be claimed to be one of the safest countries in the world.

Since its inauguration in February 2013, the Park Geun-

hye government of the South has been pushing ahead with

the Trust Building Process on the Korean Peninsula in a bid to

develop better relations with the North, primarily by building

trust between the two Koreas based on a solid national security

stance, securing peace on the Korean Peninsula, and laying the

basis for unification. The government is doing its best to promote

deterrence, dialogue and cooperation in a balanced fashion and

to encourage the North to make the right choices, including

renunciation of its nuclear program. It will accelerate its efforts

for joint development with the North in order to lay the basis for

peaceful unification, and will also make efforts to contribute to

peace and prosperity in Northeast Asia and the world through the

country’s unification.

269

270

Relevant Websites

Gateway to Korea

Korean Culture and Information Service

www.korea.net

Korea Tourism Organization

www.visitkorea.or.kr

Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency

www.kotra.or.kr

Korean Cultural Information

Korean Cultural Center, China

china.korean-culture.org

Korean Cultural Center, Shanghai

shanghai.korean-culture.org

Korean Cultural Center, Tokyo

www.koreanculture.jp

Korean Cultural Center, Osaka

osaka.korean-culture.org

Korean Cultural Center, Vietnam

vietnam.korean-culture.org

Korean Cultural Office, Sydney

koreanculture.org.au

Korean Cultural Center, Philippines

phil.korean-culture.org

Korean Cultural Center, Indonesia

id.korean-culture.org

Korean Cultural Center, Thailand

thailand.korean-culture.org

Korean Cultural Center, India

india.korean-culture.org

Korean Cultural Center, Washington, D.C

www.koreaculturedc.org

Korean Cultural Service, NewYork

www.koreanculture.org

Korean Cultural Center, L.A.

www.kccla.org

Korean Cultural Center, Argentina

argentina.korean-culture.org

Korean Cultural Center Mexico

mexico.korean-culture.org

Korean Cultural Center, Brazil

brazil.korean-culture.org

Korean Cultural Center, UK

london.korean-culture.org

Korean Cultural Center, Germany

germany.korean-culture.org

Korean Cultural Center, France

www.coree-culture.org

Korean Cultural Center, Russia

russia.korean-culture.org

Korean Cultural Center, Kazakhstan

kaz.korean-culture.org

Korean Cultural Center, Turkey

tr.korean-culture.org

Korean Cultural Center, Poland

pl.korean-culture.org

Korean Cultural Center, Hungary

hu.korean-culture.org

Korean Cultural Center, Spain

www.spain.korean-culture.org

Korean Cultural Center, Belgium

brussels.korean-culture.org

Korean Cultural Center, Nigeria

ngr.korean-culture.org

Executive Branch

Ministry of Strategy and Finance

www.mosf.go.kr

Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning

www.msip.go.kr

Ministry of Education

www.moe.go.kr

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

www.mofa.go.kr

Ministry of Unification

www.unikorea.go.kr

Ministry of Justice

www.moj.go.kr

Ministry of National Defense

www.mnd.go.kr

Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs

www.mospa.go.kr

271

Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

www.mcst.go.kr

Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

www.mafra.go.kr

Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

www.motie.go.kr

Ministry of Health and Welfare

www.mw.go.kr

Ministry of Environment

www.me.go.kr

Ministry of Employment and Labor

www.moel.go.kr

Ministry of Gender Equality and Family

www.mogef.go.kr

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport

www.molit.go.kr

Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries

www.mof.go.kr

Ministry of Government Legislation

www.moleg.go.kr

Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs

www.mpva.go.kr

Ministry of Food and Drug Safety

www.mfds.go.kr

National Tax Service

www.nts.go.kr

Korea Customs Service

www.customs.go.kr

Public Procurement Service

www.pps.go.kr

Statistics Korea

www.kostat.go.kr

Supreme Prosecutor’s Office

www.spo.go.kr

Military Manpower Administration

www.mma.go.kr

Defense Acquisition Program Administration

www.dapa.go.kr

Korean National Police Agency

www.police.go.kr

National Emergency Management Agency

www.nema.go.kr

Cultural Heritage Administration

www.cha.go.kr

Rural Development Administration

www.rda.go.kr

Korea Forest Service

www.forest.go.kr

Small and Medium Business Administration

www.smba.go.kr

Korean Intellectual Property Office

www.kipo.go.kr

Korea Meteorological Administration

www.kma.go.kr

Multifunctional Administrative City Construction

www.macc.go.kr

Korea Coast Guard

www.kcg.go.kr

Korea Communications Commission

www.kcc.go.kr

Korea Fair Trade Commission

www.ftc.go.kr

Financial Services Commission

www.fsc.go.kr

Anti-corruption & Civil Rights Commission of Korea

www.acrc.go.kr

Nuclear Safety and Security Commission

www.nssc.go.kr

Legislature

The National Assembly

www.assembly.go.kr

Judiciary

Supreme Court

www.scourt.go.kr

Independent Organizations

Constitutional Court

www.ccourt.go.kr

National Election Commission

www.nec.go.kr

National Human Right Commission

www.humanrights.go.kr

272

Sources of Photos

Andong Festival Tourism Foundation

Anseong Muncipal Namsadang Baudeogi Pungmuldan

Archaeological Site in Amsa-dong, Seoul

Boryeong Mud Festival

BUSAN International Film Festival

Cheonan Foundation for Arts and Culture

Cheung-ju Early Printing Museum

Chosunilbo

Chungdong First Methodist Church

Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea

DAEGU METROPOLITAN CITY

Discovery media

Ewhamedia

Gagok Inheritance Center

Gangjin Celadon Museum

Gangneung Danoje Festival Committee

GWANGJU BIENNALE FOUNDATION

Gyeongju National Museum

Haeinsa Temple

Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant

Hasisi Park

Incheon Free Economic Zone

Incheon International Airport Corporation

Institute of Traditional Korean Food

Jeju Olle Foundation

Jeju World Natural Heritage Center

JEONGOK PREHISTORY MUSEUM

Jeonju International Film Festival

Jongmyo Jerye Preservation Association

JoongAng Ilbo

KANSONG ART AND CULTURE FOUNDATION

Kim Cheol Hwan

KOCIS(Korean Culture and Information Service)

Korea Meteorological Administration

Korea National Park Service

Korea Tourism Organization

Korean Cultural Properties Craftsman Association

Korean Olympic Committee

KTV

Kyujanggak Institute For Korean Studies

Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art

Munhwailbo(Newsbank)

Nara Organizing Comittee

National Folk Museum of Korea

National Gugak Center

National Museum of Korea

National Palace Museum of Korea

Newdaily

NEWSIS

OhmyNews

Photographer Kim Bien Hun

Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival

Seo Heun Kang

Seocheon County

Shuttrestock

Suh jae sik

The Korean Taekgeon Association

The National Library of Korea

The traditional Paper Artist Association

The Yeongsanjae Ritual

Tong Yeong-City

TOPIC IMAGES

Travel Writer Lee Dong Mi

Victory Production & Company

Yangdong Village Committee

Yangyang County

Yeondeunghoe Preservation Committee

YG ENTERTAINMENT INC

Yonart Printing

Yonhap News Agency

Yoon's Color

www.korea.net