Local governments are semi-autonomous, and contain executive and legislative bodies of their own. South Korea,[b] officially the Republic of Korea (ROK),[c] is a country in East Asia. South Korea has a government which is a Unitary State. [195], International opinion regarding the South Korean education system has been divided. ", "Transportation Statistics > Heliports (most recent) by country", "If you're looking for a ticket to Jeju, leave late", "South Korea wins landmark Gulf nuclear power deal", "All systems go for Jordan's first nuclear reactor", "South Korea-Jordan sign $130M nuclear deal", "Korea, Argentina Sign MOU for Nuclear Plant Project", "Argentina eyes nuclear role in S. America", "Korea nearing Turkey nuclear plant contract", "U.S. South Korea's border with North Korea is a disputed border as both countries claim the entirety of the Korean Peninsula. [118] After the fallout of President Park's impeachment and dismissal, new elections were held and Moon Jae-in of the Democratic party won the presidency, assuming office on 10 May 2017. [85] The first 200 years of the Joseon dynasty were marked by peace, and saw great advancements in science[86][87] and education,[88] as well as the creation of Hangul by Sejong the Great to promote literacy among the common people. In the South, Syngman Rhee, an opponent of communism, who had been backed and appointed by the United States as head of the provisional government, won the first presidential elections of the newly declared Republic of Korea in May. To the surprise of Rusk and Bonesteel, the Soviets accepted their proposal and agreed to divide Korea.[94]. Another multibillion-dollar project was the restoration of Cheonggyecheon, a stream running through downtown Seoul that had earlier been paved over by a motorway. Ancient architects adopted the bracket system characterized by thatched roofs and heated floors called ondol. Generals in the Japanese Army: a Chosun prince, whose rank was honorary and who commanded no troops; and Lt. Gen. Bang, Ha-Nam, Study of Korean Corporations Retirement Allowance Schemes, Korea Labor Institute, 1998. Elections take place every five years to elect the President and the members of the national assembly. The Liancourt Rocks were the first Korean territories to be forcibly colonized by Japan in 1905. At the time, the Soviet Union had boycotted the United Nations (UN), thus forfeiting their veto rights. Most South Korean middle schools and high schools have school uniforms, modeled on western-style uniforms. [154][155] In 2021, the fertility rate stood at just 0.81 children per woman. Employers are also covered under the workplace-based pension scheme and help cover their employees obligated 9% contribution by providing the remaining 4.5%. [400][401] The Korea Professional Baseball league, a 10-team circuit, was established in 1982. [302] There are also many heliports. The US has over 23,000 troops stationed in South Korea, including the U.S. Eighth Army, Seventh Air Force, and U.S. The country, including all its islands, lies between latitudes 33 and 39N, and longitudes 124 and 130E. During the war, Rhee's party promoted the One-People Principle (based on the German ideology of the Herrenvolk) an effort to build an obedient citizenry through ethnic homogeneity and authoritarian appeals to nationalism. A unitary state only exercises the powers that the central government decides to delegate. The Korean kingdoms also ruled over some Chinese kingdoms including the Khitan people and the Manchurians before the Qing dynasty and received tributes from them. This category comprises retirees who voluntarily choose to have additional benefits, individuals under the age of 27 without income, and individuals whose spouses are covered under a public welfare system, whether military, governmental, or private school teacher pensions. [355], In 2005, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) developed the world's second walking humanoid robot, HUBO. South Korea dispatched 325,517 troops to fight alongside American, Australian, Filipino, New Zealand and South Vietnamese soldiers in the Vietnam War, with a peak strength of 50,000. [296], South Korea became a member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 1996.[297]. Kitts-Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South America . [363], Since late 2020, SK Bioscience Inc. (a division of SK Group) has been producing a major proportion of the Vaxzevria vaccine (also known as COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca), under license from the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca, for worldwide distribution through the COVAX facility under the WHO hospice. Roman Catholics increased significantly between the 1980s and the 2000s, but declined throughout the 2010s. [32][33] Gojoseon was noted in Chinese records in the early 7th century. In the 1950s and 1960s, modern rules were standardized, with taekwondo becoming an official Olympic sport in 2000. [326], Scientific and technological development in South Korea at first did not occur largely because of more pressing matters such as the division of Korea and the Korean War that occurred right after its independence. Contents 1 History 2 Types 3 Administration The aim of a communist state is to achieve communism or a sense of common ownership of the means of production and do away with social classes. The Deep State and The Unitary Executive by . South Korea ranked number 10 overall in the 2014 NRI ranking, up from 11 in 2013. South Korea's birth rate was the world's lowest in 2009,[168] at an annual rate of approximately 9 births per 1000 people. [11][12][13] It is a member of the OECD's Development Assistance Committee, the G20, the IPEF, and the Paris Club. Every 15th day of the 8th lunar month, Koreans celebrate the Midautumn Festival, in which Koreans visit their ancestral hometowns and eat a variety of traditional Korean foods. South Korea National Statistical Office's 19th Population and Housing Census (2015): A Brief History of the US-Korea Relations Prior to 1945. Life expectancy has been rising rapidly and South Korea ranked 11th in the world for life expectancy at 82.3 years by the WHO in 2015. The Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA) entered into force on March 15, 2012, underscoring the depth of bilateral trade ties. The following list includes the largest South Korean companies by revenue in 2017 who are all listed as part of the Fortune Global 500: South Korea has a technologically advanced transport network consisting of high-speed railways, highways, bus routes, ferry services, and air routes that crisscross the country. The National Assembly ( Gukhoe) has 300 members, elected for a four-year term, 253 members in single-seat constituencies and 47 members by proportional representation. [242], The 2017 deployment of THAAD defense missiles by the United States military in South Korea in response to North Korean missile tests has been protested strongly by the Chinese government, concerned that the technologically advanced missile defense could be used more broadly against China. It is a unitary state, containing forty-seven administrative divisions, with the Emperor as its Head of State. Kimchi (), a fermented, usually spicy vegetable dish is commonly served at every meal and is one of the best known Korean dishes. At the 2010 Asian Games, the Korean National Baseball team won the gold medal. After an ebb and flow that saw both sides facing defeat with massive losses among Korean civilians in both the north and the south, the war eventually reached a stalemate. [365] Its rich and vibrant culture left 21 UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritages of Humanity,[366] the fourth largest in the world,[needs update] along with 15 World Heritage Sites. [149], In April 2016, South Korea's population was estimated to be around 50.8 million by National Statistical Office, with continuing decline of working age population and total fertility rate. Goguryeo, the largest and most powerful among them, was a highly militaristic state,[39] and competed with various Chinese dynasties during its 700 years of history. [19] The modern name of Korea, appears in the first Portuguese maps of 1568 by Joo vaz Dourado as Conrai [20] and later in the late 16th century and early 17th century as Korea (Corea) in the maps of Teixeira Albernaz of 1630. The U.S. and Koreas Joseon Dynasty established diplomatic relations under the 1882 Treaty of Peace, Amity, Commerce, and Navigation, and the first U.S. diplomatic envoy arrived in Korea in 1883. What you need to know before you go: visas, Embassy & Consulate locations, vaccinations, etc. Jeju-do is about 100 kilometers (62 miles) off the southern coast of South Korea. The U.S. troops, which are primarily ground and air units, are assigned to USFK and mainly assigned to the Eighth United States Army of the U.S. Army and Seventh Air Force of the U.S. Air Force. Usually decentralization is a response to the problem of "centralized unitary government," that is to the abuse of power and undemocratic behavior of the ruling body, to the weakening of the private sectors, to the undermining civil liberties, and to blocking the demands of minorities for a greater says in local governance. It remained the state religion in Later Silla (North South States Period) and Goryeo. [235] According to an analysis by economist Han Sang-Wan, a 1 percent increase in the exports of Korean cultural content pushes consumer goods exports up 0.083 percent while a 1 percent increase in Korean pop content exports to a country produces a 0.019 percent bump in tourism.[321]. However, after World WarII, the People's Republic of China embraced Maoism while South Korea sought close relations with the United States. The two nations have strong economic, diplomatic, and military ties, although they have at times disagreed with regard to policies towards North Korea, and with regard to some of South Korea's industrial activities that involve usage of rocket or nuclear technology. The UN declared Rhee's government as "a lawful government having effective control and jurisdiction over that part of Korea where the UN Temporary Commission on Korea was able to observe and consult" and the Government "based on elections which was observed by the Temporary Commission" in addition to a statement that "this is the only such government in Korea. Provinces of South Korea Provinces are one of the first-level divisions within South Korea. This mountainous peninsula is flanked by the Yellow Sea to the west, and the Sea of Japan to the east. Another type is jjigae (), a stew that is typically heavily seasoned with chili pepper and served boiling hot. Korea is unique among East Asian countries in its use of metal chopsticks. The judicial branch operates at both the national and local levels. [277] The vast majority of these are young men from the Jehovah's Witnesses Christian denomination. Two rail lines, Gyeongui and Donghae Bukbu Line, to North Korea are now being reconnected. On 1 October, Armed Forces day is celebrated, honoring the military forces of South Korea. [157] Most South Koreans live in urban areas, because of rapid migration from the countryside during the country's quick economic expansion in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. What followed was a period of forced assimilation, in which Korean language, culture, and history were suppressed. It has a population of 51.75 million, of which roughly half live in the Seoul Capital Area, the fourth most populous metropolitan area in the world. [261], The EU has been the single largest foreign investor in South Korea since 1962, and accounted for almost 45% of all FDI inflows into Korea in 2006. The country has also been a member of the United Nations since 1991, when it became a member state at the same time as North Korea. Daughter of another former president, Park Chung-hee, she carried on a conservative brand of politics. The president is elected for a five-year term by the people. Major cities including Seoul, Busan, Incheon, Daegu, Daejeon and Gwangju have urban rapid transit systems. [citation needed] Silla was the smallest and weakest of the three, but it used cunning diplomatic means to make opportunistic pacts and alliances with the more powerful Korean kingdoms, and eventually Tang China, to its great advantage.[51][52]. Previous exceptions for South Korean citizens of mixed race no longer apply since 2011.[267]. Because of South Korea's tumultuous history, construction and destruction has been repeated endlessly, resulting in an interesting melange of architectural styles and designs. Until the 1990s, trot and traditional Korean folk based ballads dominated South Korean popular music. Buddhism was introduced to Korea in the 4th century. [152][153] In a further indication of South Korea's dramatic decline in fertility, in 2020 the country recorded more deaths than births, resulting in a population decline for the first time since modern records began. The Hyundai Research Institute reported that the Korean Wave has a direct impact in encouraging direct foreign investment back into the country through demand for products, and the tourism industry. South Korea is also the second-largest missionary-sending nation, after the United States.[216]. Recently, research and development in genetics and cloning has received increasing attention, with the first successful cloning of a dog, Snuppy (in 2005), and the cloning of two females of an endangered species of gray wolves by the Seoul National University in 2007. All South Korean males are constitutionally required to serve in the military, typically 18 months. [91][92] In the 19th century, the royal in-law families gained control of the government, leading to mass corruption and weakening of the state, and severe poverty and peasant rebellions throughout the country. [119] His tenure saw an improving political relationship with North Korea, some increasing divergence in the military alliance with the United States, and the successful hosting of the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. 10-Team circuit, was established in 1982 legislative bodies of their own by the Sea... 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