More videos
South Korea
South Korea's entertainment industry has grown explosively since the 1990s, producing Asia-wide successes in music, television, and film in a phenomenon known as Hallyu, or the "Korean wave." However, the country still retains centuries-old customs and traditions, such as its unique cuisine and ancestor worship.History
Archeological finds of prehistoric toolmaking date back to 700,000 BCE, and the first pottery is found around 8000 BCE. Comb-pattern pottery culture peaked around 3500-2000 BCE.
Korea's history begins with the founding of Gojoseon (also called ) by the legendary Dangun in 2333 BCE. Archeological and contemporaneous written records of Gojoseon as a kingdom date back to around 7th-4th century BCE. It was followed by the Three Kingdoms of Korea, namely Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla, which vied for control of the peninsula until unified by Silla in 668. Unified Silla was replaced by the Goryeo (also ) dynasty, from which the modern name "Korea" derives. The Joseon (also ) dynasty ruled Korea from 1392 to 1910, one of the longest actively ruling dynasties in world history.
In the early 20th century, occupied Korea, as a protectorate in 1905 and by annexation in 1910. Despite an independence movement, 35 years of occupation followed, through suppression of resistance, economic exploitation, and a "cultural assimilation" policy.
After Japan's defeat in World War II, US-occupied southern half and Soviet-occupied northern half each declared separate states in 1948. The Korean War (1950-53) began with 's attack, and when US and other UN forces intervened on South Korea's side, China supported the North. An armistice was signed in 1953 splitting the peninsula along a demilitarized zone at about the 38th parallel, but a peace treaty has never been signed.
Thereafter, South Korea achieved rapid economic growth, with per capita income rising to roughly 20 times the level of North Korea. South Korea is now a liberal democracy and the 10th largest economy in the world. In June 2000, a historic first summit took place between the South's President Kim Dae-jung and the North's leader Kim Jong-il (leading Kim Dae-jung to awarding first Nobel Peace Prize for South Korea), but the peace process has moved at a glacial pace.
People
South Korea is a very homogeneous country, with nearly all inhabitants identifying themselves as ethnically Korean and speaking the Korean language. However, there are a significant number of foreign workers from China and Southeast Asia, and about 30,000 American military personnel stationed throughout the country, especially near the North Korean border.
Although it is the 12th most densely populated country, South Korea now has the world's lowest birthrate (1.16 children per woman nationwide and even less in Seoul), and dealing with this will be one of the major problems of the 21st century. About 85% of South Koreans live in urban areas.
Culture
During the Joseon dynasty Korea's dominant philosophy was a strict form of Confucianism. People were separated into a rigid hierarchy, with the king at the apex, an elite of officials and warriors below him, a small middle class of merchants below them, then a vast population of peasants and a hereditary class of slaves. Men were superior to women, educated were superior to the uneducated and everybody stuck to his defined role or faced the severe consequences. Buddhism and its supposedly dangerous notions of equality and individual spiritual pursuit were suppressed.
While the Joseon Dynasty ceased to exist in 1910, its legacy lives on in Korean culture: education and hard work are valued above all else, and women still struggle for equal treatment.
Korea has a significant number of Christians (26%) and Buddhists (26%). Some 46% of the country profess to follow no particular religion.
Holidays
Korea's traditional holidays follow the lunar calendar, so they fall on different days each year. The big ones are family holidays and entail everybody returning to their hometowns en masse, meaning that all forms of transport are absolutely packed.
Seollal (설날), on the 1st day of the 1st month in the lunar calendar, is also known as "Korean New Year". Families gather together to eat traditional foods and perform an ancestral service.
Chuseok (추석), often dubbed "Korean Thanksgiving", is celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month of the year (usually August-September). Koreans celebrate by eating traditional foods, notably a rice cake called (송편) and playing folk games.
Climate
- Spring is a great time of year to be in Korea. The temperatures are warm but not hot and there's not too much rain either.
- Summer starts with a dreary rainy season in June and turns into a steambath in July-August, with extreme humidity and the temperature heading as high as 40°C. Best avoided.
- Fall, starting in September, is perhaps the best time to be in Korea. Temperatures and humidity become more tolerable, fair days are common and the justly renowned fall colors make their appearance.
- Winter is a good time to go skiing or hot-spring hopping, and the Korean invention of (floor heating) helps defrost any parts that froze outside.
Do you know South Korea?
welcome to S.Korea...korea korean corea south seoul
Octopus tentacles, Busan, South Korea
These are freshly-killed, but still squirming...busan food pusan "south korea" octopus
South Korea - Stern, stern but fair
South Korea - Stern, stern but fair ___________________________________ This video clip is for an english lesson. The intention of making this video is to inform the rest off
Traffic in city center, South Korea
everyone crossed the broken line when doing a u-turn....traffic south korea city center Seocho 1Dong South Korea Seoul car cars van vans
Air Raid Practice in CheongJu, South Korea
A short video showing Air Raid military practice in Cheongju, South Korea....Korea CheongJu Air Raid Siren Practice Salsamuffin204 Military Rehearsal Klaxon
A year in South Korea
I spent a year in South Korea and this is all I got....south korea defend freedom patriot mypics mypcs2video 2video army military soldier bridge engineer mines
Seoul, South Korea, Shopping Street
. 10 minutes in a shopping street in downtown Seoul, South Korea, recorded mid-may 2007....seoul south korea shopping street downtown
South Korea Part 1-Glass Village
tour from Osan AB, South Korea titled "Kanghwa Island, Chongdung Temple, & Glass Village"....Glass Making South Korea Hot Road Driving Tour
Joint Security Area North and South Korea
[3], is the only portion of the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) where South and North Korean forces stand face-to-face. The
South Korea-Everland Theme Park
Everland is a huge theme park located in Yongin Gyeonggi, South Korea. Which includes Festival World, Caribbean Bay and Speedway. Many of activities like American Adventure
South Korea-driving around Seoul
the capital city of South Korea, experiencing the crazy shopping at downtown area....South Korea Seoul downtown city capital shopping area view Korean people
South Korea Part 2-GlassVillKanghwa Island & ChongdungTemple
Village". I hope you enjoy the ending!!...Kanghwa Island Chongdung Temple Glass Village South Korea Asia USAF Air Force Military Travel Tour
South Korea Tourism Video
South Korea Tourism Video...South Korea Tourism Video
Landing at Narita,Japan from South Korea
Landing at Narita,Japan from Incheon,South Korea....Landing Narita NRT Japan Korea ICN Incheon
Live squid in south korea.
and my boyfriend are eating live squid in south korea and enjoying the beautiful scenery on the island jebodu....jedudo island south korea live squid
Swoyambhu Stupa Construction in South korea
in Seoul south korea once in a year on the auspicious occasion of 2551 Buddha's Birthday, on the joint effort of Nepalese Buddhist people residing in South korea and
CNN -Network in South Korea-
CNN -Network in South Korea-...StarCraft Kartrider south korea
South Korea-Traditional Korean food-charcoal BBQ pork
only in pork, comes with rice and some vegetable. Very delicious....South Korea Korean original traditional eating way food charcoal BBQ pork barbecue
South Korea and Japan
allseven draws to a close. the final two countries of our 28 nation tour....south korea japan bullet train didet phillsue allsevenclips allseven
Nearest places of interest:
| Jecheon Gangneung Daejeon Asan | Gyeongju Karatsu Jeonju Jeju International Airport |
Popular places:
|
Seoul Anyang Gwangju Busan |
Daejeon Incheon Jeju Yeosu |
