South Korea Essay

Great Essays
Great changes in culture and advancements in technology in short spans of time, staying strong under less than friendly circumstances. That is the Modus Operandi of South Korea, despite the nation’s relatively young age, and conditions of coming into existence; it is a major Asian power. Prosper in the face of adversity, with the odds stacked against you, when no one expects you to. Seeing where something comes from can shed light on how it became the way it is. When someone or something is faced with a lot of hardships, those obstacles can lead to something truly amazing. Looking at Korea’s history, it is clear to see that the country has seen a lot of hardship.
Tribes controlled the landmass of Korea, but kingdoms would come into existence.
…show more content…
However, this policy of isolation meant that Korea would fell behind other countries in industry and tech. [1] Some attempted to bring new ideas allowing for the assimilation of western technology under eastern ideals; but the conservative nature of Confucianism prevented sudden, large changes. In 1876 merchants from Japan began trading in Busan, and forced the Koreans to sign a treaty of trade and friendship; despite the fact the treaty considered Japan and Korea independent from each other, Japan was obviously the one in control. In 1882 Korea and the SA signed a similar treaty, with treaties for Britain, Germany, Russia and France in the following years. [1] In 1882 some soldiers revolted, causing the burning of Japanese property and the death of Japanese citizens. Korea was forced to pay compensation and sign the new treaty of Jemulpo. This increased Japan 's control, and the same rebellion served as an excuse for China to send troops into Korean territory. Members of the Donghak religion, and peasant attempted another rebellion. Demanding reforms while also swearing loyalty to the king. Said king appealed to both China and Japan from troops. He agreed to a truce with the rebels, but Japan refused to pull out. China and Japan struggled for control, and Korea, which had always been a tribute of China was now occupied …show more content…
Faced with worsening economic troubles, unemployment, and riots Rhee resigned. Allowing General Park Chung-hee to take control of the country. The general declared martial law initially, however he did hold an election in 1963, which he won. And second and third elections in 1967 and 1971 respectively, winning all of them. His rule was repressive, and after his third time becoming sworn into office, wrote up a new constitution, giving himself more power. General Park Chung-hee was assassinated in 1979. [2] Despite the less than hospitable rule, South Korea 's economic situation had grown drastically. Turning from an unimpressive, underdeveloped country into a bustling power economy. Regardless of his oppressive rule, General Park 's development of road, and bridges and emphasis on education, is largely responsible for the transformation. [1] After the general’s assassination, the military took steps to maintain order, and General Chun Doo-hwan took power in 1980. He declared martial law and arrested his opposition. Demonstrations against him led by students were met with deadly force. Korea 's economy continued to grow as the country dug itself out of poverty, becoming a prosperous society. [1] Unrest on the parts of students and Christian leaders who spoke out against him convinced Chun to step down. Elections were held and General

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Southeast Asia Dbq

    • 1197 Words
    • 5 Pages

    They also sent General Yuan Shikai to handle Korea’s diplomatic and commercial relations, which to be honest, it did not seem like a good idea. Although Choson Korea agreed to follow the Qing Empire’s desires and to treat them as if they were superior to everyone else. It does not make any sense to allow another country to decide what relations one is able to have with others. This is primarily one of the reasons Choson Korea ended. In perspective, it seemed as though Korea relied way too heavily on the Qing army.…

    • 1197 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    38th Parallel Analysis

    • 1797 Words
    • 8 Pages

    The war that raged in Korea between 1950 and 1953 did not begin as a huge international conflict during the Cold War, but would eventually become that once the United States and other countries decided to get involved in the Korean Civil War (Office of the Historian). Korea, throughout its history, was owned by other countries. From 1910 until the end of World War II, Japan had control and influence of Korea as a whole. Because Japan was on the losing side of World War II, the future of Korea was in the hands of the Allies (Great Britain, Russia, and the United States were the major three). It was decided that with the surrender of the Japanese in Korea, the Soviet Union would accept the surrender above the 38th Parallel (a latitudinal line that crosses through Korea), while the United States would accept below the 38th Parallel.…

    • 1797 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Recently, the leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) ordered his military prepared for the nuclear strike, and they are making a nuclear threat to the world again. The world would not be peaceful if a nuclear threat again appeared in this world. Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) is also known as North Korea is an international byword for isolationism, autonomy and antagonism. Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) has isolated itself from the rest of the world for more than 50 years. In Park Yong-Soo’s article “The political economy of economic reform in North Korea”, he claims that “North Korea has undergone an unprecedented economic crisis, which began in the early 1990s.…

    • 1560 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    North Korean Economy

    • 1790 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Daily Life of North Korea Under a Centrally Planned Economy Throughout reading the book Nothing To Envy Ordinary - Lives In North Korea Barbara Demick depicts the everyday lives that go on in the regime that has been created under North Korean communist power. The book shows many of the economic factors that took place in the beginning and current state of North Korea. With the extreme government regulation that North Koreans experience, there is a lack of basic human rights, poverty, and overall economic freedom. With most of the world establishing a capitalist system North Korea found itself in an economic struggle with a lack of exports leading to an increase in poverty that ruins their country and well being.…

    • 1790 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Kim Yu-jong wrote his stories in the 1930s when Korea was colonized by Japan. During the colonial period, Japan substantially proceeded colonial predatory behavior and destroyed the former social structure of Korea by advocating capitalism. Moreover, Japan forced Korean to speak in Japanese and even forced them to use Japanese names. Kim Yu-jong’s…

    • 1038 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Women In Korea

    • 1039 Words
    • 5 Pages

    This includes the shift of family structure, the opportunity of education and the establishment of employment. Before the 21th century, Korea Society holds a strong moral association of Confucian…

    • 1039 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Korean War Vs Communism

    • 1559 Words
    • 7 Pages

    The Korean war started on June 25, 1950 and lasted for three years. The korean war rose out a division in ideologies. After the Japanese surrendered during World War II, Korea was divided between the USA and the Soviets along the 38th parallel. South Korea became a nation with a free market, while North Korea became a communist state. The president of North Korea Kim Il-sung, who is considered the founder of the North Korea’s Communist government, was thought to be corrupt and in blamed for the death of 100,000 plus lives.…

    • 1559 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Imjin Invasion Essay

    • 576 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The people were infuriated over the state of Korea and the royal family understood that they would have to take immediate action in order to please the people and remain in power. Surprisingly, the government and ruling class “sincerely repented of their pre-war misdeeds” and were able to sustained reform measures, allowing the Choson dynasty and yangban class to survive for as long as 300 years after the war (Woo). In a source from Kim Woo, he calls it a “historical paradox” because of the potential of national misfortune turning into a benefit for a country in the long run, which is exactly what occurred in Choson Korea following the war…

    • 576 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Korean War, was the start of the unresolved separation of Korea. The Cold War influenced the proxy war between North and South Korea, as the allies for both sides where fighting each other in the Cold War, so they influenced North and South Korea to start taking actions, especially South Korea. As the United States wanted to intervene anyway so they can make sure that South Korea don't get influenced into adopting Communism as they thought that would have been a big issue for the world. The Korean War negatively affected North Korea in many ways; social, economic and political. Socially they became isolated from South Korea because of their communist ideology, mostly having issues with the United Nations as well as the United States.…

    • 488 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    North Korean Government North Korea is located within the continent of Asia, and is viewed as the 99th largest nation in the world as it stands at a staggering 120,408 kilometers of land. The traditional religious views in North Korea are made up of Buddhism and Confucianism. North Korea is also known to practice that of Christianity. The language of North Korean is Korean, and is shared with that of South Korea. North Korean government is very patriarchal as the regime goes about creating and enforcing social classes based upon pollical loyalty to the system.…

    • 1463 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Why Is The Korean War Bad

    • 1992 Words
    • 8 Pages

    The Korean War The Korean War, a war that started out with a quick victory in mind, quickly became a war with between the two superpowers of its current generation. With communism hoping to spread to all corners of the world, only thing stopping it is democracy, it laid its sight on South Korea. A war that showed no promising result for both sides, yet committed over 1.3 million casualties. The war ended with both sides receive severe losses and gained very little in return. This war showed the relentless attempts by the the spreading of communism while democracy held its ground and won’t back down to any other powers, this war was a means of both sides trying to show which style of government is better.…

    • 1992 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In the beginning, it was established that Japan that was in control of Korea from the annexation they made in 1910. April 1945 the Yalta Conference agreed to make a four power trusteeship for Korea near the end of World War two. Korea was split into two pieces, North and South Korea. The United States had control of the southern part of Korea below the 38th parallel, and the Soviet Union occupying the northern area. Later on in that year it was settled that the country would be reconnected and made an independent country after a five year wait.…

    • 1366 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Korean War (Forgotten War)

    • 2041 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Korean War (Forgotten War) The end of the Second World War meant peace and prosperity for the Americans and many others around the world. This was certainly not the case for the Korean people, this meant struggle and difficulty. As many Korean people thought this would be the end of Japanese control, and a chance to become unified.…

    • 2041 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Contemporary South Korea is often regarded as a cultural and economic hub within the world, but it is important to acknowledge the extensive history of South Korea that has been decorated by violence, corruption, and social disparity. Enduring foreign powers controlling institutional forces, a turbulent war against North Korea, two military regimes, and an intense financial crisis, the past century within South Korea has molded its population to quickly adapt to social, economic, and institutional changes. This history, having shaped the culture that inhabits South Korea, has been reflected in the films that are produced by South Korean directors. Many of the films utilize characters who have been effected by a traumatic past that continues…

    • 1498 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    After WWII, Korea was given to the US and the Soviet Union. September 1945, Korea was divided at the 38th parallel, a communist…

    • 1066 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays