THE KOREAS a comparative fact sheet An independent Korean state or collection of states has existed almost continuously for several millennia. Between its initial unification in the 7th century - from three predecessor Korean states - until the 20th century, Korea existed as a single country. After World War II, a democratic-based government (Republic of Korea, ROK) was set up in the southern half of the Korean Peninsula while a Communist-style government was installed in the north (the DPRK). During the Korean War (1950-53), US troops and UN forces fought alongside soldiers from the ROK to defend South Korea from DPRK attacks supported by China and the Soviet Union. An armistice was signed in 1953, splitting the peninsula along a demilitarized zone at about the 38th parallel. South Korea Republic of Korea (ROK)

North Korea Official Name Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)

Flag The national flag is called Taegukki; white is a traditional Three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), Korean color and represents peace and purity; the blue and blue; the red band is edged in white; on the hoist side section represents the negative cosmic forces of the yin, of the red band is a white disk with a red five-pointed star; while the red symbolizes the opposite positive forces of the broad red band symbolizes revolutionary traditions; the yang; each trigram (kwae), from the I Ching (Book of the narrow white bands stands for purity, strength, and Changes), denotes one of the four universal elements, dignity; the blue bands signify sovereignty, peace, and which together express the principle of movement and friendship; the red star represents socialism harmony Population • 48,860,500 • 24,589,122 • 0.204% population growth rate • 0.535% population growth rate • 83% urban population • 60% urban population • Infant Mortality 4.08 deaths/1000 live births • Infant Mortality: 26.21 deaths/1000 live births • Life expectancy: 79.3 years • Life Expectancy: 69.2 years Social • Average Age at Marriage: Male: 31, Female: 28 • Avg. Age at Marriage: Male: 29, Female: 25.5 3 1 • Divorce: 2.33 cases / 1000 people • Divorce: Still structurally discouraged, but reports Historically discouraged, divorce soared in the say economic independence is making divorce 90’s 2 more common4 • Literacy: 97.9% • Literacy: 99% 1

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2012/02/117_105775.html Rose 250% between 1993 and 2003 http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/21/world/divorce-in-south-korea-striking-a-newattitude.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm 3 http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2012/08/06/2003539556 4 http://www.dailynk.com/english/read.php?cataId=nk00100&num=5576 and http://nkradio.cafe24.com/bbs/view.php?id=public_news_eng&page=1&sn1=&divpage=1&sn=off&ss=on&sc=on&select_arrange=h eadnum&desc=asc&no=236&PHPSESSID=d0379f94c55eab024f4cfb4280293d82 2

•

Religions: Christian 26.3% (Protestant 19.7%, Roman Catholic 6.6%) Buddhist 23.2% Other or unknown 1.3% None 49.3%

•

Religions: Traditionally Buddhist and Confucianist, some Christian and syncretic Chondogyo (Religion of the Heavenly Way) note: autonomous religious activities now almost nonexistent; government-sponsored religious groups exist to provide illusion of religious freedom

Government Republic with Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches Communist State, one-man dictatorship Capital: Seoul Capital: Pyongyang Political Leaders 5 Rhee Syng-man Yi Seungman / 이승만 / 李承晩 (1875–1965) 20 July 1948 - 27 Apr. 1960

Kim Il-sung

김일성 / 金日成 (1912–1994)

9 Sept. 1948 – 8 July 1994

Yun Bo-seon Yun Boseon / 윤보선 / 尹潽善 (1897–1990) 12 Aug. 1960- 24 Mar. 1962 Park Chung-hee Bak Jeonghui / 박정희 / 朴正熙 (1917–1979) 17 Dec. 1963 - 26 Dec. 1972 27 Dec. 1972 - 26 Oct. 1979 Choi Kyu-hah Choe Gyuha/ 최규하 / 崔圭夏 (1919–2006) 6 Dec.1979 - 16 Aug. 1980

Kim Jong-il

김정일 / 金正日 (1941/1942–2011)

8 July 1994 – 17 Dec. 2011

Chun Doo-hwan Jeon Duhwan/ 전두환 / 全斗煥 (1931– ) 27 Aug. 1980 - 25 Feb. 1981 25 Feb. 1981 - 24 Feb. 1988 Roh Tae-woo No Taeu / 노태우 / 盧泰愚 (1932- ) 25 Feb. 1988 - 24 Feb. 1993

5

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Presidents_of_South_Korea and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_leaders_of_North_Korea

Kim Young-sam Gim Yeongsam / 김영삼 / 金泳三 (1927– ) 25 Feb. 1993 - 24 Feb. 1998 Kim, Dae-jung Gim Daejung / 김대중 / 金大中 (1924–2009) 25 February 1998 - 24 February 2003 Roh Moo-hyun No Muhyeon / 노무현 / 盧武鉉 (1946–2009) 25 Feb. 2003 - 12 Mar. 2004 Lee Myung-bak Yi Myeongbak / 이명박 / 李明博 (1941– ) 25 February 2008- present

Kim Jong-un

김정은 / 金正恩 (1983/1984–) 29 Dec 2011 - present

Currency: South Korean Won (KRW) US$ 1 = 1129 ₩ GDP: 1.574 trillion GDP per capita: $32,100 Unemployment Rate: 3.4%

Economy Currency: North Korean Won (KPW) US$ 1 = 4,500-5000 ₩6 GDP: 40 billion GDP per capita: $1,800 Unemployment Rate: N/A

South Korea over the past four decades has demonstrated incredible growth and global integration to become a hightech industrialized economy. In the 1960s, GDP per capita was comparable with levels in the poorer countries of Africa and Asia. In 2004, South Korea joined the trillion dollar club of world economies, and currently is among the world's 20 largest economies. Initially, a system of close government and business ties, including directed credit and import restrictions, made this success possible. The government promoted the import of raw materials and technology at the expense of consumer goods, and encouraged savings and investment over consumption. The Asian financial crisis of 1997-98 exposed longstanding weaknesses in South Korea''s development model including high debt/equity ratios and massive short-term foreign borrowing. GDP plunged by 6.9% in 1998, and then recovered by 9% in 1999-2000. Korea adopted numerous economic reforms following the crisis, including greater openness to foreign investment and imports. Growth moderated to about 4% annually between 2003 and 2007. With the global economic downturn in late 2008, South 6

North Korea, one of the world's most centrally directed and least open economies, faces chronic economic problems. Industrial capital stock is nearly beyond repair as a result of years of underinvestment, shortages of spare parts, and poor maintenance. Large-scale military spending draws off resources needed for investment and civilian consumption. Industrial and power output have stagnated for years at a fraction of pre-1990 levels. Frequent weather-related crop failures aggravated chronic food shortages caused by on-going systemic problems, including a lack of arable land, collective farming practices, poor soil quality, insufficient fertilization, and persistent shortages of tractors and fuel. Large-scale international food aid deliveries have allowed the people of North Korea to escape widespread starvation since famine threatened in 1995, but the population continues to suffer from prolonged malnutrition and poor living conditions. Since 2002, the government has allowed private "farmers' markets" to begin selling a wider range of goods. It also permitted some private farming - on an experimental basis - in an effort to boost agricultural output. In December

http://view.koreaherald.com/kh/view.php?ud=20120809001115&cpv=0

Korean GDP growth slowed to 0.3% in 2009. In the third quarter of 2009, the economy began to recover, in large part due to export growth, low interest rates, and an expansionary fiscal policy, and growth was 3.6% in 2011. In 2011, the US-South Korea Free Trade Agreement was ratified by both governments and is projected to go into effect in early 2012. The South Korean economy''s long term challenges include a rapidly aging population, inflexible labor market, and heavy reliance on exports which comprise half of GDP.

2009, North Korea carried out a redenomination of its currency, capping the amount of North Korean won that could be exchanged for the new notes, and limiting the exchange to a one-week window. A concurrent crackdown on markets and foreign currency use yielded severe shortages and inflation, forcing Pyongyang to ease the restrictions by February 2010. In response to the sinking of the South Korean destroyer Cheonan and the shelling of Yeonpyeong Island, South Korea's government cut off most aid, trade, and bilateral cooperation activities, with the exception of operations at the Kaesong Industrial Complex. In preparation for 2012, the 100th anniversary of KIM Il-sung's birthday, North Korea continued efforts to develop special economic zones with China and expressed willingness to permit construction of a trilateral gas pipeline that would carry Russian natural gas to South Korea. Telecommunications Mobile Phones: Mobile Phones: 20,000,000 3G subscribers + 7,000,000 LTE (speeds 5x 3G) 1,000,000 3G subscribers subscribers 4% of the population 55% of the population 7 Internet: Internet: 8 95% broadband penetration (per household) North Korea has no official access to the internet. Nation is connected to a closed intranet 9 Military Service Males aged 16-17 must begin mandatory service that lasts Compulsory for males, aged 20-30 with middle school about a decade. education required Women deemed fit must also serve for a shorter period. Conscript service obligation: 21-24 months The 1.2 million-strong military, the world’s fourth Women, in service since 1950, this is not compulsory. largest. 10 Adapted from the CIA World Factbook. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ks.html

7

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/story/2012-06-21/south-korea-fast-mobile/55732260/1 th Top in the world. US is 60%, ranked 20 in the world. http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2009/06/us-20th-in-broadbandpenetration-trails-s-korea-estonia/ 9 http://en.rsf.org/beset-by-online-surveillance-and-12-03-2012,42061.html 8

10

North Korea recently lowered the height requirement for military service to 142cm (4ft 8in). The average South Korean boy 16-17 years old is 172cm (5ft 7.5in). http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/north-korea-lowers-height-requirementsfor-military-service/