South Korea

South Korea

1. People and Culture

   • About 51 million people live in South Korea
     • The capital of South Korea Seoul which has a population of more than 10 million people
     • Most people live in cities in tall apartment buildings
       • Many people work in factories and other people work in stores.
     • On special occasions people wear the traditional hanbok. The women wear brightly colored dresses with bows in front and the men were robes and pants.
   • Laungage
     • hello in Korean is an-nyeong-ha-se-yo
     • good-bye in Korean is an-nyeong-hi ka-se-yo
     • yes in Korean is ye
     • no in Korean a-ni-yo
     • thank you in Korean kam-sa-ham-ni-da
     • please is Korean is chom/che-bal
     • friend in Korean ch’in-gu
   • Every man in South Korea has to serve in the military for at least two years

2. History

   • After the war, control of Korea was divided between the United States who occupied, or controlled the southern part of Korea , and the Soviet Union, who occupied the north. It was at this time that Korea was split into North Korea and South Korea.
   • In the 5th, 6th, and 7th centuries Silla became the most powerful kingdom. However, in 918, all three kingdoms came under the control of a new dynasty called Goryeo. During this period, the religion of Buddhism spread throughout the peninsula.
   • In 1392, the Joseon Dynasty came to power in Korea. Its rulers built anew capital, Hanyang, which is now Seoul, the capital city of South Korea. Korea mained under the Joseon Dynasty until Japan took it over in 1910.