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Extensible Markup Language | 1995-06-15 | 5KB | 19 lines

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?> <!DOCTYPE card PUBLIC "-//Apple, Inc.//DTD card V 2.0//EN" "" > <card> <id>26691</id> <filler1>0</filler1> <cantDelete> <false /> </cantDelete> <showPict> <true /> </showPict> <dontSearch> <false /> </dontSearch> <owner>5472</owner> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="stylesheet_3106.css" /> <content> <layer>background</layer> <id>31</id> <text>KOREA, REPUBLIC OF(South Korea)Official name: Daehan-Minkuk (Republic of Korea). Popularly known as South Korea.Member of: UN, ApecArea: 99326 km2 (38350 sq mi)Population: 44042000 (1993 est)Capital: Seoul (Soul) 11000000 (city 10613000; 1990 census)Other major cities: Pusan 3825000, Taegu 2248000, Inchon 1682000, Kwangju 1206000, Taejon 1062000 (1990 census)Language: Korean (official)Religions: Buddhist (24%), various Protestant Churches (16%), Roman Catholic (5%)GOVERNMENTThe 299-member National Assembly is elected by universal adult suffrage every four years ΓÇô 237 members are directly elected to represent constituencies; the remaining 62 members are chosen under a system of proportional representation. The President ΓÇô who appoints a State Council (Cabinet) and a Prime Minister ΓÇô is directly elected for a single five-year term.GEOGRAPHYApart from restricted coastal lowlands and the densely populated Han and Naktong basins, most of the country is mountainous. The highest point is Halla-san (1950 m / 6398 ft), an extinct volcano on Cheju island. Climate: Korea experiences cold dry winters and hot summers during which the monsoon brings heavy rainfall.ECONOMYOne fifth of the labor force is involved in farming. The principal crops are rice and barley. South Korean industry is dominated by a small number of large family conglomerates. The important textile industry was the original manufacturing base. South Korea is now the worldΓÇÖs leading producer of ships and footwear and a major producer of electronic equipment, electrical goods, steel, petrochemicals and motor vehicles. Banking and finance are expanding. The country experienced high economic growth rates in the 1980s and early 1990s. Currency: Won.HISTORYEven before the kingdom of Silla united the rest of Korea into a single state (668), the Korean peninsula acted as a bridge between China and Japan, adapting Chinese culture as it transmitted it to Japan. The Mongols overran the country in 1259 and ruled for a century, but Korea maintained its distinctive identity. The Yi dynasty (1392ΓÇô1910) gave Korea a long period of cultural continuity. China helped the Koreans to repulse a Japanese invasion in 1592, exacting recognition of Chinese overlordship in return. From the 17th century, Korea became the ΓÇÿHermit KingdomΓÇÖ, cutting itself off from the outside world. In 1910 Korea fell victim to a harsh Japanese colonial rule. After World War II, the peninsula was divided into Soviet and US zones of occupation. In 1948 the Republic of Korea was established in the American (southern) zone. The surprise invasion of the South by the Communist North precipitated the Korean War (1950ΓÇô53; see p. 450). The war cost a million lives and ended in stalemate with the division of Korea confirmed. Closely allied to the US, an astonishing economic transformation took place in South Korea. However, the country has experienced long periods of authoritarian rule, including the presidencies of Syngman Rhee and Park Chung-Hee, but the election of ex-General Roh Tae Woo (1987) introduced a more open regime. Much prestige was gained through the successful Seoul Olympic Games. The establishment of trading and diplomatic contacts with China and former Communist countries has further isolated North Korea.</text> </content> <name>Korea, Republic of (South)</name> <script></script> </card>