Republic of Korea: symbols, history, sights

2024 Author: Harold Hamphrey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

When we talk about Korea, by this name we can mean not only the Korean Peninsula, but also the two countries located on it. One of them is located in the north, and the second in the south. The first one is North Korea. This abbreviation stands for Democratic People's Republic of Korea. But most often, speaking of Korea, they mean the country that is located in the south. Its official name is the Republic of Korea.

Geographic location

The Korean Peninsula is located south of Russia's Vladivostok and Primorsky Krai. This is the eastern part of Asia. On both sides, the peninsula is surrounded by the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea. The People's Republic of Korea, located in the north, is separated from the People's Republic of China (China) by the Amnok River. These lines pass in the northwestern part of the DPRK. To the east flows the Duman River. It separates North Korea from China and Russia. The Korea Strait separates the peninsula from Japan.

In the southern part of this piece of landis the Republic of Korea. The land border of the state is one. It is located in the north of the Republic of Korea, where the country is adjacent to the DPRK. In the west, its borders with China lie across the Yellow Sea. In the east, in the Sea of Japan, there are borders with the Land of the Rising Sun.

The territory occupied by South Korea covers an area of 99,720 square kilometers. At the same time, the total length of its state border is 238 km.

Most of the Republic of Korea is uplands and mountains. The highest point in the country is the top of the Hallasan volcano (1950 m). There are very few lowlands and plains here. This is only 30% of the entire territory of the country. Most of them are located in the southeast and west of South Korea. Most of the country's inhabitants live here.

Belongs to this state and almost three thousand islands. However, they are mostly extremely small and uninhabited. Jeju is the largest island in the Republic of Korea. It is located at a distance of 10 km from the south coast.

Ancient history

According to scientists, the first people on the territory of the Korean Peninsula appeared more than 70 thousand years ago. This part of the land was relatively densely populated during the Paleolithic period. This is confirmed by a large number of tools made of stone, which the researchers found during archaeological excavations.

Korea as a country began its existence in 2333 BC. During this period, called Gojoseon, three states existed on the territory of the peninsula. Among them- Goguryeo, as well as Silla and Baekje. It was in the first of them that Buddhism once arose. Starting from the 3rd c. BC e. this religious direction began to develop most actively. In addition, studying written sources, scientists found out that around the same time, martial arts began on the Korean Peninsula, which later formed the basis of modern aikido.

Early states

Somewhat later, three political centers were formed on the territory of the Korean peninsula - in Kogul, Silla and Baekje. They were located not only on the peninsula, but also in Manchuria. Historians have discovered the existence of less significant state formations.

In the 7th c. Silla conquered the territories of Kogule and Pakche. After 300 years, Korea seized power over these territories. At the same time, in the north of the peninsula, a country called Parhae began to develop.

Later States

The territories of the three countries - Silla, Taebong and Hupaekje - were united. As a result, the state of Korea arose. It was from him that the modern name came - Korea.

In the 13th c. This area was under the rule of the Mongols. The rule of the invaders, which lasted for several decades, had a negative impact on the further development of the country.

Then the Joseon Dynasty came to power. The rulers of Korea moved the capital of the country to Seoul. After that, the construction of palaces began in the city. The country began to establish diplomatic ties with neighboring China. Confucianism became the main religious direction in it. Instead of Chinesecreated its own alphabet - hangul. During the reign of the Joseon Dynasty, a number of important discoveries were made. The fundamental works of scientists have seen the light. According to researchers, it was then that the famous tea ceremony arose.

From 1592 to 1598 the country was raided by the Japanese. And in the end she was subdued by them.

In the 19th century. war broke out between neighboring Japan and China. The fighting caused serious damage to Korean territory, as it took place mainly on its border. In 1876, the parties signed an armistice agreement guaranteeing the country's independence. In 1894, the reign of the Joseon Dynasty ended. Then the king of Gojong stood at the head of the country, creating the Han Empire.

In 1904 - 1905 peace was interrupted by the Russo-Japanese War. It ended with the annexation of Korea. Japan exercised power over this state until 1945. This period is characterized by a tough policy of assimilation. In 1945, the unified state was divided into two. Its southern territory was under the influence of the United States, and the northern one was under the influence of the USSR.

Newest period

The history of the Republic of Korea began after the signing of a joint Soviet-American agreement, when the superpowers divided their spheres of influence on the peninsula. It happened in 1945. According to this agreement, that part of Korea, which was located south of the 38th parallel, came under the jurisdiction of the United States. And the territories to the north are under the jurisdiction of the USSR.

The Republic of Korea has experienced variousperiods. Throughout its existence, there has been a change of authoritarian and democratic governance. The country was ruled by different governments, and depending on their change, the Republic received its numbering. Let's take a closer look at each of these milestones in history.

First Republic

The founding date of the state located in South Korea is 1945-15-08. Its name, translated from the official language, literally sounds like the Great Republic of Korea Han.

Its first president was elected Syngman Lee. Somewhat later, on September 9, 1945, the North Korean People's Republic (DPRK) was formed. It was led by Kim Il Sung. In the same year, South Korea adopted its first constitution.

The period of the First Republic was quite difficult. It was overshadowed by the war that was being waged between North Korea and South Korea. The armed forces of the UN, the USSR and China took an active part in the hostilities. The result of this war was a huge economic and material damage that was inflicted on both countries.

The end of the era of the First Republic came in 1960. The change of government occurred after the April Revolution and the elections that followed these events.

Second Republic

For some time, power over South Korea passed to an interim administration headed by Ho Chong. But as a result of the elections held on July 29, 1960, the Democratic Party won. As a result, the Second Republic was formed, led by President Yoon Bo-song.

Seizure of power by the military government

Second BoardThe Republic proved to be short-lived. Already in 1961, a military coup took place in the country, and power passed to Major General Pak Chung-hee. In 1963, elections were held in South Korea. Their result was the election of General Pak as president.

Third Republic

Pak was also victorious in the 1967 elections. In them, he won 51.4% of the vote. In 1971, the general declared a state of emergency in the country.

During the Third Republic, its government ratified a peace treaty with neighboring Japan. South Korea also legalized the deployment of US military forces on its territory. Because of this, her relationship with America became even closer. The Republic of Korea provided great support to the United States during the war with Vietnam. She sent almost 300,000 of her soldiers to conduct military operations in this country.

This period is also characterized by the beginning of serious progress in the economy. The measures taken by the government have significantly increased the state's GDP.

Fourth Republic

In 1972, South Korea adopted a new constitution. According to its provisions, the role of the president in governing the country was significantly strengthened. At this time, the people of the Republic of Korea did not stop holding anti-government protests. In this regard, General Park Chung-hee decided to extend the state of emergency.

During the existence of the Fourth Republic there was a regression of democratic values. The government carried out constant arrests of dissidents. However, despite the political crisis, the country's economy grewrapidly.

Fifth Republic

In 1979, General Pak was killed. Power passed into the hands of General Chun Doo-hwan. The country was immediately overwhelmed by multiple democratic demonstrations. These events culminated in the world-famous Gwangju massacre.

The struggle for democracy in South Korea lasted for a long 8 years. However, the efforts of the people were not in vain. In 1987, democratic elections were held in the country.

Sixth Republic

It arose after the country's transition to democracy. In 1992, the country elected its first civilian president. The economy of the Republic of Korea continued its rapid development. However, global crises periodically inflicted significant damage on it.

Coat of arms

Let's move on to the consideration of the symbols of the country. The coat of arms of the Republic of Korea expresses a tribute to the ancient traditions of the local people, closely intertwined with modernity. It was approved by a special presidential decree in December 1963. The emblem of the South Korean Republic reflected the most important symbols for the local people. You can also see them on the flag of the country.

The main emblem of the Republic of Korea contains a deep meaning, and at the same time its design is quite simple. Its main element is a red-blue whirlwind (tegyk). It is enclosed in a circle located in a pentagon. This symbolism is national. The Korean Republic on its coat of arms displayed the constant confrontation between "yin" and "yang", which are opposing forces. But in general these symbolsconstitute harmony and inseparable unity. Deep meaning lies in the colors of the figures. So, red denotes nobility, and blue is associated with hope.

The rectangle that frames the taegeuk is a stylized image of a mallow flower. This plant is also a national symbol. In the Republic of Korea, this flower has been revered since ancient times. At all times, people associated it with prosperity and immortality.

The whole design of the Ovit coat of arms is a white ribbon. In its lower part you can see the name of the country - the Republic of Korea. It is written in hieroglyphs, which are the constituent elements of the phonemic Hangul script.

Flag

This state symbol is quite easy to recognize. The flag of the Republic of Korea has a rectangular shape with a length to width ratio of 2:3. The cloth has a white background with trigrams and a central emblem.

The flag of the Republic of Korea is white for a reason. The fact is that it is he who is national in the country. White in Buddhism personifies purity and holiness, the ability to control one's thoughts. It is also considered the color of the mother.

The central emblem of the flag is taeguk. It is the same as on the coat of arms of this state.

The flag was first designed in 1883. It was the state symbol of the Joseon Dynasty. It was then that trigrams appeared on the flag. On a modern panel, they were placed closer to the corners. Trigrams mean many concepts. If we consider them starting from the top,located near the shaft, and move clockwise, then such symbols personify the Sky and the Moon, the Earth, and also the Sun. Trigrams can also be considered south and west, north and east. They also indicate the seasons, denoting summer and autumn, winter and spring. They also correspond to the four elements - air and water, earth and fire. Made trigrams in black. For Koreans, it means justice, vigilance and resilience.

The flag of South Korea was officially approved in 1948

Anthem

The main meaning of this symbolism in any country lies in the assertion of independence, as well as independence. The anthem of the Republic of Korea is more of a lyrical ode. It describes the hard fate of a people who suffered great losses due to external threats, but did not lose heart and remained faithful to their nation.

Initially, writing the music of the anthem provided for its performance by wind instruments, which was supposed to be accompanied by a violin. To date, there are several versions. One of them was invented by creative musicians in South Korea. This is a rock version of the anthem, which is especially popular among young people.

Administrative divisions

South Korea consists of 9 provinces. One of them is autonomous. The provinces contain smaller entities. These are counties and cities, towns and municipalities, urban districts and townships, as well as villages.

Seoul

The capital of the Republic of Korea is the largest city in the country. Seoul is located on the banks of the Hangang River. Its modern namethe city received in 1946 from the Korean "soul", which means "capital".

The first mention of a human settlement, which was located on the site of today's Seoul, refers to the 1st century. n. e. From the second half of the 4th c. the city, whose name sounded like Vireson, became the capital of the early state of Baekje. Somewhat later, this administrative center was renamed. It began to be called Hanson, and from the 14th century. - Hanyang. At the same time, a powerful fortress wall appeared around the city, successfully fitting into the rocky slopes of the surrounding mountains.

Seoul developed steadily until the 16th century, until it was badly damaged by Japanese troops. After the expulsion of the invaders, the city continued its peaceful existence for some time. In 1627, he was again attacked, now by the Manchu troops.

During its history, the city had to endure several palace coups. And only at the end of 18, a period of cultural and economic prosperity began in Seoul. After Korea was annexed to Japan, the city became known as Gyeongseong.

In 1948, the government of South Korea was located here. But during the war on the peninsula in the city, power was constantly changing. Either it passed under the control of the North Korean Republic, or it was captured by the Chinese armies. As a result of the fighting, the city was badly damaged. The Korean people took up its restoration only after the end of the war.

In the 1980s-1990s, Seoul significantly expanded its contacts with Pyongyang, the capital of the People's Republic of Korea. Somewhat later, in 2000, the heads of the two states signed an international agreement on cooperation and reconciliation.

Today, Seoul is a major cultural, economic, transport and tourist center of South Korea. On its territory there are a large number of unique historical sights. Thanks to this, the capital of the country is a popular destination for tourists from all over the world.

Attractions

Two countries on a peninsula in eastern Asia share the same historical roots. That is why in South Korea and in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the sights that have come down to us from ancient times have the same theme.

The most interesting tourist in North Korea is the city of Kaesong. In ancient times, it was the capital of a single Korean state called Korea. Today, this city is famous for its production of ginseng, because its main plantations and factories for processing the medicinal plant are concentrated in it.

In the history of Kaesong there were three wars, as a result of which many ancient buildings located in it were destroyed. However, some of them have survived to this day, causing interest among tourists. This is a Confucian educational institution dating back to the 10th century, a bridge built in the 13th century, and the remains of ancient temple walls.

Those tourists who have visited South Korea are advised by seasoned travelers to visit iconicstructures. There are many shrines and temples in the country. Most of them are Buddhist.

One of these shrines is Sinhungsa Temple. It is located on the slope of Mount Seoraksana and is the oldest of the Buddhist structures in the world. It was built in 653 AD, suffered several fires and was completely restored after them. On the way to the temple, tourists are greeted by a sculpture of Buddha, which is made of gilded bronze and has impressive dimensions.

A very unusual building in South Korea is another temple. It is located in the middle of mountain forests and is called 1000 Buddhas. The temple is a circle of statues of this deity. There are several hundred of them in total. In the center of the circle is a statue of a Bodhisattva made of bronze. This deity is depicted sitting on a lotus.

One of the most ancient Buddhist temples is located in Seoul. It was erected in 794 on the slope of Mount Sudo. This is Boneunsa Temple.

On the streets of Seoul, travelers can also find a Catholic church. This is Mendon Cathedral, which was built relatively recently, in 1898. The building is made in the neo-Gothic style and is known for the fact that at the beginning of the 20th century. the relics of the Korean martyrs were buried here.

Among the interesting sights of South Korea are: