The Korean Crisis.

  

Only by the history timeline of Korea starting from Japanese occupation, Second World War, Cold war and finally Korean civil War we automatically can expect the poor economic conditions of Korea at that difficult for it period. At the end of the Second World War Korean peninsula was occupied by the Soviet forces on the North side of the 38^th Parallel and by the US army on the South of it. Thus each of two global powers had a half of Korea in hands. 

    After separating Korea into South and North Koreas one was collaborating with USA and another with USSR and China correspondingly. According to the deplorable circumstances both Koreas were born in crisis and pursuits of each was to stabilize the economic position.

   Behind the Civil War when both Koreas were ruined, South Korean economy was rebuilt with mostly US aid and investment however economy of North Korea couldn't achieve that by the reason of the Vietnam War in which North Korea concluded an agreement on free aid to Vietnam. In addition hostile relations between Soviet and China were not making better the position of communistic Korea and convinced it to be self-reliant. Furthermore the dissociation of USSR and fiasco of communism in Europe was a tragedy for North Korea. This all is an unlucky issues on the way of developing its economy. 

 The South Korea was caught up in the East Asian Financial Crisis of 1997, which left own consequences to its economic but even so, the country has become one of the world’s largest economies. 

              Religions in Korea during its 

                  economic development.

   The past of Korean religion starts from the ancient shamanistic traditions of worshiping to the heaven which symbolized a god. As time goes by religion was supplemented by Buddhism and Confucianism.

   

  Deeply saying, Confucianism was supported by last dynasty of Korea, Choson Dynasty (1302-1910) as a political ideology and suppressed the Buddhism, which despite to all the pressure is still one of the leading religion in Korea at modern time. In other words Choson Dynasty ruled more than 500 years and almost all that time there was a propagation of Confucianism. Nevertheless marks of Buddhism like temples can be easily found in cities of Korea still running. 

Geumsansa Gold Mountain Temple 

Near the end of Dynasty’s rule while Confucianism was collapsing in the country appeared new western religion, Christianity. 

Churches in Sanseong, Seoul

   After the civil war in Korea (1950-1953), when Korea divided into two different countries, when both of them were economically ruined the religion status was established as Christianity and Buddhism in South Korea and atheism in North.

   Since that time religion status in South Korea haven’t significantly changed. Therefore during the drastically developing period of republic of Korea in 20^th century Buddhism and Christianity were stabilized coexisting with Shamanism, Confucianism and Islam as well.

The Seoul Central Mosque in Itaewon, Seoul

   The position of South Korea under the American Umbrella made a bridge for Christianity to come to Korea at the time period of its difficult economic development. Up to now Christianity is one of the major religion of South Korea.

References:The Koreas, 2nd edition, Charles Armstrong

Introduction to "Understanding Korea" course

             

               Understanding Korea

     This is my first blog ever and it is going to be all about Korea. Currently I'm studying in South Korea and I would love to share all the knowledge and experience I faced and I will face later on. During the four months I will write about the topics which I'm interested in by the help of Korean community.

•    Topics I'm interested in:

1. History of Korea, Interrelations with China, Japan

2. Modern International Relations (Programs for foreigners in Korea)

3. Behind Scenes of Powerful and Impetuous Progress of Korea

4. Diversity of Religion in Korea

5. Special Features of Korea (Korean Dramas, K-pop, Plastic Surgery etc)

6. Curious Stereotypes of Korean Community and Culture

•  Expectation for further active learning about Korea:

   From the "" Understanding Korea" course I expect to receive interesting, useful and unique information about Korean Culture, Community, Social Behavior, Traditions as much as I can and make a chance for others who are eager to become more familiar with Korea overcoming the distance case.

• Motivation in acquiring the knowledge of Korea:

  One of the the main reasons is that my ancestors were from Korea however by the historical issues many Koreans were immigrated to Russian Federation and later to many other countries in Central Asia and I'm the person with Korean blood, Russian Culture, Kyrgyzstan Citizenship kind of the result of such a long, complicated story.

  Accordingly I have a great chance to deeply learn, analyse and share about. If you are interested in my researches as well as I do, like and subscribe :)

 

References:The Koreas, 2nd edition, Charles Armstrong