Korea

## Culture

The Republic of Korea is a place of opportunity and understanding, technology and magic, old and new, and a fascination with blending these opposing elements. With a history embroiled in war and steeped in western influence, the shadows thrive in the now reunified Korean peninsula as governments, corporations, and political groups constantly vie for supremacy across the nation. Korea is a land of possibility that heavily embraces the "American Dream" without the idolizing the history of racism and religious persecution that ultimately led to the Native American revolutions in North America or the Night of Rage worldwide. If you have skills, unique talents, or something else to offer, you will be welcomed with open arms, that is, if you can speak the language and you're a fan of some after-work soju (rice liquor).

The Koreans only really hate one group of people: the Japanese. Due to a history of military, economic, and political conflict between the two peoples, the bad blood runs deep and is reflected in the attitudes of both groups today. As a result, Korea has an abnormally high number of meta residents, some of which have immigrated from neighboring states to a place where they won't be killed for having tusks or horns. Going a step further, even SURGEs and body-modders are more welcome in the streets of Korea than many other places in the world.

Do not mistake a Korean's lack of discriminatory tendencies for a lack of national pride. Nationalism is a fierce force among the Korean public and is often a centerpiece of civil, criminal, and even corporate culture.

Korean society is also deeply focused on the matrix, exclusively developing many of their own matrix games and media, as if to spite the Japanacorps' near monopoly on matrix tech and software. Esports is considered one of the Korean national sports and Korean trideo gamers have a large media presence as both celebrities and athletes. Often, Korean trideo gamers take pride in their ability to outcompete their Japanese counterparts. As a byproduct of this fascination with the digital, Korean hackers are famous the world over and a popular labor export of the Korean underworld.

Remember when I said that Koreans had a tendency for blending polar opposites? Despite their typically progressive outlook, Koreans believe heavily in the veneration of elders and family in accordance to the ancient teachings of the philosopher Confucius. In fact, this cultural tendency is so strong that it often makes its way into the shadows, with older runners and fixers being prioritized for the most lucrative of runs even if they aren't the absolute best fit for the job.

Similarly, the contradictions of a digital age and the revival of ancient spiritual practices have proven quite popular. In Korea, the dominant religious force is that of Korean Shamanism (*musok*), led by the *mu* (shamans), typically called *mudang* (f) or *baksu* (m), in reverence of the spirits and forces of nature native to the land of Korea. Mu hold sway as spiritual advisors, powerful guardians of villages and their people, and even fortune tellers. The dead even have their own representation in the form of the *Tangol* (neutral), a variety of mu specializing in the communication with and appeasing of ancestral spirits. It is rumored that even the leaders of Korean megacorps and criminal syndicates consult with the mu for their wisdom and foresight. The primary practice of the mu is the *kut,* a ritual whose many forms are as varied as their purpose. The one common element of the rituals are the prevalence of sacrifice (of food and animals), performance (of dance and song), and the channeling of the intended force or creature (or one of their representatives) into the mu to act as a conduit to draw upon their power or knowledge, allow these creatures to revel and be merry in exchange for blessings, or sometimes even reconnect family or loved ones for a short period of time. It should be noted that Buddhism and Christianity are still relatively popular, albeit minor religions.

While this is more of a quirk of the Japanese than the Koreans, Korean and Chinese shadowrunners have been known to be in high demand by the upper crust of Japanese society. This is due in part to their efficacy and ruthlessness against other Japanese competitors, but mainly because of the belief that the Chinese and Koreans are foreigners and are thus both inferior (don't need to pay or respect them as much) and more expendable (if they get caught or fragged, the trail will lead back to the mainland).

## Government

The Republic of Korea is a parliamentary republic with a military president. Although the civilian legislators and federal officials have power on paper, the military and the president are the true power behind the government and will step in on occasion if they feel that their interests are not adequately represented.

The Korean government is not against using propaganda and typically reinforces anti-Japanese sentiment as a bid to unify the people of Korea and divert blame or attention away from corrupt government officials.

Due to the economic and military devastation of the Second Korean War, the former territories of North Korea are less secure than the government strongholds of the south, leading to rampant corruption in many northern territories. Despite being outlawed by the federal government, the Korean Communist Party still has a presence here and operations conducted by the National Intelligence Service (nicknamed the KCIA) to capture or eliminate communist dissidents are not a rare occurrence.

## History

2005- South Korea's President Rhee is assassinated by a communist dissident backed by the Japanese. In response, General Yoon seizes power and invades North Korea. This would be known internationally as the Second Korean War and internally as the War or Great War of Reunification.

2006- North Korea attempts to nuke Japan, but the missiles fail to detonate. The war is won by the end of the year and the Korean peninsula is officially reunified.

2007- Several newly privatized North Korean corporations merge, creating the megacorporation Kwonsham Industries.

2011- The first Spirit Village appears on Jeju-do Island.

2023- After General Yoon dies, the military elects Admiral Park as his successor.

2030- Samsung-LG, Daewoo, and SK Energy (not a subsidiary of S-K) merge to form the Eastern Tiger Corporation.

2040s to 2050s- BTL abuse is at an all-time high but is soon quelled by social and religious organizations such as the Church of Unification (popularly referred to as the "Moonies").

2055- The Church of Unification is exposed as a front organization for bug spirits and is banned. Many high-ranking officials with ties to or sympathies for the group are purged.

2059- The Pacific Prosperity Group is formed with ETC, Kwonsham, and Samyung as founding members. Many major Korean corporations soon follow, making Korean business centrally important to the PPG.

2060- President Hwang retires and is replaced by General Kang-ho Lee following a financial scandal.

2064- Kwonsham files for bankruptcy and subsequently receives a loan from the Korean Agency for Economic Stability.

## Geography and Important Locations

### Seoul-Incheon Megaplex

Korea's capital and the home of over 30 million inhabitants, the SIM plays host to a variety of tourist attractions, ports of fortune, and corporate and governmental headquarters. Due to this being the center of power of many organizations in the ROK, it is also the place where you are most likely to find foreign shadowrunners (especially in Itaewon, nicknamed "The International District"). Incheon is the major port of entry for both sea and air travel and is a major trade center in the south. Myeongdong is a more cosmopolitan district attracting anyone in search of vice or pleasure from tourists, to corporate workers, and even to rich locals.

### Pyongyang

In contrast, the former capital of the north is a dirty, industrialized mess populated by the Japanacorps and low-price laborers left to rot in exchange for generous bribes to government officials. Reportedly, it is also home to toxic mu who capitalize on the current conditions.

### Yeosu

Once the center of Korean naval power during the Joseon Era (1392-1897), this port city is now the center of naval trade and fishing in the south, making it a popular target for ecoterrorists and Japanese sympathizers. As a byproduct, corps with interests in shipbuilding are constantly fighting over opportunities and projects here.

### Jeju Island (Jeju-Do)

The premiere tourist destination of the ROK, the island is home to fantastic temperate weather, preserved natural resources and features, and thousands of spirits. Spirits began appearing on the island after the Awakening and are generally both benign and friendly to people who respect the natural way of life of the island, with a not-insignificant number simply living as members of the society. There are stories of people disappearing, experiencing major hallucinations, or even not remembering their lives before coming to the island, so be wary of spirits or magical phenomena that mean you harm.

The island is highly spiritualistic and serves as a bastion of musok, with each village having at least one altar to the spirits and several mu to perform the necessary rituals to appease them. Villages typically have a local altar god, which is aspected towards a certain element of local life, and if individuals need blessings regarding another aspect of nature or daily goings-on, they will travel to another village to consult their altar god and the mu who serve them. The island is also home to a great deal of telesma and magical materials, but despite this, talislegging is decidedly unpopular due to a combination of local reverence of natural resources, and the giant, fuck-off spirits of the land that have been known to decimate corporate harvesting teams in retaliation for molesting local villages or the lands surrounding them.

### Baekdusan (Mount Baekdu)

Despite mountains making up 2/3 of the Korean peninsula, this mountain stands out for its abundant oddities. Known as the "ever-white mountain," Baekdusan stands on the border with Manchuria as a dead volcano whose crater has become known as the Chonji ("Celestial Lake"). This mountain was the seat of Korean power of the first Korean Kingdom 5,000 years prior and was a place of potent magical energy until Halley's Comet passed. After the comet, hostile spirits and shapeshifters began to dominate the slopes of the mountain, making travel to the top impossible. Supposedly, nobody has since come back from the crater alive.

## Corporate Presence

### Eastern Tiger Corporation

Headquarters: Busan, Korea

CEO: Sejong Lee

The largest Korean corporation and one of the largest Asian corporations not originating from Japan, ETC controls a variety of industries from heavy industry and chemicals, power and infrastructure, and even biotech and weapons. They were formed out of the merger of the peninsula's largest Chaebols (diversified corporate conglomerate, lit. "rich family"), becoming the largest corporate power on the Korean peninsula, as well as a major member of the Pacific Prosperity Group (a corporate power block representing the interests of East Asian and Pacific corporations in response to the massive influence held by the AAA Japanacorps) alongside some small Japanacorps and Wuxing. There are rumors that the company exerts major control over not only the commercial and civil spheres of Korea, but the criminal ones as well, utilizing the extensive networks and abilities of the Jo-Poks at home and Seoulpa Rings abroad to convey and acquire less-than-legal product. There are also further rumors that the entire corporation and its board of directors are merely a puppet for the Dragon Mang.

Currently the ETC seems to be in a dispute with Wuxing over the corporate assets of Hyundai. Wuxing has offered several alternatives as means of compensation, but neither side seems to be backing down.

ETC has also expanded well beyond Korean borders, holding assets in Australia, North America, Southeast Asia, and likely most importantly, Seattle (this division is headed by Regional Director Yong-jo Moon).

### The Japanacorps

While no single Japanacorp holds major power in the country, their combined assets as a remnant of Japanese occupation and subsequent economic domination serves as a sticking point (to the Koreans) and common ground (to each other) that prevents them from being thrown out altogether, despite the wishes of many Koreans in the government and commercial sectors.

### Kwonsham Industries

CEO: Kae-jyung Kim

A smaller chaebol formed from the newly-privatized industries of North Korea. Besides their position in the formerly communist and now quite corrupt North, they are most famous for going after Shiawase's subsidiary, Hephaestus Technologies. In response, the AAA made it their primary mission to smash Kwonsham's standing in the market for a good while. They succeeded in reducing Kwonsham's valuation to an extreme degree, however, the threat of destabilization and possible takeover of Korean corporate power by Japanese elements quickly drove the Korean government to make a generous donation to Kwonsham in the form of a loan in 2064.

### Yang-Su Enterprises

CEO: Melissa Kwan

Another smaller economic power player notable for their willingness to work with Japanese corporations and for being led by the single most influential woman in the Korean economy. The company is a supplier of microchips to essentially every electronics manufacturer in the PPG.

### Federated Boeing

A longstanding supplier and manufacturer of air vehicles and drones and a major partner of Asiana Airtech.

### EVO/Yamatetsu

Despite its origins in Japan, EVO is widely accepted as a Russian megacorporation, giving it an edge over the Japancorps and making it a major contender for naval supplies and military ships.

## Criminal Underworld

### Seoulpa Rings

Funnily enough, the Seoulpa Rings have little power on the Korean Peninsula due to their unique position as a group of economic terrorist cells out to put the hurt on the Yakuza while making a buck. Many Seoulpa Rings have ties to the Jo-Poks however, which are discussed next.

### Jo-Poks

Networks of local gangs and pirate fleets organized into a vast pyrimidal hierarchy wherein power and position are decided by territory and rackets controlled, but organizations are ultimately beholden to their hierarchical superiors. The Jo-Poks are loosely organized into two primary groups, the Wonsan Pirates (who control illicit maritime trade and smuggling and are allegedly the source of the disappearance of valuable Japanese cargo freighters) and the Park Syndicate (who are power players in the former territories of South Korea). Supposedly, "Harabeoji" (grandfather or old man) Park is in good with the government and major politicians, so good in fact that he is allegedly in personal communication with President Lee, although whether or not they really collaborate on the elimination of Japanese criminal and economic syndicates is anyone's guess. Despite their position as a decidedly profit-motivated organization, the Wonsan Pirates have reportedly formed a tentative alliance with the Korean Communist Party in order to rebuild and develop the city of Wonsan.

### Yamashita-Gumi

One of the last handholds of Yakuza power in Korea, the Yamashita are constantly beset by hostility from the Jo-Poks. Despite this, they have elected to continue the hiring of Korean personnel and have a major base of operations in Seoul.

### M1919

Less of a criminal organization and more of a violent (read: terrorist) policlub focused on the toppling of the current regime and destruction of the Japanese people for their role as invaders of the Korean homeland. The organization embraces a fascist bent and its quick growth despite government and societal condemnation has led some to believe that they are being backed by powerful international forces. Some also suspect that they are the radical, militant branch of the Celestial Path Party, a popular conservative and highly religious political party steeped in the spiritualism of the mu and a not quiet dislike of the Japanese.

### The Virtual Utopians

A matrix-centered gang (read: cult) focused on the unification of humanity through the use of the matrix to form a gestalt consciousness. While they may preach unity, their members are far from rank-and-file and range from anarchist otaku to white collar corpos, often seeking to bring about major societal change in some form or steal some newfangled matrix hard or software. Their diversity is their strength however, making the group an excellent source for information or gear. Get close enough to sniff out one of the rich ones and they might have a job for you.

### The Church of Unification

Although their public organization was smashed, the Moonies live on in at least some small capacity through the scattered bug spirits and their followers that fled the burning of the organization.

### Others

The Vory, Triads, and Yakuza are all relatively minor powers in Korean economic strongholds due to the relatively cohesive hierarchy of the Jo-Poks, however, it is likely that they have major influence in the relatively underdeveloped northern regions of Korea.

## Sources

Shadows of Asia

Target: Smuggler Havens