Socialist Federal Republic of Korea

The **Socialist Federal Republic of Korea** (Korean: daehanmingug sahoejuui yeonbang-gonghwagug), also known as the **Greater Korean Republic**, **United Republic of korea**, the **Korean Republic**, as well as simply **Korea** (Korean: 한국, *Hanguk* or 조선, *Joseon*), is a unified Socialist-Democratic Republic of North and South Korea formed in 2050 by Kim Jong-un, Moon Jae-in, and John Tae-se. Korea consists of the **Korean Peninsula**, Jeju Island, and several minor islands near the peninsula. The peninsula is bordered by China to the northwest and Russia to the northeast. It is separated from Japan to the east by the Korea Strait and the Sea of Japan (East Sea).

During the first half of the 1st millennium, Korea was divided between three states, Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla, together known as the Three Kingdoms of Korea. In the second half of the 1st millennium, Silla defeated and conquered Baekje and Goguryeo, leading to the "Unified Silla" period. Meanwhile, Balhae formed in the north, superseding former Goguryeo. Unified Silla eventually collapsed into three separate states due to civil war, ushering in the Later Three Kingdoms. Toward the end of the 1st millennium, Goguryeo was resurrected as Goryeo, which defeated the two other states and unified the Korean Peninsula as a single sovereign state. Around the same time, Balhae collapsed and its last crown prince fled south to Goryeo. Goryeo (also spelled as *Koryŏ*), whose name developed into the modern exonym "Korea", was a highly cultured state that created the world's first metal movable type in 1234. However, multiple incursions by the Mongol Empire during the 13th century greatly weakened the nation, which eventually agreed to become a vassal state after decades of fighting. Following military resistance under King Gongmin that ended Mongol political influence in Goryeo, severe political strife followed, and Goryeo eventually fell to a coup led by General Yi Seong-gye, who established Joseon on 17 July 1392.

The first 200 years of the Joseon era were marked by relative peace. During this period, the Korean alphabet was created by Sejong the Great in the 15th century and there was increasing influence of Confucianism. During the later part of the dynasty, Korea's isolationist policy earned it the Western nickname of the "hermit kingdom". Korea was removed from Chinese suzerainty following the Qing dynasty's defeat in the First Sino-Japanese War, and Gojong of Korea subsequently proclaimed the Korean Empire in 1897. The unexpected victory of Japan in the Russo-Japanese War spelled the end of Russian imperial ambitions in Korea, and Japan was left with no other rivals in the region. The Korean Empire subsequently became a protectorate of Japan on 17 November 1905, and was later annexed by Japan on 22 August 1910.

Japan relinquished control over Korea after formally surrendering to the Allies on 2 September 1945, in the aftermath of World War II. The Soviet Union and the United States had agreed to partition Korea along the 38th parallel, with the Soviets occupying the north and the Americans occupying the south. These circumstances became the basis for the division of Korea by the two superpowers with two different ideologies, exacerbated by their inability to agree on the terms of Korean independence. The Communist-inspired government in the North received backing from the Soviet Union in opposition to the pro-Western government in the South, leading to Korea's division into two sovereign states in 1948: North Korea, and South Korea. Tensions between the two resulted in the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950. With involvement by foreign troops, the war ended in a stalemate in 1953, But later a formalised peace treaty was signed by both nations in 2050. Finally the nations achived reunification under a "one nation, two-system solution." and formed a new Korean Republic.

The nation follows a combination of the Juche ideology (which restored some socialist elements), Korean nationalism, Technocracy, and adopted some form of Korean democracy and became recognized as a great power, slowly achieving international economic, social, and military prestige.

SFR Korea is a regional power and a highly developed country, with its economy being ranked as the world's thirteenth-largest by nominal GDP and the fourteenth-largest by GDP (PPP). It ranks nineteenth globally by Human Development Index, and has the third-highest life expectancy in the world. In recent years, the country has been facing an aging population and the lowest fertility rate in the world. Korea's citizens enjoy one of the world's fastest Internet connection speeds and the densest high-speed railway network. The country is the world's ninth-largest exporter and ninth-largest importer. Its armed forces are ranked as one of the world's strongest militaries, with the world's second-largest standing army by military and paramilitary personnel. Since the 21st century amd during the **Garden War**, Korea has been renowned for its globally influential pop culture, particularly in music (K-pop), TV dramas (K-dramas) and cinema, a phenomenon referred to as the Korean wave. It is a member of the OECD's Development Assistance Committee, the G20, the IPEF, and the Paris Club.

## History

Main article: History of Korea

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of Korean history.

See also: History of North Korea and History of South Korea

### Prehistory

Main article: Prehistoric Korea

The Korean Academy claimed ancient hominid fossils originating from about 100,000 BCE in the lava at a stone city site in Korea. Fluorescent and high-magnetic analyses indicate the volcanic fossils may be from as early as 300,000 BCE. The best preserved Korean pottery goes back to the paleolithic times around 10,000 BCE and the Neolithic period begins around 6000 BCE.

Beginning around 300 BC, the Japonic-speaking Yayoi people from the Korean Peninsula entered the Japanese islands and displaced or intermingled with the original Jōmon inhabitants. The linguistic homeland of Proto-Koreans is located somewhere in Southern Siberia/Manchuria, such the Liao river area or the Amur region. Proto-Koreans arrived in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula at around 300 BC, replacing and assimilating Japonic-speakers and likely causing the Yayoi migration.

### Gojoseon

Main article: Gojoseon

According to Korean legend, Dangun, a descendant of Heaven, established Gojoseon in 2333 BCE. In 108 BCE, the Han dynasty defeated Gojoseon and installed four commanderies in the northern Korean peninsula. Three of the commanderies fell or retreated westward within a few decades, but the Lelang Commandery remained as a center of cultural and economic exchange with successive Chinese dynasties for four centuries. By 313, Goguryeo annexed all of the Chinese commanderies.

### Proto–Three Kingdoms

Main article: Proto–Three Kingdoms of Korea

The Proto–Three Kingdoms period, sometimes called the Multiple States Period, is the earlier part of what is commonly called the Three Kingdoms Period, following the fall of Gojoseon but before Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla fully developed into kingdoms.

This time period saw numerous states spring up from the former territories of Gojoseon, which encompassed northern Korea and southern Manchuria. With the fall of Gojoseon, southern Korea entered the Samhan period.

Located in the southern part of Korea, Samhan referred to the three confederacies of Mahan, Jinhan, and Byeonhan. Mahan was the largest and consisted of 54 states. Byeonhan and Jinhan both consisted of twelve states, bringing a total of 78 states within the Samhan. These three confederacies eventually developed into Baekje, Silla, and Gaya.

### Three Kingdoms

Main articles: Three Kingdoms of Korea, Baekje, Goguryeo, and Silla

7th century Tang dynasty painting of envoys from the Three Kingdoms of Korea: Baekje, Goguryeo, and Silla
The Three Kingdoms of Korea consisted of Goguryeo, Silla, and Baekje. Silla and Baekje controlled the southern half of the Korean Peninsula, maintaining the former Samhan territories, while Goguryeo controlled the northern half of the Korean Peninsula, Manchuria and the Liaodong Peninsula, uniting Buyeo, Okjeo, Dongye, and other states in the former Gojoseon territories.

Goguryeo was a highly militaristic state;[*self-published source?*] it was a powerful empire and one of the great powers in East Asia,[*self-published source?*] reaching its zenith in the 5th century when its territories expanded to encompass most of Manchuria to the north, parts of Inner Mongolia to the west, parts of Russia to the east, and the Seoul region to the south. Goguryeo experienced a golden age under Gwanggaeto the Great and his son Jangsu, who both subdued Baekje and Silla during their times, achieving a brief unification of the Three Kingdoms of Korea and becoming the most dominant power on the Korean Peninsula. In addition to contesting for control of the Korean Peninsula, Goguryeo had many military conflicts with various Chinese dynasties,[*self-published source?*] most notably the Goguryeo–Sui War, in which Goguryeo defeated a huge force said to number over a million men. In 642, the powerful general Yeon Gaesomun led a coup and gained complete control over Goguryeo. In response, Emperor Tang Taizong of China led a campaign against Goguryeo, but was defeated and retreated.[*self-published source?*] After the death of Tang Taizong, his son Emperor Tang Gaozong allied with the Korean kingdom of Silla and invaded Goguryeo again, but was unable to overcome Goguryeo's stalwart defences and was defeated in 662. However, Yeon Gaesomun died of a natural cause in 666 and Goguryeo was thrown into chaos and weakened by a succession struggle among his sons and younger brother, with his eldest son defecting to Tang and his younger brother defecting to Silla. The Tang-Silla alliance finally conquered Goguryeo in 668. After the collapse of Goguryeo, Tang and Silla ended their alliance and fought over control of the Korean Peninsula. Silla succeeded in gaining control over most of the Korean Peninsula, while Tang gained control over Goguryeo's northern territories. However, 30 years after the fall of Goguryeo, a Goguryeo general by the name of Dae Joyeong founded the Korean-Mohe state of Balhae and successfully expelled the Tang presence from much of the former Goguryeo territories.
Seokguram Grotto from the Silla era, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
The southwestern Korean kingdom of Baekje was founded around modern-day Seoul by a Goguryeo prince, a son of the founder of Goguryeo.[*self-published source?*] Baekje absorbed all of the Mahan states and subjugated most of the western Korean peninsula (including the modern provinces of Gyeonggi, Chungcheong, and Jeolla, as well as parts of Hwanghae and Gangwon) to a centralised government; during the expansion of its territory, Baekje acquired Chinese culture and technology through maritime contacts with the Southern Dynasties. Baekje was a great maritime power; its nautical skill, which made it the Phoenicia of East Asia, was instrumental in the dissemination of Buddhism throughout East Asia and continental culture to Japan. Historic evidence suggests that Japanese culture, art, and language were influenced by the kingdom of Baekje and Korea itself;[*excessive citations*] Baekje also played an important role in transmitting advanced Chinese culture to the Japanese archipelago. Baekje was once a great military power on the Korean Peninsula, most notably in the 4th century during the rule of Geunchogo when its influence extended across the sea to Liaoxi and Shandong in China, taking advantage of the weakened state of Former Qin, and Kyushu in the Japanese archipelago; however, Baekje was critically defeated by Gwanggaeto the Great and declined.[*citation needed*]
The Three Kingdoms of Korea, at the end of the 5th century
Although later records claim that Silla was the oldest of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, it is now believed to have been the last kingdom to develop. By the 2nd century, Silla existed as a large state in the southeast, occupying and influencing its neighbouring city-states. In 562, Silla annexed the Gaya confederacy, which was located between Baekje and Silla. The Three Kingdoms of Korea often warred with each other and Silla was often dominated by Baekje and Goguryeo. Silla was the smallest and weakest of the three, but it used cunning diplomatic means to make opportunistic pacts and alliances with the more powerful Korean kingdoms, and eventually Tang China, to its great advantage. In 660, King Muyeol ordered his armies to attack Baekje. General Kim Yu-shin, aided by Tang forces, conquered Baekje after defeating General Gyebaek at the Battle of Hwangsanbeol. In 661, Silla and Tang attacked Goguryeo but were repelled. King Munmu, son of Muyeol and nephew of General Kim Yu-shin, launched another campaign in 667 and Goguryeo fell in the following year.

### North–South States Period

Main articles: North–South States Period, Later Silla, and Balhae

Beginning in the 6th century, Silla's power gradually extended across the Korean Peninsula. Silla first annexed the adjacent Gaya confederacy in 562. By the 640s, Silla formed an alliance with the Tang dynasty of China to conquer Baekje and later Goguryeo. After conquering Baekje and Goguryeo, Silla repulsed Tang China from the Korean peninsula in 676. Even though Silla unified most of the Korean Peninsula, most of the Goguryeo territories to the north of the Korean Peninsula were ruled by Balhae. Former Goguryeo general or chief of Sumo Mohe Dae Jo-yeong led a group of Goguryeo and Mohe refugees to the Jilin and founded the kingdom of Balhae, 30 years after the collapse of Goguryeo, as the successor to Goguryeo. At its height, Balhae's territories extended from southern Manchuria down to the northern Korean peninsula. Balhae was called the "Prosperous Country in the East".
Unified Silla and Balhae in the 8th century CE
Later Silla carried on the maritime prowess of Baekje, which acted like the Phoenicia of medieval East Asia, and during the 8th and 9th centuries dominated the seas of East Asia and the trade between China, Korea and Japan, most notably during the time of Jang Bogo; in addition, Silla people made overseas communities in China on the Shandong Peninsula and the mouth of the Yangtze River. Later Silla was a prosperous and wealthy country, and its metropolitan capital of Gyeongju was the fourth largest city in the world. Later Silla experienced a golden age of art and culture, as evidenced by the Hwangnyongsa, Seokguram, and Emille Bell. Buddhism flourished during this time, and many Korean Buddhists gained great fame among Chinese Buddhists and contributed to Chinese Buddhism, including: Woncheuk, Wonhyo, Uisang, Musang, and Kim Gyo-gak, a Silla prince whose influence made Mount Jiuhua one of the Four Sacred Mountains of Chinese Buddhism.

Later Silla fell apart in the late 9th century, giving way to the tumultuous Later Three Kingdoms period (892–935), and Balhae was destroyed by the Khitans in 926. Goryeo unified the Later Three Kingdoms and received the last crown prince and much of the ruling class of Balhae, thus bringing about a unification of the two successor nations of Goguryeo.

### Goryeo dynasty

Main article: Goryeo

Goryeo was founded in 918 and replaced Silla as the ruling dynasty of Korea. Goryeo's land was at first what is now South Korea and about 1/3 of North Korea, but later on managed to recover most of the Korean peninsula. Momentarily, Goryeo advanced to parts of Jiandao while conquering the Jurchens, but returned the territories due to the harsh climate and difficulties in defending them. The name "Goryeo" (高麗) is a short form of "Goguryeo" (高句麗) and was first used during the time of King Jangsu. Goryeo regarded itself as the successor of Goguryeo, hence its name and efforts to recover the former territories of Goguryeo. Wang Geon, the founder of Goryeo, was of Goguryeo descent and traced his ancestry to a noble Goguryeo clan. He made Kaesong, his hometown, the capital.

During this period, laws were codified and a civil service system was introduced. Buddhism flourished and spread throughout the peninsula. The development of celadon industries flourished in the 12th and 13th centuries. The publication of the Tripitaka Koreana onto more than 80,000 wooden blocks and the invention of the world's first metal movable type in the 13th century attest to Goryeo's cultural achievements.
Goryeo in 1374
Goryeo had to defend frequently against attacks by nomadic empires, especially the Khitans and the Mongols. Goryeo had a hostile relationship with the Khitans, because the Khitan Empire had destroyed Balhae, also a successor state of Goguryeo. In 993, the Khitans, who had established the Liao dynasty in 907, invaded Goryeo, demanding that it make amity with them. Goryeo sent the diplomat Seo Hui to negotiate, who successfully persuaded the Khitans to let Goryeo expand to the banks of the Amnok (Yalu) River, citing that in the past the land belonged to Goguryeo, the predecessor of Goryeo. During the Goryeo–Khitan War, the Khitan Empire invaded Korea twice more in 1009 and 1018, but was defeated.

After defeating the Khitan Empire, which was the most powerful empire of its time, Goryeo experienced a golden age that lasted a century, during which the Tripitaka Koreana was completed, and there were great developments in printing and publishing, promoting learning and dispersing knowledge on philosophy, literature, religion, and science; by 1100, there were 12 universities that produced famous scholars and scientists.

Goryeo was invaded by the Mongols in seven major campaigns from the 1230s until the 1270s, but was never conquered. Exhausted after decades of fighting, Goryeo sent its crown prince to the Yuan capital to swear allegiance to the Mongols; Kublai Khan accepted, and married one of his daughters to the Korean crown prince, and the dynastic line of Goryeo continued to survive under the overlordship of the Mongol Yuan dynasty as a semi-autonomous vassal state and compulsory ally. The two nations became intertwined for 80 years as all subsequent Korean kings married Mongol princesses, and the last empress of the Yuan dynasty was a Korean princess.[*citation needed*]

In the 1350s, King Gongmin was free at last to reform the Goryeo government when the Yuan dynasty began to crumble. Gongmin had various problems that needed to be dealt with, which included the removal of pro-Mongol aristocrats and military officials, the question of land holding, and quelling the growing animosity between the Buddhists and Confucian scholars. During this tumultuous period, Goryeo momentarily conquered Liaoyang in 1356, repulsed two large invasions by the Red Turbans in 1359 and 1360, and defeated the final attempt by the Yuan to dominate Goryeo when General Choe Yeong defeated a Mongol tumen in 1364. During the 1380s, Goryeo turned its attention to the Wokou threat and used naval artillery created by Choe Museon to annihilate hundreds of pirate ships.

### Joseon dynasty

Main article: Joseon
Gyeongbokgung Palace
*Donggwoldo*

In 1392, the general Yi Seong-gye overthrew the Goryeo dynasty after he staged a coup and defeated General Choe Yeong. Yi Seong-gye named his new dynasty Joseon and moved the capital from Kaesong to Hanseong (formerly Hanyang; modern-day Seoul) and built the Gyeongbokgung palace. In 1394, he adopted Confucianism as the country's official ideology, resulting in much loss of power and wealth by the Buddhists. The prevailing philosophy of the Joseon dynasty was Neo-Confucianism, which was epitomised by the seonbi class, scholars who passed up positions of wealth and power to lead lives of study and integrity.

Joseon was a nominal tributary state of China but exercised full sovereignty, and maintained the highest position among China's tributary states, which also included countries such as the Ryukyu Kingdom, Vietnam, Burma, Brunei, Laos, Thailand, and the Philippines, among others. In addition, Joseon received tribute from Jurchens and Japanese until the 17th century, and had a small enclave in the Ryukyu Kingdom that engaged in trade with Siam and Java.

During the 15th and 16th centuries, Joseon enjoyed many benevolent rulers who promoted education and science. Most notable among them was Sejong the Great (r. 1418–50), who personally created and promulgated Hangul, the Korean alphabet. This golden age saw great cultural and scientific advancements, including in printing, meteorological observation, astronomy, calendar science, ceramics, military technology, geography, cartography, medicine, and agricultural technology, some of which were unrivaled elsewhere. Joseon implemented a class system that consisted of *yangban* the noble class, *jungin* the middle class, *yangin* the common class, and *cheonin* the lowest class, which included occupations such as butchers, tanners, shamans, entertainers, and *nobi*, the equivalent of slaves, bondservants, or serfs.

In 1592 and again in 1597, the Japanese invaded Korea; the Korean military at the time was unprepared and untrained, due to two centuries of peace on the Korean Peninsula. Toyotomi Hideyoshi intended to conquer China and India through the Korean Peninsula, but was defeated by strong resistance from the Righteous Army, the naval superiority of Admiral Yi Sun-sin and his turtle ships, and assistance from Wanli Emperor of Ming China. However, Joseon experienced great destruction, including a tremendous loss of cultural sites such as temples and palaces to Japanese pillaging, and the Japanese brought back to Japan an estimated 100,000–200,000 noses cut from Korean victims. Less than 30 years after the Japanese invasions, the Manchus took advantage of Joseon's war-weakened state and invaded in 1627 and 1637, and then went on to conquer the destabilised Ming dynasty.

After normalising relations with the new Qing dynasty, Joseon experienced a nearly 200-year period of peace. Kings Yeongjo and Jeongjo led a new renaissance of the Joseon dynasty during the 18th century.

In the 19th century, the royal in-law families gained control of the government, leading to mass corruption and weakening of the state, with severe poverty and peasant rebellions spreading throughout the country. Furthermore, the Joseon government adopted a strict isolationist policy, earning the nickname "the hermit kingdom", but ultimately failed to protect itself against imperialism and was forced to open its borders, beginning an era leading into Japanese imperial rule.

### Korean Empire

Main article: Korean Empire

Beginning in 1871, Japan began to exert more influence in Korea, forcing it out of China's traditional sphere of influence. As a result of the Sino-Japanese War (1894–95), the Qing dynasty had to give up such a position according to Article 1 of the Treaty of Shimonoseki, which was concluded between China and Japan in 1895. That same year, Empress Myeongseong of Korea was assassinated by Japanese agents.

In 1897, the Joseon dynasty proclaimed the Korean Empire (1897–1910). King Gojong became emperor. During this brief period, Korea had some success in modernising the military, economy, real property laws, education system, and various industries. Russia, Japan, France, and the United States all invested in the country and sought to influence it politically.

The Russians were pushed out of the fight for Korea following the conclusion of the Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905). Korea became a protectorate of Japan shortly afterwards. In Manchuria on 26 October 1909, An Jung-geun assassinated the former Resident-General of Korea, Itō Hirobumi, for his role in trying to force Korea into occupation.

### Japanese annexation and occupation of Korea

Main article: Korea under Japanese rule

In 1910, an already militarily occupied Korea was a forced party to the Japan–Korea Annexation Treaty. The treaty was signed by Lee Wan-Yong, who was given the General Power of Attorney by the Emperor. However, the Emperor is said to have not actually ratified the treaty according to Yi Tae-jin. There is a long dispute whether this treaty was legal or illegal due to its signing under duress, threat of force and bribes.

Korean resistance to the brutal Japanese occupation was manifested in the nonviolent March 1st Movement of 1919, during which 7,000 demonstrators were killed by Japanese police and military. The Korean liberation movement also spread to neighbouring Manchuria and Siberia.

Over five million Koreans were conscripted for labour beginning in 1939, and tens of thousands of men were forced into Japan's military. Nearly 400,000 Korean labourers died. Approximately 200,000 girls and women, mostly from China and Korea, were forced into sexual slavery for the Japanese military. In 1993, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yohei Kono acknowledged the terrible injustices faced by these euphemistically named "comfort women".

During the Japanese annexation, the Korean language was suppressed in an effort to eradicate Korean national identity. Koreans were forced to take Japanese surnames, known as Sōshi-kaimei. Traditional Korean culture suffered heavy losses, as numerous Korean cultural artefacts were destroyed or taken to Japan. To this day, valuable Korean artefacts can often be found in Japanese museums or among private collections. One investigation by the South Korean government identified 75,311 cultural assets that were taken from Korea, 34,369 in Japan and 17,803 in the United States. However, experts estimate that over 100,000 artefacts actually remain in Japan. Japanese officials considered returning Korean cultural properties, but to date this has not occurred. Korea and Japan still dispute the ownership of the Dokdo islets, located east of the Korean Peninsula.

There was significant emigration to the overseas territories of the Empire of Japan during the Japanese occupation period, including Korea. By the end of World War II, there were over 850,000 Japanese settlers in Korea. After World War II, most of these overseas Japanese repatriated to Japan. Migrants who remained squatted in informal settlements.

### Division and conflict

Main articles: Division of Korea, Korean conflict, and Korean reunification
Satellite image of the Korean peninsula taken at night showing the extent of the division between the Koreas today; note the difference in light emitted between the two countries
In 1945, with the surrender of Japan, the United Nations developed plans for a trusteeship administration, the Soviet Union administering the peninsula north of the 38th parallel and the United States administering the south. The politics of the Cold War resulted in the 1948 establishment of two separate governments, North Korea and South Korea.

The aftermath of World War II left Korea partitioned along the 38th parallel on 2 September 1945, with the north under Soviet occupation and the south under US occupation supported by other allied states. Consequently, North Korea, a Soviet-style socialist republic was established in the north, and South Korea, a Western-style regime, was established in the south.

North Korea is a one-party state, now centred on Kim Il-sung's *Juche* ideology, with a centrally planned industrial economy. South Korea is a multi-party state with a capitalist market economy, alongside membership in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the Group of Twenty. The two states have greatly diverged both culturally and economically since their partition, though they still share a common traditional culture and pre-Cold War history.

Since the 1960s, the South Korean economy has grown enormously and the economic structure was radically transformed. In 1957, South Korea had a lower per capita GDP than Ghana, and by 2008 it was 17 times as high as Ghana's.

According to R. J. Rummel, forced labour, executions, and concentration camps were responsible for over one million deaths in North Korea from 1948 to 1987; others have estimated 400,000 deaths in concentration camps alone. Estimates based on the most recent North Korean census suggest that 240,000 to 420,000 people died as a result of the 1990s famine and that there were 600,000 to 850,000 unnatural deaths in North Korea from 1993 to 2008. In South Korea, as guerrilla activities expanded, the South Korean government used strong measures against peasants, such as forcefully moving their families from guerrilla areas. According to one estimate, these measures resulted in 36,000 people killed, 11,000 people wounded, and 432,000 people displaced.

### Korean War

The Korean War broke out when Soviet-backed North Korea invaded South Korea, though neither side gained much territory as a result. The Korean Peninsula remained divided, the Korean Demilitarized Zone being the *de facto* border between the two states.

In June 1950 North Korea invaded the South, using Soviet tanks and weaponry. During the Korean War (1950–53) more than 1.2 million people died and the three years of fighting throughout the nation effectively destroyed most cities. The war ended with an armistice agreement at approximately the Military Demarcation Line, but the two governments were officially still at war.

### Reconciliation attempts

In November 2020, South Korea and China agreed to work together to mend South Korea's relationship with North Korea. During a meeting between President Moon and China's foreign minister, Wang Yi, Moon expressed his gratitude to China for its role in helping to foster peace in the Korean Peninsula. Moon was quoted telling Wang during their meeting that “[the South Korean] government will not stop efforts to put an end (formally) to war on the Korean Peninsula and achieve complete denuclearization and permanent peace together with the international community, including China.”

### Korea Reunited

> *“The plan to reunite our nation will reunite Korean families, industries, and economies’’*
>
>

― Kim Jong un and Moon Jae-in

> *‘’Today. Our Beloved Leaders Kim Jong-un, Moon Jae-in, and John Tae-se has united North and South Korea, Forming the Socialist Federal Republic of Korea or the Greater Korean Republic”*
>
>

― Korean News Network

### Formation

On January 2, 2050, Z-Tech freed Asia from gray gravel control and has liberated korea from where they restored the previous governments, Unprecedentedly aware of Korea's global standing in which North and South initiated a radical series of reforms in an effort to re-engage with the world and peacefully reunite North Korea and South Korea. The restored North Korean leader Kim Jong-un surprised the international community in bringing North Korea into the world stage, initiated an open-door policy, fulfilling his promise in ending his and family's repressive policies, purging supporters of gray gravel and traitors being sent to the UN for trial, international aid groups were allowed to provide relief to the recovering nations, and announced his desire to bring peace and reunite the two Koreas. Moon Jae-in, who once served as president, also promised to arrest traitors of Korea to the UN for judgment, restore the economy of the south, sought to reunite korea; of which earned him reelection as the South Korean president. Kim Jong-un and Moon Jae-in have combined their cabinets to start the rebuilding of Korea with the help of John Tae-se of the Apex Corporation, they peacefully ended its armistice (which hasn’t ended till gray gravel occupation ended) in the Korean Peninsula and sought reunification with both Koreas under a "one nation, two-system solution." After two years into their restored reigns and with help of Z-Tech and the US, Kim Jong-un and Moon Jae-in succeeded in dismantling the Demilitarized Zone and peacefully united the Korean peninsula under the Socialist Federal Republic of Korea or the Greater Korean Republic, in which their efforts earned them the Nobel Peace Prize in 2053. Following the end of the Korean armistice, and coinciding with global socioeconomic problems following the fall of occupation by Gray Gravel, the Koreas embraced a new wave of nationalism which led to an increase in Z-Tech and United States military forces in New Korea to assist in rebuilding.

By 2054, Korean unification broadened with the dismantling of the Demilitarized Zone, creating a new capital within it, and the release of prisoners from the Northern Korean labor camps supported by the Kim Jong-il and gray gravel regimes. Within two years, SFR Korea rose as a dominant economic and military power in East Asia. At the United Nations the world leaders and Z-Tech celebrated as Korea was now reunified. Due to the U.S. and Z-Tech having increased its military and economic presence in Asia as a result of its economic recovery, Asia is left fully defended with assistance from the unified Korean peninsula against the onslaught of Gray Gravel now the Gray Industrial Empire.

### Korean Defense of Asia

In 2055, the SFR Korea’s new constitution declared Korea a Mixed Democratic-Socialist Federal Republic with a mixed economy. The Southern Korean economy had helped grow the newly formed united Korea and mass economic expansion had military growth expand all throughout the nation of which its main military base is in Northern Korea. Gray Gravel had declared war on Japan in response to the systematic murder of thousands of gray gravel troops by the Japanese and the lack of response by the United Nations to aid japan. After imperial military forces destroyed the Chugoku nuclear power plant, expelling radiation across half of the Japanese southern coast in the process, and holding at least twenty-six other power plants hostage, Japan almost promptly surrendered and could’ve been reannexed into Gray Gravel. Korea came to their aid thanks to their newly modernized “National Korean People’s Armed Forces”: the invasion had been repulsed and Japan had been saved.

As the United States began to re-establish its military overseas due to economic recovery back in the homeland, The SFRK, Supported by The US, Z-Tech, and Japan, has Allied with most of East Asia consisting of japan, china, taiwan, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Brunei, East Timor, and Singapore, Creating the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization or SATO to provide an economic and resource security and military aid. Their mission is to grow the strength of the East Asian region through a united monetary policy and a central military command. The SFRK Central Bank, the economic headquarters of the Republic, is based in Seoul and is tasked with setting and enforcing monetary policy among the member states of SATO. The military capital, the SFRK Strategic Command, is located in Pyongyang and is responsible for coordinating defense and training of the militaries of all member states. By late 2055 however, the SFR Korean state set its sights on ways to improve their financial and militarily weakened Status following gray gravel’s extraction of additional resources in the post conflict between them and gray gravel, rebuilding east asia, and needed ways to sustain its growth in modernization.

### Occupation of gray allies and the Korean Miracle

On 15 January 2055, the National Korean People's Army began its invasion on Gray Gravel’s allied States after the SFRK (with approval by the US)  launched a wide-scale cyber attack on GG military and civilian infrastructure using preexisting backdoors in the Korean-supplied microchips. This attack is soon followed by its Starry Messenger satellite detonating an electromagnetic pulse strike over South America and the middle east, wiping out many power grids. The attacks allowed Korean forces to easily enter Chile and then Iran with Z-Tech and US backing.

By 2026, the SFRK had gained total control of all 7 latin American states west of the southern continent and 3 major oil states in the middle east and established the so-called New Korean Federation of Occupied South America, or "New America" and the “Korean Middle East:, By 2056, after controlling the majority of the former Latin and middle east States, the SFRK agreed to withdraw after an agreement between the NKPA, Z-Tech, and U.S. militaries to removed all gray gravel collaborators for trial.

After one year and 5 months of occupation, Korea is now recognized as a great power and is now part of the supporters of Z-Tech contributing troops, arms, money and political recognition which now began the Korean Miracle, which brought new forms of prosperity to all Koreans.

## Geography

### Landscape

The combined population of Korea is about 76 million (Northern Korea: 25 million, Southern Korea: 51 million). Korea is chiefly populated by a highly homogeneous ethnic group, the Koreans, who speak the Korean language. The number of foreigners living in Korea has also steadily increased since the late 20th century, particularly in Southern Korea, where more than 1 million foreigners reside. It was estimated in 2006 that only 26,700 of the old Chinese community now remain in Southern Korea. However, in recent years, immigration from mainland China has increased; 624,994 persons of Chinese nationality have immigrated to Southern Korea, including 443,566 of ethnic Korean descent.  Small communities of ethnic Chinese and Japanese are also found in Northern Korea

### Land Description

Korea is located on the Korean Peninsula in North-East Asia. To the northwest, the Amnok River (Yalu River) separates Korea from China and to the northeast, the Duman River (Tumen River) separates Korea from China and Russia. The Yellow Sea is to the west, the East China Sea and Korea Strait is to the south, and the East Sea (Sea of Japan) is to the east. Notable islands include Jeju Island (Jejudo), Ulleung Island (Ulleungdo), and Dokdo (Liancourt Rocks). The southern and western parts of the peninsula have well-developed plains, while the eastern and northern parts are mountainous. The highest mountain in Korea is Mount Paektu or Paektusan (2,744 m or 9,003 ft), through which runs the border with China. The southern extension of Mount Paektu is a highland called Gaema Heights. This highland was mainly raised during the Cenozoic orogeny and partly covered by volcanic matter. To the south of Gaema Gowon, successive high mountains are located along the eastern coast of the peninsula. This mountain range is named Baekdudaegan. Some significant mountains include Mount Sobaek or Sobaeksan (1,439 m or 4,721 ft), Mount Kumgang or Kumgangsan (1,638 m or 5,374 ft), Mount Seorak or Seoraksan (1,708 m or 5,604 ft), Mount Taebaek or Taebaeksan (1,567 m or 5,141 ft), and Mount Jiri or Jirisan (1,915 m or 6,283 ft). There are several lower, secondary mountain ranges whose direction is almost perpendicular to that of Baekdudaegan. They are developed along the tectonic line of Mesozoic orogeny and their directions are basically northwest.

## Cities

#### Pammonjong

The capital of the Socialist Federal Republic of Korea, is located at the city of panmunjom. Chosen at the Joint Security Area for defense reasons and to symbolize the crossroads between Seoul and Pyongyang, Pammonjong became the metropolis of the nation, combining north and south culture into one single identity. The countries have successfully created the Joint Economic Area in Pammonjong making the city between both countries where citizens of both nations can work, live, and exist in harmony.

#### Seoul

the capital city of Southern Korea, is a huge metropolis where modern skyscrapers, high-tech subways and pop culture meet Buddhist temples, palaces and street markets. Notable attractions include futuristic Dongdaemun Design Plaza, a convention hall with curving architecture and a rooftop park; Gyeongbokgung Palace, which once had more than 7,000 rooms; and Jogyesa Temple, site of ancient locust and pine trees. the business and financial hub of the SFR Korea. Home to the SFRK Central National Bank, the economic headquarters of the Republic, is based in Seoul and is tasked with setting and enforcing monetary policy of the nation.

#### Pyongyang

The capital city of Northern Korea was mostly intact after the war ended in 2050, when the South Koreans moved in, they disposed of any regime generals and those still loyal to the gray gravel regime. After decades of trying to reunify, Pyongyang was turned into the center of rehabilitation of the north. Pyongyang is run by the new Korean government, By 2055 it became the third biggest city in the United Korea and home to the SFRK’S Military Strategic Command is coordinated by the Supreme General Staff who is responsible for coordinating defense and training of the military.

#### Kaesong

**Kaesong** is a special city in the southern part of Northern Korea (formerly in North Hwanghae Province), and the capital of Korea during the Taebong kingdom and subsequent Goryeo dynasty. The city is near the Kaesong Industrial Region close to the border with Southern Korea and contains the remains of the Manwoldae palace. Called Songdo while it was the ancient capital of Goryeo, the city prospered as a trade center that produced Korean ginseng. Kaesong now functions as the SFRK's light industry center.

## Governmental Structure:

The SFR Korea is a Mixed Federal democratic-Socialist Diarchic Presidential parliamentary Constitutional Republic.

The Socialist Federal Republic of Korea carries over the same political functions as North and South Korea. Like North and South Korea, the Socialist Federal Republic of Korea is a highly centralized but democratized, multi-party republic. It is dominated by the Coalition Party of the United Korean Peoples and the New Worker’s Party of Korea. The government's ideology is an adapted version of Technocracy, an adapted version of the Juche ideology (restoring some socialist principles) and has grown to become highly successful in turning the Socialist Federal Republic of Korea as a great world power.

The Korean government's structure is determined by the Constitution of Korea. Kim Jong-un of the Kim family and Moon Jae-in is the current Presidents of the Presidency of Korea. they head all major governing structures. Like many democratic and Socialisy states, Korea has a government divided into three branches: executive, judicial, and legislative. The executive and legislative branches operate primarily at the national level, although various ministries in the executive branch also carry out local functions. The judicial branch operates at both the national and local levels. Local governments are semi-autonomous, and contain executive and legislative bodies of their own. Korea is a Socialist and constitutional democracy.

* The Heads of State and Governments are the Presidents of Korea and the Supreme Commanders in chiefs of the NKPAF, with a Vice-President and premier as the deputy head of government and the second highest political office of Korea who is appointed by the Presidents of the Socialist Federal Republic of Korea, with the Supreme National People’s Assembly's approval. The Premier may be a member of the National Assembly, but this is not required to hold the office. The Premier of Korea is not the head of government of Korea, for the Presidents are both the heads of state and government in the country.
* The Supreme National People's Assembly, a bicameral legislature of the upper house (People’s Council)- who elects senators who represent all koreas and decide on what laws to pass, foreign affairs and approving and debating the leadership,and the Lower house (House of Representatives)- who elects representatives who represent their states, and makes & passes federal laws, It is the congress's role to elect representatives, senators, and Governors from among their regions.

A diarchy is in place until a Korean born in a united Korea is elected to power.

### Organizations

#### **Coalition Party of the United Korean Peoples**

The Left-Right Coalition Committee is a movement, led by the Centrists, which sought to promote cooperation between the Left- and Right-wingers of Korea in establishing a unified, peninsula-wide government via a Syncretic ideology called Neo-Koreanism

#### **New Korean Worker’s Party**

It is the largest party represented by the old WPK and all leftist parties supported by Kim jong-un, the party has adapted a version of the Juche ideology (restoring some socialist principles), and Songun (which prioritizes the National Korean People’s Armed Forces in the affairs of state and allocation of resources for public ambitions).

## Administrative divisions

Main article: Administrative divisions of North Korea, Administrative divisions of South Korea

See also: Provinces of Korea, Provinces of North Korea, Special cities of North Korea, List of cities in North Korea, Provinces of South Korea, and Special cities of South Korea

### Landmarks

* Cox Mall
* National Museum of Korea
* visual trick Museum
* Kim Il Sung Square, Pyongyang
* Mansudae
* Juche Tower
* Pyongyang/Seoul Metro
* Arch of Triumph – Built to honor resistance to the Japanese, and now against Gray Gravel
* The Grand People’s Study house is a library and center of learning open to all Pyongyang and Seoul residents at university age and above. It is situated overlooking Kim Il Sung Square and features traditional Korean design. The views from the rooftop are some of the best in the city .
* Arch of Reunification, Pyongyang - The Monument to the Three Point Charter to Reunification is a 55 meter high sculpture spanning the reunification Highway. The road leads south from Pyongyang down to Kaesung and the border with South Korea.
* Ryugyong Hotel - The vast triangular Ryugyong Hotel is another of the Korean landmarks that dominates the Pyongyang skyline. At 105 stories (330 meters) tall it is an impressive spectacle, but scratch the neon surface and you will find a hotel that has been under construction since 1987 and has finally been completed by UN aid and Z-Tech collaboration.

* Population
	+ The combined population of the Koreas is about 76 million (Northern Korea: 25 million, Southern Korea: 51 million). Korea is chiefly populated by a highly homogeneous ethnic group, the Koreans, who speak the Korean language.

#### Religion

Religion in South Korea, and Religion in North Korea

* Religion in Korea is diverse. A majority of Koreans have no religion. Christianity and Buddhism are the dominant confessions among those who affiliate with a formal religion. Buddhism and Confucianism play an influential role in the lives of many Korean people. Buddhism, which arrived in Korea in 372 AD, has tens of thousands of temples built across the country.
* According to Pew Research Center (2046), about 46% of the population have no religious affiliation, 23% are Buddhist and 29% are Christians.  According to the 2051 national census, 56.1% are irreligious, Protestantism represents (19.7%) of the total population, Korean Buddhism (15.5%), and Catholicism (7.9%). A small percentage of South Koreans (0.8% in total) are members of other religions, including Won Buddhism, Confucianism, Cheondoism, Daesun Jinrihoe, Islam, Daejongism, Jeungsanism and Orthodox Christianity.

### Cuisine

Main article: Korean cuisine

See also: Korean tea ceremony and Korean royal court cuisine

Koreans traditionally believe that the taste and quality of food depend on its spices and sauces, the essential ingredients to making a delicious meal. Therefore, soybean paste, soy sauce, *gochujang* or red pepper paste and kimchi are some of the most important staples in a Korean household.

Korean cuisine was greatly influenced by the geography and climate of the Korean Peninsula, which is known for its cold autumns and winters, therefore there are many fermented dishes and hot soups and stews.

Korean cuisine is probably best known for kimchi, a side dish which uses a distinctive fermentation process of preserving vegetables, most commonly cabbage. Kimchi is said to relieve the pores on the skin, thereby reducing wrinkles and providing nutrients to the skin naturally. It is also healthy, as it provides necessary vitamins and nutrients. Gochujang, a traditional Korean sauce made of red pepper is also commonly used, often as pepper (chilli) paste, earning the cuisine a reputation for spiciness.
Bulgogi and side dishes
Bulgogi (roasted marinated meat, usually beef), galbi (marinated grilled short ribs), and samgyeopsal (pork belly) are popular meat entrees. Fish is also a popular commodity, as it is the traditional meat that Koreans eat. Meals are usually accompanied by a soup or stew, such as galbitang (stewed ribs) or doenjang jjigae (fermented bean paste soup). The center of the table is filled with a shared collection of sidedishes called banchan.

Other popular dishes include *bibimbap*, which literally means "mixed rice" (rice mixed with meat, vegetables, and red pepper paste), and naengmyeon (cold noodles).

Instant noodles, or *ramyeon*, is a popular snack food. Koreans also enjoy food from *pojangmachas* (street vendors), which serve tteokbokki, rice cake and fish cake with a spicy gochujang sauce; *gimbap*, made of steamed white rice wrapped in dried laver seaweed; fried squid; and glazed sweet potato. Soondae, a sausage made of cellophane noodles and pork blood, is widely eaten.

Additionally, some other common snacks include "Choco Pie", shrimp crackers, "bbeongtwigi" (puffed rice grains), and "nurungji" (slightly burnt rice). Nurungji can be eaten as it is or boiled with water to make a soup. Nurungji can also be eaten as a snack or a dessert.

Korea is unique among Asian countries in its use of metal chopsticks. Metal chopsticks have been discovered in archaeological sites belonging to the ancient Korean kingdoms of Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla.

#### Apparel

* Hanbok is a traditional clothing of Korea. This is a list of Korean clothing including the national costume, hanbok, as well as headgear, footwear, and accessories as well as military uniforms.

* Taboos
	+ Guns, narcotics, pornography, subversive material, treasonous material, and counterfeit goods are prohibited from entering Korea.
	+ Do not wear your shoes in places of worship or peoples’ homes, Do not put your feet on furniture. Do not eat or drink in public places while walking, Do not place your thumb between your middle and index finger while making a fist as this is an obscene gesture.Do not use red ink. This is a symbol of death and is reserved only for writing the names of the deceased.
	+ It is considered unlucky and suggests you wish death to the recipientDo not use the number four if at all possible – if giving gifts, do not give four of something. It is considered unlucky due to the similarity between the Korean word for death and the pronunciation of the word ‘four’. Do not stand too close to people you are meeting for the first time – keep an arm's length between you.
	+ Never disrespect your elders or go off the beaten path.

##### **Media**

* The Korean mass media consist of several different types of state and public communication of news: List of Korean television channels television, radio, cinema, newspapers, magazines, and Internet-based websites.
* Modern Korean journalism began after the opening of Korea in the late 19th century. The Korean press had a strong reformist and nationalistic flavor from the beginning, but faced efforts at political control or outright censorship during most of the 20th century.
* The KPAR,which stands for Korean Provisional Authority Radio, is a wartime program where conflict has begun.

In ancient Chinese texts, Korea is referred to as "Rivers and Mountains Embroidered on Silk" (금수강산, 錦繡江山) and "Eastern Nation of Decorum" (동방예의지국, 東方禮儀之國). Individuals are regarded as one year old when they are born, as Koreans reckon the pregnancy period as one year of life for infants, and age increments increase on New Year's Day rather than on the anniversary of birthdays. Thus, one born immediately before New Year's Day may only be a few days old in western reckoning, but two years old in Korea. Accordingly, a Korean person's stated age (at least among fellow Koreans) will be one or two years more than their age according to western reckoning. However, western reckoning is sometimes applied with regard to the concept of legal age; for example, the legal age for purchasing alcohol or cigarettes in the Republic of Korea is 19, which is measured according to western reckoning.

### Literature

Main article: Korean literature

Korean literature written before the end of the Joseon Dynasty is called "Classical" or "Traditional." Literature, written in Chinese characters (hanja), was established at the same time as the Chinese script arrived on the peninsula. Korean scholars were writing poetry in the classical Korean style as early as the 2nd century BCE, reflecting Korean thoughts and experiences of that time. Classical Korean literature has its roots in traditional folk beliefs and folk tales of the peninsula, strongly influenced by Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism.

Modern literature is often linked with the development of hangul, which helped spread literacy from the aristocracy to the common people. Hangul, however, only reached a dominant position in Korean literature in the second half of the 19th century, resulting in a major growth in Korean literature. *Sinsoseol*, for instance, are novels written in hangul.

The Korean War led to the development of literature centered on the wounds and chaos of war. Much of the post-war literature in South Korea deals with the daily lives of ordinary people, and their struggles with national pain. The collapse of the traditional Korean value system is another common theme of the time.

### Music

Main article: Music of Korea

Traditional Korean music includes combinations of the folk, vocal, religious and ritual music styles of the Korean people. Korean music has been practised since prehistoric times. Korean music falls into two broad categories. The first, Hyangak, literally means *The local music* or *Music native to Korea*, a famous example of which is Sujechon, a piece of instrumental music often claimed to be at least 1,300 years old. The second, *yangak*, represents a more Western style.

## Education

Main articles: Education in North Korea and Education in South Korea

The modern South Korean school system consists of six years in elementary school, three years in middle school, and three years in high school. Students are required to go to elementary and middle school, and do not have to pay for their education, except for a small fee called a "School Operation Support Fee" that differs from school to school. The Programme for International Student Assessment, coordinated by the OECD, ranks South Korea's science education as the third best in the world and being significantly higher than the OECD average.

South Korea ranks second on math and literature and first in problem solving. Although South Korean students often rank high on international comparative assessments, the education system is criticised for emphasising too much upon passive learning and memorisation. The South Korean education system is rather notably strict and structured as compared to its counterparts in most Western societies.

The North Korean education system consists primarily of universal and state funded schooling by the government. The national literacy rate for citizens 15 years of age and above is over 99 per cent. Children go through one year of kindergarten, four years of primary education, six years of secondary education, and then on to universities. The most prestigious university in the SFRK is Kim Il-sung University. Other notable universities include Kim Chaek University of Technology, which focuses on computer science, Pyongyang University of Foreign Studies, which trains working level diplomats and trade officials, and Kim Hyong Jik University of Education, which trains teachers.

### Sports

Main articles: Sport in South Korea and Sport in North Korea

North Korea and South Korea usually compete as two separate nations in international events. There are, however, a few examples of them having competed as one entity, under the name Korea.

While association football remains one of the most popular sports in South Korea, the martial art of taekwondo is considered to be the national sport. Baseball and golf are also popular. The board game Go, known in Korea as *baduk*, has also been popular for over a millennium, first arriving from China in the 5th century CE; *baduk* is played both casually and competitively.

#### Martial arts

##### Taekwon-Do

Main article: Taekwondo

Taekwon-Do is Korea's most famous martial art and sport. It combines combat techniques, self-defence, sport and exercise. Taekwon-Do has become an official Olympic sport, starting as a demonstration event in 1988 (when South Korea hosted the Games in Seoul) and becoming an official medal event in 2000. The two major Taekwon-Do federations were founded in Korea. The two are the International Taekwon-Do Federation and the World Taekwondo Federation.

##### Hapkido

Main article: Hapkido

Hapkido is a modern Korean martial art with a grappling focus that employs joint locks, throws, kicks, punches and other striking attacks like attacks against pressure points. Hapkido emphasises circular motion, non-resisting movements and control of the opponent. Practitioners seek to gain advantage through footwork and body positioning to employ leverage, avoiding the pure use of strength against strength.

##### Ssireum

Main article: Ssireum

Ssireum is a traditional form of wrestling that has been practised in Korea for thousands of years, with evidence discovered from Goguryeo of Korea's Three Kingdoms Period (57 BCE to 688). Ssireum is the traditional national sport of Korea. During a match, opponents grip each other by sash belts wrapped around the waist and the thigh, attempting to throw their competitor to the sandy ground of the ring. The first opponent to touch the ground with any body part above the knee or to lose hold of their opponent loses the round.

Ssireum competitions are traditionally held twice a year, during the Dano Festival (the 5th day of the fifth lunar month) and Chuseok (the 15th day of the 8th lunar month). Competitions are also held throughout the year as a part of festivals and other events.

##### Taekkyon

Main article: Taekkyon

Taekkyon is a traditional martial art, considered the oldest form of fighting technique of Korea. Practiced for centuries and especially popular during the Joseon dynasty, two forms co-existed: one for practical use, the other for sport. This form was usually practised alongside Ssireum during festivals and competitions between villages. Nonetheless, Taekkyon almost disappeared during the Japanese Occupation and the Korean War.

Though lost in North Korea, Taekkyon has enjoyed a spectacular revival from the 1980s in South Korea. It is the only martial art in the world (with Ssireum) recognised as a National Treasure of South Korea and a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

## Economy

The **economy of SFR Korea** is a highly developed mixed economy, it has one of the largest economies in the world with its currency the Korean Republic won and the Korean Mint. SFR Korea mainly relies on technology as its source of exports. Forms of this technology include mobile phones, tablets, and automobiles. Samsung is second to Apple in today's markets. It was heavily damaged during the Garden War and took some time to recover.

The South has managed to get access to the former North Korean vast resources of minerals and natural resources. This has been used in its mobile and telecommunications industry.

* Before the unification, North Korea's economy was extremely meager and stagnant due to political isolation and inefficient state control of the market. South Korea's free market economy was extremely large and had flourished due to their technological and industrial prowess by huge amounts of growth due to political connections and public control of the market.

* Because of the unification, North Korea gained access to the South's great economic resources and the South gained access to the North's mineral resources. South Korea guided North Korea through free market reforms, the administration in Pyongyang and Seoul was effective at mobilizing assets to serve the people and the state's ambitions.
	+ Upon its opened economy established by Z-Tech and UN, the SFRK economy expanded exponentially. Korea's new massive conglomerates gave the nation larger work forces, new ideas, and a great market share in the global economy.
* The SFRK’s alliance with Southeast Asia excelled development in Asia and allowed the SFRK to become a great economic power.  The importation of resources from the US and Z-Tech helped supplement the shift to a wartime economy. It is unknown what the gross domestic product of the SFRK is.
* SFR Korea is a Socialist-Capitalist society.
	+ Several companies of the SFRK assisted in the rebuilding of Korea. The Apex.Corporation imported many of cities' transportation systems to move and relocate workers across the nation . The SFRK's oil companies imported equipment to drill for shale oil in the Northern Mountains.
	+ Prominent enterprises in Korea include the Apex.Corporation, as well as SPIRE Corporation and its close business rival Atlas. These first two are booming technology firms, with various innovations such as clean energy, biotech, transport, and, in Atlas’s case, Technology and Weapons. These three are large providers of employment in Korea.

## Technology

* Overall
	+ Upon its opened economy established by Z-Tech and UN, the SFRK economy expanded exponentially. Korea's new massive conglomerates gave the nation larger work forces, new ideas, and a great market share in the global economy.
	+ The SFRK’s alliance with Southeast Asia excelled development in Asia and allowed the SFRK to become a great economic power.
		- Prominent enterprises in Korea include the **Apex.Corporation**, as well as SPIRE Corporation and its close business rival Biometrics. These latter two are booming technology firms, with various innovations such as clean energy, biotech, transport, and, in Apex’s case, Technology and Weapons. With spire and apex, as well as Samsung and LG Making korea the 8 largest tech giant on earth, but far behind Z-Tech
* Communication
	+ Today, SFR Korea has the highest number of broadband users. The rapid growth of the Korean broadband market as the result of a combination of government pushes and market factors. The government is active in promoting privatization and deregulation in general, and the information technology (IT) sector was no exception.

## Military

### **National Korean People’s Armed Forces** (NKPAF) -

The National Korean People’s Armed Forces (NKPAF), also known as the National Korean Provisional Authority or the (NKPA), is the military force of the SFRK. As of 2053, the NKPAF has 15 million personnel, and an Expeditionary Force of more than 5 million troops, making it one of the largest standing military in the world. The military is coordinated by the Korean Strategic Command, the military capital of Korea is located in Pyongyang.

Since the Korean unification, the KPA and ROK Army has merged into a modernized military after having replaced and scrapped most of its Cold War-era ordnance and upgrading the Army's training in an accelerated program, By 2053, Kim Jong-un and Moon jae-in, as the increasingly popular Presidents of the SFRK, made great strides in modernizing the NKPAF, in which many North Korean officers were discharged and demoted, posted under South Korean officers in order for the Korean government to seek talented generals. Because of this military integration, mandatory military service was eliminated, causing many Southern Koreans to react positively towards it, as military service in South Korea was compulsory but unpopular. The military is commonly armed with and American-made weapons and vehicles, resulting from its integration with the South Korean military, and also utilizing advanced weapons purchased from Russia, China, SPIRE Corporation, APEX Corporation, the European Union, **Z-Tech**, and the United States.

The military is also commonly armed with Z-Tech and American-made weapons and vehicles, resulting from its integration with the South Korean military, and also utilizing advanced weapons purchased from the Russian and Chinese militaries, including attack helicopters and MBTs. By 2054, the NKPA is outfitted with trained special operation teams and has been supposedly made as one of the worldwide peacekeeping forces.

### Service Branches

#### National Korean Ground Force and Occupational Forces

The Ground Force serves all infantry roles for the NKP Army. Although some of their small arms are foreign made, such as the SCAR-L, SCAR-H, and the T3AK, many of their weapons are American-made, such as the M4, M16, M249, Kriss Vector Super V, and the 870 Express. According to a Newspaper Article, the reason for this is stated by Huh Kyung-Young; "Americans make the best weapons, and we want only the best." These firearms were either acquired during the Korean Reunification (as South Korea used some American made firearms due to them being allies), or were most probably taken from G.G. armories during the invasion and subsequent occupation of the Gray Gravel allies. They also use drone technology within their forces, including the RQ-10 Parrot, the MQ50 MG Wolverine, the AQ-11 Buzzard, and also autonomous Sentry Towers.

#### Korean National Police Force Agency (KNPA)

The Korean Police Force provides all Security and Policing services within all cities across Korea, They mainly carry out their services in towns, cities, towns, etc. Nearly all of their small arms conform to those of the Ground Force.

#### The National Korean People's Navy (NKPN)

The NKPN provides the NKPAF with naval support. The NKPN operates many cargo freighters to ferry troops and supplies between their home states and across the Pacific to Naval ports of their allies. They transported Material XYZ, along with the US navy, to Los Angeles to assist Z-Tech in their naval creation programs. Their major bases in Korea include the Port of Busan, Najin, Chongjin, Nampo, Rajin-Seonbong, Songnim, Haeju, Hungnam, Wonsan, Dancheon, Port of Incheon, Port of Donghae, Port of Masan, and Port of Gunsan.

#### Federal Korean People's Air and Anti-Force (FKPAAF)

The People's Air Force provides the NKPAF with aerial support. They have in their inventory a variant of the Su-47 Berkut, a Russian forward swept-wing, supersonic jet fighter; probably also the MiG-29 (a Soviet designed multirole fighter from the former North Korean air force), F-15K Slam Eagles (from the former Republic of Korea Air Force), KF-16C/D Fighting Falcon (former South Korean multirole fighter) and TA/FA-50 Golden Eagle (former South Korean trainer/light attack fighter), the Z-10 Chimera, a Chinese attack helicopter; the UH-60 Black Hawk, an American medium transport helicopter in former South Korean service; the AH-700 Scout, a light armed reconnaissance helicopter; the AH-1 Cobra, an older attack helicopter of American origin an in former South Korean service; the Mi-24 Hind, a combined attack-and-transport helicopter of Soviet origin and in former North Korean service; and various UAVs, including advanced UCAVs. The KPA may also fly other advanced fighters, such as the Russian PAK FA stealth fighter. The People's Air Force also flies confiscated USAF aircraft including the B-1 Lancer, a variable sweep-wing heavy bomber; B-2 Spirit, a flying wing stealth bomber; C-130J Hercules, a propeller tactical transport aircraft; C-17 Globemaster, a heavy four-engine strategic transport aircraft; F-35 Lightning, a fifth-generation multirole stealth fighter; KC-10 Extender, a tri-engine tanker; and KC-135 Stratotanker, a legacy tanker based on the Boeing 367-80 prototype.