South Korea Missions

Missionaries Serving:

Young and Soon Park

Capital

Seoul (10,612,600, 1993 est.)

System of Government

Unitary Multiparty Republic

Area

98,488 Sq Km (38,026 Sq Mi) (slightly larger than Indiana)

Estimated 2000 Population

46,584,500

Geography

South Korea is located on the southern part of the Korean Peninsula in East Asia. It is bound by North Korea to the north, the Yellow Sea to the west, the Sea of Japan to the east, and the Korea and Cheju Straits to the south. About 80% of the Korean Peninsula is covered by mountains. Only 15% of the land area is covered by plains, which are mostly located along the coast.

Climate

South Korea has a continental climate with dry cold winters and hot humid summers. Winter winds come from Manchuria and Siberia, and in summer the warm moist air comes from the Pacific Ocean winds. The wettest months are from June to September with at least one typhoon per year. Average temperatures in Seoul range from 16 to 32 degrees Fahrenheit in January to 72 to 88 degrees Fahrenheit in August.

People

The ethnic majority are the Koreans who are believed to be descendants of relatives of the Mongols, with a mixture of Chinese.

Vital Statistics

Life Expectancy at Birth: 67.4 years male, 75.4 years female (1990). Infant Mortality Rate: 15.0 per 1,000 live births (1993). HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate: 0.01% (1999 est.).

Religions

The people of Korea are 49% Christian and 47% Buddhist. Religious minorities are Confucianist, Shamanist, and Chondogyo (Religion of the Heavenly Way).

Languages

The official language is Korean, which is a member of the Altaic family of languages and spoken by the entire population. English is the principal secondary language and is taught in all secondary schools.

History

Following Japan’s surrender during World War II, Soviet troops occupied the Korean Peninsula north of the 38th parallel while the U.S. troops controlled the south. In 1948 the division of Korea was formalized. However, North and South both claimed sovereignty over the entire peninsula and after the U.S. and Soviet troops were withdrawn, armed clashes escalated. In 1950 North Korean troops invaded South Korea, beginning the Korean War. On July 27, 1953 a ceasefire was signed which ended the war. From 1948 to 1960 South Korea was ruled by an authoritarian and corrupt President Syngman Rhee. In 1960 the government was ousted in a popular revolt, and in 1961 the newly formed government was overthrown by a military coup led by General Park Chung Lee. In 1962 the military rule ended and Park became the civilian President of the third republic. President Park was re-elected in 1967 and 1971. In 1972 he suspended the constitution, dissolved the National Assembly, and established a new, more authoritarian constitution which broadened his presidential powers. During the 1970’s there were protests and growing unrest with demands for greater liberalization. In 1978 President Park was reelected but in 1979 was assassinated by the head of the secret police. A military coup seized control of the government and in 1980 Chun Doo Hwan assumed the presidency. In 1981 he was re-elected. In 1987 a new democratic constitution allowed for a popularly elected President, and Roh Tae Woo won the election. In 1991 North and South Korea signed a non-aggression treaty that officially ended the Korean War some 38 years after hostilities had subsided. Kim Young Sam became president in 1992, and Kim Dae-Jung in 1997. The next elections are in 2002.