Essay About South Korea

Culture, what is culture? Scholars around the world have been trying to define culture for thousands of years. The dictionary definition of culture is “the behaviors and beliefs characteristic of a particular social, ethnic, or age group.” One might also say that technology, economy, government, and other information that can make a distinction of one group of people from another. Cultures have developed very differently across the world since the birth of civilization. These unique differences are because of physical terrain, weather, resources available and even years of change due to conflict. South Korea 's unique history, physical terrain, conflicts, and military, are just many of the other factors that have helped develop the country

During the course of time, ideas or feelings develop as a society when confronted with different obstacles. Occasionally though, certain beliefs may also be forced onto a country during times of occupation or war. By the mid 20th century, a new Korea emerged after the Japanese invaded the country and officially took over in 1910 (Kimble, 1997). For 35 years, Japanese occupiers required the small nation to learn the Japanese language and forced an education system that caused the Korean culture to avoid its own history. The country would finally get the opportunity to get back on its feet after the Korean War that started in 1950 and lead to the current armistice between the Northern and Southern parts of Korea in 1953. After constantly being abused by the Japanese government and the communist regime of North Korea that nearly destroyed the character of the now acknowledged South Korea, the United States was able to end the Korean War. The army of South Korea is now highly supplemented with American forces. This limits the capabilities of a modern military that has depended heavily on a foreign military to defend its borders. Although seen as a negative effect of the Korean War, one might also say that South Korea has had sixty years to develop its own distinctive economy and infrastructure without the threat of attack from another conquering

South Korea chose to use a democratic system like in the U.S. and Canada, and other democratic countries. South Korea’s Constitution sets up three branches of government; the judicial, executive, and legislative branches, this establishes a checks and balances system so that no one branch can control too much of the government or hold too much power, just like in the United States. The President of South Korea is elected for a five-year term and is not eligible for reelection, after their one term. This is also “… a safeguard for preventing any individual from holding reins of government for a protracted period of time” (Korea.net, 2013). Voting officials use a number of departments to assist them with legislation. This Democratic and free government allows the civilians of South Korea to enjoy many features of