Cultural Changes In North Korea

North Korea, officially, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, but with the practice of isolationism by their totalitarian communist government, it has also become known as the mysterious “Hermit Kingdom.” This small country remains inaccessible to but, a few due to economic sanctions and ongoing hostilities spanning decades with its southern neighboring country, the United States supported, South Korea. In addition to a complicated past and the regimes, emphasis on self-reliance to limit outside influence, North Korea, has successfully insulated itself from the rest of the world becoming detached and secluded. To know North Korea, you must understand the complex history of when Korea was as a whole nation and of

The division of Korea into South Korea and North Korea was the result of the 1945 Allied victory in World War II, leaving the countries in disagreement with a 2.5 mile gap separating the countries. Following this, the Korean War occurred between North and South Korea, in which a United Nations force led by the United States of America fought for the South, and China fought for the North, making the USA an instant enemy of North Korea. In July 1953, the Korean War came to an end.

Family traditions are passed on from generation to generation, however they are not always static rules. Tradition is like a living organism that adapts to change over time. In order to understand modern North Korea’s family customs, it is important to consider the tradition of the past. Before North Korea’s liberation from Japan in 1945, North Korean families operated differently than they do today. Their ideology was founded on Confucius’s principles of family, including “only a country where family life was harmonious could be peaceful and prosperous” (Asia Society). The family is an integral part of society the same way a cell is important to a body (Suzy, 264). The government is even considered “one family” that everyone is a part of (Monday). Every individual in a family has a role and every family has a role in society. The ideal family is modeled from Kim Il Sung’s nuclear family (Suzy, 268). It is clear that family is a fundamental priority in North Korean society.

The Korean War begun far before North Korea had launched their first assault upon South Korea. Nearing of the end of the Second World War, the Korean Peninsula had been under Japanese control. Soon enough it was liberated by both American and Soviet forces, the Soviets occupying the country north of the 38th Parallel, and the Americans south of it. After the war, neither the Koreans, Soviets, nor the Americans could agree on the country's government. This resulted in the foundation of the Republic of Korea (ROK) in the south and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in the north (Ohn Chang-Il, 23). The fact that neither the States nor the Soviets were willing to compromise on anything was a prime factor in the separation of the Korean Peninsula.

This report is a cultural analysis of the country of North Korea. The paper itself analyzes the history, geography, education, language, economy, and politics of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea known simply as: North Korea. Group 4 chose this particular country out of curiosity and the want to find out what the nation was like. Not many facts are known about North Korea and its shady past. This project explores everything from the difficult relationships between the Korean people and their government, to the famines and floods that threatened the entire survival of the country.

After World War II ended Japan was forced to give up Korea in 1945, making it a free state again. The UN decided that to help Korea, North and South would be special zones of occupation. The United States would occupy South Korea, Soviet Russia would get North Korea. (“Korean War”) The Korean War started in the 1950’s when North Korea crossed the 38th Parallel into South Korea. Almost immediately after, the UN said they were opposed to these attacks and demanded that North Korea leave South Korea. North Korea did not listen (Whiteclay, 3, 4, 6, 7). A few days later the US defended South Korea with help from 15 other countries of the UN. North Korea was backed by China and Russia. The fighting did not stop until 1953 when an armistice was signed, technically the war is still ongoing. (“Korean War:

The Korean War began in 1950 when Communist-controlled North Korea invaded South Korea in an attempt to bring all of Korea under Communist control. But the U.S., and Allies, fought the war to prevent Communism from spreading to South Korea. On June 25, 1950, the Korean war began in about 75000 soldiers from the Korean people's army surged past the 38th parallel, the Soviet Union to support the dividing line between north Korea, democratic People's Republic of China and the south west of the republic of Korea. The invasion of the cold war's first military action. Until July, the U.S. military has entered into on behalf of the Korean war. According to U.S. officials worry that this is a fight against international communism. Some early after repeated across the 38th parallel, stagnant, deadly battles are not shown. At the same time, U.S. officials have a truce with north Korea fashion anxiously. Another option, they worry, with Russia and China will be a greater range of war, as some warned that a third world war. Finally, in July 1953, the Korean war ended. All in all, about 5 million soldiers and civilians lost their lives in the war. Today is still divided the Korean

In North Korea it took one influential person with their own views to influence a whole Country; also, everyone there is as of one unit thinking their superior is a god. Well societies can become like that today where no one is different and everyone is blind to a single following leader and has conformed. There are other things that do this too like the Standford Prison Experiment, they had two groups guards and inmates, the inmates were brutally abused by the guards after one became sadistic and abusive. A society can become blind by following what everyone else is doing/what they see daily; thus, becoming depressingly oblivious to things they find around them.

North Korea’s regime has a tight grip on its citizens. The surveillance system is oppressive as well an invasion to the citizen’s human rights. But in North Korea the words “human rights” don’t exist, because the regime has such a harsh oppressive grip on them. There’s a stark contrast between the oppressive grip of North Korea and their bordering neighbor of South Korea because of their prison camps that are installed into their society. In comparison, North Korea is becoming eerily similar to the Soviet Union during Stalin’s reign.

At the onset of the Cold War, between the United States and the Soviet Union, the people of Korea could not have foreseen the critical role their relatively small nation would play in world affairs over proceeding generations. The separation and subsequent rise of the North Korean state has given rise to, what is widely considered the most oppressive regime in modern history. This regime, unfortunately, has managed to gain control of some of the most destructive weaponry known to humanity. The people of North Korea are captives to the imaginations of its dictatorial leadership and unless the great efforts for reform receive pressure from without or within,

When Korea liberated from Japanese control at the end of the Second World War, the United States and the Soviet Union agreed temporarily to divide Korea at the 38th parallel of latitude north of the equator. This division resulted in the formation of two countries: communist North Korea (supported by the Soviets) and South Korea (supported by the United States). Five years after the country’s partition, the communist leader of North Korea, Kim Il Sung, decided to attempt to reunify Korea under his control. On June 25, 1950, Kim launched a surprise invasion of South Korea.

Korea a land of mystery due to its isolation. Though it has been an isolated country and is slowly opening up to the world. Though isolation has shrouded much of Korea and what goes on, what is known was that it’s history impacting Korea such as the Korean War has ultimately lead it into a divided peninsula. Korea has divided itself into north and south. Though North and South Korea are so close to each other and once one in the same, history has forged several differences from the two countries over the years of its existence. The conflict of Korea has resulted in them both being in an uneasy peace watching the borderline between the two.

By 1950, North Korea and South Korea started the Korean War and ended in 1953. Between North and South of Korea, there is two and a half mile wide border called 38th parallel north, which divides the citizens from each other. In North Korea, they have Prison Camps for any citizens who violate the laws. Their government watches every movement the citizens makes. North Korean Refugees across the border line of China and North Korea to escape to find freedom.

Understanding how North Korea as a country defines itself in a changing world. Where do they derive their customs and practices, political standings and military power? Define North Korea’s history leading into the modern age and define its culture and characteristics and how they interact with the world today. Understanding a subject as broad as the term culture begins where the culture began with the birth of civilization and the people that influenced it. There are many factors that play a role in the shaping of a nation none so much as turmoil and conflict and the Korean peninsula saw its fair share for the better part of a millennia. A complete statistical breakdown of North Korea shows a struggling nation that strongly depends on

Manners represent an individual by the way they dress, behave, communicate, and their etiquette, while customs refer to the traditional way that a culture is practice individually, or by a group of people. Workers are expected to bow to their seniors when they greet them, and to use only formal language to their seniors, as it is rude to speak informally to someone of higher rank. In Korean businesses, meetings are often held in evenings at a restaurant or bar. Drinking is part of the Korean culture, as Koreans believe that drinking helps to bond colleagues in the company, and an offered drink must never be refused as it is considered to be rude. Along with drinking, Karaoke is a popular activity after meetings. People who attend the meeting are usually expected to sing a solo song.