The Korean Peninsula extends southward from the northeast part of the Asian continent. The country has a long history and proud tradition. Buddhism and Confucianism have influenced the nation's society and culture.
Koreans, like many other Asian peoples, are descendants of the Mongolian Tungus stock. They differ from the neighboring Japanese and Chinese, however, in that Koreans are a homogeneous ethnic group with their own language, culture, and customs.
After World War II, a republic was set up in the southern half of the Korean Peninsula (in August 15, 1945) while a communist-style government was installed in the north.
The Korean War (1950-53) had US and other UN forces intervene to defend South Korea from North Korean attacks supported by the Chinese. An armistice was signed in 1953 splitting the peninsula along a demilitarized zone at about the 38th parallel. Thereafter, South Korea achieved rapid economic growth, with per capita income rising to 13 times the level of North Korea.
August 8, 1892, London and China Telegraph
London, United Kingdom
LONDON, MONDAY, JULY 8, 1892.
TRADE PROSPECTS IN KOREA.
We fear that it will probably be the lot of British Consular officers for some years to come, when penning their reports on the trade of Korea, to have to point to the absence of any transport facilities and the shocking state of the currency of the country as causes why the foreign trade of the peninsula does not make greater strides. Certainly these subjects form the major themes of Mr. Walter C. Hillier, H.B.M.'s Consul-General, in his report for 1891. The currency was hitherto not so bad for the internal wants of the country. The people were at least used to it, though to transport even a comparatively small sum necessitated many pack animals. Banking systems are unknown and doubtfully looked on, so that a few hundredweight of these cash had to be moved for only small commercial transactions.
During last year, however, other causes contributed to aggravate the question of currency by means which brought a transient and small profit to the Government, but which checked imports completely for the time being. The bulky and inconvenient one-cash piece has hitherto been the only medium, but it was suggested to the Government they should issue five-cash pieces, the profit of the scheme lying in the fact that the new pieces, though of good fair quality at first, did not contain five times as much metal as the one-cash pieces. As the issue of these coins continued it was found more profitable to lease the privilege of making them to private speculators, who paid a certain royalty per cent. As might have been anticipated, each new issue was inferior to the List, the latest specimens being made of brass instead of copper, with a large admixture of sand, and the value fell from 70 pieces, or 350 cash, to the dollar in 1883, to 680 pieces, or 3,400 cash, to the dollar in 1891. This only had to go on long enough and an impasse was reached. The stoppage of the import trade became a natural sequence; but, worse than this, the Koreans of the poorer classes and petty officials were reduced to much want, as to meet the decreased value of the currency the prices of rice and fuel, on which the masses are in the main dependent, rose considerably. To alleviate the condition thus brought about the Government withdrew for the time being a certain amount of the local currency, which was sent elsewhere. The general state also seems to have caused them to again think of the foreign mint, which was erected at considerable cost some time ago, and a small silver issue has been provided for. Concerning this Mr. Hillier says.:—"Any departure from an absolute "standard of purity will, I anticipate, be the ruin of the "venture; while the new coin will probably be exported to China and melted down into sycee if it bears the value it is intended to represent." In the matter of currency, therefore, the country still seems to be between the devil and the deep sea.
It will be incidentally gathered that the cumbrous nature of such a coinage as cash—and cash only—tends to aggravate the difficulties of a transport system which mainly relies on cattle, and some ponies, for its maintenance. The currency, instead, of assisting and creating trade in the country, acts as a stumblingblock, and restricts transport by itself requiring it.
Of roads and other facilities none exist, whilst the rivers, which afford some means of communication, though-these are very few, have never been supplemented by means of any artificial waterways. Pack animals are the only method of carrying on trade, and it may be quickly realised that a large trade cannot spring up under such conditions. Even were some of these drawbacks remedied, there still remains the natural apathy of the majority of Koreans to work, and even when he does the grasping official brings his heavy band on those who have the ambition to earn more chan they absolutely require from day to day. Last year was likewise particularly disastrous by reason of the severe plague amongst cattle which in many parts carried off some 60 per cent, of the animals. Added to the violent fluctuations in the currency this difficulty of transport bore very heavily on the common people by raising their food supplies, and. bringing the price of fuel to an almost prohibitory rate. That Korea would be able to do a much larger foreign trade were these two subjects dealt with in satisfactory fashion is not to be doubted. Besides, the unknown quantity of gold extracted she is able to grow many excellent qualities of grains, besides having hides and other commodities to exchange. At present, however, neither foreign goods can be conveyed far away from the ports nor native produce brought down for shipment, by reason of the enormous cost of carriage.
. . . The paragraph which Mr Hillier inserts in his report on the trade of Korea during 1891 as to sport in that country will deter all but the keenest of shikaris. That there is big game shooting to be had is testified by the skins which are brought down to the ports from time to time, but the difficulties and discomforts seem to be more than the usual hunter has to put up with.
October 9, 1899, Waterloo Daily Courier
Waterloo, Iowa
The Most Uninteresting Country.
What is the most uninteresting country in the world? The writer of a foreign office report puts in a bad word in this connection for Korea. The scenery is indeed, he admits, strikingly beautiful, "but apart from this there is an absence of almost everything which makes a country interesting to the traveler. There is nothing whatever which he cares to take away with him as a memento of his visit. There can be few countries anywhere which do not offer more attractions in this respect than Korea. It is the habit to attribute this uniform dreariness and desolation to the Japanese invasion o three centuries ago, but there must be something lacking in the character of a people who have failed during such a long interval to achieve any advancement in arts or manufactures." --London News
