South Korea 1

 

SOUTH KOREA

Many people know something about South Korea. It can be around Its food, K-pop, make-up, films and series, the nobel prize winner in literature Han kang, or perhaps the last mess within the parliament.

But I would like to show you more about this rather tiny country in Asia. I wrote down for many years ago my thoughts and my knowing of Korea's history and culture, but it's just been there in a file and nothing happened to it.

I do not say that I know everything, and I am not a resident of South Korea, but I have been there some times and my wife is from Korea.

So Hopefully on a weekly basis I will be able to write down something from this old country, but young democracy in the far east.

What is also a bit interesting is that to build bridges is necessary to reach people, but South Korea's northern neighbor has tear down them all.

Korea, as I see it.

 

What do I really know about Korea? How would I best describe “The land of the morning calm”?

 

I have to admit I did not know much before I met my wife, who by chance comes from Korea.

I will try to tell you what I have found out in this rather small peninsula at the Far East, and I’m not making this into a guide book, a history book or a biography,it is  more like a teaser, an injection for you who are not that familiar with Korea, for you who soon will be travelling there or for you who just want to know.

 

Korea has during the centuries been a centre for culture and war. The different occupying powers have been many, such as: China, Mongolia, Manchuria, Japan and USA. They all have started war against this friendly nation, who actually never themselves started a war. They all have been trying to destroy the Korean culture and identity, but just as all the different nations trying to take over Israel, they have been defeated.

In able to tell you the history of Korea, I can't avoid to write rather much about Koreans suffering, suffering against the occupation by Japan, the many wars against Japan and the conflicts Korea had to stand. There is no hate, no aggression or suspicion against Japan.

 

What do we usually associate Korea with?

It depends on your background, your history and heritage, but in general the first thing we think about is that Korea is divided in one Northern and one southern part.

We also might think of all the different electronic companies like LG, and Samsung, and of cause cars like Kia and Hyundai.

 

Perhaps you think of something else, and you would prefer me to write about them but in general it is things like this I hear when I ask people.

Co be continued......