| National Anthem Aeguk Ka - Love of Country This was written during Japanese occupation from 1905-1945. Dong Hae Mul Gwa Paek To San I Ma Ru Go Dal T'o Rok, Ha Nu Nim I Bo U-Ha Sa U Ri Na Ra Man Se, Mu-Gung Hwa Sam-Ch'ol Li HwaryoGang-San, Dae Han Sa Ram Dae Han-U Ro Ki Ri Bo Chon Ha Se Until the East Sea's waves are dry, Mount Paektusan worn away, God watch over our land forever! Our Korea manse! Rose of Sharon, thousands of miles of range and river land! Guarded by her people, ever may Korea stand! Like Mount Namsan armored pine, standing on duty still, wind or frost, unchanging ever, be our resolute will. In autumn's arching evening sky, crystal, and cloudless blue, Be the radiant moon our spirit, steadfast, single and true. With such a will, such a spirit, loyalty, heart and and hand, Let us love, come grief, come gladness, this our beloved land! |
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| Earth Kon Location: Lower right Family: Mother Season: Summer Direction: North Known as: The receptive one Represents: Total darkness when the sun is in the North Descriptions: |
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| Southern Korean Flag The flag is called the Tae Kuk Ki in Korean, and its meaning has philosophical significance. The design of it symbolizes the perfect balance and harmony of the extremes. In the 1910s during the Japanese occupation, the flag was forbidden in public. Until 1945, the flag was kept hidden. Today, it is a sign of much inspiration and pride. Though China had been pressing Korea to use a dragon design on its national flag, Korea rejected this in favor of a blue and red yin-yang on a white field, a favorite Korean design since ancient times. The white background represents the land, the Korean people, and their peace-loving spirit. Thus, the design flag became the temporary national flag. Later Korea added eight trigrams--combinations of three unbroken and broken bars--around the Eum Yang. The center is an Eum Yang, which is pronounced yin-yang in Chinese. This center is divided equally into two parts. The upper red is Yang, the male, also symbolizing positiveness. The lower blue is the Eum, the female, symbolizing the negative. Together, it is a circle of continous movement symbolizing the unity of all being. This created the Tae Kuk Ki, which served as the national colors for a while. |
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| Heaven Kun Location: Upper left Family: Father Season: Spring Direction: South Known as: The creative one Represents: Bright sunshine in the South that makes everything grow Descriptions: All three are closed because it is the completeness of life. |
| Fire Yi Location: Lower left Family: Son Season: Autumn Direction: East Known as: The persisting one Descriptions: The top and bottom line is complete because the son is deeply rooted in spiritual and scholarly ways. The middle line is broken because since he does not have a child yet, he is not complete. |
| Water Kam Location: Upper right Family: Daughter Season: Winter Direction: West Known as: The abysmal one Represents: Twilight Descriptions: The top and bottom are open because she will provide the earthly necessities for her future family. |
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| National Flower Korean name: Mugunghwa English name: Rose of Sharon Scientific name: Hibiscus Syriacus L This flower has been a great love for the Korean people for centuries. They grow mostly in China, Northern India, Japan, and Korea from July to late October. There may be 2,000 to 3,000 flowers per plant. And when it is transplanted to another area or cut, the plant is still able to live. This corresponds to Korea's desire for prosperity and lasting national development. |
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| Created August 2003 | Updated December 2004 Traditional Korean Martial Arts Southern Ohio | vutt@email.uc.edu |
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| Land Over 70% of the land is mountainous with the eastern regions consisting of mainly rugged mountain ranges and deep valleys. Many people enjoy hiking in the foothills and mountains. Most of the larger rivers and forests are located in the west. The coastline is dotted with bays and it has some of the highest tides in the world. The eastern coastline has many sandy beaches, while the western side consists mainly of mud flats and rocky shores. The country extends south from the northeastern end of Asia and consists of the Korean Peninsula and over 3,400 islands. It is bordered in the north by Russia and China and by Japan across the East Sea. Since 1945, the country has been divided into the Republic of Korea (South Korea) and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea). South Korea is divided into 9 provinces and 3 special cities. Location Between 13152'42"E (East) and 12411'00"E (West), 4300'39"N (North) and 3306'40"N (South) Area: 222,154 km (South Korea: 99,392 km) |
| Population 46.9 million (1999 est.) Koreans descended from the Mongolian race in prehistoric times. Periods of occupation have also added Chinese and Japanese blood to the gene pool. Although they have borrowed from other cultures, especially Chinese and Japanese, Koreans have maintained their own distinctive language, culture, and customs. It is a family orientated society, heavily based on Confucianism, which even in modern times retains the basic patterns and manners of family-centered life. Brief History of Korea Korea claims a 5,000+ year history, dating from the country's foundation by Tan-gun. Its history is full of foreign invaders and various factions vying for power. Korean history is broken down into the following periods: Three Kingdoms (57 B.C.-A.D. 668) Silla (668-935) Goryeo (918-1392) Joseon (1392-1910) Japanese Occupation (1910-1945) Republic of Korea (1945-present) |
| Introducing Korea |
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