South Korea: Difference between revisions

The Republic of Korea, far better known as '''South Korea''', is a country in North East Asia. After spending thirty-five years under Japanese[[Japan]]ese occupation, the Korean peninsula was divided in two after the [[Reds with Rockets]] showed up.

South Korea is a close ally of the [[The United States|United States]] (who saved the country in the [[Korean War]]), but is also known for its contentious issues with Japan for some [[World War Two|rather obvious reasons]]. These include the issue of "comfort women", women from Korea (plus China and a few other countries) forced into prostitution and sex slavery by the Japanese, which independent scholarship has failed to find any evidence for outside of Korean propaganda. Scholars instead find that Korean women were sold by Korean kidnappers and family members to Korean run brothels when demand increased, while the Japanese actually worked ''[http://scholarsinenglish.blogspot.com/2014/10/summary-of-professor-park-yuhas-book.html against]'' this sex slavery. In response dissenting scholars have been arrested and heavily fined by the South Korean government, a move which drew criticism from western governments. Then there's the issue of Japan trying to stomp out Korean language and culture, replacing it with Japanese language and culture. Even without [[World War Two]], [[Arch Enemy|Japan and Korea have never liked each other very much]]. Despite these historical issues, the two countries tend more toward [[Teeth-Clenched Teamwork]] these days due to their shared interest in keeping [[North Korea]], [[Russia]], and [[China]] in check.

While western media largely remains ignorant of these details, South Korea has a less than stellar record for human rights and freedom of expression, though not necessarily like its northern brother. South Korea is ''very'' much in love with spying on its citizens and tracking everything they do online by social security number while [https://archive.today/20160129091402/http://www.khan.co.kr/olympic/2012/article/view.html?artid=201410161409561&code=930507 forcing Korean companies to aid them in this]. The government has declared video games a "[https://archive.today/20160229171334/http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&oid=138&aid=0002037419&sid1=001 disease]" and despite South Korea's e-sports image, [https://archive.today/20160202185412/http://www.thisisgame.com/webzine/news/nboard/4/?n=57756 banned playing them in many circumstances]; those "addicted" to games are even forced [https://web.archive.org/web/20160324054006/http://blogjob.com/oneangrygamer/2016/03/how-south-koreas-government-is-destroying-the-korean-gaming-industry/ into government camps]. As mentioned above, scholars who produce research or works dissenting from the accepted line are heavily fined if not arrested. Related to these is growing concern among a number of South Koreans over social trends leaning towards [[Political Correctness Gone Mad]]. [http://thediplomat.com/2015/11/south-korean-president-compares-protesters-to-isis/ Protesters are called "terrorists" by the president].

* [[Aeni]]: (Korean Animation)

* [[Korean Pop Music|K-Pop]]: (Korean [[Idol Singer|Idol Singers]], [[Boy Band|Boy Bands]], and [[Girl Group|Girl Groups]])

* [[Korean Movies]]: (Live action)

* [[Korean Series]]: (Korean produced live action television)

* [[Manhwa]] -: Graphic novels, read Western-style (left to right)

** [[Korean Webtoons]] -: manhwa online but in a long strip format - Korean [[Web Comics]]

{{examples|Works of fiction set (but not produced) in South Korea include:}}