World Cultures Portfolio/Korea

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World Cultures Korean Report about Physical Map

Nuvola apps package network.pngWorld Cultures Korea Unit

Intro/Basics - Africa - Middle East - South Asia - China - Japan - Korea - Latin America

Only spent one day on this unit World Cultures Daily Questions

Notebook

Portfolio

World Cultures Portfolio

Africa: HDI Graph Reflections - Decolonization Report
Middle East: Population Density Report - Essay: A Peaceful Vacation
South Asia: Rainfall Report - South Asia Comparisons Graph - Postcards
China: Sphere of Influences Report - Mao Button Journal
Japan: Natural Resources Report - Japanese Violence Journal
Korea: Physical Map Report
Latin America: Landforms Report
Worldwide: T-Shirt Trade Report

Korean Physical Map
Textbook Korean Physical Map

Nuvola apps important.png Only a DRAFT!

May change/be updated - still in progress - may still contain inaccuracies

The rocky mountains of Korea shape its culture and society greatly. The eight mountain ranges restrict the amount of farmland available (Encyclopedia Mytha). Add an unstable political climate in the North, and the problem extends beyond mere geography. Rice and vegetables represent the primary crop of the Koreas (Blue Textbook 375). In addition, considerable industry has grown in the South because of its favorable political climate. The north, however, lacks this advancement.

Mountains cover 70 percent of the Korean Peninsula (Blue Textbook 376). The T'aebaek mountain range runs on along the east of Korea. The mountains stand higher in Northern Korea then in South Korea. Only the north has mountains over 4,500 feet (Red Textbook). These exist in the north-eastern section of the country. Less tall mountains surround them. Overall, the mountains lay mostly on the east side of Korea, leaving the west for farming and fishing. In addition, only about 25 percent of Koreans live in the mountainous regions (Blue Textbook 376). The mountains do not extend the full way to the bottom of South Korea freeing the land for farming and industry. This means most citizens live in the coastal plains.

The coastal plains commonly get divided into 3 regions. The northeast, the west coast, and the south east region. The west coastal plain, however, hold both capital cities and most of the industry and population (Blue Textbook 376). In addition, Korea's 6,000 mile coastline makes fishing a big industry (Blue Textbook 376). Occasionally, disputes over fishing rights with Japan arises.

Worldwide, mountains form primarily in two ways. For example, as in India, the continent smash into the larger continent. Also, mountains can be formed via volcanoes. Sometimes, however, both can play a part. The Encarta tectonic map appears to show a fault line between Korea and China. This points to tectonic activity. However, volcanoes might have also played a role in addition to simple plate moving.

The mountains of Korea severely limit the amount of farmland in the region. The CIA World Factbook 2006 reports that North Korean arable (farmable) land only makes up 22.4% of the country (USA CIA). South Korea has even less at only 16.58% (USA CIA). This severely limits agriculture, the "gateway" good to industrialization and global trade. Without it, Koreans must import much of their food, or increase the productivity of current farms.

South Korea has managed to breed an industrial society. Tractors and modern farm equipment help make farms much more productive. Thus they can make more crops with less. In addition, the scientific research allows bigger and more disease resistant crops to grow. The south also has a strong industrial industry. The world buys semiconductors, wireless telecommunications equipment, motor vehicles, computers, steel, ships, and petrochemicals from Korea (USA CIA)

North Korea, however, does not have their priorities straight. Its regime thinks only of itself and North Koreans worship their leader. The cities exist eerily quiet and the streets have no cars due to the oil shortage. But the monuments stand massively tall. Huge buildings stand empty, and much goes to waste. A small, select few have much wealth. But most North Koreans starve to death, live in prison camps, or prepare for war via forced military service.

North Korea does have some natural resources however. Coal, iron, lead, copper, zinc and hydroelectric power all exist in North Korea (Blue Textbook 377). However, the government can not efficiently use these resources. Thus it receives no benefit from them. For society and the Korean people this does not represent a favorable situation. For the benefit of the entire world, this must change.

The geography difference between each section of Korea does not differ as much as the difference between the economy and way of life in the respective countries. Perhaps it represents the most striking example of capitalism vs. communism. On one hand, a advanced, free nation making efficient use of its resources, and on the other hand, a poor, corrupt land not making efficient use of its resources. If the state controls all, the likelihood of this happening increases dramatically.

Like all of the other locations around the world, life in Korea depends on geography. Mountains prevent trade, but rivers encourage it. Mountains may has minerals to mine, but less agricultural land also plays a role. But geography does not determine all in Korea. Human can affect more, especially in the modern years when they have learned to move large amounts of earth. Political climates affect what gets done. Scientific climate and technological advances power increases in productivity and has made life better for hundreds of thousands of people. Thus one nation must have not only the favorable geography, but the correct political climate to nurture industry, growth, and advances in people's lives.

Sources

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