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Upon completion of primary school, students advance to middle school, which comprises grades seven through nine. The curriculum consists of 12 basic or required subjects, electives, and extracurricular activities

school calendar has two semesters, the first extending from March through July and the second from September through February. There are summer and winter breaks, but 10 optional half days at the beginning and end of each break

A typical day finds high schoolers studying before school begins at about 8:00 A.M. Classes run for 50 minutes each, with a morning break and a 50-minute lunch period. The afternoon session resumes at about 1:00 P.M., and classes continue until about 4:00 or 4:30, followed by the cleaning of the classroom. Students may then take a short dinner break at home, or they may eat at school

Elementary and middle school students have similar but somewhat less rigorous days with shorter hours and more recreational activities.

Students return to the school library to study or attend private schools or tutoring sessions until between 10:00 P.M. and midnight.

Attendance requirements call for a minimum of 220 days at all three levels

Most instruction we observed consisted of teacher lectures, with only rare interruptions for questions. If students had questions, they might speak to the teacher after class

discipline problems were infrequent, and great respect for teachers was evident. Students bowed, as is the custom, when passing teachers in the halls and appeared hesitant to enter faculty offices.

Korean teachers still have more responsibility for counseling students and controlling their behavior than do teachers in the United States. Korean culture grants teachers the same authority as parents and attributes them even greater responsibility for children's moral and academic development.

On June 25, 1950, North Korean forces invaded South Korea

The war left almost three million Koreans dead or wounded and millions of others homeless and separated from their families.

The Second Republic under the leadership of Chang Myon ended after only one year, when Major General Park Chung-hee led a military coup. Park's rule, which resulted in tremendous economic growth and development but increasingly restricted political freedoms, ended with his assassination in 1979

. Subsequently, a powerful group of military officers, led by Lieutenant General Chun Doo Hwan, declared martial law and took power.

movements reached a climax after Chun's 1979 coup and declaration of martial law.

Former business executive and Mayor of Seoul Lee Myung-bak's 5-year term begins with his inauguration on February 25, 2008.

In 1987, Roh Tae-woo, a former general, was elected president

1992 election of a long-time pro-democracy activist, Kim Young-sam. Kim became Korea's first civilian elected president in 32 years.

Thereafter, pro-democracy activities intensified even more, ultimately forcing political concessions by the government in 1987, including the restoration of direct presidential elections.

Natural resources: Limited coal, iron ore, limestone, kaolinite, and graphite.Agriculture, including forestry and fisheries: Products--rice, vegetables, fruit, root crops, barley; cattle, pigs, chickens, milk, eggs, fish. Arable land--17% of land area

PeopleNationality: Noun and adjective--Korean(s).Population (2006): 48,846,823.Population annual growth rate (2006): 0.42%.Ethnic groups: Korean; small Chinese minority.Religions: Christianity, Buddhism, Shamanism, Confucianism, Chondogyo.Language: Korean.Education: Years compulsory--9. Enrollment--11.5 million. Attendance--middle school 99%, high school 95%. Literacy--98%.Health (2006): Infant mortality rate--6.16/1,000. Life expectancy--77.0 yrs (men 73.6 yrs.; women 80.8 yrs).Work force (2005): 23.53 million. Services--67.2%; mining and manufacturing--26.4%; agriculture--6.4%.