When the war ended in 1945, the great majority of the people living in the southern half of the Korean Peninsula were poor peasants.

Japanese colonial regime from 1910 to 1945 had promoted modernization of the economy and society

By 1990 educational and public health standards were high, most people lived in urban areas, and a complex structure of social classes had emerged that resembled the social structures of developed Western countries or Japan. The country also was making substantial progress in its evolution from a military dictatorship similar to that of many Third World regimes to a democratic, pluralistic political system.

Set your goals before departure, based on what you learned from your research. When many things are competing for your attention, goals can help guide your short-term actions and long-term efforts. Sound goals have three important characteristics: