oting has begun across South Korea in parliamentary elections that observers
say are critical to the country's economic and political future.
The elections come amid now-robust economic performance, as well as on the
heels of the announcement of improved ties with North Korea.
Rival candidates made last-ditch appeals for votes as the world focused on
the first-ever summit between the two Koreas.
Another pressing issue for Kim's 2-year-old government is the reform of South
Korea's inefficient economic systems, especially its family-owned conglomerates,
or chaebol. About a dozen of the conglomerates collapsed under debts in 1997,
forcing South Korea to accept a record $58 billion bailout package from the
International Monetary Fund.
President Kim has publicly said reunions of those separated family members
will top the agenda.
Only 50 people from each Korea were allowed to cross the border in 1985 for
the first temporary family reunions. No further reunions have since been
arranged because of military and political tensions. The Korean border, the
world's most heavily armed, is sealed with nearly 2 million troops deployed on
both sides.
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.
throughout the Park and Chun eras, there were many strong protests against the authorities, led by students and labor union activists
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%.
(9) VOTE - mail your ballot not later than October 15th of the election
year.
(10) Use the Federal Write In Absentee Ballot if you are overseas and your State
absentee ballot does not arrive in time to be mailed back by your state’s
deadline.
Overseas American citizens vote under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens
Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) and can all register to vote from abroad using
OVF’s services.
· Some tips to help learn the language
1. An audio course
2. Textbook
3. Software
4. Flashcards
5. A reader
· Study a little every day
· Keep fit
· Keep it fun
· Find help
Seoul recently agreed to reopen its market to most U.S. beef cuts, lifting a
five-year ban placed after the outbreak of the first mad cow case in the United
States. The decision reached on April 18 is expected to permit U.S. beef
shipments to arrive here around in mid May.
"We are very pleased that Korea has taken the decision," Vershbow said, "And
this agreement is based on international scientific standards, which I think is
the only policy for trading nations that they want to observe, that they want to
have healthy economic relations with other nations."The Lee Myung-bak
administration, however, faced mounting domestic criticism for rushing to the
beef agreement despite lingering concerns over mad cow disease and feared impact
on the local cattle industry
Resuming U.S. beef imports has been considered a key condition for Seoul gaining
U.S. ratification of the free trade agreement
The U.S. ambassador to Seoul said Wednesday that Korea's decision to resume
U.S. beef imports will strengthen their bilateral alliance and that he was
confident Seoul's free trade pact with Washington will get ratified in the U.S.
within this year.
The U.S. envoy noted opposition in the U.S. Congress in the presidential
election year but said he was "confident" that it will get ratified within U.S.
President George W. Bush's term.
Nonetheless, President Bush explained to President Lee in Camp David less than
two weeks ago that it is a priority for him to get Congress to ratify KORUS-FTA
in 2008 and I'm confident he can meet that goal
We often refer to FTA as a 'win-win' agreement because both Korea and the United
States will benefit, but it might be more appropriate to call it a
'win-win-win-win' because not
only the countries benefit but because businesses and consumers will benefit as
well," he said.