NORTH KOREAN CULTURE
HISTORY OF NORTH KOREA
In 1905 the independent kingdom of Korea was occupied by Japan following the Russo-Japanese War. Japan annexed the peninsula after 5 years. After World War II, Korea was split with the northern half, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, under Soviet communist control. The southern republic, Republic of Korea, was supported by the United States. In 1950-1953, the North attempted to conquer the South but failed in the Korean War. Kim Jung Un, took over rule in 2010, continuing the Kim dynasty after his father.
EVERY DAY LIFE
Private life and individual freedom is extremely limited. Severe economic hardship and times of limited resources have forced North Koreans to live a very regimented life. Even leisure and cultural occupations are regimented to museums and rallies sponsored by the government. Family life has drastically changed after Japanese and later Soviet occupations. The Korean traditional family system and ancient lineage records were destroyed and the kinship system was disrupted. It is illegal for individuals to leave North Korea without the regime's permission. There is no freedom of religion, speech, and access to information.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS
North Korea has strained relations with several nations. However, they have formal diplomatic ties to 164 nations. Some of the major nations that have ties to North Korea include China, Germany, Britain, Russia, India, and Pakistan. However, their relationship with Germany and Britain is not on great terms. Ever since World War II, China has continuously backed North Korea through trading. There have been tensions in their trade in recent years, but they remain allies. Note the figure below as it shows the billions of dollars of trade volume between China and North-Korea. Furthermore, if a North Korea escapes to China and is caught, the Chinese government will return them to North Korea, causing severe punishment or death.
Some of the major countries that do not have a formal diplomatic relationship with North Korea include the United States, South Korea, France, and Japan. Ever since North Korea invaded South Korea in 1950, they have been unable to improve their relationship. Unlike in China, if a North Korean escapes to South Korea, the government there will not turn them in.
Click on the link icon to see a recent news article about the US and North Korea.
EDUCATION
The government uses education to mold the people to believe the party values using government designed propaganda of communist ideology. Twelve years of education are free and mandatory. It is used by the government to create workers to meet its economic goals. It is mandatory that all students do “productive labor” alongside their education.
SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS
The government nearly controls the entire economic system. it is an extremely strict system that allows very few entrepreneurial businesses. Furthermore, the government owns most of the land. The residents of North Korea are completely dependent on food rations and government housing. About 45% of children under the age of five are malnourished. Out of 180 other countries studied, North Korea has the absolute lowest economic freedom rating. Even though unemployment is less than 5%, due to numerous issues including copious military spending and few trade partners, North Korea is a relatively poor nation.
RELIGION
North Korea is officially an atheist nation, but it has also been reported that roughly 16% of the country practice Korean Shamanism, 14% practice Chondoism, 4.5% are Buddhist, and 1.5% are Christian. It was traditionally Buddhist and Confucianist, with a small number of syncretic Chondogyo and Christian population.
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HEALTHCARE
The nation spends approximately only $1 per capita on healthcare. This is the lowest in the world as typically it is over $700 per capita. According to accounts of individuals who have escaped North Korea, there is no clean water, sterile needles, food, bandages, or even anesthesia for surgeries. The hospital stays are technically free, but one must bribe doctors in order to receive adequate treatment. For instance, one man paid a doctor with 10 packs of cigarettes just to treat his son who had tuberculosis. Another stated that one beer would pay for one IV. Others report being given a highly addictive methamphetamine if they had a stomach ache, a cold, or whatever else was wrong.
GOVERNMENT
North Korea is under a socialist dictatorship. It is officially named the Democreatic People’s Republic of Korea. It is a single party state. It holds a “juche” policy, or “national self-reliance” which creates a strong push against any influence from the outside world. If an individual commits an anti-socialist crime, they and the next three generations of their family can be punished in order to stop any dissent from emerging.