Portal:Korea

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The Korea Portal

Korea is a civilization and geographical area situated on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia, bordering China to the northwest and Russia to the northeast, with Japan situated to the southeast across the Korea Strait. It is often called the "Land of the Morning Calm".

One of the world's oldest civilizations, Korea has a recorded history dating back approximately 2,333 B.C.E. It enjoyed long periods of relative peace punctuated by foreign invasions. In 1905, Korea was occupied by Japan, becoming a colony in 1910. Following World War II, the Soviet Union and United States played a role in dividing the peninsula into two political entities, North Korea and South Korea.

North Korea is a communist state that is sometimes described as Stalinist and isolationist. South Korea is a capitalist liberal democracy, and its world economic ranking is 10th (based on GDP).

Korea is populated by a relatively homogeneous ethnic group, the Koreans, who speak a distinct language called Korean and use the unique script hangul.

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Wikinews about North Korea and South Korea...

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Selected article

Gyeongju is a city (see Administrative divisions of South Korea) and prominent tourist destination in eastern South Korea. It lies in the far southeastern corner of North Gyeongsang Province, on the coast of the Sea of Japan (East Sea). Nearby cities include the industrial centers Ulsan and Pohang. Numerous low mountains, outliers of the Taebaek range, are scattered throughout the city.

Gyeongju was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Silla, a fact to which it owes its present-day prominence. The Silla kingdom arose at the turn of the 1st millennium, and ruled most of the Korean Peninsula from the 7th to the 9th centuries. A vast number of sites from this period remain in the city today. After the kingdom fell, the city gradually declined in importance.

Today Gyeongju is a typical medium-sized city, having shared in the economic, demographic, and social trends that have shaped modern South Korea. However, amidst these trends the city has retained a distinctive identity. In tourism, it is one of South Korea's best-known destinations. In manufacturing, it profits from its proximity to major industrial centers such as Ulsan. Gyeongju is connected to nationwide rail and expressway networks, which facilitate both industrial and tourist traffic. (more...)

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Taepyeongmu (태평무), a Korean dance wishing a great peace for Korea. Its origin is unknown but the late Hahn Seungjun(한성준 韓成俊 1875-1941), a known dancer and drummer, rearranged it in the early 20th century. It is assumed to have been a court dance occasionally performed by kings during the Joseon dynasty of Korea. Therefore, the costumes used for dancers are almost similar to a king and queen's gwanbok (관복, official clothings). Taepyeongmu is designated as one of the Important Intangible Cultural Properties of South Korea.

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Things you can do

Yukgaejang (shredded beef with scallions, served in a spicy soup), needs examination by native Korean editors and, if necessary, expansion (please also see Talk:Yukgaejang). 2008-05-16
Korean pottery and porcelain:
- Goryeo celadon (고려청자, celadon produced during Goryeo dynasty), create. 2008-03-27
- Maebyeong (매병, a vessel with a small mouth, short neck, round shoulder, and constricted waist), create. 2008-03-27
Ulmyeon (울면 溫滷麵, noodles, seafood, and vegetables in a chowder-like soup), create. 2008-04-01
List of tallest buildings in Seoul, expand, add references & pictures, create building articles. 2008-04-08
Korean mythology, clean-up needed. 2008-04-08
Category:Museums in Seoul, newly created articles (over 80) in the category needed to expand, add references & pictures. 2008-04-12
Gamjajeon (potato pancakes), create. 2008-4-26
History of voice acting in Korea, cleanup. 2008-04-26
Chollima Movement, expand & source. 2008-04-27
Republic of Korea Military Police, cleanup, categorize, expand. 2008-04-29
Kyungdong Presbyterian Church (designed by Kim Swoo Geun), create 2008-04-30
Kim Seong-su (journalist) (인촌 김성수, founder of Dong-a Ilbo, Korea University), create 2008-04-30
Yongdonggung Palace
Lee Hyun-se (이현세), top-rated manhwa artist, create 2008-05-01
Heo Yeong-man (허영만), top-rated manhwa artist, create 2008-05-01
Lee Young Hee (이영희), hanbok designer, create 2008-05-01
Sin Cha Hong (홍신자), avangard dancer, create 2008-05-01
Kim Joong Up (김중업), architect, create 2008-05-01
Uigwe (의궤), historical documents with illustration to record royal court ceremonies during Joseon Dynasty. create 2008-05-01
Heo Gyun (허균), author of Hong Gil-dong, create 2008-05-01
Chunhyang jeon (춘향전), create 2008-05-01
Talchum (탈춤), mask dance, create 2008-05-01
Sindansu (신단수; 神檀樹, "Divine Betula"), create 2008-05-01
The National Institute of the Korean Language (국립국어원 國立國語院)[1], create 2008-05-03
Korea National University of Arts(한국예술종합학교)[2], create 2008-05-03
Kim Su-yong & Kim Su-yeong, merge. 2008-05-05
Garaetteok (가래떡/흰떡) - white rice tteok
Sport in Korea, create 2008-05-16
Korea Sports Council (대한체육회 大韓體育會), create 2008-05-16
Gomguk, thick soup that is simmered for a long time; formerly served in Korean royal court cuisine, create 2008-05-16
Vilac, South Korean milk company, create 2008-05-21

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Korea news

From August 7 to August 12 : the most significant floods in North Korea for 40 years caused 300 dead and missing and 300,000 homeless
June 21, 2007: South Korean company Samsung launches the world's first oil carrier capable of breaking through polar ice. Korea.net
June 18, 2007: North Korea invites UN for nuclear inspection. Korea Herald
May 15, 2007: South Korea launches King-Sejong-the-Great–class KDX-III Aegis destroyers. Chosun Ilbo
April 2, 2007: South Korea and the United States reach a free trade agreement. International Herald Tribune
March 3, 2007: South Korea launches XK2 Black Panther in the main battle tank military industry. engadget

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Selected biography

Ban Ki-moon (born June 13, 1944 in Eumseong, North Chungcheong, Korea) is a South Korean diplomat and the current Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Before becoming Secretary-General, Ban was a career diplomat in South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in the United Nations. He entered diplomatic service the year he graduated college, accepting his first post in New Delhi. In the foreign ministry he established a reputation for modesty and competence. (more...)

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