Name: Roland Bimoharto

NIM: 150000002

Life in South Korea and North Korea

The Korean conflict is based on the division between the Democratic People's Republic of
Korea in the north and the Republic of Korea in the south, both of which claim to be the
government of the whole country. During the Cold War, North Korea was backed by the Soviet
Union, China, and other Communist states, and South Korea was backed by the United States and
its allies. The division of Korea occurred at the end of World War Two in 1945. When the war
ended, the country was devastated, but the division remained. North and South Korea continued
a military standoff with periodic clashes.

Geographically, the two nations are similar, but based on www.indexmundi.com, the
population of North Korea (24.54 million) is half of that of South Korea (50.22 million). Life
expectancy in the South is higher than the North. It's 79.3 years but In the North it is ten years
less at 69.2. The infant mortality rate in South Korea is 4.08 per 1,000 live births, while in the
North 26.21 of the infants die on average.

North Korea, a communist country led by the dynasty politics, is one of the most isolated
economies in the world today. The doctrines of juche (self-reliance) and songun (military-first)
have created a repressive atmosphere in the state. North Korea is often labeled an unreformed
dictatorial economy. The nation that places its nuclear ambition over economic development has
also time and again faced sanctions by the US and the European Union. However, South Korea
has transformed a nation that was once wracked by political chaos and poverty into a “trillion
dollar club” economy. The economy of South Korea is multiple that of North Korea’s in terms of
GDP.

North and South Koreas have an abundance of soldiers and military equipment. In fact,
nobody can say which Korea will win a real war. Only a nuclear arsenal can insure North Korea
against the fear of military defeat, but South Korea hosts the US nuclear weapons.

In culture, South Korea is said to have turned into the Hollywood of the East. There are a
lot of independent studios producing content for the entertainment market, helping South Korea
to export its special brand of pop music (“K-pop”), television dramas and video games to
countries across Asia. However, the government of North Korea strictly bans skinny jeans, mini
skirts and even particular hairstyles, while their southern neighbours are free to do whatever outfit
takes their fancy.