South Korea (The Dragon Splits)

Republic of Korea
대한민국

大韓民國

Daehan Minguk
Timeline: The Dragon Splits
OTL equivalent: South Korea
Republic of Korea ; 대한민국; 大韓民國; Daehan Minguk; Timeline: The Dragon Splits ; OTL equivalent: South Korea
	Coat of arms
	Motto: ; "홍익인간" (Korean) (de facto); "Benefit broadly in the human world/Devotion to the Welfare of Humanity"
	Anthem: ; Aegukga "애국가" (Korean) (de facto); "Patriotic Song";
	Location of South Korea (The Dragon Splits) Area controlled by the Republic of Korea in green
Capital	Seoul
Other cities	Daegu, Busan, Incheon
Official languages	Korean
Demonym	South Korean, Korean
Government	Unitary presidential constitutional republic
Establishment
Currency	South Korean Won

South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea, is a democratic state located south of the 38th Parallel of the Korean Peninsula. It shares its only land border with North Korea, and maritime borders with Japan and China. Unlike its totalitarian northern neighbor, South Korea is a democracy that is economically prosperous.

History[]

Ancient History[]

The Korean peninsula was site of many ancient empires that served as mediator between ancient China and Japan.

Japanese Occupation (1910-1945)[]

In 1910, the Japanese Empire occupied and annexed Korea. This caused the invasion of Japanese culture to the peninsula, as well as many Japanese immigrants. During World War II, several ethnic Koreans were conscripted to fight in the Imperial Japanese Army. Many Korean women were forced to become "comfort women." Japanese occupation ended when the Japan surrendered to the Allied Powers on September 2, 1945.

Partition of the Korean Peninsula[]

As agreed by the Allies Powers on the Potsdam Conference, Korea was split in two along the 38th parallel. The North was administered by the Soviet Union while the South was administered by the United States. This caused both areas to heavily adapt to the ideologies of the two superpowers: The North followed communism while the South followed democracy and capitalism. Around August-September 1948, the Republic of Korea (South) and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North) was established. The two newly-established countries disputed which side will full administer the whole Korean Peninsula. This led to border clashes within the two forces as the U.S. troops where slowly withdrawing by the 1949. The border clashes would soon escalate into the Korean War.

Korean War (1950-1953)[]

On June 25, 1950, the Korean People's Army on the orders of Kim Il-Sung crossed the 38th parallel in attempt to reunify the peninsula by force. The unprepared South Korean troops as well as the remaining U.S. soldiers were caught off-guard. As such, the KPA won several offensives and captured Seoul. The remaining ROK and U.S. forces withdrew to the coastal city of Pusan, forming the Pusan perimeter. U.S. troop reinforcements coming from nearby Japan were not enough to stem the flow of North Korean forces. As such, the United Nations led by the United States called for a "police-action" in Korea. 16 countries joined in the UN-led action in the Korean peninsula. On September 18, 1950, the United States Marine Corps mounted an amphibious invasion of Incheon on the west coast of the peninsula. This cut-off the North Koreans from their offensive to Pusan. From there, the UN forces pushed northward and eventually crossed the 38th parallel. Eventually capturing Pyongyang, the UN forces attempted to free control of the Korean Peninsula from the KPA. This concerned the newly-established People's Republic of China on the presence of foreign forces on its border. Via the Indian Ambassador to the United States, China warned not to further push near the Yalu River. The warning was ignored and on November 1950, Chinese troops known as the People's Volunteer Army (PVA) crossed the Yalu en masse and pushed the UN forces back to the 38th parallel. Due to the massive human wave attacks employed by the Chinese, General MacArthur proposed the using of nuclear weapons on the Sino-Korean border and Manchuria to cut-off the Chinese supply lines. This caused MacArthur to be fired by President Harry S. Truman out of fear of escalating the conflict with the Soviets, which supported North Korea and China by sending supplies, weapons, and volunteer pilots. From 1951 to 1953, the Korean War dragged on like a "tug-of-war." with both sides continuously gaining and losing sides. An armistice was signed on July 27, 1953 which called for the cessation of hostilities between the two Koreas. However, the two Koreans today are still technically at a state-of-war because no official peace treaty was signed to end the conflict.

The Cold War[]

Following the Korean War, South Korea began to pick up the dust. By the 1960s however, South Korea's experiment with democracy led to various coup detats and right-wing dictatorships supported by the United States. In 1969, American and South Korean troops were involved in a serious border class with North Korea due to the murder of two American officers within the DMZ. The country sent troops to fight in the Vietnam War, earning the reputation of being feared by the communist forces. The 1970s and the 1980s saw the progression of South Korea from a backwater to a progressive state. Following the Dissolution of the USSR in 1991, South Korea received funding and used Soviet military equipment from the new Russian Federation to pay off loans.

1990s[]

With the threat of communism gone, only North Korea became one of the secluded states in the world. South Korea at this point was experiencing a large economic boom which ended in 1997 due to the Asian Financial Crisis. In 1994, North Korea suffered famine prompting UN aid unless it would abandon its suspected nuclear program. From 1998-1999, South Korea and North Korea would frequently clash within the maritime borders.

The 21st Century[]

South Korea in the early 2000s became a partner of the U.S.-led War on Terror. It sent troops to Iraq to work on infrastructure and rebuilding. In 2003, the country was given the status of a major non-NATO ally of the U.S. On October 9, 2006, North Korea conducted its first underground nuclear test. This prompted concern to the stability of the region. As such, increased U.S. military presence was seen. In 2009, another nuclear test was conducted by the northern neighbor. On March 2010, a North Korean submarine sunk a the ROKS Cheonan and killed 40 ROK Navy personnel. The same year on November, North Korea shelled Yeongpyang Island, causing another set of tensions in the peninsula. On April 2012, the peninsula was a site of another concern as North Korea attempted to launch a rocket into space, which disintegrated upon entering the Earth's atmosphere. By early 2013, tensions started heating up between North and South Korea. On February 15, 2013; the North conducted its third nuclear test. As result of the renewed tensions, the United States deployed B-2 intercontinental bombers to deter the North Koreans. The crisis was averted when both nations agreed to open the Kaesong Industrial Complex.

In April 2014, a South Korean ferry sunk off the coast of Jeju Island, killing many of which mostly were high school students on a field trip. This caused mass outcry throughout the country. In 2015, South Korea showed concerned after Japan approved the use of the JSDF to come to the aid of its allies; due to the bloody history between the two countries. In 2016, the North conducted its fourth and fifth nuclear test; showing concerns between the neighboring countries. Also in late-2016, South Korea saw massive protests after corruption scandal occurred within former President Park Gyeun-hye's administration. One of the accusations included using a "shadow adviser" that influenced the South Korean government. Park was impeached in December 2016.

In 2017, under the new Trump Administration, tensions once again were back in North Korea. This was due to because of a series of ballistic missile tests and imprisonment of an American college student in North Korea Otto Warmbier in January 2016. Although Warmbier was released on June 12, 2017; he died on June 19. In addition, South Korea elected a new president, Moon Jae-in. President Moon has made it clear to strongly condemn the North in its actions in the peninsula.

There are fears of Second Korean War due to the recent tensions in the peninsula as well as the spillover of the Manchurian uprising (part of the Chinese Insurgency) that occurred in September 2016. South Korea has maintained a neutral stance on the ongoing Chinese Insurgency but has placed its forces on high alert in case North Korea would take advantage of the situation.

Government[]

South Korea is a unitary presidential constitutional republic. The president is the head-of-state while the prime minister functions as the head-of-government.

Economy[]

South Korea heavily relies on the exportation of goods. It has an electronics and automobile industry. Brands such as Samsung, LG, Kia, and Hyundai are used locally. Much of these has been exported to other countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, and the United States as an alternative to much more expensive cars.

Military[]

The Republic of Korea Armed Forces is responsible for the defense of South Korea. It is divided into the following branches:

Army
Navy
Air Force

As of 2016, there are 625,000 active personnel while 3,100,000 in reserve. Military service is mandatory for citizens aged 20-38.

The ROK military operates a variety of vehicles, either from the United States, Russia, Israel, and Europe. It has its own military industry which produces trucks, tanks, fighter jets, ships, and naval vessels. Internationally, South Korea has participated in the Iraq War (2003-2011) under the U.S. coalition. Some ground troops have been deployed to Lebanon, Somalia, South Sudan, and the United Arab Emirates.

Foreign Relations[]

South Korea maintains countless diplomatic missions globally. It has great relations with the United States, Europe, Southeast Asia, and Australia. The United States, a treaty ally since the Korean War, has held joint-exercises with the South Korean military every year known as FOAL EAGLE. South Korea also participates in RIMPAC and CARAT. The U.S. military has installed THAAD missile defense system in South Korea to deter North Korean ballistic missiles.

South Korea's relations with Southeast Asia is considered great, with many South Korean tourists and businessman traveling to the region for economic incentives. Recently, the Philippines and South Korea has strengthened relations by providing aid packages and defense modernizations in the form of F/A-50 Fighter Jets, KAAVP7 amphibious assault vehicles, and missile-armed frigates (still under process).

Relations with Japan remain wary but cordial at times, partially due to Japan's history during the occupation from 1910-1945. Still, the two countries cooperate together, often with the United States, in the event of a North Korean missile attack.

Relations with China are cordial, but the PRC has expressed concern over THAAD.