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South Korea
After World War II, a republic was set up in the southern half of the Korean Peninsula while a Communist-style government was installed in the north. The Korean War (1950-53) had US and other UN forces intervene to defend South Korea from North Korean attacks supported by the Chinese. An armistice was signed in 1953 splitting the peninsula along a demilitarized zone at about the 38th parallel. Thereafter, South Korea achieved rapid economic growth, with per capita income far outstripping the level of North Korea. In 1997, the nation suffered a severe financial crisis from which it continues to make a solid recovery. South Korea has also maintained its commitment to democratize its political processes. In June 2000, a historic first south-north summit took place between the south's President KIM Dae-jung and the north's leader KIM Chong-il. In December 2000, President KIM Dae-jung won the Noble Peace Prize for his lifelong commitment to democracy and human rights in Asia. He is the first Korean to win a Nobel Prize. Geography38,023 sq miles (98,480 sq km) in Eastern Asia. The southern half of the Korean Peninsula borders the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea. Population48.324 million (July 2002 est.) Homogeneous (except for about 20,000 Chinese) LanguagesKorean, English widely taught in junior high and high schools CapitalSeoul Political StatusRepublic ReligionChristian 49%, Buddhist 47%, Confucianist 3%, Shamanist, Chondogyo (Religion of the Heavenly Way), and other 1% Ministry HistoryIn 2001 Global Teams was approached by a young Korean Anglican named Michael Jun Jun Kun. Michael's vision was to start a new sending agency in Korea. Since that time Michael and his wife Sae Young have been in training for this strategic ministry and have already begun the work of recruiting Koreans to work among the unreached. Field Goals
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Within South Korea
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