Choson

Choson officially the Republic of Choson (Hangul: 조선 공화국; Hanja: 朝鮮 共和國; Joseon Gonghwagug) is a sovereign state located in the far east of the Asian continent. Choson is located primarily on the Choson Peninsula, but owns the dozens of islands which lie off the coast of the country.

Today, Choson is a major economic power governed as a unitary constitutional republic. Choson has been a major power with strong cultural, economic, military, and political influence in the region and around the world. With the sixth-highest Human Development Index, exceptional healthcare standards, and the fifth highest per-capita income globally, Choson has one of the highest standards of living in Asia, as well as the third largest economy in the world. Despite its smaller size, Choson's diverse landscape includes alpine mountain ranges, subtropical forests, and forest steppes, and is home to a large variety of wildlife. It is one of the most visited countries in the world, receiving around 65 million visitors annually. A globally leading information society, Choson has the world's fastest Internet connection speed, high ownership of computers, and the world's highest penetration of smartphones.

Etymology
"Choson" is the english exonym for Choson, the Chosonese name for Choson is "조선" (Joseon). Choson is the direct english translation of "Joseon/조선".

Ancient Choson
Nomadic Homo Erectus tribes migrated into Choson approximately 40 thousand years ago. The origins of this period are an open question but the antiquity of hominid occupation in Choson may date to as early as 500,000 BCE. Yi and Clark are somewhat skeptical of dating the earliest occupation to the Lower Palaeolithic. At Seokjang-ri, an archaeological site near Gongju, Chungcheongnam-do Province, artifacts that appear to have an affinity with Lower Paleolithic stone tools were unearthed in the lower levels of the site. Bifacial chopper or chopping-tools were also excavated. Hand axes and cleavers produced by men in later eras were also uncovered.

From Jeommal Cave a tool, possibly for hunting, made from the radius of a hominid was unearthed, along with hunting and food preparation tools of animal bones. The shells of nuts collected for nourishment were also uncovered.

In Seokjang-ri and in other riverine sites, stone tools were found with definite traces of Palaeolithic tradition, made of fine-grain rocks such as quartzite, porphyry, obsidian, chert[citation needed], and felsite manifest Acheulian, Mousteroid, and Levalloisian characteristics[citation needed]. Those of the chopper tradition are of simpler in shape and chipped from quartz and pegmatite. Seokjang-ri's middle layers showed that humans hunted with these bola or missile stones.

During the Middle Paleolithic Period, humans dwelt in caves at the Jeommal Site near Jecheon and at the Durubong Site near Cheongju. From these two cave sites, fossil remains of rhinoceros, cave bear, brown bear, hyena and numerous deer (Pseudaxi gray var.), all extinct species, were excavated.

The earliest radiocarbon dates for the Paleolithic indicate the antiquity of occupation on the Korean peninsula is between 40,000 and 30,000 BP. From an interesting habitation site at Locality 1 at Seokjang-ri, excavators claim that they excavated some human hairs of Mongoloid origin along with limonitic and manganese pigments near and around a hearth, as well as animal figurines such as a dog, tortoise and bear made of rock. Reports claim that these were carbon dated to some 20,000 years ago.

The Palaeolithic ends when pottery production begins c 8000 BCE.

Gojoseon
Gojoseon (Chosonese: 고조선; Hanja: 古朝鮮; Ko-Chŏsŏn), originally named Joseon (Chosonese: 조선; Hanja: 朝鮮; Chŏsŏn), was an ancient Chosonese Kingdom on the Chosonese Peninsula. The addition of Go (고, 古), meaning "ancient", is used to distinguish it from the later Joseon kingdom (1392–1897). According to the Samguk Yusa (1281), Gojoseon was established in 2333 BC by Dangun, who was said to be the offspring of a heavenly prince and a bear-woman. Though Dangun is a mythological figure for whom no concrete evidence has been found, the account has played an important role in developing Chosonese identity. Today, the founding date of Gojoseon is officially celebrated as the National Foundation Day in Choson.

Some of the same sources relate that in the 12th century BC the Chinese nobleman and sage Gija (also known as Jizi), a man belonging to the royal family of the Shang dynasty of China, immigrated to the Chosonese Peninsula and founded Gija Joseon.

Gojoseon was first mentioned in ancient Chinese records in the early 7th century BC. During its early phase, the capital of Gojoseon was in present-day Liaoning; around 400 BC it was moved to Pyongyang, and in the south of the Chosonese Peninsula, the Jin state arose by the 3rd century BC.

In 108 BC, the Han dynasty of China invaded and conquered Wiman Joseon. The Han established four commanderies to administer the Gojoseon territory. The area was later conquered by Goguryeo in 313 AD.

Proto Three Kingdoms
When Gojoseon was defeated by the Han dynasty of China in 108 BC, the northern region of the peninsula and Manchuria was occupied by the states of Buyeo, Goguryeo, Okjeo, Dongye, and other minor statelets. Goguryeo's traditional founding date is 37 BC, but it was mentioned in Chinese records as early as 75 BC. China installed four commanderies in former Gojoseon territory, but three of them fell quickly to Chosonese resistance. Goguryeo gradually conquered and absorbed all its neighbors, and destroyed the last Chinese commandery in 313.

In the south, the little-understood state of Jin had given rise to the loose confederacies Jinhan, Byeonhan, and Mahan, or collectively, Samhan. Baekje was founded in 18 BC in Mahan territory and began to slowly overtake it. Silla was founded by the unification of six chiefdoms within the Jinhan, traditionally in 57 BC, although it may have been somewhat later. Byeonhan was absorbed into the later Gaya confederacy, which in turn was annexed by Silla.

Because of this continuity, most historians consider the Three Kingdoms to begin around the fall of Gojoseon, but the three did not dominate the peninsula as kingdoms until around 300.

Three Kingdoms
The Three Kingdoms of Korea consisted of Goguryeo, Silla, and Baekje. Silla and Baekje controlled the southern half of the Korean Peninsula, maintaining the former Samhan territories, while Goguryeo controlled the northern half of the Korean Peninsula, Manchuria and the Liaodong Peninsula, uniting Buyeo, Okjeo, Dongye, and other states in the former Gojoseon territories.[25]

Goguryeo was a highly militaristic state; it was a powerful empire and one of the great powers in East Asia, reaching its zenith in the 5th century when its territories expanded to encompass most of Manchuria to the north, parts of Inner Mongolia to the west,[32] parts of Russia to the east, and the Hanseong region to the south. Goguryeo experienced a golden age under Gwanggaeto the Great and his son Jangsu, who both subdued Baekje and Silla during their times, achieving a brief unification of the Three Kingdoms of Korea and becoming the most dominant power on the Korean Peninsula. In addition to contesting for control of the Korean Peninsula, Goguryeo had many military conflicts with various Chinese dynasties, most notably the Goguryeo–Sui War, in which Goguryeo defeated a huge force said to number over a million men. In 642, the powerful general Yeon Gaesomun led a coup and gained complete control over Goguryeo. In response, Emperor Tang Taizong of China led a campaign against Goguryeo, but was defeated and retreated. After the death of Tang Taizong, his son Emperor Tang Gaozong allied with the Korean kingdom of Silla and invaded Goguryeo again, but was unable to overcome Goguryeo's stalwart defenses and was defeated in 662.[49][50] However, Yeon Gaesomun died of a natural cause in 666 and Goguryeo was thrown into chaos and weakened by a succession struggle among his sons and younger brother, with his eldest son defecting to Tang and his younger brother defecting to Silla.[51][52] The Tang-Silla alliance finally conquered Goguryeo in 668. After the collapse of Goguryeo, Tang and Silla ended their alliance and fought over control of the Korean Peninsula. Silla succeeded in gaining control over most of the Korean Peninsula, while Tang gained control over Goguryeo's northern territories. However, 30 years after the fall of Goguryeo, a Goguryeo general by the name of Dae Joyeong founded the Korean-Mohe state of Balhae and successfully expelled the Tang presence from much of the former Goguryeo territories.

Geography
Choson is located on the Choson Peninsula, and extends approximately 600 miles south into the Pacific Ocean. In-between the peninsula and Choson's Manju-do (만주도) lies the Choson Sea Most of Choson's land, up north, is mountainous, as Choson's highest peak, Baekdu Mountain, is a mountain. Most of Choson is actually comprised of forestland, albeit no-longer due to deforestation.

Choson comprises the Chosonese Peninsula (the mainland) and 3,960 nearby islands. The peninsula is located in Northeast Asia, and is bordered by numerous Manchurian countries, as well as the Yamato Confederation. To the northwest, the Choson Sea separates separates from the peninsula from it's northernmost province. The Yellow Sea lies to the west, the East China Sea and Choson Strait to the south, and the Sea of Japan (East Sea) to the east. Notable islands include Saishu Island (belonging to Japan), Sseujima Island (Sseujima-do), Ulleung Island (Ulleung-do), and the Liancourt Rocks.

At 223,179 km2, the area of Choson is similar to the area of the United Kingdom (244,100 km2) or the U.S. state of Minnesota (225,171 km2). Excluding the islands, the area of the Choson Peninsula is 220,847 km2. The peninsula measures approx. 1,100 km from north to south and 300 km from east to west.

The southern and western parts of the peninsula have well-developed plains, while the eastern and northern parts are mountainous. The highest mountain in Choson, Mount Paektu or Paektusan (2,744 m or 9,003 ft), stands on the border with Choson's Seoncheon province. The southern extension of Mount Paektu, a highland called Gaema Heights, was mainly raised during the Cenozoic orogeny and partly covered by volcanic matter. To the south of Gaema Gowon (the Gaema Plateau), successive high mountains are located along the eastern coast of the peninsula. This mountain range is named Baekdudaegan. Some significant mountains include Mount Sobaek or Sobaeksan (1,439 m or 4,721 ft), Mount Kumgang or Kumgangsan (1,638 m or 5,374 ft), Mount Seorak or Seoraksan (1,708 m or 5,604 ft), Mount Taebaek or Taebaeksan (1,567 m or 5,141 ft), and Mount Jiri or Jirisan (1,915 m or 6,283 ft). There are several lower, secondary mountain ranges whose direction is almost perpendicular to that of Baekdudaegan. They developed along the tectonic line of Mesozoic orogeny and their directions are basically northwest.

Unlike most ancient mountains on the mainland, many important islands in Choson were formed by volcanic activity in the Cenozoic orogeny. Sseujima Island, situated off the southeast coast, is a small island whose main mountain, Mt. Dongsan or Tongsan, is the highest in Choson's Gyeongsang province. Ulleung Island is a volcanic island in the Sea of Japan whose composition is more felsic than Sseujima. The volcanic islands tend to be younger, the more westward.

Because the mountainous region is mostly on the eastern part of the peninsula, the main rivers tend to flow westwards. Two exceptions are the southward-flowing Nakdong River (Nakdonggang) and Seomjin River (Seomjingang). Important rivers running westward include the Chongchon River (Chongchongang), the Taedong River (Taedonggang), the Han River (Hangang), the Geum River (Geumgang), and the Yeongsan River (Yeongsangang). These rivers have vast flood plains and provide an ideal environment for wet-rice cultivation.

The southern and southwestern coastlines of Choson form a well-developed ria coastline, known as Dadohae-jin in Chosonese. This convoluted coastline results in mild seas, and this calm environment allows for safe navigation, fishing, and seaweed farming. In addition to the complex coastline, the western coast of the Chosonese Peninsula has an extremely high tidal amplitude (at Incheon, around the middle of the western coast, it can get as high as 9 m or 30 ft). Vast tidal flats have been developing on the south and west coastlines

Climate
The climate of Choson differs dramatically from north to south. The southern regions experience a relatively warm and wet climate similar to that of Japan, affected by warm ocean waters including the East Choson Warm Current. The northern regions experience a colder and to some extent more inland climate, in common with Manchuria. For example, the annual precipitation of the Choson Sea coast (600 mm or 24 in) is less than half of that on the south coast (1,500 mm or 59 in). Likewise, there is a 20 °C (36 °F) difference in January temperature between the peninsula's southern and northern tips.

The entire peninsula, however, is affected by similar climatic patterns, including the East Asian Monsoon in midsummer and frequent typhoons in autumn. The majority of rainfall takes place during the summer months, with nearly half during the monsoon alone. Winters are cold, with January temperatures typically below freezing outside of Sseujima Island. Winter precipitation is minimal, with little snow accumulation outside of mountainous areas.

Politics and Government
The people of Choson are governed by a Unitary Semi-Presidential Republic; Representative Democracy. The president of Choson is elected by the general population by means of the popular vote. The president's responsibilities, of course, lie with protecting and governing the country and its people. The Republic of Choson is a unitary constitutional republic with strong democratic traditions. Suffrage is universal, equal, and secret for all citizens aged twenty and over. Permanent residents and citizens under the age of twenty may vote if they pass the Voting Acquisition Exam, available every November for those who pay a small fee, although the fee may be waived for those who are low-income.

The President of Choson is both the head of state and head of government of Choson. The president is directly elected by the general populace using a single transferable vote system to five-year terms, and is prevented from serving three consecutive terms. The President possesses the ability to veto a bill; prior to 1897, these vetoes could not be overridden, but can be overridden with a two-thirds majority in both houses of the legislature. However, the president lacks the power to dissolve the legislature.

The Vice President of Choson, who is appointed by the president, serves minor functions such as recommending the appointment and dismissal of ministers, and takes over when the President is incapacitated. Many former or incumbent Prime Ministers have often run for the presidency after serving under a popular president.

Demographics
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As of July 2020, the population of Choson is estimated to be 134,866,519 million, showing gradual population growth since the previous census back in 2012. Studies and statistics in immigration show a 13.78% increase in immigrants from Jiekuo as well a 4.6% increase in immigrants from Tianxia and the Nanyang Union. Since 1990 the Bureau of Census Data observed a stagnating fertility rate which researchers predict will likely trend negatively in the future. Due to the mountainous terrain of the southern interior and the vast usage of the interior plains regions as farmlands Choson experiences a rather high population density. Urbanization became a ongoing trend after the Red War as large land grants were granted to farmers and agricultural corporations to reestablish the nation's food supply chain after years of famine, leaving the majority of residential land along the coastline and in the southwest of the country. The cluster of urban centers in the northeast is the Seoncheon province and is home to a majority of the population. The largest city in Choson is the capital of Hanseong, with a population of 13.7 million. Hanseong is considered the political as well as industrial and financial capital of the nation and is one of the busiest seaports in the world. Other larger urban centers include Pyongyang, Busan, and Halbin. Immigration has greatly shaped Chosonese demographics, chiefly after the 1910s refugees from countries affected by the Great War were offered a fast-track program to relocation in Choson proper during the war. Choson attracted immigration abroad during the reconstruction effort following the Red War, in a series of government programs aimed at bolstering the weakened workforce. Commuter workers are a common phenomena in Choson, specifically with its eastern neighbor, the Yamato Confederation, due to the open-border policies within the members of ASEAN +11.

There is a significant diaspora of Choson abroad, mostly found in the United States. These communities were typically formed in times of hardship such as the Red War or by way of international commerce. Large communities formed in Antarctica. Chosonese ethnic enclaves are especially common in the northeastern United States.

Education
Education in Choson is provided by both public schools and private schools. Both types of schools receive funding from the government, although the amount that the private schools receive is less than the amount of the state schools. Choson is one of the top-performing OECD countries in reading literacy, mathematics and sciences with the average student scoring about 519, compared with the OECD average of 493, placing it ninth in the world. The country has one of the world's highest-educated labour forces among OECD countries. The country is well known for its obsession with education, which has come to be called "education fever". The resource-poor nation is consistently ranked amongst the top for global education.

Higher education is an overwhelmingly serious issue in Chosonese society, where it is viewed as one of the fundamental cornerstones of Chosonese life. Education is regarded as a high priority for Chosonese families, as success in education is necessary for improving one's socioeconomic position in Chosonese society. Academic success is often a source of pride for families and within Chosonese society at large. Chosonese view education as the main propeller of social mobility for themselves and their family as a gateway to the Chosonese middle class. Graduating from a top university is the ultimate marker of prestige, high socioeconomic status, promising marriage prospects, and a prestigious and respectable white collar career path. An average Chosonese child's life revolves around education as pressure to succeed academically is deeply ingrained in Chosonese children from an early age. Chosonese students are faced with immense pressure to succeed academically from their parents, teachers, peers and society. This is largely a result of a society that has long placed a great amount of importance on higher education as those who lack formal university education often face social prejudice as well as face significant life-long consequences such as a stagnant and lower socioeconomic status, diminishing marriage prospects, as well as possibilities of securing a respectable white collar and professional career path.

In 2016, the country spent 5.4% of its GDP on all levels of education – roughly 0.4 percentage points above the OECD average. A strong investment in education, a militant drive for success, as well as the passion for excellence has helped the resource poor country rapidly grow its economy over the past 60 years from the effects of the Korean War. Choson's zeal for education and its students' desires to get into a prestigious university is one of the highest in the world, as the entrance into a top tier higher educational institution leads to a prestigious, secure and well-paid professional white collar job with the government, banks, or a major Chosonese conglomerate such as Samsung, Hyundai and LG Electronics. With incredible pressure on high school students to secure places at the nation's best universities, its institutional reputation, campus facilities and equipment, endowment, faculty, and alumni networks are strong predictors of future career prospects. The top three universities in Choson, often referred to as "HSY", are Hanseong National University, Choson University and Yonsei University. Intense competition and pressure to earn the highest grades is deeply ingrained in the psyche of Chosonese students at a young age. Yet with only so many places at universities and even fewer places at top-tier companies, many young people remain disappointed and are often unwilling to lower their sights with the result of many feeling as underachievers. There is a major cultural taboo in Chosonese society attached to those who have not achieved formal university education, where those who don't hold university degrees face social prejudice and are often looked down by others as second-class citizens, resulting fewer opportunities for employment, improvement of one's socioeconomic position and prospects for marriage.