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Republic of Korea
Republic of Korea 대한민국 大韓民國
Daehan Minguk
Timeline: The Era of Relative Peace

OTL equivalent: Korean Peninsula (North Korea and South Korea)
Flag Coat of Arms
Unification flag of Korea

Top: Flag of ROK since 1993, notice the map of the peninsula at the center.
Bottom: Korean Unification Flag used in conjunction with the national flag.

Coat of Arms
Location
Map of Korea
Anthem "Aegukga "애국가"

"Patriotic Song""

Capital
(and largest city)
Seoul
Other cities Busan, Inchon, Pyongyang, Kaesong, Daegu
Language Korean
Religion
  main
 
Buddhism
  others Christianity
Demonym Korean
Government Unitary presidential constitutional republic
Established 1948
Independence from United States Military Government
Annexation to Reunification of Korean Peninsula
  date 1991
Currency Korean Won

The Republic of Korea is a country located in East Asia. It occupies the entire Korean peninsula following the reunification of North Korea and South Korea after the World War III. The country borders the Manchurian Autonomous Region, which is part of the Chinese Federated Union.

History[]

Korea consisted of independent kingdoms throughout ancient times all up to the 20th century. In 1910, Korea was annexed by the Empire of Japan. This saw an economic boom in the peninsula as well as the heavy introduction of Japanese culture. During the beginning stages of World War II, countless Koreans were drafted into the Imperial Japanese Army. At the final stages of the war, Korea was divided between the Soviet Union and the United States at the 48th parallel. The northern half was administered by the Soviets with a communist government while the South became a democractic state. In 1948, the Republic of Korea (South) and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North) was formed. Border clashes and disputes were common as the two countries laid claim to the entire peninsula. By 1949, U.S. troops were in the process of withdrawing. The dispute of sovereignty led to North Korea invading the South on June 25, 1950, starting the Korean War. Both South Korean and American troops were caught off guard by the advance which resulted in being pushed to Pusan. In September 1950, U.S.-led United Nations forces landed in Incheon, relieving the defenders of Pusan. They then pushed upward and captured Pyongyang. As they approached the Chinese border, Mao Zedong's People's Volunteer Army surged passed the Yalu River, pushing back the UN Forces into the 38th parallel. From that point, the Korean War became a "tug-of-war" with neither side gaining territory. The Korean War unofficially ended on July 27, 1953 with the signing of an armistice which created the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).

The 1960s and the 1970s saw several tensions with the North and the South. From 1966-1969, a short conflict was fought over the DMZ, then dubbed as the "Second Korean War." It was at this time that South Korea experiences an economic boom with investments made from the United States and West Germany. South Korea's economy continued to grow throughout the 1980s. It was technically still at a state of war with the North as World War III broke out in Europe in 1989.

World War III[]

See also: Second Korean War

As China declared war on the United States and NATO, North Korea decided to use the opportunity to invade South Korea. The Chinese themselves supported the Korean People's Army during their invasion. The numbers of the PLA and KPA caught the U.S.-South Korean troops off-guard and they were pushed back from the 38th parallel.

Reunification[]

With the capture of Pyongyang, the allies then placed the city and the entire North Korea under military occupation to maintain order and reconstruction. The not-so-diehard generals of Kim Il Sung were spared as these were placed under military captivity so they would be representatives during the ceasefire/peace/unification treaty of the peninsula and the Third World War as well. Meanwhile, South Korean officials then appeared in the captured city, finally informing the North Korean populace that for the past 50 years, their life was a lie. This enraged the North Korean populace who targeted their anger towards the Kim Dynasty, something the CIA, the Korean CIA, and MI6 wanted to happen for a long time.

Kim Il Sung was publicly executed by hanging following the end of the war after being charged and found guilty for crimes against humanity. The Korean Peninsula was reunified two years later, under the South Korean government. The reunified peninsula was know simply known as the Republic of Korea. For the first time, former North Korean citizens were able to feel and taste the fruits of capitalism and democracy. Additionally, majority of the families from both Koreas that were separated since the 1950-53 Korean War were able to reunite. The reunification of the Korea enabled South Korea to access the minerals and natural resources of North Korea. As for the Korean People's Army, majority of the POWs went in to enlist in the newly reformed Republic of Korea Armed Forces, in which the weapons and equipment of the KPA would be integrated to the ROK military.

Government[]

Korea's government is a unitary presidential constitutional republic, formed after the US Military occupation of the southern Korean peninsula after World War II. The President is the head of state while the Prime Minister is the head of the government.

Military[]

The military is called the Republic of Korea Armed Forces. It is subdivided into the following branches:

  • Republic of Korea Army
  • Republic of Korea Navy
  • Republic of Korea Marine Corps
  • Republic of Korea Air Force

Because South Korea was reunified with North Korea, the country was able to possess majority of the equipment formerly used by the Korean People's Army - such as it's small arms, armored vehicles, tanks, outdated aircraft, midget submarines, and even parts that were allegedly used for the building of nuclear weapons. Majority of these equipments are in storage for reserves and exercises. After the war, some of the KPA prisoners volunteered to join the ROK armed forces while others wanted to continue their lives normally in the reunified Korea. Currently, the ROK armed forces are one of the largest military in the East Asian region.

Economy[]

ROK mainly relies on technology as its source of exports. Forms of this technology include mobile phones, tablets, and automobiles. Samsung is second to Apple in today's markets. It was heavily damaged during World War III and took some time to recover.

The South has managed to get access to the former North Korean vast resources of minerals and natural resources. This has been used in its mobile and telecommunications industry.

Foreign Relations[]

Korea maintains good relations with the United States of America, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, the Philippines, and majority of its East Asian neighbors. Prior to the war, South Korea was declared a major non-NATO ally of the United States. With the threat of North Korea gone, U.S. Forces Korea have significantly reduced but the alliance between Korea and the U.S. remain strong as ever.

Relations with the Chinese Federated Union has become better since it is now democratic. While minimal anti-Chinese sentiment remains in Korea, the two states are starting to build up good diplomatic relations. China has sent countless reparations to Korea; on the other hand, Korea has returned some of the remains of Chinese soldiers from the Korean War and Third World War. The relations with nearby Japan has also improved since Japan formally apologized for its war past of the 20th century.

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