Bizarre Borders - The Koreas

Samanyu Ram

April 7, 2023

The most heavily militarized border in the world lies between two similar yet completely different countries, North and South Korea. The Korean peninsula is no stranger to conflict, as, since the beginning of empires, Korea has had numerous disagreements and wars with its neighbors. Now, the Korean Empire boasts two separate countries with appalling differences.

During the 1800s, the Joseon Dynasty that occupied the Korean Peninsula adopted an isolationist policy and completely closed itself from the outside world. Then, the Japanese launched an invasion, and the Joseon Dynasty suffered from an era of Japanese imperial rule. After the Sino-Japanese War, China granted independence to the Joseon Dynasty and became known as the Korean Empire. But in 1905, Korea became a protectorate of Japan and was later annexed in 1910. When Japan surrendered at the end of World War II, Korea was divided by the Allies along the 38th Parallel. The communist-run Soviet Union controlled the Northern part, and the United States took control of the Southern portion. This moment is known as the birth of the ridiculously definitive way of life between North Korea and South Korea. After the Cold War, two official countries were established, The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) and the Republic of Korea (South Korea). Then, after the Korean war between the two, the DMZ, or Demilitarized Zone, was established. To this day, the DMZ is the most dangerous and heavily guarded border in the world.

The Daily life of a North Korean citizen is like hell compared to one of a South Korean citizen. The Human Development Index rates South Korea with a score of 0.925, which is better than countries like the US, France, and Spain. Meanwhile, North Korea consistently ranks among the worst of the worst. The South Korean GDP is 1.8 trillion dollars, but the North Korean GDP is 18 billion USD. North Korea's Gross Domestic product is 0.1% of South Korea's GDP. North Korea has a dictatorial government with the infamous Kim Jong Un reigning over the Hermit Kingdom. South Korea is a constitutional republic with a prime minister position. The quality of life is so poor in North Korea, experts believe that 60% of all people live in poverty. Malnourishment plagues the streets of its capital city, Pyongyang. Only the elite are able to own cars, and electricity is scarce. North Korean citizens are not allowed to leave their country no matter what. The site is frightening and through loads of propaganda, Kim Jong Un is never to be blamed for the horrid conditions of North Korea. Two neighboring countries, so similar in culture, tradition, and language, yet so different in about everything else.