South Korea

South Korea

 

South Korea is located south of the military demarcation line at the 38th parallel. Territory - 99.6 thousand sq. km. Population - 37.3 million (1979); Koreans, there are also tens of thousands of people of other nationalities, mostly Chinese. The official language is Korean. The dominant religions are Buddhism, Confucianism and Christianity. The largest city is Seoul (over 8 million inhabitants, 1980). Since the occupation of South Korea in 1945, the United States has assigned it the role of an important military-strategic bridgehead for the fight against the national liberation movement of the peoples of Asia. Relying on local reaction, the United States was able to forcibly suppress the process of the people's democratic revolution in the southern part of the country and impose on the people of South Korea development along the capitalist path. 1.X 1953, the United States signed with South Korea the so-called. The "joint defense treaty" (entered into force in 1954), which "legalized" the indefinite occupation of South Korea by American troops. Today, the US 8th Army is stationed on South Korean soil, equipped with tactical nuclear weapons. The American administration is taking measures to increase military assistance to Seoul and enhance the military-political role of Japan in the implementation of Washington's strategic plans in the Far East. With the support of American imperialism, an anti-popular dictatorial regime has been preserved in South Korea for more than three decades. At first he was personified by Rhee Seung Man, who was overthrown in a popular uprising (1961), then Park Chung Ki, who was killed in October 1979 amid an increase in anti-government protests. Chong Doo Hwan, the reactionary military, who "glorified" himself with the bloody massacre of the insurgent population of Gwangju in May 1980. In domestic and foreign policy, the South Korean regime is guided by the doctrine of "building up forces to unite the country by defeating communism." Speaking from time to time with propaganda statements about the desire to conduct a dialogue with the DPRK, the authorities, at the same time, referring to the mythical "threat from the North", artificially maintain an atmosphere of military psychosis in South Korea, conduct anti-communist propaganda, bring down repressions on patriots who advocate democratization of the public. -political life and the establishment of broad ties between the South and the North. In 1965-73. Seoul was the main partner of the United States in its criminal war in Vietnam. In May 1965, South Korea concluded with Japan the so-called. The "treaty on the normalization of interstate relations," according to which Tokyo recognized the Seoul regime as "the only legitimate government on the Korean Peninsula," and Seoul opened the door for the expansion of Japanese monopolies. Political parties: pro-government - Democratic Republican Party (DRP) - founded in 1963; opposition - the New Democratic Party (NDP) - created in 1967 and the Democratic Unification Party (DPO) - created in 1973. There is a "yellow" trade union - the Federation of Korean Trade Unions. Revolutionary patriots from the Revolutionary Unification Party (established on August 25, 1969) are working deep underground. The immediate goal of the party, as noted in its documents, is the accomplishment of the people's democratic revolution and the achievement of a peaceful democratic unification of the country. The key positions in the economy are occupied by the monopolies of the United States and Japan. The process of penetration by the monopolies of Britain, the FRG, France and other capitalist countries is under way. With the inflow of foreign capital in the 60-70s. in South Korea, capacities have been increased or created in the textile, chemical, oil refining, electric power, steel, cement, car assembly, shipbuilding, electrical and some other industries. Agriculture employs about a third of the working-age population. Main agricultural crops: rice (over 50% of arable land), barley, wheat, potatoes, soybeans. Small-scale land tenure prevails. The monetary unit is won. 580 won = $ 1 (1980). Following the "export" model of development, the Seoul authorities are focusing on all-round stimulation of exports, including by limiting the personal consumption of workers.