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Cultural Analysis of North Korea

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Cultural Analysis of North Korea
Cultural Analysis of North Korea

Prepared by Group 4:

Matthew Cordova
Ruting Yuan
Guoying Chen
Chris Rosen

Prepared for:

Dr. Gerry Huybregts
BUS 310
October 30, 2008

Table of Contents

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY………………………………………………………….4

INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………………...6

NORTH KOREA HISTORY………………………………………………………...7

GEOGRAPHICAL SETTING………………………………………………………11

Figure 1 Geographic Map…………………………………………………..11

ECONOMIC BACKGROUND……………………………………………………..14

Figure 2 United States GDP per Capita…………………………………….16

Figure 3 North Korea GDP per Capita……………………………………...17

POLITICAL AND LEGAL SYSTEMS…………………………………...………...21

EDUCATION AND LANGUAGE………………………………………………….26

Education…………………………………………………………………….26

Figure 4 Graph of Education structure……………………………………...27

Figure 5 Kim Il Sung University………………………………………...….29

Figure 6 Students at the Grand People’s Study House...……….……...……29

Language……………………………………………………………...……...31

FAMILY AND SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS…..………………………………….35

Family………………………………………………………………………..35

Social Organizations…………………………………………………………37

RELIGION…………………………………………………………………………...40

AESTHETICS……………………………………………………………………......44

Figure 7………………………………………………………………………45

Figure 8………………………………………………………………………45
BUSINESS CUSTOMS AND PRACTICES…………………………………..……46

LIVING CONDITIONS IN NORTH KOREA……………………………………...48

Figure 9……………………………………………………………………...49

Figure 10…………………………………………………………………….49

Figure 11…………………………………………………………………….52

CONCLUSION………………………………………………………………………55

REFERENCES……………………………………………………………………….56

Executive Summary

North Korea is a country shrouded in mystery and characterized by poverty, extreme governmental control, and isolation. The government controls almost every aspect of the citizen’s lives from what kind of clothing they wear, to what religion can be practiced legally. The division between the lower class and the high class grows



References: About.com (2008). Published by New York Times Company. North Korea Geography. Retrieved September 2008 at: http://geography.about.com/library/cia/blcnorthkorea.htm Branford, B Buckley, Sarah (September 23, 2005). Published by BBC News. North Korea’s Problem with Food. Retrieved October 30 2008 from: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4072280.stm Bureau, U Bureau, U. C. (2008, June 18). International Data Base (IDB) . Retrieved from U.S. Census Bureau web site: http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/idb/country/knportal.html Choe, S CIA. (2008, October 2). World fact book. Retrieved from CIA.gov: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/kn.html#Econ Currency.com, G Examiner.com. (2008, September 27). North Korea to conduct first census in 15 years. Retrieved from Examiner.com: http://www.examiner.com/a-1609642~North_Korea_to_conduct_first_census_in_15_years.html Federal Research Division Hibbits, J. Bernard. (2003). Jurist: North Korean law, Legal Research, Human Rights. Retreived at: http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/World/northkorea.htm Ki-tae, K Kim, J. I. (1998). On the Juche Idea. Retrieved 2008, from The Peoples Korea: http://www1.korea-np.co.jp/pk/062nd_issue/98092410.htm#4.%20THE%20GUIDING%20PRINCIPLES%20OF%20THE%20JUCHE%20IDEA Koreascope.com (2007) Nation Master.com. (2007). Economy Statistics GDP per Capita by country. Retrieved September 2008 at: http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/eco_gdp_percap-economy-gdp-per-capita&date=1991 Pyongyang Art Studio Richardson. (2006). The North Korean Cult and Information. Retrieved 2008, from DPRK Studies: http://www.dprkstudies.org/2006/03/06/the-north-korean-cult-and-information/ Savada, A Times, N. Y. (2008, October 7). North Korea News. Retrieved October 2008, from New York Times web site: http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/northkorea/index.html TJC Global U.S. Department of State. (August 2008). Background Note: North Korea. Retrieved September 2008 at: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2792.htm#people U.S U.S. State Department. (2003). Religious Freedom Report (2003). Retrieved 2008, from About.com: http://atheism.about.com/library/irf/irf03/blirf_koreadem.htm Washington, D

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