Neo-Korea

The State of Neo-Korea Atarashī Jōtai (Hiakemirian)
Flag
Motto: N/A
Anthem: N/A
Location of Neo-Korea
Capital and largest city	Omiskan
Official languages	Hiakemirian
Recognised regional languages	Junggoan, Psuedo-Kaskaidan/"Pirate's Language", Chamorran
Ethnic groups (2032)	45% Korean, 20% Junggoan, 15% Korean-Junggoan, 5% Chamorran-Korean, 3.5% Chamorran, 2.5% Korean-Kaskaidan, 19% "Other"
Religion	N/A (officially), Various (de facto)
Demonym(s)	"Neo-Korean"
Government	One-Party State
• Paramount Leader	Beom Dae
• Deputy Paramount Leader	Imai Amaya
Legislature	Central Governing Council
Formation
• Korean Revolution	1890
• End of the Korean Civil War	1959
• Acension to Leadership of Beom Dae	1995
Population
• 3032 estimate	381 million
• 2032 census	381,619,370
GDP (nominal)	2032 estimate
• Total	$13,100,112,107,105
• Per capita	34,120
Gini (2032)	62.4 very high
HDI (2032)	0.749 high
Currency	N/A
Time zone	Worldtime
Date format	dd/mm/yyyy
Driving side	left
Calling code	+92
Internet TLD	.nks

Neo-Korea, officially the State of Neo-Korea (Hiakemirian Constructed Language: Atarashī Jōtai, or New State) is a country located in the East Hiakemirian Region of Esvanovia, bordering the Federation of Atkemri to its north, the Federal Republic of Veilkoslavia to its northwest, the Republic of Matsume a short distance to its south, and the Janpian Union of Revolutionary States to the Northeast.

Neo-Korea has been inhabited continiously for a period approximating 700,000 years, with the first recorded archaeological samples of human inhabitance of the region dating to approximately 8000 BCE. The earliest inhabitants being psuedo-nomads from Jungg'o, with the first verifiable unified political entities emerging approximately around 2000-1500 BCE. A major influencer on the development of Korea would be the Colonization of East Hiakemiria, which would involve its own subjugation by the Marquesan Shogunate in 1690. Political concerns and the activities of former members of previously existent political entities eventually resulting in a return to independence during the 1890 Korean Revolution, which would result in the establishment of the State of Kaesong after the overthrow of the Korean Princely States. This period would result in the young nation achieving prestige after the 1920 Chamorran Wars, which saw it seize territory directly from Marquesan. The nation's fortunes would turn in the wake of this conflict, with the Great War (Esvanovia) seeing it thrown into civil conflict after the failure of the Korean Democratic State to achieve victory over Marquesan, the resulting civil war eventually resulting in the establishment of the current Neo-Korean State. Neo-Korea, as it currently stands, is a limited subregional power lacking the capability to project power outside the section of Hiakemiria to which it is directly attached, with the perceived capability to be a regional power in the event of increased foreign support or a large-scale modernization program in relation to the navy.

Neo-Korea is a Unitary One-Party Corporatist Dictatorship organized around both the office of the Paramount Leader and the Central Governing Council, with the latter acting in an primarily advisory role excluding in the event of the incapacitation of the current Paramount Leader. It primarily avoids the label of totalitarianism due to the lack of effort placed into extending the ideology of Pan-Hiakemirism into either public or (to an even greater extent) private life, with many commentators (most especially the Pan-Hiakemirian Congress in Exile) stating that the nation primarily uses Pan-Hiakemirism as window dressing for the continued rule of the party elite. Neo-Korea is considered to be a developed country, with the 1995 Economic Reforms having allowed for the entrenchment of the Iminchebol as a major employer and fiscal presence in the nation, with limited expansion into neighboring countries as well. HDI has rapidly increased since the Civil War, alongside other associated statistics such as quality of healthcare and average life expectancy, and Neo-Korea has entered interaction with geopolitical groupings such as ICON (the International Coalition of Nations, now defunct), or the Meridonian-Lead PRMP (Pan-Regional Multilateral Partnership).

Etymology

Neo-Korea as a term is a development of the translation of the internal name of the nation, the Atarashī Jōtai, or New State. Neo-Korea as a term was coined to provide a specific notation of the location of the nation, as utilization of the term New State was found by international commentators to be difficult and occasionally resulting in difficulties in general conversation or irritation as a result of vagueness when combined with discussion of other matters. The reason the term "Neo-Kaesong" was not utilized is generally not known- mainly presumed to be due to a singular commentator using the term "Neo-Korea" before the former could be coined and placed into the public consciousness.

The territory of Neo-Korea was previously (see: during the period before and early into Marquesan colonization) as the Nán Yánshēn- or "Southern Extension" owing to its location near the south of East Hiakemiria, and also alluding to the utilization of the region as a port for the major Jungg'oan civilizations (or, for Marquesan post-1690) of that period.

History

Main Article: History of Neo-Korea

Chamorran War

Main Article: Chamorran Wars

Great War/Korean Democratic State Period

Main Articles: Great War (Esvanovia), Korean Democratic State

Korean Civil War

Main Article: Korean Civil War

Hikaru Primership

Main Article: Hikaru Sakuma

Beom Dae Regime/Modern Period

Main Articles: Jungg'o Invasion, 1995 Economic Reforms, 2034 Matsume Invasion

Geography

Main Article: Geography of Neo-Korea

Neo-Korea can generally be divided into two major climate regions, not counting outlying territories such as The Chamorro Islands or Far Island, the southern/central regions, which are primarily known for hot summers and dry winters, and the north/Jungg'o, which is primarily known for humid but generally pleasant summers and not having an exact replication of winter excluding the northmost parts. This trait making the region a prime location for agriculture, a trait the south lacks in exchange for a high presence of iron and other mineral reserves. There are many mountains in the south of the country- although the largest within Neo-Korea rests firmly within the north. Little volcanic activity or natural disaster in general is experienced by Neo-Korea, excluding non-mainland territories such as the Chamorran Islands.

Biodiversity of Neo-Korea

Main Article: Wildlife of Neo-Korea

Neo-Korea is generally considered to be fairly biodiverse, although human inhabitation and rapid industrialization has damaged the environment in the nation somewhat, effort is being made to maintain large locations for animals such as the Keungang Leopard, or Korean Raven. A colossal amount of plantlife exists within Jungg'o, although much of it has also faced encroachment by industrial and agricultural needs. Approximately 200 endemic animals and 900 species of plantlife are confirmed to exist in the combined territory of Neo-Korea and Jungg'o. Neo-Korea has recieved a large amount of critique for the First Supernatural Elimination Campaign in the wake of the Civil War, which lead to the extinction of the Drekamythian Dragon within Hiakemiria and the forced exile of a majority of the Kumiho population previously present, many being forced to move to Kaskaida.

Environmental Issues

Neo-Korea is a notable outlier in many of the environmental developments in Esvanovia, with the exception of large-scale nuclear power investment, it has generally remained unconcerned-to-even-overtly-hostile to many proposed measures to cut the production of pollution, considering them as restrictions designed to prevent continued industrialization and development. With this in mind, it has generally remained aloof to international attempts to institute emissions regulation, although this is a stance that has been changing in recent years, with the Beomist government attempting to endear itself to Meridon by instituting (still limited) regulations to certain key industries. Neo-Korea's power grid remains primarily oil-focused, with approximately 20% of the power grid being totally nuclear based in comparison to a 50% oil rate and a 30% combined coal and natural gas rate. Its oil is primarily sourced from abroad- making Neo-Korea's gradual push away from such also a matter of reducing resource dependency.

The environmental movement in Neo-Korea is small and generally non-relevant, lacking the support from a faction of the party necessary to engage in mass action and hampered by environmental issues being low on the general list of concerns most Neo-Koreans possess. Neo-Korea's environmental actions (or lack thereof) have recieved critique from abroad, especially from Exiled Korean groupings, who have utilized the lack of action to critique the state to a strong extent in relation to their (until the recent period) refusal to take large-scale action.

Politics

Main Article: Politics of Neo-Korea

Government

Main Article: Government of Neo-Korea

Neo-Korea, as previously mentioned, is a One-Party Dictatorship, which is organized primarily in regards to general administration around the Central Governing Council, whose 300 members are comprised primarily (215 out of 300) of pseudo-elected officials (pseudo-elected is utilized as a term due to all potential candidates being necessitated to be a member of the National Development Party), with a portion of the remaining members (35 out of the remaining 85 seats) being appointed directly by a selection of those Ministries which have proven the most successful in the recent period, with this listing usually comprising the Ministry of National Defense, the Central Intelligence Services, and the Ministry of Economic Affairs. The final remainder of seats (50 out of 300) are usually empty, only being filled in the event of a crisis, wherein the most notable individuals in a given field will be gathered to provide advice on the ongoing scenario. The last situation which resulted in these seats last being filled was the assassination attempt on Hikaru Sakuma, which placed him into a coma. While the CGC handles general day-to-day policy (in an unofficial format, as while the Paramount Leader is not beholden to implement concepts which have gained a position of majority support, they are generally encouraged to do such), the Paramount Leader is in a position of complete power over the implementation of said policy, the foreign affairs of the state, and military affairs of the state, although this power is usually delegated to the Field Colonel General of the Northern State Army.

There is no official judiciary branch, with the primary instrument of trial being Troikas of minor officials (usually forced to do such by their superiors so said superiors don't have to) in the region wherein the crime was committed- who overlook known and gathered facts before giving a judgement of guilty or otherwise and recommending a punishment (which can be overruled by a higher official) to be enacted. Law Enforcement is primarily enacted through two groupings, the Communal Militias, often consisting of former members of the White Guard Youth Movement- or the Field Policing Unit under the Ministry of Interior Affairs, subordinate to the Central Intelligence Services, who provide the militias with the resources and manpower necessary in the event of more severe crime- such as terrorism, or organized strikes on key officials (a common issue in Jungg'o throughout 2000-2010).

Foreign Relations

Main Article: Foreign Relations of Neo-Korea

Neo-Korean foreign relations are overseen by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Neo-Korea maintains a strong relationship with several other nations, including the Federal Republic of Meridon (although these have been damaged somewhat by the 2034 Matsume Invasion), the Confederated States of Anagonia, and others, with Neo-Korea being a member of several international groupings. Neo-Korea possesses poor relations with several nations, including both Aureumterra and the Republic of Marquesan, although there have been attempts at reconcilliation with the latter as a part of Beom Dae's recent diplomatic initiatives.

Neo-Korea does not enjoy warm relations with many of its immediate neighbors, the invasion of Jungg'o severely damaging previously established relationships, most especially with the Federation of Atkemri. The primary relationship it has managed to maintain with a fellow continental nation is with Svetvostok, with whom it created the Gokei-Sei, as a result of the binational Joint Helicopter Program

Military

Main Articles: Neo-Korean Ground Forces, Neo-Korean Navy, Neo-Korean Aerial Defense Force, CIS Military Directorate

The Neo-Korean Military is comprised of approximately 1,105,000 active personnel, this number comprising all three main branches and those forces controlled directly by the CIS. Neo-Korea maintains a presence in many regions, including Far Island, the Chamorros, and the mainland itself, although questions have been raised about the actual capability of Neo-Korea to transport these forces with the state of the Navy. While the Navy continues to use vessels and technologies from the 60's as a result of the severe budget cuts they have suffered, the Ground Forces and Aerial Defense Forces are modern to a notable extent, with a strong domestic armaments industry and development industry allowing for an almost completely domestically-armed military, including domestic aircraft production.

The Neo-Korean Military as a whole is not capable of long-term extra-regional or extra-subregional operations, being restricted to its immediate surroundings on the continent in regards to which locations it can quickly deploy to without the support of a foreign power. This limitation is only slightly loosened in regards to the CIS Military Directorate, more specifically the Ground Intelligence Branch, which has successfully engaged in several actions abroad and the Cyberwarfare Branch, which has done similar.

Economy

Main Article: Economy of Neo-Korea

Neo-Korea is considered to be fairly wealthy, operating a Mixed Economy based on three-year economic plans incorporating activity by the Iminchebol and state alike, with a fairly diverse spread of manufacturing and production, with lesser capabilities in regards to service industries. Neo-Korea continues to show strong signs of growth, as the Iminchebol extend into other markets and show record profits in relation to recent armament developments. Neo-Korea has a labor force of 304,800,000, with an unemployment rate of approximately 8%, mainly in Jungg'o, the only region in Neo-Korea not to see many of the benefits of mass industrialization.

Neo-Korea's primary export partners are Anagonia and its immediate neighbors, consisting (in the case of Anagonia) primarily of raw materials, and (in the case of its neighbors) mainly consisting of advanced electronics- with the Iminchebol establishing a major economic niche in these nations as a primary producer of key industrial and developmental parts, bolstered by both direct support from the state in regards to expansion into these countries.

Corporate Culture is generally subordinate to the continued rush towards industrialization, with state-backed unions generally being weak and corporations being widely allowed to do whatever is percieved as necessary to increase production, and the quality of such. As such, corporations have been forced to reach towards a balance between the amount of work, and how difficult such is, in relation to the overall wellbeing of the worker, as anything that results in slowdowns will be far more harshly punished than can be stomached.

Industry

Neo-Korea's primary products are armaments, aircraft, electronics, industrial machinery, telecommunications, industrial chemicals, steel, and others, with the vast majority (70%) of Neo-Korean GDP being industry. With this diversity in products, there is a large amount of competition between individual Iminchebol, which has spurred development a fair degree. Notable Iminchebol include Akira Heavy Industries, SuKo, and Dongrang Ltd- the three listed being examples of Steel, Automotive Development and Hydraulics, and Armaments Production, respectively.

Tourism

The primary vessel for Tourism into Neo-Korea is Far Island, whose GDP is majority (65%) comprised of the proceeds made by tourism, being the only spot wherein such is both legal and a notable economic factor, thanks to the good climate and cultural relevance of the island. Tourism represents about 5-6% of the GDP of Neo-Korea as a whole.

Agriculture

Representing about 15% of the remaining GDP, Agriculture is primarily carried out within Jungg'o, which produces massive quantities of food, some of which is exported, although the vast majority goes to feed the general populace. Traditional methods of agriculture are long exterminated, with factory farming being encouraged directly by the state in the form of sections of land including traditional farming spaces being included in the territory given to factory farms to set up operations. Neo-Korea also engages in large amounts of aquaculture,- being one of the largest producers of seaweed in the world, and one of the largest harvesters of shellfish as well- something of a holdover from a long history of aquaculture throughout Neo-Korea's history.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Most transit in Neo-Korea is carried out by train, with lacking road infrastructure and a highly developed series of connections between almost every major settlement making road transit almost exclusively used by those who live in Jungg'o or other generally rural regions, usually utilizing vehicles with good off-road capability designed by SuKo to get around. Airports are located in every major settlement, almost 400 in approximate total, with 200 being capable of accepting international transport, and Neo-Korea uses them in large amounts for transport to and from the non-mainland holdings they possess. Neo-Korea operates several High Speed Railways- with approximately 38,800km of track being laid for them, and an overall amount of track laid approaching 160,000km. A small section of this rail infrastructure (roughly 8000km) is dedicated to continuing Agit-Train activities- which act as a communal forum for entertainment for the time period they are present.

Culturally, the railways of Neo-Korea are a point of great pride, being seen as a sign of industrialization and continued development in comparison to the previous lack of such within the country.

Education

Education in Neo-Korea generally lasts for a period of 16 years, with school beginning at the age of 4, not counting any activities carried out by the Creche/Parents. Education is generally carried out in forms believed to assist in the retention of knowledge, and the maintenance of interest in the topic. This mainly comprises both gamified learning, including the establishment of "Progress mechanics" primarily including points, leaderboards, and an increased focus on fostering collaboration in reaching the top of these leaderboards, and systems designed to increase the capability to search for solutions independently, including encouragement of independent or joint study via increased point rewards, and the retraction of points for over-reliance on outside support for certain projects throughout the year.

Organization of schools very specifically avoids the utilization of a uniform, excluding the allowance of (and occasional support in regards to the joining of) the White Guard and their uniforms, as the school itself having a uniform is seen to discredit the pursuit of independent thought within the institution of education as a whole. This independent thought is seen as a high priority in Neo-Korea, as it is thought to allow for the continued innovation which has been prized by the state in both economic and political development.

College is not only encouraged, but mandatory. A two-year period near the end of the period of military conscription is dedicated to the beginning of college studies, and their continuation after the end of limited service in the military within a civilian context. Neo-Korea has one of the largest college-going populations within the region as a result, which has assisted greatly in the pursuit of industrialization.

Healthcare

The state provides healthcare to all citizens for free, to the point that medical officials are all officially classed as being employees of the state, with the private-state mixture often seen in other such industries totally absent. There is a general focus on the mass establishment of smaller facilities with the capability to move individuals requiring specialized care to larger regional hospitals, with each part of the nation being divided into regions where medical officials are transferred depending on demand when vacancies are opened. Healthcare officials of all sorts are Class-A Workers, meaning that they receive the best accommodations possible upon retirement- and have access to the best civilian luxuries available within reason during their period of direct labor.

The leading cause of death in Neo-Korea remains heart disease, as a result of large amounts of smoking among the general populace.

Culture

Language

The Hiakemirian Constructed Language, as notable by the name, is a constructed language made by the State of Kaesong. Its speakers have notably surpassed the amount of individuals who know Korean, with it percieved that Korean as a language may cease to be in common usage by the year 2048, excluding in the case of names. TBA

Religion

Neo-Korea officially maintains a policy of State Atheism, following in the footsteps of all previous post-colonization independent regimes, which similarly maintained a connection between foreign religion (and, in the case of the Korean Democratic State, domestic religion) and colonial exploitation, thus necessitating the forced expulsion of such foreign religious influence, although limited allowance has been made for foreign practices on Far Island, and domestic practices have seen a small state-backed revival in recent decades, although the majority of the population remains generally irreligious in public, and it remains highly abnormal for political figures to express any form of religious sentiment in public discussions.

Many Exile Korean communities maintain similar beliefs, excluding the (formerly, according to the laws of Neo-Korea) Korean Enme or the followers of the Sacerdotium. Jungg'o was one of the sections of the nation most effected by these changes, with the destruction of major historical landmarks and severe damage to historical records relating to religion as a part of the Invasion of Jungg'o.

Art and Architecture

Main Article: Matsumoto Kyou

Philosophy, Literature

Main Article: Semakunaru Horror

In regards to literature, one of the primary developments originating from Korea as a whole is Semakunaru ("Becoming Narrow") Horror, focusing upon themes of isolation, dehumanization (as a result of both conflict and industrialization), the petty cruelty that many institutions were capable and willing to engage in, and of harmony between man and nature- both in the positive sense, and as exhibited through concepts like parasitism and the cycle of violence. The seminal work of this style is often agreed to be Matsumoto's "Aka Renai Heya", or the "Never-Opened Room"- which has been adapted in many fashions through the history of media within the state. The style remains the primary form of horror within Neo-Korea, and it has had some influence abroad, although said influence is highly limited due to a lack of transmission of ideals between major writers in different nations.

Cuisine

The quintessential foodstuff of Neo-Korea is Barley, more specifically Barley noodles combined with a variety of spices and usually including the addition of fish and cabbage of some sort. TBA.

Consumption

The shared consumption of meals is perceived as a key part of maintaining communal relations and allowing for shared interaction and transmission of knowledge, leading to most communities having some form of area where shared consumption can be carried out- often in the form of dining halls, canteens, or pseudo-diners. While eating on one’s lonesome is not penalized, it is generally socially frowned upon to do such- being seen as an insult to the cook, that you are unable to face them while eating the meal. Individuals do not have to stay for the entirety of a meal in an average, instead (especially at food consumption locations controlled by party members) being encouraged to leave after finishing their meal so other individuals can rotate into the area they were previously sitting within.

Entertainment

Main Article: Mass Media in Neo-Korea, Lotus Media Plan

Neo-Korea's state-backed entertainment industry has its roots in the Agittrain programs of the Korean Civil War, which would carry media (primarily films) to isolated areas as a secondary part of their attempt to gather fervor in those they contacted for the cause. While their effectiveness was notable, and they were retained in the wake of the conflict, they would begin to be placed into an auxiliary role, as (in concordance with re-industrialization and electrification) throughout the 70's and 80's as communal movie structures were established. The movies of this period would primarily be dramatizations of events during the Great War, often infused with pro-war and anti-Marquesan themes, with these films commonly being considered of middling quality. The film industry would be rocked by one Kure Yuichi and his Lotus Media Plan. Yuichi had been a film-maker of some renown in more moderate anti-state circles, owing to his work on documenting the destruction of nature which occured as a result of the ongoing industrialization of this period. This anti-state activity would ironically be what made the state believe he had the artistic "genuineness" to successfully create works which would resonate with audiences abroad (with the caveat of state oversight of key aspects of the films, of course). Yuichi would accept this deal, both desiring a chance to send his work outwards and to have the prestige and state-backing to properly settle down.

The Lotus Media Plan's primary goal was to escape the negative reputation the Great-War era films of this period had gathered, with his own distaste of the matter leading him to call for a complete reorientation of what topics were to be allowed and focused upon, primarily encouraging works which engaged in a meaningful fashion (or, as close as one could get with the presence of state oversight) with the actual issues experienced among the general populace, alongside more comedic and pre-Great War focused historical films. This would primarily be accomplished by the ascension of the First Generation of Neo-Korean Filmmakers, primarily formed of those he had associated with, who he provided funding and access to stages for filming.

The Lotus Media Plan would also make provisions for animated media, although this was to be a secondary priority, with animation primarily being the realm of animated series instead of filmwork, although these series would be allowed to target a primarily adult audience instead of catering to youth.