Zhenia

Greater Eastern Union of Zhenia 大東陳國聯邦 대동진국연방
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "자유, 민권, 민생." Liberty, Democracy and the Welfare of the People.
Anthem: Spirit of Zhenia
Location of Zhenia in the world in gold.
A map of Zhenia in Northeast Tarsis.
Capital and largest city	Donggyeong
Official languages	Zhenian
Other languages	Yemegese Balakhese Haedongian
Ethnic groups (2019)	40.3% Jin Zhenian 32.8% Han Zhenian 14.7% Yemeg Zhenian 5.1% Balakhaat Zhenian 4.4% Haedong Zhenian 2.7% Other Minorities
Demonym(s)	Zhenian
Government	Federal Semi-Presidential Republic (de facto) Unitary Semi-Presidential Republic (de jure)
• Chancellor	Lee Saemin
• Premier	Kim Junghun
Legislature	Parliament of the Greater Eastern Union
• Upper house	Senate
• Lower house	Federal Assembly
Establishment
• as the Shindan dynasty	July 3, 1298
• as the Empire of Greater Wu	January 5, 1567
• as the Empire of Zhenia	August 3, 1868
• as Greater Eastern Union	June 4, 1909
• as current form	December 1, 1979
Area
•	6,391,077.1 km2 (2,467,608.7 sq mi)
• Water (%)	3.39%
Population
• 2019 estimate	756.3 million
• 2019 census	756,236,689
GDP (PPP)	2019 estimate
• Total	$21.277 trillion
• Per capita	$28,135.7
GDP (nominal)	2019 estimate
• Total	$20.526 trillion
• Per capita	$27,140.2
Gini (2019)	35.5 medium
HDI (2017)	0.932 very high
Currency	Zhenian Won (ZKW)
Time zone	UTC+7, +8, +9 (Zhenia Western Standard Time (ZWST), Zhenia Central Standard Time (ZCST), Zhenia Eastern Standard Time (ZEST))
Date format	mm-dd-yyyy
Driving side	right
Calling code	+11
Internet TLD	.zh/.zhen/.geu

Zhenia (Classic Zhenian: 陳國, Modern Zhenian: 진국), formally known as the Greater Eastern Union of Zhenia (Classic Zhenian: 大東真國聯邦, Modern Zhenian: 대동진국연방), is a federal semi-presidential republic consisting of 28 provinces, 5 metropolitan municipalities (Jinhae, Changan, Shinhang, Bakhan and Ariul) and one special city. Situated in East Tarsis and spanning across 6,391,077.1 km² over both mainland Zhenia and the Danguk Peninsula, it is the second-largest in the world by territorial size after Florencia. It is bordered by numerous entities in the region and faces the North Zhenian Sea and East Zhenian Sea to its northeast and east, as well as the Gulf of Danguk.

Civilization emerged in both mainland Zhenia and the Danguk Peninsula around 2,000 BCE. The Ming Dynasty came to existence in central Zhenia around 1800 BCE, while the State of Danguk was founded around 2000 BCE. Since then, much of Zhenian history consisted of hereditary monarchies, or dynasties, and their expansion, fracture and replacement by other entities. In 322 BCE, the Zhen dynasty, led by Shen Lien, became the first dynasty to unify both the Danguk Peninsula and mainland Zhenia, assimilating mainland Zhenian cultural elements into those of the Danguk Peninsula and establishing the Zhenian identity over the centuries it existed. Mainland Zhenia and the Danguk Peninsula were ruled by separate entities following the Zhen's collapse in the 6th century, although numerous successive dynasties attempted reunification. The reunification arrived during the last stages of the Shindan dynasty, when Emperor Seongjo reformed the former backwater tributary state into a great power through leveraging the interests of Auroran powers and rapid industrialization with the cooperation of Husgratin and Zonnenbord. After a series of military campaigns, Shindan ultimately brought an end to the Empire of Greater Wu and reunified all of Zhenia into the Empire of Zhenia in 1868.

Zhenia's resurgence in the late 19th century resulted in the Shinzhen Movement, leading to numerous wars against existing Auroran colonial powers within its sphere of influence. Industrialization and initial victory against Aurorans resulted in the advent of militarism and ultra-nationalism, which intensified with the ultimate transition into the First and Second Republics respectively. Its victory in the First Great War confirmed its status as a global, expansionist military power. Zhenian causing and involvement in the Second Great War ended in Zhenian Surrender in 1948. In 1953, a military junta led by Kim Shimin was established through the Coup of 1953, with the regime ultimately propelling the nation's rapid economic development often referred to as the Miracle of the Danbon River. The November Revolution of 1979 of 1979 brought an end to the Fourth Republic and resulted in the democratization of Zhenia and the subsequent declaration of the Fifth Republic. To this day, Zhenia remains a democratic republic.

As of 2019, Zhenia is both the largest economy in the world by nominal GDP at around $20.52 trillion and by GDP purchasing power parity (PPP) at $21.2 trillion, while it is also the largest exporter and second-largest importer of goods. It is a global leader in industrial and technological sectors, with its export-driven economy focusing on electronics, aerospace, automobiles, shipbuilding and robotics. It has the largest defense budget in the world at around $774 billion and has been a nuclear weapons state since 1959. In recent times, Zhenia has been characterized as a global great power, while estimates claim it will achieve superpower status by 2020.

History

Main Article: History of Zhenia

Antiquity

Main Article: History of Ancient Zhenia

Mainland Zhenia

Main Article: History of Mainland Zhenia

The decline of the Zhen Dynasty in the 6th century was met with the advent of numerous smaller kingdoms scattered across the Zhenian mainland, hence initiating the era known as the Hundred States Era. Numerous kingdoms fought to claim the now-empty title of successor of the Zhen dynasty, most in vain. By 700, mainland Zhenia was reorganized into a standstill between two nations - the Kuan and Wei dynasties.

Danguk Peninsula

Main Article: History of Zhenia (Danguk Peninsula)

The Danguk peninsula met an era of relative stability after the decline of the Zhen dynasty, with the establishment of the Eastern Jin that occupied most of the peninsula. The relative stability of the peninsula compared to the mainland resulted in a great influx of mainland Zhenian refugees fleeing the Hundred States Era, contributing to cultural and technological progression in the peninsula. The Eastern Jin saw the flourishing of Danguk culture and Wuism. The peninsula's canal infrastructure, rivers, reservoirs and irrigation networks also saw great improvements during the era, as agriculture thrived in all parts of the peninsula. Long-distance maritime culture between the east and west - with the Danguk peninsula as the eastern node - began during the later ages of the Eastern Jin.

Seok Juwon's cavalier against Balakhaat troops around 1280.

The Eastern Jin was ultimately replaced by the Jin dynasty in 914. It was during the Jin dynasty that the Uilim Plains - the area constituting modern-day northeastern Zhenia - was conquered under Zhenian hands by the Northern Campaign, after which areas occupied by Balakhaat Zhenians were permanently occupied by Zhenia to this day. The Jin dynasty also made astounding cultural achievements in Zhenian porcelain, calligraphy, metallurgy and more, and were the first to utilize gunpowder in the late 11th century.

In 1298, General Seok Juwon, with popular support for a new age, overthrew the Southern Han after a successful military coup against it, founding the Shindan dynasty the same year. Adopting the teachings of Kim Dojin as the nation's official ideology, the Shindan originally adopted a political structure centered around the Premier rather than the King. While also leading the decades-long war against the Kharlin Empire to the north, power was centralized around the King as successive rulers consolidated their authority through successful campaigns against the Kharlins. After it drove away the Kharlins from the Danguk peninsula, an equilibrium between the warrior class and scholar-officials was reached, as both classes passed down their positions and wealth to continue lives of practice and political participation.

The Shindan was the first Danguan entity after the Zhen's demise that was at diplomatically equal terms with mainland Zhenian dynasties, exerting control over its own tributary states in Southeast Tarsis. While it maintained diplomatically equal relations with the Zhu dynasty since its establishment, Shindan later challenged the Greater Wu around the 17th century, when the Zhu began to crumble. Shindan was invaded by the Greater Wu in 1621, 1633 and 1667, resulting in Shindan falling under a tributary system with the Greater Wu. Amid an era of new peace, the scholar-officials gained an upper hand over the warrior class and dominated major governmental positions in the 17th and 18th centuries, ultimately leading to mass corruption and weakening of the state.

The naval battle over the Gulf of Danguk was one of the key moments during the Zhenian Civil War.

In 1830, when King Seongjo came to power, introduced numerous reforms to Shindan, once again concentrating power to the monarchy and cracking down on the scholar-officials. It was also during King Seongjo's era that Shindan underwent massive industrialization and changes that transformed Shindan from a backwater feudal tributary into a westernized power through leveraging the varied interests of Auroran colonial powers in the region, signing diplomatic treaties with Zonnenbord and Husgratin earlier than any other East Tarsian nation. Adopting Auroran technology and systems into the former hermit kingdom, Shindan won the approval of Auroran colonial empires and became the first nation in the region to have a modernized army. With increased military forces, it challenged the Mandate of Heaven held by the Greater Wu and defeated it in 1844 and 1849, seizing most of Yemeg and Balakhaat territory. After claiming himself as Emperor and Great Khan of the Yemeg and Balakhaat people in 1851, Seongjo led the final push into the Greater Wu himself the following year, when Greater Wu was disbanded into multiple tributary kingdoms and executed Emperor Aizong, declaring an end to the existing world order centered around mainland Zhenia. The temporary peace after the division of Greater Wu came to an end as Shindan employed a divide and conquer strategy throughout mainland Zhenia and conquered each of the divided kingdoms, ultimately unifying all of Zhenia as a result of the Zhenian Civil War by 1868.

Modern Zhenia

Main Article: History of Modern Zhenia

Industrialization accelerated rapidly during the Empire of Zhenia.

Former military leader Kim Shimin overthrew the Second Republic via the Coup of 1953.

In 1868, Emperor Seongjo declared the Empire of Zhenia along with the unification of all of Zhenia for the first time since the Zhen dynasty's demise and maintained the Zhenian drive for industrialization and military buildup. Profound changes in Zhenian society in general emerged during his rule, including the establishment of the Parliament and a more centralized governmental structure. His successor, Emperor Saejo, went a step further from the fundamentals of Emperor Seongjo and introduced the Shinzhen Doctrine, emphasizing Zhenia's role in the region as the "liberator against Auroran powers", calling for direct Zhenian military actions against Auroran states. Hence began Zhenia's expansion drive into the Tarsis-Genarmic following successive victories in the Second Zhenian-Thracian War and the Zhenian-Ichori War. With military success, Zhenia also invested even more on its own economic growth, leading to a period of economic flourishing in the country which lasted well beyond the First Great War.

In 1909, Emperor Saejo abdicated from the throne and thus established the First Republic; while it was formally a republic with democratic elections for the Union's representatives, it retained the authoritarian characteristics that persisted during the Empire. With increased military control of the regime, the First Republic became more militarist and expansionist over the years, extending its sphere of influence beyond the security of Tarsis and outwards to the west and south. Zhenian expansionism inevitably collided with the interests of other powers worldwide, ultimately resulting in the Second Great War; while Zhenia reached its greatest extent in 1944, it was ultimately defeated by the Allies by 1948, but not without the first-time usage of nuclear weapons in warfare.

An iconic scene of the standoff between a Zhenian protester and a tank of the Capital Defense Command, during the November Revolution.

A civilian government replaced the First Republic after Zhenian defeat of the Second Great War, with most leaders of the First Republic put to trial by the Allies. Coupled with economic failure and maladministration, the Second Republic failed to win support from the Zhenian people and veterans from the Second Great War, and was eventually overthrown by the Coup of 1953 led by Kim Shimin. The Zhenian economy was rebuilt under the leadership of the Third Republic, as it was structured into a more efficient export-oriented economy that soon became the heart of Tarsian economic activity. Zhenian resurgence became clear when Zhenia recovered pre-war economic levels by 1964 and achieved double-digit growth rates that remained unbroken until 1984, in an economic phenomenon otherwise known as the Miracle of the Danbon River. With economic growth, the Third Republic's authoritarian position came to question, culminating in the November Revolution of 1979: the Revolution ended with the peaceful resignation of Kim Shimin and the subsequent democratization of Zhenia, as the Fourth Republic was declared in December 1, 1979.

The Fourth Republic saw an era of political reforms, with subsequent amendments to the Constitution strengthening the Zhenian democracy as well as the rights of Zhenian citizens. Diplomatic shifts also took place, as Zhenia restored diplomatic relations with the members of the Auroran Community in 1981. In light of international revelation, Zhenia successfully hosted the 1988 Donggyeong Olympics and later the 1997 World Cup.

Geography

Zhenia has a vast and diverse landscape, ranging from the arid Daixi and Shingang Deserts to the west to the subtropical rainforests to the southeast, as well as the temperate coastal regions. In the Zhenian mainland, the Sancheon Mountain Range separates the arid west from the wetter, temperate central plains to the east. Numerous rivers, some of which are among the world's longest, originate from the range, running from the nation's west to east. The nation's seaboard along the shores of the Gulf of Danguk, often referred to as the Golden Arc (Zhenian: 금호/Geumho), or 'Golden Arc', is home to one of the most densely populated area in the world. The temperate Danguk Peninsula is mostly mountainous and is covered in forests, with the Bukdu Mountains running through most of the peninsula. Zhenia has over 14,000 kilometers of coastline facing the Gulf of Danguk as well as the Genarma Ocean.

Landscape and Climate

The territory of Zhenia, particularly its mainland and the Danguk peninsula, exists between latitudes X1° and X2° N, and longitudes Y1° and Y2° E. The landscape of Zhenia varies greatly across its territory. Much of eastern and central mainland Zhenia consist of alluvial and flood plains formed by numerous eastbound rivers - most notably the Taimir River and the Wei River, whereas western Zhenia is characterized by major mountain ranges and high plateaus; northeastern Zhenia is characterized by plateaus and plains, whereas subtropical regions of southern Zhenia is characterized by hills and forests. The terrain of the Danguk peninsula is dominated by the Bukdu Mountains forming the backbone of the peninsula, with hills, forests and occasionally plains filling up the areas in-between.The nation's highest point, Mount Changbaek, is situated at the heart of the Sancheon Mountain Range, while its lowest point is in Lake Sagyeong (-87 m) in the Dragon Valley area.

Climate in Zhenia also varies greatly from region to region due to the variety in terrain and latitude. Both mainland Zhenia and the Danguk peninsula are significantly influenced by the yearly cycle of dry seasons and wet monsoons, created by different seasonal winds; the high-altitude northern winds, usually dominant in the winter, result in cold, dry weather, while the low-altitude southeastern winds from the Genarma Ocean dominate in the summer seasons, being warm and moist. Parts of western and northern Zhenia tend to be less influenced by the cycle of seasonal winds; in such cases, the dry continental winds from Central Tarsis tend to dominate. Extreme weather can be observed seasonally, evident by the existence of typhoons originating from southeastern seas to the occasional yellow dust phenomena observed in the western desert lands.

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  Mount Changbaek, the highest point in Zhenia.

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  Tsagaan Falls, in northwestern Zhenia, is the largest waterfall in the nation.

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  The Taimir River, the fourth-longest river in the world, ends in the Gulf of Danguk near Jinhae.

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  Alluvial plains in Guangdong province.

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  Stable geological activity has resulted in the formation of long stretches of beaches in eastern Zhenia.

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  coniferous forests tend to dominate the landscape of northeastern Zhenia.

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  Arid plateaus and deserts dominate the landscape of western Zhenia.

Administrative Divisions

Main Article: Administrative Areas of Zhenia

The Greater Eastern Union of Zhenia is divided into 28 provinces, five metropolitan municipalities and one special city. The 34 provincial-level administrative divisions are then subdivided into smaller subdivisions, at the form of numerous counties and independent cities. All provincial-level administrative divisions are assigned the equal number of senators in the Senate, while representatives in the Federal Assembly are assigned proportionate to the population of said administrative division. Geographically, all 34 administrative divisions can be classified into one of the five regions - the Danguk Peninsula (often referred to as Eastern Zhenia), Northern Zhenia, Central Zhenia, Western Zhenia and Southern Zhenia. Normally, Northern, Central, Western and Southern Zhenia are dubbed 'mainland Zhenia', as opposed to the Danguk Peninsula; in recent years, only Central and Southern Zhenia are generally considered 'mainland Zhenia', in regard of Yemeg and Balakhaat Zhenians in Northern and Western Zhenia respectively. Provincial Code Numbers have been assigned in accordance to such classification, with the numbers starting from Donggyeong Special City in the Danguk Peninsula and ending in Western Zhenia.

Among other province-level districts, he Haedong Special Administrative Region (SAR) has been at the core of debate regarding its status; originally made a Special Administrative Region as it was the only area where Haedong Zhenians comprised over two thirds of the population, there have been movements regarding the revision of the region into a full province. A 2018 referendum has called for the Haedong SAR to be converted into a province; the particular proposal regarding Haedong, as of 2019, is being debated in the Senate.

Map of Zhenia with Provincial Code Numbers. Refer to the chart below for provincial information.

Province-level Administrative Areas of Zhenia

Prov. Code (2019)	Name	Modern Zhenian	Classic Zhenian	Capital	Prov. Code (2019)	Name	Modern Zhenian	Classic Zhenian	Capital
1	Donggyeong Special City	동경특별시	東京特別市	Donggyeong	18	Uilim Province	의림도	義林道	Yangpyeong
2	Jinhae Metropolitan City	진해광역시	辰海廣域市	Jinhae	19	Karavankon Province	카라반콘도	N/A	Tenshir
3	Changan Metropolitan City	장안광역시	長安廣域市	Changan	20	Wonguang Province	원광도	原廣道	Shinleung
4	Shinhang Metropolitan City	신항광역시	新港廣域市	Shinhang	21	Yonggang Province	용강도	龍羌道	Seogyeong
5	Bakhan Metropolitan City	바크한광역시	바크한廣域市	Bakhan	22	Hwabuk Province	화북도	華北道	Heochang
6	Ariul Metropolitan City	아리울광역시	아리울廣域市	Ariul	23	Hwanam Province	화남도	華南道	Jeongju
7	Chungmu Province	충무도	忠武道	Arisu	24	Imhae Province	임해도	臨海道	Namgyeong
8	Honam Province	호남도	湖南道	Jeonju	25	Balhae Province	발해도	渤海道	Yongwon
9	Namhae Province	남해도	南海道	Daewon	26	Cheonghae Province	청해도	淸海道	Deungju
10	Dongho South Province	동호남도	東湖南道	Shinju	27	Taehwa Province	태화도	泰華道	Anpyeong
11	Dongho North Province	동호북도	東湖北道	Hogyeong	28	Changbaek Province	장백도	長白道	Yeongwon
12	Haedong Special Administrative Region	해동특별행정구	海東特別行政區	Dongdo	29	Guangdong Province	광동도	廣東道	Guangzhou
13	Donghae South Province	동해남도	東海南道	Junggyeong	30	Guangseo Province	광서도	廣西道	Seonzhou
14	Haegeum Province	해금도	海錦道	Yangzhou	31	Shingang Province	신강도	新强道	Lhaseon
15	Donghae North Province	동해북도	東海北道	Sanggyeong	32	Heuksu Province	흑수도	黒首道	Heuksan
16	Pyeongan Province	평안도	平安道	Pyeongyang	33	Jinwon Province	진원도	震原道	Jinju
17	Bukhae Province	북해도	北海道	Cheongju	34	Gangwon Province	강원도	江原道	Gangju

Politics

Zhenia is a federal semi-presidential republic as clarified in the Constitution in 1979. Since its reinstatement in 1979 after the November Revolution, the Constitution serves as the superior legal document of the Greater Eastern Union, upholding the separation of powers and the formation of government within the nation. Although its core principles remain more or less the same since its initial iteration in 1909, numerous amendments were made to the Constitution; as of 2019, there have been 21 of such amendments since 1909, at an attempt to reflect changes in political circumstances over the years.

Government

Zhongwu Palace, residence and office of the Chancellor.

Federal Parliament Hall, where both parts of the Zhenian Parliament gather.

Chancellor Lee Saemin, serving since January 1, 2018.

Premier Kim Junghun, serving since January 1, 2018.

Today, Zhenia has a federal government with a bicameral legislature. In accordance to the Constitution, the government is divided into four separate branches - the bicameral legislative branch, consisting of the Senate and the Federal Assembly; the executive branch; the judicial branch, consisting of the Zhenian justice system; and the examination branch, consisting of the Jungchuwon.

The Executive Branch is ultimately led by the Chancellor of the Greater Eastern Union, directly elected by a popular vote to serve a maximum of two five-year terms on the same ticket as the Premier. The Chancellor also serves as the head of state and commander-in-chief of the Greater Eastern Union Defense Forces. The Chancellor retains the right to appoint ministers, secretaries and other members of the Executive Branch as well as the right veto decisions from the executive and legislative branches, while the Premier is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Executive Branch and the Cabinet. While the Premier is on the same ticket as the Chancellor on the nationwide popular vote, appointment of the Premier requires only the consent of the Senate with a minimum of a 60% majority vote.

The Legislative Branch, symbolized by the Parliament of the Greater Easter Union, is bicameral, consisting of the Senate and the Federal Assembly respectively. Senators in the Greater Eastern Union Senate can serve up to ten four-year terms as long as they are elected; a province-level district is represented by five senators, thereby forming a total of 170 senators. Members of the Federal Assembly are elected according to the Federal Electoral Districts in mind. Assemblymen from the Federal Electoral Districts elect a total of 900 assemblymen, while 300 more are decided in accordance to proportional representation assigned by the percentage of votes on participating political parties on a separate ballot list, thereby forming the Federal Assembly with 1,200 assemblymen. Assemblymen can serve up to five four-year terms as long as they are elected.

The Judicial Branch of Zhenia is responsible for the interpretation of the Constitution, laws and decrees, while it also oversees administrative suits and public functionaries. It consists of the supreme court, the Constitutional Court, regional appellate courts, local/municipal courts and subsidiary units, all of which are under the jurisdiction of the Federal Judiciary. Local/municipal courts, regional appellate courts and the Supreme Court respectively form the three levels of the Zhenian justice system, with one case being able to be evaluated at court up to three times, one for each level. Constitutional courts, since its establishment in 1979, oversees constitutional disputes and regulates political activities of various political agents in Zhenian politics.

The existence of the Jungchuwon, the examination branch, is in respect of the public examination system in pre-modern Zhenian history. It is in charge of the selection of all civil servants and public officials in the government - for such reasons, it manages the Federal Civil Service Examination (FCSE) required for entry into all lower-level civil servants.

Law and Law Enforcement

Zhenia uses a civil legal system, in which law arises primarily from written statutes rather than existing customs. It is the duty of the Judiciary Branch to interpret the law to the situation rather than to make it. Initial iterations of the law were laid in the Code of Jinhwa during the Empire of Zhenia: since then, the baseline of law, in which the laws merely prohibit socially negative actions, has been maintained. A legal hierarchy, with the Constitution on top, followed by laws, statutes, federal administrative orders and regional orders has also been maintained since the Empire of Zhenia.

Zhenian law can be primarily divided into two categories - public law and private law. Public law handles the relationship between the state and the individual, as well as the relationship among various parts of the state - for such reasons, it consists mostly of the Constitution. Private law, on the other hand, specifies the relations among the people of Zhenia, including both civil law and criminal law as well as administrative law. Most legal cases belonging to private law are examined by the Common Court. Despite the presence of Zhenian Wuism, its law, among other religious laws, has not been recognized in any administrative area in Zhenia and is strictly prohibited beyond the realm of the temple; freedom of religion is held sacrosanct through both the Constitution and supporting legislation.

A notable feature in the Zhenian justice system is the existence of the Constitutional Court (Zhenian: 헌법재판소). Consisting of twelve justices, with each governmental branch being able to nominate and appoint three to achieve judicial neutrality, the Constitutional Court examines the constitutionality of the legislation in question, as well as prosecute legal actions that go against the state and veto bills that are deemed unconstitutional. The Constitutional Court also decides on the priority of two or more laws that collide, using the principles of the Constitution as a standard of judgement.

Military

Main Article: Greater Eastern Union Defense Forces

F-33 Dragons have been at service in the Greater Eastern Union Air Force since 2014.

The Balhae-class attack submarines are a part of the Greater Eastern Navy's forward offensive doctrine.

The Greater Eastern Union Defense Forces is the military primarily in charge of the defense of Zhenia and its interests. With a total of around 2.1 million active troops, it is the largest standing military force in the world. The Greater Eastern Union Defense Forces consist of four major branches - Greater Eastern Union Army, the Greater Eastern Union Navy, the Greater Eastern Union Air Force and the Greater Eastern Union Strategic Forces. With a military expenditure of around $717 billion, it also has the highest military budget by a single nation in the world, although its military expenditures-GDP ratio is around 3.5%.

Military service in Zhenia is voluntary, although the Department of Defense retains the right to conscription during wartime; for such reasons, all Zhenian citizens and permanent residents aged between 19 and 50 are annually tested for the National Military Fitness Assessment. Officers in the Greater Eastern Union Defense Forces are normally selected through the cadet program in the nation's military academies or through further training of selected soldiers in numerous non-commissioned officer academies in the nation, both of which take at least 3 years of education and extensive military training. The Greater Eastern Union Defense Forces also has a path open for foreign nationals to serve in its forces and ultimately acquire Zhenian citizenship or permanent residentship depending on the years they serve in the military, through a system known as the Greater Eastern Union Foreign Legion. Members of the foreign legion undergo longer training and are required to serve longer than their domestic counterparts.

Zhenia is a recognized nuclear power and has the second highest stockpile of nuclear weapons in the world, while it is home to the largest surface navy in the world by tonnage - being home to 8 aircraft carriers - as well as the largest fleet of atomic submarines in the world, operating numerous nuclear-powered attack and ballistic missile submarines. With air projection capabilities provided by the air force and naval power guaranteed by the navy, the Greater Eastern Union Defense Forces maintain a strong presence in the Tarsis-Genarmic region, although its objective of achieving a similar level of presence globally is showing early results. It maintains a total of 145 major military installations outside its borders, 26 of which are hosted by more than 2,000 personnel.

Today, Zhenia is one of the largest exporters of military hardware in the world, selling almost $9 billion worth of military equipment in 2018. It has produced numerous military equipment such as the F-33 Dragon, the Z6 Baekho main battle tank, the ZM-2000 Legion, the Li Shan-class aircraft carriers and the Balhae-class attack submarines among others. Parallel to such progress in the nation's military-industrial complex, the Greater Eastern Union Defense Forces has undergone massive modernization drives over the years, completing its upgrades of battlefield C3I and C4I systems in preparation of network-centric warfare as well as preparation for CBRN conditions. It has also bolstered its power projection capabilities, with a majority of new weaponry and funding going to the Navy and Air Force. It has been spearheading the world in future weapons development, tandem with the Jungchuwon and national research institutes.

Demographics

Population

According to a 2019 estimate, the population of Zhenia is estimated at 756,236,689, with 378,219,130 males and 378,017,559 females. Of the 756.2 million residents, roughly 50 million inhabitants, or 6.5% of the population, were foreign-born residents, while around 45% of such foreign-born residents having naturalized and thereby acquired Zhenian citizenship. Zhenia remains the most populous nation in the world, being home to roughly a quarter of the continent's population. Its population density, measured at 118.3 people per km², over four times the global average. A majority of the population resides on what is known as the Golden Arc area along the coasts of the Gulf of Danguk, spanning from Balhae Province to Honam Province.

Historically, the percentage of population increase in Zhenia from 1950 to 2010 is around 40%, lower than the global average. Such low population increase in the late 20th century, despite the advent of baby boomers in the 1950s and 1960s, is partly due to extensive family planning and social birth control policies carried out by the Third Republic's Ministry of the Interior. Successes in such policies resulted in the overall decrease of the fertility rate to around 2.1 by 2000, just around the population replacement rate. Since then, the Zhenian population has reached a phase of steady increase, with most of the increase being a result of immigration from the south and west.

As of 2019, Zhenia has a birth rate of around 16 per 1,000 people and a death rate of around 7.6 per 1,000 people. Hence, it's population growth rate is positive at around 0.8% per year in 2018, most of which has been a result of immigration from Southeast Tarsis. Zhenia's low death rate is due to one of the highest average life expectancies of the world, which was at 82.2 as of 2018. The median age in Zhenia is 39.8, although the median age, due to declining fertility rates, is set to increase to the late 40s by 2035. As of 2019, around 13% of Zhenians today are ages 65 or older, as the problems of aging population surface in Zhenian society.

Ethnicity

Ethnic Groups of Zhenia
Ethnicity			Percentage
Jin Zhenian			40.3%
Han Zhenian			32.8%
Yemeg Zhenian			14.7%
Balakhaat Zhenian			5.1%
Haedong Zhenian			3.3%
Other			3.7%

Zhenia is a multi-ethnic diverse nation, with no single ethnic group comprising a majority of the population. The single largest ethnic group in Zhenia remains to be Jin Zhenian, the descendants of Zhenians that originate from the Danguk peninsula and northeastern Zhenia. Traditionally, Han Zhenians constituted the majority of Zhenia's population for thousands of years: a series of famines and wars during the Greater Wu, as well as the Zhenian Civil War and subsequent assimilation during the Empire of Zhenia, resulted in such shift in majority. Given the cultural and genetic similarities between the two ethnic groups, some statistics often categorize both Jin and Han Zhenians into one ethnic group known as the Shin Zhenians - in this context, Shin Zhenians are the single ethnic majority in the nation. Yemeg Zhenians, originating from the semi-nomadic tribes of southern Zhenia, constitute 14.7% of the population, while the Balakhaat Zhenians from the north 5.1% of the population. Diaspora of Haedong Zhenians, the smallest minority group that constitutes over 3% of the population, are mostly found in the Haedong Islands and the eastern coasts of the Danguk peninsula.

Language

Main Article: Zhenian language

Multiple languages are spoken by Zhenians, although Zhenian is designated as the national language of the nation among other regional official languages. As the mother tongue of over 95% of Zhenia's population, Zhenian has been a predominant language in Zhenian society, both formal and informal. There are indeed regional differences in the Zhenian language - in mainland Zhenia, particularly in areas where Han Zhenians constitute the majority, the Seoan dialect is dominant, whereas Zhenians in the Danguk Peninsula tend to speak the Donghan dialect. Especially in mainland Zhenia, the Zhenian language was traditionally written using the Seomun, the Classic Zhenian script; the dawn of Jinmun, the modern Zhenian script, was formally adopted as the primary script of the Shindan in 1681 and later the Empire of Zhenia in 1868. Education of the Seomun remained in the Zhenian education system, partly in respect of Han Zhenian culture and partly in consideration of the widespread usage of Seomun in Zhenia; to this day, Seomun and Jinmun are occasionally marked together in certain situations, such as public signs and text announcements.

As of 2019, only 18 million people use a language other than Zhenian as their primary language - prevalent languages include Haedongese (5,681,185 first language speakers), Yemegese (3,993,881) and Balakhaat (3,455,818). While minority languages are indeed included in the Zhenian education system as secondary languages, two province-level administrative areas - Karavankon Province and the Haedong SAR - have elevated the Balakhaat language and Haedongese respectively as an official language, meant to be used in tandem with Zhenian.

Religion

Religion in Zhenia
Ethnicity			Percentage
Zhenian Wuism			61.4%
Atheism			26.3%
Oriental Vayonism			6.7%
Church of Shinheung			2.5%
Other local faiths			3.1%

Zhenia is formally a secular nation, with the Constitution clarifying the separation of church and government, while the freedom of religion held sacrosanct as a constitutional right. For such reasons, its constitution does not state an official religion; the government itself has no formal ties with any religion existent in the nation. Among Zhenians, however, Zhenian Wuism remains the predominant religion: despite the recent rise in atheism, 61.4% of Zhenian citizens still follow Zhenian Wuism as their faith.

Health

Donggyeong Medical Center, one of the largest and most prestigious medical centers in the nation.

Helathcare is universal in Zhenia, provided through the insurance system of the Federal Health Service including basic healthcare, diagnosis and financial support for sudden medical needs. The Federal Health Service covers a part of the medical costs to keep medical services affordable to the average Zhenian, while also covering up to 60% of medical fees for low income households. State-owned hospitals, operated by the Federal Health Service, retain an autonomy in their decisions, despite being owned by the government. In providing financial support on medical care, he Federal Health Service analyzes the need of each family on a needs-tested basis. Apart from the Federal Health Services, healthcare insurance can also be additionally provided through private insurance companies; the more expensive the insurance or service is, the higher the care is in quality.

The average life expectancy of Zhenia is around 82.2 years - 80.5 for men and 83.9 for women. With continuous investments in public infrastructure and basic sanitation, Zhenia has been able to provide access to improved water and sanitation facilities. As of 2019, the leading causes of death in Zhenia were cancer, cerebrovascular disease, hypertensive diseases, suicide and liver disease. Suicide in particular has been a pressing issue in the health of Zhenians, with many pointing the competitive social sentiment as a key reason behind such phenomenon.

Education

The University of Donggyeong at Capital District, home to its Medical Campus, is one of the most prestigious institutes in the nation.

The education system of Zhenia is widely regarded as one of the best and most rigorous in the world. It is one of the top-performing nations in the world in reading comprehension, math and sciences, and has one of the highly educated workforce in the world. Zhenian society in general is known for its feverish outlook on education, coining the term "Zhenian fever": educational success and academic achievement are widely regarded as crucial to one's socioeconomic success in the nation as a whole. Academic success within the education system frequently becomes a source of pride for not only individuals but also families and within the society itself in general. A vast majority of Zhenians view education as the main propeller of social ascendancy for themselves and their family as a gateway to the Zhenian middle and upper class. Graduating from a top university in Zhenia is the ultimate marker of prestige, high socioeconomic status, promising marriage prospects, and a respectable career path. An average Zhenian child's life revolves around education as academic success is indoctrinated among them from an early age. Overall, competition for the most selective institutions in the nation is fierce, with many students being part of intensive tutoring to supplement classes to gain a competitive academic edge in the process. While such educational pressure has indeed resulted in academic and national success of Zhenia, it has also brought about social side effects, such as the highest youth suicide rate in developed nations.

Education for primary and secondary levels are directly supported by the government, while tertiary education is partially supported and is optional. Primary and secondary levels are predominantly government-funded, although recent years has seen a surge in private secondary schools across the nation. All institutions, both public and private, are subject to the registering system maintained by the Department of Education for national-scale management of institutional management and educational curriculum formation. Regardless of ethnicity, Zhenian is the language in which a bulk of the curriculum is laid out; only a number of selected International Schooling Institutes (ISI) - primary and secondary schools mostly open for foreigners and foreign-born students in Zhenia - are allowed to choose a language other than Zhenian upon which the curriculum will be laid out.

State-funded education, takes place in both primary and secondary levels, both of which have been compulsory for all Zhenian citizens since 1901. All schools in Zhenia start their school year in March and end the following February. Primary education, which a child is required to begin around ages 6 and 7, consists of six years of primary school, the curriculum of which focuses on the development of Zhenian, mathematics, science, history, English and Classic Zhenian. Secondary school, divided by three years of intermediate school and three years of high school, lasts for a total of six years. Almost all secondary schools are classified as one of the four following categories: Academic, Technical, Special and Autonomous. Classes in secondary school are more specialized than those in primary school, as they are assigned to each student through rigid examination of a student's academic and technical level. A number of selected schools are designated as 'Autonomous Schools' and retain the right to design their own curriculum, independent from almost all of the governmental guidelines.

With the exception of a number of specialized institutes, nationwide standardized exams are mandatory across all schools, private or public, taken at the last year of each school level. The Secondary Scholastic Ability Test (SSAT: 중등학업능력평가), taken at the end of the sixth year of primary school, is a deciding factor for a student's entrance and assignment into intermediate school. At the end of the three years of intermediate school, the Academic Aptitude Test-I (AAT-A: 학문적성평가-I), which functions as a critical factor in the decision of the student's high school, is taken; the subsequent Academic Aptitude Test-II (AAT-II: 학문적성평가-II) exams are taken at the last year of high school, the scores of which are considerably factored into university admissions at the same period. Among non-student Zhenians 15 and above, about 16% has passed the AAT-I at the highest level, while only 4.5% had done the same in the AAT-II exams.

Tertiary education exists mostly at the form of public and private universities across the nation. Like primary and secondary education, the Federal and Provincial Governments provide direct funding to National and Provincial Universities, which account for around 45% of all universities in the nation as of 2019. There are more than 2,400 four-year universities in the nation, of which the University of Donggyeong, Changan Institute of Technology and Jinwoo University rank within the top 20 of the world. The remainder are funded by private educational foundations. As of 2019, the average tuition for National and Provincial Universities throughout the nation was around 14,000 Zhenian Won per year, although private universities may cost more than twice the amount each year. Other options for tertiary education include two-year/three-year professional/technical institutes, vocational training schools and online courses: upon graduation, diplomas from such options are accepted as 'Professional Bachelor (전문학사)'. As of 2019, roughly 57% of Zhenian citizens aged between 18 and 28 enroll in public and private universities, while about 17% of the population are in the professional and technical institutes.

Economy

Main Article: Economy of Zhenia

Donggyeong's Financial District is a leading financial hub in not just Tarsis but the world.

As of 2019, the Zhenian mixed economy is the single largest economy in the world both by nominal GDP and purchasing power parity, with a nominal GDP of over $20 billion. Zhenia is considered a developed country with a high-income economy, considered to be one of the most industrialized in the world. Although it has taken considerable hits during the Second Great War, its economic resurgence and reforms propelled the nation back to where it is today. Today, it is a highly diversified player in the international economy as well as one of the largest traders in the world. It shows competitiveness in many industries, including shipbuilding, banking, automobile manufacturing, chemical processing, electronics and semiconductors, green energy, robotics and biotechnology. It is also home to the world's largest retail market, both offline and online, taking up roughly 32% of the world's market share.

Although the economy of Zhenia has reached a postindustrial phase with the service sector (including information technology) producing roughly 67.6% of the GDP as of 2019 while manufacturing and agriculture produce 30.1% and 2.3% of the GDP respectively, Zhenia remains a great industrial power. Manufacturing remains the leading economic sector by income, whereas retail remains the largest sector by business receipts. It remains both the largest exporter and the importer in the world, being home to one of the largest single consumer market in the world.

Zhenia's main exports include transportation equipment, automobiles, semiconductors, chemicals, automated robots, satellites and aerospace equipment, with its largest trading partners being Japan (15.6%) and Florencia (14.3%) respectively. Its pro-business attitudes make it one of the easiest nations to do business in the world, while its lively, start-up friendly environment has brought forth many unicorns in venture businesses. Notable companies in Zhenia include the Sancheon Group, Mir, Hanshin, OneMobile, Rotunda, PetroEast and Jinmu.

Transportation, Infrastructure and Energy

A ZNX train on the Donggyeong-Changan Line, in Donghae South Province.

Main Article: Transport in Zhenia, Energy in Zhenia

Donggyeong Capital International Airport, serving over 100 million passengers a year, is one of the busiest airports in the world. Pictured here is Terminal 2, one of the most recent additions.

Zhenia's large investment on paved roads across the nation is evident by the existence of the vast network of Federal Expressways and national highways. Spanning a total length of over 140,000 kilometers, the Zhenian Federal Expressway system and the Zhenia National Highway system together form the single largest single expressway network in the world. Reflecting such, Zhenia currently has the world's largest automobile market, with annual sales of passenger cars exceeding 20 million as of 2018.

The nationalized Zhenia National Railway Company (ZhenRail) operates most of the passenger and freight rail in Zhenia, providing frequent connection services all across the nation. ZhenRail is also the owner and operator of almost all of the 150,000-kilometer railroads in the nation and delivers ridership of over 1.1 trillion rides a year (excluding subsidiaries). Subsidiaries of ZhenRail and other private railroad operators compete for the metro lines of many major cities, such as the Donggyeong Metropolitan Subway, the Jinhae Metro and the Changan Metro. Hundreds of ZNX high-speed trains connect major cities in dedicated tracks measuring over 21,000 kilometers in length, making it one of the most extensive high-speed rail networks in the world. Maglev trains are also set for introduction between the Donggyeong-Changan Line by 2030, at an attempt to relieve congestion in what is one of the busiest railroads in the world.

Being home to 361 operating airports as of 2019, Zhenia is one of the world's largest aviation market, serving almost 800 million passengers every year, both domestic and international. Donggyeong Capital International Airport and Shin Jinhae International Airport, two of the major air hubs, are some of the busiest airports in the world both by the number of flights and the passengers they serve. While the nation's flag carrier is the partially state-owned Zhenian Airways, Zhenia's civil aviation industry is largely privately owned, with 4 full service carriers and 13 low-cost carriers operating under the Zhenian flag.

Two under-construction nuclear reactors in Heuksu Province.

Zhenia is one of the largest consumers of petroleum and natural gas, as well as the seventh-largest producer of petroleum and the ninth-largest producer of natural gas respectively. Zhenia is also home to around 12% of the world's coal reserves and around 8% of the world's coal consumption; the percentage is set to go down to around 5% by 2030, as the nation ambitiously pushes forward a 'coal-exit energy plan'.

As of 2019, a vast majority of Zhenia's electricity demands is met by nuclear power, accounting for roughly 68.5% of the nation's energy supply with over 200 reactors across the nation. Hydroelectric dams, natural gas power stations, wind farms and other sources of electricity comprise the remaining 31.5%. All power plants and electricity supply is primarily controlled by the Zhenia National Electric Company (ZNEC), in which the Government of Zhenia maintains a major stake in. Other basic services, such as water supply, are managed by state-owned companies.

The Department of Science, Technology and Telecommunications is responsible for the development and maintenance of telecommunications networks throughout Zhenia, mostly done through the assignment of development funds to the private sector. With early insights into the possibility of high-speed, high-capacity communications, almost all of the nation is covered by optical fiber networks providing internet services as of 2019. Zhenia has one of the fastest internet speeds in the world as well as the highest number of internet and cell phone users, with a registered total of 700 million cellular phone users. Zhenia is one of the first nations in the world to havet commercialized and integrated 5G communication into its telecommunications network, with the nation's first 5G services being launched in June 1, 2019.

Science and Technology

Space Station Cheonji in orbit. It is the largest man-made object in space today.

Throughout its history, Zhenia has made considerable contribution to the world's science and technology throughout its history. Numerous scientific and technological advancements were made during dynasties in both the Danguk Peninsula and mainland Zhenia alike.

To this day, Zhenia invests significantly in scientific research and technological development both directly and indirectly, utilizing the nation's intellectual base for scientific and technological progress. With the Jungchuwon and the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology spearheading most of the governmental development, Zhenia has one of the highest scientific expenditures in the world, totaling at $3.1 trillion per year. Numerous Zhenian scientists win international awards in the natural and applied sciences, as well as mathematics; it is also home to the selection committee of the Dashan Prize, an international prize recognizing contributions in the scientific academia.

Numerous national universities, including the University of Donggyeong, Changan Institute of Technology and the National University of Ariul, as well as higher institutes directly operated by the Jungchuwon, lead the nation's research measured by public and private grant money. Working together with the Jungchuwon and the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, many research universities have under them numerous national, military and private laboratories. The Jungchuwon, in particular, is in charge of operating some of the highest levels of Zhenian academia, such as the Federal Institute of Science.

Thanks to extensive investment and support in scientific research and technological development, Zhenia's scientific and technological accomplishments span across numerous areas. It is a leading nation in computing, medical sciences, mathematics, cold fusion and high-energy particle physics. The 120-kilometer, 100 TeV large-scale hadron collider at the [[]] is the largest particle collider in the nation, owned and operated by the Jungchuwon and the CIT. It has one of the largest space programs in the world to date - spearheading numerous scientific achievements, such as the world's first spacewalk in 1960 and the second manned landing on the Moon, its space program is led by the Zhenia Space Agency (ZSA) since 1958. Most recently, it is the primary builder and operator of the Space Station Cheonji, is the largest man-made object orbiting the world today.

See Also

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