Zhenia
Republic of Zhenia 진화민국 秦和民國 | |
|---|---|
 Coat of arms
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| Motto: "자유, 민권, 민생." Liberty, Democracy and the Welfare of the People. | |
Anthem: Spirit of Zhenia  | |
 Location of Zhenia in Themis. | |
 Location of Zhenia in Northeast Tarsis. | |
| Capital and largest city | Daedo |
| Official languages | Zhenian |
| Other languages | |
| Ethnic groups (2019) |
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| Demonym(s) | Zhenian |
| Government | Unitary semi-presidential republic |
| Lee Saemin | |
• Premier | Kim Junghun |
| Legislature | Parliament of the Republic of Zhenia |
| Sangseowon | |
| National Assembly | |
| Establishment | |
• as the Shindan dynasty | July 3, 1298 |
• as the Empire of Greater Wu | January 5, 1567 |
• as the Empire of Zhenia | June 4, 1868 |
• as the Republic of Zhenia | December 8, 1909 |
• as current form | December 1, 1979 |
| Area | |
• | 5,358,285.1 km2 (2,068,845.4 sq mi) |
• Water (%) | 1.67 |
| Population | |
• 2020 estimate | 598.1 million |
• 2020 census | 598,011,689 |
• Density | 111.6/km2 (289.0/sq mi) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2019 estimate |
• Total | $16.47 trillion |
• Per capita | $27,541.72 |
| GDP (nominal) | 2019 estimate |
• Total | $15.161 trillion |
• Per capita | $25,281.3 |
| Gini (2019) |  30.7medium |
| HDI (2017) |  0.910very high |
| Currency | Zhenian Won (ZKW) |
| Time zone | UTC+7, +8 (ZWST, ZEST) |
| Date format | dd-mm-yyyy |
| Driving side | right |
| Calling code | +11 |
| Internet TLD | .zh/.zhen/.geu |
Zhenia (Classic Zhenian: 秦國, Modern Zhenian: 진국), formally known as the Republic of Zhenia (Classic Zhenian: 秦和民國, Modern Zhenian: 진화민국, pronounced 'Jinhwa minguk'), is a unitary semi-presidential republic exerting control over 28 provinces, 5 metropolitan municipalities and one special city. Situated in East Tarsis and spanning approximately 5,360,000 km2 over mainland Zhenia and the Danguk Peninsula, it is the second-largest in the world by territorial size. It borders Yinguo directly to its south and by numerous entities in the region in other directions. Situated on the eastern seaboard of the continent, the nation faces the East Zhenian Sea to its northeast and east, as well as the Gulf of Danguk, both of which are marginal seas of the Hanmaric Ocean.
Civilization emerged in both mainland Zhenia and the Danguk Peninsula around 2,000 BCE. The Liang Dynasty came to existence in central Zhenia around 2300 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, conquering most of East and Southeast Tarsis and expanding well beyond the Taimir Basin. The Zhen dynasty developed into one of the largest empires of the ancient world, being a leading political, cultural and religious center; it had also been the first entity to pass the legacy of Zhenian culture, having assimilated mainland Zhenian cultural elements into those of the Danguk Peninsula as well as creating the notion of a unified entity in Zhenia for the first time in its history.
Following the demise of the Zhen dynasty, mainland Zhenia was ruled by numerous smaller entities during an era known as the Hundred States Era and ravaged by political unrest and invasions from northern nomadic tribes, the Danguk Peninsula enjoyed relative stability under the rule of the Eastern Zhen and later the Daehwa dynasty. Mainland Zhenia was temporarily unified by the Jin in the 9th century, which rebuilt Zhenian trade routes connecting to the western world; this too would end with the Second Hundred States Era and the Kharlin invasions in the 12th century, during which the mainland was left vulnerable to foreign domination and exploitation. Although the Zhu and Shindan dynasties prevailed in the mainland and the Danguk Peninsula respectively after the Kharlins were driven out, Zhenia remained divided between two entities that walked separate paths, while the Shindan became a tributary state of the Greater Wu in the mid-17th century.
In the early 19th century, the Greater Wu opened ports and submitted to Auroran extraterritoriality in its territory following a series of military defeats; this sparked calls for strenuous efforts for Zhenian sovereignty against the mainland from the Danguk Peninsula, as well as political upheaval. Emperor Seongjo, having transformed the nation from a backwater tributary state to an industrialized regional power, reunified the centuries-divided nation into the Empire of Zhenia as a result of the Zhenian Civil War, although its territories south of the Chang River became independent as the Great Yin. Zhenia's resurgence in the 19th century saw the rise of the Shinzhen Movement, resulting in military conflicts against Auroran colonial powers within Zhenia's sphere of influence. Although its victory in the First Great War confirmed its status as a global, expansionist military power. Zhenian involvement in the Second Great War ended in its defeat in 1948. In 1955, a military junta headed by Kim Shimin was established, with the newly-established regime propelling the nation's rapid economic recovery after the Second Great War. The November Revolution of 1979 brought an end to the Third Republic and resulted in its democratization, as well as the Fourth Republic that exists to this day.
Today, Zhenia is regarded as one of the world's most culturally and economically advanced nations as a developed nation; with a GDP purchasing power parity (PPP) at $16.37 trillion, it is home to one of the largest single economies in the world, while it is one of the largest exporters and importers of goods in the world. A global leader in an array of industrial and technological sectors, its export-driven economy leading the world on electronics, aerospace, automobiles, shipbuilding and robotics. It has one of the largest defense budgets in the world at around $651 billion and has been a nuclear weapons state since 1959. Amid its rise in political and economic power, Zhenia has been characterized as a global great power on the international stage, being a member of the World Concordat, the Pan-Hanmaric Treaty Organization, Tarsian Sphere and the Tarsian Economic Cooperation Association among other international organizations.
Etymology
The name 'Zhenia' (Zhenian: 진국/秦國) comes from the name of the Zhen dynasty that first unified what is all of modern-day Zhenia as well as surrounding territories. During antiquity, the Zhen dynasty served as the eastern nexus of the lucrative trade route that connected the east and west of the Old World: naturally, the existence of the Zhen dynasty was well recognized by westerners, evident by surviving western texts. A variety of terms were used, including 'Zenia', 'Zhinguk' and 'Jinia'. The term was finally settled around the 17th century, when the Achysian Encyclopedia used the term 'Zhenia' to describe the existence of the Shindan dynasty and the Empire of Greater Wu.
Its official name, the Republic of Zhenia (Zhenian: 진화민국/秦和民國; Jinhwa minguk), was chosen in 1909 by the Constitutional Council of the Republic of Zhenia during the assessment of constitutional drafts, following the abdication of Emperor Saejo. The first letter, 'Jin', was selected to signify the identity of the new nation as that originating from the Zhen dynasty; the second letter, 'hwa', was selected to signify the harmonious existence of the nation under stability; 'minguk' finally signifies its political identity as a republic. The shorter form of the name is Zhenia (Zhenian: 진국/秦國), pronounced 'Jinguk' in Zhenian, selected in reference to the Zhen dynasty - the first entity said to have unified all of modern-day Zhenia - and 'guk' meaning state. The term 'Jinguk' can be translated into 'land of the Jin' in modern contexts.
History
Prehistory and Antiquity
The oldest surviving evidence of human civilization in modern-day Zhenia has been discovered in the Bonsanin Cave (literally translated as the "Cave of the Human Roots"), located in modern-day western Imhae Province and dating back to around 55,000 years ago, although it is speculated that primitive forms of human life settled in the region at least 900,000 years ago. Additional archaeological discoveries have allowed for estimates that early traces of human life arrived in the Danguk Peninsula around 700,000 years ago. The distribution of Middle Paleolithic Levallois techniques across modern-day Zhenia has allowed for the postulation that Paleolithic-era civilization had flourished in Zhenia no later than 70,000 years ago. The Neolithic Age is estimated to have come in Zhenia around 10,000-9,000 years ago, evident by the earliest traces of rice and millet cultivation near the Taimir River. It has been confirmed that settlements of various forms and sizes had begun to form across Zhenia with the agricultural revolution, despite inadequate evidence beyond archaeological remains and sites for further detail.
All Zhenian historical records point to the Liang dynasty as the first state in Zhenian history, emerging in the Taimir River basin near modern-day Yonggang and Hwabuk province by 2400 BC. Characterized by bronze age sites, the Liang dynasty became the first example of Zhenia's political system based on hereditary dynasties. As it expanded throughout the Taimir River basin, the Liang adopted a system of feudal lords across the dynasty's domain forming a complex tributary system to keep the dynasties in line. Parallel to the Liang's prosperity, the Dan dynasty, also referred to as the State of Danguk, came to existence in the western coast of the Danguk Peninsula around 1800 BC; although based on a similar political system based on hereditary monarchies, established a centralized political system earlier than the Liang. The central authority maintained by the Liang dynasty, however, ultimately weakened and collapsed around 756 BC after the rise of feudal warlords and continuous war with nomadic tribes to the north. The State of Danguk survived well into the 6th century BC, until it was finally merged with the State of Zhen to form the Kingdom of Zhen in 551 BC.
The demise of the Liang opened the way for the Era of Great Divide, when the feudal warlords that previously upheld the Liang's feudal system each waged war against one another for dominance in the mainland. Over a hundred different clans, once feudal lords under the Liang, became independent factions fighting against one another in the Taimir Basin; by 600 BC, only eight entities, including the still-intact Dan dynasty, survived.
Ancient History
The Era of Great Divide ended around 330 BC, when the Kingdom of Zhen was restructured into the Zhen dynasty. As the first unified entity spanning across both mainland Zhenia and the Danguk Peninsula, the Zhen dynasty expanded further to the south and west, conquering the Balhae peninsula and reaching the Miri River. Currency, measurements, language and script were also standardized for the first time in Zhenian history, during the early days of the dynasty. Successive emperors contributed to the establishment of trade routes to the west, reaching as far as the Elyrian Empire. Being the first of the four golden ages in Zhenian history, the Zhen dynasty saw the advent of many of the cultural elements that constitute Zhenia today, as art and literature flourished during its rule. Lasting for almost eight centuries, the Zhen dynasty had lasting impacts in Zhenian history, including the basis of the Zhenian language, Zhenian Wuism and the notion of a unified Zhenia under legalist policies - the state of Zhenia and the Zhenian people are named in its honor.
Continuous warfare to the north and west against Balakhaat, Yemeg and Kharlin nomadic tribes eventually undermined the national power of the dynasty over the centuries, fundamentally leading to the attrition of the empire's budget. Coupled with famine and widespread corruption by imperial eunuchs and warlords near the borders, the empire's budget crisis resulted in higher burdens and subsequent dissent for the subjugated. Hence, the later years of the Zhen dynasty were ravaged with peasant revolts and weak imperial rule characterized through the existence of powerful warlords near the dynasty's borders. The Zhen dynasty ended with the formal abdication of the throne by its last emperor, Emperor Sangjo, following the Siege of Jinyang by the Northern Jae in 514.
Mainland Zhenia
The collapse of the Zhen dynasty resulted in a power vacuum in mainland Zhenia, which was met with the rise of numerous kingdoms scattered across the Zhenian mainland, marking the beginning of the Hundred States Era. Numerous kingdoms, although with mixed results, vied for dominance over the Zhenian heartland, most of which collapsed in vain. By 700, much of mainland Zhenia was reorganized into two nations - the Kuan and Wei dynasties. Both dynasties developed separate cultures during their era of separation; the Kuan, situated further north, attempted to integrate the Balakhaat and Yemegs into its domain and culture, while the Wei, situated relatively on the south, retained most cultural elements of the Zhen dynasty. After decades of warfare across the mainland, Yue Guan, a military leader of the dwindling Wei dynasty, ultimately conquered the Kuan dynasty and much of the mainland as the Jin dynasty.
Mainland Zhenia entered a second golden age under the Jin dynasty, in terms of economy, technology and culture. Northern Zhenia was stabilized following a series of expeditions to the north, while its power allowed for the establishment of a tributary system in the region with the Jin at the top. Trade routes to the west were reconstructed during the Jin dynasty, while Junggyeong, the Jin's capital, developed into a cosmopolitan center with a population of over 1 million. Widespread revolts deeply connected to local military leaders resulted in the fall of the Jin dynasty by continued invasions from the north, leading to the Second Hundred States Era. Unlike the Hundred States Era directly after the Zhen dynasty, the Second Hundred States Era is characterized by the formation of numerous Yemeg, Balakhaat and Batai states in northern and central Zhenia, with many of such groups attempting integration into the mainstream Zhenian culture to make peace with their subjugated.
Such efforts during the Second Hundred States Era ended with the conquests by the Kharlin Empire, which ultimately conquered almost all of mainland Zhenia; in 1141, Jingarin assumed control of the Kharlin Empire and moved its capital to modern-day Seogyeong, after having conquered the remnants of the Zhenian kingdoms in the mainland. The Kharlin conquests, although it had still unified mainland Zhenia, cost almost 30 million lives, or at least a third of mainland Zhenia's population at the time. The Kharlin Empire established a highly-centralized autocracy that eschewed mainland Zhenians, restraining the rights of the subjugated mainland Zhenians. The Kharlin Empire retreated to the north as a series of peasant rebellions led by Baek Seungkuk established the Zhu dynasty in southern and central Zhenia; the Kharlin Empire was eventually dismantled and reorganized into the Yemeg-Balakhaat Empire in 1488. With unprecedented political stability amid the division of the Kharlin Empire, the Zhu dynasty opened a third golden age in Zhenian history, as the economy grew rich while art and culture thrived. In 1562, after decades of dwindling imperial power amid internal conflicts among the empire's consort clans, the Zhu was divided by the most powerful consort clans. The southern regions, in particular, formed the Wu dynasty, which ultimately defeated the remaining Zhu loyalists and formed the Empire of Greater Wu in 1587.
The Empire of Greater Wu continued much of the policies carried out under the Zhu dynasty, initially valuing commerce to take a lead on Tarsic trade routes and allowing for ethnic minorities to be in office. The early days of the empire also saw conquests to the west, south and northeast, having vassalized the Shindan dynasty in 1645. Later emperors, opting to strengthen the rule of Wei Zhenians and centralize the empire's autocracy, eschewed commerce and valued agriculture since the mid-17th century, while only Wei Zhenians started to be eligible for political office. As Wei Zhenians formed a majority in the region, a tax against non-Wei Zhenians were also enforced by the late 18th century - this resulted in the dissent of many non-Wei Zhenians in the empire, bringing about numerous revolts in the outskirts of the empire, as well as the hemorrhage of ethnic minorities to northern Zhenia and the Shindan dynasty.
Danguk Peninsula
In contrast to the Hundred States Era of the mainland, the Danguk peninsula remained relatively stable after the decline of the Zhen dynasty, with the establishment of the Eastern Zhen by surviving members of the Zhen. The Eastern Zhen prospered with the influx of mainland Zhenian refugees fleeing the chaos of the Hundred States Era, promoting its cultural and economic progress. It also saw the flourishing of Danguk culture and Zhenian Wuism, while the peninsula's canal infrastructure, rivers, reservoirs and irrigation networks also improved greatly amid the thriving of agriculture. Long-distance maritime trade between the east and west, with the Danguk peninsula as the eastern node, began during the later ages of the Eastern Zhen.
The Eastern Zhen was ultimately replaced by Daehwa in 914, at the hands of Hwang Seowon, a descendant of Zhen nobility. It was during the Jin dynasty that the Uilim Plains - the area constituting modern-day northeastern Zhenia - was permanently seized under Zhenian hands by the Northern Campaign, seizing the Balakhaat heartland and forcing them to relocate to the west. The Daehwa 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. Daehwa saw an unprecedented era of peace after the Northern Campaign for around half a century, when the Kharlin conquests began to reach the Danguk Peninsula. Although Daehwa was never entirely conquered by the Kharlin Empire, it was subject to a tributary alliance system under the Kharlin Empire in exchange of its autonomy. Such submissive attitudes against the Kharlin and mainland Zhenia altogether, was enough to buy the dissent of the populace, which, coupled with piracy in the Gulf of Danguk, resulted in political instability during the later stages of Daehwa.
In 1298, General Seok Juwon, overthrew Daehwa after a successful military coup, founding the Shindan dynasty the same year; the new nation became the "Shindan" dynasty in respect to the Dan dynasty that preceded the Zhen dynasty. Adopting the teachings of Kim Dojin, dubbed Sambong thought, as the nation's official ideology in tandem with legalism, Shindan originally adopted a political structure centered around the Premier rather than the King. Power was eventually centralized around the King as successive rulers consolidated their authority through successful campaigns against the Kharlins, resulting in the consolidation of a hereditary class of aristocrats dubbed the Yangban in Shindanese society, originating from both warrior-class officials and scholar-officials.
The Shindan dynasty met the Shindanese Golden Age during much of the 15th and 16th centuries, growing to become a major seafaring and economic power in the east, following internal political stability and ongoing warfare between the Zhu dynasty and northern tribal empires in the mainland. With thousands of merchant ships connecting the peninsula with the bustling international trade routes to the south and east, Zhenians explored and established colonies throughout the world, establishing the Viceroyalty of Kapuku in 1440 and the Viceroyalty of Shinjin in 1445, along the west coasts of Veharia. Colonies and trading posts were also established along Southeast Tarsis, including northern parts of modern-day Euria. With economic prosperity from its role in the global trade network, science, philosophy, art and culture thrived. Historians speculate the Shindanese Golden Age as an age of proto-capitalism in Zhenia, with new forms of nationwide-level commerce looming upon traditional levels of market, as well as the introduction of formalized currency-based economy and early financial systems. The decline of the dynasty began after its defeat in the First Shindan-Wu War in 1633, after which Shindan lost most of its northern territories to the Empire of Greater Wu and became its tributary state. Shindan since then entered a state of general decline; while most of its extensive trade routes remained intact, it could never return to its former glory, while Shindanese society in general fell into a cycle of despotism and corruption.
The 19th century became a turning point for the Shindan dynasty. While the reign of King Jeongjo introduced reforms that once again focused power to the king and abolished institutions owned and operated by scholar-officials, it was during his successor King Seongjo's era that Shindan underwent profound changes after leveraging the varied interests of Auroran colonial powers in the region, signing diplomatic treaties with many of the western colonial empires in advance. Shindan won the diplomatic approval of Auroran colonial empires and became the first nation in the region to have a modernized army. Emperor Seongjo eventually shattered the Mandate of Heaven previously upheld by the Greater Wu, defeating it during the Second Shindan-Wu War and stripping it off of its regional hegemony with the Treaty of Sanggyeong. The Third Shindan-Wu War proved to be a critical hit to the Greater Wu, with the Shindan dynasty overthrown Emperor Aizong and dividing its remnants into many smaller tributary states. Reorganizing mainland Zhenia into the Federation of Zhenia under the Shindan dynasty, the Shindan waged war with surviving Wu loyalists during the Zhenian Civil War, albeit with mixed results.
Modern Zhenia
In 1868, Emperor Seongjo declared the Empire of Zhenia, having unified all of Zhenia for the first time since the Zhen dynasty's demise and thus ending the Zhenian Civil War. The Empire maintained the drive for industrialization and military buildup, while profound changes in Zhenian society emerged during the empire, 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 evolved the Shinzhen Doctrine into the Shinzhen Movement, 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-Achysian 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.
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 1955 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 Daedo Olympics and later the 1997 World Cup. The 21st century, although it has initially met by economic stagnation for Zhenia, has been an era of further economic progress in the nation, continuing to this day.
Geography
Zhenia has a vast and diverse landscape, ranging from the arid Daeseo and Shingang Deserts to the northwest to the subtropical rainforests to the southeast and temperate coastal regions to the east. In the Zhenian mainland, the Daejangmak Mountain Range separates the arid west from the temperate 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 eastern seaboard along the Gulf of Danguk, often referred to as the Golden Arc (Zhenian: 금호/Geumho) region, is home to one of the most densely populated areas in the world. Unlike the mainland, which consists primarily of the Central Zhenian Plains, the Danguk Peninsula are mostly mountainous and covered in forests, with the Bukdu Mountains running through the backbone of the peninsula. Zhenia has over 14,000 kilometers of coastline facing the Gulf of Danguk as well as the East Zhenian Sea, both of which are part of the Hanmaric Ocean.
Landscape and Climate
The territory of Zhenia exists between latitudes 20.8° and 52.6° N, and longitudes 98.1° and 137.8° E. The landscape of Zhenia varies greatly across its territory, although the western regions are generally higher in elevation than the eastern and southern regions. Much of central Zhenia consists of alluvial and flood plains, also known as the Great Zhenian Plains, as well as numerous eastbound rivers - most notably the Taimir and Wei rivers, whereas western Zhenia is characterized by major mountain ranges, such as the Cheonsan Mountains, and high plateaus. Northeastern Zhenia is characterized by plateaus and plains, whereas northwestern Zhenia is primarily covered by the Shingang Desert and surrounding steppe regions. Warmer regions of southern Zhenia are characterized by hills and forests, although alluvial plains are observed around the Taimir River basin. The terrain of the Danguk Peninsula is dominated by the Bukdu Mountains forming the backbone of the peninsula, although coastal plains fill the gap between the sea and the mountains. The Haedong Islands, formed through historical volcanic and seismic activity dating back millions of years ago, remains mountainous and humid. The nation's highest point, Mount Changjin, is situated at the heart of the Cheonsan Mountains, while its lowest point is in Lake Sagyeong (-87 m) in the Dragon Valley area.
Climate and precipitation in Zhenia also varies greatly from region to region due to the variety in terrain and latitude, although the general tendency of the climate in Zhenia remains to be "dry in the west, humid in the east". 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 Hanmaric Ocean dominate in the summer seasons, being warm and moist. Due to the influence of monsoon cycles, most of the nation receives significant portions of its annual precipitation in the summer seasons. 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 arid western regions.
A major environmental issue in Zhenia is regarding its desertification occurring in its northwest and western regions, particularly around the Daeseo and Shingang Deserts. Although nationwide efforts to curb the growth of deserts, such as the formation of barrier tree lines and the implementation of more sustainable farming practices, have indeed showed meaningful decreases in sandstorm frequency and desert expansion, extended droughts in western Zhenia has failed to altogether halt desert expansion. There are speculations that around 2,000 km2 of steppe land are lost to deserts each year, with the rate of desertification set to further increase amid worsening drought conditions in western Zhenia.
Tsagaan Falls, in the midst of the Cheonsan Mountains, is the largest waterfall in the nation.
The Taimir River, the fourth-longest river in the world, traverses through much of mainland Zhenia.
Alluvial plains in Donggwang province, around the western edges of the Central Zhenian Plains.
Stable geological activity has resulted in the formation of long stretches of beaches in eastern Zhenia.
Coniferous forests tend to dominate the landscape of northeastern Zhenia.
Arid plateaus and deserts dominate the landscape of western Zhenia.
Wildlife
Situated at the crossroads of some of the world's most diverse ecozones, Zhenia is considered to be a megadiverse nation. Zhenia is said to be home to around 28,000 species of animals and vascular plants a considerable portion of which are native to Zhenia; the Haedong Islands alone are home to over 1,200 species of flowering plants that are found in very few quantities outside the archipelago. Zhenia is home to at least 450 species of mammals, 1,143 species of birds, 367 species of reptiles and 258 species of amphibians, while over 77,100 species of insects have been confirmed to exist in the nation.
The Ministry of the Environment oversees all environmental matters in the nation, including the maintenance of all of the nation's 1,659 nature reserves that cover around 19.4% of the nation's territory, as well as the protection of the nation's 677 endangered species both in the wild and in captivity. Alongside the National Panel for Climate and Ecology, it is also the governmental ministry primarily responsible for the nation's policies regarding environmental controversies, including its policies on nuclear energy, dealing with water and air pollution, as well as Zhenia's response to global warming.
Politics
Zhenia is a unitary 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 Republic of Zhenia, 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
Zhenia is ruled by a unitary government operating under a democratic system. In accordance to the Constitution, the government is divided into four separate branches - the bicameral legislative branch consisting of the Parliament of the Republic of Zhenia; the executive branch; the judicial branch, consisting of the Zhenian justice system; and the examination branch, consisting of the Jungchuwon.
The Executive Branch is led by the Chancellor, directly elected by a popular vote to serve a maximum of four five year terms. The Chancellor also serves as the head of state and commander-in-chief of the Republic of Zhenia Defense Forces. Although the day-to-day operations of the executive branch as a whole have been transferred to the Premier, the Chancellor retains the right to appoint ministers, secretaries and other members of the Executive Branch as well as the right to veto decisions from the executive and legislative branches. The Premier, on the other hand, is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Executive Branch and the Cabinet and is the de facto head of the administration. Appointment of the Premier, usually done by the Chancellor, requires the consent of the Sangseowon with a minimum of a 54% majority vote.
The Legislative Branch, symbolized by the Parliament of the Republic, is bicameral, consisting of the Sangseowon (Zhenian: 상서원/上書院) and the National Assembly (Zhenian: 국회/國會) respectively. Assemblymen in the Sangseowon can serve up to ten four-year terms as long as they are elected; each province-level district is represented by five Sangseowon assemblymen, thereby forming a total of 170 Sangseowon assemblymen. Members of the National Assembly are elected according to the National Electoral Districts in mind; representatives from such National Electoral Districts constitute 575 of the representatives, while 325 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 National Assembly with 900 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 National 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, as well as overseeing the operation of the nation's bureaucratic system - it manages the National Civil Service Examination (NCSE), required for entry into all civil servants and bureaucrats.
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, national administrative orders and regional orders has also been maintained since the Empire of Zhenia.
In practice, 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 prevalence 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.
Law enforcement in Zhenia is handled in two general levels - national and local. Law enforcement at the national level is primarily done by the National Police Agency (NPA), which normally handles law enforcement spanning over at least two province-level administrative areas and law enforcement against national security threats, such as terrorist threats and mass shootings. The National Department of Security (NDS) is occasionally involved in such incidents that threaten national security, although it is the NDI that retains the highest command in all law enforcement situations. Local-level law enforcement, forming the lower echelons of Zhenian law enforcement, is a part of the National Police Agency and handles law enforcement in areas under the direct command of the local, usually municipal government. Due to administrative differences, the Haedong Special Administrative Region has a prefecture-level police department instead of having its own provincial police department; while the prefecture police departments handle more day-to-day matters of law enforcement, the FDI steps up to take more roles in the special administrative region in particular.
Administrative divisions
The Republic of Zhenia is divided into 28 provinces, five metropolitan municipalities and one special city. The 34 provincial-level administrative divisions are the highest level of administrative subdivisions in Zhenia. Politically, provincial-level administrative divisions are assigned the equal number of Sangseowon assemblymen in the Sangseowon, while representatives in the National Assembly are assigned proportionate to the population of said administrative division. All 34 administrative divisions can be categorized into one of Zhenia's five geographical regions - the Danguk Peninsula (often referred to as Eastern Zhenia), Northern Zhenia, Central Zhenia, Western Zhenia and Southern Zhenia. All province-level administrative areas are assigned top-level provincial code numbers in accordance to such classification, with the numbers starting from Daedo Special City in the Danguk Peninsula and terminating at Hanju Province in Western Zhenia.
Each province-level administrative areas are then divided into 'prefectures' (Zhenian: 현/県) and 'independent cities' (Zhenian: 자유시/自由市), although the former tends to be more common. Prefectures consist of counties and municipalities, while independent cities in principle only consist of municipalities. Counties and municipalities are ultimately divided into smaller subdivisions known as 'boroughs' (Zhenian: 구/區) and neighborhoods referred to with the suffix '-dong' (Zhenian: 동/洞). The political structure of prefectures and independent cities are regional components of province-level politics, which are in turn governed by the Provincial Assembly and the Provincial Executive Branch.
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 Sangseowon.
Foreign Relations
Military
The Republic of Zhenia Defense Forces is the the military primarily in charge of the defense of Zhenia and its interests. With a total of around 1.8 million active troops, it is one of the largest standing military forces in the world. The Republic of Zhenia Defense Forces consist of four major branches - the Republic of Zhenia Army, the Republic of Zhenia Navy, the Republic of Zhenia Air Force and the Republic of Zhenia Strategic Forces. With a military expenditure of around $650.1 billion, it also has one of the highest military budgets by a single nation in the world, although its military expenditures-GDP ratio is around 2.9%.
Military service in Zhenia is voluntary, although the Ministry of Defense retains the right to conscription during wartime; for such reasons, all Zhenian citizens and permanent residents aged between 19 and 35 are annually tested for the National Military Fitness Assessment. Officers in the Republic of Zhenia 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 Republic of Zhenia 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 Republic of Zhenia 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 one of the highest stockpile of nuclear weapons in the world, with its Strategic Forces known to have over 3,600 nuclear warheads within its arsenal. Its 421-ship navy is one of the largest surface navies in the world by tonnage - being home to 7 aircraft carriers and nuclear-powered submarines in the world, operating numerous nuclear-powered attack and ballistic missile submarines, completing the nation's nuclear triad. With long-range air projection capabilities and naval coverage, the Republic of Zhenia Defense Forces maintain a strong presence in the Tarsis-Hanmaric region, although its long-term objective of achieving a similar level of presence globally remains relatively distant but still on the agenda. It maintains a total of 45 major military installations outside its borders, 16 of which are hosted by more than 2,000 personnel.
In the defense industry, 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 Chungmu main battle tank, the Z90 Divine Warrior, 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 Republic of Zhenia 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, working in tandem with the Jungchuwon and many national research institutes.
Demographics
Population
According to data from the 2020 census, the population of Zhenia as of June 1 2020 is estimated at 598,011,689. Of the 598 million inhabitants constituting the Zhenian population, almost 12 million inhabitants, or about 2% of the total population, were foreign-born residents, while around 39.1% of such foreign-born residents having naturalized and thereby acquired Zhenian citizenship. As of 2020, Zhenia is one of the most populous nation in the world with almost 600 million inhabitants, being home to almost 20% of the entire continent's population. Its population density, measured at 110.6 people per km2, over four times the global average. Almost 50% of the population reside on what is known as the Golden Arc region, along the coasts of the Gulf of Danguk, spanning from Balhae Province to Anam Province.
Historically, the percentage of population increase in Zhenia from 1950 to 2010 is around 102.3%, slightly lower than the global average. Such low population increase, despite the advent of baby boomers in the 1950s and 1960s, is primarily due to extensive family planning and social birth control policies carried out by the Third Republic's Ministry of the Interior. Such successful population control policies policies resulted in the overall decrease of the fertility rate to around 2.1 by 2000, just around the population replacement rate. Since the 2000s, the Zhenian population has reached a phase of steady increase, with most of the increase being a result of immigration from developing nations in Southeast and South Tarsis.
As of 2019, Zhenia has a birth rate of around 10.7 per 1,000 people and a death rate of around 8.4 per 1,000 people. Its population growth rate is positive at around 0.25% per year in 2019, with natural population growth generally stalling and foreign immigration taking up an increasing portion of the population change. The net fertility rate of Zhenian women dropped from 2.1 in 2000 to around 1.56 in 2020, mostly due to declining birth rates for young women and many ethnic minorities, although the birth rates for old women has seen a steady increase since the beginning of the century. Despite ever-diminishing total fertility rates and a rapidly aging population, Zhenia is expected to see an increase in population to 630 million by 2035, with most of the increase fueled by net immigration; the percentage of foreign-born residents in Zhenia is set to increase from 2% in 2020 to 3.5% by 2035.
Zhenia is home to one of the highest average life expectancies of the world, at 82.2 as of 2018. The median age in Zhenia is 37.9, although it is set to increase to 45 by 2040, due to declining fertility rates and the rapid aging of the baby boomers. As of 2019, around 9.7% of Zhenians today are ages 65 or older, making Zhenia an aging society; there are, however, projections that Zhenia will become an aged society by 2026, when Zhenians aged 65 and older are expected to constitute around 13.5% of the population.
Urbanization
Zhenia has seen rapid urbanization since its industrialization during the Empire of Zhenia, with around 81.5% of the nation's entire population living in urban areas as of 2019, a trend that is set to continue to increase. While a series of green belts were designated around major cities during the late 1960s at an attempt to curb the speed of urban expansion amid rapid urbanization, many of them have been deregulated in the wake of suburban development at the form of new towns. Due to relatively lax floor area ratio regulations and relatively limited land available for development, many Zhenian cities tend to be filled with high-density residential and commercial areas.
While 51 of the nation's cities have a population of over 1 million, only nine have a population of over 5 million - Daedo, Jinhae, Changan, Shinhang, Bakhan, Ariul, Geonju and Zhuhae. While Daedo remains the most populous urban area with over 21 million residents, Jinhae is the largest by area. Daedo by far forms the largest urban area in the nation, with the city being home to over 21 million residents within its borders alone, while the Greater Daedo Megalopolis, which combines parts of Chungmu Province with Daedo, is home to over 35 million residents. Jinhae, along with other cities in Balhae and Changbaek Provinces, has been the most rapidly-expanding urban areas in the nation, being currently home to around 24 million residents as of 2020, with projections claiming that the combined metropolitan area would be home to over 25 million residents by 2025.
Largest cities or towns in Zhenia
2019 Republic of Zhenia Bureau of Statistics census, gathered by prefecture-level areas | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Province-level division | Pop. | Rank | Province-level division | Pop. | ||||
 Daedo  Jinhae |
1 | Daedo | Daedo Special City | 21,617,281 | 11 | Daeheung | Seogwang Province | 3,905,531 |  Changan  Shinhang |
| 2 | Jinhae | Jinhae Metropolitan Municipality | 15,164,561 | 12 | Hanam | Bukhwa Province | 3,817,425 | ||
| 3 | Changan | Changan Metropolitan Municipality | 11,961,532 | 13 | Gwangseong | Gyeongcheon Province | 3,215,517 | ||
| 4 | Shinhang | Shinhang Metropolitan Municipality | 8,798,749 | 14 | Namgyeong | Imhae Province | 3,206,289 | ||
| 5 | Bakhan | Bakhan Metropolitan Municipality | 7,888,719 | 15 | Seongnam | Chungmu Province | 3,017,594 | ||
| 6 | Ariul | Ariul Metropolitan Municipality | 6,492,912 | 16 | Handan | Changbaek Province | 3,003,286 | ||
| 7 | Geonju | Donggwang Province | 5,891,378 | 17 | Shenchen | Balhae Province | 2,773,375 | ||
| 8 | Zhuhae | Balhae Province | 5,014,422 | 18 | Okpo | Anam Province | 2,581,154 | ||
| 9 | Guju | Taehwa Province | 4,618,438 | 19 | Namhwa | Gyeongjung Province | 2,445,716 | ||
| 10 | Hansan | Chungmu Province | 4,455,186 | 20 | Junggyeong | Namhwa Province | 2,232,375 | ||
Ethnicity
Zhenia, as a whole, is a multi-ethnic diverse nation, with no single ethnic group comprising over 50% of the population. The single largest ethnic group in Zhenia today is Dan Zhenias, the descendants of Zhenians originating from the Danguk Peninsula and northeastern Zhenia, who constitute around 44.4% of the nation's population. Traditionally, Wei Zhenians constituted the majority of Zhenia's population for thousands of years: a series of famines and wars during the Greater Wu, migration to Yinguo and cultural assimilation to Dan Zhenian after the Zhenian Civil War, resulted in the significant decrease in Wei Zhenian population in Zhenia. Due to diminishing cultural and genetic differences between the two ethnic groups, some statistics often categorize both Dan and Wei Zhenians into one ethnic group known as the Jin Zhenians - in this context, Jin Zhenians are the single ethnic majority in the nation, constituting around 87% of the nation's population.
Although outnumbering the Jin Zhenians only in the Uilim, Karavankon and Macheon provinces and the Haedong Special Administrative Region, ethnic minority groups aside from the Shin Zhenians together make up the remaining 14% of the nation's population, or around 110 million. Yemeg Zhenians, originating from the semi-nomadic tribes of northeastern Zhenia, constitute 4.3% of the population, while the Balakhaat Zhenians from the north form 3.6% of the population. While a vast majority of Yemeg and Balakhaat Zhenians reside near their homelands, there has been considerable migration of such ethnic groups across Zhenia, a phenomenon still ongoing to this day. Diaspora of Haedong Zhenians, the smallest single minority group that constitutes over 1% of the population, are mostly found in the Haedong Islands and the eastern coastal regions of the Danguk Peninsula. The remaining 3.1% of the nation's residents are ethnic minorities that exist in smaller regions around the nation, as well as foreign-born immigrants mostly originating from Southeast Tarsis.
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 Wei 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 Wei Zhenian culture and partly in consideration of the widespread usage of Seomun in Zhenia as an ideogram; to this day, Seomun and Jinmun are occasionally marked together in numerous situations, such as public signs and text announcements in public locations, although in principle only Jinmun is accepted as the legitimate script of the nation.
As of 2019, 28 million people use a language other than Zhenian as their primary language - prevalent languages include Haedongese (5,681,185 first language speakers), Yemegese (4,993,881) and Balakhaat (4,455,818). 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. Many members of such minority groups, however, have adopted Zhenian as their primary language since the late 19th century, resulting in an ever-diminishing share of languages other than Zhenian as the first languages of the nation.
Religion
Zhenia is formally a secular nation, with its 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 have identified themselves as followers of Zhenian Wuism. Oriental Vayonism, a tract of Vayonism that had existed since Zhenian-Auroran interactions during the 19th century, maintains a considerable hold in the nation, being followed by over 6% of the nation's entire population. The Church of Shinheung, a derivative of Wuism formally declared heretic by most tracts of Zhenian Wuism, also constitutes around 2.5% of the population, primarily in southern and wester Zhenia. Numerous local faiths, primarily followed by ethnic minorities, persist in smaller pockets across the nation.
Health
Helathcare is universal in Zhenia, provided through the insurance system of the National Health Service including basic healthcare, diagnosis and financial support for sudden medical needs. The National 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 National Health Service, retain an autonomy in their decisions, despite being owned by the government. In providing financial support on medical care, he National Health Service analyzes the need of each family on a needs-tested basis. Apart from the National 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.
Welfare
Traditionally, various entities in Zhenia has valued the welfare of the people as a major component upholding the rule of the ruling class; the motto of the Republic, "Liberty, Democracy and the Liberty of the People", elevated this notion of welfare to an official level, to the degree of one of the three pillars mandating the Union's existence. Hence, it has been regarded as the duty of those in power to open the ways for even the most unfortunate of Zhenian society to get by, through an array of different methods, although the policy since the Third and Fourth Republics has been formulated around a self-saving basis.
While social welfare is currently covered both by government and private companies, much of the social welfare effort in Zhenia had been centered around medical care and financial support for the ill, disabled and the old; the Third Republic introduced social safety nets for the unfortunate and the unemployed, becoming the fundamentals of the National Social Support system still functioning today. Recent efforts in the nation's welfare system has been geared towards developing pension and insurance systems for the nation's aging population, as previously solid notions of traditional support within the family has been weakening for welfare recipients.
Social welfare spending in Zhenia over the years has increased dramatically, taking up almost 15% of the national budget as of FY2019. The unemployed and the bottom 5% of the income tier are eligible to receive official aid from the government, although the former can receive such for up to a four-month period; in return, the government offers numerous programs that link governmental aid to employment, in accordance to the principle of self-saving. All Zhenian employees, registered in the National Social Support System, are eligible for governmental post-retirement pensions after their retirement age of 70.
Since 1959, the Government of Zhenia has mandated every Zhenian employee to put aside a minimum of 15% of their after-tax salaries into a government-designated savings account, while the percentage is 12% for employers; the funds gathered from such savings, functioning under a lifelong payment scheme, are used to guarantee affordable medical healthcare nationwide in tandem with the National Health Service, as well as funding for the nation's post-retirement pension scheme.
Education
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 National 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 Daedo, Changan Institute of Technology and Gaehwa 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
A mixed post-industrial economy, the Zhenian economy is regarded as one of the largest economies 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 Jinmu, Hanshin, Raon, OneMobile, Rotunda and PetroEast.
Transportation, Infrastructure and Energy
Zhenia's large investment on paved roads across the nation is evident by the existence of the vast network of National Expressways and national roads. Spanning a total length of over 140,000 kilometers, the Zhenian National Expressway system and the Zhenia National Road 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 rapid transit services of many major cities, such as the Daedo Metropolitan Subway, the Jinhae Metro and the Changan Metro. Hundreds of ZNX high-speed trains connect major cities with daily services 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 Daedo-Changan Line by 2030, at an attempt to relieve congestion in what is one of the busiest railroads in the world.
Being home to 501 operating airports as of 2019, Zhenia is one of the world's largest aviation market, serving almost 1.3 billion passengers as of 2019, via both domestic and international flights. Daedo 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.
Inland water transport is also active in the nation, primarily through the Taimir River, the Central Canal of Zhenia and the Danguk Peninsula Grand Canal. Although slow in speed, inland water transport remains the most affordable mode of cargo transport by price per ton/kilometer and still plays a key role in connecting inland industrial bases with coastal cities. In terms of seaborne transport, Zhenia is home to the largest ports in the world due to its economic size, hosting 5 of the 10 largest ports in the world, with the largest being the Port of Jinhae.
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'. A focus on increasing the percentage of nuclear power in the grid, as well as wind and solar power in the northern and western parts of the nation, has been on the agenda to achieve such 'coal-exit energy plan'.
As of 2019, a vast majority of Zhenia's electricity demands is met by nuclear power, accounting for roughly 56.5% 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 43.5%. 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. Private enterprises are allowed to both own power plants and generate electric power and provide electricity into the nation's power grid owned by the Zhenia National Electric Company, but in principle the ZNEC is the exclusive electric service provider at the end of the user. Other basic services, such as water supply, are also managed by public companies in which the Government of Zhenia maintains a majority stake in.
The Ministry of Science, Technology and Telecommunications is responsible for the development and maintenance of telecommunication networks throughout the nation, 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 500 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
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, owing partly due to national support in scientific research and technological advancement via institutions and systems dating back to the Shindan dynasty.
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 much of the governmental development, Zhenia has one of the highest scientific expenditures in the world, totaling at $928.3 billion as of FY2020. Numerous Zhenian scientists have won international awards in the natural and applied sciences, as well as mathematics; Zhenia is also home to the selection committee of the Dashan Prize, an international prize recognizing contributions in the scientific academia given by the Jungchuwon.
Numerous national universities, including the University of Daedo, Changan Institute of Technology and the National University of Ariul, as well as higher institutes directly operated by the Jungchuwon and numerous private institutions supported by the government, 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 in various fields. The Jungchuwon, in particular, is in charge of operating some of the highest levels of Zhenian academia, such as the National 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 ZHCC 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 1964 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.
Tourism
With a total of 80 million international tourists visiting Zhenia in 2019, Zhenia is ranked as one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world. The figure of 80 million excludes people staying less than 24 hours, particularly those who are transferring fights during a layover in Zhenian airports. It is also the largest in income from tourism, which now contribute to roughly 4-5% of the nation's GDP. Its vast geographic expanse, as well as its central position as the nexus of eastern Tarsis, makes it an attractive tourist destination in the region as well as the world. In terms of single cities, Daedo is the largest tourist destination in the nation, welcoming well over 20 million international visitors a year, followed by Jinhae (12.4 million) and Dongdo (12.1 million).
Culture
Architecture
Due to the vast size of its domain, architecture in Zhenia varied considerably from region to region, although retaining numerous similarities due to cultural proliferation during the Zhen dynasty. Hence, Zhenian architecture is a mix of local and other influences, made possible through the influx and outflux of various cultures throughout its history. Some common characteristics found across almost all Zhenian architecture include the adoption of bracket systems on the roofs and floors, as well as elegantly-curved, tiled roofs with lifting eaves. An emphasis on symmetry and horizontal layout, based primarily on brick and stone within a wooden framework, dominated most of the history of Zhenian architecture. Local differences, however, were also observed: northern regions and the Danguk peninsula generally feature stone-heated floors for heating in the winter seasons, while southern regions generally have bigger areas allocated to the wooden floor that serve as common areas.
Social class showed stark contrasts in classic Zhenian architecture as well - while the rich can afford more colorful roof tiles, generally pursue height in their architecture and have nature-imitating courtyards and pavilions within their homes, commoners normally resorted to using black roof tiles and simple, lower styles. Imperial Zhenian architecture in the Danguk peninsula and the mainland alike generally utilized golden roof tiles and damson walls, signifying the blessing of heaven given to the rulers. The symbolism of the four guardian animals - the phoenix, the azure dragon, the white tiger and the black tortoise. as well as the Heavenly Bird, are also widely used themes in Zhenian architecture, particularly proportionate with social class.
Zhenian architecture began to embrace more western styles of architecture since the early 19th century, resulting in the coexistence of classical Zhenian architecture and the neoclassical boom in Zhenian architecture. Public buildings built during this time, such as the Daedo Central Station, are an accurate case of Zhenian philosophy of ultimately overcoming Auroran influences and pursuing the midpoint between west and east. Following the Zhenian victory in the First Great War, however, a revival of classic Zhenian architecture, augmented with western architectural techniques, emerged; while the general layout of buildings resembled classic Zhenian buildings, the techniques and specific details of each component drifted closer to its Auroran counterparts, evident by buildings such as the National Parliament Hall. The resurgence of classic Zhenian architecture, as well as its coexistence with western styles, was a trend that continued well into the 1950s. It was also during this period that art deco was introduced to Zhenia from Florencia.
The Third Republic under Kim Shimin promoted brutalist architecture, suppressed art deco and State modernism, at an attempt to promote Zhenian resurgence with efficiency. The trend of brutalist architecture was eventually replaced by the dawn of neo-futurism and high-tech architecture, as reinforced concrete made way to reinforced steel and glass structures. Contemporary Zhenian architecture, particularly since the late 1990s, generally follow the notion of harmony in nature, integrating nearby nature into previously neo-futurist architecture - this was reinforced by the Green Buildings Act of 2004, which specified the levels of green space, energy and water self-sufficiency for all new buildings built in the nation.
Art
Zhenian art, also showing some cultural diversity, has undergone numerous different phases throughout its history. With much of Zhenia having been influenced by Zhenian Wuism and Faith of Pyeonggwang, early Zhenian movements tend to depict scenes from religious books, such as the the Tale of the Jinshan-gong in Zhenian Wuism. Paintings at the time were done on either paper or Template:Silk, although affluent households tended to have paintings on folding screens. Zhenian paintings at the time were drawn with brushes and colors of varying degree, with religious paintings tending to be colorful and non-religious, personal paintings tending to use a normal maximum of five colors other than black. Non-religious paintings tended to depict scenes of nature, people and landscapes in idealistic situations, as the Faith of Pyeonggwang believed that art was a way of approaching the ideals of the world - a predominant trend in Zhenian art that lasted until the Shindan dynasty.
While luxurious, decorative and idealistic art saw a golden age in most of mainland Zhenia, Zhenian paintings started to deviate from idealistic, picturesque scenes and into more realistic, daily lives of the people starting from the first half of the Shindan dynasty. Such artistic movements were spearheaded by artists such as Hyosang Lee. The same artists led move ments to depict actual landscapes as opposed to text-described versions in their work as well. Western styles were introduced in Zhenian art during the second half of the Shindan dynasty, with more colorful techniques and light-tracking impressionist methods ultimately forming schools of artistic thought known as Zhenian Impressionism. Western art techniques have been widely employed to create a trend of Zhenian Realism, involving the depiction of realistic landscape and nature as opposed to previously idealistic depictions of the same subject. Since then, western artistic styles have coexisted with traditional Zhenian art ever since, although it has been traditional Zhenian art that has been more popular among collectors.
Like paintings, early Zhenian sculptures truly started from primarily bronze or marble sculptures depicting human beings and scenes, particularly those related to Zhenian Wuism. Large sculptures depicting humans, deities and other immortal religious beings were built at temples and public areas. Later, sculptures were used to depict immortalized figures for memorials, using stone and metals other than bronze for artistic diversity. The dawn of the modern age in sculpture started with the introduction of abstract sculptures, starting in the mid-1920s.
Modern Zhenian art since the 20th century has been characterized by an era of cubism, surrealism, dadaism and other avant-garde styles, while merges between western and Zhenian art techniques have been attempted by several artists. Abstract art has also seen light in Zhenia, primarily with existing themes being modified into abstract art, intended as a philosophical answer to the ever-chaotic modern world.
Cuisine
Although showing considerable variation from region to region, Zhenian cuisine is generally centered around rice, vegetables and meats, or fish in coastal regions. Although stir-fried versions are also observed in some regions, Zhenian grained rice is frequently steam-cooked and served with an assorted set of side dishes alongside broth or soup. Inland regions tend to have a variety of soy-based ingredients (such as tofu alongside meat-based ingredients and flavorings in their cuisine, while the more coastal areas see fish-related ingredients and seafood-derived seasonings more common. Usage of often fermented spices and sauces, such as red pepper paste, is very common across all of Zhenia, although the custom mostly originated in the Danguk peninsula and central Zhenia. Zhenian food is normally eaten with long, generally metal chopsticks and spoons.
Among the major cuisines of the nation, four of them are often regarded as the best - Danguk, Balhae, Bukhwa and Seogwang. Each major cuisine in the nation has its own characteristics. While Danguk cuisine is normally dominated by the extensive usage of fermented spices and sauces as well as generally hot, spicy tastes, Balhae cuisine is also well-known for its generally sweet, spicy and intense tastes. Hwabuk cuisine is well-characterized by its generally sweet taste, deep-fried culinary methods and variance in its ingredients, whereas Seogwang cuisine employs slow grilling and smoking as its main culinary techniques. While pork and chicken are two of the most commonly used meats in Zhenian cuisine, the usage of beef and horse meat have skyrocketed since the late 19th century. Zhenian cuisine has generally received more influences from western cuisine styles, with western ingredients and culinary methods being fused with mainstream Zhenian culinary traditions since then.
Film and Cinema
Cinema was introduced to Zhenia in 1903, when the first Zhenian film "The Last Train to Daedo" was filmed by Asmar Shin the same year. Although cinematic history in Zhenia started out with filmed versions of Zhenian traditional plays and skits, it became a widely-used means of propaganda by the beginning of the First Great War, with the Ministry of War running propaganda footage of Zhenian soldiers fighting in the Eurian Campaign all across the nation to boost the war effort. Although film production was traditionally centered around Daedo, the center of film production in the nation shifted to Jinhae and Balhae Province by the 1920s. Zhuhae today, dubbed the "movie capital of Zhenia", rose to become one of the major centers of the global film industry.
Literature
The roots of Zhenian literature can be tracked down to the later stages of the Liang dynasty, when great scholars left texts regarding astrology, history and mythology, while some records, including the Gojinga, also hint towards the existence of early forms of epic poems. Legalist literature, as well as shorter free poems dominated Zhenian literature during the Era of Great Divide. Literature during the Zhen dynasty saw the formal inscription of Wuist texts and teachings of Jinshan-gong, mostly at the form of catechetic texts simulating a conversation between Jinshan-gong and his followers, as well as the advent of more formalized Shisas (Zhenian: 시사/時辭) written mostly by scholars and government officials, a trend that continued until the Empire of Zhenia. Zhenian classical fiction met a new era with the advent of novels after the fall of the Zhen dynasty at the form of Gunseols, based on tales of lords and heroes and mostly written with romanticism.
The creation of the Jinmun script during the Shindan dynasty opened a completely new age in Zhenian literature, as poems, Shisas and other works of classical fiction previously written in Seomun were rewritten in Jinmun and opened the gateway for commoners to participate in formal literature composition as well. Shisas, previously subject to rigid rules in structure and format, were modified by commoners during the later days of the Shindan dynasty, while novels and Gunseols, previously depicting legends and fictitious tales, proliferated into the realm of reality in the topics they covered, with realistic plots and settings. Mainland Zhenian literature, although mostly still written in Seomun, showed astonishing progresses in nonfiction literature, with active publishing of numerous encyclopedias covering the history, folklore and culture of mainland Zhenia during the Zhu dynasty and the Greater Wu.
Introduction of Auroran literature into Zhenia since the 19th century brought a new turn in Zhenian literary history, resulting the advent of new style novels closely mirroring those of Auroran novels popular at the time. It was also during such era of literary fusion that many of Zhenia's most-honored authors, including Jeong Uishin and Ma Yeongseop, left pioneering works capturing fundamental aspects of human character and realism. Various new genres, such as young adult fiction, scar literature and chaotic poetry, emerged in Zhenia in the early 20th century. Contemporary Zhenian literature is led by tracts of literature pursuing philosophical answers to the realistic world, covering the previously-neglected minority cultures and social groups in Zhenian society and works seeking alternatives to the modern world.
Media
Zhenia is home to various media sources with free press. While there are many daily newspapers the popularities of which vary from region to region, the two main daily newspapers in the the nation remains to be the Zhenia Shinbo (진국신보) Daedo Daily (대도일보), with the former being a part of the state-funded Zhenia Broadcasting Network. Zhenia is also home to various other daily and evening newspapers that vary in their primary region and their political views, such as the Danguk Herald, the Central Shinbo, the New Sea and the Haedong Times. Although domestic editions of most newspapers feature only Zhenian versions, international editions often feature Elyrian and Valentian editions as well.
The Zhenia Broadcasting System (ZBS), also part of the Zhenia Broadcasting Network, is Zhenia's oldest and largest publicly funded radio, television and internet broadcaster, with numerous television and radio broadcasting stations, both domestic and international, under its name. Numerous other civilian broadcasters, both nationwide and regional, operate throughout the nation as well: however, civilian broadcasters are subject to strict competition laws to prevent the advent of civilian media monopolies. Private broadcasters are primarily funded by viewer contributions, advertising, subscription fees and donations. Digital television broadcasting was introduced in 2000 and had ultimately ousted all analogue television broadcasting when analogue service officially ended in January 1, 2010.
Due to extensive investments in internet infrastructure, around 90.4% of the Zhenian population was said to have access to the internet, making Zhenia home to one of the largest internet populations in the world. Its most frequently visited website by average daily traffic is Mirinae, a Zhenian search engine that was launched in 1995.
Music
Philosophy
Holidays
There are many official public holidays in Zhenia to celebrate changes in season as well as to commemorate historical events. Among such days, four of them - Memorial Day, Foundation Day, National Day, Republic Day - are referred to as the "Four Great Holidays of Zhenia", with a majority of private firms employers as well as the government allowing day off with few exceptions. Foundation Day celebrates the day upon which the Zhen dynasty unified what is all of modern-day Zhenia. Memorial Day, on February 21, honors all members who served in the nation's uniformed services to protect Zhenia. National Day, on June 4, commemorates the establishment of the Empire of Zhenia as the beginning of modern Zhenia. Republic Day, on December 1, commemorates the success of the November Revolution in 1979 and the reestablishment of democracy in Zhenia. All four of such holidays are accompanied by nationwide commemorations or celebrations, often involving military parades, historical reenactments and sports events.
While Zhenia currently observes a solar-based calendar similar to the Elyrian calendar, it has traditionally observed the lunar calendar throughout most of its history, the legacy of which continues to this day with the existence of many lunar-based holidays.
Society
Sports
Theater
See Also
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