their stunning growth and how this will affect groups like women and young people who have traditionally been left out of the power structure in South Korea (Keating, 1997, p. 31).
Although Korea has only recently found itself a part of the global stage, it is a country with a rich and complex past. Early history shows that they had a huge influence on ancient Japan, and their historic achievements include being the first culture to use metal moveable type for printing books. However, much of it is less positive. Korean history is marred with political violence, poverty, and war, aspects that would sooner be forgotten by the Koreans, who are trying to focus on their promising future. The fact that Korean history has eluded much of the world is unfortunate, but as Korea becomes more of a global player, the understanding and appreciation for this unique nation has become indispensable.
Some basic background facts about the country will be useful in helping us to understand the ways in which it has changed in the past two generations. South KoreaÆs population more than doubled in the period 1950-90. From 1960, however, birth and mortality rates decreased rapidly. The decrease in the birth rate was caused chiefly by a national campaign for family planning conducted since 1965. It also reflected an overall increase in living standards, considerable growth in the number of educated people, and the shift from a rural and agrarian to an urban and industrial society Breen, 1999, p. 31).
The rapid increase in the urban population and the resultant depopulation of vast rural areas are South KoreaÆs main demographic issues. Three-fourths of the population is classed as urban, with roughly half living in the country's six largest cities. Thus, although the country's rate of population growth is low, its overall population density is high (some two and a half times that of North Korea) with huge concentrations of people in the major citi...