Population lssue

People

In the ancient past, Koreans had a deep fondness for the country's picturesque landscape of mountains and rivers. In addition to this attachment to the land, they developed a love for their fellow tribal members who shared the same territory and long history.

Indeed, one of the most outstanding aspects of the Korean character is the deeply rooted sense of homogeneity. From ancient times, Koreans have proudly referred to themselves as a distinct people, a concept which implies several specific ideas. First, Koreans think of themselves as a consanguineous community of descendants from a single common ancestor. Second, they see themselves as a linguistic community united by a single language. Third, they consider themselves to be a community embodying a unique culture. Fourth, they are united geographically as a group that has lived on the Korean Peninsula since ancient times. Fifth, they are united by the common experiences of a community which has survived millenniums of invasions and external pressure. Koreans have maintained this multifaceted identity as a people throughout their extensive history. As a result, they have never felt the need to distinguish between people and nation. This notion of people and nation as an inseparable unity does not exist in neighboring nations such as China and Japan, and of course is rarely seen in the West. To this extent, Korean's traditional character is truly unique.

From ancient to modern times, the Korean people have been subject to countless invasions from the mighty peoples and nations that have surrounded them.

In the areas adjacent to Korea, there have been many powerful nations that have risen to power within similar conditions, only to fade into history. Unlike these nations, Koreans have somehow managed to maintain a unique culture and identity, and this identity as a distinct people has served as a protective force against invaders throughout Korea's tumultuous history.

As a people at the eastern end of the Eurasian continent, Koreans have, since ancient times, formed their culture through active contacts and positive adaptations of the diverse cultures of the continent. For example, Korea's exuberant bronze culture was introduced not only from nearby China, but also from far away Scythia. In this way, Korea was exposed to cultural elements from the migration of peoples on the Eurasian continent and the consequent exchanges between East and West. Hence from the remote past, the Korean people attempted to harmonize and combine two conflicting perspectives: the exclusive ideal of a unique people and openness toward the world's diverse cultures.

The Korean mind thus embraces certain ambivalence. On the one hand, it is affected by the sense of exclusiveness inherent in the concept of a unique people. On the other hand, it is characterized by a positive and open attitude towards new cultural elements. This complex attitude stems from Korea's long historic experience and was already clearly evident during the Three Kingdoms (Koguryo/Goguryeo, Paekje and Silla). As each of these three monarchies was established, they adopted Chinese writing in order to administer their respective domains. In spite of this positive introduction of Chinese culture, each kingdom was politically independent of China. At times, the kingdoms even cooperated in order to drive Chinese forces away from the Korean Peninsula. This ambivalent attitude towards outside cultures remained during the Koryo(Goryeo) and Choson(Joseon) periods, and is commonly seen in modern-day Korean culture as well.

The various states of the peninsula were unified for the first time under the Koryo Kingdom(918A.D. to 1392). Such homogeneity has enabled Koreans to be relatively free from ethnic problems and to maintain a firm solidarity with one another.

How is the average life span of people increasing?

The average span of life was 38 years up to the liberation of the country in 1945. The average life span of people has grown rapidly since the establishment of the popular public health system after liberation. Average life expectancy increased to 58.3 in 1960, 63.8 in 1969, 66 in 1972, 73 in 1976. It has grown to 74.3(70.0 for men, 77.3 for women) in 1986. After 1991, the population of DPRK is approximately 22 million with a population growth rate expected to decline to about 1.5 percent per annum.

The population of DPR Korea is 24million(October 2009) with a population- more than Australia and almost as many people as Canada. It is also in a very strategic location, close to China, Russia and Japan, growth rate is up 200,000 per annum. Expectancy of life for females is 69 years and for males 65 years.  Young children of school going age are not required to join the labor force; the age of retirement being 60. The general population is highly educated and well trained with fluent in English, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Arabic and French speaking workforces and very willing to work.

 Its work force is estimated at 9 million of which about 49% are women. The system of universal compulsory 11 year school education was instituted in 1975 with the result that illiteracy has been almost totally wiped out from the country. The capital city of Pyongyang has a population of over 2 million and almost 50% of country’s population has already been urbanized. Otherwise DPR Korea is a homogeneous national state in which people of the same blood have lived on the same territory using the same language and customs

Social indicators

Population growth rate 2005-2010 (% per annum)  0.3  

Population aged 0-14 years in 2008 (%)  22.2  

Population aged 60+ years in 2008 (women and men, % of total)  17.9/11.9  

Sex ratio in 2008 (men per 100 women)  97.5  

Life expectancy at birth 2005-2010 (women and men, years)  69.3/65.1  

Infant mortality rate 2005-2010 (per 1 000 live births)  48.2  

Total fertility rate 2005-2010 (live births per woman)  1.9  

Contraceptive prevalence (ages 15-49, %)  68.6  

Urban population in 2007 (%)  62.3  

Urban population growth rate 2005-2010 (% per annum)  0.9  

Rural population growth rate 2005-2010 (% per annum)  –0.6  

International migrant stock (% of total population)  0.2 Estimates.  

Parliamentary seats (women and men, % of total)  20.1/79.9