Editing Korea (section)

==Demographics==
{{Main|Koreans|Demographics of South Korea|Demographics of North Korea}}
{{As of|2023}}, the combined population of the Koreas is about 77.9 million (South Korea: 51.7 million, North Korea: 26.1 million).{{UN_Population|ref}} Korea is chiefly populated by a highly [[wikt:homogeneous|homogeneous]] [[ethnic]] group, the [[Koreans]], who speak the [[Korean language]].<ref>{{cite web | work = Aparc | url = http://aparc.stanford.edu/news/koreas_ethnic_nationalism_is_a_source_of_both_pride_and_prejudice_according_to_giwook_shin_20060802/ | title = Korea's ethnic nationalism is a source of both pride and prejudice, according to Gi-Wook Shin | publisher = Stanford | access-date = 3 November 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110720053258/http://aparc.stanford.edu/news/koreas_ethnic_nationalism_is_a_source_of_both_pride_and_prejudice_according_to_giwook_shin_20060802 | archive-date = 20 July 2011 | url-status = dead}}</ref> The number of foreigners living in Korea has also steadily increased since the late 20th century, particularly in South Korea, where more than 1 million foreigners reside.<ref>{{Citation | date = 24 February 2009 | newspaper = [[Los Angeles Times]] | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-feb-24-fg-korea-teach24-story.html | title = Trying to teach South Korea about discrimination | first = John M. | last = Glionna | access-date = 16 August 2009 | archive-date = 17 November 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161117013706/http://articles.latimes.com/2009/feb/24/world/fg-korea-teach24 | url-status = live }}</ref> It was estimated in 2006 that only 26,700 of the old [[Ethnic Chinese in Korea|Chinese community]] now remain in South Korea.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/152641.html|date=29 August 2006|access-date=8 December 2006|title=No 'real' Chinatown in S. Korea, the result of xenophobic attitudes|last=Kim|first=Hyung-jin|publisher=[[Yonhap News Agency]]|archive-date=5 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105130257/http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/152641.html|url-status=live}}</ref> However, in recent years, immigration from mainland China has increased; 624,994 persons of [[People's Republic of China|Chinese]] nationality have immigrated to South Korea, including 443,566 of [[Ethnic Koreans in China|ethnic Korean]] descent.<ref name="million">{{cite web|url=http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/08/06/2009080600243.html|title=More Than 1 Million Foreigners Live in Korea|work=[[The Chosun Ilbo]]|date=6 August 2009|access-date=16 August 2009|archive-date=9 September 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090909061931/http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/08/06/2009080600243.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Small communities of ethnic Chinese and [[Japanese people in North Korea|Japanese]] are also found in North Korea.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/korea-north/ | work = The World Factbook | title = Korea, North | publisher = CIA | access-date = 3 November 2009 | archive-date = 27 September 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210927094507/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/korea-north/ | url-status = live }}</ref>

{{Largest cities
| country      = Korea
| stat_ref     = Sources: [https://web.archive.org/web/20100331091148/http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/sources/census/2010_PHC/North_Korea/Final%20national%20census%20report.pdf 2008 North Korean census] and [http://kostat.go.kr/portal/korea/kor_nw/2/1/index.board?bmode=read&aSeq=356061 2015 South Korean census]
| class = info
| div_name     = Province
| div_link     = <!-- the template will automatically create a link for "div_name of country" (e.g. Provinces of Chile), if this doesn't work you can use this field -->

| city_1 = Seoul | div_1 = Seoul | pop_1 = 9,904,312 | img_1 = Westward view from Lotte World Tower.jpg
| city_2 = Busan | div_2 = Busan | pop_2 = 3,448,737 | img_2 = View of Busan from Busan Tower.jpg
| city_3 = Pyongyang | div_3 = Pyongyang | pop_3 = 3,255,288 | img_3 = Pyongyang western view April 2010.jpg
| city_4 = Incheon | div_4 = Incheon | pop_4 = 2,890,451 | img_4 = Incheon Grand Bridge.jpg
| city_5 = Daegu | div_5 = Daegu | pop_5 = 2,446,052
| city_6 = Daejeon | div_6 = Daejeon | pop_6 = 1,538,394
| city_7 = Gwangju | div_7 = Gwangju | pop_7 = 1,502,881
| city_8 = Suwon | div_8 = Gyeonggi | pop_8 = 1,194,313
| city_9 = Ulsan | div_9 = Ulsan | pop_9 = 1,166,615
| city_10 = Changwon | div_10 = South Gyeongsang | pop_10 = 1,059,241
| city_11 = Goyang | div_11 = Gyeonggi | pop_11 = 990,073
| city_12 = Yongin | div_12 = Gyeonggi | pop_12 = 971,327
| city_13 = Seongnam | div_13 = Gyeonggi | pop_13 = 948,757
| city_14 = Bucheon | div_14 = Gyeonggi | pop_14 = 843,794
| city_15 = Cheongju | div_15 = North Chungcheong | pop_15 = 833,276
| city_16 = Hamhung | div_16 = South Hamgyong  | pop_16 = 768,551
| city_17 = Ansan | div_17 = Gyeonggi | pop_17 = 747,035
| city_18 = Chongjin | div_18 = North Hamgyong  | pop_18 = 667,929
| city_19 = Jeonju | div_19 = North Jeolla | pop_19 = 658,172
| city_20 = Cheonan | div_20 = South Chungcheong | pop_20 = 629,062
}}

===Language===
{{Main|Korean language|Korean Sign Language}}
{{Unreferenced section|date=August 2019}}
[[File:Hunmin jeong-eum.jpg|thumb|upright|''[[Hunminjeongeum]]'', afterwards called [[Hangul]].]]
[[Korean language|Korean]] is the official language of both North and South Korea, and (along with Mandarin) of [[Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture]] in [[Jilin Province]], [[China]]. Worldwide, there are up to 80 million speakers of the Korean language. South Korea has around 50 million speakers while North Korea around 25 million. Other large groups of Korean speakers through [[Korean diaspora]] are found in [[People's Republic of China|China]], the [[United States]], [[Japan]], former [[Soviet Union]] and elsewhere.

Modern Korean is written almost exclusively in the script of the [[Hangul|Korean alphabet]] (known as Hangul in South Korea and Chosungul in China and North Korea), which was invented in the 15th century. Korean is sometimes written with the addition of some Chinese characters called Hanja; however, this is only occasionally seen nowadays.

===Religion===
{{Main|Religion in Korea|Religion in South Korea|Religion in North Korea}}
{{See also|Korean shamanism|Korean Confucianism|Korean Buddhism|Taoism in Korea|Christianity in Korea|Islam in Korea}}
[[File:Korea south kangnung kyongpodae.jpg|thumb|Korean Buddhist architecture]]
[[File:Goryeo Buddhist painting.jpg|thumb|upright|''Amitabha and Eight Great Bodhisattvas'', Goryeo scroll from the 1300s]]
[[Confucian]] tradition has dominated Korean thought, along with contributions by [[Buddhism]], [[Taoism]], and [[Korean Shamanism]]. Since the middle of the 20th century, however, [[Christianity]] has competed with Buddhism in South Korea, while religious practice has been suppressed in North Korea. Throughout Korean history and culture, regardless of separation; the influence of traditional beliefs of Korean Shamanism, Mahayana Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism have remained an underlying religion of the Korean people as well as a vital aspect of their culture; all these traditions have coexisted peacefully for hundreds of years up to today despite strong Westernisation from Christian missionary conversions in the South<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.korea.net/korea/kor_loca.asp?code=U05 | work = About Korea | title = Religion |publisher=Korea | access-date=3 November 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080731234901/http://www.korea.net/korea/kor_loca.asp?code=U05 |archive-date = 31 July 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | work = Japan to Mali | url = http://www.everyculture.com/wc/Japan-to-Mali/South-Koreans.html | title = South Koreans | publisher = Every Culture | access-date = 3 November 2009 | archive-date = 23 July 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100723044101/http://www.everyculture.com/wc/Japan-to-Mali/South-Koreans.html | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.everyculture.com/Ja-Ma/South-Korea.html | title= Culture of South Korea | publisher= Every Culture | access-date= 3 November 2009 | archive-date= 25 December 2018 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181225034019/https://www.everyculture.com/Ja-Ma/South-Korea.html | url-status= live }}</ref> or the pressure from the [[Juche]] [[Government of North Korea|government]] in the North.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.everyculture.com/Ja-Ma/North-Korea.html |title= Culture of North Korea |publisher= Every Culture |access-date= 3 November 2009 |archive-date= 25 December 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181225033958/https://www.everyculture.com/Ja-Ma/North-Korea.html |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/korea-north/ | work = The World Factbook | title = North Korea: people | publisher = CIA | location = US | access-date = 3 November 2009 | archive-date = 27 September 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210927094507/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/korea-north/ | url-status = live }}</ref>

According to 2005 statistics compiled by the South Korean government, about 46% of citizens profess to follow no particular religion. [[Christianity in Korea|Christians]] account for 29.2% of the population (of which are Protestants 18.3% and Catholics 10.9%) and [[Korean Buddhism|Buddhists]] 22.8%.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2008/108411.htm | work = International Religious Freedom Report | year = 2008 | title = Korea, Republic of | publisher = Department of State | location = [[United States of America|US]] | access-date = 3 November 2009 | archive-date = 1 October 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181001085824/https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2008/108411.htm | url-status = live }}</ref> In North Korea, around 71.3% claim to be non-religious or atheists, 12.9% follow [[Cheondoism]] and 12.3% [[Korean shamanism|Korean Folk Religion]], while Christians count for 2% of the population, and Buddhists as 1.5%.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pewforum |date=2 April 2015 |title=Religious Composition by Country, 2010–2050 |url=https://www.pewforum.org/2015/04/02/religious-projection-table/ |access-date=9 March 2022 |website=Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project |language=en-US |archive-date=8 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220308135450/https://www.pewforum.org/2015/04/02/religious-projection-table/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Islam in South Korea]] is practised by about 45,000 natives (about 0.09% of the population) in addition to some 100,000 foreign workers from Muslim countries.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.islamawareness.net/Asia/KoreaSouth/ks_news002.html |title=The Korea Times: Islam takes root and blooms |publisher=Islam awareness |date=22 November 2002 |access-date=3 November 2009 |archive-date=8 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208153147/http://www.islamawareness.net/Asia/KoreaSouth/ks_news002.html |url-status=live }}</ref> While in North Korea it's estimated to be around 3000 Muslims, which is around 0.01% of the popultation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Korea, (North) Democratic Republic of, Religion And Social Profile {{!}} National Profiles {{!}} International Data {{!}} TheARDA |url=https://www.thearda.com/internationalData/countries/Country_123_2.asp |access-date=9 March 2022 |website=www.thearda.com |archive-date=24 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924015607/https://www.thearda.com/internationalData/countries/Country_123_2.asp |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[Ar-Rahman Mosque (Pyongyang)|Ar-Rahman Mosque]] is the only mosque in DPRK, and it is located at the Iranian Embassy grounds in Pyongyyang.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 May 2021 |title=Inside North Korea's only mosque during Eid al-Fitr |url=https://www.nknews.org/2021/05/inside-north-koreas-only-mosque-during-eid-al-fitr/ |access-date=9 March 2022 |website=[[NK News]] |language=en-US |archive-date=18 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518074349/https://www.nknews.org/2021/05/inside-north-koreas-only-mosque-during-eid-al-fitr/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1993, the [[Korean Culture and Information Service|Korean Overseas Culture and Information Service]] estimated that around 1,600,000 people practice [[Korean new religions]] in both Korean countries.<ref name=":1922">{{Cite book |title=A Handbook of Korea |date=December 1993 |publisher=[[Korean Culture and Information Service|Korean Overseas Culture and Information Service]] |isbn=978-1-56591-022-5 |edition=9th |location=Seoul |pages=143}}</ref>

===Education===
{{Main|Education in South Korea|Education in North Korea}}
The modern South Korean school system consists of six years in elementary school, three years in middle school, and three years in high school. Students are required to go to elementary and middle school, and do not have to pay for their education, except for a small fee called a "School Operation Support Fee" that differs from school to school. The [[Programme for International Student Assessment]], coordinated by the [[OECD]], ranks South Korea's science education as the third best in the world and being significantly higher than the OECD average.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/42/8/39700724.pdf | title = Data | publisher = OECD | access-date = 21 May 2012 | archive-date = 29 December 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091229020307/http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/42/8/39700724.pdf | url-status = live }}</ref>

Although South Korean students often rank high on international comparative assessments, the education system is criticised for emphasising too much upon passive learning and memorisation. The South Korean education system is rather notably strict and structured <!-- This wording implies Western education systems are unstructured.--> as compared to its counterparts in most Western societies.

The North Korean education system consists primarily of [[state school|universal and state funded]] schooling by the [[Politics of North Korea|government]]. The national literacy rate for citizens 15 years of age and above is over 99 per cent.<ref name="loc-nk">[http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/profiles/North_Korea.pdf Library of Congress country study], see p. 7 for Education and Literacy ({{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728090717/http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/profiles/North_Korea.pdf |date=28 July 2012 }})</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://stats.uis.unesco.org/unesco/TableViewer/tableView.aspx|title=UIS Statistics|last=UIS|access-date=5 October 2016|archive-date=16 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716104117/http://stats.uis.unesco.org/unesco/TableViewer/tableView.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> Children go through one year of kindergarten, four years of [[primary education]], six years of [[secondary education]], and then on to [[University|universities]]. The most prestigious university in the DPRK is [[Kim Il Sung University]]. Other notable universities include [[Kim Chaek University of Technology]], which focuses on computer science, [[Pyongyang University of Foreign Studies]], which trains working level diplomats and trade officials, and [[Kim Hyong Jik University of Education]], which trains teachers.