Korea began to be inhabited about 700,000 years ago. From its roots, Korean culture took its shape through political decisions, a booming economy, and military conflicts that affected not only Korea, but also the rest of the world. Even despite all the external influences that South Korea has fought, it remains true to its Confucian ideals. The Korean language has existed for over 2,000 years. For hundreds of years, three different forms of Korean used slightly modified Chinese characters for writing. The Korean alphabet did not appear until the mid-15th century, when King Sejong the Great introduced the Hangul phonetic system. This alphabet, known as “The Correct Sounds for the Instruction of the People,” was originally intended to be a system that ordinary people could use to learn to read and write. The alphabet was created to instill cultural unity in the population. The alphabet, which originally had only twenty-eight letters, was intended to allow everyone to learn the correct pronunciation in just a few hours of study. Hangul, now spelled Hangeul, intended only for the most informal writing and literature. A mixture of Hangul and Chinese characters, known as Hanja, is used in academic articles and official documents. The modern Korean alphabet contains fourteen basic consonants and ten basic vowels. There are six Korean dialects spoken in South Korea. Dialects are generally limited to specific tentative boundaries, and not all are easily understandable with others. The impact of Confucian ideals on South Korean society extends to etiquette. According to these ideals, the way a person greets each other depends on their age and social position in relation to middle of paper...... and they would launch "a pre-emptive nuclear pre-strike" against their country's enemies and said he had canceled the 1953 armistice that ended the war between North and South Korea. Dismissed as bluster, Kim's threats were nonetheless the most menacing in years by a leader. He continued his bellicose tone in March and closed not only the Red Cross helplines between North and South Korea, but also the military helplines (Infoplease). In conclusion, South Korea's culture has been defined by its political decisions, booming economy, and military conflicts. which lead to their etiquette and religious practices. South Korea continues to be a traditional Confucian nation and this is reflected in its etiquette and family traditions. South Korea will continue to have a thriving economy due to its superiority in telecommunications and electronics over the rest of the world..