1. Unit


A Unit in geography can be used for two different meanings; a political Unit and a geographical Unit that may or may not coincide at times.
For example, Korean peninsula can be divided into 8 or 13 provinces for political or administrative convenience, and it is flexible and subject to change at times.
However, its peninsula can be divided into east and west by Tae-baek Mountain Ranges, or north and south by the Great Wonsan-Inchon Fault Lines.
These sorts of divisions are permanent geographical Units separated by natural factors such as mountain ranges or rivers.

When this geographical Unit has clear-cut boundaries, it can fulfil it’s duties as countries or as political or administrative boundaries.
Even though China has been divided and controlled by many provincial warlords historically at times, she has been United into one nation mostly throughout her history due to the fact that China is one Unit from geographical point of view.
However, the borderline of Poland has been changed numerous times at politician’s will, because surrounding countries had agreed to set artificial lines across a vast plain. Namely, it has caused much sadness to Polish people when political Unit was not coincide to geographical one. On the contrary, when there are clear geographical Units, countries such as England and Japan have proudly maintained their independence, detaching themselves from the rise and fall of countries in the main continent nearby. Separated by Pyrenees Mountains, Spain, though declining, has maintained unique history. Surrounded by natural great wall Alps, Italian peninsula has established a great nation during last three thousand year.


Based on above aspects, how is Korea’s geographical Unit? It will be a short cut to glance at a map without waiting for long explanations. Needless to mention, three coasts, eastern, western, and southern sides, are surrounded by ocean, and northern side, bordering continent, has clear natural borderline established by the Amnok-river and the Tuman-river which originate from the tallest volcanic Mt. Paektu. But, Korea’s territory has changed larger or smaller throughout her history, and during Ancient Chosun dynasty, her borderline almost coincided with current Manchuria. At that time, Korean peninsula was a geographical sub-Unit of larger Unit that includes all the territories east of the Great Wall in China. This article will discuss facts within Korean peninsula, which was set as boundaries by Chinese since Lee Dynasty.




2. Area


People tend to believe that it is better to own larger size land either for personal well being or for national economy, but it is not necessarily so. Even though China is as large as whole Europe or 50 times of the size of Korea, today no one can claim that China is either powerful or blessed. Contrarily, the size of Denmark, Sweden, Holland, and Belgium are only about one-fifth or one-sixth of China, but their wealth is not only self-sufficient but becoming the object of envy among other developed countries. However, needless to say, we need firm foundation in decent size to build a tall tower. By listing area of several countries, we can draw a conclusion that Korea is not necessarily small in area.





3. Population


Even though the population of China is 400 million and that of India is 300 million, large population may not be something to boast about. At the other hand, people take pity on Eskimos for their shrinking number of population, and they may not be able to leave recognizable footsteps in human history for that reason. By listing numbers, we can see that 20 million is not small population at all.






P.s.: Moses led 2 million Israelites out of Egypt during Exodus, and Japanese population was 30 million 50 years ago.





4. Mountains and Plain


It can be Korea’s shortcoming for having mountains upon mountains without any sizable plain. It is difficult to expect large industrial cities in Korean Peninsula such as cities along Yangtze, Volga, Mississippi. But, the land is not barren wilderness. Even though soil is not as rich as Nile delta, it is several times richer than Israel, the Land of Promise flowing with milk and honey. It is sufficient to support 20 million Koreans. Besides, we should appreciate rather than curse mountains for having them, knowing that they are not necessarily useless even though they don’t produce rice or wheat.


Let’s consider several well-known historical facts about how bad environmental conditions turned out to be beneficial to some countries. We can’t discuss the history of Israel without mentioning about many wildernesses, where many prophets attained spiritual growth. We can’t write the history of England where the sun never sets, without mentioning about their struggle with dense fog and the violent waves. We can appreciate how a small country at the foot of Mt. Alps provided such a great idea to all mankinds.
We recognize the fact that the most noble spiritual products and great figures of the Great Britain are mostly from barren mountainous Scotland. The brains of the United States since her birth are not from the downstream of Mississippi but from northeastern part of the Appalachians Mountains, and, generally speaking, most sound religious leaders, noble philosophers, profound artists, and virile politicians have been produced by this rocky mountain valleys. Knowing these, we don’t have to be disappointed by the mere fact that Korea is a mountainous country.


Some people discontent for not having Majestic Mt. Everest or volcanic Mt. Fuji in Korea. However, there are a couple of things to consider here. In India, in one hand, a scorching heat is like a hell in lower land and often thousands of people die in agony due to disastrous high temperature, at the other hand, white glacier capped Mt. Everest is standing above clouds year around. Some claim that such an environment is ideal to conceive lofty profound philosophy like Buddhism, but it is one side of the views. Overwhelmed by the magnificent nature, rather numerous superstitions tend to be rampant. For example, from India to south or west Asia, unhealthy religious sects are rampant. Even so called Christians tend to believe in conspicuous sects influenced by mysticism or superstition, somewhat influenced by unhealthy nature such as great mountain ranges, vast deserts, great difference between humidity and dryness, extreme temperature change from hot to cold, and disasters caused by wild beasts and poisonous insects.


Considering these reasons, we are proud to live in a peninsula where weather and earthquake are not extreme. When it comes to the “balanced beauty” of the peninsula, it is probably no exaggeration to say that it is the most unique place in the world. Mt. Kilimanjaro (5,890m), Mt. McKinley (6,200m) and Mt. Aconcagua, Cerro (7,040m) are more than twice of the height of Mt. Paektu (2,744m), but we never heard that a sage has been born below those tall mountains. Rather, in the hometown of Confucius, the great teacher in East who taught humanity and justice to 400 million Chinese, has world famous Mt. Taesan. But, its height is only 1,450m, which are 188m lower than Mt. Kumgang. The Greek peninsula, the cradle for world philosophy and native country of arts and science, did not need great mountains taller than 2,500m to produce Homer, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Alexander the Great, etc.


Mt. Sinai where God gave Moses the Ten Commandments is 2,602m, and there is no taller mountain than Mt. Bukhan (836m) near Bethlehem where Christ Jesus was born. Mt. Hermon in Lebanon is about the same heights as that of Mt. Paektu. British is probably the most proud people in the world, and the Scots are notorious being the worst among them for their pride or self-conceit at the bottom of their heart about their fatherland where many sages have been produced generation after generation. But, the highest peak of their boasting country Scotland is only 1,343m high Mt. Ben Nevis. New England, which is called the Scotland of the United States by some people, has also produced many representative figures exclusively, but there are no taller mountains than Mt. Chiri (1,915m) or Mt. Sobaek.
Speaking the harmony and balance of the geographical features of the mountains and plains, we may compare it to the famous works of the great artist Leonardo da Vinci, or to the Statue of Liberty, standing tall at the entrance of New York harbor. Comparing Korea to a woman, over the head of the peak of Mt. Nangnim (2,014m), left arm is stretching out toward the sky beyond Mt. Paektu called the cradle of princes, while right arm is lowered just as rubbing the cape Jangsangot.
Right leg, Mt. Taebaek, is bending slightly to Koje Is., while left leg, Mt. Sobaek, is stretching out to step on Chindo Is. The Fault Line forms a slender waist, and Mt. Keumkang appears to be hanging accessories over her breast. Green plain appears like a thin and light silk dress that wraps a body and flutters gently in the easterly wind. Korean map seems like the figure of a fairy that is about to rise above clouds or it can be imagined that the Statue of Liberty is straightening her back to stand up, holding a continent over her head.





5. Coastline


Out of eastern, southern, and western coastlines, the eastern one is the simplest. Since it is almost parallel to structural line of main mountain ranges, it is not winding and islands are rare along the coast. Though Chongsukjung in Kangwon province and Moosoodan in Hamkyungbukdo province are famous for their rare scenic beauty, good harbors, needed for marine transportation and fishery, are scanty. Scantiness is only in relative terms comparing to harbors in west and south coasts, not in terms of absolute terms. Originally, there have been several natural harbors such as Unggi, Chungjin, and Sungjin. As reported newspapers recently, Najin became one of the greatest harbors in Asia by adding minor civil engineering works to transport all the cargoes in and out of Manchuria. Najin’s functional relationship is similar to that of New York to the Great Lake region in the United States. We still remember that Heungnam Fertilizer Company constructed a man-made harbor and converted a fishing village with a dozen of fishing boats to a largest trading harbor in Hamkyungnamdo province.


There are still several more potentially good harbors with additional engineering construction works. Resembling much the same as Lushun and Dalian in Manchuria, Wonsan can be a great natural harbor, including Younghung Bay, which is embraced by Hodo Peninsula. No one will argue that evidently world history might have been written differently if Russia, lacked a frozen free harbor in Asia during Russo-Japanese War, had Wonsan harbor. But, this potentially great harbor for both trading and military affairs only draws irregularity along the eastern coast line, and boasts having crowds for sea-bathing and remains as a summer resort. It is hard for me to figure out God’s providence why He made such an ideal harbor along the eastern coast.


Incomparable to East Coast, West Coast has good harbors such as Mokpo, Kunsan, Inchon, Jinnampo, and Yongampo, keeping suitable distance each other. Between them, there are countless smaller harbors connecting many islands and Rias style coastline. So even during the primitive age of navigation, marine transportation was convenient. In addition, a gentle grade along the coast and funnel shaped river mouths of Amnok River, Taetong River, and other rivers helped easy connections between sea and land. Regarding to the difference between the rise and fall of the tide, that of Chongjin (0.73m) and Wonsan (0.83m) along East Coast is much less than that of Mokpo (4.33m), Jinnampo (6.27m), and Inchon (9.41m) along the West Coast. Inchon is famous in the world for her sluice gate at the harbor. It is a matter of time before electricity can be generated tapping this potential power of nature. There are not many notable islands except Ullung Is. (72.5sq-km) and Mayang Is. (7.1sq-km), but there are good sized islands such as Jindo Is. (331sq-km), Kangwha Is. (291sq-km), Anmyun Is. (86.6sq-km), Sinmi Is. (53sq-km), Jaeun Is. (50.2sq-km), and Baekryung Is (47sq-km), without mentioning a dozen of archipelagos.


Not only south coast is better than east or west coasts, but its ratio of the actual length of coast line over imaginary straight line is the rarest one in the world. So, some scientist named it “Korean style” coastline rather than “Rias style” coastline. To have a nickname “Aegean Sea of Korea”, a peninsular is attached to another peninsula and a smaller islands are around a larger island, as a larger cluster of grapes is formed on a smaller bunch, or a smaller ear of grains keeps growing to form a larger one. To speak of the nature of Korea, most people mention the fantastic rocks and stones of Mt. Kumkang and exclaim at the grand sight of Mt. Paektu, I rather quote “One picture is better than thousand words” to describe mysterious maze of the south coast. If it is true that all wise men love the sea, every one of them should try to navigate his sailboat out of this maze in front of Hansan Is. If someone can trust own wisdom to get out of the maze sailing through ever-changing scenery of countless islands and capes, they must be either mad or exceptionally broadminded courageous people.


If someone look up Korea in the Encyclopaedia Britannica, it includes an explanatory diagram of the “Turtle Boat”, ironclad warship shaped like a turtle, and a portrait of Admiral Lee Sun Sin. The world has recognized him as an inventor of the ship and as a strategist who understood the inexhaustible wonders of the Aegean Sea of Korea and got into knack of it. 300 years ago, countless Japanese war ships were trapped along this coastline like mice in a maze without surrounding them. During early 19th century, western expedition ships wandered about without knowing how to get out of maze of the Aegean Sea of Korea. During late 19th century, Japanese fleet was having latent training for four months hiding completely from watchful eyes of the world until it successfully launched a surprise attack on Russian fleet, because Jinhae Bay is located in this coastline. Much more are there numerous ideal bays as good as Jinhae Bay.


We can utilize these harbors as naval bases in wartime, as fishing ports during peacetime, or as training grounds for clever strategists just as Aegean Sea of Greece where Archimedes, Euclid, Xenophon, and many more great people were born. Even if the mid-section of Korean Peninsula were cut off and southern one-third were attached to northern one-third, “Korean style” coastline could function as the Aegean Sea of Greece, it would not be mere useless scenery to be eroded away. In short, looking at the coastlines along the three sides of Korea, not only we can not complain about out country but also we have to admit that The Creator has given us a great land gracefully to Korean, above and beyond what we deserve to have. A few important islands along southern coast are Cheju Is. (1,859 Sq.-km), Koje Is. (389 Sq.-km), Namhae Is. (300 Sq.-km), Chindo Is., Wando Is., etc.





6. Climate


Located between 33 and 43 degrees north latitude, she is in the temperate regions. But, her proximity to the Asian continent, she is often under the influence of the continental weather and it is cooler than other regions located within comparable latitudes due to cold Liman current flowing along the East Coast. Except apple and pear trees, subtropical trees such as olive and orange do not grow well in the most parts of Korea except southern parts of Cheju Is. where tangerine is produced just as in Italy and the Balkan Peninsula, which have similar latitude. Some claim that it is the shortcoming of Korean climate to have short spring and fall seasons and long cold winter, but it is God’s blessing bestowed only to people in cold countries for them to train their will power, while skating on the frozen ice. Still more, considering the average temperature of several cities compared to those of the densely populated large cities in Europe and America, we can conclude that Korean climate is not a shortcoming for good living environments.







Rainfall, 500mm to 1,400mm per year, seems to be insufficient; comparing to that of Japan’s 800mm to 3,000mm per year. However, since it rains over half of total rainfall during June, July, and August, which are peak farming season, it is enough for good agricultural production. Because of insufficient rainfall, our forefathers holds the honorable first inventor’s position of a udometer to measure the rainfall scientifically during early Yi Dynasty for the first time in the world, about 200 years earlier than European countries, proving that they had extraordinary ability to turn their problems into blessings. Related to this, we are proud to have the remains of old observatories in Kyungju (during Shilla Dynasty) and in Kaesung (during Koryo Dynasty) since scarcity of the amount of clouds in the sky caused the development of astronomy in earlier start. Besides, considering the possibility of reflection of clear sky in people’s mind living under such a clear sky, and the possibility of usefulness of clear mind to see God, we are thankful to be born in such a country instead of being discontented with it.











7. Location


Being the most important geographical factors, the discussion of location can lead us to come to a conclusion. When we divide the world into three regions, the tropical, temperate, and arctic, we can expect development of human civilization only in temperate region. While the arctic region is almost unsuitable for human living and it is difficult to expect high level of people’s intelligence in the tropical region by looking at the color of the world atlas. Since Korean peninsula is located between 33 to 43 degree north latitudes, Koreans are not only extremely lucky to live in typical temperate region but also blessed for living in Northern Hemisphere where most of the bases of human livelihood are located.


Korea is the center or heart of the Far East.   Central location contains sensing organs that are beyond the control of human being. Geologists claims that England owe her prosperity of today to her central location in the world among other reasons. Regardless the shift of political centers, Osaka has maintained her queen’s role of Japanese economy because of her central location in Japan. Such examples are too numerous to list here. I would like to mention two or three countries, which look similar to Korean peninsula and played a leading role as a heart once in a world history.


(1) Greek Peninsula

Looking back world history, the role of Greece was to combine all the superior inheritances of primitive great empires such as Egypt, Babylon, and Assyria, then she implicated all the possible factors of the future to Roman Empire who developed more systematic modern life styles. Greece left a glorious and unique culture in world history during 5th and 4th centuries BC. Greek peninsula has many similar features to those of Korean peninsula; both are peninsula, mountainous with little plains, located between 30 to 40 degrees northerly, tremendously long irregular coastal lines. Several peninsula are extended from one peninsula and numerous islands in various sizes surround capes in Aegean Sea, so it is hard to distinct if it is part of the main land or islands, similar to sceneries of southern coastlines of Korean peninsula. In addition, when the great power of Asian empires was expanding to southwestern regions of Mediterranean Sea, they marched through this peninsula. When Roman legions were invading coastlines of Asia Minor, hoofbeats were heard in Greek peninsula first. Just like white bears in the Arctic are digging roots of plants to look for food, Greeks were shaken up badly by Russians who plundered this peninsula. Throughout ancient and modern world history, both Greeks and Koreans share similar experience of foreign invasions, and both countries are dormant volcanoes of political arenas of the world. Therefore, one who is sympathetic toward Greece should do so toward Korea, and one who wants to boast about Greece should do so about Korea.


(2) Italian Peninsula

The similarity of Italian peninsula and Korean peninsula can be seen easily by just looking at a world atlas, without hearing explanations from a scholar. They both have narrow breath and long length, and the area and latitude of both countries are similar. For being at the heart of the Mediterranean Sea, Roman Empire climaxed her power during 1st and 2nd centuries, and Italy has succeeded her 3000 years of advanced civilization. Protruding deep into the sea, it was convenient to rule other countries when she was strong. Even when she was weak, surrounding circumstances did not allow her to take siesta indolently; similar to historical events occurred in Korea.


At the beginning of Christian culture, considering the political situations of the matured Mediterranean civilization, Italy was not only centrally located but also she had rich Lombard plain behind her. Therefore, she was able to achieve greater accomplishments and she had different characteristics in her roles and duties, comparing to those of Greece. However, Greeks were noble, while Romans were powerful. Greek peninsula was a glamorous lady, while Apennine peninsula was a wise mother who raised Roman Empire. There is a saying that women’s sins are forgiven when they deliver babies, but it seems that they can either be beautified or sanctified by their children borne by them. As disciples imitate their teacher, so children do their mother. Ones who understand Greek arts and Roman systems would be able to see the beauties of two peninsulas. Once they understand the unique beauties of these peninsulas, they are also able to understand both cultures that were produced by the two cultures in their unique ways. It is the reason we count these two peninsulas as the most beautiful ones in the world.


Italy is shaped like a high-heeled boot, having simple coastlines. At the southern tip of Italy, only the Gulf of Taranto exists awkwardly.   If our desire could be granted, it would be ideal to cut off Calabria peninsula and Apollo peninsula from Apennine peninsula, then graft Greek peninsula to it. It would be like a tiger with wings. That would be the most ideal country in the world, that is the Korean peninsula! Anyone can cut off the Aegean Sea of Greece, and paste it to the southern tip of Italy to see the similarity between that and Korean peninsula clearly.


(3) Denmark Peninsula

Denmark’s area is little larger than 1/6 of Korea and little smaller than 1/5 of Korea. Rarely, hills are over 200m high. If we could relocate Namsan (South Hill) of Seoul (265m high), it will be the tallest mountain in Denmark. Lately, Denmark became the model country for her productive livestock farming, and other countries around the world are trying to learn from her. Once during 12th to 13th century, needless to say about Sweden and Norway of Scandinavian Peninsula, even parts of Germany and Russia near Baltic Sea and parts of England and France near the North Sea were under the control of Denmark. One of the main reasons for that was Denmark had geographical advantage by protruding out to the center of northern Europe, as Apennine Peninsula is to Mediterranean Sea and Korean Peninsula is to the East Sea. Even though she lost her political power she once exercised, she has the honor being the birthplace of Kierkegaard who is one of the great leaders of spiritual realm. It is claimed that Kierkegaard’s evangelism became the foundation of her noticeable industrial development of Denmark during the last half-century.






Conclusion


As discussed in detail, we should be content and thankful for having wonderful country, considering geographical factors such as geographical Units, area and population, mountains and coastlines, God’s gift of ideal climate, and the central location of a historical stage or a scene. Korea is definitely adequate to provide high standard of living, and she can be a center stage that can contribute much to world history.


However, people who have read Korean history tend to lament about disadvantage of her location. They wish the Yellow Sea were as wide as Atlantic Ocean, or there were tall and rugged mountain ranges at the other side of Aprock River as Alps surround Italy, or the Korea Strait were as wide as Pacific Ocean. If so, they believe Korea would have enjoyed longer peacetime. Since they have not been so in reality, sandwiched between China, Japan, and Russia, Korea has not had much peacetime during her 5,000 years of history, whenever there have been power struggle between them by force. We can not hear their lamentation without tears of sympathy running down our eyes. However, it is unavoidable to think that it is screams of the weak. There is no safe haven for the weak who are looking for refuge. The capital city of Cuzco, once inhabited by Indians in Peru, South America, couldn’t escape from cruel Spanish invaders, even though the city was built on a high mountain whose altitude is higher than that of our Paikdu-mountain (2,744m). Tibet is a country on a 4,000m high plateau, stored in secrecy. However, Himalayan Mountain ranges was not a high enough wall to protect her from British encroachment upon this land of mystery.

Therefore, we realized that there is no safe haven for cowards, and there is no insecure place for the courageous on the other hand. Generally speaking, one has to go to river or ocean to catch fish, and to tiger’s den to catch a cub.


The fact that there were not much peaceful times proves, without any doubt, that Korea is centrally located in Asian political arena. Korea is an insecure place to seclude oneself from the world, but an ideal place for one to play an active part in world affairs. People, who believe Korea is insecure place, are better off to live in freezing Kamchatka Peninsula or Greenland to find safe place to live. Considering secular, material, and political aspects, I believe, there is no geographical or inherent shortcoming as far as Korea is concerned. Only the primary cause of the problem depends on people who live there; their quality and courage are important factors.


There is unique hope for Korea, if we turn our attention toward the understanding of the productivity of mental power or that of spiritual aspects. Not only severe natural environments such as desert, wilderness, cold and hot weather, wild beasts, etc. had influenced Jews, but also their destiny had been depended on the rise and fall of great empires such as Babylon, Persia, Egypt, and Assyria. Even when they were facing ever-changing uncertainty of historical arena of surrounding world, Jews had held fast on to monotheism, without indulging in idolatry of worshipping objects in nature. Likewise, by reflecting the difficult times of past 5,000 years history, Koreans can be spiritually awakened to gain something that people in safety or people in powerful countries can not attain easily. God reveals the supreme thought, namely the ability to understand God’s statecraft, specially to people whose arrogance by nature has been removed completely for being poor, or for being despised and trampled down by others. To entrust the Gospels to Israelites, God took away everything they owned and made them to bear all kinds of humiliation and insults from powerful neighbors. At the moment when no honest affairs can be seen around our neighboring countries, we hope to know what God require of from the people with pure heart.


Speaking civilization in general, unique Greek civilization flourished, when ancient oriental civilization was moving westward toward many countries in the Western Hemisphere. Likewise, when civilizations of India and Middle East were spreading eastward toward countries in the Far East Asia, a unique Korean culture was developed first in Korean peninsula.   Korea, acting as a bridge to the country further east, shed a brighter light on Japan for many years to come. In modern days, after crossing the Pacific Ocean, American cultural waves are retracing the old path and permeating to the northern border regions. Once a bright light appeared, whether in the west or in the east, Korea could not stay in darkness due to her geographical location.


Since all kinds of afflictions in the orient have been infused into Korea, noble ideas could be discovered inevitably in Korean peninsula, just like a furnace can produce the extract, by boiling everything in the Eastern Hemisphere.