The gap between those who can access and use digital technology and those who can't
Following the end of fighting in the Korean War in 1953, the Korean Peninsula was effectively halved, divided by a demilitarized zone that sliced the nation in two.
Two countries emerged, North Korea and South Korea. In the decades since, the south has become a thriving democracy and economic powerhouse. In contrast, the north is today one of the most isolated countries in the world, a communist dictatorship ruling over an impoverished people and a tightly controlled economy. Many of the differences are stark in their appearance. Others are more subtle. And with unification remaining a seemingly insurmountable goal, the two Koreas are as distant now as they were 70 years ago.
But what exactly are the differences between North Korea and South Korea? Click through and learn more about this divided land.
While the two countries are widely referred to as South Korea and North Korea, they each have an official name. South Korea is the Republic of Korea, while North Korea is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. These names were mixed up at the Paris 2024 Olympics Opening Ceremony, when commentators in both French and English introduced South Korea as the “People’s Democratic Republic of Korea.” Not only was it the wrong country, it was also a mistake to put the word "People's" ahead of "Democratic." The organizers issued a "deep apology" for the mistake.
When the Winter Olympics was held in South Korea in 2018, the two countries actually marched together as one in the opening ceremony and united as a team in the women's ice hockey competition. However, relations between the two countries deteriorated after that, leaving them more divided than ever (until the fateful selfie at the Paris 2024 Games).
The Korean War was fought between North Korea and South Korea from 1950 to 1953. The conflict forever changed the makeup of the Korean Peninsula.
The Korean Armistice Agreement was an armistice that brought about a complete cessation of hostilities of the Korean War. Signed on July 27, 1953, all parties sought to make an agreement that would suspend open hostilities, arrange the release and repatriation of prisoners of war, and establish a separation of forces.
The Armistice Agreement created a Military Demarcation Line (MDL). But to properly separate combat forces, both sides withdrew 1.24 miles (2 km) from the MDL to form a 2.48- mile (4 km) wide Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) near the 38th parallel, which runs 149 miles (241 km) across the width of the Korean Peninsula. However, no peace treaty was ever signed, thus the Korean Peninsula technically remains in a state of war.
After 1953, North Korea and South Korea took dramatically divergent paths—and the differences couldn't be more stark.
South Korea is a full democracy. Its people benefit from regular rotations of power and robust political pluralism. In fact, according to the V-Dem Institute, South Korea was in 2024 the fifth most electoral democratic country in Asia.
North Korea, on the other hand, falls under the supreme leadership of its founding Kim dynasty, around the Juche ideology. Juche, which roughly translates as "self-reliance," is a political philosophy whose core idea is that North Korea is a country that must remain separate and distinct from the world, dependent solely on its own strength and the guidance of a near-godlike leader.
Yoon Suk Yeol has held office since 2022. He was arrested on January 15 after a standoff with anti-corruption investigators, and later released on March 8 when a Seoul court allowed him to stand trial for insurrection.
Yoon's December 3 martial law decree sparked political turmoil, and he was impeached by the opposition-controlled National Assembly. Although he is currently suspended, he remains South Korea's president.
Kim Jong-Un has been supreme leader of North Korea since 2011, succeeding his father Kim Jong II. Kim Jong-Un is the grandson of Kim Il Sung, who was the founder and first supreme leader of North Korea.
The population of South Korea is approximately 51,702 million.
North Korea's population is currently around 26,548 million.
The capital city of South Korea is Seoul, its largest city, with a population of approximately 10,000,000.
Pyongyang is the capital of North Korea. The city's current population is approximately 3,200,000.
South Korea follows Korean Standard Time (GMT+9).
North Korea follows its own Pyongyang Time, which is also GMT+9. In other words, both Koreas are on the same time.
The South Korean standard language, or Pyojuneo, is the South Korean standard version of the Korean language. It uses the Hangul alphabet, created in December 1443 CE by the Joseon-era King Sejong the Great (1397–1450).
North Korea's official language is Korean (Munhwao). Munhwao was adopted as the standard in 1966 after Kim Il Sung coordinated an effort to purify the Korean language from English, Japanese, and Russian, and create a dialect known as "cultural language."
South Korean industry includes the production of automobiles (Hyundai operates the world's largest integrated automobile manufacturing facility, in Ulsan) and the manufacture of electronics, notably appliances made by Samsung.
Tourism is also a significant driver of economic growth in South Korea. In 2023, the country welcomed approximately 11 million inbound visitors.
The economy of North Korea is a centrally planned economy. Industrial output in the country includes the production of steel and heavy machinery.
The production of chemicals and electronics, as well as shipbuilding, also help bolster the economy. The most common destination for the exports of North Korea is China.
The official currency of South Korea is the Korean Republic won.
The official currency of North Korea is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea won, or the Korean People's won.
South Korea is often termed the "Hollywood of the East." Its entertainment industry is huge, with South Korean K-pop, film and television productions, and video games exported around the globe.
Western-style entertainment is nonexistent. Furthermore, the government bans figure-hugging jeans, miniskirts, and even certain hair styles, such is the conservative view towards fashion.
South Korea enjoys wide, unrestricted use of the internet. Likewise, mobile devices are ubiquitous across the entire nation.
In the North, only members of public and educational services are allowed to surf the World Wide Web—and then only under strict controls. Smartphone use is permitted, though tightly regulated and monitored.
According to the Global Firepower Index (GFI), South Korea is ranked fifth out of 145 countries as a global military power.
North Korea is ranked 34 of 145 out of the countries considered for the annual Global Firepower review. However, with 36% of the North Korean population actively serving in it, the country's armed forces is the second largest military organization in the world, with about 1,320,000 active personnel in its ranks and another 560,000 in reserve.
Both countries celebrate a national day—but on different days. In South Korea, National Day falls on August 15.
North Korea observes its national day on September 9. It's one of the few occasions when the country allows itself a splash of color.
Sources: (Investopedia) (DW) (United Nations Command) (V-Dem) (Time) (Macrotrends) (Statista) (The National Interest) (GFI) (IISS)
See also: Fascinating pictures of daily life in secretive North Korea
A nation divided: The differences between North and South Korea
One peninsula, two countries
LIFESTYLE Politics
Following the end of fighting in the Korean War in 1953, the Korean Peninsula was effectively halved, divided by a demilitarized zone that sliced the nation in two.
Two countries emerged, North Korea and South Korea. In the decades since, the south has become a thriving democracy and economic powerhouse. In contrast, the north is today one of the most isolated countries in the world, a communist dictatorship ruling over an impoverished people and a tightly controlled economy. Many of the differences are stark in their appearance. Others are more subtle. And with unification remaining a seemingly insurmountable goal, the two Koreas are as distant now as they were 70 years ago.
But what exactly are the differences between North Korea and South Korea? Click through and learn more about this divided land.