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United States and South Korea Essay
Not only is the United States vastly superior to South Korea in military might, the United States also dwarfs South Korea in economic strength. South Korea's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is about 900 billion dollars. The United States, in contrast, has a GDP of 13 trillion.
Perhaps the greatest difference between the two countries is the constitution of their respective populations. South Korea is one of the most homogenous countries in the world, both ethnically and linguistically. Almost every Korean shares the same cultural and linguistic heritage, with the exception of a small Chinese minority. The United States, in contrast, though white people still are the most prevalent, houses people of all races, including blacks, Asians, Hispanics, American Indians, Alaskan natives, and native Hawaiians. And while South Korea has foreign permanent residents solely from China, the United States embraces immigrants from every continent and country on the planet.
The two countries also widely diverge in terms of religious affiliation. The United States is predominantly Christian. Though Christianity is popular in South Korea, it vies with the most widespread Asian religion of Buddhism for adherents in South Korea. And while South Korea is split only between those two major religions, the United States' tolerant and open society has allowed for the flourishing of other major religions such as Judaism and Islam, as well as the survival of countless minor religions and religious sects.
Health care is always a divisive issue within developed countries. One might expect that advanced technology combined with the greater GDP of the United States would translate into a higher life expectancy number but, in reality, the life expectancy for both the United States and South Korea is approximately 77 years.
Conclusion:
The United States is a wise big brother to South Korea, offering it both direct and passive guidance as it continues to develop as a nation. South Korea, for example, has a republican government with separation of powers, true to the American ideal. But South Korea is also independently strong and faithful to its Asian heritage; its emphasis on extended families and its unique diet attest to that. So long as key differences can be kept in mind, the similarities between the two…
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