Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/1149

 KOREA 1027

The Japanese Residents at the treaty-ports have been replaced by Prefects, through whom official matters concerning foreign subjects are transacted.

Area and Population. — Estimated area, about 86,000 square miles ; population in 1912 was 13,461,299 (7,129,777 males and 6,331,522 females). The capital, Seoul, has 278,958 inhabitants ; Ping- Yang, about 146,000. The foreign population (excluding Japanese troops) is about 110,000, consisting (1912) of about 210,689 Japanese, 11,837 Chinese, 568 Americans, 183 British, 100 French, and 49 Germans. In 1903 over 1,000 Koreans left for Hawaii, and in 1905 some 500 Korean emigrants sailed for Mexico. The language of the people is intermediate between Mongolo-Tartar and Japanese, with a large admixture of Chinese words, and an alphabetical system of writing is used. Official correspondence, except with Korean provincial officials, is conducted in Japanese. The written language of the people is a mixture of Chinese characters and native script.

Religion and Instruction. — The worship of ancestors is observed with as much punctiliousness as in China, but, otherwise, religion holds a low place in the land. In the country there arc numerous Buddhist monasteries, which, however, are looked upon with scant respect. The knowledge of Chinese classics and of Confucian doctrine, formerly essential to the education of the upper classes, is giving way under Japanese influence to a more practical system of instruction. There is a large number of Christian converts. In 1890 an English Church mission was established, with a bishop and 20 other members. A hospital in Chemulpo is attached to the mission with an English doctor and trained nurses. The American missionaries have two hospitals in Seoul, where the Japanese have also established a large Government hospital. The total number of hospitals in the country is about 150, while the Red Cross Society has a numerous membership among both Japanese and Koreans. There are over 200 Protestant missionaries (British and American), and 60 Roman Catholic, also a Russian (Greek church) mission in Seoul. The mission schools have, however, been made subject to strict superintendence and control.

In Seoul there is a Government school tor English with 1 English teacher and 100 pui>ils. There are, besides, numerous Christiiin Mission schools for boys and girls throughout the country. All these schools are subject to the control of the Education Department. Technical and industrial schools are rapidly springing up. A model farm and agricultural school has been established within lifty miles ol the capital.

In Seoul there are two daily Korean newspapers, and several Japanese, besides others published at Chemulpo. There is a Government-owned daily newspaper in English, published at Seoul. The press is entirely in the hands of the Japanese, and a strict censorship is exercised.

Finance. — The finances of Korea form a special account in the Budget of Japan. The estimated revenue for 1912-13 was : ordinary, 26,732,332 yen (2,728,926Z.), and extraordinary, 26,159,877 yen (2,624,550/.); making a total of 52,892,209 yen (5,353,476^.). The estimated expenditure was: ordinary, 30,232,490 yen (3,040,296/), and extraordinary, 22,659,719 yen (2,313,180/.) ; a total of 52,892,209 yen (5,353,476/ ). The main sources of revenue arc taxes and Public Undertakings The extraordinary revenue consists of (1) a sum of 12,596,540 yen to be raised by a loan from the Bank of Chosen, and (2) 12,350,000 yen, which is reall}^ a contribution by the Home Government to make good the deficiency.

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