North and South Korea share a border, but there are many differences between the two countries. If you plan to travel to the area, it is important to understand the specific culture and eco-political character of each country, as well as the numerous differences between the two.

Governmental Differences Between North and South Korea
South Korea is a Republic, and as such operates under a system of government that allows for the election of a president. The president is elected through a popular vote system, and after election, will serve a five year term, after which they cannot be re-elected. South Korea also has a National Assembly, which is also selected by the public. They have a Supreme Court which heads up the independent judiciary system. Meanwhile, North Korea basically operates on a system of socialism, which is basically communism, especially when you compare it to the capitalist country of South Korea. Both of these countries were actually combined as one country, until the Korean war of 1950-1953 split the two countries apart.

Economic Differences
Although the people of North and South Korea speak the same language, they have many different ideas and cultures that have developed after the two countries split apart. The market economy of South Korea has done a lot to improve the overall economy of the country, and the gross national product has been on the rise. The economy of North Korea has had many challenges, largely due to the self-reliant and closed economic system that they use. Overall, the government and economy of South Korea has been more prosperous and successful than North Korea. Much of this is due to the fact that in North Korea, they have a completely closed and centrally planned economic system which tends to inhibit their growth. The fact that South Korea operates under a democratic ideology, and has a capitalist economy seems to have given South Korea somewhat of an advantage. Because of their closed economic system, North Korea has refused to trade with capitalistic countries, and is only now showing more of an inclination to open communications up more even with South Korea.

Differences in the Education System
In the years after the Korean War, South Korea has made significant investments in the education and welfare of its people. This is largely due to the fact that they recognized the importance of people as they worked to build their industries and national economy. South Korea to this day has a high standard of education, with many educational institutions. This has created a work force that can compete successfully in the world economy. On the other hand, North Korea also has a mandatory educational system, although it is more focused on educating the public so that it can maintain its current political structure. It tends to be less focused on the needs of the individuals, and more on the good that education can provide for the country and its people as a whole. It's also more difficult for children who come from poor families in North Korea to get a higher level education than it is in South Korea.

Professional designer Jessica Ackerman writes for WallDecorandHomeAccents.com, and specializes in decorating with wall decor and music wall art.