Yeongseon

Yeongseon, officially the Republic of Yeongseon or the Yeongseon Republic (: 대영선민국; : 大永善民國; Dae Yeongseonminguk, "Great Yeongseon People's State"), is a in Escar. An island country, Yeongseon has no land borders, only having Yamatai to the northwest and Chanha to the Northeast as maritime neighbors. Yeongseon is a unitary republic with a parliamentary democracy. The Prime Minister is Han Yul of the New Democratic Party, who was recently sworn in since 2015. The President of Yeongseon is Yi Dae-ho, who was inaugurated in 2010. The capital of Yeongseon is Cheongu, a global city and a financial center with an urban population of 8 million.

Yeongseon made a mark on the the development of modern Ordis. It had a rich history of being a major global power during the 15th to the 18th century, before falling into decline during the 19th century. After the Second Escar-Varunan War, Yeongseon became one of the founding members of HECO.

Yeongseon is a developed country and a high income information economy with a high Human Development Index. Yeongseon ranks highly among economic freedom, quality of life, education, and moral freedoms. It leads in pharmaceuticals, organic chemicals, avionics, information technology, and electronics.

Etymology
The name "Yeongseon" derives from the word "영선," which in the Chanhan-Yeongseon language, translates to "Eternal Virtue." The name was established by Taejo Yi Jun after reunifying much of the country near the end of the Warring States Period.

Prehistoric and Ancient Yeongseon
The first modern humans to settle modern day Yeongseon settled in successive waves in what believed to be 8000 BC from Huaxia (although evidences also seem to indicate a much earlier period of migration and settlement) in what's considered to be the Jeongmun period.

The history of Yeongseon begins with the founding of Buyeo in 2333 BC by Go Mosu, according to Yeongseon's foundation mythology. However, archeological evidence proposed that the foundation of the Buyeo Empire happened much later at at 7th century BC with Buyeo emperors incorporating conquered tribes' legends into their own. Buyeo expanded until it controlled all of Yeongseon. At 3rd century BC, the Buyeo Empire divided among east-west line. In 108 BC, the Empire of Dongbuyeo fell into dynastic struggles between multiple clans and the island country split into multiple states. Seobuyeo, however, continued to live on as an independent power albeit with some territories lost to multiple states.

Three Kingdoms and the Two States Period
During the period known as the Proto-Three Kingdoms of Yeongseon, the states of Seobuyeo, Muhae, Jin, and Imcheok occupied much of Yeongseon. From then, Guri, Cheonhae (also known as "Gocheonhae", or Old Cheonhae, to differentiate it with the 10th century dynasty), and Gaya emerged to control the land as the Three Kingdoms of Yeongseon. Guri, the largest and most powerful among them, was a highly militaristic state, and competed with various Chanhanese dynasties during its 700 years of history in naval warfare and raids. Like Guri, Cheonhae was a great maritime power with its nautical skill, which made their shipbuilders and sailors to be desired by many. Gaya was the smallest and weakest of the three, but it used cunning diplomatic means to make opportunistic pacts and alliances with the more powerful kingdoms in Escar.

The unification of the Three Kingdoms by Gaya in 676 led to the Two States Period, in which the northern half of Yeongseon was controlled by Later Gaya, while Jin controlled the southern parts of Yeongseon. Jin was founded by a Guri general and was formed as a successor state to Guri, continuing its naval traditions. Later Gaya was a golden age of art and culture, as evidenced by the Hwangnyongsa, Seokguram, and the Bell of King Byeongdeok. Relationships between the Yeongseon kingdoms and Chanha remained relatively peaceful during this time. Later Gaya carried on the maritime prowess of Cheonhae, and during the 8th and 9th centuries dominated the seas of Western Escar and the trade between the various Escari states. Later Gaya was a prosperous and wealthy country, and its metropolitan capital of Ansi was among one of the largest city in the ancient world. Fojiaoism, Sindo, and Taoism flourished during this time, contributing to the cultures and the arts of the Two States period of Yeongseon. However, Later Gaya weakened under internal strife and the revival of Later Cheonhae and Later Guri, which led to the Later Three Kingdoms period in the late 9th century.

Cheonhae Dynasty
In 936, the Later Three Kingdoms were united by Kim Pung, a descendant of Cheonhae nobility, who established Cheonhae as the successor state of Old Cheonhae. Jin's holding in northern Yeongseon had fallen to civil war in 938 and was on a decline. In the same year, the last King of Jin, Min Wi-hae, gave his kingdom to Taejo Kim Pung, unifying the two Yeongseonan kingdoms into one with the Wiman Min clan joining the Cheonhae aristocracy. Like Gaya, Cheonhae was a highly cultural state, and invented the metal movable type printing press. Cheonhae experienced a golden age that lasted a century, during which the Tripitaka Cheonhaesa was completed and there were great developments in printing and publishing, promoting learning and dispersing knowledge on philosophy, literature, religion, and science; by 1100, there were 12 universities that produced famous scholars and scientists.

During the Ejenate invasions of mainland Escar, Cheonhae was spared from the carnage due to its maritime location. However, fears of an Ejenate naval invasion had placed the country on high alert with an increase in coastal and naval defense. That is not to say that relations between Cheonhae and the Ejenate were always of hostility, trade has flourished between the two entities over time and both entities had engaged in diplomatic missions with each other.

By the late 14th century, the nearly 500-year-old Cheonhae established in 936 was tottering, corruption and poverty were main issues facing the country. Peasant, religious, and scholar uprisings and protests were common and were met with violence by the government. The crowning of reform-minded Kim Gu-min (receiving the temple name of Wonjong) brought some hope to the nations and his policies of national reforms and public projects were popular with the public. However, these reforms were only slowing down a collapsing kingdom as rebellions and uprisings were still present, only growing with Wonjong's early death and the ascension of his brother Kim Il as the next king (receiving the temple name Seonjong). In 1367, Seonjong ordered General Won Gun to quell the various rebellions in the southern provinces, hoping that the popular general would be able to convince the rebels to lay down their arms. However, Won Gun, knowing the waning power of the Kim Royal Family, turned his army around and staged a coup at Goseong, storming the royal palace and massacring all opposition. Won Gun subsequently deposed King Seonjong and named himself Chancellor of the Nation and maintained de facto control over the royal government, ascending Il's son Kim U (temple name Yeonjong) to the throne as a rubber stamp to legitimize Won Gun's power.

Warring States Period
Won Gun's coup had created a nationwide backlash and in the following weeks, rebellions broke out all over the country. Many provinces refused to answer to the Goseong government and central authority eventually collapsed in 1368 with the assassination of Won Gun by one of his generals, Choi U, who seeked to restore the power of the Royal House of Kim. Although Yeonjong still maintains de jure rule as the King of Cheonhae, his control was meaningless outside of Goseong as several lords rose up to fill in power vacuums throughout the country. Until Yi Myeong-do's capture of Goseong in 1524 and the abdication of King Gongyang, Cheonhae existed solely as a rump state in the middle of an island nation rife with war. It was thanks to Goseong's natural defenses and recognition by a few surrounding lords that allowed Cheonhae to survive for so long, albeit in a weakened state. For over a century, many lords fought with each other over control of lands and influences in the region. Few clans had grandiose dreams of marching into Goseong and reunifying the country under their leadership. Prominent clans to have emerged from the Warring States Period were the Sinje Hyeop Clan, the Namnan Jaegal Clan, the Cheongu Yi Clan, and Eonbong Roh Clan; the latter two being instrumental in the country's eventual reunification.

Initially, conflicts during the Warring States period were dominated by feudal warriors of the nobility called the Gaemamusa (개마무사, 鎧馬武士) and the peasant levies. The introduction of more advanced personal firearms from mainland Escar in 1473 also changed warfare in Yeongseon. Although Cheonhae had incorporated gunpowder based weaponry into its arsenal since the early 14th century, gunpowder effectiveness was largely limited to artillery ordnance for trebuchets and cannons. Handheld usage of gunpowder weaponry was very rare in favor of standard gakgung bows and crossbows in range combat. Handcannons and arquebuses from Chanhan and Sahilese traders, however, were noted for its accuracy, power, and ease of training in comparison to crossbows and gakgungs and were readily incorporated into the armies of opportunistic lords. In its introduction in 1473, there were one gunman for every ten archers. By the end of the Warring States Period in 1527, there were one archer for every five gunmen and the military use of bowmen decreased over time until when archery lost any combat significance and were instead tools for hunting or for leisure.

The capture of Goseong by the Yi Myeong-do of the Eonbong Yi Clan in 1524 marked the turning point of the Warring States Period and the end of the 600 year old Kingdom of Cheonhae with the abdication of King Gongyang, who decided to legitimize Yi Myeong-do's effort to reunify the country as his last act as king. The end of the Warring States Period occurred in 1547 with the capture of Bukjodo by the newly christened Yeongseon Royal Navy when Lord Go Injwa refused to recognize Yi Myeong-do's royal authority.

Kingdom of Yeongseon
Yi Myeong-do's intended to continue use of the name Cheonhae for the country he ruled and simply change the royal line of descent to his own, thus maintaining the façade of continuing the 600 year old Cheonhae tradition. However, the consensus in the reformed court was that a new dynastic title was needed to signify the change. In an effort to showcase the country's new commitment for reforms, Yi Myeong-do was coronated as the First King of the Kingdom of Great Yeongseon under the temple name Taejo of Yeongseon. Political reforms were the main focus of Taejo's policies to cement his rule and to create a strong centralized government. One of his first edict was to abolish private armies, effectively severing the ability of lords to muster large-scale revolts. It also drastically increased the number of men employed in the national military. In addition, he promoted the political philosophy of the Four Teachings and created three state sponsored categories exams: the literary examinations (mun-gwa: 文科), military examinations (mugwa: 武科), and miscellaneous examinations (japgwa: 雜科) as the sole pathway to a position of power. Subsequent reforms by later kings during the early decades of Yeongseon were focused on centralizing the national government and rebuilding the country.

Imperial Yeongseon
Yeongseon's transformation to an imperial power took over a few centuries. In 1568, King Hyojong the Great established military reforms aimed strengthening the kingdom from hostile invaders, regularly using the Royal Navy to conduct anti-pirate activities. The development of the Turtle Ships, also known as Geobukseon (거북선), were used to support regular warships against pirates, eventually becoming a powerful weapon during the Jeongchu War in 1638. It was the development of the Yeongseon Royal Navy that provided Yeongseon the ability to conduct expeditions across the world to find trade routes to Amphia, establishing trading outposts in Osova and becoming one of the world's major economic, political, and military powers.

The discovery of Valeya in the late 16th century lead to colonization efforts in Eastern Valeya in around 1607. The Yeongseon government promoted opportunity for citizens to settle in the vast lands of the New World. While Yeongseon continued to maintain trading outposts, colonization was still utilized by Yeongseon, especially in Eastern Valeya and Osova. Early colonization in Valeya were financed by Mozanglians seeking to find a new home for their Anglian faith with such settlements still surviving in modern day Gyunghwa.

Decline
Yeongseon was on the slow road towards decline since the mid 18th century. Costly expeditions and foreign wars had put a drain on the Royal Treasury, such as the disastrous campaigns in Osova in 1743 that forced the Yeongseon Royal Navy to abandon much of its imperial ambitions in Osova. A royal succession crisis in 1821 after the early death of King Mukjong with no suitable male successors created major issues as the Royal Court attempted to find male blood relatives to Mukjong. With no suitable male heirs, the Royal Court ascended Mukjong's sister Princess Jeongmyeon as Hyejong of Yeongseon. Due to Jeongmyeon's betrothal to Lord Hong Joo-won, the Royal House of Korea moved from the Eonbang Yi Clan to the Namnan Hong Clan. In 1823, Yeongseon also lost its valuable holdings in Valeya with the independence of the Thirteen Commanderies of Gyunghwa. Over time, Yeongseon’s economic strengths and growths were surpassed by other Western Escaric empires, such as Chisei and Yamatai. More and more of the populace started to move out of Yeongseon in search of economic opportunities, most moving to Gyunghwa while some finding homes in Daebudo, Yamatai and mainland Escar. There were efforts to reform the country; later kings such as Gwangjong and Heonjong promoted economic and political reforms to bring more participation in government, pushing the country towards a constitutional monarchy. Despite some early successes, the country was still suffering from multiple internal issues such as protests from the urban merchant class, peasant uprisings, and the divided courts between various factions. Republicanism also found a foothold in the country through organizations such as the Republican Order (공화도회), the Enlightenment Party (개화당) and the Progressive Club (진보협회) in response to the perceived failures of the royal government.

The 4-9 Regicide and the 11-13 Revolution
On April 9th, 1912, King Gojong and his oldest son and heir-apparent Crown Prince Jeondeok were assassinated in the city of Namnan while visiting the Tongdosa during their month long trip across the country. The arrested assassins, Kim Il-sung and Roh Bilk-wan, were connected to the anti-monarchist Republican Order. Gojong's second born son Prince Yangchun Hong Yi-won became king.

Due to his young age at the time of his coronation (18 years) and the tragic way of his ascension, Yi-won garnered initial sympathy from the general public. The young king, like his father, supported reforms that would improve the well being of his people but was also unable to form a consensus government due to heavy infighting in the Royal Court. Monarchist factions splintered into multiple groups while the Enlightenment Party gained ground in the July legislative election of 1914, to the discomfort of the king. Riots were also breaking out in Cheongu and in an effort to bring some sort of stability, the king reluctantly called in the Royal Army to the capital to bolster garrison forces at the capital. However, despite additional presence of the Royal Army, the position of the monarchy was fragile. The monarchists were too divided to launch any unified support for the king and many officers in the Royal Army were republicans or were sympathetic to republicanism themselves.

On November 10th, violence erupted on the streets of Cheongu when soldiers connected to republican organizations launched a coup against the royal garrison. Bombardments from rebel artillery shelled the Changdeok Palace, forcing the king and his family to flee to the eastern Gyeongbok Palace. The republican revolution was not just limited to Cheongu as it was reported of fighting between monarchists and republicans throughout the country. Expected reinforcements never arrived to Gyeongbok Palace and after two days of fighting, it was clear that the Republicans took over much of the country. King Hong Yi-won ordered the Royal Guards at Gyeongbok Palace to lay down their arms and surrendered to the Republicans. The Kingdom of Yeongseon officially ended on the 13th of November at the king's abdication. Due to the abolition of the monarchy and its institutions, Hong Yi-won did not receive a temple name.

First Republic of Yeongseon
The Republic of Yeongseon was proclaimed on November 14th, 1912 by republican politicians. The Provisional Government was constituted immediately with Enlightenment Party leader Young Ha-joon chosen as the first President of the newly christened Republic by members of the General Court. The First Republic of Yeongseon passed numerous civil and political reforms in order to carry out the dreams of many republicans in the state. The many reforms pushed by the Republic saw some controversies with the rural population and traditional institutions such as Sindo temples and Confucian schools. The new government, seeing such traditional institutions as being incompatible with the ideologies of liberal democracy and responsible for Yeongseon's decline, was heavily antagonistic against these organizations and in some cases, placed heavy taxes on temple properties and pushed separation between church and state.

The First Republic of Yeongseon, despite multiple attempts at reforms, was anything but stable and suffered from the same problems plaguing the previous regime. While The General Court was united in passing reforms against the monarchy, Confucian institutions, and Sindo temples, the legislature was in constant gridlock as Court members argued over various national policies. By 1914, the dominant Enlightenment Party of the General Court was separated into four factions; the Unionists (conservatives) lead by Kwang Il, the Democrats (liberals) lead by Won Geol, the Reformers (progressives) lead by Oh Dong-min, and the Equalists (socialists) lead by Choi Ye-joon. Although the government made some meaningful changes in education, health, and civil liberties; administrative instability, labor unrest, and public violence plagued the First Republic. The First Republic also faced renewed uprisings by pro-monarchist rebels who took advantage of the chaos at the capital. While the Yeongseon Army was able to beat back the rebels, each insurrections brought doubt among the general populace in regards to the effectiveness of the new regime's governance. Most premiers fail to finish their terms in office and even the military, instrumental of bringing the republicans to powers, starts to question the viability of the republic. The Republicans championed themselves as progressives who would bring the sick man of Escar to health but the cycle of bankruptcy, instability, and corruption still continued under the new regime.

On April 19th, 1927, the unstable parliamentary republic was overthrown in a bloodless military coup lead by General Ki Do-young in what's known as the 4-19 Coup. The military junta seized power easily and dissolved the General Court, banned all political parties, and instituted press censorship. The Supreme Council for National Reconstruction (국가재건최고회의) was formed after the resignation of President Yi Haneul in response to the coup.



Second Republic of Yeongseon
The Second Republic of Yeongseon was declared on June 11th, 1927 after the dissolution of the Supreme Council for National Reconstruction. Contrary to the First Republic which was influenced by liberalism and progressivism, the Second Republic took much inspirations from traditionalist and autocratic ideologies. Despite the traditionalist and authoritarian nature of the Second Republic, most of the individuals behind the new regime were staunch republicans themselves and were opposed to restoring the monarchy or any landed titles of the dissolved aristocracy. The corporatist constitution was approved by the reformed General Court and General Ki Do-young resigned from his military position to run for President under the National Union Party. He was formally elected into office in 1929 with only token opposition from Enlightenment Party remnants. In 1930, he appointed economist Oh Kwang-hyun as Chancellor of the General Court, granting the economist special powers and privileges that effectively turned government control over to the office of the Chancellor.

The regime of Oh Kwang-hyun was nationalist, corporatist, and conservative in nature and prioritize economic development and national stability. Oh's regime equally shunned capitalism and collectivism. The working class was corporatized and businesses were strictly regulated. Workers' organizations, while subordinate to the state, were granted unprecedented levels of legitimacy and were made beneficiaries of many social programs. The Second Republic promoted the Four Teachings of Yeongseon (Confucianism, Taoism, Fojianism, and Sindoism) but ensured that these institutions were kept at an arms length to not amass too much power. Improving access to healthcare and education were also heavy priorities of the Second Republic, with record levels of schools and hospitals being built in 1931.

Second Escar-Varunan War


Yeongseon had zero involvements during the First Escar-Varunan War with the government proclaiming neutrality in the midst of instability within the First Republic. Isolationism was the driving policy in foreign affairs for the island nation ever since. Like the First Escar-Varunan War, Yeongseon also declared neutrality at the beginning of the Second Escar-Varunan War. Chancellor Oh Kwang-hyun focused on domestic policies and considered entanglements in foreign wars to be more detrimental to the country’s well being. However, Chancellor Oh Kwang-hyun was more sympathetic to the Allied causes and trade between Yeongseon and nations of the Allied powers grew while trade with members of the Niihama Pact dropped. In 1943, Yeongseon officially entered the war in the side of the Escaric Allies and declared war on Yamatai and Kuiju.

The war between the Escaric Allies and the Niihama Pact persisted in heavy combat in liberating Chiseian land from the Imperial Army along with campaigns in capturing Southern Yamataian islands. Although Yeongseon suffered from Imperial air bombings, it was lightly damaged compared to their mainland allies. A ceasefire and negotiation were held between the Escaric Allies and the Niihama Pact in 1944. In 1949, a peace treaty was signed, putting an official end to the war.

Late Second Republic
President Ki Do-young passed away in 1947 and was succeeded by General Yoon Sang-ok. Unlike the late President Ki Do-young who was generally hands off with his governance, President Yoon Sang-ok saw greater need to expand the powers of the President at the expense of Chancellor Oh Kwang-hyun's General Court. Already, disagreements begin to brew between President Yoon and Chancellor Oh and the Chancellor was dismissed in 1952, replaced by Deputy Chancellor Kim Kyung who was more agreeable to the President's expansion of power.

President Ki Do-young pushed for greater economic and political ties with the western powers and after the Second Escar-Varunan War, Yeongseon found itself in a more involved role in regional geopolitics. The country joined the newly formed Union of Nations in 1949 (and later its successor, the Ordic League in 1953) and was involved in the Hinomoto Crisis and the First Hoaian War as part of the Three Powers Alliance in 1965 and was a founding member of the Heian Cooperation Organization. Ki also established the Yeongseonese Community in 1956, allowing for greater cultural ties with former colonies such as the United Republics of Gyunghwa.

A failed assassination attempt on the President's life in March 19th, 1962 allowed the President and the General Court to enact marital law. Instability mounted in the Second Republic mounted as Ki's popularity and tolerance of his authoritarianism declined. Ki had used the Central Intelligence Agency (중앙정보부) to suppress oppositions but this exacerbated resistance to the Second Republic. In October 11th, 1969, Ki was assassinated inside the Blue Palace by Park Jae-gal, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. He was succeeded by Chancellor Hae Ja-jeom as Acting President a day later who declared marital law, however the country experienced political turmoil under the weak leadership of the Acting President.

Third Republic of Yeongseon
On December 9th, officers lead by General Yang Tae-jun launched a coup de'tat on Cheongu with elements of the Yeongseon Army in a largely bloodless takeover of power. With President Hae Ja-jeom resigning from office, Yang Tae-jun declared the dissolution of the Second Republic and the formation of the Third Republic of Yeongseon, with promise of political democratization, expansion of civil liberties, and transition to civilian rule. A new constitution detailing the return to liberal democracy was ratified by the General Court in 1973, curtailing powers of various offices while enhancing the responsibilities of the General Court. The transition of Yeongseon from autocracy to modern democracy was marked in 1974, when the opposition Democratic Justice Party lead by liberal activist Yi Tae-song defeated the ruling Patriot Party in the 1984 legislative election. General Yang Tae-jun retired from the military and was inaugurated as President by the General Court in 1975, more to be the national representative of Yeongseon. Various reforms were made throughout the Third Republic to address labor rights, press freedoms, and civil rights. The Central Intelligence Agency was reformed to the National Intelligence Office (국가정보원) or the Jeongbowon.

Government and Politics
Yeongseon is a unitary parliamentary constitutional republic with a neo-Confucianism bureaucracy as codified by the Gyeongguk Daejeon. The President has limited political influence and instead serves to restrain the powers of the bureaucracy and to be the face of Yeongseon. The President signs every law (except those that pertain to the powers of the Presidency) and international or bilateral treaties approved by the General Court, endorses credentials of foreign diplomats, guides the Court for the creation of new government, and has the power to temporarily dissolve the Court only when there's an absolute majority opinion that the Court has no chance of effective governance and can remove the Prime Minister from office. Presidents are elected by the General Court to serve up to two five year terms.

The Confucian bureaucracy is selected through appointment based on scoring on the national. To be eligible for civil service, one must pass the Gwageo exam. Those who do not pass are considered as unqualified to wield political power in the Bureaucracy. In recent years, the exam has become more holistic and comprehensive, moving beyond a simple written exam on Confucian philosophy to now encompassing a brief in-person interview, extensive background check, and psychological examination. The most prestigious positions are generally offered to the highest performing testers in all categories, and advancement through the bureaucracy is based heavily on merit. Cases of nepotism and general corruption are severely punished by immediate expulsion from the Bureaucracy, and the revoking of one's Gwageo exam results - ending one's political career forever.

The unicameral General Court is the legislative branch of Yeongseon. The General Court is the most powerful branch in the national government with most executive powers being held by the Chancellor, the leader of the General Court and often the leader of the ruling party. Members of the General Court are elected by their constituents in their districts. The Chancellor also holds power over the Bureaucracy and appoints individual into his/her cabinet before being confirmed by the Court. There are 503 seat in the General Court.

The major parties in Yeongseon are the conservative New Democratic Party, the progressive Justice Party, the liberal Liberty Party, the populist Nationalists Party, and the socialist Labor Party. As of the 2018 General Election the composition of the General Court is as follows:

Local autonomy plays a major role in effecting the daily lives of Yeongseonins. Local magistrates and assemblies are elected in each of the primary and secondary administrative divisions of the country in every province, metropolitan or special city, and district. Local autonomy, however, does not extend to the judicial branch nor do they have greater autonomy in policies; their policy making authorities are generally limited to how national policies are to be implemented.

Military
The Yeongseon Armed Forces are the military forces of Yeongseon. They are comprised of the Yeongseon Army as the main ground force of Yeongseon with the Righteous Corps serving as a volunteer reserve force based off historical peasant and warrior monk militias of old. The Yeongseon Navy serves as the naval and naval aviation forces of Yeongseon with the Yeongseon Marine Corps being a semi-independent military force working alongside the Navy. The Yeongseon Air Force is focused on the aerial and cyber defense of the country. Yeongseon spends nearly 2.06% of its GDP on military spending.

Overall, the Yeongseon Army employs under 130,000 total personnel, with 12 ground divisions, 40 ships, 400 aircraft, and a massive network of radar installations, SAMs, and anti-ballistic missile systems. The Yeongseon Armed Forces sources most of its equipment from Chisei and Yamatai, although they manufacture their weapons through licensing.

Foreign relations
Yeongseon was a founding member of the Heian Cooperation Organization and an active participant of the organization. It’s also a member of the Ordic League and the founder of the Yeongseongin Community, an international organization of states that were once members of Yeongseon’s colonial empire that promotes close cultural and economic relations.

Administrative divisions
The major administrative divisions in Yeongseon are twelve provinces.

The provinces are (in order by number):

1. Buyeo (Byo)

2. Taegun (Tgn)

3. Habaek (Hbk)

4. Seora (Soa)

5. Bongnae (Bng)

6. Myeongun (Mgn)

7. Andeok (Adk)

8. Imcheok (Imc)

9. Gangcheong (Gch)

10. Hangwon (Hwn)

11. Okyeon (Ok)

12. Pyeongun (Pgn)

13. Sanju

14. Haeseon

15. Cheonhae

16. Punggaang

Ethnic Groups
Ethnic Yeongseonins make up the vast majority of the population, constituting 95.4% of the populations. Ethnic Yeongseonins make up in the majority in every provinces. Jinghuan-Yeongseonins is the second largest ethnic group in Yeongseon, making up 3.3% of the population. Jinghuan migration to Yeongseon, while not uncommon, was low and only increased after the 20th century with immigrants seeking better opportunity in Yeongseon, being prevalent in Eastern Yeongseon. Other ethnic groups (from Kuijuins, Yashimans, Mozanglians, etc.) constitute only 1.3% of the national population with them being spread out over Yeongseon (although such ethnic towns do exist such as Little Heian or Anglianville).

Religion
The Gyeongguk Daejeon ensured that all religious beliefs are to be protected from government interference ever since in 1453 when King Hyojong declared that "religious beliefs shall not be criminalized." Sindo makes up the majority of the populace at around 69%. Fojiaoism makes up the second largest religious movement at around 8%. Taoism makes up around 4% of the populace while Anglican Messianism makes up 2%. Other religious minorities (such as non-Anglican Messianism, Hanafism, and Imperial Shrine) make up 1%. 16% of the population do not hold membership with any religions.

Religion as a whole is on a decline in Yeongseon with 51% of Yeongseonins under 30 considering themselves to be less religious compared to 14% of Yeongseonins over 30.

Culture
Since the Three Kingdoms period, the Yeongseon government has always promoted the arts, with rulers personally funding the works of talented poets and musicians. In 1840, the Ministry of Arts was formed, and has worked to protect Yeongseon's cultural heritage and to make it available to the public.

During the second Endwar, the ministry was geared towards the dissemination of propaganda, and it was during this time that a series of patriotic songs, films, and posters were plastered throughout the entirety of the embattled nation. During the Cold War, the ministry began to move to preserve the cultural heritage of the nation and its fight against communism. The Ministry of Arts today was replaced by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as the agency responsible for the areas of tourism, culture, art, religion, and sports.

Entertainment
Yeongseon has a thriving entertainment industry where various facets of Yeongseonin entertainment including television dramas, films, and popular music has generated significant financial revenues for the nation's economy. Yeongseon music dates back to the dawn of Yeongseon civilization, and archaeological evidence shows a well-developed musical culture as early as during the Jeongmun period. In particular, court music influenced the subsequent patronage of the arts by the government. While classical music in Yeongseon varied in tune and instruments, the forms of music maintain a set of rhythms called Jangdan, and a loosely defined set of melodic modes owing to diverse instruments. Traditional music styles include pansori- a style in which a narrator may play the parts of all the characters in a story, accompanied by a drummer and pungmul, a form of percussion music that includes drumming, dancing, streamers, and singing in together to a beat.

Among current musical events and institutions in Yeongseon, many are dedicated to traditional music. Some of the most prestigious of these institutions include the state-owned National Theater of the Arts and the privately owned Cheongu Center of Music. During the 20th century, Yeongseon's advancements in the electronics industry allowed for the nation's musicians to pioneer in electronic music, and much of Yeongseon's modern popular music incorporates electronic beats or backgrounds.

Yeongseon popular music, typically referred to as gayo (가요) in Yeongseon, is a highly commercial industry famous throughout the world. Contemporary Y-pop is dominated by dance groups. Hip hop, dance and RNB have come to define gayo. Contemporary Yeongseon girl groups, such as, , , and have global following, as well as hip hop artists and dance crew. Single hip hop and rnb artists such as The Red Admiral, and Triple Threat have broken with this tradition and are amongst the most widely listened to artists, but hip hop groups such as XP also enjoy wide popularity. pop culture is defined by hip hop dance, and girl groups. B-boy and hip hop dances are prevalent among college aged youth globally. In addition to pop music, a more traditional style, trot music, has experienced a revival in Yeongseon.

Since the success of the film Holy Armour in 1999, the Yeongseon film industry has begun to gain recognition internationally with famous actors like and. Domestic film has a dominant share of the Yeongseon market. Yeongseon television shows have become popular outside of the country. Yeongseonin television dramas, known as Y-dramas have begun to find fame internationally. Although many dramas have a variety of genres such as history or comedy, some of the well known dramas tend to have a romantic focus, such as &. Other than romance, other popular dramas place emphasis on action such as Warring States, Yi Do, and Explorers of the West. Variety TV shows also saw popularity in Yeongseon with such shows like, , and

Cuisine


Yeongseon yori (영선요리; 臺城料理), or jungsik (정식; 臺食), has evolved throughout the history. Originating from ancient agricultural and fishing traditions in the Yeongseon lands, southern Yamatai, and western Cathai; Yeongseonin cuisine has evolved through a complex interaction of the natural environment and different cultural trends. Even through the present day, each provinces bring out unique regional dishes with the Yeongseon Royal Court cuisine combining all of the unique regional specialties together for the Royal Family.

Yeongseon dishes are largely based on, s, , vegetables, tofu, and fish and meats. Traditional Yeongseon meals are noted for the number of side dishes known as  (반찬) which accompany the rice. One of the most common sidedish served with many Yeongseon cuisine is (김치), a fermented, usually spicy vegetable dish. Originally, consumption of meats was largely limited due to the country's early Fojiaoan ruling class, which saw the practice of slaughtering animals as evil and there was a ban on beef consumption. Hunting wild animals and fishing were acceptable alternatives in getting proteins while early Yeongseon during the Cheonhae Dynasty had a very low class of butchers that performed the deed of slaughtering animals. Under the various reforms undertaken during the Yeongseon period, there was a gradual acceptance of the consumption of meat and dairy. While beef has traditionally been served on rare occasion for citizens of non-noble birth due to high values of livestock; consumption of beef became widespread since the mid 20th century. On the other hand, poultry and pork were much more common meats served in Yeongseon cuisines with, , , , , , and being popular meat dishes consumed by many.

Consumption of dairy underwent an evolution in Yeongseon history. There were already records of water buffalo milk in the diets of the peasant class during the Three Kingdoms Period, however dairy was hardly consumed among the wealthy Fojiaoan elites who considered dairy to be a barbaric practice. Extensive trade with Sahil and the migration of Mozanglians into Yeongseon around the mid 12th century steadily built the widespread culture of dairy consumption in Yeongseon.

Yeongseon cuisine usually involves heavy seasoning with, ' (된장), a type of , , salt, garlic, ginger, and ' (고추장), a hot pepper paste. Another well-known dish is  (떡볶이); a common consisting of rice cake seasoned with gochujang or a spicy chili paste. Yeongseon also enjoys renditions of Cathaian dishes, such as.

Sweets are generally based on rice and. Traditional deserts include a paste-filled rice cake known as, a fish-shaped pastry called often served as a street-food, and , a shaved-ice delicacy topped with various sauces, most traditionally bean-paste. These streets have been complemented by mass-produced brands such as melon ice cream bars and, both of which are widely manufactured by.

Soups are a common part of any Yeongseon meal. Unlike other cultures, in Yeongseon culture, soup is served as part of the main course rather than at the beginning or the end of the meal, as an accompaniment to rice along with other banchan. Soups known as are often made with meats, shellfish and vegetables. Soups can be made into more formal soups known as tang, often served as the main dish of the meal. are a thicker, heavier seasoned soups or stews.

Ingredients and dishes often vary by province. The dishes most commonly seen as Yeongseon food are generally present in the cuisine of Eastern Yeongseon. Western Yeongseon has less precipitation and has a greater focus on spices and garlic than other regions in the nation. Increased mobility, the decline of family farms, and the rise of major food corporations within the past hundred years have resulted in a more singular Yeongseon cuisine.

Sports
The martial art taekwondo originated in Yeongseon. In the 1950s and 1960s, modern rules were standardized with the creation of the World Taekwondo Union in 1957. Other Yeongseonin martial arts include taekkyeon, hapkido, Tang Soo Do, Kuk Sool Won, kumdo and subak.

Archery and rifle shootings are some of the dominant sports in Yeongseon due to the country’s tradition reverence on archery (men were expected to be good archers, both for hunting to provide for the family and for fighting to defend the kingdom) and its historical reliance on firearms when it was introduced to the world. Yeongseon’s national team for international competition always excelled in the fields of archery and rifle shooting with the majority of the nation’s gold medal counts coming from these fields.

Football and baseball have traditionally been regarded as the some of the most popular sports in Yeongseon with recent polling indicates that a majority, 41% of Yeongseon sports fans continue to self-identify as football fans, with baseball ranked 2nd at 25% of respondents. Baseball was first introduced to Yeongseon in 1905 and has since become increasingly popular, with some sources claiming it has surpassed football as the most popular sport in the country. Basketball is a popular sport in the country as well.

Domestic horse racing events are also followed by Yeongseonins and the Cheongu Race Park in Gwacheon, Hangwon-do is located closest to Cheongu out of the country's thirty official tracks.

Competitive video gaming, also called eSports (sometimes written e-Sports), has become more popular Yeongseon in recent years, particularly among young people with shooters, arena matches, and strategy games being dominant on the market. The gaming scene of Yeongseon is managed by the Yeongseon E-Sports Association (YESPA for short) and has become something of a career for many players. They can make a living out of their activity and top players can even make a significant amount of money with some high end professional players ending up making six figure salaries.