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Western-style restaurants and foods, including American fast foods, have become increasingly popular. Bean curd, made from soybeans, is a basic source of protein. Typical dishes include kimchi (spiced pickled cabbage), mandu (meat-filled dumplings), kuksu (noodles), and dried fish and other seafood. Nearly 100 percent of the population can read and write. South Korea's literacy rate is among the world's highest. More than 1 million students are enrolled in colleges and universities, such as Seoul National, Yonsei, and Korea universities.
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Most students in South Korea stay in school through the ninth grade, and increasing numbers are continuing on to high school. Some maintain the ancient folk religious beliefs known as shamanism. The main organized religions of Korea are Christianity (mainly Protestant), Buddhism, and a native religion called Chondokyo, or "religion of the heavenly way." Many South Koreans combine elements of various religions in different aspects of their lives. Today a script that combines hangul and Chinese characters is used. Korean was originally written in Chinese characters, but in the 1440's a Korean alphabet, called hangul, was invented. Korean is one of the Altaic languages, which also include Turkish and Mongolian. South Korean society is based on the teachings of Confucius (551-479 B.C.), a Chinese philosopher who taught respect for authority, reverence for family and parents, the duty to do one's best, and the importance of education. About 10 percent came from the north, having fled south during the Korean War (1950-53) or are descended from the original refugees. South Korea is inhabited by about 48 million people, most of whom trace their distant ancestry to China and Siberia. It has since become one of the world's most productive economies and trading powers. South Korea was established as a modern nation in 1948. The name Korea comes from the Koryo dynasty, which ruled the region from 918 to 1392. It is bordered on the north by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea). The Republic of Korea (South Korea) is situated on the southern half of the Korean Peninsula in East Asia.