Haesan

The Commonwealth of Haesan 해산민국 (Haesan Minguk)
Flag
Motto: "The moon will guide you home"
Anthem: "As the Eastern Star Rises"
Capital	Hwagang
Largest	Suyang
Official languages	English, Korean
Recognised national languages	French
Demonym(s)	Haesanite
Government	Parliamentary Republic
• President	Kim I-seul
• Prime Minister	Jan van Deventer
Legislature	Parliament of Haesan
• Upper house	Chamber of the Commonwealth
• Lower house	Chamber of Deputies
Establishment
• Southern Coast first settled	c. 800 BCE
• Haesan united	941
• Treaty of Levesque signed	1792 October 30
• Independence from Britain declared, First Commonwealth formed	1921 February 1
• Free Republic of Haesan formed	1942 April 4
• Conquered by Darya	1964 January 11
• Free Republic of Haesan restored	1972 March 18
• Founding of the Second Commonwealth	1985 October 10
Area
•	173,309 km2 (66,915 sq mi)
• Water (%)	8.2%
Population
• 2021 estimate	131,670,000
GDP (PPP)	estimate
• Per capita	$27,145
GDP (nominal)	estimate
• Per capita	$21,860
Gini (2018)	49.1 high
HDI (2018)	.841 very high
Currency	Haesan Sterling (HAS)
Time zone	UTC+6; +6:30; +7; +8 (Various (WHT, HMT, CHT, EHT))
Date format	yyyy-mm-dd
Driving side	left
Calling code	+21
Internet TLD	.hn

The Commonwealth of Haesan is a semi-presidential, parliamentary, capitalist, democratic republic located in the east of Hesperida in the International Democratic Union. It borders Laeral to the west through the disputed province of Soeyan and Lao Sansong to the north. The nation is noted for its long coastline and many river valleys, and maritime activity has long been a core component of its economy. Haesan covers an area of 173,309 km² and has a population of 131 million people.

Haesan was first unified in the 11th century, but the nation would cease to be self governing in the 18th century when it was colonized by the English in the south and the French in the north. The two occupying factions fought the War of Haesanite Succession, in which the British forces conquered the whole of the nation. British occupation would last until protests and revolutionary actions led to the establishment of the First Commonwealth of Haesan in 1921. After two decades of political instability, the April Coup in 1942 established the Free Republic of Haesan, a military-backed dictatorship. In 1951, Henri Lagarde seized control, and with foreign backing implemented his vision of futurism, intensely focusing on scientific advancement, often at the cost of economic growth. In the Great War, Haesan lost its territorial integrity after invasions from Darya, Laeral, and the Slokais Islands, and at the war's conclusion a provisional government was established by ____. After 5 years of provisional oversight, the Free Republic of Haesan was reestablished, and Henri Lagarde was reinstalled as its leader. In 1980, an aging Lagarde was assassinated and his Minister of Defence, Kim Ji-hun seized power and facilitated the return to democracy in 1985.

Modern democratic leaders have sought to improve social cohesion throughout the multiethnic state through policies like the Block Association System, while seeking to modernize the nation's sluggish economy. In the wake of the Monetary Crisis of 2004, the government of Choi Da-yeon used policy to provide favorable conditions for foreign investors, leading to both extraordinary improvements in infrastructure and very high wealth inequality. Haesan's economy largely revolves around export-oriented manufacturing, but a significant proportion remains agricultural. A majority of the population lives in urban areas, and its city of Suyang is one of the largest cities by population in the IDU.

Haesanite culture is gaining international recognition, driven largely by the haeryu, or wave of Korean language pop music produced in Haesan. Haesan's traditional cuisine, cultural traditions, and athletic events have also seen a resurgence after the Korean Language Administration Act provided government funding to preserve traditional cultural activities. Haesan is also a major tourist destination, with visitors flocking to the quaint port cities and pristine beaches of its Maritime Provinces in the Albarine Sea.

Geography

Cities

Largest Cities in Haesan Based on 2015 Census
Rank	City	Province	Pop.
1	Suyang	Suyang	27,172,814
2	Anfa	Anfa	14,891,435
3	Sinju	Sinhan	6,210,204
4	Hyangsan	Sugang	4,590,341
5	Hanyeong	Sinhan	3,509,542
6	Anmi	Namhae	3,108,679
7	Gyeongseong	Ryujang	2,887,050
8	Levesque	The Northlands	2,492,740
9	Yeocheon	Namhae	2,490,923
10	Hwagang	Hwagang Capitol Region	2,105,678
11	Apseong	Sugang	1,874,672
12	Seowon	Sugang	1,493,873
13	Sanri	Maehwahosu	1,291,344
14	Munseong	Namhae	1,214,811
15	Bridgeport	Northern Maritimes	1,103,864
16	Jeonyu	Imyu	1,031,660

Demographics

Typical Haesanite housing blocks along the Singang in Sinju

Haesan has a population of 131 million people. Haesan is a multiethnic nation, with no ethnic group comprising more than 30% of the population. Major ethnic groups present in Haesan include the native, traditionally Korean-speaking Haemi people, along with large coalitions of foreign settlers, such as the English yeongmin in the Southern Coast, the Arrivée in the Northlands and Midwest, and the mercantile, largely Dutch-speaking gyulmin. The open borders system established by Lagarde has led to the establishment of numerous small ethnic enclaves within various Haesanite cities. Intermarriage is common, and only 35% of Haesanites in the 18-25 age cohort identify as the member of only one ethnic group.

The fertility rate is 2.53, well above the replacement rate. The average age in Haesan is 29.1 years. Technological and healthcare industry development in Haesan during the Choi administration has driven the average life expectancy up from 72.5 in 2000 to 80.1 in 2022. Rates of obesity are low at around 7%, while 23% of Haesanites are overweight. 61% of Haesanites live in an urban area, 17% live in a suburb, and 21% live in a small town or rural area.

Language

English has been Haesan's primary language in business and government administration since the conclusion of the War of Haesanite Succession in 1792. Korean has become more widely used in recent decades as a push to reclaim Haesanite national heritage has gained momentum. Korean is mandated to be taught in primary and secondary schools per the Korean Language Administration Act of 1991. French is still used conversationally in many parts in the northern regions of Haesan, and is an official language in seven prefectures.

Haesanites younger than 30 know at least two languages, but about 73% know three or more. Parliament has taken efforts to make government documents accessible to the many immigrants in Haesan, and the Department of Linguistic Standards under the Home Office of Haesan requires all requisite documents to be readily available in English, Korean, and French, as well as printable on-demand in at least 50 other languages.

Education

Education is historically prized in Haesan, as a focus of Lagardian futurism, Bishop's Community First governance, and Choi's modernization scheme. It is now expected in Haesanite society that the vast majority of youth will obtain some form of tertiary education. As the right to education is guaranteed in Haesan's constitution, all education in Haesan is publicly funded; private or religious options are outlawed.

Primary education in Haesan is usually administered as closely as possible with the Block Association System, and emphasizes community engagement and local hiring along with a pragmatic skills education centered around mathematics, reading fluency, and basic writing competencies. Primary education, usually called grammar schools, typically lasts from Year 0 (kindergarten) to Year 6. Secondary education is usually broken down into two schools, association schools lasting from Year 7 to Year 9, and preparatory schools lasting from Year 10 to Year 12. Association schools expand upon the skills education of grammar schools and screen the students based on skill aptitude and personality to sort them into the various preparatory schools. The prep school system in Haesan functions in tiers, college prep, general prep, services prep, and trade prep operating as the four branches of the system. College prep school is an intensive, challenging, skill-centered experience designed to prepare students for the exactingly difficult college entrance exams. General prep schools seek to provide students with knowledge of the broader job economy as well as continuing the traditional educational track to allow them to choose between college or a trade come graduation time. Services prep focuses on financial management, communication, and other soft skills to prepare students to get accreditation in any sector of Haesan's growing service economy. Trade prep works to provide hands-on mechanical experiences to secondary schoolers, often partnering with local factories and artisans.

The school of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Suyang National University

Those in college prep or general prep schools have the option to take the General Skills Examination (GSE), a 10 hour long, once-yearly examination that covers reading and writing in both English and Korean, mathematics, core science concepts, the history of Haesan and the IDU, economics, and fundamental Haesanite civics concepts. The GSE score is the only relevant factor in determining college admissions in Haesan. About 31% of Haesanite youth will attend one of the many universities, liberal arts colleges, and technology schools through the GSE, while about 60%, including most of those in services and trade prep schools, will gain some other form of tertiary accreditation, largely in one or two year certificate programs.

In part due to the rigor of the application process, Haesan's top universities are very well regarded on an international stage. Most notable is Suyang National University, a top 10 international university which only accepts applicants who scored in the top 99.5 percentile of the GSE. Most large, less-selective universities are organized into conferences for the ease of sharing research, allowing professors an opportunity of advancement, and facilitating undergraduate transfers. The "Core Four" conferences are the Northland Conference, the Southern Coast Conference (SCC), the Central Valley Conference (CVC), and the Metropolitan Conference. In addition to being the core corridors for sharing academic resources in Haesan, they also form the backbone for the college athletics competitions that have achieved extraordinary popularity in Haesan, especially in baseball and basketball.

Government & Politics

Main Article: Politics of Haesan

Culture

Haesan's culture is rooted in the traditions of its Classical Era; however, modern technological advancements have merged with ancient practices to form a particularly utilitarian form of culture. Art exhibits and other exhibitions of fine culture are either held at a community level or patronized by the upper classes. Haesan's music, television, and movie production have all recently gained international acclaim, while its traditional and modern pottery and calligraphy have become popular collector's items.

Art

Haesanite traditional pottery in the iconic seaside blue color

In the classical era, art was typically designed for the royal court, mainly scroll paintings and ceramics. Compounds in Haesanite river mud allowed for pottery to be crafted in various unique tones, most notably pale green and a light blue which has become a national symbol of Haesan, still found today on its flag. During colonial occupation, still-lifes and portraits became common, and acrylics and watercolors became the most popular media, although scroll paintings and calligraphy were still popular amongst the merchant class at that time. During the Free Republic and provisional government, protest art was common, and large bold strokes of acrylic were characteristic of the works of a highly political nature.

Today, in part driven by the Korean Language Administration Act, Haesanite artists are rediscovering their traditional heritage. Numerous pottery and calligraphy studios can be found in almost every city with a significant population, often catering to tourists and visitors to the country as well as Haesan's burgeoning middle class. Modern art is still produced; however a clearly Haesanite style has yet to emerge. Several key art museums can be found in Haesan, most notably the Musée Central de l'Anfé, hosting the largest collection of colonial period artwork from Haesanite and Arrivée masters, while the Suyang Modern is home to an abundant collection of protest art and contemporary works. The National Gallery in Hwagang houses many "national treasure" works of pottery and calligraphy, while the Haesan Museum of Anthropology in Suyang displays both utilitarian and artistic artworks dating back to the first settlements along the Southern Coast.

Cuisine

Buckwheat crepes to be filled for memilpa

Haesan's cuisine is unique due to its abundance of staple grains, with rice cultivation common in the south while the east and northeast produce an abundance of wheat and barley. Additionally, while fish and shellfish are staples due to Haesan's maritime geography, pork and beef are not uncommon in the interior, especially in market towns and cities. Spice is a common feature in many Haesanite staple dishes especially for those in the lower classes, while pickling and salt-curing are commonly utilized techniques. Haesanite dishes are typically well sauced, and the cuisine borrows heavily from the French tradition and the mother sauces and their derivatives are often used in harmony with more traditional preparations. Hospitality is of the utmost importance in Haesanite dining, and most restaurants will provide water, tea, and various small side dishes free of charge.

The national dish is memilpa, or a savory buckwheat crepe filled with fish, usually cod or hake, and an herbed velouté sauce formed from a roux. Memilpa, along with many other traditional Haesanite foods, is quite portable, and food stalls and vendors are a common sight along major thoroughfares, and a dizzying variety of foods can be found in both established market squares and in common, traditionally impromptu night markets.

Haesan has a complicated history with alcohol. While traditionally produced throughout the classical period, widespread drunkenness and the resulting property damages from sailors caused colonial rulers to enforce strict limits on alcohol consumption. While this briefly liberalized in the 1920s and 30s, the Free Republic resumed the restrictive policies. As such, alcohol consumption is often disdained among the elderly; however, drinking has become increasingly common amongst the urban youth. Soju is popular, and while traditional Haesanite soju derives from fermented barley, now many varieties can be widely found. The Northlands have long been a wine producing region, with Shiraz being the dominant red grape, and Aligoté widely planted to produce a characteristic dry white. Cassis is another typical Haesanite spirit, and the black currant liquor is typically paired with red wine.

Entertainment

Hae-pop idols in concert

Holidays

The most important holidays in Haesan are New Year's Day and Seollal, or Lunar New Year's. February 1st is Haesan's Independence Day, usually celebrated by organizing parades and wearing national regalia. April 4th is Memorial Day, a national day of mourning of those who fought for Haesan's freedom, held to commemorate the anniversary of the April Coup, Haesan's fall to autocracy. The summer solstice is Midsummer, which is typically celebrated by street festivals and block parties in urban areas, and town or county fairs in rural areas. The third Friday in September is Haesanite Thanksgiving, usually used to celebrate a good harvest and is a time for reuniting with family and honoring ones ancestors. October 10th is Commonwealth Day, the anniversary of the formation of the Second Commonwealth, where participating in civics education and community service activities are the norm, seen as participating in the ongoing democratic experiment. All Hallows Eve on October 31st is a bank holiday, specifically because Sinju shuts down for the day in a whirlwind day-long celebration due to the city's long history with the occult. December 24th and 25th are also national holidays, since although Haesan has no official religion, Christmas is widely celebrated, especially in the northern regions.

Sports

Haesan is competitive in archery at the international level, and it is a national sport

Taekwondo and archery are the national sports of Haesan. Both sports have a history in Haesan stretching back over two millennia, and the themes central to both, focus, discipline, and mastery over mind and body, form the central tenets of Haesanite athletics. Sailing, rowing, and surfing are very popular, especially in the Maritime Provinces, while professional swimming is usually conducted in purpose-built aquatics centers as opposed to the open ocean. Winter sports are popular in the mountainous west and north-west, with ski chalets often found in the Northlands. Curling was formally invented in Haesan's Northlands in the 19th century, and due to its passionate and dedicated fan base, curling facilities are common even in warmer climates.

An Anmi State pitcher during a Southern Coast Conference baseball game

Collegiate athletics draw the highest ratings in Haesanite television, and competitions are extremely intense and well regarded. The "Core Four" conferences generally tend to field the most competitive teams, however minor conference teams have won many prestigious competitions in recent years as a greater depth of talent enters the university system. Athletics are often seen as a driver of upward mobility for those who went to tech or service prep schools, giving them a chance to earn a college diploma. Baseball, basketball, and taekwondo championships are among the most prestigious, and televised championship matches often get tens of millions of domestic viewers.

Association football and baseball are the most prominent professional sports in Haesan. Top-flight football is played in the Commonwealth League, and promotion and relegation is possible throughout a 10 tier league structure. Baseball is similarly structured, and many Haesanite pro baseball teams import players from across the IDU. Curling leagues are popular winter entertainment, and the national championships are highly anticipated events, pitting the best men's, women's, and mixed-doubles teams from each region against each other. Across the board, Haesanite sports are marked by avid cheerleading squads, active fan participation including highly rehearsed fan chants, and a very active, dynamic style of play.