Haesan

The Commonwealth of Haesan 해산민국 (Haesan Minguk)
Flag Emblem
Motto: "The moon will guide you home"
Anthem: "As the Eastern Star Rises"
Capital	Hwagang
Largest	Suyang
Official languages	English, Haean
Recognised regional languages	French, Sarene
Demonym(s)	Haesanite
Government	Parliamentary Republic
• President	Kim I-seul
• Prime Minister	Sabrina Hwang
Legislature	National Assembly of Haesan
• Upper house	Chamber of the Commonwealth
• Lower house	Chamber of Deputies
Establishment
• So-yu and Su-ho (mythological)	1900 BCE
• Southern Coast first settled	c. 800 BCE
• Haesan first united	941
• Independence from Opthelia 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
• Total	373,309 km2 (144,135 sq mi)
• Water (%)	8.2%
Population
• 2015 estimate	131,670,000
GDP (PPP)	estimate
• Per capita	$37,145
GDP (nominal)	estimate
• Per capita	$25,860
Gini (2023)	41.6 medium
HDI (2023)	.853 very high
Currency	Haesanite Seol (𐋃) (HNS)
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

Haesan (Haean: 해산), officially the Commonwealth of Haesan (Haean: 해산민국) 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 the Littoral Marches and Lao Sansong to the north. The narrow Slokais Straits separate Haesan from the Slokais Islands in the east. 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 373,309 km² and has a population of 131 million people.

Haesan was first unified in the 10th century, but the nation would cease to be self governing in the 18th century when it was colonized by Opthelia in the south and the French in the north. The two occupying factions fought the War of Haesanite Succession, in which the Opthelian forces conquered the whole of the nation. Opthelian 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 Libertas Omnium Maximus. 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 Haean language pop music produced in Haesan. Haesan's traditional cuisine, cultural traditions, and athletic events have also seen a resurgence after the Haean 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.

Etymology

Haesan's name derives from the traditional, non-standardized Haean 해 (hae) meaning the ocean and 산 (san) meaning mountains. This name has been used continuously for over 2000 years and was likely first used by the Haemi residents to refer to the general swath of land between the Maehwa Mountains and the Albarine Sea, what is now referred to as the southern coast region or namhae. As the region became increasingly unified under one political system, the word "haesan" became used to describe the territory controlled by the rulers, before becoming the nation's official name formally upon unification in 941. Some scholars have posited that the name also could be a direct translation from the more standardized Haean 해산 (haesan) meaning to break up or disperse, based on the fact that the devolution of power and legal jurisdiction to local authorities by the first kings of unified Haesan was a unique and monumental political shift at the time. However, recent archeological findings of the widespread use of the term before unification has led to that hypothesis being widely discredited.

History

Ancient history

According to Haesanite Celestial mythology, the nation was founded in 1900 BCE by So-yu and Su-ho. In the archeological record, however, the first evidence of organized civilizations was found on the southern coast dated to around 800 BCE with settlers establishing small fishing communities on the Hanyeong Peninsula. By 600 BCE, there is archeological evidence of these communities forming loose trade networks with pearls being used as a proto-currency. These communities would ultimately form trade networks, and then unify either through violence or diplomacy into loose confederations of city states.

By 200 BCE, the largest of these confederations, now known as the Hanyeong Compact, comprised over 20 towns across the Gulf of Sinju region, would be recognized as the first formal political polity in Haesanite history. Founded on the principle of "one town, one vote" the group would make economic and treaty decisions by majority vote, and the towns would see a period of prosperity as the southwest became by far the richest and most influential area of Haesan, a fact which has not changed to the present day. Eventually, by 100 CE, the leaders of Sinju, which had grown into the largest city in Haesan at the time, decided that having the same amount of influence as fishing towns a hundredth of its size was no longer acceptable after decades of failing to achieve political reforms. As such, the ruling Seo family marshalled a military force and invaded a controlling share of the townships in the Compact. The Seo family then declared that they had the sole right to rule over the Compact territories, but the Choi mandate in Suyang, by all accounts the second most populous and influential city at time, quickly coalesced the remainder of the towns alongside them to fight for the preservation of the Compact. In 134 CE the two sides would start outright conflict, beginning the Warring Dukedoms period, which would last for over 800 years.

Warring Dukedoms period

A map of Haesan c. 450 CE during the Warring Dukedoms period

Main article: Warring Dukedoms period

After the collapse of the Hanyeong Compact, war broke out between the Seo and Choi Dukedoms, eventually growing to include the newly established Hwang and Kim Dukedoms. The conflict was particularly violent and largely stagnant, and in 276 the dukedoms signed the Four Party Ceasefire to end hostilities, one of the oldest recorded political treaties in IDU history. However, the next two centuries saw political machinations leading to the formation of four more dukedoms, along with high levels of internal violence and instability. Eventually these tensions would erupt in a new spate of violence in 442, concluding in three separate governates: the Kim Dukedom prevailing over the entire eastern seaboard, a unified pact jointly controlling the central plains and mountains from Suyang, and a reconstituted Seo Dukedom in the west.

The tripartite division held remarkably well, allowing the dukedoms to respond to external socio-political shifts like the arrival of Minjian in the 7th century. In the late 9th century, the Kwon (Ken) clan would disrupt the peace and move south from Gwansong, in modern day Lao Sansong, with superiority in numbers and a slight advantage in military technology. They would rapidly conquer the entirety of the northern plains, and after a victory at Haseon, by the early 10th century they threatened the southern coastal capitals of the established dukedoms. Facing the risk of defeat, the three united under the banner of a joint command and over the course of the prevailing decades would push the clansmen back to the north, before forcing their surrender in 940. In 941, the three dukedoms would formally unite as the United Dominion of Haesan under the leadership of the victorious general Han Jae-min.

Geography

Haesan is primarily situated on the Haean Peninsula, which extends 958 km (595 mi) from Lake Soeyan to Sokhae, abutting the Slokais Straits. It covers an administrative area of 373,309 km² (144,135 sq mi). Its western portions are highly mountainous, with the Soe Mountains cutting through much of the western provinces, notably much of the eastern parts of the Littoral Marches. The nation's highest point is Jisunsan (Mt. Jisun) in Seocheon Province, with a peak 3,182 m (10,440 ft) above sea level. A spur of the Soe Mountains, the Maehwa Mountains, runs from west to east across the central portions of Haesan, separating Lake Maehwa from Lake Seong (Lac des Étoiles). Foothills roll through the eastern plains, separating the Albarine watershed from the Promethean watershed.

Due to its peninsular nature, Haesan has an extensive coastline. To the southwest the nation borders the Albarine Sea, where cities like Suyang and Anmi have large natural harbors sheltered by the Northern Maritime islands. The Sarene islands separate the Albarine Sea from the Promethean Sea. Haesan has a long, nearly continuous, navigable coast along the Promethean Sea in its east, while its northern coast on the Gulf of Haesan is at times rocky and can be tricky to navigate. Haesan also has many navigable rivers, most notably the Eun and Marchal, which are linked by the National Canal to facilitate goods transfer between the north and south. The Su River (Sugang) is economically important as it links the Suyang-Hanyeong metroplex with the factory towns of Sugang Province.

Much of Haesan's southwestern coast has high concentrations of clay in its soil, while the southeast has sandy loam with agricultural potential. Much of the eastern part of the nation is rolling plains, while the northwest is primarily deciduous forested. Haesan has designated 18 national parks, and additionally 14 national forests.

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 singular ethnic group comprising more than 40% of the population. Major ethnic groups present in Haesan include the native, traditionally Haean-speaking Haemi people, along with large coalitions of foreign settlers, such as the Opthelian 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 1.79, below the replacement rate, but Haesan's population continues to increase on aggregate due to high net immigration. 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. 71% of Haesanites live in an urban area, 7% live in a suburb, and 21% live in a small town or rural area.

Largest Cities in Haesan Based on 2015 Census
Anfa Hyangsan Gyeongseong Seowon	Rank	City	Province	Pop.	Sinju Anmi Yeocheon Jeonyu
	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	Northlands	2,492,740
	9	Yeocheon	Namhae	2,490,923
	10	Hwagang	Hwagang	2,105,678
	11	Apseong	Sugang	1,874,672
	12	Seowon	Sugang	1,493,873
	13	Sanri	Maehwa	1,291,344
	14	Munseong	Namhae	1,214,811
	15	Bridgeport	Northern Maritimes	1,103,864
	16	Jeonyu	Imyu	1,031,660

Religion

See also: Celestialism

Haesan is a moderately religious nation, albeit virtually all of its major institutions are secular. Haesan has no official religion. Haesan is the home to the origin point of the Celestial faith, founded at Cheonsahae near Hanyeong. As such, Celestialism remains the largest religion, with almost half of Haesanites a member of a Celestial congregation. Because of the religion's unique structure, many elderly Haesanites tend to be more devout and involved with organizing their community's practices, while many Haesanite youth are functionally non-practicing. As such, large southern cities like Suyang, Sinju, and Anmi generally feel highly secular, even if data indicate that over 70% of the population in those cities follows a religion.

Christianity is the second largest religion in Haesan, with around a quarter of Haesanites identifying with a denomination. The vast majority of Christians in Haesan are Catholic, and of those, nearly entirely Sanctarian Catholic. Catholics in Haesan live predominantly in the north of the country, typically in areas with French colonial ties who leaned into their Arrivée heritage as a mechanism to resist Opthelian rule. Protestants of denominations relating to Opthelian Christianity are still present, but have continued to dwindle as many have married into the Haemi families. Major Christian holidays are recognized as official holidays along with Celestine ones.

There is a significant enclave of Minjian in Haesan, although their faith and community structure differs vastly from Minjian communities in High Fells or Laeral. Throughout most of Haesan's history there has been severe discrimination against Minjian in the country, and historically many chose to emigrate to High Fells along the so-called Road of Exiles. After the unrecognized annexation of the Littoral Marches by Laeral, during the post-Great War period those who kept Minjian were targeted heavily by the Lagarde regime, and generally subject to vigilante violence due to accusations of collusion with the Laeralian regime. As such, the practice of Neo-Minjianism, a version of Minjian which heavily leans on Celestial practices and rites, was nearly universally adopted by Minjian Haesanites in order to practice a version of their religion without drawing government suspicion.

Haesan, with its large immigrant population, is also home to notable populations of Muslims, Jews, Sasna Thaya, and practitioners of Arikata.

Language

English has been Haesan's primary language in business and government administration since the conclusion of the War of Haesanite Succession in 1792. Haean has become more widely used in recent decades as a push to reclaim Haesanite national heritage has gained momentum. Haean is mandated to be taught in primary and secondary schools per the Haean 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 Department of Haesan requires all requisite documents to be readily available in English, Haean, 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, twice-yearly examination that covers reading and writing in both English and Haean, 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 University, a top 5 international university which typically only accepts applicants who scored in the 99th percentile of the GSE. Most 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. Most of Haesan's most prestigious universities are in the National Conference, where only academic criteria like GPA and GSE score can be used for accepting domestic applicants. Many of Haesan's most prestigious universities use a distinct semi-private structure which allows them to be nominally public while maintaining their own private endowments. In addition to being the core corridors for sharing academic resources in Haesan, conferences also form the backbone for the college athletics competitions that have achieved extraordinary popularity in Haesan, especially in baseball and basketball.

Government & Politics

Kim I-seul President	Sabrina Hwang Prime Minister

Haesan's government structure as a constitutional republic is determined by the 1985 Constitution of the Second Commonwealth of Haesan. Haesan has a system of checks and balances with three branches, an executive, legislative, and judicial. The executive and legislative branches mainly carry out functions on a national level, while the judicial branch also operates at a local level. While Haesan remains formally a unitary state, devolution of power to the nation's 24 provincial authorities exists in terms of judicial authorities and branches of executive agencies operating from provincial capitals, with the exception of the Southern Maritimes, granted greater autonomy due to its prior independence as the Republic of Sarena. Officials on a local level are semi-autonomous and are directly elected.

Legislative affairs are managed by the popular-elected National Assembly, which is comprised of an upper Chamber of the Commonwealth and a lower Chamber of Deputies. The leader of the governing coalition in the Chamber of the Commonwealth is named as the Prime Minister of Haesan, and is the leader of the legislative branch and head of government. The President of Haesan is elected directly by the populace and sits for a maximum of one six-year term. The president is the head of state for Haesan and manages foreign policy for the nation, as well as nominating a cabinet to manage the executive agencies of Haesan and ensure that the laws passed by the legislative branch are being well executed. The president also nominates judges, which along with the members of the cabinet must be confirmed by a majority of the Chamber of the Commonwealth. The High Court of Haesan is the constitutionally supreme judicial body. It consists of 11 justices nominated by the president, who sit for a maximum of 24 year terms. While provincial and local courts have the ability to make rulings on constitutional interpretation, the rulings of the High Court are the ultimate authority. Haesan's constitution is light on matters of judicial authority and instead judges often rely upon centuries of common law to make rulings.

Haesan's politics are often contentious due to the party's coalition-based parliamentary system. While long stretches of single-party control of the National Assembly were common, especially in the 1980s and 1990s by the Conservative Party and in the 2010s by the Free Democrats, in recent years the political scene has become much more competitive. Corruption is a major problem in Haesanite politics with many prominent politicians having been arrested on corruption charges, most notably long-time Prime Minister Choi Da-yeon and former President Kim Seung-jin. Due to the nation's fairly recent history of military rule, a lack of civilian control of the military is another concern of international observers, since four of the last five Ministers of Defence have been former military officers.

Foreign Relations

Haesan maintains relatively warm relations with most nations and as a result has one of the strongest passports in the IDU. Haesan has a unique system of open borders which allows all foreign nationals to live in Haesan for up to 24 months before either declaring that they intend to declare for Haesanite citizenship and renounce their home country's, or leave Haesan. The streamlined citizenship application and civics examinations at the end of the 24 month period combined with strong economic growth over the last three decades has led Haesan to have large numbers of immigrants. The especially large communities of diasporic Serrielians, Andhrapuris, and Lehvantians have lead to closer relations between Haesan and those nations over recent years. Haesan's government also manages an extensive network of international exchange programs for its students and workers, most notably the Pink Card Program which allows for female Haesanite undergraduates to study in Kerlile for a year.

Haesan only recently joined major international organizations like the League of IDU Nations (LIDUN), of which it became a member in 2023. It currently holds a seat on the LIDUN Security Council. The nation is a member of the World Assembly, which it also joined in 2023. In addition to being a member of the Global Development Investment Bank, Haesan has signed a number of highly profitable free trade agreements, most notably with Libertas Omnium Maximus, Eiria, and the Slokais Islands. Haesan, as a former Opthelian colony, is a member of the Opthelian Commonwealth.

Military

In terms of numbers, Haesan maintains one of the largest militaries in the IDU, at around 2.1 million enlisted. This is due in large part to Haesan's policy of universal mandatory minimum service, where all Haesanite citizens must serve 12 months in the military or another approved form of service before their 24th birthday. The vast majority of those drafted serve in non-combat roles, but all draftees must undergo basic military training. Haesan's military is divided into six branches, the Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force, Homeland Guard, and Space Force. Continued tensions with Laeral and Lao Sansong have led Haesan to spend 3.2% of its GDP on military spending. Haesan is a producer of high tech arms, especially renowned for its aircraft and missile defense systems. Haesan is also a leader in the global intelligence community with a particularly advanced satellite network, and maintains extensive intelligence sharing agreements with global powers like Sanctaria. Haesan maintains bases in both High Fells and Aredoa, while Libertas Omnium Maximus runs a base in Yeongnam Province.

Economy

Haesan's economy, rapidly becoming one of the largest and most advanced in the IDU, is diversified, but with a large concentration on heavy industry. Haesan's large port cities on the Albarine Sea and Promethean Sea make it ideal for exporting goods, and most urban areas rely heavily on manufacturing jobs. Haesan is a highly-developed, upper middle income nation. Its currency is the seol.

The Suyang headquarters of the Seollim Group, Haesan's largest corporation

Conglomerates are common as Haesan has weak monopoly protections and relaxed labor laws compared to its economic peers. These large corporations, often comprised of subgroups in disparate industries, dominate the Haesanite corporate landscape. While historically leadership was hereditary, in recent decades CEOs and board members have been hired based on strictly meritocratic standards. Additionally, since the late 80s, many cities in the south of Haesan along the coast of the Albarine Sea and the Suyang Bay were designated as Special Economic Zones (SEZs) which allowed less restricted foreign investment, and various corporations from nations like Eiria, Xiomera, and Libertas Omnium Maximus house significant manufacturing operations in Haesan. The rapid growth of corporations and influx of foreign direct investment caused Haesan's GDP per capita to increase at one of the highest rates in the world throughout the last three decades.

Shipbuilding is a major industry in Haesan

The main manufacturing areas in Haesan are shipbuilding, aerospace, and chemicals, high-end industries in which Haesan has technical expertise. While historically relying on a complex international supply chains, increasingly, specialized parts and electronic components are produced domestically. Haesan is also a center for global textiles production, and while the majority of manufactures are mass-produced casual clothing and swimwear, Suyang is regarded as a global fashion hub and is home to several major designer brands. Haesan also excels at producing low to medium end electronics and household appliances. Seollim and Suri are internationally recognized automotive brands that are headquartered and manufactured in Haesan.

Haesan also hosts an expanding service sector, with large firms in both telecommunications and finance. Anfa is home to one of the largest commodities trading exchanges in the world, while Suyang is an international hub for broadcasting. Haesan has recently undertaken international initiatives to catch some its key service industries up to international standards, especially in software and biotechnology.

Agriculture still comprises around 20% of Haesan's economy, with much of the eastern portion of the country devoted to cereals production, especially wheat and barley. The orchards and farms of the Northlands and Maewha produce much of Haesan's domestically consumed fruits and vegetables, and Haesan is a net exporter of agricultural produce. Dairy farms are common in the Midwest and plains provinces; however, Haesan imports the majority of its meat production. Fishing is a key industry, and fishing rights are clearly delineated and strictly enforced by the federal government. Mining operations are plentiful in the west of Haesan, with significant reserves of iron and cobalt found in the mountainous provinces.

Energy & Infrastructure

Haesan is energy independent and a net exporter of electricity, producing over 50% of its energy from nuclear power. As part of Lagarde's trilogy of "Sky, Space, & Atom," Haesan invested heavily in nuclear energy throughout the 1970s, often poaching top nuclear engineers from more developed countries with lavish stimulus packages. After re-democratization, nuclear power became a symbol of national pride, and investment has continued to ensure Haesan's reactors are world class in both safety and efficiency. Much of the remainder of Haesan's electricity is produced through hydropower, with major dams found on the Su, Eun, and Ryu rivers. Natural gas is drilled offshore in the Gulf of Haesan and used domestically for heating and industrial production, and many processing plants and compressors are located in the north of Haesan.

A nuclear reactor in Haebam Province; Haesan produces the majority of its energy from nuclear power

Next-gen bullet trains operate on the THX line

Haesan maintains a series of national expressways that cross the country and are essential for connecting the eastern agricultural regions to market towns on the coasts. Railway is the most common method of travel between Haesanite cities, and high speed connections have expanded in recent decades due to foreign investment. Haesanite rail connections are managed by the state-controlled public corporation Haecheol, a portmanteau of Haesan and cheoldo, the Haean word for railway. Most notably, the ultra high-speed Trans-Haesan Express (THX) travels non-stop between Suyang and Anfa in 2 hours and 14 minutes, with a potential top speed of 424 km/h (263 mph). Other major high-speed rail connections also link together the major cities of the southern coast, like Sinju, Hanyeong, and Anmi, with Suyang in the Southern Express Line (SEL), and the Eungang/Hwagang/Marchal Valley from Anmi to Anfa through Hwagang in the Central Valley Express (CVX). Haesan has 22,612 km (14,050 mi) of railway, 2,562 km (1591 mi) of which is high-speed.

Haesan has an advanced airport system, heavily built by foreign investment since democratization. The largest is Suyang-Hanyeong International Airport (SYH), located on an artificial island in Suyang Bay. SYH has an annual passenger traffic of 72 million travelers, making it one of the busiest in the IDU. Suyang-Hanyeong as well as the other large Suyang Metro airport, Suyang Nelson International (SNI), have recently won awards for efficiency in passenger processing, airport cleanliness, and overall best airport in the IDU. Most large and medium sized cities have an international airport, with most passenger traffic at mid-sized airports headed to the Slokais Islands, Libertas Omnium Maximus, High Fells, and, increasingly, Laeral. Domestic air travel is seldom used due to the efficiency of the railway system, but puddle-jumpers from major hubs like Suyang, Anfa, and Sinju to smaller markets do exist.

Public transportation is inordinately common in Haesan due to its high percentage of urban dwellers and dense city structures. Most cities over half a million people have a metropolitan railway system, either an underground, a monorail, or some form of tram system. Buses are ubiquitous, but less popular than metros in the largest cities.

The Haesanite Inter-Provincial Highway System was built largely during the 1970s and early 1980s as a way to reconnect the largely destroyed urban areas after the Great War. It primarily served three key purposes, to connect agricultural areas to market towns, to connect factory cities to coastal ports, and to enable the flow of people between major urban areas. The system consists of 14 inter-province majors, 31 inter-province minors, 84 parkways, and over 400 provincial highways.

Altina in the Southern Maritimes is the gateway for many tourists entering Haesan

Tourism

Haesan has long been an international tourist destination, and the global growth in popularity of Haesanite culture has only propelled that further. The Southern Maritimes have an extensive tourist infrastructure and network of resorts and recreational activities along its tropical beaches. Small port towns in that province are also popular destinations, and many have small airports with service to provincial hubs like Altina, Bridgeport, and Suyang. The island of Jakja, while having a population of only 81,000, hosts over half a million tourists a year, who come to visit its panoramic ocean vistas and unique geologic springs. Beach cities in the mainland also see a high volume of tourist activity, most notably Munseong, Namhae.

Cultural tourism to Haesan's large urban areas has been steadily increasing, especially in Suyang where the growth of the music and fashion industries have driven a rise in international tourism. Haesan currently draws in around 45 million foreign tourists annually, with a federal goal of making that number 50 million by 2025. The ability for the vast majority of foreign travelers to visit Haesan visa-free has propelled its rise as a premier destination. Most tourists, however, arrive from countries in Haesan's region, especially Libertas Omnium Maximus, Slokais Islands, High Fells, and Laeral.

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. 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 Haean 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 as the mother sauces 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.

Fine dining establishments are relatively common in Haesan, and its city of Anfa is home to the headquarters of the Seollim Guide, the premier restaurant grading service in the IDU. Celebrity chefs from Haesan have gained notoriety across the world as well, with restauranteurs like Lee Hyeon-su and Zeynab Karami often making appearances on foreign competitions in addition to their domestic audience.

Entertainment

Haesanite entertainment is well regarded internationally, and its global growth has been driven by the cultural phenomenon known as the haeryu, or Haesanite wave. Haesan's music industry is its largest cultural export and exerts a significant impact on Haesan's economy, especially with respect to cultural tourism. The Haean-language music industry commonly referred to as Hae-pop has become an international phenomenon in recent years, driven by engagement over social media and streaming sites. Haesanite film is well regarded domestically and recent campaigns have sought to make it better known on an international stage. Television programs produced in Haesan have also found a broad international audience in recent years, especially romantic dramas. Haesan is a major producer of broadcasting equipment, and Haesanite telecommunications corporations provide broadcasting services for much of the Hesperidan continent.

Music

See also: Hae-pop

Haesanite culture is most internationally recognized for its musical production. Throughout Haesanite history, music has been the largest focus of government cultural expenditure and becoming a talented musician has widely been regarded as reaching the pinnacle of the performing arts. For most of the classical period, Haesanite music was designed around court performances, with ensembles of traditional stringed instruments, lyres, and woodwinds arranged in ornamental, elaborate pieces. As musical performances were so highly valued, the government established several national music academies starting in the 12th century, many of which are still in operation today and are among the oldest dedicated arts schools in the IDU.

Colonization brought Liberalian instruments and styles to Haesan, and in urban areas orchestras were founded and concert halls were constructed by Opthelian authorities in order to ensure the "proper culturization" of the Haesanite people. While the Liberalian orchestral styles were originally largely rejected by the Haesanite public as a colonial imposition, in recent decades Haesan has become one of the largest incubators of classical music talent with its preparatory school system being easily tailored to intensive arts education. The Suyang Philarmonia is consistently rated as among the top orchestras in the IDU, while Haesan has also generated many internationally renowned classical musicians, particularly concert violinists like Kim Da-eun and Park Jun-seong.

Hae-pop idols in concert

Haesan also has a rich culture of jazz music, with distinctive styles being developed in the cultural and socioeconomic melting pots of the working class bars and clubs of its port cities throughout the 1920s and 30s. The style of Suyang Blues, characterized by its patterned lyrical style and extensive musical improvisation, has gained significant international recognition and has spawned numerous spin-off genres across the IDU. Although often certain lyrics were censored during the Free Republic, post democratization the genre has seen a resurgence, with jazz clubs common in the Harbour and Prospect districts of Suyang.

However, Haesan's music industry is most internationally recognized for its pop-music production more generally known as Hae-pop, a term which refers to Haesanite hook-laden, electronically produced songs sung in blended English and Haean. With its origins in the early 1990s as the media liberalization brought about by the democratic transition allowed for Haesanites to experience a broader range of musical styles and the Haean Language Administration Act funded Haean-language based cultural projects, independent artists and fledgling media corporations were able to leverage cultural energy into the formation of a unique style. By the late 1990s, the industry had become dominated by large entertainment conglomerates, most notably HS Entertainment and Galaxy Media, which had formed musical groups incorporating slick, highly-rehearsed dance lines with upbeat, electronic beats. These so called "idol groups" have formed the core of the genre and have been the main vector for its international spread. As a result of the genre's recent explosion in popularity, Haesan has invested in significant infrastructure for performances as well as integrating idol academies into Haesan's educational system, often with corporate-government partnerships.

Television

Television media has a storied history in Haesan, with TV programming being essential to the culture of the Free Republic period up until the Great War. While streaming is increasingly surpassing live broadcasts domestically, Haesan remains a major broadcasting center in Hesperida, and often Haesanite firms are tasked with covering live events, especially sporting events. Haesanite dramas have also been gaining international popularity due to their wholesome, slow-developing romantic plotlines and exquisite costume and set design.

Haesanite TV is usually broadcast on the big three networks: Suyang Broadcasting Systems (SBS), Haesan Broadcasting Systems (HBS), and Meridian Broadcasting Company (MBC). MBC owns Hesperida Sports Network (HSN), currently the largest and most prominent English language sports media platform, covering major athletic events across the region and occasionally important events on other continents as well. Haesanite networks are popular in other nations on the continent, especially those with large anglophone or Haean populations such as Aredoa, Pharitaya, and High Fells. Haesanite services are more widely available in the eastern portion of the continent, although increasingly nations like Zongongia have contracted with Haesanite broadcasters to expand coverage to the wider region.

Film

Haesan's film industry has a complicated history stemming back to the colonial era, when after the turn of the 20th century, the Opthelian government would send news-based film reels to provide information to the colony about updated edicts and other major events. In the late 20s and 30s, the Palace district of Suyang became famous for its art deco theatres and numerous production houses. During the Free Republic, the government forcibly acquired many of the film houses to produce and distribute propaganda films, and many media that were critical to the regime were either censored or bought out. While Maximusian films were commonly distributed during the post-Great War administration period, most movie theatres and projection equipment was either destroyed during the war, or had been shuttered or sold due to its economic aftermath. As such, the brief period of cultural liberalization generally did not affect the Haesanite film industry, and after Lagarde's return to power, government-supported films with propagandistic messages were once again the norm.

After democratization, the Haesanite film industry finally had a chance to develop on its own, and the Haesanite movie landscape dramatically transformed. Copying the style of Maximusian and Laeralian film, narratives became focused on individualistic plotlines rather than around the broader success of the community or society. Policies during the 90s further rejuvenated Haesanite film, as funding for historical preservation allowed for the restoration of the legendary Palace district film houses to their full state for the first time since the early 1940s. Now, the Haesanite film industry is independent and it has risen in clout in recent years, as suspenseful films by directors like Chang San have come to be emblematic of Haesanite film and are appreciated on an IDU-wide stage.

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 province against each other. Across the board, Haesanite sports are marked by avid cheerleading squads, interactive fan participation including highly rehearsed fan chants, and a very active, dynamic style of play.

Haesan marked its first appearance at the IDU Olympic Games in 2023 in Hanshui, Laeral. It is also the host nation of the 2024 IDU Baseball Classic.