Shinlim

Shinlim (Zhenian: 신림, more formally referred to as the Republic of Shinlim (Zhenian: 신림공화국, pronounced 'Sinlim Gonghwaguk'), is a   located in northwest Veharia. The modern nation of Shinlim has an area of around 2,800,000 km2 of territory in Northwest Veharia, and is subdivided into 18 provinces, 3 municipalities and 1 special city. Shinlim borders Maskinaw to its east, Valithoria to its southeast, and has a long west coast along the Hanmaric Ocean. The country is home to around 116 million citizens with the largest city being Shinman, with the central city being home to 10.6 million people, and including the metropolitan area surrounding it, this number climbs to around 20 million. There are three major concentrations of the population, Shinman, Gyeongwon, and Yangman.

The indigenous people of Veharia first inhabited the lands of Shinlim from 10,000 years ago to as far back as 20,000 years ago depending on the archaeological evidence and parties that claim as such. From the late 10th century onwards, the first Shindan Colonial Companies started to organize expeditions to the western coast of Veharia following Shindanese Admiral, Chang Handeok's discovery of the western coasts of Veharia in 1028 and his establishment of a first colony on 15 April 1028 in Aman. These colonial companies would establish the Viceroyalties of Ganman, Aman, and Geumsan in 1077, 1083, and 1091 respectively. During the Wars of Zhenian Transition, and the discovery of gold in the colony, in 1365 AC, the colonies were consolidated by Shindan into Shinlim which would later gain Dominion Status and greater autonomy in 1442. Shinlim became an independent nation following a referendum in 1500 after the December Revolution with the first President, Chang Daeho laying the foundations for stability and growth of the Gyeongwon Decade. The country's economy grew rapidly in the 3rd phase of growth from the 1560s led by conglomerate groups called ‘Dongsa’.

Shinlim is considered a developed country. Since the 16th century, the Shinlim economy has been growing rapidly although growth has been slowing recently. Shinlim has a GDP of $3.787 trillion in nominal terms and a GDP per capita of $32,549. The largest sector of the economy is that of services, however, Shinlim as a developed nation continues to maintain a vibrant manufacturing sector in certain higher-technology areas such as semiconductors, petrochemicals, fiber-optic cables, and high precision machinery such as semiconductor lithography equipment. Shinlim is a member of the World Concordat and has ... Shinlim remains a popular destination for international tourists, especially due to her scenery and geography and since the 17th century, has increasingly become a cultural powerhouse, riding the wave of the popularity of Z-pop, due to the cultural similarities in some aspects with Zhenia, has been able to produce certain famous music groups and has nationals in Z-pop groups.

Name and Etymology
The name "Shinlim" (신림) has been used in Shinlim since the 1200s before the name was formalized upon the consolidation by Shindan of her colonies in Veharia in 1365. The running and accepted theory is the name was derived literally from the land as Shinlim was observed by early settlers to have newly discovered large pine and redwood forests. Hence, 신 'Shin" meant new, and 림 'lim' meant a forest, indicating the landscape of the new land. This is in a similar way to how the cities of Aman and Ganman got their names due to the physical features of the land. And thus by the 1360s, Shindian chose Shinlim to be the representative name of the colony and thus the modern name of the nation today. Being a relatively modern creation, by the 1400s, the name was already frequently used by Azoran countries.

Indigenous Peoples and Pre-Handeok History


These first people crossed via the landbridge which connected far east Tarsis and Veharia to one another in various migrations. Little is known about their history except through certain archaeological finds due to most of their history being communicated via oral means. It is known that several pre-colonial native Veharian civilizations did rise and fall in the fertile areas of northern Shinlim. Over time, these native societies would grow more complex, developing detailed tiered hierarchies and social structures. Most notable during the 10th century was that of the civilizations of the Sionne and Hirenaw which struggled against each other and owned large swathes of northwestern and central Veharia.

The now extinct tribe that inhabited the hospitable climate west of the Taegeun Mountains were the Nawkaw who were adept fishermen in the region, hunting salmon and other local fishes. It is said that along the northern coast, their population numbered in the tens of thousands. They started practicing agriculture of maize around the 9th century but continued to primarily rely on a seafood diet with their advancement in trapping techniques for fishing. Evidence suggests that the Nawkaw were even able to weave baskets out of hay which is plausible due to the dwellings they resided in, with small settlements consisting of several houses made of earth and hay. It is to be noted that the Nawkaw could have been different native people groups with differing languages, however, lack of oral accounts and archaeological finds due to their societal nature has left many researchers clueless as to their distinctions.

Chang Handeok's Discovery and East Tarsic Settlements


In 1028, Shindanese Admiral Chang Handeok discovered the western coast of Veharia by crossing the Hanmaric Ocean via modern-day Kapuku. This initial arrival proved devastating to the native Veharians. While not actually having the first contact with any natives, the introduction of old world diseases to the new world would cause a large reduction in the native population from the 1030s to the late 11th century, especially amongst the Nawkaw who had no immune defenses against such disease and little time to get used to it. By the time the settlers arrived in the mid-11th century, the population on the west coast was decimated but was recovering quickly. By 1091 AC, the founding of the Viceroyalty of Geumsan, the native Nawkaw populations were around half their original numbers, a huge drop but still significant group numbering around 30 thousand. That being said, the spreading of disease was the least the natives had to fear. On 15 April 1028, Chang Handeok established the first colony in Aman.

The discovery prompted many East Tarsic nations to form, outsourcing the states' work to explore and seek wealth and resources in these new lands. The Republic of Imhae, Balhae and many Zhenian states did so. However, Shindan was the most active. While many small settlements were formed on the modern-day Shinlim coast, many Tarsic settlers were vulnerable to severe food shortages, disease, and violence from Native Veharians, in particular, the Nawkaw who inhabited these fertile coastal lands. Native Veharians on this western coast were also said to often be at war with neighboring tribes, lending credence to the idea that the Nawkaw were not a unified tribe, but a generalized term for the first natives given by the Tarsic settlers out of ignorance. The Dan Zhenian Shindan settlers would form coastal towns in the north such as the Viceroyalties of Ganman, Aman, and Geumsan in 1077, 1083, and 1091 respectively. However, there were also other Tarsic nations participating such as the Kingdom of Balhae and the Republic of Imhae, both of which, however, focused on the Western Hanmaric Region and the south.

The Tarsic settlers, through their aggressive interactions against and in protection from the Nawkaw, were able to learn the ways the locals survived in this new land. Culturally, much had to change and the lifestyles of Shindan and Tarsis had to be abandoned such as substitutes for rice with. Having hailed from the Danguk Peninsula, the Dan Zhenian settlers were also used to fishing. The same could be said about the few Haedong settlers that arrived. Apart from the different types of fish they encountered, the lifestyles were similar in this regard and the early coastal colonial holdouts were heavily dependent on aquaculture. Moreover, many colonists remained faithful to Zhenian Wuism. However, more emphasis was placed on Dhemir, the goddess of the sun, fire, and life, and who oversaw the past and represented beginnings, in the hope that this land would provide a new beginning for many. Many settlers of different races came together to fend against the native threat and establish joint-communities and settlements.



Colonial Expansion
Following the degeneration of the Wei during the Taimir War in the early 1140s and the chaos on the Tarsis continent before reconsolidation by the Zhu dynasty, there was another large influx of immigrants into the Shindan settlements that dotted the coast of modern-day Shinlim. The population increase led to a greater demand for agricultural land up to the imposing Taegeun Mountains. Thus, from the start of the mid-12th century, the small Shindan settlements began to grow in size, with colonists venturing inland to expand into the hinterland from their original holdouts. During this time, the pressure against the native Nawkaw population, which was struggling to survive, only got worse. The Nawkaw had already been pushed away from their coastal areas and were pushed inland, west of the Taegeun Mountains in the modern-day provinces of Jangsan, east Geumcheon and Cheonhae. All along the way, there was little tolerance for the Nawkaw. The use of matchlock weaponry and cannons meant Nawkaw were unable to cope or match the firepower of the colonists. These killing were justified by the belief in Zhenian Wuism, and that killing the natives was a victory for the colonists in claiming new territory. An unregulated process of elimination continued as the colonists moved inland.

This process was especially harsh in the north where the land was fertile and more natives resided, and their disorganized nature due to the panicked fleeing and disruption to their settled way of life only made it easier, triggering a wave of Nawkaw peoples exodus westwards in the 13th Century. In some areas, Nawkaw reservations were set up for natives, usually in areas where they could be contained and controlled such as in the modern-day provinces of Jangsan and Hwasu as the colonists moved inland. The usage of forced labor and slavery out of natives was also notable, with little regard for their wellbeing. Often, these reservations were not set-up for the continued existence of the Nawkaw, but to give a false sense of comfort and to exploit their labor. While thousands of Nawkaw tried to flee westwards, many froze and starved to death in the cold Taegeun Mountain range, due to their inability to adapt the lifestyle to the area in a relatively short period of a hundred years till the late 13th century. To the southeast, the Indee natives of the Bujok Desert also had to fleet the encroachment of Shindan colonists in modern-day Myeongju North Province and Myeongju South Province, but were able to escape westwards to similar climates. What was left of the Nawkaw are said to have either died out by the mid-14th century or assimilated into the Sionne across the Taegeun Mountains.



Rising Prominance and Shindan Consolidation
Around the time in the mid-1200s that grapes were discovered at the higher elevations hugging the Taegeun Mountain Range which allowed the making of wine. During this 200 year period starting in the 11th century, land from the coast up to the mountains was claimed by the companies. By the 14th century, after around 200 years since the first arrival by Dan Zhenians, their population had grown to 7 million. The culture had developed and deviated from that in Zhenia, although similarities were maintained by constant new immigration from the mainland. Wine culture was starting to develop with family vineyards being the prime vector for such development and fishing became a major sector for the colonies. Wheat was proven a more suitable crop to grow in northern Veharia than Rice and was fast becoming a dominant crop to unappetizing wild rice. Moreover, wheat had versatility in making flour for bread and noodles.

While copper and stone was a known ore and material found in the mountains for a time respectively, things changed when in 1358 AC, gold was found in the Hwanggeum Mountains north of Shinman. When word got to Shindan, and even other parts of Shinlim, there was huge migration north to this region, before other gold deposits were also found following increased exploration. From 1358 to 1371 AC, for a period of 13 years, there was a huge gold rush known simply as the Shinman Gold Rush. It is estimated that over a quarter of a million came from Shindan to the northern areas of Shinlim during this period before things settled down. It was partly for this reason that Shindan also began to pay more attention to the colonies and the Geumcheon and Daeyang area started growing rapidly.

For a time now since the late 1200s, the collective Veharian colonial lands were referred to as Shinlim, due to the presence of luscious pine trees and redwoods. They were consolidated by Shindan into a single colony of Shinlim in 1365 AC, under a single Governor-General, with the provinces governed by Governors. Shindan did so to attain greater benefits out of the colony, which for a long period of time, was only self-sustaining and practically worthless except in soft-power terms. Up till this time, it was the Chartered Colonial Companies that earned much of the profit and sometimes neglected in paying taxes by concealing earnings. The gold rush drew attention to the economic affairs of Shinlim and caused many of the Colonial companies to disappear from significance around this time, the bureaucracy overtaken by Shindan.



The Dominion of Shinlim
During the Wars of Zhenian Transition undertaken by Shindan from around the late 13th century, Shinlim was an increasingly important source of material aid in gold and other resources for the war effort. Entrepreneurs and other individuals in Colonial Shinlim would follow the trends in Shindan closely and in 1361 when King Jeonjo came to power, Shinlim entrepreneurs began to mirror and industrialization and modernization that was happening in Shindan, albeit at a later time and led by individuals and families rather than the state due to Shindan primary focus on the homeland than colonies. In 1368, following the defeat of the Zhu Dynasty and the Treaty of Sanggyeong, Shindan started to become the region's center of power which benefitted Shinlim trade immensely and helped spurred family businesses to greater wealth and thus disposable income to move into modernized industries. This was the first period of rapid economic growth in Shinlim which would allow it to take defensive matters into her own hands as a Dominion.



It was during this time of modernization that many famous local universities were established which would later become hotbeds of the calls for democratic movements. Chang Daeho, a leading republican revolutionary in Shinlim supporting the December Revolution, would study in the Shinman University, funded and built by the Chang Daehyun who traveled around Azora. The distance of Shinlim from Shindan and Tarsis meant that there was less a sense of reliance of servitude to the Monarchy, but rather strong democratic sympathies that had room to grow. Despite growing sentiments for independence, Shinlim was still important in trade for Shindan to fund her conflicts in Tarsis and remained closely tied to Shindan's fortunes. In 1442, four years after the complete unification of Zhenia, Shinlim was granted Dominion status and greater autonomy, including in self-governance and the military. The Government of the Dominion of Shinlim was formed, headed by a Governor-General much like when under direct colonial rule with the exception being, from 1442 onwards, more of the Governors-General were local whereas, in the Shindan Colonial period, the Governor-General was born and raised in Shindan.

Independence and The First Great War
In 1499, the December Revolution succeeded in Zhenia. Contributions were made by Shinlim democracy and independence activists like Ryu Sangju who wrote multiple books and published articles about the need for self-determination of Shinlim and democracy in Zhenia. Chang Daeho was also a strong advocate for democracy and would use the wealth of his family business in copper to fund publications by Sangju and movements in Zhenia. Due to the part played by Shinlim and the close ties between Zhenian and Shinlim democratic activists like Amasar Ren and Chang Daeho, Shinlim was presented with a referendum by the government of the Zhenian First Republic. The choices being independence, or entry into the Republic of Zhenia. The referendum would be organized and overseen by both Zhenian and Shinlim officials (the latter of which came from the Shinlim officials working in the government of the Dominion) and the date was set for the 1st of February, 1500. Leading up to the date, security was tightened as there were threats to the safe conduct of the plebiscite. Four days before the day, on the 28th of January, Chang Daeho was nearly assassinated by pro-union activists for being a leading independence advocate in an event known as the January 28th Attempt.

This caused distrust of the Zhenian Republic, for people feared it was orchestrated by Zhenia to keep Shinlim apart of Zhenia. However, owing to close ties between leadership and Chang Daeho's commitment to pushing forward and progressing, Chang Daeho rejected the proposals to delay the referendum to a later date due to the attempt on his life. The vote proceeded as planned and it is said that the assassination attempt spurred Shinlim to vote for independence. With a majority of 77.3% and a turnout of 87.7% of the population, Shinlim was to be granted independence. On the 1st of March, 1500, following the writing by Chang Daeho and Shinlim Republicans of the constitution of an independent Shinlim, in line with many of their colleagues in Zhenia, Shinlim was declared independent at the old city hall of Gyeongwon. Henceforth, the 1st of March is Shinlim's National Day. Designing a democratic system with checks and balances on the powers of any institution or individual was the goal of the constitution. At the same time, the practice of slavery (even to the natives) was finally prohibited in the same year, 120 years after it was in Zhenia, with the new constitution guaranteeing the rights of all humans.

- FIRST GREAT WAR (against Maskinaw) WIP/TBC -

The Gyeongwon Decade and the Second Great War Period
The government was at risk of corruption and was in a rocky position as any other newfound nation would be. However, Chang Daeho and the first generation of leaders around him capable and adopted zero-tolerance for corruption, idealistic from their education, and were determined for the newfound nation to progress. Under the first administration, their remarkable material and mineral wealth of the nation was directed to upgrade and extend the railway networks of the nation which were already sophisticated to a point as Shinlim was a key exporter for Zhenia. The infrastructure helped to increase exports to markets other than Zhenia and competitive prices. Shinlim upon her independence already had a significant in areas such as steel, coal refining into coke, potash into fertilizer, and wood into paper. This process would only be expedited by the stable political situation and developed infrastructure. Under Chang Daeho, the Shinlim National Railway Commission was formed in 1507, rebranded later to what is now known as Shinlim National Railways in 1550.

In 1530, Chang Daeho retired after being President for a generation. He would later pass away just 3 years after retirement. Despite his death, his colleagues, and the second generation of leaders under President Jin Namwon would continue to build upon Chang Daeho's legacy. From 1528 to late 1537, trade with Zhenia would increase massively, spurring the 2nd phase of massive growth from the capital city of Gyeongwon, known as the Gyeongwon Decade. Copper of high quality from Veharia was high in demand all over the world and exploited along with iron. This was especially the case with the Second Great War raging across the world. This rapid economic boom and growth would come to an end in 1538, with Zhenia's defeat in the Second Great War. The impact of the high volume of trade with Zhenia and the aftermath of Zhenia's devastated economy and debt reverberated to the Shinlim economy causing an economic from 1538 to 1540. Jin Namwon, despite all his good work, was blamed for the overreliance on exports to Zhenia and lost the 1540 presidential election.

- WIP -

- Economic Growth of the 1570s to the modern-day

Geography
Shinlim, at close to 2.8 million square kilometers, is a large nation of northwest Veharia. Her biomes range from the frigid and towering Hwanggeum and Taegeun Mountains running north and down the longitudinally down the country to the arid Bujok and Seogeonjo Desert to the southeast. From the fertile and temperate northern coast to the cold tundra of the inland mountains. Down south, the warm summers and cold winters of the coast and further inland, beyond the mountains, inhospitable desert. Other mountain clusters like the Jungnan Mountains and subsections of the Taegeun Mountains such as the Daeyu Mountains are the origins of many rivers that mostly end at the Western Hanmaric Ocean or the Gulf of Handeok. The nation's western coast along the Gulf of Handeok is where most of the population of Shinlim resides and the densest regions in Shinlim. This is also due to the coastal area's relatively flat lands with the single largest continuous plain of fertile land being the Danwon Circuit. Shinlim has large islands of the coast, the most populated of which being Haejung Island and her twin Haedong. The small volcanic island of Oelounbul resides west of mainland Buksan. Large swathes of the nation are still covered with forests and Shinlim has approximately 10,000 kilometers of coastline.

Climate


The territory of Shinlim exists between 26.0° and 51.5° N, and  109.3° and 143.4° W. The landscape of Shinlim changes across from west to east and north to south. In general, from west to east Shinlim, altitude increases directly, with the exceptions being some deserts beyond the Taegeun Mountains. Meanwhile, from north to south, the climate changes from temperate to more warm dry summers and wet cold winters. The mountains often demarcate the borders and Shinlim resides on the western, "wet" side. Many south and westbound rivers flow into the Gulf of Handeok, making northwestern Shinlim home to some and  known as the Danwon Circuit, although stretching far beyond Danwon Province. The most well-known rivers are the Sinchwan River flowing through Geumcheon Province, Seusyang River down Danwon, and the Jeonhan River river down Changjin and the capital region.

Eastern Shinlim is characterized by large mountain ranges, such as the Taegeun Mountains and Daeyu Mountains ranges. Northern Shinlim is mainly characterized by the existence of the imposing Hwanggeum Mountains as well as some albeit often small and not that contiguous. The western parts of Shinlim are more often flat, with the exception of the central Jungnan Mountains, and fertile, with it becoming warmer and dryer down south. Haejung Islands, formed as a result of historical volcanic and seismic activity dating back millions of years ago, is mostly mountainous to its west but relatively flat eastwards and temperate in climate. The nation's highest point, Mount Gochuan (5,477.3 m), is situated at the heart of the northernmost end of the Taegeun Mountains, near the demarcation where the Hwanggeum starts, while the nation has no natural point below sea level, the lowest point is Aman at 6 feet due to drainage and canals in the city.



Because of the many mountain ranges and rugged coastline in the north, and length of the nation, Shinlim's climate varies dramatically across different provinces. Coastal northern Shinlim has a mild, rainy oceanic climate, influenced by the North Hanmaric Current and some small lakes in the region receive an average of 7,203 mm (283.6 in) of rain annually. However, Danwon province's rocky coast absorbs much of the incoming current and the Gulf of Handeok can be far colder than at the usual latitudes of around 40° to 50° N. In Jinsan and Geumcheon Province, the annual average temperature is 10.4 °C (50.7 °F). Due to the blocking presence of successive mountain ranges, the climate of some of the interior valleys in Sanwon, Daeyang, and even Geumcheon Province is semi-arid with certain locations receiving less than 250 millimeters (9.8 in) in annual precipitation. This makes these areas great for continental wine grape vineyards such as the Danju Valley (wine region). The annual mean temperature in the most populated areas of this northwestern region is up to 11 °C (51.8 °F).

Small towns in the southern interior with high elevation such as Daesan are typically colder and snowier than cities in the valleys. Heavy snowfall occurs in all elevated mountainous terrain providing bases for skiers in both northern and northeast central Shinlim. During winter on the coast more towards the south around Yangman and Cheonhae, rainfall is common. Around central Shinlim in the capital region of Changjin and Gyeongwon and southwards thereafter, a dry summer climate predominates in western Shinlim, and a much drier arid climate prevails east of the Daeyu Mountains to give way for the Seogeonjo Desert. Rainfall in central Shinlim varies dramatically going from east to west. The western side receives as much as 4,100 mm (160 inches) of precipitation annually while on the western side, the Seojeonjo Desert can receive as little as 20 to 30 mm of rainfall (0.79 to 1.2 inches). The average annual temperature of the Gyeongwon and Changjin area can be 13.4 °C (56.1 °F). Further south in Dongha, and the city of Haesu, temperatures are around 22.6 °C (72.7 °F) and rainfall of about 500 mm (19.7 inches). The same can be said about Namwon but hotter. Meanwhile, the Bujok desert can reach searing temperatures of over 41.8 °C (107.2 °F) and is one of the most inhospitable places to live in.

Environment


With a variety of environments and diverse ecozones, Shinlim is home to around 9,000 species of animals and vascular plants and many are native to Veharia and Shinlim. Shinlim is home to 465 bird species, 80 freshwater fish species, 19 amphibian species, 16 reptiles, 29 species of marine mammals, 187 species of butterflies and 87 of dragonflies, 8,800 species of plants, and over 200 species of terrestrial animals. Raccoons, beavers, geese, coyotes, black bears, cougars, great blue herons, and a multitude of fauna reside in Shinlim. Fish such as salmon, trout, char, steelhead, sturgeon, rockfish, lingcod, and halibut are all common and also often seen in the diets of Shinli people, including production by sustainable aquaculture. Lastly, a variety of tall redwoods, cedars, and other coniferous trees call northwest Shinlim home. To the areas of higher elevation and tundra, many mosses and algaes also are native to Shinlim. Moreover, towards the south, shrubs and dry-summer plants and shrubs inhabit the dry and more arid landscapes of Ganyeong and Namwon.

The Ministry of the Environment is in charge of all environmental matters in the nation, from ensuring the cleanliness of groundwater and other sources of water, the protection of endangered species both in the wild and in captivity, and the safety and maintenance of the 73 national parks of Shinlim, which consists of 10.4% of the country's land area. Moreover, the body plans for the nation's policies concerning environmental issues in areas of nuclear power and. It also reviews and oversees done by private developers or by themselves when the government plans new infrastructure of development projects. As of 1610, about 26.7% of water sources in Shinlim were too polluted for fishing, aquatic life, or swimming. Air quality in Shinlim remains good, the measurement used by Shinlim is the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI). In most cities, the pollution never goes above a PSI of 100 (Moderate Pollution).

Politics
Shinlim is a   as clarified in the Constitution since the nation's founding in 1500 AC. The Constitution is the most superior legal document of the Republic of Shinlim, upholding the and the formation of government within the nation. At times, the constitution has been amended to keep with the times or ensure further separation of powers in light of certain destabilizing events. In total, the constitution has been amended 7 times with the last time being in 1591 AC. There are several major political parties in Shinlim, with the incumbent being from the Democratic Progressive Party, and the main opposition being the People's Front Party.

Government


Shinlim is ruled by a with democratic elections. The government is divided into three separate branches which include the bicameral consisting of the Parliament of the Republic of Shinlim [The National Assembly (Shinlim) and Sangseowon (Shinlim)]; the  (The State Council (Shinlim)); and the, consisting of the independent Shinlim justice system.

The Executive Branch is headed by the Chancellor who is directly elected by a popular vote to serve a maximum of two five-year terms. The position also serves as the and  of the Republic of Shinlim Armed Forces. The Chancellor has the right to appoint ministers and other members of the Executive Branch. Moreover, decisions from the executive and legislative branches can be vetoed by the Chancellor but must be deemed justified and legal by the Supreme Court. The Chancellor furthermore, directly commands a number of governmental organizations, including the Department of State Security. The Premier is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Executive Branch and the Cabinet such as the running of the State Council. The Premier is appointed by Parliament after its general elections and is usually head of the majority party. The Premier also presides over the Sangseowon (Upper House) and can serve for four five-year terms.

The Legislative Branch is represented by the Parliament of the Shinlim. It is a body, consisting of the upper house and lower house, the Sangseowon and the National Assembly respectively. Assemblymen in the Sangseowon can serve up to five four-year terms (20 years) as long as they are elected and must be above the age of thirty. Each province-level district is represented by five Sangseowon assemblymen. Hence, the Sangseowon has 110 seats. The National Assembly has 500 seats headed by the Speaker of the Assembly who is independent of party-affiliation and voted in by the Assembly. It uses a system with national constituencies being the method of organization. 328 seats are single-member constituency seats with systems, while 172 seats are from multi-member constituencies with the  system. Staggered elections are practiced with half up for vote every two years, and four-year terms for a maximum of seven terms (28 years) provided they win the elections. The minimum age is 25 years old.