Myeon

Myeon, officially the Republic of Myeon, (Myeonese: 면공화국) is a unitary constitutional republic located on the Myeon Peninsula in northeastern Asania. Myeon is bordered by the Northern Ocean to the north, the Gennet Ocean to the east, Xinhao to the south, and the Geojung Sea to the west. Myeon has a land area of LAND AREA square kilometers, and is home to a population of 51.7 million people. The national capital is located in Namjin, though the city of Huisong remains the largest metropolitan area, with other important cities being Cheohae, Hyang, and Rongyang.

Myeon's earliest histories likely began with the arrival of the Myeonese people sometime between 16,000 BCE and 14,000 BCE according to archeological records. The people of Myeon likely fished and farmed along the coasts of the peninsula until the arrival of the Xin monk Feng Jin, who brought rice farming and Haoism into the region in 815 BCE. The introduction of rice farming caused the formation of five different petty kingdoms throughout the peninsula, the largest of these - Geojong - becoming the largest of the five and dominating the region by the 210s CE, though lacking a writing system of their own, meaning most history from this period comes from Xin scholars. Throughout the Geojong Era, the Myeonese developed silk creation and pottery crafting, while also spreading the devotion to Haoism throughout the population. Their rule lasted until 1312 before their rule became corrupt, and prompted the Seong Rebellion, and ushering in the Myeonese Empire under the Seong Era, and the Myeonese Golden Age. Scholarship in the empire flourished, and the centralized nature of the Seong system led to several innovations, such as the first appearance of universities, the paving of roads, and, after the scholar Sok Seung-He made his way to court, the creation of the Myeonese script. It is from the Seong Era that the Myeonese architectural style came about, while art and poetry inspired by Miyadakan and Xin artists flourished. Economic stagnation and several droughts brought about the end of the Seong, and through the Geojon War, the new Geojon Era came about in 1691. The Geojon marked the end of the Myeonese Golden Age, and instituted the Social Laws, a series of draconian measures to preserve Myeonese culture and traditions to protect against Avanoran exploration, after contact with an Augustine ship under Baebio Molacus in 1709. These laws enforced Haoism as the faith of the empire, deified the emperor and removed checks against his power, while also instituting a strict moral code enforced by the nation's military. The nation fought the First Jade War in 1767 against the Miyadakan Empire, who attempted to enforce their rule on Myeon to control the nation's numerous Jade mines. The war ended in a Myeonese victory, after they secured foreign aid from Xinhao, though this resulted in Xinhao officials exerting power over the emperor, and in 1789 a Xin invasion of Myeon prompted the Second Jade War, which resulted in a Xin victory, and the replacing of Emperor Jung V with Emperor Jin III, who enforced Xinhao's will on the nation, while Myeon remained nominally independent. Citizens of the nation were subject to abuse and killings by the Myeonese military in this period, and anti-Xin sympathies were punished with

The nation became an engine of growth economically, though the locals were subject to abuse. Independence movements began in the 1860's, especially with the Namjin Massacare, where numerous Myeonese textile workers rose up against their Xin governors, and were mascaraed in the streets. This culminated in the independence campaign funded by the Miyadakans during the Great War, led by republican and legal scholar Na Myung-Hee. With their victory, the Alscheid Accords recognized the independence of the Myeonese state. The first parliamentary democracy proved unstable for the new President Na Myung-Hee, and a presidential republic arose in 1885. Reforms were introduced to make Myeon a prospering economy, and the nation saw double digit economic growth between 1890 - 1910, dubbed the Myeon Miracle, though many still complained about a lack of social welfare and protections. The 1904 Pensioners Protests saw Myeon elect President Sok Seung-Hee, who created a more robust welfare state after media criticized his government's abuse of the protestors. The nation suffered major losses in the 1917 Economic Crisis, though it had recovered its losses by 1920.

Myeon is a highly developed semi-presidential democracy, with robust political, civil, and economic freedoms afforded by its Constitution. Elections in the nation have been observed by numerous independent groups, and have been described as both free and fair. Myeon, though officially neutral, has an active military, with the Myeonese navy patrolling the Oriental Ocean and the Sea of Spice in cooperation with other Asanian nations such as Miyadaka, Xinhao, Yinh, and others regularly. In addition to its strong ties militarily with these nations, Myeon is a strong ally to Avanoran nations, and is an active member in the Asanian Co-Prosperity Organization, as well as the Union of Nations. The nation has strong economic freedoms as well, and is a strong export driven social market economy, with high levels of growth and income. Independent sources show Myeon has the second fastest internet speeds in the world, behind Gelenia, and the world's largest high speed rail network. Vital international companies such as Seong Electronics, Gujong, and Park Industries have their headquarters in the nation due to high levels of education and innovation in the nation. Despite this economic prosperity, there remain problems. The nation remains largely resistant to foreigners, and many non-Myeonese face discrimination, especially in the labour market. Despite this, the nation remains an attractive place to do business, investment, and for relocation and tourism for millions every year.

Prehistory
Myeon's earliest histories likely began with the arrival of the Myeonese people sometime between 16,000 BCE and 14,000 BCE according to archeological records. The people of Myeon likely fished and farmed along the coasts of the peninsula until the arrival of the Xin monk Feng Jin, who brought rice farming and Haoism into the region in 815 BCE. The introduction of rice farming caused the formation of five different petty kingdoms throughout the peninsula, the largest of these - Geojong - becoming the largest of the five and dominating the region by the 210s CE.

Geojon Period
Myeon's early history is largely a mystery to us due to a lack of written record, though the first recording of a Myeonese state comes from the Xin scholar Feng Jin, when he describes the peninsula as "under the rule of the five dynastic kingdoms", naming these kingdoms as Geojong (the largest), Hyang, Geoju, Namjin, and Mencheon. Evidence points to the Geojong establishing complete hegemony over the peninsula and into some of modern day Xinhao by the late 1900's BCE, though their kingdom would shrink by the end of the 200s BCE and would fall into disarray. After a period of wars between numerous families, the Myeong kingdom arose and brought in Myeon's golden age, also giving us the modern name for the nation. The period saw the kingdom grow all the way down to Songshu, and the Myeon script invented by the scholar Sok Seung-Hee. The kingdom lasted until 1455, when the Seong Period began with its capital in modern day Huisong. The kingdom was converted to Haoism in 1567, and the Social Laws came into effect, instituting a strictly conservative society in the nation. The Seong Period lasted until 1799, when the Xin invaded and absorbed the peninsula into its empire, where the Myeonese were subject to mistreatment by their Xin overlords. Independence movements began in the 1860's, especially with the Namjin Massacare, where numerous Myeonese textile workers rose up against their Xin governors, and were mascaraed in the streets. The Miyadakan government began funding the independence movement with weapons beginning in 1867 under Na Myung-Hee, a scholar who studied sciences, politics, and law in Miyadaka. During the Great War, the Myeonese fought the Myeon Campaign, and kicked the Xin out of the peninsula, and in the Alscheid Accords the border for an independent Myeonese state was established at the Kiang River in the south. Na Myung-Hee became the first president and enacted the first constitution, creating the First Myeon Republic. The parliamentary system he established saw massive instability, and by 1885, he called for a second constitution which extended the powers of the presidency, making Myeon a presidential republic. Reforms were introduced to make Myeon a prospering economy, and the nation saw double digit economic growth between 1890 - 1910, dubbed the Myeon Miracle. The nation was home to student protest movements in 1915, led by 24 year old Hu Tae-Hyun, who called for an end to military conscription and welfare expansion, which were obliged by then President Sok Seung-Hee. The city of Namjin was home to the 1918 World Games, which showcased the technological and societal advancement of the peninsula to the world.

Geography
Myeon is home to a mountainous eastern coast, which gives way to a slopping plain in the west where the Naejung and Cheonghe rivers provide well fertilized flood plains perfect for wet rice cultivation, as well as serving for a fertile land for the development of cities and towns for the majority of the population to live in. The capital, Huisong, forms a large metropolitan area in the north, while the largest city of Namjin forms the largest metropolitan area in the country along the southern coasts, though other important centers include Cheohae, Hyang, and Rongyang.

Government and Politics
Myeon has been a democratic state since its establishment as a nation after the Great War in 1880. The current government is referred to as the Second Myeon Republic, which was created in 1885 after then President Na Myung-Hee called for the transition from a weak parliamentary government, to a stronger presidential one. Under the reforms of his presidency and the then Democratic-Liberal Party under his leadership caused an economic miracle, though his party lost their domination once his ally, Ch'oe Sang-Hun, split to form a new party.