Korean History

Korean history started from the Early Paleolithic period (Lower Paleolithic) up to now. Pottery culture in Korea began around 8000 BC, and the Neolithic began before 6000 BC, followed by the Bronze Age about 2500 years BC. Then the Kingdom of Gojoseon founded in 2333 BC. New in the 3rd century BC Korea began divides into many regions of the kingdom.


In the year one AD, such as the Korean Three Kingdoms of Goguryeo, Silla and Baekje began to dominate the Korean Peninsula and Manchuria. The three kingdoms competed with each other economically and militarily. Koguryo and Baekje were the two most powerful kingdoms, especially Goguryeo, which was always able to fend off attacks from the dynasty-dynasty China. Silla kingdom gradually became stronger and eventually be subjected Goguryeo. For the first time successfully united the Korean peninsula by Silla in 676 years to Unified Silla. The Goguryeo refugees who survived the other set up a kingdom on the northeast side of the Korean Peninsula, namely Balhae.


Unified Silla finally collapsed in the late 9th century, which also ended the reign of the Three Kingdoms. The new kingdom, Goryeo Dynasty, began to dominate the Korean peninsula. Balhae kingdom collapsed in 926 because of Khitan attacks and most of the population, and its leader, Dae Gwang Hyun, evacuated and rescued by the Koryo Dynasty. During the reign of the Goryeo Dynasty, which created new law, public service was established, and the spread of Buddhism flourished.


In 1392, Taejo of Joseon established after the overthrow the Goryeo and Joseon Dynasty. King Sejong (1418-1450) announced the creation of Hangeul alphabet. Between 1592-1598, in the Imjin War, Japan invaded Korea, but can be broken by the Navy led by Admiral Yi Sun sin. Then in the 1620s and 1630s Dynasty Joseon suffered invasions by the Manchu (Qing Dynasty).


In the early 1870s, Japan began to force Korea out of China's influence. Memakasa Japan Korea to sign the agreement that makes Eulsa Korea as a protectorate of Japan, then in 1910 the Japanese began to colonize Korea.


With Japan's surrender in 1945, the UN administration made plans with the Soviet Union and the United States, but the plan was implemented. In 1948, the new government is formed, the democratic (South Korean) and communist (North Korea), which is divided by the 38th parallel. Tensions between the two sides sticking out when the Korean War erupted in 1950 when North Korea attacked the South Koreans.