Korea
Human habitation of the Korean peninsula dates to 40,000 BC. The kingdom of Gojoseon was founded in 2333 BC according to tradition. This ancient state fell to the Han dynasty in 108 BC. Three commanderies remained on the northern peninsula for four centuries after the fall. Goguryeo annexed all Chinese commanderies by 313. The Proto-Three Kingdoms period saw numerous states spring up from former Gojoseon territories. Mahan consisted of 54 states while Jinhan and Byeonhan each had twelve states. These confederacies eventually developed into Baekje, Silla, and Gaya. Goguryeo reached its zenith in the 5th century when it controlled most of Manchuria. A huge force said to number over a million men invaded during the Goguryeo-Sui War. General Ulchi Mundok defeated these forces near the Salsu River. Only 2,700 soldiers survived to return home. Silla conquered Baekje and Goguryeo with Tang dynasty aid in 668 AD. Balhae succeeded Goguryeo in the north thirty years later.
Goryeo was founded in 918 and replaced Silla as the ruling dynasty. Wang Geon made Kaesong his capital. Metal movable type printing was invented by Ch'oe Yun-ui in 1234 CE. The Tripitaka Koreana was published on more than 80,000 wooden blocks. In 1392, General Yi Seong-gye staged a coup against Goryeo. He named his new dynasty Joseon and moved the capital to Hanseong. King Sejong created Hangul between 1418 and 1450. Neo-Confucianism became the official ideology in 1394. The seonbi class led lives of study and integrity while passing up positions of wealth. A class system existed consisting of yangban nobles, jungin middle class, yangin commoners, and cheonin lowest class. The turtle ship was invented during this period covered by iron with thorns. The Great Dharani Sutra is believed to have been printed in Korea in 750, 51 CE. This makes it older than the Diamond Sutra if correct. Twelve universities produced famous scholars and scientists by 1100.
Japan forced Joseon to open its borders in the late 19th century. Empress Myeongseong was assassinated by Japanese agents in 1895. The Korean Empire was proclaimed in 1897 with King Gojong as emperor. Japan annexed the peninsula officially in 1910 through the Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty. Lee Wan-Yong signed the treaty with General Power of Attorney from the Emperor. Seven thousand demonstrators were killed during the March First Movement of 1919. Over five million Koreans were conscripted for labor beginning in 1939. Nearly 400,000 Korean laborers died during World War II. Approximately 200,000 girls and women were forced into sexual slavery for the Japanese military. Yohei Kono acknowledged these injustices in 1993 as Chief Cabinet Secretary. Traditional culture suffered heavy losses as numerous artifacts were destroyed or taken to Japan. An investigation identified 75,311 cultural assets that were taken from Korea. Experts estimate over 100,000 artifacts remain in Japan today. Eight hundred fifty thousand Japanese settlers lived in Korea before World War II ended.
The Soviet Union administered the peninsula north of the 38th parallel after 1945. The United States administered the south under a trusteeship plan. North Korea and South Korea were established in 1948 with backing from each power. More than 1.2 million people died during the Korean War from 1950 to 1953. Three years of fighting effectively destroyed most cities on the peninsula. North Korea invaded the South using Soviet tanks and weaponry in June 1950. An armistice agreement was reached at approximately the Military Demarcation Line. Two governments are officially still at war despite the ceasefire. A demilitarized zone approximates the original partition between the countries. Both states claim to be the sole legitimate government of Korea. The combined population is about 77.9 million as of recent estimates. South Korea has 51.7 million while North Korea has 26.1 million. Over one million deaths occurred in North Korea from 1948 to 1987 due to forced labor and executions. Sixty percent of the population lives in concentration camps according to some estimates.
South Korea's economy grew enormously since the 1960s. In 1957, South Korea had a lower per capita GDP than Ghana. By 2008 it was seventeen times as high as Ghana's. The economic structure was radically transformed over these decades. South Korea ranks fourteenth-largest by GDP globally. Its armed forces include the world's second-largest standing army. North Korea follows Songun policy which prioritizes the Korean People's Army. It possesses nuclear weapons and maintains seven point eight million active reserve and paramilitary personnel. This represents approximately twenty-five percent of its total population. The active duty army consists of 1.3 million soldiers making it fourth-largest in the world. North Korea is widely considered to have the worst human rights record in the world. A centrally planned industrial economy exists alongside a capitalist market economy in the south. South Korea joined the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and Group of Twenty. The national literacy rate for citizens fifteen years and above exceeds ninety-nine percent in North Korea.
The peninsula extends southwards about one thousand kilometers into the Pacific Ocean. Mount Paektu reaches two thousand seven hundred forty-four meters through which runs the border with China. Jeju Island is a large volcanic island whose main mountain Hallasan stands at one thousand nine hundred fifty meters. Ulleung Island is a volcanic island in the Sea of Japan. The southern and western parts have well-developed plains while eastern and northern parts are mountainous. Two exceptions flow southward: the Nakdong River and Seomjin River. Tidal amplitude at Incheon can get as high as nine meters. Vast tidal flats develop on the south and west coastlines. Eighty-two endangered species inhabit the Korean Demilitarized Zone forest and wetlands. Three thousand thirty-four species of vascular plants exist throughout the peninsula. Siberian tigers became extinct during the Japanese colonial era period in South Korea. They remain only on the side of North Korea now. Four distinct seasons include spring summer autumn and winter. Temperatures can exceed thirty-five degrees Celsius during midsummer months.
Korean music includes Hyangak meaning local music native to Korea. Sujechon is an instrumental piece claimed to be at least 1,300 years old. Kimchi uses a distinctive fermentation process preserving vegetables most commonly cabbage. Bulgogi refers to roasted marinated meat usually beef. Galbi means marinated grilled short ribs while samgyeopsal denotes pork belly. Metal chopsticks were discovered in archaeological sites belonging to ancient kingdoms. Taekwon-Do combines combat techniques self-defense sport and exercise. It became an official Olympic medal event starting in 2000. Ssireum is traditional wrestling practiced for thousands of years with evidence from Goguryeo. Competitions are held twice yearly during Dano Festival and Chuseok festivals. Baduk board game has been popular for over a millennium arriving from China in 5th century CE. Christianity accounts for twenty-nine point two percent of South Korean population. Buddhism represents twenty-two point eight percent according to 2005 statistics. About forty-six percent of citizens profess no particular religion in the south. The Ar-Rahman Mosque stands as the only mosque in North Korea located at Iranian Embassy grounds.
Continue Browsing
Common questions
When was the kingdom of Gojoseon founded according to tradition?
The kingdom of Gojoseon was founded in 2333 BC according to tradition. This ancient state fell to the Han dynasty in 108 BC.
Who invented metal movable type printing in Korea and when did it happen?
Ch'oe Yun-ui invented metal movable type printing in 1234 CE during the Goryeo period. The Tripitaka Koreana was published on more than 80,000 wooden blocks.
What happened to Empress Myeongseong in 1895?
Empress Myeongseong was assassinated by Japanese agents in 1895. Japan forced Joseon to open its borders in the late 19th century before annexing the peninsula officially in 1910 through the Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty.
How many people died during the Korean War from 1950 to 1953?
More than 1.2 million people died during the Korean War from 1950 to 1953. Three years of fighting effectively destroyed most cities on the peninsula.
Which country has the world's second-largest standing army today?
South Korea has the world's second-largest standing army. North Korea maintains seven point eight million active reserve and paramilitary personnel which represents approximately twenty-five percent of its total population.