History | |
A 5,000-year-old history and culture is the pride of the Korean peninsula. | |
600,000 years ago | Archeological findings have indicated the beginnings of settlement in the Korean Peninsula. |
2333 B.C. | The legendary figure Dan-gun founded Go-Joseon, a first Korean Kingdom at Pyong-yang in the northern part of the peninsula. |
57 B.C. - A.D. 668 | The Three Kingdoms Period. A golden age
of culture with distinct contributions from each Kingdom. Goguryeo Kingdom(37 B.C. - A.D. 668) Baekje Kingdom(18 B.C. - A.D. 660) Silla Kingdom(57 B.C. - A.D. 676) |
A.D. 676-935 | Unified Silla Kingdom(Capital : Gyeongju). |
A.D. 918-1392 | Goryeo(Koryo) Dynasty (Capital: Gaeseong,
located in North Korea). Buddhism became the state religion and greatly
influenced politics and culture. Overseas trade boomed. The name "Korea" derives from the Goryeo(Koryo) Dynasty since Arabian tradesmen started calling Goryeo(Koryo) "Corre." |
1392 - 1910 | Choson Dynasty(Capital : Seoul). The peninsula's final dynasty. Confucianism as the state ideology exerted a massive influence over the whole of society. Han-gul, the Korean alphabet, was invented in 1443, during the reign of King Sejong. |
1910 - 1945 | Japanese colonial rule. |
1945(August 15) | Japan surrendered to the Allies and withdrew
from the Korean Peninsula. The Korean peninsula is divided into 2 Areas. The north controlled by Soviet Union and the south by the U.S. |
1948 | The Korean Peninsula is divided into two countries : the Republic of Korea(democratic South Korea), and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. (communist North Korea). |
1950 - 1953 | Korean War, armistice signed. |
1972 to present | Negotiations between South and North Korea for peace and reunification continue. |
1988 | Hosting of the 24th Olympiad, which marked the beginning of relations with Central and Eastern Europe. |
September, 1991 | South and North Korea were simultaneously admitted to the United Nations. |