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.