Korean History
A quick history of the Korean Peninsula and its people.
Origins of Korea
The civilization of Korea developed under somewhat unique circumstances. With ocean to the east and the much larger state of China to the west, its people faced the constant threat of isolation, invasion, and conquest. Despite this, Korea remained independent while still drawing cultural influences from its powerful neighbor. Its earliest inhabitants left behind evidence of their lives through pottery, dated to around 8,000 years old. Their folk history traces their cultural origins back about 4,500 years. According to tradition, this is when the mythic hero Tan’gun founded Korea’s first dynasty, now known as Gojoseon. This early era saw Korea progress from neolithic farming to iron working by about 300 BCE.
Historical records begin during the Three Kingdoms era, circa 100 BCE. At this time, the large kingdoms of Goguryeo, Silla, and Baekje dominated the peninsula. With the help of mountain fortresses, they weathered several invasions from China and cemented their status as autonomous states. Baekje and Goguryeo eventually unified under Silla in 668 CE. By 936, the new Goryeo dynasty had toppled the Silla and seized control. The Buddhist Goryeo period saw the adoption of many long-standing Korean customs, including state exams and the refinement of celadon pottery. It was weakened by Mongol invasions in the 13th century but never officially conquered. Instead, Goryeo rulers paid tribute to the Mongol Yuan dynasty and intermarried to keep the peace.
The Joseon Dynasty
For about a century, Korea survived in the shadow of the mighty Mongol Empire. The kingdom gained increasing autonomy as the influence of the Mongols receded. The Joseon dynasty, founded in 1392, favored Confucianism over Buddhism. Its fourth ruler, Sejong the Great, encouraged the spread of Confucian ideals and strengthened Korea’s military. He is also credited with inventing the Korean alphabet, or Hangul. As in China, the upper classes of Joseon competed for high ranking positions as civil servants. Any commoner could take an exam to qualify for military positions. More prestigious administrative roles, however, were reserved for the yangban nobility. For hundreds of years, Joseon Korea operated under this system in relative peace and prosperity.
Japanese Annexation of Korea
Having witnessed the impact of Western civilization in China, Joseon Korea chose to limit its relations with the outside world. It primarily conducted business and diplomacy with China and Japan. By the end of the 19th century, however, the ‘Hermit Kingdom’ had begun to decline. Metal shortages and a lack of emphasis on military affairs left Korea vulnerable to its industrializing neighbors. Under pressure from Japan and the United States, Korea opened its borders in 1876. The weakening dynasty could no longer keep the world out. Imperial Japan formally annexed Korea in 1910. It did so after assassinating Empress Myeongseong, or ‘Queen Min’ in her palace in 1895.
The Korean War
For the next 35 years, until the end of World War II, Korea remained a Japanese territory. Its people suffered cultural suppression and hardship during this period. World War II in Korea ended with a Soviet invasion, which drove Japanese forces out of the region but complicated its politics moving forward. The United States and the USSR decided to compromise. The former empire was divided in two along the 38th parallel. Its northern half, influenced by the Soviet Union and China, claimed dominion over the entire peninsula. The southern half, allied with the United States and UN, claimed the same. Tensions soon escalated into warfare in 1950. The Korean War proved devastating for both North and South and has never been resolved completely.
The Modern Koreas
The two separate governments of Korea have since maintained an uneasy truce. North Korea remains isolated as an authoritarian state closely linked to China. South Korea, after swinging between democracy and autocracy, eventually stabilized as a republic. With foreign investment and a strong tradition of education, the nation has rebuilt itself into a major global economy within a few decades. Its capital, Seoul, is now one of the largest and most productive cities in the world.
South Korea has devoted considerable resources into revitalizing and celebrating its history. A number of initiatives seek to preserve historic places and teach the curious about Korea’s heritage. Perhaps the most impressive of these efforts can be seen at Gyeongbokgung Palace in northern Seoul. There, visitors can step into the royal past of Joseon Korea, juxtaposed by the surrounding bustle of modern Seoul.
References
Clark, Donald N. Culture and Customs of Korea. Greenwood Press. 2000.
Hwang, Kyung Moon. A History of Korea. Macmillan International Higher Education. 2016.
Kim, Djun Kil. The History of Korea. 2nd ed. Greenwood Press. 2014.
Ku, Yangmo, Inyeop Lee, and Jongseok Woo. Politics in North and South Korea. Routledge. 2017.
“The World Factbook: Korea, North.” Central Intelligence Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, 18 June 2018, www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/kn.html.
“The World Factbook: Korea, South.” Central Intelligence Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, 20 June 2018, www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ks.html.
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