council for korea medicine overseas promotion visual image

Contact Us
Tel +82-(0)2-2194-7250
E-mail ckmpmail@gmail.com

about korea

history

history images

The habitation of early man in Korea appears to have started about half a million years ago. The first kingdom, named Gojoseon (Ancient Joseon), was formed in 2333 BC. By the 1st century BC, Korea’s three ancient kingdoms of Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla ruled the entire Korean Peninsula and much of Manchuria; they were by far the most powerful and eminent kingdoms in the area.

The period of their rule, 57 BC-668 AD, is known as the Three Kingdoms period. Goguryeo and Baekjae were ultimately taken over by Silla in 668 and 660, respectively. In 676, Silla unified the peninsula for the first time. The Unified Silla period, 676-935, was a golden age for Korean culture and advancements in Buddhist art are especially noteworthy. In the succeeding Goryeo Dynasty, 918-1392, an aristocratic government was instituted. Buddhism was established as the state religion and came to have great influence in the political and administrative spheres. The name “Korea” is a derivative of “Goryeo.” The Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) was the peninsula’s last dynasty. During this period, various political and economic reforms were enacted. The most prominent of these was the adoption of Confucianism as the state ideology. The surge of creative literary endeavors and the invention of hangeul (the Korean alphabet) in 1443 make this special cultural period very significant. Hanyang, now known as Seoul, was established as the dynasty’s capital city in 1394. Palaces and gates constructed during this period can still be seen in the city today. The Japanese invasion of the peninsula in 1910 ended the Joseon Dynasty. Korea remained under Japanese colonial rule for 35 years until the end of World War II.

On August 15, 1945, Japan surrendered to the Allies and withdrew from the Korean Peninsula, which was then divided into two: South Korea in the free world and North Korea in the communist bloc. The Republic of Korea in the south established an independent government three years later. The Korean War began on June 25, 1950, when North Korea invaded the South. An armistice agreement was signed three years later in 1953. South Korea’s tireless post-war reconstruction efforts were highly successful in the promotion of national prosperity and stability. In 1988, Seoul, the capital of the South, hosted the Olympics. In September 1991, South and North Korea were simultaneously admitted to the United Nations, then in June 2000, historic summit talks between South and North Korea were held in Pyeongyang, the capital of the North. The 17th FIFA World Cup was held jointly in 2002 by Korea and Japan, during which the Korean national team achieved the legendary feat of being the first Asian national team to proceed to the semifinals in the history of the World Cup competition.

go top