Korea is a historical state in Northeast Asia, since 1945 divided into two distinct sovereign

states: North Korea (officially the "Democratic People's Republic of Korea") and South
Korea (officially the "Republic of Korea"). Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered
by China to the northwest and Russia to the northeast. It is separated from Japan to the east by
the Korea Strait and the East Sea.
Korea emerged as a singular political entity after centuries of conflict among the Three Kingdoms of
Korea, which were unified as Later Silla to the south and Balhae to the north. Later Silla divided into
three separate states during the Later Three Kingdoms period. Later Goguryeo (Goryeo), which had
succeeded Goguryeo, defeated the two other states and united the Korean Peninsula. Around the
same time, Balhae collapsed and its last remaining crown prince fled south to Goryeo, where he was
accepted into the imperial family. Goryeo (also spelled as Kory), whose name developed into the
modern exonym "Korea", was a highly cultured state that created the world's first metal movable
type in 1234.[4][5][6][7][8][9] However, multiple invasions by the Mongol Yuan Dynasty during the 13th
century greatly weakened the nation, which eventually agreed to become a vassal stateafter
decades of fighting. Following the Yuan Dynasty's collapse, severe political strife followed, and
Goryeo eventually fell to a coup led by GeneralYi Seong-gye, who established Joseon in 1388.
The first 200 years of Joseon were marked by relative peace and saw the creation of
the Korean alphabet by Sejong the Great in the 14th century and the increasing influence
of Confucianism. During the later part of the dynasty, however, Korea's isolationist policy earned it
the Western nickname of the "Hermit Kingdom". By the late 19th century, the country became the
object of imperial design by the Empire of Japan. Despite attempts at modernization by the Korean
Empire, in 1910, Korea wasannexed by Japan and remained a part of Imperial Japan until the end
ofWorld War II in August 1945.
In 1945, the Soviet Union and the United States agreed on the surrender of Japanese forces in
Korea in the aftermath of World War II, leaving Korea partitioned along the 38th parallel, with the
North under Soviet occupation and the South under U.S. occupation. These circumstances soon
became the basis for the division of Korea by the two superpowers, exacerbated by their inability to
agree on the terms of Korean independence. The Communist-inspired government in the North
received backing from the Soviet Union in opposition to the pro-Western government in the South,
leading to Korea's division into two political entities: North Korea (formally the Democratic People's
Republic of Korea), and South Korea (formally the Republic of Korea). This eventually led to
the Korean War in 1950, which ended in a stalemate without a formalized peace treaty, a factor that
contributes to the high tensions which continue to divide the peninsula.
Contents

1History

1.1Prehistory and Gojoseon

1.2ProtoThree Kingdoms

1.3Three Kingdoms

1.4North-South States Period

1.5Goryeo dynasty

1.6Joseon dynasty

1.7Korean Empire

1.8Japanese rule

1.9Korean War

1.10Division

2Geography

3Wildlife

4Demographics
4.1Language

5Etymology

6Culture and arts

o

6.1Literature

6.2Music

6.3Religion

6.4Cuisine

6.5Television

7Education

8Science and technology

9Sport
o

9.1Taekwondo

9.2Hapkido

9.3Ssireum

10National Holidays
o

10.1Samiljeol [] (Independence Movement Day) March 1st

10.2Hyunchoongil [] (Memorial day) June 6th

10.3Gwangbokjeol [] (National Liberation Day) August 15th

10.4Hangul Day [] (Hangeul Proclamation Day) October 9th

11See also

12Notes

13References

14Further reading

15External links

History[edit]
Main article: History of Korea
See also: History of North Korea and History of South Korea
Part of a series on the

History of Korea

Prehistory

Jeulmun

Mumun
Ancient

Gojoseon

Jin state

ProtoThree Kingdoms

Buyeo
Goguryeo

Okjeo

Dongye

Samhan

Ma

Byeon

Jin

Four Commanderies of Han

Three Kingdoms
Goguryeo
37 BC668 AD
Baekje
18 BC660 AD
Silla
57 BC935 AD
Gaya confederacy
42562
NorthSouth States
Silla
Balhae

668935
698926

Later Three Kingdoms

Later Baekje
892936
Later Goguryeo (Taebong)
901918
Later Silla (Unified Silla)
57 BC935 AD
Unitary dynastic period
Goryeo
9181392
Joseon
13921897
Korean Empire
18971910
Colonial period
Japanese rule
Provisional Government
Division of Korea
Military Governments
North Korea
South Korea

191045
191948

194548
1948present
1948present

By topic

Language

Military
Monarchs

Art

Naval
Science and technology
Timeline
Korea portal

Prehistory and Gojoseon[edit]

Main articles: Prehistoric Korea and Gojoseon
The Korean Academy claimed ancient hominid fossils originating from about 100,000BC in the lava
at a stone city site in Korea. Fluorescent and high-magnetic analyses indicate the volcanic fossils
may be from as early as 300,000BC.[10] The best preserved Korean pottery goes back to
the paleolithictimes around 10,000BC and the Neolithic period begins around 6000BC.
Early historical records of Han(,), the ancestor of Korea was first mentioned in Shigyeong(,
), which was one of the Seven Chinese Classics: the Four Books and the Three Classics (
,), written in 1000 BC; In the story, Han((), a King of Dongyi people(,
), also Joseon() Dynasty, had meeting with Zhou King (,) and negotiated
border between the two nations. Later, Wangbu's(,) book, Jamburon (,) written
in Han() Dynasty(circa AD 100) described Han King's(,) descendants began using
Han(,) as their surname.
Gojoseon's[11] founding father Dangun, a descendant of Heaven, established the kingdom in 2333
BC The original capital may have been on the present-day Joyang() and Yoseo and across vast
area of Southern Manju. In 108BC, Gojoseon and the Han Chinese war, defeated GoJoseon
retreated. Han, China installed the Four commendries to occupied area. By 75BC, three of those
commanderies had fallen, but the Nakrang commendry(now, Yodong peninsula area) remained as a
center of cultural and economic exchange with successive Chinese dynasties until 313, when it fell
to Goguryeo's repatriation of old Joseon territory movement.

ProtoThree Kingdoms[edit]
Main article: ProtoThree Kingdoms of Korea
The ProtoThree Kingdoms period, sometimes called the Multiple States Period, is the earlier part of
what is commonly called the Three Kingdoms Period, following the fall of Gojoseon but
before Goguryeo, Baekje, and Sillafully developed into kingdoms.
This time period saw numerous states spring up from the former territories of Gojoseon, which
encompassed northern Korea and southern Manchuria. With the fall of Gojoseon, southern Korea
entered the Samhan period.
Located in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula, Samhan refers to the three confederacies
of Mahan, Jinhan, and Byeonhan. Mahan was the largest and consisted of 54
states. Byeonhan and Jinhan both consisted of twelve states, bringing a total of 78 states within
the Samhan. These three confederacies eventually developed into Baekje, Silla, and Gaya.

Three Kingdoms[edit]

7th century Tang dynasty painting of envoys from the Three Kingdoms of Korea: Baekje, Goguryeo, and Silla

Main article: Three Kingdoms of Korea

The Three Kingdoms of Korea consisted of Goguryeo, Silla, and Baekje. Silla and Baekje controlled
the southern half of the Korean Peninsula, maintaining the formerSamhan territories, while
Goguryeo controlled the northern half of the Korean Peninsula, Manchuria and the Liaodong
Peninsula, uniting Buyeo, Okjeo, Dongye, and other states in the former Gojoseon territories.[12]
Goguryeo was a powerful empire and one of the great powers in East Asia,[13][14][15]reaching its zenith
in the 5th century when its territories expanded to encompass most of Manchuria to the north, parts
of Inner Mongolia to the west,[16] parts of Russia to the east,[17] and the Seoul region to the south.
[18]
Goguryeo experienced a golden age under Gwanggaeto the Great and his son Jangsu,[19][20][21]
[22]
who both subdued Baekje and Silla during their times, achieving a brief unification of the Three
Kingdoms of Korea and becoming the most dominant power on the Korean Peninsula. [23] In addition
to contesting for control of the Korean Peninsula, Goguryeo had many military encounters with
various Chinese dynasties, most notably the Goguryeo-Sui War, in which Goguryeo defeated a huge
force said to number over a million men.[24][25] In 642, the powerful general Yeon Gaesomun led a
coup and gained complete control over Goguryeo. In response, Emperor Tang Taizong of China
invaded Goguryeo, but was defeated and retreated. After the death of Tang Taizong, his son
Emperor Tang Gaozong allied with the Korean kingdom of Silla and invaded Goguryeo again, but
was unable to overcome Goguryeo's stalwart defenses and was defeated in 662. [26][27]However, Yeon
Gaesomun died of a natural cause in 666 and Goguryeo was thrown into chaos and weakened by a
succession struggle among his sons and younger brother, with his eldest son defecting to Tang and
his younger brother defecting to Silla.[28][29] The Tang-Silla alliance finally conquered Goguryeo in 668.
After the collapse of Goguryeo, Tang and Silla ended their alliance and fought over control of the
Korean Peninsula. Silla succeeded in gaining control over most of the Korean Peninsula, while Tang
gained control over Goguryeo's northern territories. However, 30 years after the fall of Goguryeo, a
Goguryeo general by the name of Dae Joyeong founded the Korean-Mohe state of Balhae and
successfully expelled the Tang presence from much of the former Goguryeo territories.

Seokguram Grotto from theSilla era, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

The southwestern Korean kingdom of Baekje was founded around modern-day Seoul by aGoguryeo
prince, a son of the founder of Goguryeo.[30][31][32] Baekje absorbed all of theMahan states and
subjugated most of the western Korean peninsula (including the modern provinces
of Gyeonggi, Chungcheong, and Jeolla, as well as parts of Hwanghae andGangwon) to a centralised
government; during the expansion of its territory, Baekje acquired Chinese culture and technology
through maritime contacts with the Southern Dynasties. Baekje was a great maritime power;[33] its
nautical skill, which made it the Phoenicia of East Asia, was instrumental in the dissemination of
Buddhism throughout East Asia and continental culture to Japan. [34][35] Historic evidence suggests that
Japanese culture, art, and language were influenced by the kingdom of Baekje and Korea itself; [36][37]
[38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46]
Baekje also played an important role in transmitting advanced Chinese culture to

the Japanese archipelago. Baekje was once a great military power on the Korean Peninsula, most
notably during the peak of its powers in the 4th century under the rule of Geunchogo when it
expanded far beyond Pyongyang; however, Baekje was critically defeated by Gwanggaeto the Great
and declined.
Although later records claim that Silla was the oldest of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, it is now
believed to have been the last kingdom to develop. By the 2nd century, Silla existed as a large state
in the southeast, occupying and influencing its neighboring city-states. In 562, Silla annexed
the Gaya confederacy which was located between Baekje and Silla. The Three Kingdoms of Korea
often warred with each other and Silla was often dominated by Baekje and Goguryeo. Silla was the
smallest and weakest of the three, but it used cunning diplomatic means to make opportunistic pacts
and alliances with the more powerful Korean kingdoms, and eventually Tang China, to its great
advantage.[47][48] In 660, King Muyeol ordered his armies to attack Baekje. General Kim Yu-shin, aided
by Tang forces, conquered Baekje after defeating General Gyebaek at the Battle of Hwangsanbeol.
In 661, Silla and Tang attacked Goguryeo but were repelled. King Munmu, son of Muyeol and
nephew of General Kim Yu-shin launched another campaign in 667 and Goguryeo fell in the
following year.

North-South States Period[edit]

Main article: North South States Period
See also: Later Silla and Balhae
Beginning in the 6th century, Silla's power gradually extended across the Korean Peninsula. Silla
first annexed the adjacentGaya confederacy in 562. By the 660s, Silla formed an alliance with
the Tang Dynasty of China to conquer Baekje and laterGoguryeo. After conquering Baekje and
Goguryeo, Silla repulsed Tang China from the Korean peninsula in 676. Even though Silla unified
most of the Korean Peninsula, most of the Goguryeo territories to the north of the Korean Peninsula
were ruled by Balhae. Former Goguryeo general Dae Joyeong led a group of Goguryeo refugees to
the Jilin area inManchuria and founded Balhae, 30 years after the collapse of Goguryeo, as the
successor to Goguryeo. At its height, Balhae's territories extended from northern Manchuria down to
the northern provinces of modern-day Korea.
Later Silla carried on the maritime prowess of Baekje, which acted like the Phoenicia of
medieval East Asia,[49] and during the 8th and 9th centuries dominated the seas of East Asia and the
trade between China, Korea and Japan, most notably during the time of Jang Bogo; in addition, Silla
people made overseas communities in China on the Shandong Peninsula and the mouth of
the Yangtze River.[50][51][52][53] Later Silla was a prosperous and wealthy country,[54] and its metropolitan
capital of Gyeongju[55] was the fourth largest city in the world.[56] [57][58][59] Later Silla was a golden age of
art and culture,[60][61][62][63] as evidenced by the Hwangnyongsa, Seokguram, and Emille Bell. Buddhism
flourished during this time, and many Korean Buddhists gained great fame among Chinese
Buddhists[64] and contributed to Chinese Buddhism,
[65]
including: Woncheuk, Wonhyo, Uisang, Musang,[66][67][68][69] and Kim Gyo-gak, a Silla prince whose
influence made Mount Jiuhua one of the Four Sacred Mountains of Chinese Buddhism.[70][71][72][73][74]
Later Silla fell apart in the late 9th century, giving way to the tumultuous Later Three Kingdoms
period (892935), and Balhae was destroyed by the Khitans in 926. Goryeo (also known as Later
Goguryeo) unified the Later Three Kingdoms and received the last crown prince of Balhae, thus
bringing about a unification of the two successor nations of Goguryeo.[75]

Goryeo dynasty[edit]
Main article: Goryeo
See also: Goryeo military regime and Korea under Yuan rule
Goryeo was founded in 918 and replaced Silla as the ruling dynasty of Korea. Goryeo's land was at
first what is now South Korea and about 1/3 of North Korea, but later on managed to recover most of

the Korean peninsula. Momentarily, Goryeo advanced to parts of Jiandao while conquering
the Jurchens, but returned the territories due to the harsh climate and difficulties in defending them.
The name "Goryeo" () is a short form of "Goguryeo" () and was first used during the time
of King Jangsu. Goryeo regarded itself as the successor of Goguryeo, hence its name and efforts to
recover the former territories of Goguryeo.[76][77][78][79] Wang Geon, the founder of Goryeo, was of
Goguryeo descent and made Kaesong, his hometown, the capital.[80][81]
During this period, laws were codified and a civil service system was
introduced. Buddhism flourished and spread throughout the peninsula. The development
of celadon industries flourished in the 12th and 13th centuries. The publication of theTripitaka
Koreana onto more than 80,000 wooden blocks and the invention of the world's first metal movable
type in the 13th century attest to Goryeo's cultural achievements.[4][5][6][7][8][9]
Goryeo had to defend frequently against attacks by nomadic empires, especially the Khitans and
the Mongols. Goryeo had a hostile relationship with the Khitans, because the Khitan
Empire destroyed Balhae, also a successor state of Goguryeo. The last crown prince of
Balhae escaped to Goryeo with much of the ruling class where he was included in the imperial family
of Wang Geon, achieving a national unification between the two successor nations of Goguryeo.
[75]
The Khitans initially tried to make good relations, sending 50 camels as a gift, but Wang Geon tied
the camels under a bridge and starved them to death. Goryeo made an alliance with the Song
dynasty of China and Jeongan, the short-lived successor state of Balhae, and made efforts to
advance into northern lands. In response, the Khitans conquered Jeongan in 986, after two failures
in 975 and 985. In 993, the Khitans, who had established the Liao dynasty in 907, invaded Goryeo
with 800,000 troops, demanding that Goryeo make amity with them. Goryeo sent the diplomat Seo
Hui to negotiate, who successfully persuaded the Khitan leader to let Goryeo expand to the banks of
the Amnok River, citing that in the past the land belonged to Goguryeo, the predecessor of Goryeo.
[82]
The Khitan Empire invaded Goryeo twice more in 1009 and 1018, but was repulsed by Goryeo
generals Yang Gyu and Gang Gam-chan during the Goryeo-Khitan War.
After defeating the Khitan Empire, which was the most powerful empire of its time, [83][84] Goryeo
experienced a golden age that lasted a century, during which the Tripitaka Koreana was completed,
and there were great developments in printing and publishing, promoting learning and dispersing
knowledge on philosophy, literature, religion, and science; by 1100, there were 12 universities that
produced famous scholars and scientists.[85][86]
Goryeo was invaded by the Mongols in seven major campaigns from the 1230s until the 1270s, but
was never conquered.[87]Exhausted after decades of fighting, Goryeo sent its crown prince to
the Yuan capital to capitulate to the Mongols; Kublai Khan accepted, and married one of his
daughters to the Korean crown prince,[87] and the dynastic line of Goryeo continued to survive under
the overlordship of the Mongol Yuan dynasty as a semi-autonomous vassal state and compulsory
ally. The two nations became intertwined for 80 years as all subsequent Korean kings married
Mongol princesses,[87] and the last empress of the Yuan dynasty was a Korean princess.[88]
In the 1350s, King Gongmin was free at last to reform the Goryeo government when the Yuan
dynasty began to crumble. Gongmin had various problems that needed to be dealt with, which
included the removal of pro-Mongol aristocrats and military officials, the question of land holding,
and quelling the growing animosity between the Buddhists and Confucianscholars. During this
tumultuous period, Goryeo momentarily conquered Liaoyang in 1356, repulsed two large invasions
by the Red Turbans in 1359 and 1360, and defeated the final attempt by the Yuan to dominate
Goryeo when General Choe Yeong defeated a Mongol tumen in 1364. During the 1380s, Goryeo
turned its attention to the Wokou threat and used naval artillery created by Choe Museon to
annihilate hundreds of pirate ships.

Joseon dynasty[edit]
Main article: Joseon

The Gyeongbokgung Palace

Korean plated mail

In 1392, the general Yi Seong-gye overthrew the Goryeo dynasty after he staged a coup and
defeated General Choe Yeong. Yi Seong-gye named his new dynastyJoseon and moved the capital
from Kaesong to Hanseong (formerly Hanyang; modern-day Seoul) and built
the Gyeongbokgung palace.[89] In 1394, he adoptedConfucianism as the country's official ideology,
resulting in much loss of power and wealth by the Buddhists. The prevailing philosophy of the
Joseon dynasty was Neo-Confucianism, which was epitomized by the seonbi class, scholars who
passed up positions of wealth and power to lead lives of study and integrity.
Joseon was a nominal tributary state of China but exercised full sovereignty,[90][91]and maintained the
highest position among China's tributary states,[92][93] which also included countries such as
the Ryukyu Kingdom, Vietnam, Thailand,[94][95][96] the Philippines, Burma, Laos, among others.[97][98] In
addition, Joseon received tribute from Jurchens and Japanese until the 17th century,[99][100][101] and had
a small enclave in the Ryukyu Kingdom that engaged in trade with Siam and Java. [102]
During the 15th and 16th centuries, Joseon enjoyed many benevolent rulers who promoted
education and science.[103] Most notable among them was Sejong the Great (r. 141850), who
promulgated Hangul, the Korean alphabet. This golden age[103] saw great cultural and scientific
advancements,[104] including in printing,meteorological observation, astronomy, calendar
science, ceramics, military technology, geography, cartography, medicine, and agricultural
technology, some of which were unrivaled elsewhere. [105] Joseon implemented a class system that
consisted of yangban the noble class, jungin the middle class, yangin the common class,

and cheonin the lowest class, which included butchers, tanners, shamans, entertainers, and nobi,
the equivalent of slaves or bondservants;[106] cheonin are estimated to have accounted for about one
third of the population of Joseon society,[107][108] but were greatly reduced during the latter half of the
Joseon dynasty.[109]
In 1592 and again in 1597, the Japanese invaded Korea; the Korean military at the time was
unprepared and untrained, due to two centuries of peace on the Korean Peninsula.[110] Toyotomi
Hideyoshi intended to conquer China and India[111] through the Korean Peninsula, but was defeated
by strong resistance from the Righteous Army, the naval superiority of Admiral Yi Sun-sin and
his turtle ships, and assistance from Wanli Emperor and Ming China. However, Joseon experienced
great destruction, including a tremendous loss of cultural sites such as temples and palaces to
Japanese pillaging, and the Japanese brought back to Japan an estimated 100,000
200,000 noses cut from Korean victims.[112] Less than 30 years after the Japanese invasions, Joseon
suffered an invasion by the Manchus, who went on to conquer Ming China and establish the Qing
dynasty.
After the second Manchu invasion and stabilized relations with the new Qing dynasty, Joseon
experienced a nearly 200-year period of peace. King Yeongjo and King Jeongjo led a new
renaissance of the Joseon dynasty.
However, during the last years of the Joseon dynasty, Korea's isolationist policy earned it the name
of the "Hermit Kingdom", primarily for its protection against Western imperialism before it was forced
to open trade, beginning an era leading intoJapanese imperial rule.

Korean Empire[edit]

The earliest surviving depiction of the Korean flag was printed in a US Navy book Flags of Maritime Nations in
July 1889.

Main article: Korean Empire

Further information: Gwangmu Reform
Beginning in 1871, Japan began to force Korea out of the China's traditional sphere of influence into
its own. As a result of the Sino-Japanese War (189495), the Qing Dynasty had to give up such a
position according to Article 1 of the Treaty of Shimonoseki, which was concluded between China
and Japan in 1895. That same year, Empress Myeongseong was assassinated by Japanese agents.
[113]

In 1897, the Joseon dynasty proclaimed the Korean Empire (18971910), and King
Gojong became Emperor Gojong. This brief period saw the partially successful modernisation of the
military, economy, real property laws, education system, and various industries, influenced by the
political encroachment into Korea of Russia, Japan, France, and the United States.
In 1904, the Russo-Japanese War pushed the Russians out of the fight for Korea. In Manchuria on
26 October 1909, An Jung-geun assassinated the former Resident-General of Korea, It
Hirobumi for his role in trying to force Korea into occupation.

Japanese rule[edit]
Main article: Korea under Japanese rule
See also: Japanese war crimes

The memorial tablet for the March 1st movement in Pagoda Park, Seoul

In 1910, an already militarily occupied Korea was a forced party to the Japan-Korea Annexation
Treaty. The treaty was signed by Lee Wan-Yong, who was given the General Power of Attorney by
the Emperor. However, the Emperor is said to have not actually ratified the treaty according to Yi
Tae-jin.[114] There is a long dispute whether this treaty was legal or illegal due to its signing under
duress, threat of force and bribes.
Korean resistance to the brutal Japanese occupation[115][116][117] was manifested in the nonviolent March
1st Movement of 1919, during which 7,000 demonstrators were killed by Japanese police and
military.[118] The Korean liberation movement also spread to neighbouring Manchuria and Siberia.
Over five million Koreans were conscripted for labour beginning in 1939,[119] and tens of thousands of
men were forced into Japan's military.[120] Nearly 400,000 Korean labourers died.[121] Approximately
200,000 girls and women,[122] mostly from China and Korea, were forced into sexual slavery for the
Japanese military.[123] In 1993, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yohei Kono acknowledged the
terrible injustices faced by these euphemistically named "comfort women".[124][125]
During the Japanese annexation, the Korean language was suppressed in an effort to eradicate
Korean national identity. Koreans were forced to take Japanese surnames, known as Sshi-kaimei.
[126]
Traditional Korean culture suffered heavy losses, as numerous Korean cultural artifacts were
destroyed[127] or taken to Japan.[128] To this day, valuable Korean artifacts can often be found in
Japanese museums or among private collections.[129] One investigation by the South Korean
government identified 75,311 cultural assets that were taken from Korea, 34,369 in Japan and
17,803 in the United States. However, experts estimate that over 100,000 artifacts actually remain in
Japan.[128][130] Japanese officials considered returning Korean cultural properties, but to date [128] this has
not occurred.[130] Korea and Japan still dispute the ownership of the Dokdo, islets located east of the
Korean Peninsula.[131]
There was a significant level of emigration to the overseas territories of the Empire of Japan during
the Japanese occupation period, including Korea.[132] By the end of World War II, there were over
850,000 Japanese settlers in Korea.[133] After World War II, most of these overseas
Japanese repatriated to Japan.

Korean War[edit]
Main article: Korean War

Urban combat in Seoul, 1950, as US Marines fight North Koreans holding the city.

In 1945, with the surrender of Japan, the United Nations developed plans for a trusteeship
administration, the Soviet Union administering the peninsula north of the38th parallel and the United
States administering the south. The politics of the Cold War resulted in the 1948 establishment of
two separate governments, North Koreaand South Korea.
In June 1950 North Korea invaded the South, using Soviet tanks and weaponry. During the Korean
War (195053) more than one million people died and the three years of fighting throughout the
nation effectively destroyed most cities.[134] The war ended in an Armistice Agreement at
approximately the Military Demarcation Line.

Division[edit]

Flag of North Korea

Flag of South Korea

Main articles: Division of Korea, Korean conflict, and Korean reunification

The aftermath of World War II left Korea partitioned along the 38th parallel, with the north under
Soviet occupation and the south under US occupation supported by other allied states.
Consequently, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, a Soviet-style socialist republic, was
established in the north while the Republic of Korea, a Western-style regime, was established in the
South. The Korean War broke out when Soviet-backed North Korea invaded South Korea, though
neither side gained much territory as a result. The Korean Peninsula remains divided, the Korean
Demilitarized Zone being the de facto border between the two states.
Since the 1960s, the South Korean economy has grown enormously and the economic structure
was radically transformed. In 1957, South Korea had a lower per capita GDP thanGhana,[135] and by
2008 it was 17 times as high as Ghana's.[a]
North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, is a one-party state, now centred
on Kim Il-sung's Juche ideology, with a centrally planned industrial economy. South Korea, officially

the Republic of Korea, is a multi-party state with a capitalist market economy, alongside membership
in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the Group of Twenty. The two
states have greatly diverged both culturally and economically since their partition, though they still
share a common traditional culture and pre-Cold War history.
According to R.J. Rummel, forced labor, executions, and concentration camps were responsible for
over one million deaths in North Korea from 1948 to 1987; [137] others have estimated 400,000 deaths
in concentration camps alone.[138] Estimates based on the most recent North Korean census suggest
that 240,000 to 420,000 people died as a result of the 1990s famine and that there were 600,000 to
850,000 unnatural deaths in North Korea from 1993 to 2008. [139]

Geography[edit]
Main article: Geography of Korea
See also: Geography of North Korea, Geography of South Korea, and Provinces of Korea

A neighborhood in North Gyeongsang Province

A view of Mount Seorak

Daedongyeojijeondo, a map of Korea

Jeju Island seashore

Korea is located on the Korean Peninsula in Northeast Asia. To the northwest, the Amnok River (Yalu
River) separates Korea from China and to the northeast, the Duman River (Tumen River) separates
Korea from China and Russia. The peninsula is surrounded by theYellow Sea to the west, the East
China Sea and Korea Strait to the south, and the Sea of Japan.[140]Notable islands include Jeju
Island(Jejudo), Ulleung Island (Ulleungdo), and Liancourt Rocks (Dokdo).
The southern and western parts of the peninsula have well-developed plains, while the eastern and
northern parts are mountainous. The highest mountain in Korea is Mount Paektu or Paektusan
(2,744 m), through which runs the border with China. The southern extension of Mount Paektu is a
highland called Gaema Heights. This highland was mainly raised during the Cenozoic orogeny and
partly covered by volcanic matter. To the south of Gaema Gowon, successive high mountains are
located along the eastern coast of the peninsula. This mountain range is named Baekdudaegan.
Some significant mountains include Mount Sobaek or Sobaeksan (1,439 m), Mount Kumgang or
Kumgangsan (1,638 m),Mount Seorak or Seoraksan (1,708 m), Mount Taebaek or Taebaeksan
(1,567 m), andMount Jiri or Jirisan (1,915 m). There are several lower, secondary mountain series
whose direction is almost perpendicular to that of Baekdudaegan. They are developed along the
tectonic line of Mesozoic orogeny and their directions are basically northwest.
Unlike most ancient mountains on the mainland, many important islands in Korea were formed by
volcanic activity in the Cenozoic orogeny. Jeju Island, situated off the southern coast, is a large
volcanic island whose main mountain Mount Halla or Hallasan (1950 m) is the highest in South
Korea. Ulleung Island is a volcanic island in the Sea of Japan, whose composition is more felsic than
Jeju-do. The volcanic islands tend to be younger, the more westward.

Because the mountainous region is mostly on the eastern part of the peninsula, the main rivers tend
to flow westwards. Two exceptions are the southward-flowingNakdong River (Nakdonggang)
and Seomjin River (Seomjingang). Important rivers running westward include the Amnok River,
the Chongchon River (Chongchongang), the Taedong River (Taedonggang), the Han
River (Hangang), the Geum River (Geumgang), and the Yeongsan River(Yeongsangang). These
rivers have vast flood plains and provide an ideal environment for wet-rice cultivation.
The southern and southwestern coastlines of Korea form a well-developed ria coastline, known
as Dadohae-jin in Korean. Its convoluted coastline provides mild seas, and the resulting calm
environment allows for safe navigation, fishing, and seaweed farming. In addition to the complex
coastline, the western coast of the Korean Peninsula has an extremely high tidal amplitude
(at Incheon, around the middle of the western coast. It can get as high as 9 m). Vast tidal flats have
been developing on the south and west coastlines.

Wildlife[edit]
Main article: Wildlife of Korea
Animal life of Korea includes a considerable number of bird species and native freshwater fish.
Native or endemic species of the Korean Peninsula include Korean hare, Korean water deer, Korean
field mouse, Korean brown frog, Korean pine andKorean spruce. The Korean Demilitarized
Zone (DMZ) with its forest and natural wetlands is a unique biodiversity spot, which harbours eighty
two endangered species.
There are also approximately 3,034 species of vascular plants.

Demographics[edit]
Main articles: Koreans, Demographics of South Korea, and Demographics of North Korea
The combined population of the Koreans is about 75 million (North Korea: 25 million, South Korea:
50 million). Korea is chiefly populated by a highly homogeneous ethnic group, the Koreans, who
speak the Korean language.[141] The number of foreigners living in Korea has also steadily increased
since the late 20th century, particularly in South Korea, where more than 1 million foreigners reside.
[142]
It was estimated in 2006 that only 26,700 of the old Chinese community now remain in South
Korea.[143] However, in recent years, immigration from mainland China has increased; 624,994
persons of Chinesenationality have immigrated to South Korea, including 443,566 of ethnic
Korean descent.[144] Small communities of ethnic Chinese and Japanese are also found in North
Korea.[145]

Language[edit]
Main articles: Korean language and Korean Sign Language

Hunminjeongeum, afterwards called Hangul.

Korean is the official language of both North and South Korea, and (along with Mandarin) ofYanbian
Korean Autonomous Prefecture in Manchuria area of China. Worldwide, there are up to 80 million
speakers of the Korean language. South Korea has around 50 million speakers while North Korea
around 25 million. Other large groups of Korean speakers through Korean diaspora are found
in China, the United States, Japan, former Soviet Unionand elsewhere.
The classification of Korean is debated. Some linguists place it in the Altaic language family; others
consider it to be a language isolate. Korean is agglutinative in its morphology andSOV in its syntax.
Like Japanese and Vietnamese, Korean has borrowed much vocabulary from the Chinese or created
vocabulary on Chinese models.
Modern Korean is written almost exclusively in the script of the Korean alphabet (known as Hangul
in South Korea and Chosungul in China and North Korea), which was invented in the 15th century.
While Hangul may appear logographic, it is actually a phonemic alphabet organised
into syllabic blocks. Each block consists of at least two of the 24 hangul letters (jamo): at least one
each of the 14 consonants and 10 vowels. Historically, the alphabet had several additional letters
(see obsolete jamo). For a phonological description of the letters, seeKorean phonology.

Etymology[edit]
Main article: Names of Korea
See also: Korean romanization
"Korea" is the modern spelling of Corea, a name attested in English as early as 1614.[146] It is
an exonym derived fromCauli, Marco Polo's transcription[147] of the Chinese (simp., MC
Kawlej,[148] mod.Gol). This was the Hanja for the Korean kingdom of Goryeo or Kory (; 918
1392), which ruled most of the peninsula during the time of his travels. (Scholars who discount the
historicity of Polo's account instead derive it via Persian variations of the same Chinese name.[149])
Goryeo's name was a continuation of the earlier Goguryeo or Kogury (; 37BC AD668), the
northernmost of the Samguk (the Three Kingdoms of Korea), which was officially known by the
shortened form Goryeo after the 5th-century reign of King Jangsu. The original name was a
combination of the adjective go ("high, lofty") with the name of a local Yemaek tribe, whose original
name is thought to have been either *Guru (, "walled city," inferred from some toponyms in
Chinese historical documents) or *Gauri (, "center"). With expanding British and American
trade following the opening of Korea in the late 19th century, the spelling "Korea" appeared and
gradually grew in popularity;[146] its use in transcribing East Asian languages avoids the issues caused
by the separate hard and soft Cs existing in English vocabulary derived from the Romance
languages. The name Korea is now commonly used in English contexts by both North and South
Korea.
In South Korea, Korea as a whole is referred to as Hanguk (, [hanuk], lit."country of the Han").
The name references the SamhanMa, Jin, and Byeonwho preceded the Three Kingdoms in the
southern and central end of the peninsula during the 1st centuriesBC and AD. Although written
in Hanja as , , or , this Han has no relation to the Chinese place names or peoples who used
those characters but was a phonetic transcription (OC:*Gar, MCHan[148] or Gan) of a native Korean
word that seems to have had the meaning "big" or "great", particularly in reference to leaders. It has
been tentatively linked with the title khan used by the nomads of Manchuria and Central Asia.
In North Korea, China, Japan, Vietnam, and Chinese and Vietnamese-speaking areas, Korea as a
whole is referred to asChosn (, Joseon, [tosn],, (), Choxin, (), Chsen, Triu
Tin () lit."[land of the] Morning Calm"). "Great Joseon" was the name of the kingdom ruled by
the Joseon dynasty from 1393 until their declaration of the short-livedGreat Korean Empire in
1897. King Taejo had named them for the earlier Kojoseon (), who ruled northern Korea from

its legendary prehistory until their conquest in 108BC by China's Han Empire. This go is the Hanja
and simply means "ancient" or "old"; it is a modern usage to distinguish the ancient Joseon from
the later dynasty. Joseon itself is the modern Korean pronunciation of the Hanja but it is unclear
whether this was a transcription of a native Korean name (OC*T[r]awser, MCTrjewsjen[148]) or a partial
translation into Chinese of the Korean capital Asadal (), [150] whose meaning has been
reconstructed as "Morning Land" or "Mountain".

Culture and arts[edit]

Korean Buddhist architecture

Traditional Korean dance (Jinju geommu)

Main articles: Culture of Korea, Korean art, Korean pottery and porcelain,Korean martial
arts, Korean dance, Korean bow, and Korean architecture
In ancient Chinese texts, Korea is referred to as "Rivers and Mountains Embroidered on Silk" (
, ) and "Eastern Nation of Decorum" (, ).[151] Individuals are
regarded as one year old when they are born, as Koreans reckon the pregnancy period as one year
of life for infants, and age increments increase on New Year's Day rather than on the anniversary of
birthdays. Thus, one born immediately before New Year's Day may only be a few days old in western
reckoning, but two years old in Korea. Accordingly, a Korean person's stated age (at least among
fellow Koreans) will be one or two years more than their age according to western reckoning.
However, western reckoning is sometimes applied with regard to the concept of legal age; for
example, the legal age for purchasing alcohol or cigarettes in the Republic of Korea is 19, which is
measured according to western reckoning.

Literature[edit]
Main article: Korean literature
Korean literature written before the end of the Joseon Dynasty is called "Classical" or "Traditional."
Literature, written in Chinese characters (hanja), was established at the same time as the Chinese
script arrived on the peninsula. Korean scholars were writing poetry in the classical Korean style as
early as the 2nd centuryBC, reflecting Korean thoughts and experiences of that time. Classical

Korean literature has its roots in traditional folk beliefs and folk tales of the peninsula, strongly
influenced byConfucianism, Buddhism and Taoism.
Modern literature is often linked with the development of hangul, which helped spread literacy from
the aristocracy to the common men and women. Hangul, however, only reached a dominant position
in Korean literature in the second half of the 19th century, resulting in a major growth in Korean
literature. Sinsoseol, for instance, are novels written in hangul.
The Korean War led to the development of literature centered on the wounds and chaos of war.
Much of the post-war literature in South Korea deals with the daily lives of ordinary people, and their
struggles with national pain. The collapse of the traditional Korean value system is another common
theme of the time.

Music[edit]
Main article: Music of Korea
Traditional Korean music includes combinations of the folk, vocal, religious and ritual music styles of
the Korean people. Korean music has been practiced since prehistoric times.[152] Korean music falls
into two broad categories. The first,Hyangak, literally means The local music or Music native to
Korea of which example is Sujecheon, a piece of instrumental music as old as 1,300 years.[153] The
second, yangak, represent a more Western style.

Religion[edit]
Main articles: Religion in Korea, Religion in South Korea, and Religion in North Korea
See also: Korean shamanism, Korean Confucianism, Korean Buddhism, Taoism in
Korea, Christianity in Korea, andIslam in Korea

Amitabha and Eight Great Bodhisattvas, Goryeo scroll from the 1300s

Confucian tradition has dominated Korean thought, along with contributions by Buddhism,Taoism,
and Korean Shamanism. Since the middle of the 20th century, however, Christianityhas competed
with Buddhism in South Korea, while religious practice has been suppressed in North Korea.
Throughout Korean history and culture, regardless of separation; the influence of traditional beliefs
of Korean Shamanism, Mahayana Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism have remained an
underlying religion of the Korean people as well as a vital aspect of their culture; all these traditions
have coexisted peacefully for hundreds of years up to today despite strong Westernisation

from Christian missionary conversions in the South[154][155][156] or the pressure from

the Juche government in the North.[157][158]
According to 2005 statistics compiled by the South Korean government, about 46% of citizens
profess to follow no particular religion. Christians account for 29.2% of the population (of which are
Protestants 18.3% and Catholics 10.9%) and Buddhists 22.8%.[159]
Islam in South Korea is practiced by about 45,000 natives (about 0.09% of the population) in
addition to some 100,000 foreign workers from Muslim countries. [160]

Cuisine[edit]
Main article: Korean cuisine
See also: Korean tea ceremony and Korean royal court cuisine

Tteokbokki, rice cakes with spicy gochujang sauce.

Koreans traditionally believe that the taste and quality of food depend on its spices and sauces, the
essential ingredients to making a delicious meal. Therefore,soybean paste, soy sauce, gochujang or
red pepper paste and kimchi are some of the most important staples in a Korean household.
Korean cuisine was greatly influenced by the geography and climate of the Korean Peninsula, which
is known for its cold autumns and winters, therefore there are many fermented dishes and hot soups
and stews.
Korean cuisine is probably best known for kimchi, a side dish which uses a
distinctivefermentation process of preserving vegetables, most commonly cabbage. Kimchi is said to
relieve the pores on the skin, thereby reducing wrinkles and providing nutrients to the skin naturally.
It is also healthy, as it provides necessary vitamins and nutrients. Gochujang, a traditional Korean
sauce made of red pepper is also commonly used, often as pepper (chilli) paste, earning the cuisine
a reputation for spiciness.
Bulgogi (roasted marinated meat, usually beef), galbi (marinated grilled short ribs),
and samgyeopsal (pork belly) are popular meat entrees. Fish is also a popular commodity, as it is
the traditional meat that Koreans eat. Meals are usually accompanied by a soup or stew, such
as galbitang (stewed ribs) or doenjang jjigae (fermented bean paste soup). The center of the table is
filled with a shared collection of sidedishes called banchan.
Other popular dishes include bibimbap which literally means "mixed rice" (rice mixed with meat,
vegetables, and red pepper paste) and naengmyeon (cold noodles).[161][162]
Instant noodles or ramyeon are a popular snack food and Koreans also enjoy food
from pojangmachas (street vendors), where customers can buy tteokbokki (rice cake and fish cake
with a spicy gochujang sauce), gimbap made of steamed white rice wrapped in dried laver
seaweed as well as fried squid and glazed sweet potato. Soondae, a sausage made of cellophane
noodles and pork blood, is widely eaten.

Additionally, some other common snacks include "Choco Pie", shrimp crackers, "bbeongtwigi"
(puffed rice grains), and "nurungji" (slightly burnt rice). Nurungji can be eaten as it is or boiled with
water to make a soup. Nurungji can also be eaten as a snack or a dessert.
Korea is unique among Asian countries in its use of metal chopsticks. Metal chopsticks have been
discovered in archaeological sites belonging to the ancient Korean kingdoms of Goguryeo, Baekje
and Silla.

Television[edit]
Korean television dramas ("K-dramas") have become popular in many countries, and as a result
outdoor locations featured in K-dramas have become popular stops for international tourists. Product
placements in the dramas have proven effective in advertising; for example, sales of cosmetics,
clothing and food favored by the female lead played by actress Jun Ji-hyun in the drama My Love
from the Star rose significantly after the relevant episodes aired. In one notorious case it was
reported that a woman in China became ill after consuming nothing but fried chicken and beer the
character's favorite snack for several days.

Education[edit]
Main articles: Education in North Korea and Education in South Korea
The modern South Korean school system consists of six years in elementary school, three years in
middle school, and three years in high school. Students are required to go to elementary and middle
school, and do not have to pay for their education, except for a small fee called a "School Operation
Support Fee" that differs from school to school. The Programme for International Student
Assessment, coordinated by the OECD, ranks South Korea's science education as the third best in
the world and being significantly higher than the OECD average. [163]
South Korea ranks second on math and literature and first in problem solving[citation needed]. Although
South Korean students often rank high on international comparative assessments, the education
system is criticised for emphasising too much upon passive learning and memorization. The South
Korean education system is rather notably strict and structured as compared to its counterparts in
most Western societies. Also, the prevalence of non-school for-profit private institutes such as
academies or cram schools (Hagwon []), which too emphasise passive memorisation, as
opposed to conceptual understanding, in students are criticised as a major social problem. After
students enter university, however, the situation is markedly reversed [citation needed] In Korea, university is
hard to enter, and graduation is comparatively easier than entry.
The North Korean education system consists primarily of universal and state funded schooling by
the government. The national literacy rate for citizens 15 years of age and above is over 99 percent.
[164][165]
Children go through one year of kindergarten, four years of primary education, six years
of secondary education, and then on to universities. The most prestigious university in the DPRK
is Kim Il-sung University. Other notable universities include Kim Chaek University of Technology,
which focuses on computer science, Pyongyang University of Foreign Studies, which trains working
level diplomats and trade officials, and Kim Hyong Jik University, which trains teachers.
Outside the formal structure of schools and classrooms in the north is the extremely important
"social education". This education includes not only extracurricular activities but also family life and
the broadest range of human relationships within society. There is great sensitivity to the influence of
the social environment on the growing child and its role in the development of his or her character.
The ideal of social education is to provide a carefully controlled environment in whichchildren are
exposed only to pro-Juche and anti-south influences. According to a North Korean official
interviewed in 1990, 'School education is not enough to turn the rising generation into men of
knowledge, virtue, and physical fitness. After school, our children have many spare hours. So it's
important to efficiently organise their afterschool education'.

Science and technology[edit]

Main article: History of science and technology in Korea
See also: List of Korean inventions and discoveries

Jikji, Selected Teachings of Buddhist Sages and Seon Masters, the earliest known book printed with movable
metal type, 1377. Bibliothque Nationale de Paris.

One of the best known artifacts of Korea's history of science and technology is
theCheomseongdae (, ), a 9.4-meter high observatory built in 634.
The earliest known surviving Korean example of woodblock printing is theMugujeonggwang Great
Dharani Sutra.[166] It is believed to have been printed in Korea in 75051 AD which, if correct, would
make it older than the Diamond Sutra. Goryeo silk was highly regarded by Westerners, and
Korean pottery made with blue-green celadon was of the highest quality and sought after by even
Arabian merchants. Goryeo had a bustling economy with a capital that was frequented by merchants
from all over the known world.
During the Joseon period the Geobukseon (Turtle Ship) was invented, which were covered by a
wooden deck and iron with thorns,[167][168][169] as well as other weapons such as the bigyeokjincheolloe
cannon (, ) and thehwacha.
The Korean alphabet hangul was also invented during this time by King Sejong the Great.

Sport[edit]
Main articles: Sport in South Korea and Sport in North Korea
While association football remains one of the most popular sports in South Korea, the martial art
of taekwondo is considered to be the national sport. Baseball and golf are also popular.

Taekwondo[edit]
Main article: Taekwondo
Taekwondo is one of Korea's most famous sports. It combines combat techniques, self-defense,
sport, exercise and in some cases meditation and philosophy. Taekwondo has become an official
Olympic sport, starting as a demonstration event in1988 (when South Korea hosted the Games in
Seoul) and becoming an official medal event in 2000.

Hapkido[edit]
Main article: Hapkido
Hapkido is a modern Korean martial art with a grappling focus that employs joint locks, throws, kicks,
punches and other striking attacks like attacks against pressure points. Hapkido emphasizes circular
motion, non-resisting movements and control of the opponent. Practitioners seek to gain advantage

through footwork and body positioning to employ leverage, avoiding the pure use of strength against
strength.

Ssireum[edit]
Main article: Ssireum
Ssireum is a traditional form of wrestling that has been practiced in Korea for thousands of years,
with evidence discovered from Goguryeo of Korea's Three Kingdoms Period (57BC to 688). Ssireum
is the traditional national sport of Korea. During a match, opponents grip each other by sash belts
wrapped around the waist and the thigh, attempting to throw their competitor to the sandy ground of
the ring. The first opponent to touch the ground with any body part above the knee or to lose hold of
their opponent loses the round.
Ssireum competitions are traditionally held twice a year, during the Dano Festival (the 5th day of the
fifth lunar month) andChuseok (the 15th day of the 8th lunar month). Competitions are also held
throughout the year as a part of festivals and other events.

National Holidays[edit]
This list is incomplete.

Samiljeol [] (Independence Movement Day) March 1st[edit]

Samiljeol, Independence Movement Day, commemorates Korea's declaration of independence from
Japanese occupation on March 1, 1919. The name is derived from Korean "sam" 'three', "il"
'one,' and "jeol" 'day', the date of the uprising in 1919. Korea was annexed to the Empire of Japan
on August 29, 1910 following the imposed Japan-Korea Treaty. On March 1, 1919, Korean
presented their resistance towards Japan and Japanese occupation with a declaration of
independence. Following the conclusion of World War II, Korea was liberated from Japan and its
independence restored. The newly established Korean government set aside March 1 as a national
holiday to commemorate the sacrifices born in the long struggle for Korean independence.

Hyunchoongil [] (Memorial day) June 6th[edit]

Hyunchoongil is the national holiday in Korea commemorating those who fought and died for the
nation. In August 1948, only a few years after Korea achieved its independence from Japan, the
Korean War, in Korea also known as the 6.25 war, broke out between North and South Korea.
During this war, approximately 400,000 soldiers and some one million citizens were killed or injured.
In 1953, North and South Korea agreed to a cease-fire, and three years later the Korean
government established Hyungchoogil to commemorate the soldiers who fought in the Korean War.
Subsequent to its establishment, Hyungchoogil was reinterpreted as a day of remembrance for
those who died defending Korea in all conflicts, not only during the Korean War.

Gwangbokjeol [] (National Liberation Day) August 15th[edit]

Gwangbokjeol is the day for celebrating liberation of the country from Japan in 1945 as well as
celebrating the establishment of Korean government in 1948. Gwanbok means "returned light"
representing gaining national sovereignty from Japan. It was first declared to be national holiday in
1949 October 1. On this date every year, the president of Korea visits Independence Hall, and
invites diplomatic envoys from many countries and all social standings in countries to Cheongwadae
(the Blue House, the Korean presidential residence).

Hangul Day [] (Hangeul Proclamation Day) October 9th[edit]

Hangul Day (also spelled as Hangeul Day) is a day that celebrates the creation of
the Hunminjeongeum (Hangul, Korean alphabet), which was inscribed to the UNESCO Memory of

the World Register in 1997.[170] Hangul was created by Sejong the Great in 1443 and proclaimed in
1446. Before the creation of Hangul, people in Korea (known as Joseon at the time) primarily wrote
using Classical Chinese alongside native phonetic writing systems that predate Hangul by hundreds
of years, including idu, hyangchal, gugyeol, and gakpil.[171][172][173][174] However, due to the fundamental
differences between the Korean and Chinese languages, and the large number of characters
needed to be learned, there was much difficulty in learning how to write using Chinese characters for
the lower classes, who often didn't have the privilege of education. To assuage this problem, King
Sejong created the unique alphabet known as Hangul to promote literacy among the common
people.[175] Hangul Day was founded in 1926 during the Japanese occupation by members of
the Korean Language Society, whose goal was to preserve the Korean language during a time of
rapid forced Japanization.[176] Today, both South Korea and North Korea celebrate Hangul Day as a
national holiday.