KOREA

1. Etymology
The Korean language is attested from the early centuries of the Common Era in
Chinese characters. The Featural writing system called hangul was introduced only in
the fifteenth century.

The periodization of the historical stages of Korean is as follows:

Before the first century: Proto-Korean
First to tenth century: Old Korean
Tenth to sixteenth century: Middle Korean
Seventeenth century to present: Modern Korean
"Korea" is the modern spelling of Corea, a name attested in English as early as
1614. This was the Hanja for the Korean kingdom of Goryeo or Koryŏ ( 고려; 918–
1392), which ruled most of the peninsula during the time of his travels. Goryeo's name
was a continuation of the earlier Goguryeo or Koguryŏ (고구려; 37 BC – ad 668), 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.
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.
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 ( 한국 , "country of
the Han") The name references the Samhan Ma, Jin, and Byeon who preceded the
Three Kingdoms in the southern and central end of the peninsula during the 1st
centuries BC and AD. Although written in Hanja as 韓 , 幹 , or 刊 , this Han has no
relation to the Chinese place names or peoples who used those characters but was
a phonetic transcription 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 as Chosŏn (조선, Joseon, [tɕosʰʌn],, ( 朝 鲜 ),
 Cháoxiǎn, ( 朝 鮮 ), Chōsen, Triều Tiên ( 朝 鮮 ). "Great Joseon" was the name of the
kingdom ruled by the Joseon dynasty from 1393 until their declaration of the short-
lived Great Korean Empire in 1897. King Taejo had named them for the
earlier Kojoseon (고조선), who ruled northern Korea from its
legendary prehistory until their conquest in 108 BC by China's Han Empire. This go is
the Hanja 古 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 朝鮮 but it is unclear whether this was a transcription of a
native Korean name or a partial translation into Chinese of the Korean
capital Asadal (아사달), whose meaning has been reconstructed as "Morning Land"
or "Mountain".

2. History
Basic Overview:
8000 BC: earliest known Korean pottery
2333 BC: Gochoson (Old Choson)
3rd Century BC: Old Choson dynasty divides into many states
1st Century BC: Three Kingdoms (Koguryo, Silla, and Paekche) founded
676 AD: Silla unifies whole country under 'Unified Silla'
926 AD: Koryo dynasty takes over
1392 AD: Choson Dynasty established
1910 AD: Japan annexes Korea
1945 AD: Japanese defeated in World War II
1948: Korea divided into North and South
Detailed Overview:
• 8000 BC: earliest known Korean pottery
Evidence of Mesolithic Pit-Comb Ware culture or Yungimun Pottery is found
throughout the peninsula. Agricultural societies and the earliest forms of social-
political complexity emerged in the Mumun Pottery Period (c. 1500-300 BC).

• 2333 BC: Gochoson (Old Choson)

Gochoson was the first Korean kingdom. According to medieval-era records,

Gochoson was founded in by the legendary ruler Tangun (sometimes spelled Dangun),
on the principle of 'Hongik Ingan' - 'to live for the benefit of all mankind'.

• 3rd Century BC: Old Choson dynasty divides into many states
As the power of the Gochoson rulers declined, many smaller states sprang from its
former territory, such as Puyo, Okjo, and Tongye.

• 1st Century BC: Three Kingdoms (Koguryo, Silla, and Paekche) founded
Koguryo was founded in 37 BC by Chumong. It was the first Korean kingdom to
adopt Buddhism. It reached its zenith in the fifth century. expanding into Manchuria
and Inner Mongolia, and also the present-day Seoul area.
Koguryo defeated massive Chinese invasions in 598 - 614, and continued to repel the
Chinese Tang dynasty. It was conquered by an allied Silla-Tang forces in 668.

Paekche's first king was Onjo, who began his reign in 18 BC. The kingdom expanded
its territory and became a significant political and military power.
Paekche played a fundamental role in transmitting cultural developments, such as
writing, Buddhism, iron-making, advanced pottery, and ceremonial burial into ancient
Japan. Paekche was defeated by a coalition of Silla and Tang Dynasty forces in 660.
According to legend, the kingdom of Silla began with the unification of six chiefdoms
in 57 BC. It later emerged as a sea power responsible for destroying Japanese pirates.
Silla artifacts, including gold metalwork, are unique in the Korean peninsula for their
exquisite and detailed craftsmanship.

• 676 AD: Silla unifies whole country under 'Unified Silla'

China attempted to establish a permanent presence in Korea but was driven out. China
then invaded Silla
in 674 but was defeated in the north. By 676, the unification of Korea was complete.
Unified Silla was a time when Korean arts flourished dramatically and Buddhism
became a significant part of Silla culture. Buddhist monasteries such as Bulguksa are
examples of advanced Korean architecture and Buddhist influence. State-sponsored art
and architecture from this period includes Hwangnyongsa Temple, Bunhwangsa
Temple, and Seokguram Grotto, a World Heritage Site.

• 926 AD: Koryo dynasty takes over

"Koryo" is a short form of "Koguryo" and the source of the country's English language
name "Korea." During this period laws were codified, and a civil service system was
introduced. Buddhism flourished, and spread throughout the peninsula. The
development of a celadon industry flourished in 12th and 13th century. The
publication of the Tripitaka Koreana on 80,000 wooden blocks and the invention of the
world's first movable-metal-type printing press in the 13th century attest to Koryo's
cultural achievements. In 1231 the Mongols began campaigns against Korea and after
25 years of struggle, the Korean royal family relented by signing a treaty. For the
following 80 years Koryo survived, but became a vassal of the Mongol-ruled Yuan
Dynasty in China.

• 1392 AD: Choson Dynasty established

Choson Dynasty was established by the general Yi Seong-gye in a largely bloodless
coup. The capital was moved to Seoul. Confucianism replaced Buddhism as the
national religion.
Choson was a time of great advances in science and culture. King Sejong the Great
(1418-1450)
invented and promulgated Hangul, the Korean alphabet.
Several major invasion forces (Japan in the 16th century, Manchuria in 17th century)
were repelled, and nearly 200 years of peace followed. The economy was stable, but
the royal court became lax, and the burden of heavy taxes became great.

• 1910 AD: Japan annexes Korea

The rapidly modernizing Japan had been trying to force Korea to open its ports since
the last 19th century, and gradually increased its influence, first renaming Korea, the
'Korean Empire', then making it a protectorate, and finally annexing it altogether.
European-styled transport and communication networks were established across the
nation. The Japanese removed the Choson hierarchy, and destroyed part of the Korean
Palace. Various uprisings were suppressed. After the outbreak of World War II, Japan
attempted to exterminate Korea as a nation. Korean culture was made illegal and the
language was banned.

• 1945 AD: Japanese defeated in World War II

After Japan's defeat, Korea was divided into two occupation zones, with the United
States administering the southern half of the peninsula and the Soviet Union taking
over the area north of the 38th parallel. The division was meant to be temporary, and
the intention was to return a unified Korea back to its people.

• 1948: Korea divided into North and South

The politics of the Cold War resulted in the 1948 establishment of two separate nations
with diametrically opposed political, economic, and social systems. On June 25, 1950,
by its resolution 82[29] the Security Council of the United Nations recognised the
Republic of Korea (South Korea) as the sole legal government of Korea. In same
month the Korean War broke out when North Korea breached the 38th parallel line to
invade the South, ending any immediate hope of a peaceful reunification.

• 1953 - present: South Korea develops while the North declines

North Korea was left under communist rule after the armistice of 1953, and to this day
remains a poor and troubled nation. Thanks to economic reforms begun in the 1960s,
South Korea is now one of the top ten global exporters, and at the forefront of the IT,
electronics, shipping, and steel industries. It has been host to the 1988 Seoul Olympics,
the 2002 Soccer World Cup, and is to host the G20 summit in November