South Korean History

South Korea South Korean History

The Korean peninsula, currently including South and North Korea, was under the reign of the Joseon (Choson) dynasty from 1392 to 1910. The Joseon Dynasty came to power in the late 1300’s, after the overthrow of the Goryeo Dynasty. Numerous conflicts pervaded the Korean kingdom through the mid 1600’s, but afterwards the Korean area experienced peace for about 200 years. In the latter part of the 1800’s, the Joseon Dynasty weakened due to increasing foreign influence, and the Korean area was annexed by Japan in 1910.

The peninsula was occupied as a Japanese colony from 1910 until 1945. With Japan’s surrender at the end of the Second World War, Korea was liberated in August 1945 after thirty-six years under the rule of Japanese imperialism. However, the world’s political surroundings at that time forced the Korean peninsula to be divided into South and North Korea. Subsequently in June 1950, the Korean War broke out between the two regions, and lasted until July, 1953. Korea has remained as a divided country since the Armistice Agreement in 1953.

Online Histories

 * Brief history of Korean peninsula
 * Overview of Korea during the Joseon Dynasty
 * Joseon Dynasty up to 1700
 * “The Passing of Korea,” a Google eBook, published in 1906