South Korea: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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===Before division===

[[Image:Goguryeo tomb mural.jpg|thumb|left|220px|Tomb mural of [[Goguryeo]], one of the three kingdoms of Korea.]]

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Archeological findings indicate that the [[Korean Peninsula]] was occupied by humans as early in the [[Lower Paleolithic]] period.

Korea began with the founding of [[Gojoseon]] in 2333 BC by [[Dangun]].<ref>[http://www.asianinfo.org/asianinfo/korea/history.htm Korea's History (Ko-Choson, Three Kingdoms, Parhae Kingdom, Unified Shilla, Koryo Dynasty, Colonial Period, Independence Struggle, Provisional Government of Korea, Independence Army, Republic of Korea,)]</ref> Gojoseon expanded until it controlled much of the northern Korean peninsula and parts of [[Manchuria]]. After numerous wars with the Chinese [[Han Dynasty]], Gojoseon disintegrated, leading to the [[Proto-Three Kingdoms of Korea]] period.

In the early centuries of the Common Era, [[Buyeo Kingdom|Buyeo]], [[Okjeo]], [[Dongye]], and the [[Samhan]] confederacy occupied the peninsula and southern Manchuria. Of the various small states, [[Goguryeo]], [[Baekje]], and [[Silla]] grew to control the peninsula as [[Three Kingdoms of Korea|the Three Kingdoms]].

Introduction of [[Buddhism]] and other influences from [[China]] had profound effects on Korea, which later passed on, combined with Korean advances, to [[Japan]].<ref>"[http://www.bookrags.com/history/worldhistory/yayoi-period-ema-06/ Yayoi Period History Summary]", BookRags.com; Jared Diamond, "[http://www2.gol.com/users/hsmr/Content/East%20Asia/Japan/History/roots.html Japanese Roots]", ''Discover'' 19:6 (June 1998); Thayer Watkins, "[http://www2.sjsu.edu/faculty/watkins/japanorigin.htm The Genetic Origins of the Japanese]"; "[http://cache.britannica.com/eb/article-8481 Shinto - History to 1900]", ''Encyclopædia Britannica''; "[http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-23121?query=Yayoi&ct=%20 The Yayoi period (c. 250 BC–c. AD 250)]", ''Encyclopædia Britannica''.</ref><ref>"[http://theseoultimes.com/ST/?url=/ST/db/read.php?idx=580 Korean Buddhism Basis of Japanese Buddhism]", ''Seoul Times'', June 18, 2006; "[http://www.asiasocietymuseum.com/buddhist_trade/koreajapan.html Buddhist Art of Korea & Japan]", Asia Society Museum; "[http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2046.html Kanji]", JapanGuide.com; "[http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761568150_4/Pottery.html Pottery]", MSN Encarta; "[http://www.japanvisitor.com/index.php?cID=359&pID=334&cName=Japanese History of Japan]", JapanVisitor.com.</ref><ref>{{cite book | editor = Delmer M. Brown (ed.) | year = 1993 | title = The Cambridge History of Japan | publisher = Cambridge University Press | pages = 140-149 | url = http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0521223520&id=x5mwgfPXK1kC&pg=PA159&lpg=PA159&vq=buddhism&dq=Paekche+hostage+japan&sig=dwsfsmf80GCVdVXe90a5s9Tkq34}}; George Sansom, ''A History of Japan to 1334'', Stanford University Press, 1958. p. 47. ISBN 0-8047-0523-2</ref><ref>[http://gias.snu.ac.kr/wthong/publication/paekche/eng/paekch_e.html From Paekche to Origin of Yamato]</ref>

The unification of the Three Kingdoms by [[Unified Silla|Silla]] in 676 led to the North-South States period, in which the much of the Korean peninsula was controlled by [[Unified Silla]], while [[Balhae]] succeeded the northern parts of Goguryeo. In [[Unified Silla]], poetry and art was encouraged, and Buddhist culture flourished. Relationships between Korea and China remained relatively peaceful during this time. However, Unified Silla weakened under internal strife, and surrendered to [[Goryeo]] in 935. [[Balhae]], Silla's neighbor to the north, was formed as a successor state to [[Goguryeo]]. During its height, Balhae controlled most of Manchuria and parts of Russia. It fell to the [[History of the Khitans|Khitan]] in 926.

After the North-South Period, successor states fought for control during the [[Later Three Kingdoms]] period. The peninsula was soon united by [[Taejo of Goryeo|Wang Geon]] of [[Goryeo]]. Like Silla, Goryeo was a highly cultural state and created the [[Jikji]] in 1377, using the world's oldest movable metal [[printing press]].<ref>[http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php URL_ID=3946&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html World's oldest printed Doc]</ref>{{Dead link|date=March 2008}}

The [[Mongol invasions of Korea|Mongol invasions]] in the 13th century greatly weakened Goryeo. However, Goryeo continued to rule Korea as a tributary ally to the Mongols. After the fall of the Mognolian Empire ([[Yuan Dynasty]]), Goryeo continued its rule. After severe political strife and continued invasions, Goryeo was replaced by the [[Joseon Dynasty]] in 1388 following a rebellion by General [[Taejo of Joseon|Yi Seong-gye]].

[[Image:Gyeonbokgung-March-01.jpg|thumb|right|220px|Royal march of the Joseon Dynasty at Gyeongbokgung]]

General Yi declared the new name of Korea as Joseon in reference to [[Gojoseon]], and moved the capital to [[Seoul]]. The first 200 years of the Joseon Dynasty was marked by relative peace and saw the creation of [[hangul]] by King [[Sejong the Great of Joseon|Sejong the Great]] in the 14 century and the rise and influence of [[Confucianism]].

In the latter of the 16th century, Joseon was invaded by a newly unified Japan. During the [[Japanese invasions of Korea (1592–1598)]], centuries of peace had left the dynasty unprepared, and the lack of technology and poor leadership from the [[Seonjo of Joseon|Joseon government]] and generals led to the destruction of much of the Korean peninsula. However, continued Korean dominance at sea led by [[Yi Sun-sin|Admiral Yi]], the rise of local militias, and the intervention of [[Ming Dynasty|Ming China]] put Japan under great pressure to retreat in 1598.

Today, Admiral Yi is celebrated as one of Korea's foremost heroes and his [[turtle ship]]s, used with great success against the Japanese, are considered the world's first [[ironclad warship]]s, although lack of hard evidence of iron plating sparks much debate.

During the last years of the Joseon Dynasty, Korea's isolationist policy earned it the name the "[[hermit kingdom|Hermit Kingdom]]", primarily for protection against Western [[imperialism]]. In 1910, Korea was [[Korea under Japanese rule|annexed by Japan]] and despite widespread resistance, remained under occupation until the end of [[World War II]] in 1945.

===After division===

[[Image:Incheon Memorial.jpg|thumb|left|180px|A sculpture at the Incheon Landing Operation Memorial Hall.]]

In the aftermath of [[World War II]], [[Soviet Union]] and [[United States]] troops controlled the northern and southern halves of the country respectively. The two [[Cold War]] rivals established governments sympathetic to their own ideologies, leading to Korea's division into two political entities: [[North Korea]] and South Korea.

Despite the initial plan of a unified Korea in the 1943 [[Cairo Declaration]], escalating [[Cold War]] antagonism eventually led to the establishment of two separate governments: the communist North and the capitalist South. In the North, a former anti-Japanese guerilla and communist activist, [[Kim Il-sung]]<ref>[http://www.bartleby.com/65/ki/KimIlSun.html Kim Il Sung. The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001-07]</ref> and in the South, freshly shipped from America, [[Syngman Rhee]] were installed as presidents.<ref>[http://www.bartleby.com/65/rh/Rhee-Syn.html Rhee, Syngman. The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001-07]</ref>

On [[June 25]], [[1950]], [[North Korea]] invaded the South leading to the [[Korean War]]. The Soviet boycott of the [[United Nations]] at the time, and therefore, no veto, allowed the UN to intervene when it became apparent that the superior communist forces would easily take over the entire country. The Soviet Union and [[People's Republic of China|China]] backed [[North Korea]], with the participation of millions of Chinese troops. After huge advances on both sides, the war eventually reached a stalemate. The 1953 armistice, never signed by South Korea, split the peninsula along the [[Korean Demilitarized Zone|demilitarized zone]] near the original demarcation line. No peace treaty was ever signed, and the two countries are still technically at war.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2800.htm |title=South Korea |work=U.S. Department of State |accessdate=2006-09-16}}</ref>

In 1960, [[April Revolution|a student uprising]] led to the resignation of the autocratic and corrupt President [[Syngman Rhee]]. A period of profound civil unrest and general political instability followed, broken by General [[Park Chung-hee]]'s [[Supreme Council for National Reconstruction|military coup]] (the "5.16 coup d'état") against the weak and ineffectual government the next year. Park took over as president until his assassination in 1979, overseeing rapid [[Export-oriented industrialization|export-led economic growth]] as well as severe political repression. Park is heavily criticized as a ruthless military dictator, although the Korean economy developed significantly during his tenure.

The years after Park's assassination were marked by, again, considerable political turmoil as the previously repressed opposition leaders all campaigned to run for president in the sudden political void. In 1980, there was a [[coup d'état]], by General [[Chun Doo-hwan]] against the transitional government of Choi Gyu Ha, the interim president and a former prime minister under Park. Chun assumed the presidency. His [[Coup d'état of December Twelfth|seizure of power]] triggered nationwide protest demanding democracy, in particular the city of Gwangju, in [[Jeollanam-do]] where Chun sent in special forces to violently suppress the city, in what is now known as the [[Gwangju Democratization Movement|Gwangju Massacre]]. Until 1987, he and his government held Korea under despotic rule when Park Jong Chul — a student attending [[Seoul National University]] — was tortured to death.<ref> http://www.yolsa.org/sub_plus_1.html Yolsa.org Information on Anti-Yushin protests </ref> The Catholic Priests' Association for Justice revealed that Park was tortured, igniting huge demonstrations around the country. The demonstrations snowballed when another student from [[Yonsei University]], Lee Han Yeol, was killed by a police-fired tear gas bomb while he was demonstrating against the military government. The period of resistance is called the Resistance of June when all joined the national movement. Eventually, Chun's party, the Democratic Justice Party, and its leader, [[Roh Tae-woo]] announced the June 29th Declaration, which included the direct election of the president.<ref> http://www.encyber.com/search_w/ctdetail.php?gs=ws&gd=&cd=&q=&p=&masterno=211762&contentno=211762 Encyber Encylopedia article on June 29th Declaration </ref>

[[Image:Near by han river.jpg|thumb|right|220px|A partial view of Southern Seoul.]]

In 1988, Seoul hosted the [[1988 Summer Olympics]], a cause of both national and international celebration in contrast to great turmoil of the past. In 1996, South Korea became a member of the [[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development|OECD]], a testament to further economic growth. As with many of its Asian neighbors, South Korea suffered the [[1997 Asian Financial Crisis]], but the country was able to re-emerge and continue its growth towards a major economic power after a swift recovery.<ref> http://www.ecplaza.net/news/0/7299/imf_financial_crisis.html Ecplaza on East Asian Financial Crisis </ref>

In June 2000, as part of South Korean president [[Kim Dae-jung]]'s [[Sunshine Policy]] of engagement, a [[Inter-Korean Summit|North-South summit]] took place in [[Pyongyang]], the capital city of North Korea. That year, Former President Kim received the [[Nobel Peace Prize]] "for his work for democracy and human rights in South Korea and in East Asia in general, and for peace and reconciliation with North Korea in particular."<ref> http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2000/index.html Nobel Peace Prize Recipient in 2000 </ref>

In 2004, South Korea joined the "trillion dollar club" of world economies.<ref> https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ks.html CIA World Factbook </ref>

==Foreign Relations==