Korea's history spans over 5000 years — from Gojoseon, Three Kingdoms, Unified Silla, Goryeo, Joseon, Japanese colonization, to modern Korea.
Gojoseon and Three Kingdoms (2333 BC - 668 AD)
Dangun Wanggeom said to have founded Gojoseon (2333 BC). Three Kingdoms period — Goguryeo, Baekje, Silla (1st century BC - 668 AD). Silla unified Korean peninsula 668.
Unified Silla and Goryeo (668-1392)
Unified Silla (668-935) — Gyeongju capital, Buddhist golden age. Goryeo (918-1392) — founded by Wang Geon. Tripitaka Koreana, movable metal type (200 years before Gutenberg). Mongol invasion and Ganghwa Island refuge.
Joseon Dynasty (1392-1897)
Yi Seonggye founded Joseon 1392. King Sejong the Great (1418-1450) — created Hangul 1443. Korea's golden age. Japanese invasion 1592-1598 (Admiral Yi Sun-shin turtle ships).
Korean Empire and Japanese Colonization (1897-1945)
Korean Empire 1897. Japanese colonization 1910-1945 — 35 years of colony. March 1st Movement 1919 — non-violent independence movement. Provisional Government active in Shanghai.
Liberation and Division (1945-1953)
August 15, 1945 liberation. Divided at 38th parallel — US and USSR trusteeship. Republic of Korea founded 1948 (Syngman Rhee first president). Korean War 1950-1953 — armistice, permanent peninsula division.
Modern Korea (1953-present)
Park Chung-hee military government (1961-1979) — economic miracle, Miracle on the Han River. June Struggle 1987 — democratization. 1988 Seoul Olympics. 1996 OECD member. K-pop, K-drama, Samsung, LG, Hyundai — global influence. 51 million population.