Korea History

The history of Korea goes back around 5000 plus years when the foundations of the country were laid by Tangun. The Korea history is complete with foreign invaders and different factions vying for authority and power. The history of Korea can be broken down into different periods. They are:

Three kingdoms:                       57 B.C. to 668 A.D.
Silla:                                         668 A.D. to 935 A.D.
Goryeo :                                   918 A.D. to 1392 A.D.
Joseon  :                                   1392 A.D. to 1910 A.D.
Japanese Occupation:               1910 A.D. to 1945 A.D.
Republic of Korea:                   1945 onwards

The South Korea history has its origins after World War II, as a by product of a 1945 agreement reached by the Allies at the Potsdam Conference. In 1948 elections were held for a National Assembly when a Republican Constitution was adopted and Syngman Rhee elected as the nation’s president. On August 15, the new Republic was proclaimed and recognized as the legal government of Korea by the UN on December 12, 1948. The history of South Korea was yet to witness another attack. This time by the North Korean Communist forces who launched a massive surprise attack on the 25th of June, 1950. On June 27th, the then President of the United States, Harry S. Truman ordered US armed intervention on Seoul and invoked military sanctions against North Korea. The US and South Korean troops fought a heroic battle holding the North Korean troops off. But, by the first week of August they were forced to retreat to a 4000 square mile beachhead in southeast Korea. Here, they successfully repulsed a superior North Korean force until September 15, when a major UN amphibious assault was launched. And by the 30th of September, the UN forces had gained complete control of South Korea.

The UN forces crossed the 38th parallel and pursued the retreating Communist forces into North Korea. It was in late October when the UN forces had almost reached the Sino-Korean border; several hundred thousand Chinese Communist troops entered the conflict. The UN troops were pushed back to the border between North and South Korea. Truce talks began on July 10, 1951, but by that time the UN forces had crossed over the parallel line again and were driving back into North Korea. Ceasefire negotiations dragged on for two years before an armistice was finally signed on July 27, 1953. Korea had been left devastated by then in need of large scale rehabilitation. It is to the credit the people that not only have they resurrected their country but made it into a favorable tourist destination.