KOREAONE NATION, TWO STATES

Ancient KoreaBy 4000 BC there were stone age farmers living in Korea. By 1000 BC they had learned to use bronze. By about 300 BC they had learned to use iron to make tools and weapons. At first Korea was divided into tribes but eventually organised kingdoms emerged. There were 3 of them, Goguryeo in the north and Silla and Baekje in the south.

Three Kingdoms

SillaSilla was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, and one of the world's longest sustained dynasties. Although it was founded by King Park Hyeokgeose the dynasty was ruled by the Gyeongju Kim  clan for most of its 992-year history. What began as a chiefdom in the Samhan confederacies, once allied with China, Silla eventually conquered the other two kingdoms, Baekje in 660 and Goguryeo in 668.

GoryeoGoryeo, also known as Koryŏ, was a Korean dynasty established in 918 by King Taejo. This kingdom later gave name to the modern state of Korea. It united the Later Three Kingdoms in 936 and ruled most of the Korean peninsula until it was removed by the leader of the Joseon dynasty in 1392.

BaekjeBaekje was founded by Onjo, the third son of Goguryeo's founder Jumong and So Seo-no, at Wiryeseong (present-day southern Seoul). Baekje, like Goguryeo, claimed to succeed Buyeo, a state established in present-day Manchuria around the time of Gojoseon’s fall.

The Silla kingdom, allied with China's Tang, defeats Baekje in 660 and Goguryeo in 668 to form Unified Silla, the first pan-Korean state. Meanwhile, in Manchuria, the Balhae (Parhae), 698-926, establish a northern kingdom. During this time Buddhism is dominant, and favorable trade relationships with China and Japan help Korea to become brilliant and wealthy

Unified Silla (660 – 935)

Joseon (1392 – 1910)General Yi Seonggye establishes the Joseon (Yi) dynasty in Korea, following the collapse of Mongol rule. Culturally aligned with Ming China, the early Joseon enjoy 200 years of peace until about 1600, the start of the modern (pan-global) era when Japan, China, and Europe all collide with monumental effect upon the Korean shore.

The Colonial Period in Korea ( 1910 – 1945)The Japanese turned Korea into a colony

to supply Japan with food. However they also built bridges, railways and roads. The Japanese also built many factories in Korea. The urban population grew rapidly although Korea remained predominantly agricultural. Nevertheless Japanese rule was repressive. In 1919 many Koreans took part in peaceful demonstrations for independence. The Japanese responded by arresting and executing thousands of people.

Korean WarEven before the war ended Russia and the USA had

agreed that after the war Korea would be divided into two zones, Russian and American. In August 1945 Russian troops entered the north. In September, after the Japanese surrender, American troops landed in the south. Korea was divided in two along an imaginary line, the 38th parallel. It was originally intended that the two zones would eventually be united into one. Of course that did not happen. With the onset of the cold war the divide between them hardened. The Russians installed a communist government in the north and in the south a government was elected in 1948. Korea became two countries, one Communist, and one Democratic.

SOUTH KOREA

South KoreaDemocracy did not flourish in South Korea

in the 1950s. The president, Syngman Rhee used a national security law of 1949 to close newspapers and imprison critics. However his administration was corrupt and by 1960 it was facing growing economic problems. In 1960 riots by students forced Rhee to resign. Faced with inflation, unemployment and continuing riots the army staged a coup in 1961. General Park Chung-hee became ruler.

The South Korean Economic MiracleDespite repressive rule South Korea's economy

began to grow rapidly from the mid 1960s and by the 1990s the country had undergone an economic miracle. It was transformed from a poor, relatively undeveloped country into a thriving and rich economy. The state played a large part in the transformation. In the 1960s General Park built roads and bridges and expanded education. A series of 5 year plans were drawn up and the government took a central role in running the economy. Industry became dominated by large corporations called Chaebol.

In the 1980s the Korean economy continued to grow and the country climbed out of poverty. South Korea became an affluent society. In 1988 the Olympics were held in Seoul which brought South Korea into the international limelight. However from the mid 1980s there was increasing unrest in South Korea led by students unhappy with the regime. In 1987 Christian leaders spoke out against the regime and many people held mass demonstrations. General Chun agreed to step down and democratic elections were held. In 1988 General Roh Tae-woo was elected president.

By the 1990s South Korea had become a fairly rich nation and its people had quite a high standard of living. It was also a democratic country. In the 1990s the government began to deregulate industry.

At the beginning of the 21st century Korea is a prosperous and thriving nation. In 2008 a woman named Yi So Yeon became the first Korean to travel in space, which was another milestone in the countries development. Then in 2013 Park Geun Hye became the first woman president of South Korea.

NORTH KOREA

North KoreaIn stark contrast is North Korea. After Russian

troops occupied the north a communist government was installed. Kim Il Sung was made ruler. Like many dictators he created a 'cult of personality' by erecting statues of himself everywhere. Schoolchildren were taught to see him as the fount of all wisdom. In fact he created a very repressive regime. Religious belief was outlawed and the people strictly controlled. Today North Korea is the last Stalinist regime in the world. With a great deal of Russian aid North Korea was transformed from a poor agricultural country into an industrial one.

In the late 1990s a severe famine occurred in North Korea. There were unusually heavy rain and floods in 1995-96, followed by a drought in 1997 and typhoon damage in 1997. Malnutrition became common especially among children. How many people died in the famine is not known as information is very hard to come by but some estimates put it at one million. The food shortages dragged on through the 1990s.

However North Korea remains a very repressive and very isolated regime. In the 1990s South Korea made some attempt to normalize relations with the north but Korea remains a deeply divided nation.

In 2013 the people of North Korea still face terrible hardship and even starvation as well as brutal political oppression.

Today the population of North Korea is 22 million while the population of South Korea is 48 million.

Application 1.Which was not one of the three original Korean

kingdoms?

A. Koguryo  B. Silla C. Paekche  D. Pyongyang

2.  Korea was annexed by which country in 1910.

A. China B. Japan C. The United States D. Russia

3. Korea was divided at what Parallel?

A. 38th Parallel B. 39th Parallel C. 40th Parallel D.41 Parallel

4. Who established Yi Dynasty?

A. King Sejong B. Queen Seondeok

C. General Yi Seonggye D. Jun Kim 

5. The Russians installed a __________ government in the North Korea.

A. Democratic B. Communist C. Socialist D. Capitalism

6. Industry became dominated by large corporations called _______.

A. Chaebol B. Samsung C. Hyundai D. LG

7. Seoul hosted Olympics, in what year?

A. 1990 B. 1989 C.1988 D. 1987

8. This kingdom later gave name to the modern state of  Korea.

A. Corea B. Koryu C. Paekche D. Silla

9. Who is the first woman president of South Korea.

A. Su-Yung  B. Park Geun Hye C. Yi So Yeon D. Jang Min

10. Today the population of North Korea is?

A. 49Million B. 48Million C. 22Million D. 23Million

ANSWERS1 D. Pyongyang 2 B. Japan3 A. 38th Parallel4 C. General Yi

Seonggye 5 B. Communist 6 A. Chaebol 7 C.1988 8 B. Koryu 9 B. Park Geun Hye 10 C. 22Million

YOUR CORRECT!

YOUR WRONG!