K.o.r.e.a.

[vielendank]

Prehistory to 108BC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ancient period
700000 B.C Start of human habitation
6000 BC-4,000 BC New stone age in Korean peninsula
2333 BC Founding of old Choson by Tangun
1122 BC Alleged arrival of Kija from Shang China (contentious)
approx. 1000BC Start of bronze working in Liaodong peninsula (Ex. Pipa-like bronze daggars)
311 BC Invasion of Qinkai of Yen, loss of 2000-li territory
194 BC Wiman usurps the throne of Chosun's King Jun
108 BC Invasion by Emperor Wudi of Han dynasty and establishment of Four Commandaries (highly controversial)
82 BC Commandaries Zhenfan and Lindun eliminated
75BC Xuantu commadary removed from peninsula
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[vielendank]

Chronology of the Three Kingdoms
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This period marks a contentious period in which various Korean states were in contention with each other and the Han Chinese for control of East Asia. One thing missing though, might be the history of Kaya (42 AD-562AD), so it might be more apt to refer to this period as "Four Kingdoms". But since "Three Kingdoms" has been used for decades, on this page, it will still be refer red to as "Three Kingdoms", in order to avoid any confusion for the users of that older terminology.
SAMGUK SHIDAE
Formation of various states: Puyo, Chinhan , Mahan, Pyonhan, Okcho, Tongye, etc.
57 B C Founding of Shilla
37 BC Founding of Koguryo
18 BC Founding of Paekche
42 AD Founding of Kaya
49AD First record of contact between Puyo and China
244 AD Wei invasion of Koguryo
246 AD Paekche take-over of Liaoxi
342 AD Invasion of Koguryo by Murong-huang of Xianb i
369 AD Paekche eliminated Mahan
371 AD Paekche invasion of Koguryo; Koguryo's king Koguk-won killed
372 AD Koguryo acceptance of Buddhism
384 AD Paekche importation of Buddhism
391 AD--409 AD Reign of King Kwanggaet'o
433 AD Paekche-Shilla military alliance formed
475AD Major Koguryo invasion of Paekche; Pae kche moves capital to Ung-jin (pr esent Kongju)
520 AD Major institutional reforms by Shilla's king Pªp-heung
532 AD Shilla annexation of Great Kaya (Tae Kaya)
538 AD Song-wang moves Paekche capital to Sabi (present Puyo)
551 AD Shilla breaks pact with Paekche. Takes over Han river area. Paekche's Sªng-wang killed in battle
562 AD Complete Shilla annexation of Kaya
612 AD Major Sui invasion o f Koguryo; crushed by Ulchi- mundok and Koguryo army at Sal-su
642 AD Invasion by Taizong of Tang against Koguryo; routed at Ansi fortress
654 AD Death of Yonkae- somun
660 AD Shilla-Tang allied forces conquer Paekche
663 AD Defeat of the Paekche restoration movement
668 AD Fall of Koguryo to Shilla-Tang army
671 AD Shilla drives out Tang army stationed in old Paekche territory
676 AD Shilla defeats Tang near Mae-cho fortress, complete hegemony over much of the peninsula (present Yong-in)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[vielendank]

North-South Kingdom period
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This period is commonly referred to as the "Unified Shilla" period. However, since Palhae has been recognized as a full-fledged Korean state, this page will refer to the period as the "North-South Kingdoms".
PALHAE-UNIFIED SHILLA
681 AD King Shinmun of Shilla conducts major political purge to reaffirm royal authority
698 AD Establishment of Jin-kuk (Palhae) by Tae Jo-yong
705 AD Normalization of Tang-Palhae relations: Tang recognition of Palhae existence
721 AD Shilla builds a long wall on Palhae border
731 AD Successful Palhae occupation of Dengzhou, Shandong
733 AD Shilla-Tang invasion of Palhae. Not successful
751AD Construction of Pulguk-sa temple and S™kkuram grotto
780 AD Kim Yangsang murders King Hyegong and usurps throne as King Sungdok; marks beginning of many palace feuds to follow
818 AD-830 AD Reign of King Sun of Palhae; height of Palhae power
828 AD Chang Bogo establishes Chonghae fortress (present Wando)
835 AD Major palace coup; Kim Kyun-jong becomes king in one of the bloodiest palace coup in history. He is in turn killed by nephew Chae-yung, who becomes King Hung-dok
846AD Dismantling of Chonghae fortress; Chang Bogo assassinated
892 AD Establishment of Later Paekche (Hu-Paekche) by Kyon-hwon
901 AD Establishment of Later Koguryo (Taebong-guk) by Kung-ye
918 AD Establishment of Koryo by Wang-kon
935 AD End of Shilla
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[vielendank]

ORIGINS OF THE KOREAN WAR
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The surrender of Japan was inevitable after the United States dropped the first atom bomb on Hiroshima in August of 1945. Stalin was waiting for just such an opportunity where the Soviets could enter the war against Japan while incurring minimal loss, and so it was no surprise when he declared war against Japan after the U.S. dropped the second atom bomb. Upon Japanese surrender on August 15, 1945, Soviet military forces swept through Manchuria and North Korea taking over Japanese control over these provinces. The United States reacted in alarm when she realized the potential danger of having the strategic Korean peninsula controlled by communist forces. President Truman proposed a joint occupation of Korea by the two powers where the Soviets would occupied the territory north of the 38 parallel, while the U.S. would controle the area south of the line.

Initially, it was the intention of both sides to establish a stable and unified Korea in order to withdraw their military forces from the area. However, neither the Soviet Union or the U.S. wanted the peninsula to fall into the other's hand. In short, the Soviets and the U.S. desired to withdraw their military and resources out of Korea, but they also wanted to leave behind a nation that was favorable to each's ideology; the Soviets desired a Communist Korea whereas the U.S. wanted a democratic nation to be established. And so the roots of division were laid from the very onset of Korea's liberation.

Communist elements in the north were present during the Japanese colonial period, but with the north now under Soviet tutelage the leftist factions were able to seize power. During the period of civil turmoil of 1945- 1946, there were many different leftist factions vying for power. It was during this time that the Soviets helped establish Kim Il Sung, a product of the Soviet military machine, as the leading political figure in the north.

In the south an entirely different story unfolded. The KPR (Koreans People's Republic), which was very leftist in nature, attested that they were the political voice of the korean people. However, General Hodge's primary aims at the time was to prevent communist takeover of south korea, and so he banned the KPR. During this time, a korean patriot namedSyngman Rhee began to acquire political power among the conservative elitists in South Korea. His dogmatic advocacy for Korea's full independ ence often caused friction between him and U.S. officials. But due to Rhee's strong stance against communism, and because of his commitment to maintaining civil order during these turbulent times, General Hodge had no other choice but to give his support to Rhee. Therefore, with U.S. support and the use of strong arm tactics, Syngman Rhee eventually positioned himself has the dominant political leader in South Korea by 1947

Although two different political governments had emerged in Korea by 1947, the fact that they were still only provisional governments gave the korean people hope for a possible unification. Up untill this time, nationalists from both the North and South continued their efforts to negotiate a unification treaty, however, unreconcilable differences between the U.S. and the Soviet Union prevented any such goal. Eventually, the U.S. concluded that the chasm that existed between the U.S. and the Soviet Unio n in establishing a unified Korea was insurmountable and so they pressured the United Nations to allow for a general election in Korea. Suspicious of foul play by the U.S., the Soviets refused to allow the election to be held in North Korea. Neverthele ss, the U.S. advocated that voting should still be carried out in the south in order to establish some sort of legitimate government, and so in May 1948 South Korea held its first general elections. Soon thereafter, the Republic of Korea (ROK) was establ ished and was promptly recognized by the United Nations as the legitemate government of Korea. Up until and through these elections there were heavy protests by Korean leftists who feared that th ese election would kill all chances for unification. During the same time the north followed with similar actions by holding its own elections. When the votes were tabulated, Kim Il Sung was declared president of the new Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPKR) which was immediately recognized by the Soviet Union and other communist countries as the legetimate government of North Korea. By winter of 1948 the worst fears of Korean Mationalist were confirmed as korea became permanently divided at the 38th parallel.

The elections of 1948 and the division of Korea that ensued set the stage for a civil war. And by 1950, both North and South Korea sensed that war was inevitable. Not only were their armies getting prepared for war, but both Syngman Rhee and Kim Il Sung declared on several occasions that military force would be necessary to unify Korea. However, in terms of being prepared for war, North Korea had a clear advantage over the south. Not only did North Korea possess a larger army, it also had many experi enced veterans who had fought in China's Civil War. In addition North Korea by this time were manufacturing some of their own weapons as well possessing many Soviet made weapons. South Korea on the other hand had soldiers who had not even attended basic training. Finally, North Korea had the support of the Chinese Military Therefore, in light of North Korea's military advantage on the eve of the war, it is reasonable to assume that it was North Korea that fired the first shot on June 25, 1950 that started the Korean War.

[vielendank]

Contemporary History of Korea
---------------------------------------
Rhee Syngman (1948-1961)
A new nation is born named the Republic of Korea but is Dr. Rhee's prescription too strong for the vulnerable infant of a nation?

Park Chunghee (1961-1979)
The major general appoints himself stewardship of the Third Republic after Dr. Rhee is forced to retire. Was Park Chunghee's paternistic policies necessary for modernization during the Republic's formative years?

Choe Kyuha (1979-1980)
After President Park's assasination, acting president Choe Kyuha is inaugurated as the tenth president. Was he ever fully in charge, and did the legacy of Park continue?

Chun Doowhan (1980-1988)
Second military coup in the short life of ROK is administered by Lt. Gen. Chun Doowhan. His dictatorship proves fatal for many citizen and student demonstrators and the future as a democratic nation appears bleak.

Roh Taewoo (1988-1993)
Pres. Chun steps down in the face of growing pressure and dissention, making way for his once cohort and friend to continue in his footstep. However, the newly-elected Roh decides to implement his own style of governing much to the chagrin of Chun.

Kim Youngsam (1993-1997)
The seventh Republic welcomes in the latest sworn-in president who promises magnificent but not extravagant reign. After thirty-two years, there is an indication that this is the "first truly civilized" government.

Kim Daejung (1997-2002)
Kim began his term by pardoning ex-president Chun Doo Hwan after his conviction for treason and corruption. Mr. Chun had sentenced Kim to death in 1980 for "antistate activities," although Kim was saved by US intervention.

Roh Moohyun (2002- )
Like his rival in the presidential race, Lee Hoi-chang, Mr Roh is a former lawyer. But unlike Mr Lee, who says he wants to crack down on illegal strikes, he is seen as a standard-bearer for the oppressed.

[[eLLoNe]]

anybody wants to translate ????

[kocor]

Boleh... juga tuh
ngomong2 gajinya berapa ?
tapi klo beduaan aja sepertinya asyik yah....

[YaGaMi]

mo di translate semua Ellone ?

[flowee]

Akhirnya gue bisa baca history of Korea, but can anyone translate it for me???? Please!

Flowee

[vielendank]

Gue sebenernya pingin translate, tp blon ada wkt. Coba-deh ntar pelan-pelan