Timeline of Korean history

This is a timeline of the history of Korea. Some dates prior to the 5th century are speculative or approximate.

Part of a series on the
History of Korea
Prehistoric period
Ancient period
Gojoseon 2333 BCE (?)–108 BCE
Jin
Proto–Three Kingdoms period
Three Kingdoms period
Goguryeo 37 BCE–668 CE
Baekje 18 BCE–660 CE
Silla 57 BCE–935 CE
Gaya confederacy 42–562
Northern and Southern States period
United Silla (Unified Silla) 668–935
Balhae 698–926
Later Three Kingdoms period
Later Baekje 892–936
Taebong (Later Goguryeo) 901–918
Unified Silla (Later Silla) 668–935
Dynastic period
Goryeo 918–1392
Joseon·Korean Empire 1392–1897-1910
Colonial period
Japanese rule 1910–1945
Provisional Government 1919–1948
Modern period
Military governments 1945–1948
North-South division 1945-present
* North 1948–present
* South 1948–present
Topics
Timeline

Early history

Proto(Before)-Three Kingdoms

Three Kingdoms
  • 42: Traditional date for the founding of Gaya by Suro.
  • 53: Goguryeo becomes a centralized kingdom under Taejo's reign.
  • 234: Baekje becomes a centralized kingdom under Goi's reign.
  • 313: Goguryeo destroys Lelang commandery.
  • 356: Silla becomes a centralized kingdom under Naemul's reign.
  • 371: Baekje's King Geunchogo invades Goguryeo and kills King Gogugwon.
  • 372: Under Sosurim, Goguryeo imports Buddhism from Former Qin of China.
  • 384: Chimnyu of Baekje officially adopts Buddhism.
  • 392: Gwanggaeto the Great of Goguryeo begins his reign, expanding Goguryeo into a major regional power.
  • 413: Jangsu of Goguryeo erects the Gwanggaeto Stele.
  • 433: Baekje and Silla form an alliance against Goguryeo's aggression.
  • 475: Goguryeo attacks Baekje and captures Hanseong (modern day Seoul). Baekje moves its capital south to Ungjin (modern day Gongju), and again to Sabi (modern day Buyeo) in 523.
  • 494: Last remains of Buyeo absorbed by Goguryeo.
  • 498: Baekje attacks Tamna (modern day Jejudo).
  • 512: Silla conquers Usan (modern day Ulleungdo).
  • 527: Silla formally adopts Buddhism
  • 553: Silla attacks Baekje, breaking the alliance.
  • 562: Silla completes annexation of Gaya.
  • 598: First of a series of major Sui Dynasty attacks in the Goguryeo-Sui Wars, which ends in 614 in a costly defeat for Sui.
  • 612: Goguryeo repulses second Sui invasion at the Salsu.
  • 645: First campaign in the Goguryeo–Tang War.
  • 648: Silla establishes alliance with Tang.
  • 660: Baekje falls to the Silla-Tang forces.
  • 668: Goguryeo falls to the Silla-Tang forces.

North South States Period and Later Three Kingdoms
  • 676: Silla repels Chinese alliance forces from Korean peninsula, completes unification of much of the Three Kingdoms.
  • 698: The founding of Balhae by former Goguryeo general Dae Joyeong.
  • 751: Silla, at its cultural peak, constructs Seokguram and Bulguksa.
  • 828: Jang Bogo establishes Cheonghaejin, a major center of trade with China, Japan, and Vietnam.
  • 892: Silla begins to lose control of parts of the peninsula as the brief Later Three Kingdoms period begins.
  • 900: Hubaekje ("Later Baekje") established in the southwest of the peninsula.
  • 901: Taebong ("Later Goguryeo") established in the northwest of the peninsula.
  • 918: Founding of Goryeo by Taejo of Goryeo.
  • 926: Balhae falls to Khitan forces.
  • 935: Silla formally surrenders to Goryeo.
  • 936: Hubaekje formally surrenders to Goryeo.

Goryeo
  • 936: Goryeo completes the reunification of the Later Three Kingdoms, absorbing the entirety of Hubaekje and parts of former Balhae territory.
  • 956: Emperor Gwangjong forces major land and slavery reforms, and in 958 implements civil service examinations.
  • 993: The first of three Goryeo-Khitan Wars.
  • 1010: The Second Goryeo-Khitan War ravages the northern border.
  • 1018: The Third Goryeo-Khitan War, Khitan successfully repelled.
  • 1033: Goryeo builds the Cheonri Jangseong (lit. "Thousand Li Wall"), a massive wall running along the northern border.
  • 1145: Kim Bu-sik compiles the Samguk Sagi, Korea's oldest extant history text.
  • 1170: The military coup.
  • 1231: The Mongol invasions of Korea begin.
  • 1234: Choi Yun-ui's Sangjeong Gogeum Yemun is published, world's first metal-block printed text.
  • 1251: Goryeo completes the Tripitaka Koreana, the most comprehensive and oldest intact version of the Buddhist canon in Chinese script.
  • 1268: Mongol peace treaty is signed which Mongols agree to protect them the best they can.
  • 1270: Goryeo signs a peace treaty with the Mongols, beginning an 80-year period of Yuan overlordship. The Sambyeolcho Rebellion lasts for three more years.
  • 1285: Il-yeon compiles the Samguk Yusa, record of history and legends.
  • 1388: General Yi Seonggye, ordered to engage China in a border dispute, turns his troops against the Goryeo court.

Joseon

Korean Empire
See also: Timeline of the Gwangmu Reform
  • 1897: 20 February. King Gojong returns to his palace after 1 year of refuge at the Russian legation.
  • 1905: Japan-Korea Treaty of 1905. Korea became the protectorate of Imperial Japan.
  • 1907: June. The Hague Secret Emissary Affair.
  • 1907: 18 July. Gojong was abdicated in favour of his son, Sunjong by Imperial Japan.
  • 1909: 26 October. Ito Hirobumi (Japanese Resident-General of Korea) is assassinated by Korean independence activist An Jung-geun.
  • 1910: 29 August. The Japan-Korea Treaty of 1910 started the annexation of the Korean Empire by Imperial Japan.

Japanese Colonial rule

Division of Korea
  • 1945: After the surrender of Japan, the Korean peninsula is divided between Soviet and American occupation forces at the 38th parallel.
  • 1945: South Korea created a franchise to raise money and funds to recover.
  • 1945: 6 September, Establishment of People's Republic of Korea with Yuh Woon-Hyung, but 1946 February, US Army breaks it and Yuh Woon Hyung is murdered.
  • 1946: US-USSR Joint-Commission on the formation of a Korean Government reaches an impasse. The Joint-commission is dissolved as the Cold War begins.
  • 1948: 10 May. UN sponsored elections are held in South Korea.
  • 1948: 15 August. Establishment of the Republic of Korea with Syngman Rhee as President.
  • 1948: 9 September. Establishment of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea with Kim Il-sung as Premier.
  • 1949: The murder of Kim Gu. Kim Gu was a Korean independence activist who believed in, and fought for, a unified Korea. He strongly objected to the formation of a separate South Korean state. He was shot in his home by a South Korean Army lieutenant.
  • 1950: 25 June. The Korean War begins.
  • 1950: August. UN forces are driven back to the South-east corner of the Korean Peninsula (The Pusan Perimeter).
  • 1950: September. UN Troops make an Amphibious Landing at Inchon.
  • 1950: November. Chinese Forces enter the war
  • 1953: The Korean War is halted by the Korean Armistice Agreement that has remained in force until now.
  • 1960: A student uprising begins the April Revolution which overthrows the autocratic First Republic of South Korea. Syngman Rhee resigns and goes into exile.
  • 1961: 16 May. Military forces, headed by General Park Chung Hee, overthrow the Second Republic of South Korea in what is known as the Military Coup d'état of 16 May
  • 1961: 12 November. Summit conference for normalization of Korean-Japanese relations
  • 1962: start of the first Five-year plans of South Korea
  • 1964: South Korea joined Vietnam War
  • 1965: 22 June. The signing of Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea. Earned both much controversy and procurement of budgets for later economic developments.
  • 1967: start of the second Five-year plans of South Korea
  • 1968: 21 January. An unsuccessful attempt of North Korean commandos to assassinate president Park Chung Hee- the Blue House Raid.
  • 1968: 1 April. Establishment of the Pohang Iron and Steel Company
  • 1968: 5 December. Proclamation of the National Education Charter
  • 1970: 22 April. Start of the government-operated New Community Movement
  • 1970: Gyeongbu Expressway is completed and opened to traffic.
  • 1972: start of the third Five-year plans of South Korea
  • 1972: 12 August. The first Red Cross talks between North and South Korea are held.
  • 1972: President Park Chung Hee declares Emergency Martial Law and changes Constitution in August, which may allow him to become the permanent ruler. This is similar to Gojong of the Korean Empire stating his country's governmental system as 'autocratic' in the constitution- for greater leadership and less opposition.
  • 1974: 15 August. The assassination of first lady Yuk Young-soo by self-proclaimed North Korean Mun Segwang.
  • 1976: 18 August. The Axe Murder Incident in Panmunjom, Joint Security Area. Triggers former North Korean leader Kim il-sung's first official apology to the South.
  • 1976: 12 October: Discontinuation of rice imports, the accomplishment of total self-sufficiency in rice by the 'Unification Rice'
  • 1977: start of the fourth Five-year plans of South Korea
  • 1977: 22 December. Celebration of achievement of 10 billion dollars gained by exports.
  • 1978: 26 October. Detection of the 3rd tunnel. Made by North Korea to attack South Korea.
  • 1978: 10 December. Achievement of 1,117 US dollars as GNP.
  • 1979: American president Jimmy Carter visits Korea. Threatens Park by stating he would reduce the US forces in Korea if he does not stop the ongoing Nuclear Weapons Development project.
  • 1979: 26 October, President Park Chung Hee is assassinated by the chief of KCIA, Kim Jaegyu (Assassination of Park Chung Hee).
  • 1979: Coup d'état of December Twelfth, Chun Doo Hwan gets military power
  • 1980: Gwangju massacre. Martial Law is declared throughout the nation. The city of Gwangju becomes a battleground between dissenters and the Armed Forces (18–27 May). The official death toll was set at 200 people but some reports claim over 1000 casualties.
  • 1987: A student uprising begins the June Democracy Movement, which overthrows the autocratic Fifth Republic of South Korea. The ruling party of Fifth Republic, Democratic Justice Party, declares democratic elections.
  • 1988: 24th Olympic Games held in Seoul
  • 1990: 11 September: South Korea and the USSR established diplomatic relations.
  • 1991: 17 September: North Korea (DPRK) and South Korea (ROK) join the United Nations (UN).
  • 1991: 26 December: The end of the Cold War as the Soviet Union ceased to exist and North Korea loses military and economic aid.
  • 1992: 11 August: South Korea's first satellite, KITSAT-1, a.k.a. 우리별 (Uri Byol) is successfully launched from Guiana Space Centre.
  • 1992: 24 August: South Korea and the People's Republic of China (PRC) establish diplomatic relations.
  • 1993: Test of Rodong-1, a single-stage, mobile liquid propellant medium-range ballistic missile by the DPRK.
  • 1994: Kim Jong Il takes control of North Korea upon the death of his father Kim Il-Sung. Start of the Arduous March.
  • 1997: Asian Financial Crisis (or "IMF Crisis" as it was called in Korea) shakes Korea
  • 1998: Taepodong-1, a two-stage intermediate-range ballistic missile is developed and tested by the DPRK. End of the Arduous March. It is possible that up to 3.5 million people did not survive the 'march'.
  • 1999: The DPRK promises to freeze long-range missile tests.
  • 2002: The 2002 FIFA World Cup jointly held by Korea & Japan. South Korea national football team makes it to the semi-finals for the first time in Korean football history. The DPRK pledges to extend moratorium on missile tests beyond 2003.
  • 2004: The DPRK reaffirms moratorium.
  • 2005: The DPRK fires short-range missile into the Sea of Japan (East Sea).
  • 2006: Test of Taepodong-2 by DPRK, a successor of Taepodong-1.There is a nuclear test in the DPRK. US officials assert it might have been a misfire.
  • 2007: The second summit between DPRK and ROK leaders is held, with Roh Moo-hyun representing the south and Kim Jong Il the north. The DPRK fires short-range missile into the Sea of Japan.
  • 2009: North Korea launches a rocket (Unha), supposedly for space exploration. This move affects relationships with Japan, the United States and South Korea. The DPRK conducts another nuclear test.
  • 2010: North Korea launches missile and attacks Korean Pohang class corvette, ROKS Cheonan. 46 Korean soldiers die because of the attack. At November, North Korean army rains artillery fire on Yeon-Pyeong-Do island.
  • 2011: Kim Jong Il dies, Kim Jong un takes over as the Supreme Leader of North Korea. The National Intelligence Service accuses pro-unification lawmakers of being spies. One of the members was a former Democratic Party representative. In a move indicative of the heavy-handedness of the Park regime, the party is outlawed and key party members are imprisoned.
  • 2012: 13 April: The Kim Regime of the DPRK tested a rocket, officially called "Unha-3", an expendable launch system developed from the Soviet Scud rockets. The rocket was to send a satellite, called "Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3", into orbit. The rocket failed to launch the satellite and fell into the Yellow Sea. The mission ultimately ended in complete failure.
  • 2012: 12 December: DPRK has successful launch of Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 Unit 2 it was launched from the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground. A South Korean military official cited 3 stage success. DPRK confirmed.
  • 2012: 19 December: Park Geun-hye, a daughter of Park Chung-hee, is elected as first female and the 11th president of South Korea.
  • 2013: 8 December: Jang Song Thaek, uncle of North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un, was ousted from all powerful posts on various charges. The official Korean Central News Agency said the political bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea stripped Jang of all posts, depriving him of all titles and expelling him and removing his name from the party.[3]
  • 2013: 12 December: North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un, executes his Uncle, Jang Song-Thaek, as a "traitor for all ages." Jang Son-Thaek's execution was said to be set up by his own wife, Kim Kyong-hui, Late Supreme Leader Kim Jong Il's sister. Jang Song-Thaek was considered to be the most powerful official in the DPRK Regime.[4]
  • 2016: 9 December: The impeachment vote of President Park Geun-hye took place, whilst 234 members in the 300-member National Assembly voting in favor of the impeachment and temporary suspension of her presidential powers and duties. Hwang Kyo-ahn, then prime minister, became acting president while the Constitutional Court of Korea was due to determine whether to accept the impeachment.
  • 2017: 10 March: The court upheld the impeachment in a unanimous 8–0 decision, removing Park from the office.
  • 2017: 10 May: Moon Jae-In swore into office immediately after official votes were counted on 10 May, replacing Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-Ahn.

See also

References
  1. "An extreme manifestation of nationalism and the family cult was the revival of interest in Tangun, the mythical founder of the first Korean state... Most textbooks and professional historians, however, treat him as a myth."
    "Although Kija may have truly existed as a historical figure, Tangun is more problematical."
    "Most [Korean historians] treat the [Tangun] myth as a later creation."
    "The Tangun myth became more popular with groups that wanted Korea to be independent; the Kija myth was more useful to those who wanted to show that Korea had a strong affinity to China."
    "If a choice is to be made between them, one is faced with the fact that the Tangun, with his supernatural origin, is more clearly a mythological figure than Kija."
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 25 June 2015. Retrieved 15 June 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. (2013-12-08, 11:53 PM). "N. Korean media confirm leader's uncle Jang Song Thaek ousted". UPI News. http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2013/12/08/N-Korean-media-confirm-leaders-uncle-Jang-Song-Thaek-ousted/UPI-21031386564795/ Archived 25 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  4. Johee Cho (12 December 2013) Seoul, Korea. "North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un Executed His 'Worse Than a Dog' Uncle". ABC News. https://abcnews.go.com/International/north-korean-leader-kim-jong-executed-worse-dog/story?id=21189463 Archived 24 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine

Further reading
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