Before you Travel, Brush Up on Your South Korea History
South Korea Ancient History
The Koreans claim their ancestors were born around 2,333 BC but scientists believe the actual date was closer to 30,000 BC when tribes from central and northern Asia found the peninsula. The tribes banded together to relieve pressure from China and formed Korea’s first kingdom, Goguryeo, sometime in the first century AD. The Three Kingdoms Period is composed of Goguryeo (north), Baekje (southwest) and Silla (southeast) and is a four hundred year long period that produced remarkable arts, architecture, literature, and statecraft. You can still see their influence on the region when traveling in South Korea today. Also during this time of “enlightenment,” Buddhism influence was established in Goguryeo and Baekje in the late 4th century – Buddhism later appeared in Silla in the early 6th century. Around 700 AD, the Silla Kingdom was at its height of cultural awareness and developed a variety of palaces, pagodas and pleasure gardens influencing the up-and-coming Japanese culture. The Mongols destroyed the Korean culture around the 13th century and after the Mongol Empire fell, the Choson Dynasty was built and a Korean script was formed. In 1592, the Japanese invaded, followed later by China and created the Chinese Manchu Dynasty.
South Korea Modern History
In 1904 the Japanese invaded the peninsula once again and officially gained full control in 1910, maintaining rule until the end of WWII. Their control over the Koreans was harsh and there was a strong sense of anti-Japanese throughout the country. After WWII, the US occupied the southern part of the peninsula while the USSR was in the north. To decide the fate of the county, an election was held, but only those in the south decided to declare their independence. The north invaded, lasting until 1953. The final death count was over two million and the country was now divided into North and South Korea.
The South Koreans were ruled under semi-democracy and martial law was in place in 1972. The next 15 years were a mix of democracy and martial law and in 1980, there were 200 student protesters killed in the Gwangju massacre. By the late 1980’s, the country was in utter turmoil filled with student protesters and workers walking away from their jobs to join the protests. The protesters were demanding democratic elections, freedom of the press and release of political prisoners. The outlook was bleak, pointing to a civil war until President Chun decided to give the protesters what they wanted.
In 1988 elections were held and Roh Tae-woo (another military figure) was elected president and political turmoil started once again. But contrary to expectations, Roh freed the political system even more. Relations were re-created with China and the Soviet Union.
Kim Young-sam was elected into office in 1992 bringing with him corruption and system abuse. During this time, ex-presidents Chun and Roh were sentenced for their role in the Gwangju massacre. Roh was sentenced to 22 years and Chun to death. But in December 1997, Kim pardoned them and they were released from prison. Also in this year, the local currency dropped and tourism had slowed drastically – the South Korea travel industry looked unpromising.
February 1998 brought the election of Kim Dae-jung, who became the first non-conservative president in the country’s 50 years of independence. Dae-jung’s platform was to introduce economic and democratic reforms and also to improve relations with North Korea. In the middle of 1998, the South Korean economy was shrinking, something that hadn’t occurred in nearly twenty years. There was a rise in bankruptcies and unemployment was out of control, which led to large-scale labor unrest. Dae-jung was able to improve the outlook of the economy. He also was able to follow through on his promise to better the North Korean relations. In June 2000, he went to North Korea to shake hands with the reclusive North Korean leader, Kim Jong II. Dae-jung was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in October 2000 and continued to build relations with North Korean as a partnership with Japan and the US.
The following year was a step backwards for the peacekeeping efforts with North Korea, primarily because of a naval battle that left an estimated 30 North Koreans dead. In December 2002, Roh Moo-hyun became president but in early 2004, his power was waning. Parliament voted to impeach him but the Constitutional Court reversed the vote. If you travel to South Korea today, it will be a country currently lead by Roh Moo-hyun.
