Korea: a Brief History
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
I. Major Pre-Modern Dynasties 1. Ancient Chosun 古朝鮮 (2,333 - 180 B.C.) 2. Three Kingdoms a. Koguryo (37 B.C. - A.D. 668) 高句麗 b. Paekche (18 B.C. - A.D. 660) 百濟 c. Shilla (57 B.C. - A.D. 935) 新羅 3. United Shilla (668 - 935) 統一新羅 // Parhae (699 – 926) 渤海 4. Koryo (918 - 1392) 高麗 5. Chosun (or Yi) 1392 – 1910 朝鮮 (李) 2. Pre-Modern Korean Relations with Outside World A. Korea in the Sino-centric World Order Korean-Chinese "tributary relations" Korean-Japanese "neighborly relations" Korean relations with the Mongols, the Khitan, and the Jürchens B. Major Foreign Invasions The Chinese invasions: 612-4, 644-668 The Khitan invasions: 993, 1018 The Jurchen incursion: 1104 The Mongol invasions and control: 1231, 1270- 1370's The Japanese [Hideyoshi] invasion: 1592-98 The Manchu (Jurchen) invasions: 1627, 1636 The French and the American "disturbances": 1866, 1871 The Sino-Japanese War: 1894-95 The Russo-Japanese War: 1904-5 1. Opening of the "Hermit Kingdom" The Korean-Japanese Treaty of Ganghwa: 1876 (aka Japanese-Korea Treaty of Amity in Japan) The Korean-American Treaty of Amity and Commerce: 1882 The Korean treaties with England, Germany, Italy, Russia, France, China and Austro- Hungary: 1884 - 1890's After the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century, European nations began to colonize many other weaker nations in Africa and Asia, the political ideology called imperialism. Almost all of Africa was colonized by European Powers; most of Asia, including India was taken over by various European nations. East Asia also was invaded by foreign powers, beginning with China by Britain and other foreign powers; China's empire was reduced to a half-colonized territory. Meanwhile, the American Asiatic Squadron under the leadership of Matthew C. Perry forced Japan to open its ports to the western world in 1854. Humiliated by unequal treaties and the prospect of losing its independence and integrity to imperialist powers, Japan embarked on a rapid transformation, successfully turning itself from a comparatively medieval society into a modern industrialized state. Ganghwa Incident In Korea, the strong dictatorship of Daewongun was overthrown by Empress Myeongseong, who instituted a policy of closing doors to European powers. France and the United States had already made several unsuccessful attempts to begin commerce with the Joseon Dynasty, all of them happening during Daewongun’s era. However, after he was removed from power, many new officials who supported the idea of opening commerce with foreigners took power. While there was political instability, Japan developed a plan to open and exert influence on Korea before a European power could. In 1875, their plan was put into action: the Unyo, a small Japanese warship under the command of Inoue Yoshika, was dispatched to survey coastal waters without Korean permission. The Imperial Japanese Navy, in Busan, on its way to Ganghwa Island, Korea, January 16th, 1876. There were 2 warships, 3 troop transports, and one liner for the embassy led by Kuroda Kiyotaka. Four Gatling guns set up in Ganghwa by Japanese troops. 1876 Kuroda mission. 2. Demise of the Choson Dynasty Kingdom Chinese domination of Korea through Resident Yuan Shi-kai: 1885-1894 The Donghak Peasant Uprising and the Sino- Japanese War: 1894-1895 The Russo-Japanese War: 1904-1905 The Taft-Katsura Agreement: July 1905 Japanese Protectorate of Korea: 1905-1910 The Anti-Japanese "Righteous Army" Movement: 1905-1912 3. Japanese Colonial Rule and Korean Independence Movement The Japanese-Korean Treaty of Annexation: 1910 Japanese Rule of Korea by the Gendarmerie-Police System: 1910-19 The March First Independence Movement: 1919 Establishment of the Korean Provisional Governments in Shanghai and Seoul: April 1919 The Japan's "Cultural Policy": 1920-1931 Founding of the Korean Communist Party in Seoul: April 1924 Japan's Policy of Total Mobilization and Assimilation for War: 1937-1945 4. Korea during and after the W.W. II The Cairo Declaration: December 1943 (The US, Britain and China agree to restore all territories Japan has conquered from China, including Manchuria and Taiwan, to the Republic of China and to help Korea regain independence). Division of Korea along the 38th Parallel: August 10~11, 1945 (The 38th parallel was first suggested as a dividing line for Korea in 1896. Russia was attempting to pull Korea under its control, as did Japan. In an attempt to prevent any conflict, Japan proposed to Russia that the two sides split Korea into separate spheres of influence along the 38th parallel. However, no formal agreement was ever reached). The left side of the boundary in this image belongs to South Korea while the right side belongs to North Korea The American Military Government in South Korea: 1945 ~ 1948 Establishment of the Republic of Korea (Syngman Rhee): August 15, 1948 Establishment of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (Gen. Kim Il-sung): September 9, 1948 5. Post-war Korea The Korean War: June 25, 1950 - July 23, 1953 (2.5-3.5 million deaths) Signing of the R.O.K.-U.S. Mutual Security Treaty: October 1953 The "April 19 Student Uprising": April 1960 The Second Republic of Premier Chang Myon: August 1960 - May 1961 The Military Coup d'état of Gen. Park Chung Hee: May 16, 1961 The "Miracle on the Han River": 1961-1979 The Kwangju Democratization Movement: May 18-31, 1980 The Fifth Republic of President Chun Doo Hwan: 1981-1987 The "June Struggle for the [Restoration of] Democracy": June 1987 The Sixth Republic of President Roh Tae Woo: 1988- 1993 The Seoul Olympiad: 1988 The "Civilian Democratic Government" of President Kim Young Sam: 1993-1997 Death of Kim Il-sung followed by the Emergence of Kim Jong-il as the Top Leader in DPRK: July 1994 The IMF Bailout: 1997 The "Sunshine Policy" of President Kim Dae Jung: 1998- 2002 President Kim Wins the Nobel Peace Prize: December 2000 Inauguration of President Roh Mu-hyun: February 2003 Inauguration of President Lee Myung-bak: February 2008.