South Korea

The Taegukgi

**South Korea,** officially the **Republic of Korea**, is a small country in eastern Asia. It shares a land border with North Korea, having been one unified country up to 1945. 25 million people, which is about half of the country's population of more than 51 million people, live in Seoul, the fifth-largest metropolitan area in the world.

## Geography

South Korea is split into Gyeonggi, North Chungcheong, South Chungcheong, North Jeolla, South Jeolla, North Gyeongsang, South Gyeongsang, Gangwon, and Jeju. South Korea has several special cities, including Seoul, Busan, Incheon, Gwangju, Daegu, Ulsan, Daejon, and Sejong. South Korea has many mountains.

## History

Korea's history begins in the myth of Dangun (단군신화). Long ago, a bear and a tiger wanted to become humans, so they prayed to Hwanung (환웅), the son of the god of heavens. Hwanung told them to eat only garlic and mugwort in a cave for 100 days, and he would grant their wish. The tiger gave up quickly, but the bear did as told and in 21 days, she became a beautiful woman. Hwanung named her Ungnyu (웅녀) and took her as his wife. She later gave birth to Dangun (단군) who would grow up and establish the first Korean country, Gojoseon.

# Gojoseon

Gojoseon was established around 2333 BCE. It is clear that it was a country that existed according to the records, but the relevant records are few and abstract. Since no relics which are directly implied by Gojoseon have been found, there is a lot of controversy over the history and culture of Gojoseon. The official name of the country was Joseon (조선) but modern people call it Gojoseon (고조선, Old Joseon) to distinguish it from the Joseon Dynasty built on 1392.

According to 삼국유사, Dangun set the capital to Pyeongyang Castle and set the name to Joseon about 50 years after the inauguration of King Yo. Gojoseon first appears in Chinse literature in 700 BCE when they traded with Je dynasty. Near 400 BCE, Gojoseon traded with Yeon Dynasty. After Yeon Dynasty conquered China, they attacked Gojoseon, and Gojoseon lost a large amount of their land. In 221 BCE, after Jin Dynasty conquered China, King Bu of Gojoseon became afraid that they might try to attack them, so he decided to subjugate to them.

## Wiman Joseon

When conflicts arose in Jin Dynasty, many Chinese fled to Gojoseon. In 195 BCE, Wiman (위만) from Yeon Dynasty came to Gojoseon with 1,000 people with Gojoseon-like hair and clothing. King Jun came to like him, and made him control the west area and guard the borders. However, in 194 B.C.E., Wiman falsely pretended that Chinese troops were invading and entered Wanggumseong, the capital city, to drive out King Jun and became king. Modern day historians call this era Wiman Joseon. Wiman actively accepted Chinese culture to reduce conflict between the two sides and promote political stability by participating in the ruling system together with the Korean group and the immigrants from Yeon. By doing so, it strengthened its military power.

Around this time, the Han Dynasty began to advance to the East, which raised tensions with Wiman Joseon. The two sides made diplomatic compromises to relieve the tension, but they did not succeed. In 109 B.C., Emperor of Han-Dynasty ordered the Yangbok and Sunche to lead 50,000 Army and 7,000 Naval Forces to attack Wiman Joseon, but failed. Afterwards, he sent Wisan as an envoy and attempted diplomatic compromise again, but eventually failed. Eventually, the war resumed, and as the fight prolonged, the inside of the Joseon government was divided and separated.

Yeokgye-gyeong of Joseon suggested a friendly compromise, but when it was not accepted, he led his group of about 2,000 away. In addition, No-in, Sang Han-eum, Lee Gye-sang Sam, General Wang Gyeop came out of Wanggumseong and surrendered. In the midst of such an infighting, King Wugeo was murdered and even the Prince Jang surrendered to the Han Dynasty. General Seonggi encouraged the people in the palace and fought to the end, but even he was murdered and Wanggeomseong was captured in 108 BC, and Gojoseon was destroyed. After the war, Han Dynasty built their palaces in Gojoseon, and many residents moved south.

# Proto Three Kingdoms

   The Three Kingdoms Period or the Worlds Period refers to the period after the early Iron Age from around AD to the middle of the 2nd century AD, and from the time when Gojoseon fell and Buyeo was founded.

The countries during this time:

* Buyeo 부여(East Buyeo 동부여 Dongbuyeo, North Buyeo 북부여 Bukbuyeo)
* Goguryeo 고구려
* Saro 사로국(Silla 신라)
* Okjeo 옥저(East Okjeo 동옥저 Dongokjeo, North Okjeo 북옥저 Bukokjeo)
* Dongyae
* Three Hans (Mahan 마한, Jinhan 진한, Byunhan 변한)
* Shibjae 십제 (Baekjae 백제)

## Buyeo

Buyeo has multiple founding myths. In North Buyeo, there is a founding myth that Haemosu, the son of Cheonje (천제, Emperor of the Skies), descended on a cart pulled by five dragons and moved to Heolseonggolseong Fortress. East Buyeo was built by Haeburu, son of Haemosu.

Early Buyeo settlers lived an agricultural life. The king's subordinates were the four ga: the Maga (Horse), Uga (Cow), Jeoga (Pig), and Guga (Dog). When there is an attack, the four ga went to defend. In 49 AD, Buyeo sent envoys to other countries to maintain close relations and form marriage alliances. Buyeo's military power was very strong and it was almost never been defeated. Since the Han Dynasty, Eupru in the east was subjugated to Buyeo as a servant. In addition, Buyeo provided troops to the conquest of Goguryeo, and Jin revived Buyeo when Buyeo was in jeopardy due to the invasion of the Xianbei tribe.

However, as Jin's forces were driven south by the northern peoples, Buyeo fell into a state of international isolation. In 285, Buyeo was attacked by the Xianbei tribe Mo Yong-eui and fled to North Buyeo but later reconquered their original lands. However, in year 346, it was attacked King Yeon-wang, Mo Yong-hwang. Buyeo weakened, and after being protected by Goguryeo, it was annexed to Goguryeo in 494.

## Okjeo

Okjeo refers to a tribe and village group that spanned the area of ​​the Tuman River basin from north of Yeongheung, Hamgyeongnam-do. The land was fertile, producing grain. It was also near the ocean and was able to produce seafood such as fish and salt, and they were given to Goguryeo. Okjeo was a branch of the Buyeo tribe, but the customs were different. The bride and groom got engaged at a young age, and the bride and groom lived in the groom's house, and when they became adults, there was a daughter-in-law system that gave gifts and brought the bride. There are not much records left to provide any information of the political system of Okjeo and how it ended.

## Dongye

Dongye was one of the earliest tribal nations that were located with Dongokjeo on the eastern coast of the Korean peninsula. It was called ye, but it is now usually called “dongye” to distinguish it from the broader example. There is a record of military confrontation with Mahan and Baekje in the west. The main business was farming, and weaving was also developed. Towns and villages were divided by mountains and rivers, and each village was ruled by Samro.

In the 6th century, it was completely subjugated to King Jinheung of Silla and incorporated into Haslaju of Silla. King Jinheung confirmed that it was the territory of Silla by erecting King Jinheung Monument of Hwang Cho-ryeong and King Jinheung Monument of Maeun-ryung in the upper region of the former Dongye territory.

## Samhan

Samhan is a collective term for Mahan, Byeonhan, and Jinhan, which were located in the central and southern parts of the Korean peninsula before the Three Kingdoms period. Mahan was the strongest out of the three hans, and the king of Mahan ruled were stronger than the kings of Jinhan and Byeonhan, as he ruled all three countries.

At the end of the Gojoseon, there was a large alliance of tribal states called Jinguk from the banks of the Han River to the south, and the centers of which are now Jiksan. After culture flowed in to the Han after Gojoseon got destroyed, these foreign political forces and cultures had a great stimulus and influence on the county counties of the Han and the neighboring ancient Korean tribes.

# Three Kingdoms Period

The Three Kingdoms Period was one of the periods with the most wars in Korean History.

* Goguryeo
* Silla
* Baekjae
* Gaya Union

## Goguryeo

Goguryeo originated from Buyeo and was the Korean country with the largest amount of land conquered in history. Goguryeo was the first educational institution in Korea to accept religions such as Taesaeng, Buddhism, and Taoism. It is also believed to be the origin of Korea's English name, Korea.

The original name of the ancestor Go Ju-mong was Hae Ju-Mong, born 58 B.C., he is the son of Hae Mo-su, the first king of Buyeo. His maternal grandfather is the god Habaek who rules the river, and his mother is Ha Yoo-hwa. The name Jumong means Jingung, a person who shoots a bow well in Buyeo Language. It is said that he was gifted enough to shoot flies with a bow from an early age. It is said that King Geumwa, who was the second king of Buyeo after Haeburu at the time, had seven sons. Among the seven sons, the six brothers were envious of Jumong's talent and how King Geumwa liked him, and tried to kill him, with Hae Dae-so (King Dae-so), the crown prince.