This document provides an overview of Korean history and culture through three main periods:
1) Ancient history from 2333 BC to the Joseon Dynasty that ended in 1910, including the Three Kingdoms period.
2) The Japanese occupation from 1910 to 1945 where Japan suppressed Korean culture and identity.
3) Modern history from 1945 onward including the division of Korea after WWII, the Korean War, Seoul hosting the 1988 Summer Olympics, the Asian Financial Crisis, and South Korea co-hosting the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
8. BIG “C” CULTURE: OBJECTIVE CULTURE
VISIBLE CULTURE
small “c” culture: subjective culture
‘hidden’ culture
Economic, Educational, Religious, Governmental, Legal,
and Political Institutions and Systems; Architecture,
Dance, Music, Literature, Culinary Arts, Fashion, Heroes,
Holidays, Popular Culture; Age, Ethnicity, Race, Gender
Meaning of Time, Space, Life, Death, Myths and Legends,
Behaviors, Verbal and Nonverbal Communication, Conflict
Resolution, Definition of Right and Wrong,
Immigration/Work Status, Marital/Parental Status,
Personality and Thinking Style, Education, Sexual
Orientation, Group or Individual Roles, Country of Origin
51. Five Thousand Years of Korean History
Year Period / Event
2333 B.C. Go-Joseon
100 B.C.
Three kingdoms
(Shilla, Baekje and Goguryeo)
935 - 1392 Goryeo Dynasty
1392 –
1910
Joseon Dynasty
1910 -
1945
Japanese Occupation
1948
Republic of Korea/
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
1950-1953 Korean war
1988 Summer Olympics
1997 Asian Financial Crisis (IMF)
2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan
2012 First female president elected
52. Japanese Rule (1910 – 1945)
Japan annexed Korea in 1910
Japan outlawed use of Korean language in an attempt to
eradicate Korean national identity
Forced Korean’s to abandon Korean names and adopt
Japanese names
Deep lament and resentment toward outsiders prevailed in
Korean literature and music
53. On 3 November 1935, Sohn Kee-chung of Korea (South Korea)
set a world marathon record of 2:26:42.0. Because Korea was,
at the time, occupied by Japanese forces, Sohn's hopes for
competing in the 1936 Olympics depended on his ability to
qualify for the Japanese team. This he accomplished, as did
fellow Korean Nam Seung-yong. Both young men were forced
to adopt Japanese names (his participation is recorded under
the Japanese name Son Kitei).
56. Korean War (1950-53)
North invaded south on 6/25/50.
United Nations forces led by US defended South.
> 2 million dead.
57.
58. Summer Olympics (1988)
160 nations represented
by 8,391 athletes
largest ever number of
participating nations to
that date
S. Korea ranked 4th in
medals behind USSR, E.
Germany, and USA
63. FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan
10 brand-new stadia
S. Korean national team
advances to semifinals
Coach Guus Hiddink
(Netherlands) first
foreign national to be
given honorary Korean
citizenship
People praised for public
order and cleanliness
64.
65.
66. Other historic events
Assassination of President Park Chung-hee (Oct. 1979)
Gwangju Massacre (May 1980)
Death of N. Korean leader Kim Il-sung (July 1994)
First North/South Presidential Summit (June 2000)
Second North/South Presidential Summit (Oct. 2007)
North Korea sinks South Korean navy vessel, killing 46
(2010)
North Korea shells South Korean island, killing 4, including
2 civilians (2010)
Death of N. Korean leader Kim Jung-il (2011)
Impeachment of President Park (2016)