The History of Korea - Learn Korean History in Under 12 Minutes | 12분으로 보는 한국역사

Summary

This video offers a concise yet engaging overview of Korean history, spanning from ancient legends to modern times. It covers early kingdoms like Gojoseon, the Three Kingdoms period, and the rise of Silla, Goryeo, and Joseon, highlighting cultural, technological, and military achievements. Key figures such as King Sejong, Admiral Yi Sun-sin, and others are discussed, along with invasions by Mongols, Japan, and China. The summary also touches on Korea’s modernization under Japanese occupation, its post-World War II division into North and South Korea, and South Korea's rise as a technological and economic powerhouse. The video provides a fast-paced, accessible introduction to Korea’s rich history.

Takeaways

• 😀 Korea has a rich history, but it's often overlooked in favor of other countries like Japan.
• 😀 According to legend, the first Korean was born in 2,300 BC after a tiger and a bear transformed into humans.
• 😀 The Three Kingdoms period (Koguryo, Baekje, and Silla) began around the 2nd century BC, with frequent conflicts between the kingdoms.
• 😀 The Silla Kingdom eventually unified Korea by conquering Koguryo, Baekje, and Kaya in 668 AD.
• 😀 The Goryeo Kingdom (918-1392) introduced significant advancements such as movable metal type printing and gunpowder.
• 😀 Mongol invasions in the 1200s severely impacted Goryeo, with many Koreans being taken as slaves.
• 😀 The Joseon Dynasty (1392-1897) introduced Confucianism to Korea, changing its social structure and culture.
• 😀 King Sejong the Great created Hangul, a simple Korean alphabet, making literacy more accessible to the population.
• 😀 The Imjin War (1592-1598) saw Korean Admiral Yi Sun-sin defend against Japanese invaders using innovative Turtle ships.
• 😀 Korea remained isolated in the 1800s, but eventually opened its borders due to pressure from Western powers, particularly the United States and Japan.
• 😀 Korea was annexed by Japan in 1905, leading to significant cultural and societal changes under Japanese rule until the end of WWII.

Q & A

When did people first start living in Korea according to historical evidence?

People have been living in Korea since at least 8,000 BC, although these were not necessarily ethnically Korean people.

What is the legendary story of the first Korean?

According to legend, a tiger and a bear wanted to become human. They were told by God's son to live in a cave and eat bitter mugwort and garlic for 100 days. The bear succeeded, became human, married God's son, and their child, Tun Wangong, became the ancestor of all Koreans.

What was the Three Kingdoms period in Korea?

The Three Kingdoms period occurred after the Han Dynasty in China invaded the Kosan Kingdom in the 2nd century BC, breaking it into smaller states. The three major kingdoms were Koguryo, Baekje, and Silla, which often fought among themselves.

What was unique about Silla's Bone Rank System?

Silla's Bone Rank System was a rigid aristocratic hierarchy where only people of the highest 'sacred bone' rank could become king. Both parents needed to be sacred bone, making it difficult to maintain royal eligibility.

How did the Goryeo (Kordo) Kingdom contribute to Korean culture and technology?

The Goryeo Kingdom was a period of growth; it had movable metal type printing, imported gunpowder from China, embraced Buddhism, and recruited scholars, musicians, and doctors from China. Korea also got its name from 'Goryeo'.

What were the Mongols' influence on Korea?

The Mongols invaded Goryeo in the early 1200s, taking around 200,000 Koreans as slaves and destroying cities. They controlled Korea for 80 years but allowed Korean leaders to remain as puppet rulers, and intermarriage led to over 400,000 Korean descendants today.

Who was King Seongjong and why is he significant?

King Seongjong of the Joseon dynasty (1400s) diversified the government, strengthened borders, developed new weapons, and most importantly, helped create the Hangul alphabet so that common people could learn to read and write Korean easily.

What role did Admiral Yi Sun-sin play in Korean history?

Admiral Yi Sun-sin, with no formal naval training, led Korea to victory against the Japanese navy during the late 1500s with his 13 Turtle Ships. He sank 30 Japanese ships while losing only two men and played a key role in defending Korea during Japanese invasions.

How did Korea's relationship with foreign powers evolve in the 19th and early 20th centuries?

In the 1800s, Korea largely remained isolated except for China. The U.S. attempted to force trade with Korea but was repelled. Eventually, Korea signed trade agreements with Japan and the U.S., but Japan later annexed Korea in 1905, introducing Japanese education, culture, and infrastructure while exploiting the population.

What led to the division of Korea into North and South?

After Japan left Korea following World War II, North Korea, backed by the Soviet Union, attempted to take over South Korea. The U.S. intervened to help South Korea, China helped North Korea, and after the conflict, Korea was divided along the 38th parallel, resulting in North Korea being communist and South Korea becoming a democratic, technologically advanced country.

What major contributions did Japan make to Korea during its occupation, despite the negative impacts?

Japan introduced railroads, electricity, running water, telephone lines, radio, movies, public education, and improvements to agriculture, fishing, and mining industries, even though the occupation included forced cultural assimilation, exploitation, and abuse.