World History Timeline

Countries / East Asia

History of South Korea

21 notable historical events in South Korea, in chronological order.

War · 7Politics · 9Dynasty · 2Treaty · 3Revolution · 4Technology · 1Religion · 2Culture · 2

6th century

  1. c. 538★★★★★

    Buddhism introduced to Japan

    By tradition, a king of Baekje sends Buddhist images and scriptures to the Yamato court, beginning Buddhism's spread in Japan.

    Religion· Japan, South Korea

7th century

  1. 668★★★★★

    Silla unifies the Korean Peninsula

    Allied with Tang China, Silla defeats Baekje and Goguryeo, unifying most of the Korean Peninsula for the first time.

    WarPolitics· South Korea, North Korea

10th century

  1. 918★★★★★

    Wang Geon founds Goryeo

    Wang Geon (King Taejo) founds the Goryeo dynasty, from which the name 'Korea' derives.

    DynastyPolitics· South Korea, North Korea

13th century

  1. 1274 – 1281★★★★★

    Mongol invasions of Japan

    The Yuan twice sends fleets against Japan, in 1274 and 1281, and both fail; the storms involved become known as kamikaze ('divine winds').

    War· Japan, China, South Korea

14th century

  1. 1377★★★★★

    Jikji printed with metal movable type

    The Jikji, an anthology of Zen Buddhist teachings, is the world's oldest extant book printed with movable metal type.

    TechnologyReligion· South Korea
  2. 1392★★★★★

    Yi Seong-gye founds Joseon

    General Yi Seong-gye overthrows Goryeo and founds the Joseon dynasty, which lasts more than five centuries.

    DynastyPolitics· South Korea, North Korea

15th century

  1. 1443 – 1446★★★★★

    King Sejong creates Hangul

    King Sejong the Great creates the Hangul alphabet in 1443 and promulgates it in the Hunminjeongeum in 1446.

    Culture· South Korea, North Korea

16th century

  1. 1592 – 1598★★★★★

    Japanese invasions of Korea (Imjin War)

    Toyotomi Hideyoshi twice invades Korea; Joseon and Ming forces, with Admiral Yi Sun-sin's navy, eventually repel the Japanese.

    War· South Korea, Japan, China

19th century

  2. 1894 – 1895★★★★★

    Donghak Peasant Revolution

    Peasants inspired by the Donghak religion revolt against corruption and foreign influence; Qing and Japanese intervention leads to the Sino-Japanese War.

    RevolutionWar· South Korea
  3. 1894 – 1895★★★★★

    First Sino-Japanese War

    Japan defeats Qing China in a war over influence in Korea, establishing itself as a rising Asian power.

    War· China, Japan, South Korea
  4. April 17, 1895★★★★★

    Treaty of Shimonoseki

    The Qing cede Taiwan and the Penghu Islands to Japan and recognise Korean independence.

    Treaty· China, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea

20th century

  1. February 8, 1904 – September 5, 1905★★★★★

    Russo-Japanese War

    Japan defeats the Russian Empire in a war over Manchuria and Korea, the first modern victory of an Asian power over a European one.

    War· Japan, Russia, China, South Korea
  2. August 29, 1910★★★★★

    Japan annexes Korea

    The Japan–Korea Annexation Treaty takes effect, making Korea a Japanese colony until 1945.

    PoliticsTreaty· South Korea, North Korea, Japan
  3. March 1, 1919★★★★★

    March 1st Movement

    Koreans proclaim independence and stage nationwide peaceful protests against Japanese rule; the movement is suppressed.

    RevolutionPolitics· South Korea, North Korea
  4. August 15, 1948★★★★★

    Republic of Korea established

    The government of the Republic of Korea is established in the south of the peninsula, with Syngman Rhee as president.

    Politics· South Korea
  5. June 25, 1950 – July 27, 1953★★★★★

    Korean War

    North Korean forces cross the 38th parallel; the war, drawing in US-led UN forces and China, ends in an armistice in 1953.

    War· South Korea, North Korea, China, United States
  6. May 18, 1980 – May 27, 1980★★★★★

    Gwangju Uprising

    Citizens of Gwangju rise against Chun Doo-hwan's military regime; the uprising is violently suppressed by the army.

    PoliticsRevolution· South Korea
  7. June 1987★★★★★

    June Democratic Struggle

    Nationwide protests force South Korea's government to accept direct presidential elections, ushering in democracy.

    PoliticsRevolution· South Korea
  8. September 17, 1988 – October 2, 1988★★★★★

    1988 Seoul Olympics

    Seoul hosts the Summer Olympics, marking South Korea's economic and international emergence.

    Culture· South Korea
  9. June 13, 2000 – June 15, 2000★★★★★

    First inter-Korean summit

    South Korean President Kim Dae-jung meets North Korean leader Kim Jong-il in Pyongyang.

    Politics· South Korea, North Korea
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