2011년 1월 31일 월요일

History of South Korea

South Korea as Republic of Korea


The history of Korea formally begins with the establishment of South Kroea on 15 August 1948. The King Dan-gun, a legendary figure born of the son of Heaven and a woman from a bear-totem tribe, established the first kingdom named choson, literally meaning the 'Land of the Morning Calm'. The Dan-gun myth is disputed among scholars, it is known that ancient Korea was characterized by clan communities which combined to form small town-states.


The Japaneese occupation of Korea which ended with Japan's defeat in the World War II in 1945 and many Korean died in this war without reason from Japanese. After this happening, Korea was divided at the 38th parallel north in accordance with a United Nations arrangement, to be administered by the Soviet Union in the north and the United States in the south. Eventually, following the Korean War, the two separate government stabilized into the existing political entities of North and South Korea.


South Korea has seen substantial develpment in education, economy and culture. Since the 1960s, the country has developed from on e of Asia's poorest to one of the world's wealthest nation.