History of Korea in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: November 15, 2024

Korea is a peninsular region in East Asia, comprised of the Korean Peninsula, Jeju Island, and other smaller islands. Politically divided since the end of World War II in 1945, near the 38th parallel, it saw the establishment of two independent states in 1948: North Korea and South Korea. Both claimed sovereignty over the entire peninsula, leading to the Korean War (1950-1953). Korea borders China to the north and Russia to the northeast, separated by the Amnok (Yalu) and Duman (Tumen) rivers. The Korea Strait separates it from Japan to the southeast.

1904: Russo-Japanese War

In 1904, the Russo-Japanese War began, which would ultimately lead to Russia's expulsion from Korea.

1905: Korea Becomes a Japanese Protectorate

Following the Russo-Japanese War in 1905, Korea became a protectorate of Japan.

October 1909: Assassination of Itō Hirobumi

In October 1909, An Jung-geun assassinated Itō Hirobumi, the former Resident-General of Korea, for his role in the Japanese occupation.

1910: Japan Annexes Korea

In 1910, Japan officially annexed the Korean peninsula.

1910: Japan–Korea Annexation Treaty

In 1910, the Japan–Korea Annexation Treaty was signed, formally annexing Korea to Japan.

1919: March First Movement

In 1919, the March First Movement, a nonviolent Korean resistance movement against Japanese rule, took place.

1939: Conscription of Koreans for Labor

Starting in 1939, over five million Koreans were conscripted for labor by Japan.

September 1945: Partition of Korea

On September 2, 1945, Korea was officially partitioned along the 38th parallel, with the north under Soviet occupation and the south under US occupation.

1945: Surrender of Japan and UN Trusteeship Plans

Following Japan's surrender in 1945, the United Nations developed plans for a trusteeship administration of Korea.

1945: End of World War II and Division of Korea

In 1945, following the end of World War II, Korea was divided along the 38th parallel, with the Soviet Union occupying the north and the United States occupying the south.

1948: Beginning of North Korean Atrocities

From 1948 to 1987, North Korea saw over one million deaths due to forced labor, executions, and concentration camps.

1948: Establishment of North and South Korea

In 1948, North Korea and South Korea were established as two separate governments.

1948: Establishment of Two Separate Korean States

In 1948, two separate Korean states, North Korea (DPRK) and South Korea (ROK), declared independence, both claiming sovereignty over the entire Korean Peninsula.

June 1950: North Korean Invasion of South Korea

In June 1950, North Korea launched an invasion of South Korea, marking the beginning of the Korean War. This invasion was facilitated by the use of Soviet tanks and weaponry.

1950: Outbreak of the Korean War

The Korean War began in 1950 due to escalating tensions between North and South Korea.

1953: End of the Korean War

The Korean War ended in 1953 in a stalemate without a peace treaty, resulting in the establishment of a demilitarized zone between the two countries.

1957: South Korea's Low GDP

In 1957, South Korea's per capita GDP was lower than that of Ghana.

1987: End of Period of North Korean Atrocities

The period from 1948 to 1987 is marked by over one million deaths due to forced labor, executions, and concentration camps in North Korea.

1988: Taekwondo as Olympic Demonstration Event

In 1988, when South Korea hosted the Olympic Games in Seoul, Taekwondo was featured as a demonstration sport.

1993: North Korean Famine and Unnatural Deaths

Between 1993 and 2008, North Korea experienced a famine and a significant number of unnatural deaths.

1993: Acknowledgement of "Comfort Women" Issue

In 1993, Japan officially acknowledged the injustices suffered by "comfort women" during World War II.

1993: Korean New Religions

In 1993, the Korean Overseas Culture and Information Service approximated that around 1,600,000 individuals practiced Korean new religions across both North and South Korea.

2000: Taekwondo Becomes Official Olympic Sport

Taekwondo officially became a medal event in the 2000 Olympic Games.

2005: Religious Demographics in Korea

In 2005, South Korean government statistics indicated that roughly 46% of citizens did not adhere to a specific religion. Christians made up 29.2% (18.3% Protestant, 10.9% Catholic), and Buddhists constituted 22.8% of the population.

2006: Chinese Community in South Korea

By 2006, the long-established Chinese community in South Korea had dwindled to an estimated 26,700 people. However, recent years have witnessed a rise in immigration from mainland China to South Korea.

2008: South Korea's Economic Growth

By 2008, South Korea's per capita GDP was 17 times higher than Ghana's, demonstrating significant economic growth.

2008: End of Period of North Korean Famine and Unnatural Deaths

The period from 1993 to 2008 in North Korea was marked by famine and a substantial number of unnatural deaths.

2018: Panmunjom Declaration

In 2018, the leaders of North and South Korea signed the Panmunjom Declaration, a significant agreement signifying their commitment to working towards the end of the Korean conflict.

November 2020: South Korea-China Agreement on North Korea Relations

In November 2020, South Korea and China agreed to collaborate on improving South Korea's relationship with North Korea. During a meeting, South Korean President Moon thanked China's foreign minister, Wang Yi, for China's contributions to peace efforts on the Korean Peninsula.

2023: Korean Population

As of 2023, the combined population of North and South Korea reached approximately 77.9 million, with South Korea having 51.7 million and North Korea having 26.1 million.