Archaeological findings indicate that the first settlement on the Korean peninsula dates back 700,000 years but Go-Joseon was the first Korean kingdom and was founded by the mythical figure of Dan-gun in 2333 B.C. according to the legend.
Between 57 B.C. and A.D. 676 was the Three Kingdoms Period. Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla kingdoms were established in the first century A.D. Political systems were developed, Buddhism and Confucianism flourished, and culture gained importance during this period.
The Silla Kingdom unified the peninsula from the year 676 to 935, during which the development of culture and arts was promoted. The popularity of Buddhism reached its peak during this period. The United Silla Kingdom declined because of contention for supremacy among the noble classes, and was annexed by Goryeo in 935.
Goryeo Dynasty was established in 918 and existed until 1392. Buddhism became the state religion and greatly influenced politics and culture.
From 1392 to 1910, the Joseon Dynasty ruled the nation. Confucianism became the state ideology and exerted a massive influence over the whole of society. Hangeul, the Korean alphabet, was invented during the reign of King Sejong. The dynasty's power declined sharply in the latter part of the period because of foreign invasions, beginning with the Japanese invasion in 1592.
Between 1910 and 1945 was the Japanese Colonial Period. Korea was forced into annexation by Japan and was liberated at the end of World War II.
In 1945, Japan surrendered and withdrew from Korea, after which the peninsula became divided into two zones, South and North Korea. The Korean War broke out on June 25, 1950 and was put to a halt when an armistice agreement was signed on July 27, 1953. In 2000, a historic summit meeting took place between South and North Korea in Pyeongyang, the capital of North Korea.
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