A Brief History of Korea - Case Study Example

History of Republic of Korea History of Republic of Korea Korea neighbors Japan and China. Tuman-gang (Tumen) and Amnokkang (Yalu) rivers form the northern border of Korea separating it from Manchuria. A segment of sixteen kilometers of Tuman-gang River serves as a natural border with Russia. The peninsula is separated from eastern China by two hundred kilometers. The Japanese islands of Kyushu and Honshu are situated 206 kilometers to the southeast across the Korea Strait. Uniqueness geographical area of Korea filtered the Chinese culture into Japan through Korea (Peterson & Margulies, 2010). A general cultural sphere of Confucianism and Buddhism was established among the three countries. From the northeast Asian landmass, the Korean Peninsula extends a thousand kilometers southwards. Variations on climate were pronounced three hundred kilometers along the south-north axis. Variations of these climates mark the differences in plant vegetation along the axis making the southern half of peninsula warm. Mountain ranges served as boundary markers between the regions. The natural boundaries inhibited numerous interactions between the populace living on either side of subtle, range or substantial resulted to the development of regional differences in both the customs and spoken language of the people. Town-states of Korea eventually united into tribal leagues involving complex political structures leading to the growth of three kingdoms. Between 37 B.C. and 668A.D, Goguryeo tribal league, located along the middle course of the Yalu River became the first to grow into a kingdom. Goguryeo occupied a large area of land in the segments of Korean Peninsula and Manchuria. Goguryeo attained complete trappings of an empire after subsequent establishment of a political structure (Peterson & Margulies, 2010). Baekje is the second kingdom which grew between 18 B.C and 660 A.D. Baekje kingdom grew from the town-state that was located in the south of Hangang River which is today referred as Seoul. Silla kingdom developed between 57 B.C and 935 A.D. Silla kingdom was the weakest and underdeveloped compared to the three kingdoms. Silla was located in the southeastern area of the peninsula (Peterson & Margulies, 2010). The kingdom had no Chinese influence to its geographical location. Silla kingdom had advanced Buddhist order that marked class-orientation including Hwarang, who was young aristocratic warriors. Gaya kingdom developed, as a result, of the union of several tribes along the river of Nakdonggang. In the mid-sixth century, Silla controlled the neighboring-states that were situated in the Gaya kingdom. Silla was able to subjugate Goguryeo in 668 and Baekje after coalition with the Tang Dynasty of China. Silla reached its zenith in terms of prosperity and power in the eighth century. In 698, the kingdom of Balhae was established by the refugees from Goguryeo in south-central Manchuria (Peterson & Margulies, 2010). A government system was established by Balhae, as a result of, administrative structure of Goguryeo Kingdom. Goguryeo culture dominated as the Balhae kingdom’s culture. Balhae was overthrown by the Khitan where many of Goguryeo descendants moved to the south and joined Goryeo Dynasty. Goryeo Dynasty was founded by Wang Geon. He was a rebel of Silla kingdom and choose Songak town as the capital of the kingdom. The goal of Geon was to reclaim the lost territory of Goguryeo kingdom in the northeast of China but later failed. Goryeo Dynasty had a complicated culture represented by flourishing Buddhist traditions and cheongia (Peterson & Margulies, 2010). In 1392, Joseon Dynasty kingdom was founded by General Yi Seong-gye, who overthrew Goryeo Dynasty. Joseon adopted Confucianism as their guiding ideology in order to counter the influence of Buddhists. Joseon Dynasty had a well-balanced political system where recruitment of government officials involved a civil service examination system. Confucian society highly valued education, manufacturing and commerce. Korea enjoyed an unprecedented flowering of art and culture during the reign of King Sejong in the fourth monarch. King Sejong was much interested in astronomical science where water clocks, sundials, astronomical maps and celestial globes were produced on his request (Peterson & Margulies, 2010). King Sejong initiated the complication of National Code and put a legal system to streamline his ruling structure. Choson Dynasty kingdom was later established from 1392 up to 1910. Some regional differences in Korea were expressed in customs and dialect, but the whole country was affected by an overall cultural homogeneity. Korean regional dialects are favorable to all Korean speakers. The Korean language is structurally similar to Japanese and quite distinct from Chinese. Many religious practices, customs and popular art forms in the traditional Korea are also quite different from either Japanese or Chinese practices (Seth, 2011). Traditionally, Korea borrowed much of its culture from China and their characters such as written language, Buddhism and the adoption of Neo-Confucianism philosophy as the ruling elite. In 1592, Japan attacked the peninsula to get means of incursion to China. Later in 17th century a modern nation was built which recommended industrial and agricultural improvements along the land distribution reforms. From 1724 upto 1776, King Yeongjo strengthened the royal authority and achieved political stability of the country. King Jeongjo came later between 1776 and 1800 where he initiated cultural and political reforms. In the 16th century, Korea enforced a policy that prohibited any contact with other countries after Japanese devastating invasions. The few contacts sanctioned by Choson Dynasty were small outpost of Japanese merchants and Chinese diplomatic missions (Seth, 2011). For 250 years Korea remained internally stable and in peace. Americans and Europeans encountered Korea in the 19th century made Korea to be an isolated country with Hermit Kingdom. In 1860, Korean kingdom steadfastly resisted diplomatic relations and trading with France, Britain and the United States that each attempted to open up. Japan was involved on imposing a diplomatic treaty on Korea in 1876 to Western-style worldwide relations by the United States. China, Japan and Russia were the rivals on influencing Korea for 25 years in the 19th century. After defeating Russia and China in the war between 1895 and 1905, Japan took the power on the Korean peninsula. Japan established a colony in Korea where it ruled Korea for the next 35 years in a manner that was often brutal and strict (Seth, 2011). Japanese colonial system tried to wipe Korea’s cultural identity and language inorder to make them culturally Japanese towards the end of the colonial period. Japanese further recommended Koreans to change their names into Japanese names. During 1920s and 1930s, Japanese set up modern industries such as chemical, steel and cement plants in Korea. Korea was the second most industrialized country after the Japanese colonial rule ended in 1945. Korean peninsula experienced new and unexpected development after the Japan surrendered to the allies in 1945. Korea was divided into two separate states which were the Republic of Korea (R.O.K) in the south and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (D.P.R.K) in the north. Closely to the end of the war the Soviet Union and the United States jointly accepted the surrender of Japanese from Korea. United States occupied the south and U.S.S.R occupied the north of Korea until a unified and independent Korean government would be established. However, the emerging Cold War between the Soviet Union and United States due to political differences between the two Koreans on policies and zones led to negotiations over a Korean’s unified government. In 1948, a pro-Soviet government in Pyongyang and a pro-U.S government in Seoul were established. Both the governments aimed at taking the legitimacy of the entire Korean People. Other nations backed both the governments on the war for the rule of Korea as a whole. The war resulted to much physical destructions and million deaths of people, but later in 1953, the war ended and South and North Korea were divided into equal territories. Since 1953, South and North Korea evolved from a common historical and cultural base into two different societies with dissimilar economic and political systems. North Korea was heavily influenced by the Russian politics and culture as well as those from China. In North Korea it has developed a self-style politics of juche based on political and economic independence (Seth, 2011). North Korea developed to most isolated and control of all communist states although it suffered severe economic hardship after collapse of the Soviet Union. On the other hand, South Korea was very much influenced by the U.S in a subtle way by Japan. The U.S has maintained close military, economic and political ties with South Korea since the foundation of R.O.K in 1948. South Korea became less democratic after the fall of military dictatorship in the twentieth century when democracy became consolidated in the R.O.K. The American culture developed in South Korea as well as Japanese culture. Recently, South Korea developed its own popular Korean cultures after traditional Korean culture went into revival. Regional sentiment is the most significant factor in South Korean politics and other areas of life despite the collective cultural homogeneity of Korea. The main regional division is between Kyongsang areas of southeast and Cholla area of southwest. Kyongsang developed economically better than Cholla that had unstable government. Considering the whole Korea, Koreans up to today insists on reconciliation and reunification of North and South Korea. In the twenty-first century, South Korea became among the most industrialized nations globally and is recognized as the as an achiever in political democratization and economic development (Seth, 2011). South Korea is a nation with a better sense of national identity and proud on its traditions, culture and accomplishments. Korea remains as North and South with many armed men on the peninsula and a military tension of a higher state. Conclusively, the Republic of Korea was established through involvement of many nations. Japanese were the first to form the colonial government in Korea. Japan industrialized the country that led to economic growth and development. Korea developed from three main Kingdoms which later came to be subdivided by the United States and the Soviet Union after 1945. Different cultures were formed according to the regions and colonizing government. The behaviors of the Koreans remained independent even after the influence political legitimization or military protection. It is a greater challenge to live in Korea than in United States since up to today the Korean men are heavily armed in any case of eruption of war meaning the place is insecure unlike in United States where there is a stable government. References Peterson, M., & Margulies, P. (2010). A brief history of Korea. New York: Facts on File. Seth, M. J. (2011). A history of Korea: From antiquity to the present. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield. Read More