Three Kingdoms Period: Spans 57 BC-668 CE. The country was divided into the kingdoms of Silla, Goguryeo, and Baekjie. The state religion was Buddhism.  This period was marked by instability, warlords, and incursions by the Tang,  and was later ended by Mongol domination. This is the period where all the men had emo bangs.

Joseon Period: This dynasty ruled from 1392 to 1910 CE and was known as the “Hermit Kingdom” as they traded with only a few countries. The ruling class was made up of scholar officials who served the Korean Emperor, and the governmental structure was influenced by the Ming Dynasty.  With the growing influence of the West and pressure from Japan, the Joseon Dynasty fell in 1910 with annexation by Japan.  Most “Sageuks” are set in this time period.

Japanese Occupation:  The Japanese occupied Korea from 1910-1945, enslaving the people and suppressing their language and culture. It’s estimated 1/17th of the population was brutally killed.  

Korean War: Korea was divided in 1945 at the 38th parallel with the United States occupying the South, while the Soviet Union occupied the North. On June 25, 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea with the goal of reunifying the peninsula under Communist rule. The war lasted until 1953 with a stalemate and a tentative cease fire that remains in place today.

Republic Period & Military Rule: From 1948-1960 South Korea governed as a republic but fell under military dictatorship in 1961. During this period, there were 5 failed attempts at republics that were suppressed until the dictator was overthrown in ’88.