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Japanese Invasion Of Korea
Concerned about the Japanese attacking Korea once again, King Sonjo of Korea sent messengers to Japan to try and discover the plans of the Japanese. Messengers returned with contradictory reports, so no military preparations were made for the defense of the Korean peninsula. Meanwhile, Japanese General Hideyoshi organized an army of 255,000 men for the invasion of Korea. Caught by surprise, Japanese soldiers outnumbered the Koreans and within 3 weeks of the invasion, Seoul had already fallen. -
Gojong Becomes King Of Korea
Gojong was the 1st emperor of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. Following the invasion of various countries, Gojong was forced to accept Japanese advisors to the royal court. With Gojong's rule, Korea still was successful under Japanese threat. Moreover, Gojong's wife Queen Min also further helped improve the country. -
Japanese Establish Political Relations With Korea
Saigo Takamori (a samurai), and his supporters decided that Japan should confront Korea and establish a relationship with them. Those in favor saw the issue as a good opportunity to find employment for the thousands of out-of-work citizens. On the 27th of February 1876, the Treaty of Ganghwa was signed to open up Korea to Japanese trade. This was one of the first stepping-stones that would eventually lead to the Japanese colonization of Korea. -
Donghak Revolution/ First Sino-Japanese War
In 1894 the Donghak Peasant Revolution (a rebellion based on the Donghak religion of Korea) changed Japanese policy towards Korea. Desperately, the Korean government sought the Chinese for assistance. When China sent troops to Korea, the Japanese were angry and started the First Sino-Japanese War. The Sino-Japanese War was a war between the Chinese and the Japanese to see who would win control over Korea. The result ended in the Japanese defeating the Chinese. -
Gojong Is Forced To Abdicate
Gojong sent representatives to The Hague Peace convention to tell the world of the crimes of Japanese imperialism in Korea. When interviews were held with newspapers, Emperor Meiji of Japan was enraged and forced Gojong to abdicate in favor of Gojong's son. -
The Japan-Korea Treaty Of 1910
Also known as the Japan- Korea Annexation Treaty, the treaty was made by the representatives of the Japanese and Korean empire in 1910. The document was signed on the 22nd of August, which confirmed the period of Japanese rule in Korea. -
Declaration of Korean Independence/March 1st Movement
On the 1st of March 1919, 33 Korean nationalists assembled at the Taehwagwan Restaurant in Seoul, and read the Korean Declaration of Independence in an attempt to free Korea from Japanese colonial rule. This lead to the March 1st Movement, as protests for independence spread throughout the country and the Japanese army and navy were called in. Approximately 2,000,000 Koreans had participated, many who were massacred by the Japanese. -
Battle of Cheongsanri
The Battle of Cheongsanri was fought over six days between the Imperial Japanese Army and the Koreans. After the March 1st Movement, the Japanese government asked China to put an end to Korea's independence army but achieved no successful results. In result, Korean forces were angry and fought the Japanese forces in a densely wooded area, in which the Koreans were victorious. -
Order To Name Changes
In 1939, Japan's focus shifted towards fully integrating the Japanese colonial rule in Korea. Citizens who were ethnically Korean were to surrender their Korean family name and adopt Japanese surnames. This change also helped separate Korean and Japanese individuals. Many Korean's refused to change their names, so they faced harassment from officers of the Japanese colonial government. -
Korean Peninsula Is Divided
Previously, the Japanese empire ruled the Korean peninsula until the end of World War II. After the surrender of the Japanese empire when attacked by the U.S and the Soviet Union in September, the American administrators divided the peninsula. The U.S military forces took the Southern half and the Soviet military forces took the northern half. -
North Korea Became Communist
Ever since the North Korean government switched its government to Communism, all Korean manufacturing, finance, internal and external trade was conducted by the state. In agricultural aspects, a partial collectivization was carried out, where peasants were forced to agricultural cooperation. -
The Murder of Kim Gu
Kim Gu, a nationalist who was the leader of the Korean independence movement fought for an independent and the reunification of Korea. Throughout his life, he was arrested, tortured and sentenced to death because of his beliefs. On the 26th of June, Ahn Doo-hee assassinated him in his office. Even so, Kim is still regarded as one of the greatest leaders in Korean history. -
Korean War Began
The Korean war was a war fought between North and South Korea. The Chinese and Russians supported North Korea, while America supported the South. However, it was intentionally a war between the Americans and the Chinese who wanted to avoid the "hot war" of fighting each other. Russia and China were becoming Communist countries and wanted North Korea to be a Communist country too. On the other hand, The Americans didn't like the idea of Communism, so they helped South Korea fight against it. -
President Park Chung Hee Changes Constitution
Previously, the Constitution stated that presidents were only allowed to rule for two consecutive terms. However, with the help of KCIA and his allies, Park Chung Hee was able to extend his rule for three consecutive terms. Later, a new constitution, the Yushin Constitution was approved and strengthened Parks political power. His presidential term was increased to six years with no re-election. His presidency was now a legal dictatorship. -
Start Of The Arduous March
The Arduous March was a famine that occurred in North Korea. During this period, around 240,000- 3,500,000 people died from starvation or other hunger-related diseases. This famine was a good representation of militarism in North Korea, as former government Kim Jong Il gave most of the food sources to the military forces instead of the North Korean citizens. Even though military forces still remained strong, many other citizens faced stunted growth problems or were severely underweight.
