History of Korea

1. History of Korea Ancient Communism Korean War

2. Early History • First Koreans were immigrants from northern Asia • First people grew rice and made bronze tools • Practiced shamanism- belief that good and evil spirits are in both living and non living things • Briefly controlled by the Han Dynasty

3. Three Kingdoms • Silla, Paekche, Koguryo • Adopted many Chinese elemenst • 668 the Kingdom of Silla conquers all of Korea • Ushered in a time of prosperity and peace • Wrote the Tripitaka- Buddhist scripture, largest in the world

4. Yi Dynasty (Chosen) • 1392 AD • Capital at Hanyang (Seoul) • Developed a form of Confucianism that was extremely strict • Simplified the writing to 24 letters (traditional writing was still popular as well) • Held off and invasion from the Japanese • Admiral Yi-Sun-Shin used iron clad ships known as “turtle ships”

5. Fast Forward

6. Japanese Control & Post WWII • 1910 Japan takes control of Korea until after WWII • After WWII Korea was “briefly” occupied by the US and Soviet Union • Korea was split along the 38thparalell • North and South Korea both have governments claiming to be in control of the peninsula • The Soviets and American forces withdraw from Korea in 1948 and 1949

7. Korean War • 1950 North Korea invades the South to unit them under communist rule • The UN voted to help stop the invasion (90% of soldiers were American) • US is afraid of the Domino Theory- if one country becomes communist then others around it will follow • North Korea had almost taken over

8. Korean War • US General Douglas McArthur launches a surprise attack on the North Koreans • Pushed the North Koreans back to the Yalu River at the Chinese border • McArthur crosses into China and destroys supply depots • The Chinese become involved and UN forces have to retreat • Finally a stalemate is reached at the 38thparalell

9. North Korea After the War • 1948-1994 Kim Il Sung became the Communist leader in Korea • Stressed heavy industry, nuclear power, and military strength • 20% of the budget was devoted to the military which slowed standard of living improvements

10. Kim Jong-il • Leader of Korea after his father Kim-il Sung • Died in 2011 • Cult of personality developed around him • Had the constitution amended so he was referd to as Supreme Leader • He was hailed as a demigod in North Korea while South Korea portrayed him as a vain playboy with a penchant for bouffant hair, jumpsuits and platform shoes designed to make him look taller. • His private train journeys were as luxurious as befitted a leader of North Korea, despite the millions left behind starving due to famine: one Russian emissary who travelled across Russia by train with Kim described how live lobsters were airlifted daily to his train. • He reportedly spread the myth across North Korea that he could control the weather with his moods, as if by magic.

11. Want more claims to go • http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/8965694/50-fascinating-facts-Kim-Jong-il-and-North-Korea.html

12. South Korea • Enjoyed tremendous success • To grow the economy exports were strongly encouraged • Government still had very repressive policies • 1980s student protests led to more freedoms and a new constitution