Capital of Korea

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Korea has had a number of capitals. Korea is a peninsula in East Asia, currently the peninsula is divided into two countries: North Korea's capital is Pyongyang, and South Korea's capital is Seoul.

Contents

During Gojoseon

Gojoseon:

During the Three Kingdoms of Korea

Three Kingdoms of Korea:

During the North–South States Period

North–South States Period:

During the Later Three Kingdoms

Later Three Kingdoms:

During Goryeo

Goryeo

During Joseon

Joseon and Korean Empire

Modern capitals

Notes

  1. Between 1948 and 1972, Seoul was also the de jure capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea). [2]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Korea</span> Region in East Asia

Korea is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, now known as the Korean Demilitarized Zone. In 1948, two states declared independence, both claiming sovereignty over all of Korea: South Korea comprising its southern half and North Korea comprising its northern half. The region consists of the Korean Peninsula, Jeju Island, and minor islands near the peninsula. The peninsula is bordered by China to the north and Russia to the northeast, across the Amnok and Duman rivers. It is separated from Japan to the southeast by the Korea Strait.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Korea</span> History of two Koreas, before 1950 Korea Campaign Division (38th parallel)

The Lower Paleolithic era on the Korean Peninsula and in Manchuria began roughly half a million years ago. The earliest known Korean pottery dates to around 8000 BC, and the Neolithic period began after 6000 BC, followed by the Bronze Age by 2000 BC, and the Iron Age around 700 BC. Similarly, according to The History of Korea, the Paleolithic people are not the direct ancestors of the present Korean people, but their direct ancestors are estimated to be the Neolithic People of about 2000 BC.

Korea has had administrative districts that can be considered provinces since the 7th century. These divisions were initially called ju in Unified Silla and Later Baekje, and there were nine in total. After Goryeo conquered these states in the 10th century, twelve divisions called mok were established, although they were reorganized into ten do in the 11th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goryeo</span> Korean dynasty (918–1392)

Goryeo was a Korean state founded in 918, during a time of national division called the Later Three Kingdoms period, that unified and ruled the Korean Peninsula until the establishment of Joseon in 1392. Goryeo achieved what has been called a "true national unification" by Korean historians as it not only unified the Later Three Kingdoms but also incorporated much of the ruling class of the northern kingdom of Balhae, who had origins in Goguryeo of the earlier Three Kingdoms of Korea. According to Korean historians, it was during the Goryeo period that the individual identities of Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla were successfully merged into a single entity that became the basis of the modern-day Korean identity. The name "Korea" is derived from the name of Goryeo, also romanized as Koryŏ, which was first used in the early 5th century by Goguryeo; Goryeo was a successor state to Later Goguryeo and Goguryeo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Three Kingdoms of Korea</span> Pre-unification kingdoms (57 BC – 68 AD)

The Three Kingdoms of Korea or Samguk competed for hegemony over the Korean Peninsula during the ancient period of Korean history. During the Three Kingdoms period, many states and statelets consolidated until, after Buyeo was annexed in 494 and Gaya was annexed in 562, only three remained on the Korean Peninsula: Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla. The "Korean Three Kingdoms" contributed to what would become Korea; and the Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla peoples became the Korean people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silla</span> Korean kingdom (57 BCE – 935 CE)

Silla, was a Korean kingdom that existed between 57 BCE – 935 CE and located on the southern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula. Silla, along with Baekje and Goguryeo, formed the Three Kingdoms of Korea. Silla had the lowest population of approximately 850,000 people, which was significantly smaller than those of Baekje and Goguryeo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Unified Silla</span> Korean kingdom (668–935)

Unified Silla, or Late Silla, is the name often applied to the Korean kingdom of Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, after 668 CE. In the 7th century, a Silla–Tang alliance conquered Baekje in the Baekje–Tang War. Silla conquered the southern part of Goguryeo in the 7th century following the Goguryeo–Tang War and Silla–Tang War, unifying the central and southern regions of the Korean peninsula.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taebong</span> 910–918 state in East Asia

Taebong was a state established by Kung Ye on the Korean Peninsula in 901 during the Later Three Kingdoms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Later Three Kingdoms</span> Period of Korean history (889–936)

The Later Three Kingdoms period of ancient Korea saw a partial revival of the old three kingdoms which had dominated the peninsula from the 1st century BC to the 7th century AD. After the Unified Silla kingdom had ruled Korea alone from 668 AD, it slowly began to decline and the power vacuum this created led to several rebellious states rising up and taking on the old historical names of Korea's ancient kingdoms. A messy period of alliances and in-fighting followed, but one state would once again establish a dominant position – Goryeo, itself named in homage to the earlier northern Goguryeo kingdom – and form a unified Korean state and a dynasty which would last almost 500 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Later Baekje</span> Korean kingdom (892–936)

Later Baekje was one of the Later Three Kingdoms of Korea, along with Taebong and Silla. Later Baekje was a Korean dynastic kingdom founded by the disaffected Silla general Kyŏn Hwŏn in 900, whom led the local gentry and populace that were in large Baekje descent holding onto their collective consciousness until the twilight days of Later Silla. With the former Silla general declaring the revival of the Baekje kingdom of old, the Baekje refugees from the old territories and a portion of the Rank Six Nobility from Silla seeking the opportunity of rising up the ranks gathered under his leadership. Led by the charismatic and capable Kyŏn Hwŏn who was also a competent field commander, Later Baekje in its early days was advantageous in the power game against the newly found kingdom Goryeo and the declining Silla. However, despite its fertile territories in the Jeolla Province and capable military prowess, it eventually fell to Wang Kŏn's Goryeo army in 936 due to political strife and Kyŏn Hwŏn 's defection towards Goryeo. Its capital was at Jeonju, in present-day North Jeolla province.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Korean architecture</span>

Korean architecture refers to an architectural style that developed over centuries in Korea. Throughout the history of Korea, various kingdoms and royal dynasties have developed a unique style of architecture with influences from Buddhism and Korean Confucianism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Military history of Korea</span> History of Koreas military

Korea's military history spans thousands of years, beginning with the ancient nation of Gojoseon and continuing into the present day with the countries of North Korea and South Korea, and is notable for its many successful triumphs over invaders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kung Ye</span> King of Taebong (c. 869–918)

Kung Ye was the king of the short-lived state of Taebong (901–918), one of the Later Three Kingdoms of Korea. Although he was a member of the Silla royal family, he became a victim of the power struggle among the royal family members during the late 9th century. He became a rebel leader against the unpopular Silla government, which almost abandoned the affairs of their subjects for the struggle for power among royal family members.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taejo of Goryeo</span> Founding King of Goryeo (r. 918–943)

Taejo of Goryeo, personal name Wang Kŏn, also known as Taejo Wang Kŏn, was the founder of the Korean Goryeo dynasty. Taejo ruled from 918 to 943, achieving unification of the Later Three Kingdoms in 936.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gyeongsun of Silla</span> 56th monarch of Silla (r. 927–935)

Gyeongsun of Silla (897–978), personal name Kim Pu, was the 56th and final ruler of the Korean kingdom of Silla.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern and Southern States period</span> Period in Korean history from 698 to 926

The Northern and Southern States period is the period in Korean history when Unified Silla and Balhae coexisted in the south and north of the peninsula, respectively.

The Goguryeo controversies are disputes between China and Korea on the history of Goguryeo, an ancient kingdom located in present-day Northeast China and the Korean Peninsula. At the heart of the Goguryeo controversy is which part of history the kingdom belongs to. Korean scholars have the viewpoint that Goguryeo is part of Korean history alone.

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Seoul, South Korea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pyongyang Castle</span> Historic building in North Korea

Pyongyang Castle is one of the National Treasures of North Korea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Korean palace</span>

There are a number of palaces in various places in Korea that have been built over the course of several thousand years and several historical monarchies. Many have survived into the present. Some have been destroyed and have since never been rebuilt. And some, such as Gyeongbokgung, have been rebuilt after being destroyed.

References

  1. "Korea, South". The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. 14 November 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  2. Eberstadt, Nicholas (1999). The End of North Korea. Washington: American Enterprise Institute. pp. 26, 32. ISBN   978-0-8447-4087-4.
  3. "Korea, North". The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. 16 November 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2022.