About Korean Modern History

The end of World War II in 1945. After Japan's surrender, the Soviet Union and the United States divided the peninsula into two zones of occupation, with the Soviet-backed North becoming the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in 1948 and the US-backed South becoming the Republic of Korea (ROK) in the same year. The division was formalized by the signing of the Korean War armistice in 1953, which ended the conflict but did not result in a peace treaty, leaving the two countries technically at war.

In the North, under the leadership of Kim Il-sung, a cult of personality was developed and the country became a totalitarian state. In the South, a series of military coups took place, resulting in the establishment of a military dictatorship in the 1960s. Despite this, South Korea experienced rapid economic growth and became one of the "Four Asian Tigers".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, both countries underwent significant changes. In the North, Kim Il-sung died in 1994 and was succeeded by his son, Kim Jong-il. In the South, democratization took place and a civilian government was established.

 

In 2000, a historic summit took place between the leaders of North and South Korea, but progress towards reunification has been slow. The North has continued to develop its nuclear weapons program, leading to international sanctions, while the South has become a major player in the global economy.

 

The situation on the Korean Peninsula remains tense, with occasional military confrontations and the North's ongoing nuclear weapons program. Despite this, there have been some recent signs of improvement, including the 2018 North-South summit and the North's participation in the 2018 Winter Olympics.

 

 

 

 10 places to visit when you travel to Korea

10 places to visit when you travel to Korea

S. Korea's Economic Outlook for 2023

 

S. Korea's Economic Outlook for 2023