A Brief History of Korea

Foreword

Chapter 1
The Ancient Kingdoms
1. Characteristics of Korean History
2. The Origin of Koreans and the Early States
3. The Formation and Development of the Three Kingdoms
4. Political and Social Structures of the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 2
The Emergence of a Unified State
1. The Birth and Development of a Unified State
2. Balhae's Dominion over Manchuria
3. Korea's Second Unification and Struggles against Mongolia

Chapter 3
Joseon(Yi) Dynasty in Pre-modern Times
1. The Founding and Development of the Joseon Dynasty
2. The Rise of Sarim(rural Neo-Confucian literati) and Struggle
Against Foreign Intruders
3. Changes in Society and Culture of Late Joseon

Chapter 4
The Transition toward a Modern Society
1. Efforts for Modernization and Ensuing Conflicts
2. Japan's Colonial Rule and Nationalist Movement

Chapter 5
Modern Society : The Development of the Republic of Korea
and Pursuit of Inter-Korean Rapprochement
1. Division and Confrontation
2. The Development of the Republic of Korea

Index

The Korean War was one of the most tragic episodes in the nation's history. The war left the Korean economy in ruins. Tremendous changes took place throughout the Korean society, with a dramatic decline in population that was largely dislocated.

In the south, the Rhee Syngman regime strengthened anti-communist politics, whereas the North, startled by the degrading of Stalin after his death, forced a personality cult called Juche(self-reliance) ideology on its people since 1968. Thus tension and animosity mounted between the two Koreas. - 본문 134쪽에서