5000 years long history

Korea is located in the Korean peninsula, where maritime culture and continental culture intertwine with each other. Like the formation of fishing grounds where cold and warm current meet, Korea’s geographical location is qualified to become the point where international politics, economy, and cultural issues can coexist. Korea, with its desirable location, will create a new culture that shall influence the world.

Within the 5000 years of Korean history, from its very first nation, Gojoseon(2333 – 108 BC) to the 21st century Korea, we can easily see that this way of thinking holds still true. Korea’s first nation, Gojoseon
bore the national ideal of “Hongik Ingan,” a concept of benefiting the world through love and service. 5C Goguryeo kingdom (37 BC – AD 668) became one of the strongest countries in the East Asian region
of its time with its pride of being the center of the world and its cooperation with neighboring countries. In addition, Goryeo kingdom (918- 1392) was the first nation to invent the movable metal type printing
that changed the communication system of mankind, contributing to the further development of world culture. Now Korea serves the world by becoming the third largest overseas volunteer provider in the
world. You will certainly hear more about 21st century Korea’s dream through its warm and passionate young people.

Korea is geographically located in the center of East Asia! 5000 years as a strong cultural power made Korea a melting pot of continental and maritime culture! The passion of young Koreans, who wish to change the world, will make 21st Korea’s vision come true.

 

 

 
Gojoseon, the first ancient Korean kingdom, was founded upon “Hongik Ingan” as its national ideal, which
means changing the world beautifully through love and service instead of violence and war. Prime Minister Kong Bin of Wei dynasty, a powerful state of ancient China neighboring Gojoseon, wrote the following in Dongi
Yeoljeon about Gojoseon. “This country is rather large but not arrogant about itself; its army is rather strong but does not invade another country.”

Furthermore, he recorded that his ancestor, “Kong Zi (Confucius),” was willing to reside in this country. Republic of Korea now serves the world as the third largest volunteer dispatching nation. Gojoseon’s national
spirit of devotion to the welfare of all mankind continues to be demonstrated by the youths of present Korea.

 

 

 

Silla kingdom is one of the few kingdoms in world history which lasted for more than one thousand years. Queen Seondeok (Reign 632 – 647), the first queen in Korean history, laid the groundwork for the thousand
years of Silla rule. Queen Seondeok overcame the stereotypes held by a patriarchal society that woman
could not be a good ruler, ascending to the throne, ruling wisely, and selecting fit individuals for higher positions in the government. In the reign of Queen Seondeok, Silla was transformed from the weakest power of the Korean Peninsula to a powerful prospering kingdom which at last would unite the peninsula. Modern Korean women are participating in and contributing to many fields including politics, economy, society, and culture. A thousand years of Silla’s system and Queen Seondeok’s spirit have continued to greatly inspire and challenge modern Korean women.

King Gwanggaeto the Great of Goguryeo kingdom was one of the most powerful kings in the five thousand years of Korean history; his gravestone is engraved by the record of Goguryeo’s founding father as “the
Son of Heaven.” Goguryeo’s pride as an empire of “The Son of Heaven” had brought about a rapid growth of the country as one of the most powerful countries in 5th century East Asia. However, the dream of Goguryeo
was not exclusive to others. Instead, the kingdom expanded through communication and collaboration with
its neighboring kingdoms. Goguryeo’s dream has continued to inspire the present Republic of Korea whose
dream is to become the center of Asia, a gateway to northeast Asia in 21st century, and a country that
shares its dream and extends a hand of friendship to people from all over the world.

Baekje kingdom, which held the center of the Korean peninsula for hundreds of years, became an international kingdom connecting China, Korea, and Japan. Furthermore, it grew as the center of Northeast Asia’s
cultural exchange, actively exchanging cultural values and goods with the rest of Asia including Vietnam and India. Especially, Baekje has contributed to the prosperity of the Asuka civilization in Japan by introducing
Chinese Classics, Confucianism, astronomy, calendar, and geographical knowledge to 7th century Japan. Likewise, the Republic of Korea, the successor of magnificent Baekje culture, is exchanging its cultural values and heritages with its neighbors and the entire world; many people around the world beyond Japan, China, and Asia, love Korean culture, creating a new revolutionary term, “the Korean Wave”

 

 

 

Gaya kingdom, located on the important strategic location in the middle of the south coast, Nakdonggang River delta, played a leading role in intermediating trade between China, the Korean peninsula, and Japan.
Gaya also formed a unique arts culture with its progressive and open spirit.

For an example, they produced clay wares and invented the Gayageum, one of the most iconic Korean string instruments. Above all, Gaya developed an outstanding iron manufacturing industry and was renowned as the center of international trade through its production of abundant and high-quality iron. The fame of the ancient Gaya kingdom as a peerless producer of iron in Northeast Asia has continued to be the pride of the Republic of Korea, which can be seen in the manner it has transformed itself by creating one of the world’s best iron and steel manufacturing industries.

 

Goguryeo kingdom, collapsed in 668 AD, lost its territory, culture, and people, but its spirit had revived in the foundation of Balhae kingdom. Balhae had identified itself with firm historical consciousness as well as
historical legitimacy, inheriting Goguryeo’s territory and an ancient kingdom of Korea, a predecessor of Goguryeo, Buyeo’s customs. Like her predecessors, Balhae achieved bilateral relationship with China, Tang
dynasty in her time. The spirit of Balhae has taken root and has been together with Korean people. This spirit had enabled Korean people, when Koreans had suffered from 35 years of Japan’s forceful occupation driven by imperialistic ambitions, to constantly and possibly resist to tyrannous Japanese ruling. Despite of
many challenges and difficulties, Koreans had continued her independent history by establishing a provisional
government in Shanghai, China, and creating an army for national independence against Japanese imperialism. Likewise, the spirit of Balhae is continually breathing in the hearts of Koreans, today.

 

 

 

The world’s leading media such as BBC, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and Time Magazine labeled “Movable Metal Type” printing as the greatest invention in human history which has transformed the lives
of humanity in great extent in the past thousand years. The introduction of the movable metal type printing allowed the faster and easier popularization of knowledge and information, which was previously prevented
because it was monopolized by the privileged. It was a significant event that totally reshaped the world history. Goryeo is the first country to invent this movable metal type printing process, which is confirmed
through the writing of Jikji, the oldest movable metal type printed book in the world, printed in 1377. After Goryeo, this technology has spread throughout Japan and other regions in Asia, resulting in the development of humanity’s technology and knowledge. This creative technology of Goryeo has continued in the present creative powers of Korean technology as it leads both the Information Technology (IT) and Smart revolution in the 21st century.

 

 

 

The political philosophy during the 500 years of Joseon dynasty lies in “Minbon” politics, which values its people the most. The power of the king is given by the heaven and its people, and every political decision
is made in the best interests of the people. King Sejong the Great (1397 – 1450) is the best ruler who embodied
this Minbon political philosophy. He established many policies that improved the commoners’ standard of living and protected the weak. For example, he made policies which give 100 days of maternity leave for indentured female servants and 30 days of maternity leave for spouses who were from the lowest social level.
His spirit of love and service to his people explains why his magnificent achievements in politics, economy, culture, and military including the invention of Korean alphabet for his people were possible. Joseon dynasty’s political philosophy of prioritizing the people over anything else has become the foundation behind the rapid democratization process of Korea in the 20th century.