Hallyu - Korean Wave (1)

(1) K-Pop

The biggest appeal of "K-pop," or popular Korean music, can be found in great songs, dancers and stage effects. Korean pop idols' fast tempo music mixed with Asian rhythms appeals greatly to many young teens in China, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and other parts of Southeast Asia.

Other singers moved into R&B, hip-hop and electronica, and even "trot" songs. Trot is originally a Korean style of triple or quintuple-time mix-music, popular with the older generations. It developed before and during the time when Japan occupied Korea. New style trot returned with a faster beat and tempo.

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• (left)Lee Hyo-ri, female singer (Photo: Yonhap News), (right)Wonder Girls, girls band (Photo: Yonhap News)

Some big names in the Korean pop music world now are TVXQ, Se7en, Lee Hyori, Shinhwa, Wonder Girls, Epik High, Super Junior, Big Bang, SS501, Girls' Generation. All of them are busy entertaining the fans with concerts, TV appearances, fan meetings and festivals both at home and abroad.

In China, the boy band H.O.T. was already making their presence known even before the popularity of Korean TV dramas and movies in the late-1990s. Also during the same period, the muscular male duo Clone was all the rage in Taiwan, selling 450,000 records that year, the second highest number for a foreign record after the soundtrack of the movie "Titanic".

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• BoA, female singer

On the other hand, Korean music already showed some success in Japan much earlier, with a handful of Korean musicians since the 1970s and 80s including Cho Yong-pil, Gye Eun-sook and Kim Yeon-ja belting out trot songs. Then came a different genre of music with Korean pop idol BoA, who saw her album selling in the millions in Japan. She won six consecutive number one albums on the Oricon Chart and also undertook coaching in English, Chinese and Japanese to continue her move to go global.

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• Park Jin-young, head of the JYP Entertainment (Photo: Yonhap News)

Park Jin-young, a multi-talented singer, songwriter, choreographer and now CEO of his own successful music production company JYP Entertainment, has produced over 27 hit singles and 19 number one albums in Asia. His company has not only given birth to many new Korean celebrities, but also produced music for many other Asian singers including F4, Jacky Cheung, and AI. With the successful launch of a branch office in the United States, Park has now also produced music for Will Smith, Mase and Cassie.

• 
• Rain, singer and actor

In 2006 Rain appeared on "Time" magazine's website as one of the "100 Most Influential People Who Shape Our World" and also performed in New York's Madison Square Garden in February of the same year. In 2007 Rain made it to "People"'s list of the world's "Most Beautiful People." Lately, he is stepping up his acting career, appearing in the action film "Speed Racer" (2008) by the Wachowski Brothers and "Ninja Assassin" by Warner Bros.

BIBIMBAP

U.S. Demands Apology for 'Comfort Women'

- U.S. Demands Apology for 'Comfort Women' -

The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed a non-binding resolution demanding that Japan apologize for forcing women into sex slavery during World War II. U.S. Rep. Mike Honda of California talks about why he sponsored the resolution.

CHERYL CORLEY, host:

I'm Cheryl Corley and this is TELL ME MORE from NPR News. Michel Martin is away.

Coming up, life lessons and a mortuary and the Mocha Moms weigh in on food and friendship.

But first, they were called comfort women, the name given to the roughly 200,000 girls and women who were forced into prostitution by the Japanese military during World War II. The Japanese government has never officially apologized for the sexual enslavement of women from Korea, China and the Philippines and other areas. However, the United States House of Representatives demanded one yesterday, passing a non-binding resolution by voice vote. Congressman Mike Honda was the main force behind the resolution and is with us today. Congressman, welcome.

Representative MIKE HONDA (Democrat, California): Thank you very much.

CORLEY: Well, Japan says it's already apologized, did so in 1993, and also established a fund which collected private donations and offered payments to some of the women involved. In your opinion, why isn't that enough of an effort?

Rep. HONDA: Well, let me make three points. Number one, the word prostitution is probably a misnomer. They were forced into sexual servitude, but it was a systematic military operation where they did in fact capture, kidnap, coerce girls and young women into sexual slavery. And the government of Japan has been insisting that they have apologized several times over.

CORLEY: Mm-hmm.

Rep. HONDA: Individuals have apologized such as Prime Minister Koizumi and the current prime minister, Abe. They have aligned themselves to the comments that was put together by then-Deputy Cabinet Secretary Kono, who, after two years of study when historians found documents proving that the (unintelligible) had existed, came out with this comment.

CORLEY: Mm-hmm.

Rep. HONDA: The comment that was originally made by Deputy Secretary Kono was a good one, but he had no force of law in terms of the position or the process. He was, one would consider, the equivalent of the chief of staff to the president.

CORLEY: So you're saying that these were personal statements. So why is it so important to get an apology some 60 years after the fact?

Rep. HONDA: The corollary I would draw would be the apology that the Japanese-Americans here in this country were able to get from our own government, who set aside our constitutional rights in 1942 when President Roosevelt had signed Executive Order 9066 that allowed the military to remove Japanese-Americans, citizens or non-citizens alike, from their homes, from the communities into American-style concentration camps. Sixty years later, we as a community debated among ourselves whether we should sue the government for an apology based on the setting aside of our civil rights.

We did. It took us 10 more years, but 1980, after the Congress had passed H.R. 442 and President Reagan signed it into law, did we feel that there was a unambiguous apology and setting the record straight. Japan has not done that officially. And they continue to double talk and white-wash the history of their activities and constantly attempt to change their history books in the junior high school and high school level. That in itself indicates that there is no sincere and historical responsibility being taken by the government of Japan. This is what we're seeking.

CORLEY: Mm-hmm. Congressman, what about the idea that this type of resolution puts a strain on the relationship between the United States and Japan, a country which is among Washington's closest allies?

Rep. HONDA: Well, there's no mistaking, there's no question that Japan is a strong ally and a very progressive country, a democratic country. However, the political leadership has not ever seen it fit under the current party, seeing fit to do so. The relationship will always be strong. The relationship is really dependent upon how they themselves will behave towards this issue and as a result of our own vote. The Japanese government is reeling under their own weight of their own behavior in Japan itself. So this has no or very little bearing upon our relationship between Japan and the United States.

CORLEY: Congressman Mike Honda represents California's 15th Congressional District. He was the main force behind a non-binding resolution which calls for Japan to apologize for forcing women into wartime sexual slavery.

Congressman, thank you so much.

Rep. HONDA: Thank you very much for this opportunity.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12372399

Comfort Women Ad

Comfort Women

This picture is used in the advertisement of

Washington Post in April 17, 2007

History of Japanese Military's Comfort Women

According to several documents, Japanese army built a comfort house in Shanghai in order to prevent soldiers’ frequent rape of civilians. However, according to a testimony that ‘the Army’s comfort house used the navy’s comfort house as a model’, we know that a comfort house by the Japanese Navy was already built in Shanghai before March of 1932. Around 1932, comfort houses were built around occupied territories and their quality changed at the end of 1937. These places lasted until the end of the war. As there became more occupied territories, and the war was extended into a longer period of time, Japanese navy and army started an organized policy to manage the comfort houses. At first, the policy was at an expeditionary army’s level, but it became more organized and eventually became a policy of the army’s headquarters.

In 1937, as the China-Japan war intensified, the Japanese military began building more comfort houses. After the Shanghai accident was over and Nanjing was occupied by the Japanese, comfort houses were built and maintained by the military’s line of command. During this period of time, the Japanese military and police were involved in the systematic draft of comfort women. Women were abducted by the Japanese military all around Chosun (old Korea), China, Japan, Taiwan and other countries.

By the end of 1938, more than 70 comfort houses were built around China, and there were more than 1000 comfort women. Most of these comfort women were from Chosun. A secret document, “Chosun counter plan” which was written after Japan started the China-Japan war in July 1937, has a clause saying that “Unmarried women in Chosun shall be used to supply the military’s special business” along with a clause to take men from Chosun to Japan to make them work in mines and armor factories. It was a system that the Japanese military was leading and the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japanese government organizations and the government general were actively collaborating on.

In July 1941, Japan made a plan to recruit 20,000 comfort women from Chosun, and put the plan into action. As a result, along with the help from the government general, Japanese military abducted about 8,000 women from Chosun and sent them to North-eastern China. The abductors used various methods. One popular way was to promise a woman a job that didn’t exist. Once she agreed to go along, she would be put to work in a comfort house.

In December 1941, as the war expanded to the Pacific War, the establishment of comfort houses increased. It is not an exaggeration to say that at every single battle field, there was at least one comfort house.

In January 1943, there were about 100 comfort houses in Northern China, about 140 comfort houses in central China, about 40 comfort houses in Southern China, about 100 comfort houses in South eastern Asia, about 10 comfort houses in the southern sea, about 10 comfort houses in Saghalien, totaling to about 400 comfort houses. Every army division had about 5 to 6 comfort houses, and the comfort women at those stations were usually from Chosun or Japan. As the war expanded, it was impossible for the military to recruit enough Japanese prostitutes and regular women from Chosun so they started to abduct girls from Chosun using numerous methods and made them as sex-slaves.

In 1942, a large number of women from Chosun were sent to the southern regions. In 1943, according to documents by the Japanese Military, there were 20 comfort houses in Juk-jung lee, and in 11 of the houses, most of the comfort women were 18 to 19 year old girls who had no previous experience in prostitution.

By the end of 1943, because it had become harder to mobilize goods and manpower, it was impossible to build comfort houses using private companies. Japanese military started building more comfort houses around Okinawa and Indonesia, and the number of comfort women recruitment increased. On top of recruitment from Chosun, Japanese military also abducted women from occupied territories.

Japanese Army's Comfort Women...

'Comfort Women' are the women who were abducted by the Japanese military and raped during Japan’s colonization of Korea. In Korean, we call them “Jung Sin Dae.” “Jung Sin Dae” was a noun that described organizations that specifically provided manpower in order to strengthen Japan’s military under imperialism during the war. However, by the end of the pacific war in 1943, people tended to limit its use to indicate comfort women, and finally in August 1944, government issued “Female Jung Sin Dae Labor Statement.” Ever since, “Jung Sin Dae” was only used to indicate females who were mobilized during the war.

Comfort women who were organized under “Female Comfort Women Labor Statement” were organized to supplement labor due to the loss in labor during the war. Therefore, female labor Jung Sin Dae and Japanese military’s comfort women were fundamentally different. Japanese government institutionalized comfort houses during the China and Japan war and the Pacific War. Comfort houses were a place where comfort women were confined and military troops came in groups in order to gratify their lust. The Japanese Military abducted countless women and sent them to the front line, and systematically forced them into sex slavery. The abducted women were stationed at different comfort houses, and repeatedly raped. They used to be called “Jong-goon we ahn boo’ (從軍慰安婦). However, that word assumes a voluntary action rather than a forced action; therefore it is not an appropriate expression. Internationally,

expressions such as“sex-slaves”and“rape victims” are used, and those are the words that most appropriately convey the essence of the nature. We currently address them as“Japanese Military’s We Ahn Boo(comfort women).”The word‘Jung Sin Dae’which is presently familiar to the general crowd via mass media means a military unit that sacrificed their bodies for the country. The word,“Jung Shin Dae”, used to be used with the same meaning as“Japanese Military’s We Ahn Boo”, and started to appear on newspapers in 1940s. During this period of time,“Jung Shin Dae”meant women who were working at factories that made products that were military-related. A lot of women who used to work at factories were abducted by Japanese military and used as comfort women, and that is why the word“Jung Shin Dae”was used to mean comfort women. However,“Jung Shin Dae”is necessarily not the same word as comfort women. We estimate that about 200,000 Korean women were abducted by the Japanese military as comfort women. Most of them died, and there are only 158 comfort women who have identified themselves as comfort women to the Korean government since 1992. Of these, about forty women died, and the comfort women who are still alive, including ones that are not included in the government’s statistics, total about one hundred forty one. Nine of them currently live in the House of Sharing, which is a registered social welfare organization.

From : http://www.nanum.org/eng/menu02/index.html

Korean?

Korean Alphabet is called the Hangeul.

It is made by the King Sejong.

Although many languages has its roots in Latin or Chinese.

However, Korean is itself.

Every year UNESCO gives prize to

a person or a group that helped the world by helping people

to become less literate.

The name of the prize is

UNESCO King Sejong Prize

Hanguel, the Korean alphabet is one of the most scientific,

consistent and efficient writing systems in the world

and one that is surprisingly easy to learn.

For more information :

http://www.korea.net/detail.do?guid=28281

To Dokdo from Korea and from Japan

G20 Seoul Summit

'Korea's 100-year dream project' - From South Africa, Rome to London and heading to U.S.

Asia Economy Newspaper Go, Jae-Wan] Planned by Seo, Kyoungduk, Korea PR expert and a guest professor in Sungshin Women’s University, and designed by international fashion designer Lee, Sangbong, ‘Korea’s 100-year dream project’ also took place in UK.

Prof. Seo who is visiting London with university students has said “Starting from collecting precious dreams of South Africans last June when the World Cup was held, we are planning to collect the dreams of Europeans all around Europe while we visit various parts of Europe during two weeks in July.

James(35), who took part in front of Buckingham Palace said “I wish my newly started private business to flourish and all my family be well.”

German tourist Saskia(17), visiting London, said “I wish that there be abundant supply of water in poor countries so that people around the world can be happy.

Approximately 8,000 people including Koreans and foreigners have participated in this project so far. This project will be held until the end of September in Korean metropolitan and local cities, in Europe during July, in US during August, and Asia during September, collecting hopes and dreams of people around the globe.

Starting from July, online participation is available. By clicking ‘Say your dream’ in the official web site(www.dreamofworld.com), anyone can participate in this project by writing their dream in either Korean or English.

Prof. Seo, who made headlines last year by making “Thumbprint hanging picture of martyr An, Jung-geun” with thumbprints of more than thirty thousand citizens to celebrate the 100th anniversary of martyr Ahn’s assassination, is again, working with the creative culture club ‘ssengjonkyoungjeng.

This project is planning to collect fabric pieces with dreams written on them from 20,100 people all around the globe and create a large hanging work which will be displayed in Kwangwhamoon district during G20 summit meeting.

Go, Jae-Wan star@<ⓒ Asia Economy Newspaper & Stoo.com) 2010.07.16

Korean famous pop Girl group - Girls' Generation

Girls' Generation (Korean: 소녀시대; 少女時代) is a South Korean nine-member girl group formed by SM Entertainment in 2007. The members are Yoona,Tiffany, Yuri, Hyoyeon, Sooyoung, Seohyun, Taeyeon, Jessica, and Sunny. They are commonly referred to as SNSD, the acronym of the group's Korean name So Nyeo Shi Dae or So Nyuh Shi Dae. The group has released two albums and various singles. Their biggest song is "Gee", which is the longest-running #1 song on KBS's Music Bank, at 9 weeks total. The members of the group have had various activities as solo entertainers — acting in various dramas and musicals, hosting various reality-variety shows, and releasing solo singles.



Pre-debut : The members were professionally trained primarily in singing and dancing while a select few were also trained in acting and modeling. Many of the members had already made appearances in magazine ads, television commercials, and small television appearances. For nearly two years, Korean websites speculated about which female SM Entertainment trainees would be placed into the group. They were speculated to be called Super Girls after their counterpart Super Junior. [edit] 2007: Debut and first album In July 2007, Girls' Generation had their unofficial first stage performance on School of Rock. The song the girls performed was called "Into the New World" (Korean: "다시 만난 세계", Dasi Mannan Segye), which became their first single. A show documenting the girls' debut titled M.Net's Girls Go To School was filmed during this time. The song had a physical release, which included two other songs, "Beginning" and "Perfect for You", which was later renamed to "Honey" for their self-titled debut album Girls' Generation. An instrumental of "Into the New World" was also included. The group began promoting the single soon after its release. Girls' Generation performed their single on SBS's Inkigayo, MBC's Show! Music Core, and on KBS's Music Bank. They officially debuted on August 5, 2007.


After a short break, the group's first full album was released in late autumn 2007, with the lead single "Girls' Generation" (Korean: "소녀시대"), a cover of Lee Seung-chul's hit. Promotion for the single started in early November. Marked by dance routines and vocals, "Girls' Generation" was a hit for the group, and the album sold 121,143 copies to date, placing 8th in the year-end charts. In early 2008, Girls' Generation began promoting their second single, "Kissing You". The music video featured Donghae from Super Junior. This song achieved the #1 spot on three major TV music rankings—SBS Inkigayo, M.net M.Countdown! and KBS Music Bank. In March 2008, the album was re-released and re-titled Baby Baby. A third single, "Baby Baby", was used to promote the album. A digital EP featuring Jessica, Tiffany and Seohyun was released on April 2008, titled Roommate. The single from the mini-album is "Oppa Nappa" (Korean: "오빠 나빠", literally "Bad Brother", although contextually it refers to an older male friend).

2008–2009: Other activites, comeback with mini-albums For most of 2008, the group was active in other areas of the entertainment industry. It was announced in autumn 2008 that Girls' Generation would be starring in a reality show on M.net. Titled Factory Girl, the show chronicles the girls working as interns at fashion magazine Elle. The program began airing in early October. The group also participated in SM Town Live '08.

It was then announced that the group's first EP, The First Mini Album — Gee, would be released in January 2009. A teaser video was released in January 2009 and the first single "Gee" released soon after. Interest in the song rose after the digital release, topping Cyworld's hourly music chart on the release day. The song also went #1 on all major digital music charts within two days. The group began its album promotion on January 2009 on MBC Show! Music Core. They sang their new single, "Gee", and "Him Nae (Way To Go)", another track from Gee. Meanwhile, questions were raised when the group did not appear on KBS's Music Bank with "Gee", even after winning #1 on the music chart show. "Gee" is the record holder for the longest-running #1 on music portal M.net (for 8 weeks), surpassing the previous record of 6 weeks set by the Wonder Girls' "Nobody". They also set a record on KBS's Music Bank by being #1 for 9 consecutive weeks, breaking the record previously set by Jewelry's "One More Time", which had 7 wins. "Gee" was also awarded by Music Bank for being the best-selling song of the year.[citation needed] Promotions for the song ended at the end of March.

After a short break, SM Entertainment announced that the girls would be back with a new single and showing a "Marine Girl" concept; the song, titled "Sowoneul Malhaebwa (Genie)" (Korean: "소원을 말해봐", literally "Tell Me Your Wish"); the mini album was released digitally on June 22, 2009. The mini-album, Genie, includes a duet between Jessica and SHINee member Onew called "One Year Later" The group started its promotional activies on the June 26, 2009 recording of KBS's Music Bank. The group then had their return performances on MBC's Music Core and SBS's Inkigayo on June 27 and 28, 2009. The mini-album was released on June 29, 2009. Their first #1 award for "Sowoneul Malhaebwa (Genie)" was on the July 10, 2009 episode of KBS Music Bank.[citation needed] Their second award was claimed at the July 12, 2009 episode of SBS's Inkigayo[citation needed]. The group finished promotions for "Sowoneul Malhaebwa (Genie)" in August 2009. On October 7, Girls' Generation, along with label-mate f(x), released a digital single named "Chocolate Love" for the 4th edition of the Blacklabel series LG CYON phone, "Chocolate". Girls' Generation sang the "Retro Pop Version" of the song while f(x) sang the "Electronic Pop Version". In addition to their musical activities, the girls have had various television series, with varied success.

On May 3, 2009, Girls' Generation starred in their new reality show Sonyuh Shidae Horror Movie factory, with the premiere episode receiving a viewership rating of 3.3%. The show was then cancelled after 6 episodes due to low ratings.[citation needed] The show was replaced with another Girls' Generation reality program Himnaera-Him! or Cheer Up! in which the girls try to cheer up hardworking people in the midst of an economic slump. The show was canceled after two episodes due to the girls becoming too busy with the release and promotion of their new mini-album, Sowoneul Malhaebwa (Genie).[citation needed] Since June 23, 2009, the group has been on a reality series titled Girls' Generation's Hello Baby, on cable network KBS Joy, where they take care of a child and experience what motherhood is like. In that show, they take care of a boy named "Cho Kyungsan" (Korean: "조경산"), and each week they (or fathers, male guests who come out time to time) select "The Best Mom" and "the Worst Mom" among the members according to their work for the day. The show ended on November 17, 2009.[citation needed] In July, selected members, alongside selected Super Junior members, released the song "S.E.O.U.L."[16]. The music video was released as part of South Korea's tourism initiative. The group also announced its first solo tour, with two Korean dates in December and other Asian locations to follow. The Korean dates sold out in 3 minutes. The concert is titled "Into the New World" after the name of their debut single. Due to the success of the first concerts, the group confirmed that they will be holding encore concerts on February 27 and 28.

2010: Second album and other activities In early 2010, the group was chosen to sing SBS's new logo song "Naeireul Bomnida" (Korean: "내일을 봅니다", "Look at Tomorrow"). Later in January, SM Entertainment confirmed the release of Oh!, the group's second full-length album, released on January 28. The lead single "Oh!", was digitally released on January 25 with the music video being released two days later. The song proved to be popular topping various charts upon release.

On January 30, the group started promotions with the recording of MBC's Show! Music Core. The performance experienced a blackout near the end, to which MBC made the whole performance available online. Starting from March 11, 2010, photos of the members were released online showcasing a dark concept, named "Black Girls' Generation". On March 13, Sooyoung and Hyoyeon's photos were revealed.[citation needed] Teaser videos are scheduled to be released on March 16, with the new single released as a digital single on March 17.

About Park Ji sung.

Park Ji-Sung (Hangul: 박지성; Hanja:朴智星; Korean pronunciation: [pak̚t͈ɕisʌŋ]; born 25 February 1981) is a South Korean professional footballer who plays for the English club Manchester United and is the captain of the South Korean national team. He is the only Korean player to win the UEFA Champions League and the first Asian to play in a final of the tournament.[3]

Park began his football career in his native South Korea and played for the Myongji University team before moving to Japan to play for Kyoto Purple Sanga. After Park's national team manager Guus Hiddink moved back to the Netherlands to manage PSV Eindhoven, Park followed him to the Dutch side a year later. After PSV reached the semi-finals of the 2004–05 UEFA Champions League, Park's talents were recognised by Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson and he signed Park for a fee of around £4 million in July 2005. Since then, Park has played in three consecutive Premier League-winning Manchester United teams and has also won the UEFA Champions League and the FIFA Club World Cup. Park is able to play anywhere across the midfield and is noted for his exceptional fitness level.

As a member of the South Korean national team, Park has won 84 caps and scored 11 goals, and was a member of the team that finished fourth at the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

This is the video clip of Ji sung Park's Goal recently. Please enjoy.

Three ancient tribes in Korea

1. Goguryeo

Goguryeo or Koguryŏ (Korean pronunciation: [koɡuɾjʌ]) was an ancient Korean kingdom located in present day northern and central parts of the Korean peninsula, southern Manchuria, and southern Russian Maritime province.

Along with Baekje and Silla, Goguryeo was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. Goguryeo was an active participant in the power struggle for control of the Korean peninsula as well as associated with the foreign affairs of peer polities in China and Japan.

The Samguk Sagi, a 12th century CE Goryeo text, indicates that Goguryeo was founded in 37 BCE by Jumong, a prince from Buyeo, although there is archaeological and textual evidence that suggests Goguryeo culture was in existence since the 2nd century BCE around the fall of Gojoseon, an earlier kingdom that also occupied southern Manchuria and northern Korea.

Goguryeo was a major regional power in Northeast Asia until it was defeated by a Silla-Tang alliance in 668 CE. After its defeat, its territory was divided among the Tang Dynasty, Unified Silla and Balhae.

The English word "Korea" derives from "Goryeo", which comes from "Goguryeo".


2. Baekje

Baekje or Paekche (Korean pronunciation: [pɛk̚tɕ͈e]) (18 BCE – 660 CE) was a kingdom located in southwest Korea. It was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, together with Goguryeo and Silla.

Baekje was founded by Onjo, the third son of Goguryeo's founder Jumong and So Seo-no, at Wirye-sung (around present-day Seoul). Baekje, like Goguryeo, claimed to succeed Buyeo, a state established in present-day Manchuria around the time of Gojoseon's fall.

Baekje alternately battled and allied with Goguryeo and Silla as the three kingdoms expanded control over the peninsula. At its peak in the 4th century, Baekje controlled some colonies in China and most of the western Korean Peninsula, as far north as Pyongyang. It became a significant regional sea power, with political and trade relations with China and Japan.

In 660, it was defeated by an alliance of Silla and China's Tang Dynasty, submitting to Unified Silla.


3. Silla

Silla (57 BC – 935 AD) (Korean pronunciation: [ɕilːa]) was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, and one of the longest sustained dynasties in Asian history. Although it was founded by King Park Hyeokgeose, who is also known to be the originator of the Korean family name Park (박, 朴), the dynasty was to see the Kyungju Kim (김, 金) clan hold rule for most of its 992-year history. What began as a chiefdom in the Samhan confederacies, once allied with China, Silla eventually conquered the other two kingdoms, Baekje in 660 and Goguryeo in 668. Thereafter, Unified Silla or Later Silla, as it is often referred to, occupied most of the Korean Peninsula, while the northern part re-emerged as Balhae, a successor-state of Goguryeo. After nearly 1000 years of rule, Silla fragmented into the brief Later Three Kingdoms, handing over power to its successor dynasty Goryeo in 935.[1]

This article is from Wikipedia.

About Korea~!

This is the cite from Wikepedia.

Korea (Korean: 한국 or 조선) is a civilization and formerly unified nation currently divided into two states. Located on the Korean Peninsula, it borders China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the east by the Korea Strait.

Korea was united until 1948; at that time it was split into South Korea and North Korea. South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea, is a capitalist, democratic and developed country, with memberships in the United Nations, WTO, OECD and G-20 major economies. North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, is a single-party communist country founded by Kim Il-sung and currently led by his son Kim Jong-il. North Korea also has membership in the United Nations.

Archaeological and linguistic evidence suggest the origins of the Korean people were in Altaic language-speaking migrants from south-central Siberia,[2] who populated ancient Korea in successive waves from the Neolithic age to the Bronze Age.[3] The adoption of the Chinese writing system ("Hanja" in Korean) in the 2nd century BC, and Buddhism in the 4th century AD, had profound effects on the Three Kingdoms of Korea. Korea later passed on a modified version of these cultural advances to Japan.[4][5][6][7]

Since the Goryeo Dynasty, Korea was ruled by a single government and maintained political and cultural independence until the 20th century, despite the Mongol invasions of the Goryeo Dynasty in the 13th century and Japanese invasions of the Joseon Dynasty in the 16th century. In 1377, Korea produced the Jikji, the world's oldest existing document printed with movable metal type.[8] In the 16th century, the turtle ships were deployed, and King Sejong the Great promulgated the Korean alphabet, Hangul.

During the latter part of the Joseon Dynasty, Korea's isolationist policy earned it the Western nickname the "Hermit Kingdom". By the late 19th century, the country became the object of the colonial designs of Japan and Europe. In 1910, Korea was forcibly annexed by Japan and remained occupied until the end of World War II in August 1945.

In 1945, the Soviet Union and the United States agreed on the surrender and disarming of Japanese troops in Korea; the Soviet Union accepting the surrender of Japanese weaponry north of the 38th parallel and the United States taking the surrender south of it. This minor decision by allied armies soon became the basis for the division of Korea by the two superpowers, exacerbated by their inability to agree on the terms of Korean independence. The two Cold War rivals then established governments sympathetic to their own ideologies, leading to Korea's current division into two political entities: North Korea and South Korea.

If you want more, go to the cite,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korea

Do you know about Yu Na Kim, the figure skater?