HistoryLens Korea
Explore monarchs and major historical events concurrently through parallel timelines.
π Historical Major Events
Click on an event card to read detailed multilingual description.
Founding of Gojoseon
The founding of Gojoseon in 2333 BCE marked the genesis...
Founding of Silla
The founding of Silla in 57 BCE by Park Hyeokgeose Geos...
Founding of Goguryeo
The founding of Goguryeo in 37 BCE by King Dongmyeongse...
Founding of Baekje
The founding of Baekje in 18 BCE by King Onjo, a son of...
Formation of Gaya Confederacy
The formation of the Gaya Confederacy is marked by the ...
Goguryeo Accepts Buddhism & Founds Taehak
In the mid-4th century, Goguryeo faced significant chal...
King Gwanggaeto's Expansion & Stele Erection
Gwanggaeto the Great's reign (391-412 CE) marked the ze...
Silla Adopts Its Name and the Title of 'King'
In 503 CE, King Jijeung of Silla enacted a monumental r...
Subjugation of Usan-guk (Ulleungdo & Dokdo)
In the early 6th century, Silla was undergoing a period...
Battle of Salsu (Eulji Mundeok's Great Victory)
The Battle of Salsu, led by General Eulji Mundeok in 61...
Siege of Ansi Fortress
The victory at Ansi Fortress in 645 AD, during the reig...
Construction of Cheomseongdae
The construction of Cheomseongdae in 647 AD marks the e...
Battle of Hwangsanbeol & Fall of Baekje
The Battle of Hwangsanbeol and the Fall of Baekje in 66...
Silla Unifies the Three Kingdoms
In the mid-7th century, the Korean Peninsula was a stag...
Founding of Balhae by Dae Jo-yeong
The founding of Balhae by Dae Jo-yeong in 698 was a piv...
Establishment of Cheonghaejin by Jang Bogo
The establishment of Cheonghaejin by Jang Bogo in 828 d...
Founding of Later Baekje
The founding of Later Baekje in 900 by Gyeon Hwon is a ...
Founding of Goryeo Dynasty
The founding of Goryeo was a momentous historical event...
Goryeo Unifies the Later Three Kingdoms
Taejo Wang Geon peacefully absorbed Silla and defeated ...
King Gwangjong's Slave Review Act
King Gwangjong enacted the Slave Review Act (Nobi Angeo...
Seo Hui's Diplomatic Negotiations & Gangdong 6 Provinces
When the Khitans invaded Goryeo, diplomat Seo Hui negot...
Battle of Gwiju (Gang Gam-chan's Great Victory)
During the third Khitan invasion, Goryeo forces command...
Myocheong's Western Capital Move Movement
During the reign of King Injong of Goryeo, royal author...
Outbreak of Musin Rebellion (Military Coup)
Military officers led by Jeong Jung-bu and Yi Ui-bang l...
First Mongol Invasion of Goryeo
In 1231, Goryeo found itself under the looming shadow o...
Carving of Tripitaka Koreana Commences
To overcome the Mongol invasion through Buddhist devoti...
Relocation to Kaesong & Sambyeolcho Rebellion
Following the Goryeo court's capitulation and return to...
King Gongmin's Anti-Yuan Reforms
In the late Goryeo Dynasty, with the deepening of Yuan'...
Choe Mu-seon's Gunpowder & Battle of Jinpo
Choi Museon's Development of Cannons and the Victory at...
Printing of Jikji (World's Oldest Movable Metal Type)
Printed at Heungdeoksa Temple in Cheongju, Jikji is rec...
Yi Seong-gye's Wihado Retreat
Sent to invade Liaodong, General Yi Seong-gye decided t...
Founding of Joseon
Taejo Yi Seong-gye, allied with neo-Confucian scholars,...
Transfer of Capital to Hanyang & Founding of Gyeongbokgung
King Taejo moved the capital from Kaesong to Hanyang (n...
First Strife of Princes
Yi Bang-won (later King Taejong) launched a surprise at...
Exile of the First Elephant in Joseon
The first elephant in Korea, gifted by the King of Japa...
Introduction of Eight Provinces & Hopae Law
King Taejong reorganized the national administrative di...
4 Districts, 6 Posts & Jang Yeong-sil's Inventions
King Sejong secured the northern borders by establishin...
Invention of Hangul (Hunminjeongeum)
King Sejong the Great invented Hangul (Hunminjeongeum),...
Official Proclamation of Hunminjeongeum
King Sejong the Great officially proclaimed Hunminjeong...
Gyeyu Jeongnan (Coup of 1453)
Grand Prince Suyang (later King Sejo) eliminated prime ...
Aborted Restoration of Danjong (Six Dead Ministers)
Scholars of Jiphyeonjeon, including Seong Sam-mun and B...
Promulgation of Gyeongguk Daejeon (State Code)
Completed and promulgated under King Seongjong, Gyeongg...
Muosahwa (First Literati Purge)
The first literati purge of Joseon, triggered by Jo Ui-...
Gapjasahwa (Second Literati Purge)
The second literati purge, caused by Yeonsangun finding...
Jungjong Banjeong (Coup of 1506)
The first successful coup in Joseon. Officials overthre...
Jo Gwang-jo & Gimyo Literati Purge
The reformist leader Jo Gwang-jo, who promoted radical ...
Appearance of the Palace Monster (Mulgoe)
An unidentified beast, described as shaggy like a dog b...
Eulsasahwa (Fourth Literati Purge)
The fourth literati purge, triggered by a power struggl...
Outbreak of Imjin War & Battle of Hansando
A seven-year war broke out due to the invasion by Japan...
Jeongyu Jaeran & Battle of Myeongnyang
Following failed peace talks, Japan launched a second i...
First Implementation of Daedongbeop
To reform the corrupt tribute system, King Gwanghaegun ...
UFO Sightings in Gangwon Province
In 1609, multiple towns in Gangwon Province reported se...
Completion of Dongui Bogam by Heo Jun
Royal physician Heo Jun compiled and published Dongui B...
Injo Banjeong (Coup of 1623)
Westerner faction leaders overthrew King Gwanghaegun, c...
Outbreak of Jeongmyo Horan (First Jin Invasion)
Angered by Injo's pro-Ming and anti-Jin policies, the L...
Outbreak of Byeongja Horan (Qing Invasion)
After Joseon refused to submit to the Qing dynasty, Emp...
Humiliation of Samjeondo
King Injo performed the ritual of subjection to Emperor...
King Hyojong's Northern Expedition & Naseon Expedition
King Hyojong prepared a military plan to attack the Qin...
Beginning of Yesong Debates (Rites Dispute)
Upon the death of King Hyojong, a major political strug...
Gyeongsin Hwanguk (First State Turnabout)
King Sukjong abruptly replaced the ruling Southerner fa...
Gisa Hwanguk & Queen Consort Jang
King Sukjong purged the Westerner faction opposing the ...
King Yeongjo's Tangpyeong Policy
To end the intense factional warfare between Noron and ...
First Catholic Baptism of Yi Seung-hun
Scholar Yi Seung-hun was baptized in Beijing and return...
Completion of Hwaseong Fortress
Built under King Jeongjo's reign using scientific engin...
Outbreak of Hong Gyeong-nae Rebellion
Triggered by local discrimination against the Northwest...
Imsul Peasants Uprising (Jinju Uprising)
Triggered by corruption in the tax system and extortion...
Byeonginyangyo & General Sherman Incident
In retaliation for execution of French priests, French ...
Sinmiyangyo (US Expedition to Korea)
A military expedition launched by the United States to ...
Treaty of Ganghwa (Opening of Korea)
Signed under pressure after the Unyo Incident, the Trea...
Imo Military Mutiny
A major uprising by underpaid soldiers of the old milit...
Gapsin Coup (1884)
A progressive coup led by Kim Ok-gyun and the Enlighten...
Donghak Peasant Revolution & Gabo Reforms
Peasants led by Jeon Bong-jun rose against local corrup...
Eulmisaben (Assassination of Empress Myeongseong)
Japanese agents and soldiers infiltrated the palace and...
Agwan Pacheon (King's Refuge in Russian Legation)
Fearing for his safety after his wife's murder, King Go...
Proclamation of the Korean Empire & Gwangmu Reforms
King Gojong returned to the palace and held an imperial...
Forced Signing of Eulsa Treaty (Protectorate)
Victorious in the Russo-Japanese War, Japan pressured J...
Hague Secret Envoys & Dissolution of Military
Emperor Gojong secretly dispatched envoys to the Hague ...
An Jung-geun Assassinated Ito Hirobumi
Lieutenant General of the Korean Righteous Army, An Jun...
Japanese Annexation of Korea (Gyeongsol Guchi)
With the forced promulgation of the Annexation Treaty, ...
March 1st Movement & Provisional Gov.
A nationwide non-violent movement against Japanese rule...
Battles of Bongo-dong & Cheongsanri
Korean independence armies led by Hong Beom-do (at Bong...
Korean Products Promotion Movement
Led by Cho Man-sik under the slogan 'Buy Korean goods,'...
June 10th Movement (1926)
A major anti-Japanese student-led demonstration broke o...
Founding of Singanhoe (United Nationalist Front)
The largest nationalist-socialist united front organiza...
Gwangju Student Independence Movement
Triggered by clashes between Korean and Japanese studen...
Yoon Bong-gil's Hongkou Park Bombing
Korean patriot Yoon Bong-gil threw bombs disguised as l...
National Liberation Day (Gwangbokjeol)
Following the Allied victory in World War II and Japan'...
Establishment of the ROK Government
Following democratic general elections in the South, th...
Outbreak of the Korean War
Sparked by North Korea's sudden invasion, the Korean Wa...
Signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement
Representatives of the UN Command, North Korean forces,...
April 19 Revolution
A massive pro-democracy uprising led by students agains...
May 16th Military Coup
A military coup led by Major General Park Chung-hee, ov...
Launch of Saemaul Undong & Gyeongbu Expressway
The community reform Saemaul Undong (New Village Moveme...
July 4th Joint Statement & Yusin Constitution
South and North Korea declared three principles for reu...
Assassination of Park & December 12 Coup
The assassination of President Park ended the Yusin era...
Gwangju Democratization Movement
A popular uprising in Gwangju where citizens and studen...
June Democracy Movement
A nation-wide pro-democracy protest triggered by the to...
1988 Seoul Summer Olympics
Seoul hosted the 24th Summer Olympic Games. It was a hi...
IMF Financial Crisis & Gold Collecting Campaign
Faced with default due to corporate bankrupcties, South...
First Inter-Korean Summit
President Kim Dae-jung met North Korea's Chairman Kim J...
2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan
Co-hosted with Japan, South Korea made a historic run t...
PyeongChang Olympics & K-Culture Rise
PyeongChang hosted a successful Winter Olympics. Concur...