The history of Korea stretches from Lower Paleolithic times to the present. The earliest pottery period lead to Neolithic period and then to Bronze Age followed by Gojoseon Kingdom. By 3rd century BC, it disintegrated into many successor states. In the early Common Era, the three kingdoms of Silla, Goguryeo and Baekje, conquered the states of Gojoseon and dominated the peninsula. Goguryeo became the most powerful and defeated massive Chinese invasion. Silla extended across Korea and established the first unified state of Korean peninsula.

This unified Silla fell apart in late 9th century, giving way to three kingdom period that came to an end with establishment of Goryeo Dynasty. Even the Balhae was added into the same after the fall. During the Goryeo rule, laws were codified, Buddhism flourished and a civil service system was introduced. Then, it was invaded in 993-1019 by Khitan Liao Dynasty, which in turn was invaded by Mongolian Empire in 1238 and then a peace treaty was signed after thirty long years of war.

In 1392, the Joseon Dynasty was established by General Yi Seong-gye. It lasted from 1392- 1910. King Sejong the Great (1418-1450) promulgated hangul, the Korean alphabet. Japan invaded Korea between 1592-1598, but all its efforts were in vain as it was eventually repelled with the efforts by the Navy led by Admiral Yi Sun-shin, resistance armies. Manchu Qing Dynasty invaded Joseon in the 1620s and 1630s.

After it, some of the main events that took place in history of Korea are year wise mentioned below.

• In the beginning of 1870s, Japan started forcing Korea out of China's sphere of influence into its own.

• In 1895, Empress Myeongseong of Korea was assassinated by three of the Japanese agents.

• In 1905, Japan forced Korea to sign the Eulsa Treaty making Korea a protectorate

• In 1910 annexed Korea, although neither is considered to be legally valid

• In 1919, Korean resistance to the Japanese occupation was manifested in the massive nonviolent March 1st Movement of 1919.

Thereafter the Provisional Government of Korean Republic coordinated the Korean liberation movement, which was largely active in neighboring Manchuria, China and Siberia.

In 1945, Japan was defeated and then the United Nations developed plans for a trusteeship administration by the Soviet Union and the United States, but the plan was soon abandoned. In 1948, new governments were established, the democratic South Korea and Communist North Korea divided at the 38th parallel. The Korean war of 1950 brought forward the unresolved tensions of the division when finally North Korea invaded South Korea.