61. Korean history and geography vocabulary

In Unit 61 of our Basic Korean course, we will dive deep into the vocabulary of Korean history and geography. It is important to understand that Korea has a rich history and unique geography that have played a key role in shaping its culture and identity. Mastering this vocabulary will not only improve your language skills, but also enrich your knowledge of this fascinating country.

Korea is known as 'Hanguk' (한국) in Korean. The Korean peninsula, 'Hanguk Bandodo' (한국반도도), is divided into two sovereign nations: South Korea, or 'Namhan' (남한), and North Korea, or 'Bukhan' (북한). The capital of South Korea is Seoul, 'Seoul' (서울), while that of North Korea is Pyongyang, 'Pyongyang' (평양).

In terms of geography, Korea is surrounded by three seas: the East Sea, 'Donghae' (동해), the Yellow Sea, 'Hwanghae' (황해), and the Sea of ​​Japan, 'Ilbon Bada' ( 일본 바다). The country is known for its mountains, 'san' (산), with the highest being Mount Halla, 'Hallasan' (한라산), on Jeju Island, 'Jejudo' (제주도).

Let's now focus on Korean history. Korea's history is generally divided into four main periods: the Three Kingdoms Era, 'Samguk Sidae' (삼국시대), the Joseon Dynasty, 'Joseon Wangjo' (조선왕조), the Japanese Occupation Era, 'Ilje Sidae' (일제시대), and the Modern Era, 'Geundae' (근대).

The Three Kingdoms Era, which lasted from 57 BC to 668 AD, saw the rise of the three kingdoms of Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla. The term for kingdom in Korean is 'Wangguk' (왕국). During the Joseon Dynasty, from 1392 to 1897, Korea experienced a flowering of culture, science and technology. This period is often referred to as the golden age of Korean history.

The Japanese occupation of Korea from 1910 to 1945 was a dark period in Korean history. During this time, Korea was annexed by Japan and its culture and identity were severely repressed. This period is known in Korean as 'Ilje Sidae' (일제시대).

Finally, Korea's modern era began after liberation from Japanese rule in 1945. This period saw the division of Korea into North and South, the Korean War, 'Hanguk Jeonjaeng' (한국전쟁), and the subsequent recovery and economic growth, known as the 'Miracle on the Han River', 'Han-gang-ui Gijeok' (한강의 기적).

We hope this unit has given you a deeper understanding of Korean history and geography. Learning about a country's history and geography is an essential part of understanding its language and culture. We will continue to explore more aspects of Korean culture and language in upcoming units. Until then, keep practicing!

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98Economy Expressions in Korean

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