Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Smee]

[ajgeddes]

While Koreans do have a long history, Korea does not. Why can't people seperate that?

[gk]

There were also prokaryotic Koreans living on the nutrient-rich sediments on the peninsula as far back as 3 billion years ago, another gross oversight on the part of the USFK.

[Ilsanman]

Why not ask for some proof that Korea is older than 1700 years or whatever?

VANK has nothing. They're the kind of people I hate the most.

[SeoulFinn]

VANK is happy with a mere 4340 years? What happened to the "official truth" of 5000 years? In my opinion this news item is actually quite newsworthy after all, even though for a different reason.

I studied Korean studies in the university. Nevertheless, I tend to think that the "Korean history" started with the unification of the Three Kingdoms in 668 AD. I place almost no historical value on the Dangun myth. I also have huge difficulies in including Parhae into the Korean history. Yes, Parhae's leading elite was originally from Goguryo, but... I'm not even sure if I can say that Goguryo was really "Korean" either.

[contrarian]

My student lovr it when i show them I know the Dan gun legends and when I am adamant that the Korgoyo are definately NOT Chinese.

[ruffie]

Last week's official essay topic at my school was Korea's five hundred thousand year history. I kid you not. I've been here long enough to know there's no point in saying anything.

[bluelake]

I teach Korean history in a Korean university. The history of the Korean peninsula is quite long, but Korean history is quite a bit less. Korea did not truly become a state until after the founding of Koryo; Unified Silla held barely more land than is in South Korea today and the unification was not all that strong, as was evidenced by the Later Three Kingdoms period (just before Koryo). I only differ slightly with SeoulFinn's opinion; the annexation of the Palhae people was an important milestone for Korea's being a truly unified country. I do agree that Palhae (and Koguryo before it) was not Korean--it also was not Chinese--it was a kingdom all its own, separated from the others by language and culture. However, when Khitan domination forced the Koguryo descendants to leave, they overwhelmingly voted with their feet to move south, thus making them part of Korean history, de facto. That their tombs and other artifacts are found in what is now part of China makes no difference; they weren't about to dig up all their ancestors and take them on the trip

[lastat06513]

I think the USFK was only counting the Chosun Dynasty as the major part of independent Korean history because before that, the kingdoms were under the mercy of the various Chinese kings, emperors and warlords that ruled in the vicinity and had substantial influence over the kingdoms until they were unified under King Taejo in 1392.... that's primarily where the 1,700 years of independent history comes from.

As for liberation....Isn't it August 15th, a day or so after the US dropped the atom bombs on Japan, forcing them into surrender?
From what I read, is that Japan appealed to Korea's sense of "asian nationalism" and many conscripts, once on the frontlines, willingly started shooting at the GIs and if I am also not mistaken, many Korean manufacturing companies willingly supplied Japan with material for the war effort in an attempt to gain favor with them if they won the war?


I think I am wrong
I hope I am wrong

[bluelake]

Hmmm... by my calculator, 1,700 years ago would be somewhere in the 4th century, not 14th. Also, China still held influence over Korea during the Yi Choson dynasty; also, it wasn't until the late 16th century before China officially recognized the dynasty.

August 15, 1945 is when Japan surrendered; the bombs were dropped several days before that.

[Young FRANKenstein]

[lastat06513]

[Mr Crowley]

VANK rhymes with WANK.

[SeoulFinn]

[Lonewolf]

VANK should be vanquished