Korea is a country in East Asia. It is bounded by China, Russia and Japan.

Former Korean empires were under the influence of neighbouring major powers. The country was a vassal state of the Mongol Empire for about 150 years. The Korean kingdom Joseon stood until 1895 under the domination of the empire of China. From 1897 to 1910, the short-lived Empire of Korea existed. In 1905, it became a protectorate of the Japanese Empire, incorporated in 1910 as a colony in this. After the end of the Second World War in 1945, it became independent of Japan. At the same time, it came under the competing occupying powers Soviet Union and US division of Korea, which was solidified by the Korean War. North and South Korea were separated at the end of World War II by the Soviet Union. It was divided at a line of latitude known as the 38th Parallel.

The Korean conflict continues today.

In MedalBook, Korea is divided into North and South Korea. For more information, see the time period’s folder.