Korean Korean History Words & Phrases

Korea's history spans thousands of years, from ancient kingdoms to modern democracy. Learning historical vocabulary helps you understand Korean dramas set in the past, visit museums and historical sites, and appreciate the events that shaped Korean identity. These terms are essential for anyone wanting deeper cultural knowledge.

110 words

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한국 역사

hanguk yeoksa

Korean History

Beginner

조선 왕조

joseon wangjo

Joseon Dynasty

Intermediate

고려 왕조

goryeo wangjo

Goryeo Dynasty

Intermediate

삼국 시대

samguk sidae

Three Kingdoms Period

Intermediate

wang

King

Beginner

세종대왕

sejong daewang

King Sejong the Great

Intermediate

한글 창제

hangeul changje

Creation of Hangul

Intermediate

일제 강점기

ilje gangjeomgi

Japanese Colonial Period

Advanced

광복절

gwangbokjeol

Liberation Day

Intermediate

한국 전쟁

hanguk jeonjaeng

Korean War

Intermediate

남북 분단

nambuk bundan

Division of Korea

Advanced

독립운동

dongnipundong

Independence Movement

Advanced

삼일운동

sam-il-undong

March First Movement

Advanced

고대 한국

godae hanguk

Ancient Korea

Advanced

고조선

gojoseon

Gojoseon

Advanced

고구려

goguryeo

Goguryeo

Advanced

신라

silla

Silla Kingdom

Intermediate

백제

baekje

Baekje Kingdom

Advanced

이성계

i seonggye

Yi Seonggye (Taejo)

Advanced

유교

yugyo

Confucianism in Korea

Advanced

불교

bulgyo

Buddhism in Korea

Intermediate

경복궁

gyeongbokgung

Gyeongbokgung Palace

Beginner

팔만대장경

ppalman daejanggyeong

Tripitaka Koreana

Advanced

이순신

i sunsin

Admiral Yi Sun-sin

Advanced

거북선

geobukseon

Turtle Ship

Intermediate

임진왜란

imjin waeran

Imjin War

Advanced

삼일절

sam-il-jeol

Independence Movement Day

Intermediate

4·19 혁명

sa-il-gu hyeokmyeong

April Revolution

Advanced

민주화 운동

minjuhwa undong

Democratization Movement

Advanced

5·18 민주화 운동

o-il-pal minjuhwa undong

Gwangju Uprising

Advanced

한강의 기적

hangang-ui gijeok

Miracle on the Han River

Advanced

서울 올림픽

seoúl ollimpik

1988 Seoul Olympics

Intermediate

IMF 외환위기

IMF oehwan-wigi

1997 Financial Crisis

Advanced

합병

hapbyeong

Annexation

Advanced

임시정부

imsi jeongbu

Provisional Government

Advanced

청자

cheongja

Celadon

Advanced

금속 활자

geumsok hwalja

Metal Movable Type

Advanced

휴전

hyujeon

Armistice

Advanced

비무장지대

bimujangjidae

DMZ (Demilitarized Zone)

Intermediate

한글 역사

hangeul yeoksa

Hangul History

Beginner

촛불 집회

chosbul jibohe

Candlelight Protests

Advanced

태극기

taegukgi

Korean Flag (Taegukgi)

Beginner

단군

dangun

Dangun

Advanced

개천절

gaecheonjeol

National Foundation Day

Intermediate

선비

seonbi

Confucian Scholars (Joseon)

Advanced

궁중 음악

gungjung eumak

Royal Court Music

Advanced

화랑

hwarang

Hwarang

Advanced

한국 근대화

hanguk geundaehwa

Modernization of Korea

Advanced

고종

gojong

Emperor Gojong

Advanced

대한제국

daehanjeguk

Korean Empire

Advanced

조선 경제

joseon gyeongje

Joseon Economy

Advanced

청일전쟁

cheongjil jeonjaeng

Sino-Japanese War

Advanced

광화문

gwanghwamun

Gwanghwamun Gate

Beginner

수원 화성

suwon hwaSeong

Suwon Hwaseong Fortress

Intermediate

서대문 형무소

seodaemun hyeongmuso

Seodaemun Prison

Advanced

첨성대

cheomseongdae

Cheomseongdae Observatory

Advanced

남북 통일

nambuk tongil

Korean Reunification

Advanced

성균관

sungkyunkwan

Sungkyunkwan

Advanced

종묘

jongmyo

Jongmyo Shrine

Advanced

규장각

gyujanggak

Gyujanggak Royal Library

Advanced

한양

hanyang

Hanyang (Old Seoul)

Intermediate

동학운동

donghak undong

Donghak Movement

Advanced

풍수

pungsu

Pungsu (Korean Geomancy)

Advanced

양반

yangban

Yangban (Aristocracy)

Advanced

과거시험

gwageo siheom

Gwageo Exam

Advanced

신분제도

sinbunjedo

Joseon Social Classes

Advanced

한의학

hanuihak

Traditional Korean Medicine (History)

Advanced

조선 미술

joseon misul

Joseon Art

Advanced

국궁

gukgung

Korean Traditional Archery

Advanced

종로

jongno

Jongno (Historic Street)

Intermediate

독립기념관

dongniknimgwan

Independence Hall of Korea

Intermediate

덕수궁

deoksugung

Deoksugung Palace

Intermediate

석굴암

seokguram

Seokguram Grotto

Advanced

국립중앙박물관

gungnip jungang bangmulgwan

National Museum of Korea

Intermediate

한글날

hangeuInal

Hangul Day

Beginner

과거제도

gwagejo

Civil Service Exam (Joseon)

Advanced

통일신라

tongil silla

Unified Silla

Advanced

후삼국 시대

husamguk sidae

Later Three Kingdoms

Advanced

왕건

wang geon

Wang Geon (Taejo of Goryeo)

Advanced

몽골 침략

mongol chimnyak

Mongol Invasions of Korea

Advanced

해인사

haeinsa

Haeinsa Temple

Intermediate

불국사

bulguksa

Bulguksa Temple

Intermediate

민화

minhwa

Minhwa (Folk Painting)

Intermediate

천도교

cheondogyo

Cheondogyo Religion

Advanced

창덕궁

changdeokgung

Changdeokgung Palace

Intermediate

성벽

seongbyeok

Joseon Defensive Walls

Intermediate

남대문

namdaemun

Namdaemun Gate (Sungnyemun)

Beginner

조선 문학

joseon munhak

Joseon Literature

Advanced

삼국사기

samguk sagi

Samguk Sagi

Advanced

삼국유사

samguk yusa

Samguk Yusa

Advanced

동의보감

dongui bogam

Dongui Bogam

Advanced

유신 헌법

yusin heonbeop

Yusin Constitution

Advanced

박정희

bak jeonghui

Park Chung-hee

Advanced

이승만

i seungman

Syngman Rhee

Advanced

대한민국 헌법

daehanjiminguk heonbeop

Korean Constitution

Advanced

육이오

yu-i-o

June 25 (Korean War start)

Intermediate

유관순

yu gwansun

Yu Gwan-sun

Intermediate

안중근

an junggeun

An Jung-geun

Advanced

태극기 역사

taegukgi yeoksa

Korean Empire Flag (Taegukgi history)

Advanced

조선 형벌

joseon hyeongbeol

Joseon Punishment System

Advanced

직지심체요절

jikji simche yojeol

Jikji

Advanced

고려 불교

goryeo bulgyo

Goryeo Buddhism

Advanced

내장산 국립공원

naejangsan gungnipgongwon

Naejangsan National Park

Intermediate

전쟁기념관

jeonjaengnimgwan

Korean War Memorial

Intermediate

한류

hallyu

Hallyu (Korean Wave)

Intermediate

국악 역사

gugak yeoksa

Korean Traditional Music History

Intermediate

1987년 민주화

cheongu-baek-palsip-chil-nyeon minjuhwa

1987 Democratization

Advanced

조선 조세 제도

Joseon josae jedo

Joseon tax system

Advanced

한국 도자기 역사

Hanguk dojagi yeoksa

Korean pottery history

Advanced

한국 독립 운동

Hanguk dongnip undong

Korean independence movement

Advanced

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