Korea (A Different History)

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Timeline: A Different History
OTL equivalent: Korean Peninsula

Flag Seal Location of Korea Motto Let the light shine across the land
Anthem	"Aegukga "
Capital	Pyongyang
Largest city	Pyongyang
Other cities	Seoul, Busan, Inchon, Ulsan
Language   official	Korean
others	Chinese, Japanese
Religion	Largest: Christianity
Ethnic Groups   main	Korean
others	Chinese, Japanese
Demonym	Korean
Government	Empire, semi-democratic
Legislature	National Assembly
Emperor	Wang Sung-Man
Imperial house:	Wang
President	Lee Sung-Man
Population	67,029,300
Established	June 3rd, 1914
Currency	Imperial Won
Time Zone	Imperial Korean Standard Time, UTC+9
Calling Code	82
Internet TLD	.kr
Organizations	United Nations, Pacific Ocean Treaty Organization, East Asian Trade Organization, World Trade Organization

Korea (Korean:대한재국) or the Second Empire of Korea, the successor the the Empire of Joseon, is an Empire located in East Asia, on the Korean Peninsula. Its bordering

seas are the Yellow Sea and the Sea of Korea. Across the Japan Strait are the seven kingdoms of Japan. Korea is a regional superpower, with the second most powerful economy in Asia after China. Korea is also a recognized nuclear power, under the Non-Nuclear Proliferation Treaty (NPT or NNPT), along with the United States, Kamchatka, Ming China, Israel, Wales, West Africa, and Peru. The capital of Korea is Pyongyang, a metropolis of 31 million inhabitants.

History

The First

According to legend, Gojoseon was established in 2333 BC by Dangun, the prince of the gods. In 109 B.C., Han China invaded Gojoseon due to a conflict regarding escourts. However, the two pronged attack was poorly coordinated, as that both fronts had their independent command, and soon fell apart. In 108 B.C., however, the command was merged and Wanggeom was besieged, and later Gojoseon became a vassal state to Han China. Han China proceded to impose the Four Commanderies of Han. Later, Gojoseon fractured and broke into several kingdoms, including Buyeo, Okjeo, Dongye, Goguryeo, and Baekje.

Three Kingdoms

In the first century B.C., Korea was divided into three nations. They were Silla, Goguryeo and Bakjae. This was known as the Three Kingdoms Period or the Warring States Period, as that these nations frequently had skirmishes and wars with each other, and mirroring China's Three Empire's Period, with neither side winning. However, around the beginning of the 1st century, Goguryeo conquered both Bakjae and Silla in 5 years, unifying the peninsula.

Unified Goguryeo

Main Articles: Goguryeo, Guguryeo Civil War

Under Goguryeo, Korea grew stronger and stronger. By the end of the 1st century, they had conquered all of the Korean peninsula and parts of Manchuria. However, an internal power struggle by 2 high officials in Goguryeo's government created a civil war that started in 98 A.D. and ended 3 years later with a high cost. In the end, thousands had been killed and the nation was in ruins. However, rebuilding started, and expansion followed soon after. By 149 A.D., Guguryeo was able to regain their former glory, and began putting more onto it. However, a new danger lurked close by: Han China .

Han Invasion

Main Article: Han invasions of Korea

Han China invaded Goguryeo in 152 A.D. over a border dispute with an ambassador. The invasion consisted of 250,000 men, and came in 3 directions. The land attack came from the North, which split into 2 attacks to go separate ways, one to go to Pyongyang, and another to go downward the peninsula, to surround Pyongyang. The other two attacks were through the Sea of Korea and the Yellow Sea, on the east and west sides of Goguryeo. However, as the attacks were unorganized, as the first ones, and actually under three commands, it was doomed to failure. Goguryeo managed to drive out Chinese forces, and restored borders to their original, and actually invaded Han China, conquering their sliver or Manchuria. However, Goguryeo negotiated a peace, knowing that it could not possibly conquer even 1/4 of the massive Chinese Empire, and that it would get over it's surprise quickly and the full wrath of China would be poured out on Goguryeo. This ended the Han invasions of Korea, the last one to ever come for centuries.

Pyonghwa Goguryeo

Main Article: Pyonghwa Goguryeo

Pyonghwa Goguryeo, or Peace Goguryeo, was a 500 year time between 178 A.D. through 692 A.D., in which Goguryeo enjoyed an era of peace and enlightenment. In this time, many items were invented, including:

• Yut, a board game wildly popular in Korea today
• Janggu, a type of drum used mostly in the Southern regions of Korea
• Taekkyeon, a martial art and predecessor to Taekwondo
• A cannon much more accurate than others around the globe, with more firepower

Song invasion of Korea

Main Article: Song invasion of Korea

In 692 A.D., the Song Dynasty, a dynasty which lasted for over 300 years, invaded Goguryeo after it refused to become a vassal state. The Song Dynasty invaded Goguryeo with a force of 300,000 men, both by land and by sea. By land, the Song forces captured most of Manchuria, as well as parts of northern Korea. However, at sea, the Song navy was completely annihilated by the Korean navy, which resulted in Song supply lines being cut and a valuable part of their invasion force destroyed. The Song army was thrown into chaos as expected reinforcements never arrived. However, the Song army was able to keep the northern half of Manchuria until reinforcements arrived from the homeland. However, due to exhaustion and low morale, they withdrew by two years and gave Manchuria back to Goguryeo. Now the second time they had resisted Chinese invasions, Goguryeo became something of a legend in East Asian nations, a sign that China was not invincible. After the failed invasions, Goguryeo amped up their army and navy extraordinarily, as to prepare for future invasions to come.

Goguryeo's Expansion

After the Chinese withdrew from Manchuria in 694 A.D., Goguryeo began a period of intense expansion into

Goguryeo at its height in 737 A.D.

both Manchuria and Eastern Russia. They faced almost no resistance from the locals, and Goguryeo became the second most powerful nation in the region, after Song China. In 712 A.D., Goguryeo launched an invasion of the tribes of Japan, which ended with them occupying central Japan and more. By the second half of the century, all of Japan had been taken, as well as most of Manchuria. However, by then, Goguryeo's power started to wane as rebellions started in both Manchuria and Japan. Later, Goguryeo lost a portion of Manchuria and all of Japan.

Waning of Goguryeo's Power

Main Articles: Fall of Goguryeo, Second Goguryeo Civil War

Although Goguryeo's expansion led it to wealth and power, by the 800s their power started to wane, as that in both Manchuria and Japan, tribes began rebelling to the Goguryeo's government. Also at this time, a power struggle started between Taejo, a major official, and Jucheng, the top general in Goguryeo. In 876 A.D., a civil war broke out in Goguryeo between Taejo and Jucheng, with Taejo having the northern half and Jucheng controlling the southern half of the Korean Peninsula. Jucheng held the king and his family hostage, while Taejo captured many highe officials for his hostages. In the end, the Goguryeo army suppressed both rebellions and the king was restored, but using this as a chance for freedom, Japan and parts of Manchuria rebelled, and by the time the internal rebellion was put down, it was too late to stop the external rebellion. By the end of the 9th century, Goguryeo was limited to the Korean Peninsula and parts of Manchuria, and had completely lost Japan. This marked the end of the 800 year old kingdom, and by 912 A.D., it fell apart into several warring nations.

Joseon

Main Article: Joseon

The Joseon dynasty began in 918 A.D., and soon formed the nation of Joseon. They proceeded to conquer the 5 other kingdoms in Korea, unifying it once more. They then again began a period of expansion into Manchuria, but never quite reached the glories of the days of Goguryeo. They also attempted to invade Japan, but failed due to storms. However, Joseon managed to recover, and launched another invasion of Japan in 1012, which was more successful, with them setting up a beachhead and began to expand into Japan. By 1032, 20 years later, all of Japan was conquered again, though it was not to last. In 1068, Japan once again rebelled, and split into 7 warring kingdoms. Samurai rose to power, each becoming shoguns of their kingdoms.

• Kingdom of Hokkaido
• Kingdom of Kamakura
• Kingdom of Kantō
• Kingdom of Kansai
• Kingdom of Shikoku
• Kingdom of Okinawa
• Kingdom of Chūbu

War of Hokkiado

Main Article: War of Hokkaido

The War of Hokkaido was started when Joseon, wanting to weaken the Japanese kingdoms, assassinated the King of the Kingdom of Kansai, making it look as if Hokkaido, a major competitor to Kansai, had done it. Kansai gathered up a coalition of four of the seven kingdoms, while Hokiiado managed to grab three of the 7seven kingdoms, including itself. By the end of the war, all seven nations were devastated by the war, and received aid from Joseon, strengthening Joseon's influence in Japan. However, Joseon never conquered Japan again.

The April Rebellion

Main Article: The June Rebellion

The Joseon Dynasty was the longest lasting one in Korean history, starting in 918 A.D. and ending in 1914, 1,000 years later. However, on April 21st, 1914, Lee Il-Chun started the April Rebellion, which led to the overthrow of the current government and the formation of the Empire of Korea. It was dissolved by Lee Il-Chun, the first emperor of the Empire of Korea. The Empire of Korea had a strong central government, with advisors advising the Emperor, but in the end, the final decision was made the the Emperor. However, in 1948, after the end of the Second World War, after intense pressure from other nations, including the United States, England, and Scotland, Korea was turned into a semi-democratic nation with the President having half of the power and the Emperor having the rest. The President would be elected by popular vote, while the seat of Emperor was hereditary.

The Beginning of the Empire of Korea

The Empire of Korea was formed on June 4th, 1914, right before the start of the First World War. It was formed by Lee Il-Chun, who dissolved the former government and renamed the nation to the Empire of Korea.

First World War

Main Article: World War I

The First World War was the second largest war in history, after the Second World War. World War I was started on June 5th, 1914, when Acarapi Condor, a Peruvian of Quechuan origin and the founder of the Condorist Party, was assassinated by Ecuadorian assassins. Peru quickly declared war on Ecuador, which was an ally of Mexico. Both Mexico and Gran Colombia declared war on Peru, which also had allies, mainly the US, Oregon, and England.

This later escalated, as that the US had allies, including Quebec and Canada, while England had more allies, namely West Russia, France, and West Africa. This lead to a butterfly effect, where war between those two nations lead to a quagmire of alliances, enemies, and war. The main sides were:

The Entente

• Ecuador
• Mexico
• Gran Colombia
• Chile
• Brazil
• Hokkiado
• Okinawa
• Scotland
• Wales
• Kamchatka
• Siberia
• Mongol Empire

Central Alliance

• United States
• Peru
• Oregon
• England
• Quebec
• Ontario
• France
• West Russia
• West Africa
• Ethiopia
• Mughal Empire
• Ming China
• Tang China

World War One ended with a Pyrrhic victory, with massive casualties on the Central Alliance. In the aftermath of the war, the Chile was incorporated into Peru, and massive economic sanctions were placed on Brazil and Gran Colombia.

After WWI, Korea began to rise as that other nations, such as the USSR, the United States, and Europe were either devastated by the war or they were suffering the First Great Depression (1927-1942). Korea was not as affected by the First Great Depression as the other nations, due to both their strong economy and their isolation from the rest of the world.

First Great Depression

Main Articles: First Great Depression, Nuclear Bombing of Algiers

The Great Depression was a severe global economic depression, started by the almost simultaneous crashes of both the Monrovian (Federation of West Africa), and the Miami (United States of America) Stock Exchange. This happened due to the nuclear bombing of Algiers, Algeria. A 10 KT nuclear device was dropped by terrorists on Algiers on July 2nd, 1927, which resulted in the crash of both stock markets, and the collapse of the economies of South America, North America, Europe, and Africa.

This led to the collapse of major international companies and corporations, such as Birmingham Industries and Antipas Enterprises. This led to a major unemployment issue worldwide, especially in South America, which was devastated by the First World War.

Post WWII

The 15-20 year time after the Second World War was a chaotic time, with responsibility of the rebuilding of Africa falling into the hands of the United States, Mexico, Europe, Africa, and Asia. Massive amounts of aid were sent by Korea to SA to help with the rebuilding, and thousands volunteered to help clear the rubble and help with the soup kitchens, rebuilding, etc.

Troublesome 60s

After the bulk of the rebuilding in South America was finished, the time period known as the Troublesome 60s took place. This was a period when several things were happening at the same time

1. The Jamaican Missile Crisis was taking place then, with the Kingdom of Jamaica being fitted with Ming China's nuclear weapons, as a way to threaten Colombia, the US, Mexico, South America, and Texas.
2. The violent breakup of the Holy Islamic Caliphate located in OTL Algeria.
3. A huge civil war between the Kamchatka, Siberia, and Mongolia, which resulted in millions of deaths.

Cold War

Main Article: Cold War

The Cold War was a period lasting from 1937-1976, and was “fought” between the capitalist United States of America, the fascist Federation of West Africa, the Condorist Peruvian Federation, and nationalist Ming China. This caused enormous political turmoil in Korea both overseas and interior.

The Cold War was started due to several reasons:

• Ming China placed nuclear missiles in the Kingdom of Jamaica, as a way to threaten the American nations.
• West Africa started to conduct inhumane experiments on foreigners, and developed a nuclear weapon, while being a signatory of the NPT.
• The Holy Islamic Caliphate in Algeria was being aggressive and conquering other nations. The HIC was never directly in the Cold War, but voiced their support for West Africa.

Economy

Korea has the second strongest economy in East Asia, after Ming China, and the third most in Asia, after the Mughal Empire and Ming China. Most of their GDP comes from exporting and manufacturing, although the hi-tech market has been on the rise, gobbling up huge percentages of the GDP.

Geo-political Situation

Main Article: Geo-Political Situation The Geo-Political situation of the world is very chaotic and confusing.

Government

Main Article: Government of Korea The Government of Korea is a semi-democratic republic, with an elected President, National Assembly, and Prime Minister. There are 4 branches, the Executive, Judicial, Legislative, and Imperial.

Executive Branch

The Executive Branch is one of the four branches in Korea’s government. It is made up of the President, Prime Minister, the Imperial Cabinet, and the Heads of Staff.

Legislative Branch

The Legislative Branch is another branch in Korea’s government. It is the National Assembly, which seats 80 members, five from each doe, or state. They vote on bills to pass them into law, and vote on laws to repeal them.