Korea Korea is a peninsular region in East Asia consisting of the Korean Peninsula, Jeju Island, and smaller islands. Since the end of World War II in 1945, it has been politically Division of Korea, divided at or near the 38th parallel north, 3 ...

's military history spans thousands of years, beginning with the ancient nation of

Gojoseon Gojoseon (; ), contemporary name Joseon (; ), was the first kingdom on the Korea, Korean Peninsula. According to Korean mythology, the kingdom was established by the legendary king Dangun. Gojoseon possessed the most advanced culture in th ...

and continuing into the present day with the countries of

North Korea North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the northern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and borders China and Russia to the north at the Yalu River, Yalu (Amnok) an ...

and

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the southern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and borders North Korea along the Korean Demilitarized Zone, with the Yellow Sea to the west and t ...

, and is notable for its many successful triumphs over invaders. Throughout its history, Korea has boasted numerous exceptional leaders who gained outstanding victories against numerically superior enemies. Famed leaders credited with defending Korea against foreign invasions include:

Ŭlchi Mundŏk Ŭlchi Mundŏk () was a military leader of early 7th century Goguryeo, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, who successfully defended Goguryeo against Sui China. He is famous for his victory at Salsu, and is often numbered among the greatest her ...

Goguryeo Goguryeo (37 BC – 668 AD) (; ; Old Korean: Guryeo) also later known as Goryeo (; ; Middle Korean: 고ᇢ롕〮, ''kwòwlyéy''), was a Korean kingdom which was located on the northern and central parts of the Korea, Korean Peninsula an ...

, who defeated

Sui China The Sui dynasty ( ) was a short-lived Chinese imperial dynasty that ruled from 581 to 618. The re-unification of China proper under the Sui brought the Northern and Southern dynasties era to a close, ending a prolonged period of political div ...

during the

Goguryeo–Sui War The Goguryeo–Sui War were a series of invasions launched by the Sui dynasty of China against Goguryeo, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, between AD 598 and AD 614. It resulted in the defeat of the Sui and was one of the pivotal factors in ...

;

Yŏn Kaesomun Yŏn KaesomunSome Chinese and Korean sources stated that his surname was Yŏngae () and personal name was Somun (), but the majority of sources suggest a one-syllable surname and a three-syllable personal name. (; 594–666) was a powerful milit ...

of Goguryeo, who defeated Emperor Taizong of

Tang China The Tang dynasty (, ; zh, c=唐朝), or the Tang Empire, was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907, with an Wu Zhou, interregnum between 690 and 705. It was preceded by the Sui dynasty and followed ...

during the

Goguryeo–Tang War The Goguryeo–Tang War occurred from 645 to 668 and was fought between Goguryeo and the Tang dynasty. During the course of the war, the two sides allied with various other states. Goguryeo successfully repulsed the invading Tang armies during ...

;

Kang Kam-ch'an Kang Kam-ch'an (; 22 December 948 – 9 September 1031) was a medieval Korean government official and military commander during the early days of the Goryeo period (918–1392). Even though he was a career scholar and government official, he is ...

Goryeo Goryeo (; ) was a Korean state founded in 918, during a time of national division called the Later Three Kingdoms period, that unified and ruled the Korea, Korean Peninsula until the establishment of Joseon in 1392. Goryeo achieved what has b ...

, who defeated the Khitan Empire during the Goryeo-Khitan War;

Ch'oe Yŏng Ch'oe Yŏng (; 1316–1388), also romanized as Choi Young, was a Korean general born in Hongseong or Cheorwon during the Goryeo period. He became a national hero after he put down Cho Il-sin's Rebellion (). He also participated in the Red Tu ...

and

Yi Sŏnggye Taejo (; 4 November 1335 – 27 June 1408), personal name Yi Seong-gye (), later Yi Dan (), was the founder and first monarch of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. After overthrowing the Goryeo dynasty, he ascended to the throne in 1392 and abdi ...

of Goryeo, who defeated the Red Turbans during the Red Turban Invasions; and Yi Sun-shin of

Joseon Joseon ( ; ; also romanized as ''Chosun''), officially Great Joseon (), was a dynastic kingdom of Korea that existed for 505 years. It was founded by Taejo of Joseon in July 1392 and replaced by the Korean Empire in October 1897. The kingdom w ...

, who defeated the Japanese at sea during the

Imjin War The Imjin War () was a series of two Japanese invasions of Korea: an initial invasion in 1592 also individually called the "Imjin War", a brief truce in 1596, and a second invasion in 1597 called the Chŏngyu War (). The conflict ended in 159 ...

. Other notable leaders include:

Gwanggaeto the Great Gwanggaeto the Great (374–412, r. 391–412) was the nineteenth monarch of Goguryeo. His full posthumous name means "Entombed in ''Gukgangsang'', Broad Expander of Domain, Peacemaker, Supreme King", sometimes abbreviated to ''Hotaewang'' ...

of Goguryeo, who created a great empire in

Northeast Asia Northeast Asia or Northeastern Asia is a geographical Subregion#Asia, subregion of Asia. Its northeastern landmass and islands are bounded by the Pacific Ocean, North Pacific Ocean. The term Northeast Asia was popularized during the 1930s by Ame ...

through conquest, and subjugated the other Korean kingdoms of

Baekje Baekje or Paekche (; ) was a Korean kingdom located in southwestern Korea from 18 BCE to 660 CE. It was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, together with Goguryeo and Silla. While the three kingdoms were in separate existence, Baekje had the h ...

Silla Silla (; Old Korean: wikt:徐羅伐#Old Korean, 徐羅伐, Yale romanization of Korean, Yale: Syerapel, Revised Romanization of Korean, RR: ''Seorabeol''; International Phonetic Alphabet, IPA: ) was a Korean kingdom that existed between ...

and Gaya to bring about a brief unification of the

Three Kingdoms of Korea The Three Kingdoms of Korea or Samhan (Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla) competed for hegemony over the Korea, Korean Peninsula during the ancient period of History of Korea, Korean history. During the Three Kingdoms period (), many states and statele ...

;

Geunchogo of Baekje King Geunchogo, Chogo II (324–375, r. 346–375) was the 13th king of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. Il-yeon: ''Samguk Yusa: Legends and History of the Three Kingdoms of Ancient Korea'', translated by Tae-Hung Ha and Grafton K. ...

, who captured

Pyongyang Pyongyang () is the Capital city, capital and largest city of North Korea, where it is sometimes labeled as the "Capital of the Revolution" (). Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River about upstream from its mouth on the Yellow Sea. Accordi ...

and established overseas territories to control much of the

Korean peninsula Korea is a peninsular region in East Asia consisting of the Korean Peninsula, Jeju Island, and smaller islands. Since the end of World War II in 1945, it has been politically divided at or near the 38th parallel between North Korea (Dem ...

and dominate the seas; Munmu and

Kim Yu-sin Kim Yu-sin (; 595 – 21 August 673) was a Korean military general and politician in 7th-century Silla. He led the unification of the Korean Peninsula by Silla under the reign of King Muyeol and King Munmu. He is said to have been the great ...

of Silla, who united the Three Kingdoms of Korea and defeated Tang China to gain complete control of the Korean peninsula;

Dae Jo-yeong Dae Joyeong (; or ; died 719) or Da Zuorong (), also known as King Go (; ; Chinese: Gao), established the state of Balhae, reigning from 699 to 719. Life Early life Dae Joyeong was the first son of general Dae Jung-sang, who was also ...

, who created

Balhae Balhae,, , ) also rendered as Bohai or Bohea, and called Jin (; ) early on, was a multiethnic kingdom established in 698 by Dae Joyeong (Da Zuorong). It was originally known as the Kingdom of Jin (震, Zhen) until 713 when its name was changed ...

from Goguryeo's ashes and reconquered Goguryeo lands lost during the Goguryeo-Tang War;

Jang Bogo Jang Bo-go (787–841), whose childhood name was Gungbok or Gungpa (), was a Sillan who rose to prominence in the Later Silla period of Korea as a powerful maritime figure who effectively controlled the Yellow Sea (West Sea), and dominated the ...

Later Silla Unified Silla, or Late Silla, is the name often applied to the historical period of the Korean kingdom of Silla after its conquest of Goguryeo in 668 AD, which marked the end of the Three Kingdoms period. In the 7th century, a Silla–Tang all ...

, who created a maritime empire and commanded a powerful fleet;

Wang Kŏn Taejo (; 31 January 877 – 4 July 943), personal name Wang Kŏn (), also known as Taejo Wang Kŏn (), was the founder of the Goryeo Dynasty of Korea. He ruled from 918 to 943, achieving unification of the Later Three Kingdoms in 936. Background ...

, who united the

Later Three Kingdoms of Korea The Later Three Kingdoms period (; c. 890s – 936 AD) of ancient Korea saw a partial revival of the old three kingdoms which had dominated the peninsula from the 1st century BC to the 7th century. After the Unified Silla kingdom had ruled Kore ...

and established Goryeo as the successor to Goguryeo; and

Yun Kwan Yun Kwan (; 12 July 1040 – 15 June 1111) was a Korean military general of Goryeo who was known for training the Byeolmuban and leading it to victory against the aggressive Jurchen tribes. Early life Yun was born as a descendant of off ...

of Goryeo, who defeated the

Jurchens Jurchen (, ; , ) is a term used to collectively describe a number of East Asian people, East Asian Tungusic languages, Tungusic-speaking people. They lived in northeastern China, also known as Manchuria, before the 18th century. The Jurchens wer ...

and constructed nine fortresses in

Manchuria Manchuria is a historical region in northeast Asia encompassing the entirety of present-day northeast China and parts of the modern-day Russian Far East south of the Uda (Khabarovsk Krai), Uda River and the Tukuringra-Dzhagdy Ranges. The exact ...

. During the

Cold War The Cold War was a period of global Geopolitics, geopolitical rivalry between the United States (US) and the Soviet Union (USSR) and their respective allies, the capitalist Western Bloc and communist Eastern Bloc, which lasted from 1947 unt ...

, South Korean troops actively participated in the

Vietnam War The Vietnam War (1 November 1955 – 30 April 1975) was an armed conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia fought between North Vietnam (Democratic Republic of Vietnam) and South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam) and their allies. North Vietnam w ...

, contributing the second largest foreign military contingent after the United States. North Korea also contributed soldiers, military equipment and advisors to several conflicts during the Cold War in support of the

Communist bloc The Eastern Bloc, also known as the Communist Bloc (Combloc), the Socialist Bloc, the Workers Bloc, and the Soviet Bloc, was an unofficial coalition of communist states of Central and Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America that were a ...

, including the

Yom Kippur War The Yom Kippur War, also known as the Ramadan War, the October War, the 1973 Arab–Israeli War, or the Fourth Arab–Israeli War, was fought from 6 to 25 October 1973 between Israel and a coalition of Arab world, Arab states led by Egypt and S ...

Ethiopian Civil War The Ethiopian Civil War was a civil war in Ethiopia and present-day Eritrea, fought between the Ethiopian military junta known as the Derg and Ethiopian-Eritrean anti-government rebels from 12 September 1974 to 28 May 1991. The Derg overthre ...

, and

Ugandan Bush War The Ugandan Bush War was a civil war fought in Uganda by the official Ugandan government and its armed wing, the Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA), against a number of rebel groups, most importantly the National Resistance Army (NRA), from 19 ...

. Today, both

and

field some of the largest and most lethal armies in the world. On one hand, North Korea is widely suspected of having

nuclear weapons A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either nuclear fission, fission (fission or atomic bomb) or a combination of fission and nuclear fusion, fusion reactions (thermonuclear weap ...

, as well as other weapons of mass destruction. South Korea, for its part, is equipped with a sophisticated conventional military with state-of-the-art weapons. South Korea currently serves in several UN peacekeeping missions around the world. The

South Korean military The Republic of Korea Armed Forces (), also known as the ROK Armed Forces, are the Military, armed forces of South Korea. The ROK Armed Forces is one of the largest and most powerful standing armed forces in the world with a reported personnel ...

enjoys military alliances with other countries, particularly the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

Timeline

Gojoseon

Gojoseon–Yan War During the Gojoseon–Yan War, which occurred in the late 4th century BC, the Yan feudal state invaded the Gojoseon kingdom. The Yan military campaign was led by General Qin Kai. The invasion resulted in Yan's conquest of the Liaodong Peninsula ...

– 4th century B.C. *

Han conquest of Gojoseon The Han conquest of Gojoseon was a campaign launched by Emperor Wu of the Han dynasty against Wiman Joseon between 109 and 108 BCE. It resulted in the fall of Gojoseon and the establishment of the Four Commanderies of Han in the northern half ...

– 109–108 BC

Buyeo

* Mohe conquest

Proto–Three Kingdoms of Korea

Goguryeo

* Continuous battles with the

Four Commanderies of Han The Four Commanderies of Han (; ) were Chinese commanderies located in the north of the Korean Peninsula and part of the Liaodong Peninsula from around the end of the second century BC through the early 4th AD, for the longest lasting. The com ...

** Battle of Jwawon **

Xuantu Xuantu Commandery (; ) was a Jun (country subdivision), commandery of the Chinese Han dynasty. It was one of Four Commanderies of Han, established in 107 BCE in the northern Korean Peninsula and part of the Liaodong Peninsula, after the Han dynas ...

Conquest – 302 **

Lelang The Lelang Commandery was a commandery of the Han dynasty established after it had conquered Wiman Joseon in 108 BC and lasted until Goguryeo conquered it in 313. The Lelang Commandery extended the rule of the Four Commanderies of Han as far ...

Conquest – 313 ** Daifang Conquest – 314 *

Gongsun Du __NOTOC__ Gongsun Du () (150 – 204), courtesy name Shengji, was a Chinese military general, politician, and warlord who lived during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. He was not able to participate in battle until Dong Zhuo seized powe ...

's Campaign against Goguryeo – 190 * Goguryeo-Wei War – 244 *

Xianbei The Xianbei (; ) were an ancient nomadic people that once resided in the eastern Eurasian steppes in what is today Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, and Northeastern China. The Xianbei were likely not of a single ethnicity, but rather a multiling ...

Conquest * Khitan Conquest

Baekje

Malgal The Mohe, Malgal, Mogher, or Mojie were historical groups of people that once occupied parts of what is now Northeast Asia during late antiquity. The two most well known Mohe groups were known as the Heishui Mohe, located along the Amur River, ...

Conquest * Conquest of Mahan by Baekje

Silla

* Conquest of Jinhan by Silla * Campaign with Gaya

Gaya

* Campaign with Silla

Three Kingdoms period

Goguryeo campaigns

* Campaign of

: Conquest of

* Baekje Campaign of

of Goguryeo * Attack from

of Goguryeo **

Gaya confederacy Gaya (; ) was a Korean confederacy of territorial polities in the Nakdong River basin of southern Korea, growing out of the Byeonhan confederacy of the Samhan period. The traditional period used by historians for Gaya chronology is AD 42– ...

Campaign ** Goguryeo–Yamato War * Campaigns of

of Goguryeo **

Campaign **

Conquest ** Khitan Conquest **

Buyeo Buyeo (; ; ), also rendered as Puyŏ or Fuyu, was an ancient kingdom that was centered in northern Manchuria in modern-day northeast China. It had ties to the Yemaek people, who are considered to be the ancestors of modern Koreans. Buyeo is ...

Conquest

Goguryeo, Baekje–Silla Alliance War

* Campaign of

Jangsu of Goguryeo Jangsu (394–491, r. 412–491) was the 20th monarch of Goguryeo, the northernmost of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He was born in 394 as the eldest son of Gwanggaeto. He became the crown prince in 409, and upon his father's death in 412, became ...

against Silla and Baekje * Invasion of Baekje–

alliance – 475 * Campaign of Baekje–Silla– Gaya armies against Goguryeo * Battle of Gwansan – 554 *

Annexation – 532/562

Other conflicts

* The Baekje Conquest of

Tamna Tamna () was a kingdom based on Jeju Island from ancient times until it was absorbed by the Korean Joseon dynasty in 1404, following a long period of being a tributary state or autonomous administrative region of various Korean kingdoms. The Go ...

– 498 * The Silla Conquest of

Usan 280px, "Samguk Sagi" Book 04. Silla's Records. In 512, Usan-guk（于山國）was Ulleungdo（鬱陵島） Usan-guk, or the State of Usan, occupied Ulleung-do and the adjacent islands during the Korean Three Kingdoms period. According to t ...

– 512

Goguryeo–Sui War (598–614)

– 598

Goguryeo–Tang War (645–668)

First conflict of the Goguryeo–Tang War The first conflict of the Goguryeo–Tang War started when Emperor Taizong () of the Tang dynasty led a military campaign against Goguryeo in 645 to protect Silla and punish Generalissimo Yeon Gaesomun for the killing of King Yeongnyu. The Ta ...

– 645 ** Battle of Ansi — 645 **

Battle of Mount Jupil The Battle of Mount Jupil, also known as Battle of Jupil-san ( ''Jupil-san Jeontu'') and Battle of Mount Zhubi ( zh, 驻跸山之战 ''Zhūbìshān Zhīzhàn'') was a battle between Tang Chinese and Goguryeo Korean forces that took place in Moun ...

— 645 * Battle of Sasu — 662 *

Battle of Geumsan The Battle of Geumsan, was a major battle between armies of Tang dynasty, Tang China and Goguryeo Korea that took place in 662 AD, during the Goguryeo–Tang War. Goguryeo initially won the battle but Tang eventually counterattacked and routed ...

— 667 ''Including Goguryeo and Baekje alliance against Tang and Silla''

Baekje–Tang War (660–663)

Baekje–Tang War The Baekje–Tang War was fought between Baekje and the allied forces of the Tang dynasty and Silla between 660 and 663. The war was caused by the ongoing Goguryeo–Tang War in which numerous attacks and raids were made by Baekje and Goguryeo ...

– 660

Silla–Tang War (668–676)

* Other rebellions from Baekje and Goguryeo people * Battle of Maeso fortress

North South States period

Balhae

* Battle of Tianmenling – War of Foundation – 698 * Balhae expedition to Dengzhou – 732 * Balhae-Silla Conflicts * Conquest of Balhae by Khitan – 926

Silla (676–935)

* Campaigns of

* Kim Hŏn-ch'ang Rebellion * Red Pants Rebellion *

Ungjin Commandery The Ungjin Commandery was an administrative division of the Chinese Tang dynasty that existed between 660 and 671 on the Korean Peninsula. It was created in place of Baekje in present-day Chungcheong Province after its defeat by a joint Silla-Tan ...

Conquest – 676 * Gyerim Territory Area Command Conquest – 735 *

Protectorate General to Pacify the East The Protectorate-General to Pacify the East () was an administrative division of the Chinese Tang dynasty in Manchuria and the northern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula. It was established after the Tang dynasty defeated Goguryeo and annexed ...

Conquest – 773 *

Ajagae Ajagae was a military and rebel leader in the Sangju area during the waning years of Unified Silla who led a local rebellion which seized Sangju and is remembered primarily as the father of Kyŏn Hwŏn, the founder and first king of Later Baekj ...

Rebellion * Ki Hwŏn Rebellion *

Yang Kil Yang Kil () was a head of rebel forces in Silla. Hugoguryeo King Kung Ye was once under his command. Historians are uncertain about his birth, death or family line. At the time, the monarch of Silla was Queen Jinseong. In 889, the state coffers of ...

Rebellion *

Later Three Kingdoms The Later Three Kingdoms period (; c. 890s – 936 AD) of ancient Korea saw a partial revival of the old three kingdoms which had dominated the peninsula from the 1st century BC to the 7th century. After the Unified Silla kingdom had ruled Kor ...

– 900~936

Goryeo dynasty

Goryeo wars

* Northern Expansion of Manchuria * Goryeo-Khitan War **

First conflict in the Goryeo–Khitan War The First Goryeo-Khitan War (; ) was a 10th-century conflict between the Goryeo dynasty of Korea and the Khitan-led Liao dynasty of China near what is now the border between China and North Korea. It occurred in 993 and was the first of the Gor ...

Second conflict in the Goryeo–Khitan War The Second Goryeo-Khitan War (; ) was an 11th-century conflict between the Goryeo dynasty of Korea and the Khitan-led Liao dynasty of China near what is now the border between China and North Korea. It was the second of the Goryeo-Khitan Wars, ...

** Third conflict in the Goryeo–Khitan War (see also '' Battle of Gwiju'') * Campaigns of General

against the

(see also Korean-Jurchen border conflicts) *

Mongol invasions of Korea A series of campaigns were conducted between 1231 and 1270 by the Mongol Empire against the Korean kingdom of Goryeo. The last campaign concluded with a peace treaty with Goryeo becoming Korea under Yuan rule, a vassal state of the Yuan dynast ...

Sambyeolcho Rebellion The Sambyeolcho Rebellion (1270–1273) was a Korean rebellion against the Goryeo dynasty that happened near the end of the Mongol invasions of Korea. It was suppressed by Goryeo and the Yuan dynasty. After the rebellion, Goryeo became a vassa ...

Mongol invasions of Japan Major military efforts were taken by Kublai Khan of the Yuan dynasty in 1274 and 1281 to conquer the Japanese archipelago after the submission of the Korean kingdom of Goryeo to Vassal state, vassaldom. Ultimately a failure, the invasion attemp ...

** First Mongol invasion of Japan ** Second Mongol invasion of Japan * Dongnyeong Conquest – 1290 * Ssangseong Conquest – 1356 *

Red Turban invasions of Goryeo The Red Turban invasions of Goryeo occurred in the 14th century, when the Red Turban Rebellion against the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty spread to the Goryeo dynasty of Korea. The Red Turban rebels, originating in the Zhejiang area, were opposed to the ...

Liaoyang Liaoyang ( zh, s=辽阳 , t=遼陽 , p=Liáoyáng) is a prefecture-level city of east-central Liaoning province, China, situated on the Taizi River. It is approximately one hour south of Shenyang, the provincial capital, by car. Liaoyang is hom ...

campaign – 1370 * War against Japanese piracy ** 1st Tsushima invasion

Internal strife

Yi Cha-gyŏm Yi or YI may refer to: Philosophic principle * Yi (philosophy) (义; 義, righteousness, justice) among the Three Fundamental Bonds and Five Constant Virtues Ethnic groups * Dongyi, the Eastern Yi, or Tung-yi (Chinese: , ''Yí''), ancient peo ...

Rebellion * Myo Cheong Rebellion * Military Coup of 1170 *

Kim Po-dang Kim may refer to: People and fictional characters * Kim (given name), a list of people and fictional characters * Kim (surname), a list of people and fictional characters ** Kim (Korean surname) *** Kim dynasty (disambiguation), several dynasti ...

Rebellion * Cho Wi-ch'ong Rebellion * Mangi and Mangsoi Rebellion * Kim Sami and Hyosim Rebellion * Slave rebellion by Manjeok * Wihwado Retreat

Joseon dynasty

Conflicts

* 2nd Tsushima Conquest ( Gihae Eastern expedition) – 1419 *

Japanese riots in Southeast Korea (1510) The Disturbance of the Three Ports, also known as Sampo Waeran () or Sanpo no Ran (), refers to riots in 1510 by Japanese citizens residing in the Korean port cities Dongnae, Changwon and Ulsan. Summary At the beginning of the Joseon dynasty, ...

* Seven Year War (Imjin) – 1592–1598 * Northern expedition against Manchus (see also Korean-Jurchen border conflicts) *

Later Jin invasion of Joseon The Later Jin invasion of Joseon occurred in early 1627 when the Later Jin prince Amin led an invasion of the Joseon dynasty. The war ended after three months with the Later Jin establishing itself as sovereign tributary overlord over Joseon. ...

– 1627 *

Qing invasion of Joseon The Qing invasion of Joseon () occurred in the winter of 1636 when the newly established Qing dynasty invaded the Joseon, Joseon dynasty, establishing the former's status as the hegemon in the Tributary system of China, Imperial Chinese Tributa ...

– 1636 * Russian-Manchu border conflicts – 1654–1658 *

French campaign against Korea The French Intervention to Korea (, ) was an 1866 punitive expedition undertaken by the Second French Empire against Joseon Korea in retaliation for the execution of seven French Catholic missionaries. The encounter over Ganghwa Island las ...

General Sherman Incident The ''General Sherman'' incident () was the destruction in 1866 of the American merchant ship in the Taedong River during an unsuccessful and illegal attempt by the ship's crew to open up trade with the isolationist Joseon dynasty of Korea. ...

United States expedition to Korea The United States expedition to Korea, known in Korea as the ''Shinmiyangyo'' () or simply the Korean Expedition, was an American military action in Korea that took place predominantly on and around Ganghwa Island in 1871. Background Freder ...

Ganghwa Island incident The Ganghwa Island incident or the Japanese Battle of Ganghwa ( ''Unyo-ho sageon'' meaning "'' Un'yō'' incident"; ''Kōka-tō jiken'') was an armed clash between the Joseon dynasty of Korea and Japan which occurred in the vicinity of Ganghwa ...

Nationwide Internal strifes

Yi Si-ae's Rebellion Yi Si-ae's Rebellion was an armed rebellion in 1467 in Hamgil Province (later renamed Hamgyong Province) led by General Yi Si-ae, a member of Yangban landowners in Kilju, Hamgil Province, to rebel against the centralized policy of King Sejo ...

Yi Gwal's Rebellion Yi Kwal's Rebellion () was an armed rebellion in the Joseon dynasty led by General Yi Kwal, who helped Injo ascend to the throne and incited a rebellion against him for being rewarded poorly and trying to arrest his son. He led 12,000 of his so ...

* Hong Gyeong-Rae's Rebellion *

Imo Incident The Imo Incident, also sometimes known as the Imo Mutiny, Soldier's riot or Jingo-gunran in Japanese, was a violent uprising and riot in Seoul beginning in 1882, by soldiers of the Joseon Army who were later joined by disaffected members of the ...

Donghak Peasant Revolution The Donghak Peasant Revolution () was a peasant revolt that took place between 11 January 1894 and 25 December 1895 in Korea. The peasants were primarily followers of Donghak, a Neo-Confucian movement that rejected Western technology and i ...

Korean Empire

Conflicts

* Korean invasion of Manchuria * Namdaemun Battle

1910–1945: Colonial period

* Campaigns of Independence Forces **

Battle of Qingshanli A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and force co ...

** Battle of Fengwudong ** Free City Incident * Actions of

Korean Liberation Army The Korean Liberation Army (KLA; ), also known as the Korean Restoration Army, was the armed forces of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea. It was established on September 17, 1940, in Chongqing, Republic of China (1912–1949), ...

South-East Asian theatre of World War II The South-East Asian Theatre of World War II consisted of the campaigns of the Pacific War in the Commonwealth of the Philippines, Philippines, Thailand, Dutch East Indies, Indonesia, Indochina, British rule in Burma, Burma, British Raj, India ...

After 1945

Korean War The Korean War (25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953) was an armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula fought between North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea; DPRK) and South Korea (Republic of Korea; ROK) and their allies. North Korea was s ...

Korean DMZ Conflict The Korean DMZ Conflict, also referred to as the Second Korean War by some, was a series of low-level armed clashes between North Korean forces and the forces of South Korea and the United States, largely occurring between 1966 and 1969 along t ...

South Korea in the Vietnam War South Korea, which was at the time an hybrid regime under its right-wing president Park Chung Hee, took a major active role in the Vietnam War. The Korean War just a decade prior was still fresh on the minds of the South Korean people, and the t ...

Gulf War , combatant2 = , commander1 = , commander2 = , strength1 = Over 950,000 soldiers3,113 tanks1,800 aircraft2,200 artillery systems , page = https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-PEMD-96- ...

War in Afghanistan War in Afghanistan, Afghan war, or Afghan civil war may refer to: *Conquest of Afghanistan by Alexander the Great (330 BC – 327 BC), the conquest of Afghanistan by the Macedonian Empire * Muslim conquests of Afghanistan, a series of campaigns in ...

Iraq War The Iraq War (), also referred to as the Second Gulf War, was a prolonged conflict in Iraq lasting from 2003 to 2011. It began with 2003 invasion of Iraq, the invasion by a Multi-National Force – Iraq, United States-led coalition, which ...

References

{{Asia topic, Military history of

Timeline

Gojoseon

Buyeo

Proto–Three Kingdoms of Korea

Goguryeo

Baekje

Silla

Gaya

Three Kingdoms period

Goguryeo campaigns

Goguryeo, Baekje–Silla Alliance War

Other conflicts

Goguryeo–Sui War (598–614)

Goguryeo–Tang War (645–668)

Baekje–Tang War (660–663)

Silla–Tang War (668–676)

North South States period

Balhae

Silla (676–935)

Goryeo dynasty

Goryeo wars

Internal strife

Joseon dynasty

Conflicts

Nationwide Internal strifes

Korean Empire

Conflicts

1910–1945: Colonial period

After 1945

See also

References