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NATIONAL FLAG
The Korean flag is called "Taegeukgi" in Korean. Its design symbolizes the principles of the yin and yang in Oriental philosophy. The circle in the center of the flag is divided into two equal parts. The upper red section represents the proactive cosmic forces of the yang. Conversely, the lower blue section represents the responsive cosmic forces of the yin. The two forces together embody the concepts of continual movement, balance and harmony that characterize the sphere of infinity. The circle is surrounded by four trigrams, one in each corner. Each trigram symbolizes one of the four universal elements: heaven (), earth (), fire(), and water ().
NATIONAL FLOWER
The national flower of Korea is the mugunghwa, rose of sharon. Every year from July to October, a profusion of mugunghwa blossoms graces the entire country. Unlike most flowers, mugunghwa is remarkably tenacious and able to withstand both blight and insects. The flower’s symbolic significance stems from the Korean word mugung, meaning immortality. This word accurately reflects the enduring nature of Korean culture, and the determination and perseverance of the Korean people.
National Anthem
Our national anthem is "Aegukga," which means "Love the Country". In 1896, the Dongnip Sinmun (Independence News) published various versions of lyrics for this song. It is not known exactly what music they were sung to in its early days. Records show that a Western-style military band was formed during the time of the Dae-han Empire (1897-1910) and that the "Dae-han Empire Aegukga" was composed in 1902 and played at important national functions.
The original words of Aegukga appeared in a written form around 1907 to inculcate allegiance to the nation and foster the spirit of independence as the country faced threats of foreign annexation. Over the years, the lyrics have gone through several versions until they were adopted as the national anthem in the present form in 1948.
Before the birth of the Republic in 1948, the words were often sung to the tune of the Scottish folk song, Auld Lang Syne. Maestro Ahn Eak-tay (1905-1965), then living in Spain, felt that it was inappropriate to sing this patriotic song to the tune of another country's folk song. So, he composed new music to go with the lyrics in 1935, and the Korean Provisional Government in exile adopted it as the national anthem. While Koreans outside the country sang the anthem to the new tune, those at home continued to use Auld Lang Syne until Korea was liberated in 1945.
The Republic of Korea Government in 1948 officially adopted the new version as the national anthem and began to use it at all schools and official functions.
Four Distinct Seasons
Korea's climate is regarded as a continental climate from a temperate standpoint and a monsoonal climate from a precipitation standpoint. The climate of Korea is characterized by four distinct seasons: spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Spring

Spring lasts from late March to May and is warm. Various flowers, including the picturesque cherry blossom, cover the nation's mountains and fields during this time.
Summer

Summer lasts from June to early September. It is a hot and humid time of the year.
Autumn

Autumn lasts from September to November, and produces mild weather. It is the best season for visiting Korea.
Winter

Winter lasts from December to mid-March. It can be bitterly cold during this time due to the influx of cold Siberian air. Heavy snow in the northern and eastern parts of Korea makes favorable skiing conditions.
The Korean Alphabet : Hangeul
Hangeul was invented in 1443, during the reign of King Sejong. It is composed of 10 vowels and 14 consonants. Hangeul has 11 compound vowels, 5 glottal sounds.
The chart below represents the 24 Hangeul letters and their romanized equivalents.
'The Hunminjeongeum,' a historical document which provides instructions to educate people on the use of Hangeul, is registered with UNESCO.
UNESCO awards a 'King Sejong Literacy Prize,' every year in memory of the inventor of Hangeul.
Hangeul written in syllabic units made up of two, three, or four letters.
The Korean Alphabet( 이미지로 대체 )
Consonants
? g, k ? b, p ? k
? n ? s ? t
? d, t ? ng, silent ? p
? r, l ? j ? h
? m ? ch
Vowels
? a ? o ? yu
? ya ? yo ? eu
? eo ? u ? i
? yeo
The Prehistoric Age
Archaeological findings have indicated that the first settlements on the Korean Peninsula occurred 700,000 years ago.
Gojoseon (2333 - 108 B.C)
According to legend, the mythical figure Dan-gun founded Gojseon, the first Korean Kingdom, in 2333 B.C. Subsequently, several tribes moved from the southern part of Manchuria to the Korean Peninsula.
The Three Kingdoms Period (57 B.C. - A.D. 676)
The Three Kingdoms refers to a period of time (early 4th to mid-7th centuries AD) marked by the struggle of three rival kingdoms: Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla over the territory spanning the Korean peninsula and part of Northeastern Asia.

Goguryeo
An ancient state of the Korean peninsula, Goguryeo occupied the largest territory among the Three Kingdoms. Founded in 37 BC, Goguryeo prospered on a vast area encompassing the northern part of the Korean peninsula and south-central Manchuria. The kingdom expanded its territory in fierce battles against Chinese kingdoms, but fell to an alliance of Silla and Tang forces in 668 AD.

Silla
One of the ancient states of the Three Kingdoms, Silla originated in the southeastern part of the Korean peninsula. The kingdom lasted for 992 years, from 57 BC to 935 AD. It conquered Baekje and Goguryeo, one after the other, by joining forces with the Tang Empire of China. Following the unification of the Three Kingdoms, The Tang Empire was no longer an ally, but an invader. Hence, Silla joined forces with the people of Goguryeo and Baekje to drive out Tang forces, and founded the first unified state in the history of Korea in the territory south of the Daedonggang River and Wonsanman.

Baekje
One of the three ancient kingdoms, Baekje (18 BC-660 AD) was founded by King Onjo, the son of the King of Goguryeo, in the southwestern part of the Korean peninsula. The kingdom witnessed the florescence of the elegant and delicate Baekje culture, which in particular greatly affected Japanese culture. In 660 AD, Baekje was defeated by the coalition troops of Silla and Tang of China.
The Unified Silla Kingdom and Balhae
The Unified Silla(676-935)
The Unified Silla Kingdom promoted the development of culture and arts, and the popularity of Buddhism reached its peak during this period. The Unified Silla Kingdom declined because of contention for supremacy among the noble classes, and was annexed by Goryeo in 935.
Balhae(698-926)
The Balhae Kingdom began to emerge just as the Goguryeo kingdom was on the verge of collapsing. Goguryeo General, Dae Joyeong founded Balhae along with his army of displaced peoples. At one point, Balhae became so powerful that it was able to acquire territories in northern and eastern parts of China. At those times, the Tang Dynasty of China referred to Balhae as 'the strong country by the sea in the east.' The significance of the Balhae Kingdom is greatly inherited from Goguryeo, including the land that it was able to retrieve.
The Goryeo Dynasty (918 - 1392)
The Goryeo Dynasty was established in 918. Buddhism became the state religion during this time and greatly influenced politics and culture. Famous items produced during this time include Goryeo celadon and the Tripitaka Koreana. Jikjisimgyeong, Buddhist scripture printed with the world's first movable metal type developed in Korea during Goryeo Dynasty, is at least 78 years older than the first Gutenberg Bible.
The Goryeo Dynasty's strength decreased gradually in the latter half of the 14th century.
The Joseon Dynasty (1392 - 1910)
The Joseon Dynasty was formed at the end of the 14th century. Confucianism became the state ideology and exerted a massive influence over the whole of society. The Joseon Dynasty produced Hangeul, the Korean alphabet, which was invented in 1443, during the reign of King Sejong. The dynasty's power declined later because of foreign invasions, beginning with the Japanese invasion of 1592.
The Japanese Colonial Period (1910 - 1945)
In 1876, the Joseon Dynasty was forced to adopt an open-door policy regarding Japan. The Japanese annexation of Korea concluded in 1910, and Korean people had to suffer under the Japanese colonial rule until the surrender of Japan in 1945, which ended World War II.
Establishment of the Korean Government (1945-1948)
Korea was liberated from Japanese oppression on August 15, 1945, but it soon faced the tragic division of North and South along the 38th parallel. Both regions were placed under temporary military rule by the U.S. and Soviet armies. In 1948 with the help of the United Nations, South Korea held an election on May 10th and elected Dr. Rhee Syngman president. On August 15th of that same year, an official declaration was made about the birth of the South Korean government. On the other hand, North Korea formed the Provisional People’s Committee for North Korea, led by Kim Il-sung, in February 1946. On September 9, 1948, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea was officially founded.
The Korean War (1950-1953)
In the early hours of June 25th, 1950, North Korea attempted a forcible unification of North and South Korea by invading South Korea over the 38th parallel. In response, military help from over 16 nations helped defend South Korea against the threat of communism under the leadership of UN General Douglas MacArthur. China and the Soviet Union lent their military might to North Korea. The war continued over the next 3 years until coming to an end on July 27th 1953, with a peace agreement signed at Panmunjeom, located in the DMZ. Not only did the war ravage the peninsula, it also heightened hostile sentiments between the North and South, making reunification a difficult task.
The Aftermath of War (1954-Current)
The Rhee Syngman government focused on an anti-communist approach to government beginning in 1954, but in 1960 the government's power collapsed with the student's anti government movement, the 4.19 Revolution. In 1963, Park Chung-hee was elected president and ruled with a controversial iron fist for the next 17 years. President Park Chung-hee's 'Saemaeul Undong' (New Community Movement, an effort to modernize Korea that began in 1970) brought about much progress in South Korea, and the systematic approach to economic development also yielded increased exports and positive returns. But with the democratic movement in progress and the citizens becoming wary of such extended rule, Park Chung-hee's life ended in a 1979 assassination. Afterwards in 1980, Chun Doo-hwan came to power and continued to lead the nation with an authoritarian slant as had been the case with former rulers. His rule came to an end in 1987 after massive protests across the country demanded democracy. In 1988 the Roh Tae-woo government started off the year on a good note by successfully hosting the 1988 Seoul Olympics. His government went on to join the UN in 1991. The Kim Young-sam government which began in 1993 implemented a new system in which people were required to use their real names when making financial transactions, a much needed revolution at the time. In 1998, Kim Dae-jung was elected president and threw his efforts into overcoming the IMF financial catastrophe that hit Asia in 1997, and also hosted the 17th FIFA World Cup in 2002. President Kim Dae-jung was also the winner of the 2000 Nobel Peace Prize for his Sunshine Policy regarding North Korea. President Rho Moo-hyun's term began in 2003 aiming, to achieve economic growth, and develop Korea as the hus of Asia with a more democratic style of leadership.

On the other hand, North Korea has been ruled by Kim Jeong-il since the death of Kim Il-Sung in 1994. Faced with dire economic situations, North Korea has begun to implement partial free trade in an effort to remedy the situation.

North and South Korea jointly signed an agreement on July 4th, 1972 concerning the reunification of the two Koreas, and in 2000 Kim Dae-jung and Kim Jeong-il took early steps to explore reunification, improving the economy, and solving the problem of separated families. The family reunification program, started in 1985, continues until this day. In 1998, South Korean citizens began to be admitted into North Korea to tour the Geumgangsan Diamond Mountains.
WORLD CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
aa Korea China Japan The West
B.C. aa Bronze Age Jomon Period Ezrly Mesopotamia
Egyptian Kingdoms
2000 aa Shang Dynasty (1766-1122)
Zhou Dynasty (1122-256)		 aa aa
1000 Bronze Age
Gojoseon		 Spring and Autumn Period
(770-476)		 aa Founding of Rome(753)
500 Iron Age
Buyeo		 Warring States Era (475-221)
Qin Dynasty (221-206)
Former Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-A.D. 9)		 Bronze Age
Yayoi Period 		Socrates (469-399)
Alexander the Great (356-323)
First Punic War (264-241)
Second Punic War (219-201)
200 Confederated Kingdoms of Samhan (Three Han States) aa aa aa
100 Three Kingdoms:Silla(57 B.C. - A.D. 935)
Goguryeo (37 B.C. - A.D. 668)
Baekje (18 B.C. - A.D. 660)
Gaya (42-562)		 aa aa Birth of Christ
A.D. 200 aa Later Han Dynasty (26-221)
Three Kingdoms (220-280) 		Iron Age aa
300 aa Jin Dynasty (265-420) Tumulus Period Christianity adopted as the state religion of Roman Empire (392)
Roman Empire divided (395)
400 aa Nothern and Southern
Dynasties (420-581)		 aa Anglo-Saxons established in Britain (449)
500 aa aa Asuka Perios (552-645) Mohammed (570-632)
600 Unified Silla Kingdom(676-935)
Balhae Kingdom (668-928) 		Sui Dynasty (581-618)
Tang Dynasty (618-906) 		Nara Period (645-794) Hegira (622) and beginning of Islamic era
700 aa aa Heian Period (794-1185) aa
800 aa aa aa Charlemagne crowned first Holy Roman Emperor (800)
900 Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392) Five Dynasties(906-960)
Song Dynasty (960-1279) 		aa aa
1000 aa aa aa First Crusade (1096-1099)
1100 aa Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368) Kamakura Period (1185-1392) aa
1200 aa Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) aa Magna Carta (1215)Marco Polo (1254-1324)
1300 Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) aa Muromachi (Ashikaga) Period(1392-1568) The Hundred Years' War(1338-1453)
1400 aa aa aa Gutenberg's Press (1492)
Columbus discovers America (1492)
1500 aa aa Momoyama Period(1568-1615) Martin Luther launches reform of the church (1517)
1600 aa Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) Tokugawa Period(1615-1867) The Thirty Years' War(1618-1648)
1700 aa aa aa American Independence (1776)
French Revolution (1789-1793)
1800 aa aa Meiji Period(1868-1912) American Civil War (1861-1865)
1900 Annexation by Japan (1910)
Establishment of the ROK (1948)
Korean War (1950-1953) 		Establishment of the ROC (1912)
Establishment of the PRC (1949) 		Taisho Period(1912-1926)
Showa Period(1926-1988)
Heisei Period(1989-) 		World War I (1914-1918)
World War II (1939-1945)
Buddhism
Buddhism first arrived in Korea in the 2nd year (A.D. 372) of the reign of King Sosurim of the Goguryeo Kingdom. After its introduction, Buddhism exerted a powerful influence in the Baekje Kingdom and Silla Kingdom. Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram Grotto, which are designated as World Cultural Heritage sites by UNESCO, are Buddhist creations from the Silla Kingdom.
Buddhism has exercised a far-reaching influence on Korean culture throughout its long history. The nation's invaluable Buddhist heritage abides in buildings, sculptures, paintings and handicraft.
Protestantism & Catholicism
Protestantism came to Korea after the signing of the Korean-American Treaty in 1882. Because Christianity challenged the basic values of Joseon society, its believers were subject to persecution in the early years, but as Christians took an increasingly active role in the anti-colonial struggle against the Japanese and churches promoted more educational opportunities, Christianity gained acceptance. Today Korean churches evangelize abroad, and approximately twenty five percent of the Korean population is Christian.
Catholicism first came to Korea as a western scholarly pursuit. Korean tributary missions to the imperial court of China took an interest in Jesuit missionary books and brought them back to Korea. In 1784 the first Korean was baptized in Beijing and returned to Korea to set up a house of worship. Despite considerable persecution by the government, numerous people joined the Catholic Church. Presently, over two million people belong to the church.
 
Confucianism
Confucianism became a common philosophy in ancient Korea. When it came into contact with fundamental Korean sentiments, Confucianism brought about profound changes and exerted considerable influence on the Korean people. It has been an indispensable component of the Korean moral system, way of life and national laws.
Confucianism, which was the major philosophy of the Joseon Dynasty, eventually gave rise to Silhak, or practical learning. Confucianism has deeply permeated the consciousness of Korean people and can be seen today in many forms, including two ceremonies that continue today: Jongmyo Jerye, the royal ancestral service at Jongmyo Shrine and Seokjeon Daeje, the worship rites at the Seonggyungwan in honor of Confucius, his disciples, and other celebrated Chinese and Korean Confucian scholars.
Shamanism
Various shamanistic practices are deeply ensconced in Korean life. Shamanism was similar with folk beliefs from ancient times. It is closely related to the primitive cults which practiced communal rites for the gods of heaven, and which were uninfluenced by Buddhist tradition. One distinguishing characteristic of Korean shamanism is that it seeks to solve human problems through a meeting between humans and the spirits. This can be seen in the various types of shamanistic rites which are still widely practiced even today.
Family Life
In traditional Korea, the typical family was large with three or four generations usually living together. Because infant mortality was high and a big family was thought of as a blessing, having many children was desired. However, the rapid industrialization and urbanization of the country in the 1960s and 1970s were accompanied by an effective birth control drive, and the average number of children in a family dramatically decreased to two or less in the 1980s.

Having a long Confucian tradition under which the eldest son takes over as head of the family, a preference for sons was prevalent in Korea. To tackle the problem of male preference, the government has completely rewritten family-related laws in a way that ensures equality for sons and daughters in terms of inheritance.

Industrialization of the country has made life more hectic and complicated. Young married couples have begun to separate from their extended families and start their own homes. Now almost all families are couple-centered nuclear families.
Names
The majority of Koreans have family names within one of a small set: Kim(about 21% of all Koreans), Yi(or Lee or Rhee, 14%), Park(or Pak, 8%), Choi(or Choe), Jeong(or Chung), Jang(or Chang), Han, Lim, etc. A Korean name consists of a family name, in almost every case one syllable, plus a given name usually of two syllables. The family name comes first. A Korean woman does not take her husband's family name, but their children take their father's family name.
Marriage
Koreans think marriage is the most important passage in one's life and a divorce is regarded as a disgrace not only for the couple but also for their families ? even though the divorce rate is growing rapidly these days.
Today's typical wedding ceremony is somewhat different from what it was in old times: first a Western-style ceremony is usually held at a wedding hall or a church with the bride wearing a white dress and the groom wearing a tuxedo, then later in the day the bride and groom have a traditional ceremony at a different room in the venue, in colorful traditional costumes.
Jerye(Ancestral Memorial Rite)
According to a taditional Korean belief, when people die, their spirits do not immediately depart; they stay with descendants for four generations. During this period the deceased are still regarded as family members and Koreans reaffirm the relationship between ancestors and descendants through jerye on the special days like Sollal (Lunar New Year's Day) and Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving Day), as well as on the anniversary the ancestors passed away. Koreans also believe that people can live well and happily thanks to benefits their ancestors bestow upon them.
Body Language
When you beckon to a person, do so with your palm down, and then flutter your hand up and down with your fingers touching together. It is not polite to beckon with your palm up ? especially using only one finger, because Koreans do that only for dogs.
Ondol
Traditional Korean rooms have multiple functions. Rooms are not labeled or reserved for a specific purpose; there is no definite bedroom or dining room for example. Rather, tables and mats are brought in as needed. Most people sit and sleep on the floor on thick mats.
Underneath the floors are stone or concrete flues. Traditionally hot air was vented through the flues to provide heat. Clay or cement would be placed over the stones to protect the residents from noxious gasses. This type of under floor heating is called "ondol."
Nowadays hot water is piped through cement floors covered with linoleum.
Korean Food
A diverse array of foods and dishes can be found throughout Korea.
Korea was once primarily an agricultural nation, cultivating rice as their staple food since ancient times. These days Korean cuisine is characterized by a wide variety of meat and fish dishes along with wild greens and vegetables. Various fermented and preserved food, such as kimchi (fermented spicy cabbage), jeotgal (matured seafood with salt) and doenjang (fermented soy bean paste) are notable for their specific flavor and high nutritional value.
The prominent feature of a Korean table setting is that all dishes are served at the same time. Traditionally, the number of side dishes varied from 3 for the lower classes to 12 for royal family members. Table arrangements can vary depending on whether a noodle dish or meat is served. Formal rules have developed for table setting, demonstrating the attention people pay to food and dining. Compared to neighboring China and Japan, a spoon is used more often in Korea, especially when soups are served.
Gimjang
Gimjang is the age-old Korean practice of preparing winter kimchi, which has been passed down from generation to generation. Since very few vegetables are grown in the three or four winter month, gimjang takes place in early winter and provides what has become a staple food for Koreans. For Koreans, a dinner table without kimchi is unthinkable.
Traditional Korean Clothing (Hanbok)
The hanbok has been the Korean people's unique traditional costume for thousands of years. The beauty and grace of Korean culture can be seen in photographs of women dressed in the hanbok.
Before the arrival of Western-style clothing one hundred years ago, the hanbok was everyday attire. Men wore jeogori (Korean jackets) with baji (trosers) while women wore jeogori with chima (skirt). Today, the hanbok is worn on days of celebration such as wedding, Seollal (Lunar New Year's Day) or Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving Day).
Traditional Korean Houses
A traditional Korean house is called 'Hanok'. Hanok sought to create a living space based on the coexistence of nature and humans. Accordingly, the natural aspects of a traditional Korean houses range from the structure's inner layout to the building materials which were used. Another unique feature of traditional houses is their special design for cooling the interior in the summer and heating the interior in the winter. Since Korea has such hot summers and cold winters, the 'ondol gudeul,' a floor-based heating system and 'daecheong,' a cool wooden-floor style hall were devised long ago to help Koreans survive the frigid winters and to make the sweltering and humid summers bearable. These primitive types of heating and air-conditioning were so effective that they are still in use in many homes today.
2003 Summer Universiade Daegu
For eleven days, from August 21~31 in 2003, Daegu, Korea welcomed 70,000 university athletes from 174 countries to compete in the Summer Universiade. North Korea participated in the games hoping to send a message of peace and understanding to the International community during a time of conflict in the Middle East. This hope coincided with the main slogan of the event: “Dreams for Unity.”
On the last day of the events, in the final round of men’s volleyball, Korea proved victorious over Japan with a 3-2 win. This added to Korea’s total medal count of 26 gold, 11 silver, and 15 bronze medals pushing them into third place in the overall medal standing. China held the No.1 spot, with Russia coming in second.

Date: August 21~31, 2003
Venue: Daegu, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province
Number of participating countries: 172
2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan
The 17th FIFA World Cup, which took place on May 31st to June 30th, 2002, was the first World Cup to be co-hosted by two nations (Korea and Japan) as well as being the first World Cup to be held in Asia.

Brazil took the cup in the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan. 2nd place was Germany, 3rd was Turkey, and 4th was Korea. Korea emerged with a record of 4 wins, 1 tie, and 2 losses, becoming the first Asian nation to play in the semifinals. The Korean people came together at this unprecedented triumph, rallying en masse in the streets (City Hall and Gwanghwamun Gates were two of many gathering points) with the Red Devils at their center, showing their support. Streets flowed red from the sheer number of supporters who donned ‘Be the Reds’ t-shirts, throwing the World Cup Stadium and City Hall into the world limelight. Those gathering places have since become popular tourist haunts.

Official Name: 2002 FIFA WORLD CUP KOREA/JAPAN
Hosts: Korea/Japan
Host Cities (Korea): Seoul, Suwon, Incheon, Daejeon, Jeonju, Gwangju, Daegu, Ulsan, Busan, Seogwipo
Dates: May 31st to June 30th, 2002
Participants: 32 Nations
Participants in the Preliminaries: 195 Nations
Winner: Brazil
MVP: Oliver Kahn (Germany)
The 24th Olympic Games in Seoul
In 1988, for 16 days, Korea hosted the 24th Olympic Games. The games were held in Seoul and the surrounding Gyeonggi-do Province area as well as in four major cities throughout the country. 160 countries participated in the Seoul Olympic Games with 13,304 athletes competing.

The 1988 Seoul Olympic Games marked the second Olympic Games to be held in Asia, the first was held in Tokyo in 1964. The Olympic emblem of the ’88 games incorporated the traditional Korean pattern of the ‘samtaegeuk.’ An image of the Korean tiger was used as the mascot of the games.
There were 23 official categories of events and other nonofficial events which included baseball and Taegwondo, as well as badminton and bowling exhibitions. The Seoul Olympic Games saw 241 gold medals, 234 silver medals, and 264 bronze medals. The former U.S.S.R brought home the most medals, with 55 gold, 31 silver, and 46 bronze. . East Germany ranked second in overall medals, United States third, and Korea fourth.
Korea successfully hosted the Olympic Games despite the cold war tensions at the time. Through these Olympics, Korea was able to share its rich history and culture with International community.

Dates: September 17 ~ October 1988
Venues: Seoul, Daejeon, Gwangju, Daegu, Busan, Suwon, Seongnam, Wondang
Number of participants: 13,304 people from 160 nations
The 10th Seoul Asian Games
The 10th Seoul Asian Games were held in Seoul from September 20 to October 5 in 1986. 4,839 athletes from 27 Asian countries participated in the ‘Ever onward’ themed games. The Seoul Asian Games were held over a 16 day period with 25 categories of events. Successfully hosting the 1986 Asian Games helped well-prepare the county for the 1988 Olympic Games.
China attained the largest number of gold medals with a total of 94, Korea came in second with 93 gold medals, and Japan ranked third with 58. Iran had brought home 6 gold medals and India 5, ranking them fourth and fifth place respectively. This marked the first time Japan didn’t dominate the games, and also showcased Korea’s strengths to the world.

Dates: September 20 ~ October 5, 1986
Venue: Seoul
Number of participants: 4,839 people from 27 countries
14th Busan Asian Games
To help promote unity among the 3.7 billion people living in Asia, Busan hosted the 14th Asian Games from September 9 to October 14 in 2002. 16 years after hosting its first Asian Games in 1986, Korea once again opened its doors to the world. This Asian Game marked the historical welcoming of North Korean athletes to the South. The large numbers of North Korean female supporters that came to cheer on their county’s athletes touched the hearts of many.
In the Busan Asian Games, China brought home 150 gold, 84 silver, and 74 bronze medals. Korea claimed 96 gold, 80 silver, and 84 bronze medals. North Korea made a strong impression by bringing home 9 gold medals, 11 silver, and 13 bronze medals in its first international event in Korea.

Dates: September 29 ~ October 14, 2002
Venue: Busan
Number of participants: 11,000 people from 43 countries