Korea Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic o ...

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

Gojoseon Gojoseon () also called Joseon (), was the first kingdom on the Korean Peninsula. According to Korean mythology, the kingdom was established by the legendary founder named Dangun. Gojoseon possessed the most advanced culture in the Korean Pen ...

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 shares borders with China and Russia to the north, at the Yalu River, Y ...

and

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and sharing a Korean Demilitarized Zone, land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed ...

, 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:

Eulji Mundeok Eulji Mundeok (을지문덕) (Ulchi Mundok) 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 often numbered among the greatest heroes in the mi ...

Goguryeo Goguryeo (37 BC–668 AD) ( ) also called Goryeo (), was a Korean kingdom located in the northern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula and the southern and central parts of Northeast China. At its peak of power, Goguryeo controlled most ...

, who defeated Sui China 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 ...

;

Yeon Gaesomun Yeon GaesomunSome Chinese and Korean sources stated that his surname was Yeongae () 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 militar ...

of Goguryeo, who defeated Emperor Taizong of

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

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 dur ...

;

Gang Gam-chan Gang Gam-chan (; 22 December 948 – 9 September 1031) was a medieval Korean government official and military commander during the early days of Goryeo Dynasty (918–1392). Even though he was a career scholar and government official, he is bes ...

Goryeo Goryeo (; ) was a Korean kingdom founded in 918, during a time of national division called the Later Three Kingdoms period, that unified and ruled the Korean Peninsula until 1392. Goryeo achieved what has been called a "true national unificati ...

, who defeated the

Khitan Empire The Liao dynasty (; Khitan: ''Mos Jælud''; ), also known as the Khitan Empire (Khitan: ''Mos diau-d kitai huldʒi gur''), officially the Great Liao (), was an imperial dynasty of China that existed between 916 and 1125, ruled by the Yelü ...

during the Goryeo-Khitan War;

Choe Yeong Choi Young (Korean: 최영; 1316–1388), also romanized as Choe Yeong, was a Korean general born in Hongseong or CheorwonKBS World"Choe Yeong, the Victorious General of Goryeo Dynasty", Koreans in History, 2011-02-04. during the Goryeo peri ...

and

Yi Seong-gye Taejo of Joseon (4 November 1335 – 27 June 1408), born Yi Seong-gye (), was the founder and first ruler of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. After ascending to the throne, he changed his name to Yi Dan (), and reigned from 1392 to 1398. He was ...

of Goryeo, who defeated the Red Turbans during the Red Turban Invasions; and

Yi Sun-shin Admiral Yi Sun-sin (April 28, 1545 – December 16, 1598) was a Korean admiral and military general famed for his victories against the Japanese navy during the Imjin war in the Joseon Dynasty. Over the course of his career, Admiral Yi fough ...

Joseon Joseon (; ; Middle Korean: 됴ᇢ〯션〮 Dyǒw syéon or 됴ᇢ〯션〯 Dyǒw syěon), officially the Great Joseon (; ), was the last dynastic kingdom of Korea, lasting just over 500 years. It was founded by Yi Seong-gye in July 1392 and re ...

, who defeated the Japanese at sea during the

Imjin War The Imjin River ( in South Korea) or Rimjin River ( in North Korea) is the 7th largest river in Korea. It flows from north to south, crossing the Demilitarized Zone and joining the Han River downstream of Seoul, near the Yellow Sea. The river i ...

. Other notable leaders include:

Gwanggaeto the Great Gwanggaeto the Great (374–413, r. 391–413) 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 of Asia; its northeastern landmass and islands are bounded by the Pacific Ocean. The term Northeast Asia was popularized during the 1930s by American historian and political scient ...

through conquest, and subjugated the other Korean kingdoms of

Baekje Baekje or Paekche (, ) was a Korean kingdom located in southwestern Korea from 18 BC to 660 AD. It was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, together with Goguryeo and Silla. Baekje was founded by Onjo, the third son of Goguryeo's founder Jum ...

Silla Silla or Shilla (57 BCE – 935 CE) ( , Old Korean: Syera, Old Japanese: Siraki2) was a Korean kingdom located on the southern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula. Silla, along with Baekje and Goguryeo, formed the Three Kingdoms of K ...

and Gaya to bring about a brief unification of the

Three Kingdoms of Korea Samhan or the Three Kingdoms of Korea () refers to the three kingdoms of Goguryeo (고구려, 高句麗), Baekje (백제, 百濟), and Silla (신라, 新羅). Goguryeo was later known as Goryeo (고려, 高麗), from which the modern name ''Kor ...

;

Geunchogo of Baekje Geunchogo of Baekje, Chogo II of Baekje (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 an ...

, who captured

Pyongyang Pyongyang (, , ) is the capital and largest city of North Korea, where it is known as the "Capital of the Revolution". Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River about upstream from its mouth on the Yellow Sea. According to the 2008 populatio ...

and established overseas territories to control much of the

Korean peninsula Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic o ...

and dominate the seas;

Munmu Munmu of Silla (626–681; reigned 661–681) was the 30th king of the Korean kingdom of Silla. He is usually considered to have been the first ruler of the Unified Silla period. Munmu was the son of King Muyeol and Munmyeong, who was the young ...

and

Kim Yu-sin Gim Yu-sin (sometimes romanized Kim Yu-shin, Gim Yu-sin, or Gim Yu-shin) (595 – 18 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 ...

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 (died 719) (; or in Korean) or Da Zuorong (大祚榮, 大祚荣, in Chinese), also known as King Go (; in Korean; Gao in Chinese), established the state of Balhae, reigning from 699 to 719. Life Early life Dae Joyeong wa ...

, who created

Balhae Balhae ( ko, 발해, zh, c=渤海, p=Bóhǎi, russian: Бохай, translit=Bokhay, ), also rendered as Bohai, was a multi-ethnic kingdom whose land extends to what is today Northeast China, the Korean Peninsula and the Russian Far East. It wa ...

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

Jang Bogo Jang Bogo (787–841), childhood name: Gungbok, 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 trade between Silla, He ...

Later Silla Unified Silla, or Late Silla (, ), is the name often applied to the Korean kingdom of Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, after 668 CE. In the 7th century, a Silla–Tang alliance conquered Baekje and the southern part of Goguryeo in the ...

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

Wang Geon Taejo of Goryeo (31 January 877 – 4 July 943), also known as Taejo Wang Geon (; ), was the founder of the Goryeo dynasty, which ruled Korea from the 10th to the 14th century. Taejo ruled from 918 to 943, achieving unification of the Later Thre ...

, who united the

Later Three Kingdoms of Korea Later may refer to: * Future, the time after the present Television * ''Later'' (talk show), a 1988–2001 American talk show * '' Later... with Jools Holland'', a British music programme since 1992 * ''The Life and Times of Eddie Roberts'', or ...

and established Goryeo as the successor to Goguryeo; and

Yun Gwan Yun Gwan (윤관, 尹瓘; 12 July 1040 – 15 June 1111) was a general of Goryeo who was known for training the Byeolmuban and leading it to victory against the Jurchen tribes. Family * Grandfather ** Yun Geum-kang (윤금강, 尹金剛) * F ...

of Goryeo, who defeated the

Jurchens Jurchen (Manchu language, Manchu: ''Jušen'', ; zh, 女真, ''Nǚzhēn'', ) is a term used to collectively describe a number of East Asian people, East Asian Tungusic languages, Tungusic-speaking peoples, descended from the Donghu people. They ...

and constructed nine fortresses in

Manchuria Manchuria is an exonym (derived from the endo demonym " Manchu") for a historical and geographic region in Northeast Asia encompassing the entirety of present-day Northeast China (Inner Manchuria) and parts of the Russian Far East (Outer Manc ...

. 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 fission (fission bomb) or a combination of fission and fusion reactions (thermonuclear bomb), producing a nuclear explosion. Both bomb ...

, 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. In addition, South Korean troops actively participated in the

Vietnam War The Vietnam War (also known by #Names, other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vie ...

, contributing the second largest foreign military contingent after the United States, and are currently serving in various 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 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 strength o ...

enjoys military alliances with other countries, particularly the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

Timeline

Gojoseon

* Gojoseon–Yan War - 4th century B.C. *

Han conquest of Gojoseon The Han conquest of Gojoseon was a campaign launched by Emperor Wu of Han China 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 of the ...

– 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 comma ...

Battle of Jwawon The Battle of Jwawon (Hangul: 좌원전투, Hanja: 坐原戰鬪) was a battle between the forces of the Han's Xuantu Commandery and Goguryeo. It resulted in a victory under the command of Myeongnim Dap-bu during the 26th year of the reign of Ki ...

Xuantu Xuantu Commandery (; ko, 현도군) was a 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 dynasty conquered ...

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 so ...

Conquest – 313 **

Daifang The Daifang Commandery was an administrative division established by the Chinese Han dynasty on the Korean Peninsula between 204 and 314. History Gongsun Kang, a warlord in Liaodong, separated the southern half from the Lelang commandery and es ...

Conquest – 314 *

Gongsun Du Gongsun Du () (150? – 2049th year of the ''Jian'an'' era, per vol. 08 of ''Sanguozhi''), 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 ...

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

Xianbei The Xianbei (; ) were a Proto-Mongolic ancient nomadic people that once resided in the eastern Eurasian steppes in what is today Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, and Northeastern China. They originated from the Donghu people who splintered into the ...

Conquest * Khitan Conquest

Baekje

Malgal The Mohe, Malgal, or Mogher, or Mojie, were an East Asian Tungusic people who lived primarily in the modern geographical region of Northeast Asia. The two most powerful Mohe groups were known as the Heishui Mohe, located along the Amur River, ...

Conquest *

Conquest of Mahan by Baekje Conquest is the act of military subjugation of an enemy by force of arms. Military history provides many examples of conquest: the Roman conquest of Britain, the Mauryan conquest of Afghanistan and of vast areas of the Indian subcontinent, ...

Silla

Conquest of Jinhan by Silla Saro, the most powerful statelet of the Jinhan confederacy, conquered each of the other statelets and later became Silla. The result of conquest war, Jinhan was completely annexed to Silla in the late 3rd century. However, some states absorbed i ...

* 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 42–53 ...

Campaign ** Goguryeo–Yamato War * Campaigns of

of Goguryeo **

Campaign **

Conquest ** Khitan Conquest **

Buyeo Buyeo or Puyŏ ( Korean: 부여; Korean pronunciation: u.jʌ or 扶餘 ''Fúyú''), also rendered as Fuyu, was an ancient kingdom that was centered in northern Manchuria in modern-day northeast China. It is sometimes considered a Korea ...

Conquest

Goguryeo, Baekje–Silla Alliance War

* Campaign of

Jangsu of Goguryeo Jangsu of Goguryeo (394–491, r. 413–491) 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 408, and upon his father's death in ...

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, or Tamna-guk, was a state 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 kingd ...

– 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 th ...

– 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 T ...

– 645 ** Battle of Ansi — 645 **

Battle of Mount Jupil The Battle of Mount Jupil, also known as Battle of Jupil-san ( ko, 주필산_전투 ''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 ...

— 645 *

Battle of Sasu The Battle of the Sasu River, also known as Battle of Sasu ( ko, 사수 전투 ''Sasu Jeontu'') ( zh, 蛇水之战 ''Shéshuǐ Zhīzhàn'') was a battle between Tang Chinese and Goguryeo Korean forces that took place in 662 AD. A Chinese army, mos ...

— 662 *

Battle of Geumsan The Battle of Geumsan, was a major battle between armies of 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 the enemy, layi ...

— 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 Tang China and Silla between 660 and 663. It was in some respect a spillover of the, at the time, ongoing Goguryeo–Tang War. After numerous attacks and raids by the combin ...

– 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 The Battle of Tianmenling (), or the Battle of Cheonmun-ryeong in Korean (), was a battle fought between Dae Jo-yeong, later founder of Balhae, and Li Kaigu (), a Khitan commander of the Chinese Tang dynasty and Wu Zhou dynasty. After the fall o ...

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

Silla (676–935)

* Campaigns of

* Kim Heonchang Rebellion *

Red Pants Rebellion Red is the color at the long wavelength end of the visible spectrum of light, next to orange and opposite violet. It has a dominant wavelength of approximately 625–740 nanometres. It is a primary color in the RGB color model and a secondar ...

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 Korean Peninsula. It was established after the Tang dynasty defeated Goguryeo and annexed its ter ...

Conquest – 773 *

Ajagae Ajagae was a military 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 Gyeon Hwon, the founder and first king of Hubaekje. Some Gyeon famil ...

Rebellion * Gihwon Rebellion * Yanggil Rebellion *

Later Three Kingdoms The Later Three Kingdoms period (889-935 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 AD. After the Unified Silla kingdom had ruled Korea alone ...

– 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 Go ...

Second conflict in the Goryeo–Khitan War The Second Goryeo-Khitan War (; ) was an 11th-century conflict between the Goryeo, Goryeo dynasty of Korea and the Khitan people, Khitan-led Liao dynasty of China near what is now the border between People's Republic of China, China and North Kore ...

Third conflict in the Goryeo–Khitan War The Third 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. The Goryeo–Khitan Wars began in 993 wit ...

(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 Goryeo dynasty of Korea. There were seven major campaigns at tremendous cost to civilian lives, the last campaign made Goryeo a vassal state of the Y ...

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

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 vassaldom. Ultimately a failure, the invasion attempts are of m ...

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

Ssangseong The Ssangseong Prefectures were administrative divisions of the Yuan dynasty established in 1258 in modern-day Kumya County, South Hamgyong Province, North Korea. It was founded as a base for conquest and domination of northern Goryeo territory ...

Conquest – 1356 * Red Turban invasions of Goryeo *

Liaoyang Liaoyang () 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 home to Liaoning University's College of F ...

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

Internal strife

Yi Ja-gyeom Yi Ja-gyeom (died 19 January 1127) of the Incheon Yi clan, was a Korean politician, soldier, regent, and poet in the middle Goryeo dynasty. In 1122, he became the Duke Hanyang (한양공, 漢陽公) and the Duke of Joseon State (조선국공, 朝� ...

Rebellion *

Myo Cheong Myocheong (Hangul: 묘청, Hanja: 妙淸) was an influential Buddhist monk and geomancer of the royal court of the Goryeo dynasty. Myocheong's Rebellion During the reign of King Injong of Goryeo, Myocheong argued that Goryeo had become weakened ...

Rebellion *

Military Coup of 1170 A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. It is typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with its members identifiable by their distinct ...

* Kim Bodang Rebellion * Jo Wichong 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) * 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 (Korean: Byeongja Horan) occurred in the winter of 1636 when the newly-established Qing dynasty invaded the Joseon dynasty, establishing the former's status as the hegemon in the Imperial Chinese Tributary System and ...

– 1636 *

Russian-Manchu border conflicts The Sino-Russian border conflicts (1652–1689) were a series of intermittent skirmishes between the Qing dynasty of China, with assistance from the Joseon dynasty of Korea, and the Tsardom of Russia by the Cossacks in which the latter tried ...

– 1654–1658 *

French campaign against Korea The French expedition to Korea (french: Expédition française en Corée, ) was an 1866 punitive expedition undertaken by the Second French Empire against Joseon Korea in retaliation for the execution of seven French Catholic missionaries. Th ...

General Sherman Incident The ''General Sherman'' incident ( ko, 제너럴셔먼호 사건) was the destruction of the American merchant ship '' SS General Sherman'' in the Taedong River during an unsuccessful and illegal attempt by the ship's crew to open up trade with ...

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

Ganghwa Island incident The Ganghwa Island incident or the Japanese Battle of Ganghwa ( ko, 운요호 사건 ��揚號事件} ''Unyo-ho sageon'' meaning "'' Un'yō'' incident"; ja, 江華島 ''Kōka-tō jiken''), was an armed clash between the Joseon dynasty of Kore ...

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 Gwal's Rebellion was an armed rebellion in the Joseon dynasty led by General Yi Gwal, 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 soldie ...

Hong Gyeong-Rae's Rebellion Hong Gyeong-Rae's Rebellion also known as the Gwanseo Peasant War was an armed rebellion from January 31, 1812—May 29, 1812, led by Hong Gyeong-Rae and the yangban of Pyeongan Province who were unhappy with their treatment by the central gover ...

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 on July 23, 1882, by soldiers of the Joseon Army who were later joined by disaffected member ...

Donghak Peasant Revolution The Donghak Peasant Revolution (), also known as the Donghak Peasant Movement (), Donghak Rebellion, Peasant Revolt of 1894, Gabo Peasant Revolution, and a variety of Donghak Peasant Revolution#Role played by Donghak, other names, was an armed ...

Korean Empire

Conflicts

* Namdaemun Battle

1910–1945: Colonial period

* Campaigns of Independence Forces **

Battle of Qingshanli The Battle of Qingshanli was fought over six days in October 1920 between the Imperial Japanese Army and Korean armed groups in a densely wooded region of eastern Manchuria called Qīngshānlǐ ( ja, 青山里, ''Seizanri''; ko, 청산리, ''Cheo ...

Battle of Fengwudong 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 ...

* Actions of

Korean Liberation Army The Korean Liberation Army, also known as the Korean Restoration Army established on September 17, 1940, in Chongqing, Chungking, China, was the armed force of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea. Its commandant was General Ji Cheo ...

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 Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Indochina, Burma, India, Malaya and Singapore between 1941 to 1945. Japan attacked British and American terri ...

After 1945

Korean War , date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...

Gulf War The Gulf War was a 1990–1991 armed campaign waged by a 35-country military coalition in response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Spearheaded by the United States, the coalition's efforts against Iraq were carried out in two key phases: ...

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) *Muslim conquests of Afghanistan (637–709) *Conquest of Afghanistan by the Mongol Empire (13th century), see als ...

Iraq War {{Infobox military conflict , conflict = Iraq War {{Nobold, {{lang, ar, حرب العراق (Arabic) {{Nobold, {{lang, ku, شەڕی عێراق (Kurdish languages, Kurdish) , partof = the Iraq conflict (2003–present), I ...

North Korea and weapons of mass destruction North Korea has a Korean People's Army, military nuclear weapon program, nuclear weapons program and, as of early 2020, is estimated to have an nuclear arsenal, arsenal of approximately 30 to 40 nuclear weapons and sufficient production of f ...

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