Why Was Korea Split Up: Unraveling The Divided History

In November 1947, the United Nations took a significant step in addressing the issue of a divided Korea. They initiated a task force with the aim of organizing free elections across the entire Korean peninsula, intending to create a unified national government. However, an obstacle emerged as the Soviet Union refused to permit this task force to operate within its jurisdiction north of the 38th parallel. This refusal by the Soviets effectively formalized the division between two distinct entities: South Korea, which embarked on a path towards a free democratic system, and North Korea, which adopted a communist ideology. This pivotal event marked a critical turning point in Korean history, setting the stage for the division that persists to this day (as of January 30, 2023).

In 1945, the United States and the Soviet Union, in their joint efforts to occupy the Korean peninsula following World War II, opted to establish the 38th parallel of latitude as a demarcation line. This decision was driven by the strategic convenience of using the 38th parallel to divide the region. The consequence of this division was the rapid emergence of two distinct ideological systems in Korea. To the North, the Soviet-controlled zone gave rise to a socialist state, while the South, under American influence, adopted a more liberal political and economic system. This division at the 38th parallel laid the foundation for the subsequent complex history and geopolitical tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

Prior to the division of Korea into South and North Korea, the Korean Peninsula was historically governed by the Chosŏn dynasty, a rule that spanned over five centuries until the year 1910. During this era, Korea enjoyed a degree of independence and maintained diplomatic ties with neighboring nations, including China and Japan. However, this period came to a decisive end when imperial Japan annexed the Korean Peninsula in 1910. This event marks a crucial turning point in Korean history, as it led to a period of Japanese colonial rule that persisted until the end of World War II.