Elizabeth Raum - South Korea

Yi Sun-sin, one of Koreas greatest heroes, was a naval commander who built the worldsfirst ironclad ships, which were ships covered in protective metal. Spikes coveredthese turtle ships. A dragons head held a cannon in its mouth. Yi Sun-sins forcesdefeated Japan in the 1500s.

Students study this model of a turtle ship from the 1500s.

In September 1945, U.S. troops marched into southern Korea.

In 1910 Japan made Korea a colony . Japan remained in control of Korea until 1945,when World War II ended. Koreans celebrated Japans defeat. Many Koreans had sufferedunder Japanese rule. Now they wanted to become independent.

Koreas neighbor, the Soviet Union , had worked to defeat Japan. The United Stateshad worked with the Soviet Union. However, the Soviet Union was a communist country.The United States did not want Korea to become communist, too. So on August 10 through11, 1945, U.S. officials split Korea in half along the 38th parallel . Troops fromthe Soviet Union moved into northern Korea. U.S. troops moved into southern Korea.

On August 15, 1948, South Korea became a democracy . Syngman Rhee, the first president,was a Korean educated in the United States. Meanwhile, neighboring North Korea becamecommunist. Both countries began plotting a takeover of each other. North Korea movedfirst.

On June 25, 1950, North Korean troops crossed the 38th parallel. They overpoweredthe poorly trained South Korean army and conquered Seoul. The United Nations (UN) sent troops from 16 countries to support South Korea. China and the Soviet Unionsupported North Korea. Almost 3 million people died before fighting ended on July27, 1953. North Korea and the United States agreed to stop the fighting and createa Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) along the 38th parallel, to keep fighting forces separate.The DMZ also forms the border between the two Koreas.

These soldiers are guarding the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between South and NorthKorea. It is about 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) wide.

This family was separated after Korea was divided into two separate countries. Theymet again in 2010, after 60 years.

South Koreas first presidents were dictators . They took away many freedoms fromtheir people. When students and workers revolted, they were punished. Gradually,the government changed. Today, South Korea is a strong democracy. It also has a growing economy .

Peace with the North is South Koreas biggest challenge today. Despite attempts tomake peace, the situation remains tense. For example, in March 2010 a South Koreanwarship sunk, killing 46 South Korean sailors. South Korea blamed North Korea. InNovember 2010, North Korean troops fired on a South Korean island, killing two marinesand two civilians . Threats continue. South Korean leaders seek a solution.