History of South Korea
The history of South Korea formally begins with its establishment on August 15, 1948.
Korean Empire
The Great Korean Empire () was the last independent state of a unified Korea. Proclaimed in October 1897 by Emperor Gojong of the Joseon dynasty, the empire stood until Japan's outright annexation of Korea in August 1910. During the Korean Empire, Emperor Gojong oversaw the Gwangmu Reform, a partial modernization and Westernization of the military, economy, land system, and education system, and of various industries.