KOREAN LEVEL UP › Korean vocabulary › Korean history: kings and famous figures
Korean Vocabulary – Korean history: kings and famous figures
Names of rulers, famous figures, eras, and heritage sites from the Three Kingdoms to Joseon, as found in history textbooks.
Level 1
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 태조 | taejo | founder of Joseon |
| 태종 | taejong | Joseon king, Sejong’s father |
| 세조 | sejo | seventh king of Joseon |
| 성종 | seongjong | king who completed the Gyeongguk Daejeon (national code) |
| 연산군 | yeonsangun | deposed Joseon ruler |
| 중종 | jungjong | eleventh king of Joseon |
| 선조 | seonjo | king during the Imjin War |
| 광해군 | gwanghaegun | ruler deposed in 1623 |
| 인조 | injo | king during the Manchu invasions |
| 숙종 | sukjong | nineteenth king of Joseon |
| 영조 | yeongjo | king who reigned for 52 years |
| 정조 | jeongjo | reformist king who built Hwaseong Fortress |
| 고종 | gojong | first emperor of the Korean Empire |
| 순종 | sunjong | last emperor of the Korean Empire |
| 장수왕 | jangsuwang | Goguryeo king who moved to Pyongyang |
| 진흥왕 | jinheungwang | Silla king who expanded the territory |
| 무령왕 | muryeongwang | Baekje king whose tomb was found intact |
| 의자왕 | uijawang | last king of Baekje |
| 대조영 | daejoyeong | founder of Balhae |
| 왕건 | wanggeon | founder of Goryeo |
| 문무왕 | munmuwang | Silla king who unified the Three Kingdoms |
| 주몽 | jumong | founder of Goguryeo |
| 온조왕 | onjowang | founder of Baekje |
| 공민왕 | gongminwang | Goryeo king who tried reforms |
| 이순신 | isunsin | Joseon admiral famous for the turtle ship |
| 장영실 | jangyeongsil | Joseon scientist under King Sejong |
| 유관순 | yugwansun | young independence activist of the March 1st Movement |
| 이황 | ihwang | Joseon Confucian scholar on the 1,000-won bill |
| 이이 | ii | Joseon Confucian scholar on the 5,000-won bill |
| 정약용 | jeongyagyong | Joseon scholar of practical learning (Silhak) |
| 허준 | heojun | Joseon physician who wrote the Donguibogam |
| 김유신 | gimyusin | Silla general who helped unify the Three Kingdoms |
| 강감찬 | ganggamchan | Gang Gamchan, the Goryeo general who defeated the Khitan army |
| 김홍도 | gimhongdo | Joseon painter of everyday life |
| 고려 | goryeo | Goryeo dynasty (918–1392) |
| 조선 | joseon | Joseon dynasty (1392–1910) |
| 신라 | silla | Silla (57 BC–935) |
| 백제 | baekje | Baekje (18 BC–660) |
| 고구려 | goguryeo | Goguryeo (37 BC–668) |
| 발해 | balhae | Balhae (698–926) |
| 가야 | gaya | Gaya, a league of small states in southern Korea |
Level 2
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 세종대왕 | sejongdaewang | Joseon king who created Hangul |
| 광개토대왕 | gwanggaetodaewang | Goguryeo king who greatly expanded its territory |
| 근초고왕 | geunchogowang | Baekje king who led its golden age |
| 선덕여왕 | seondeogyeowang | first queen of Silla |
| 박혁거세 | bakyeokgeose | founder of Silla |
| 신사임당 | sinsaimdang | Joseon artist and mother of scholar Yi I, on the 50,000-won note |
| 허난설헌 | heonanseolheon | Joseon woman poet |
| 연개소문 | yeongaesomun | powerful Goguryeo general in its late years |
| 명성황후 | myeongseonghwanghu | queen of King Gojong |
| 흥선대원군 | heungseondaewongun | King Gojong’s father, who ruled as regent |
| 이성계 | iseonggye | given name of King Taejo, founder of Joseon |
| 단군왕검 | dangunwanggeom | legendary founder of Gojoseon |
| 김정희 | gimjeonghui | Joseon calligrapher known by the pen name Chusa |
| 조선왕조 | joseonwangjo | the Joseon royal dynasty that lasted about 500 years |
| 고조선 | gojoseon | first ancient state on the Korean Peninsula |
| 삼국시대 | samguksidae | Three Kingdoms period (Goguryeo, Baekje, Silla) |
| 통일신라 | tongilsilla | Silla after the unification of the Three Kingdoms |
| 고려시대 | goryeosidae | the Goryeo period |
| 조선시대 | joseonsidae | the Joseon period |
| 대한제국 | daehanjeguk | Korean Empire (1897–1910) |
| 임진왜란 | imjinwaeran | Imjin War (1592–1598) |
| 병자호란 | byeongjahoran | Manchu invasion of Joseon in 1636 |
| 대한민국 임시정부 | daehanminguk imsijeongbu | Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea, founded in Shanghai in 1919 |
| 훈민정음 | hunminjeongeum | Hunminjeongeum (original name of Hangul) |
| 경복궁 | gyeongbokgung | Gyeongbokgung (main Joseon palace in Seoul) |
| 창덕궁 | changdeokgung | Changdeokgung (Joseon palace, World Heritage site) |
| 수원화성 | suwonhwaseong | Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon (built under King Jeongjo) |
| 석굴암 | seokguram | Seokguram (Silla grotto temple in Gyeongju) |
| 불국사 | bulguksa | Bulguksa (Silla temple in Gyeongju) |
| 첨성대 | cheomseongdae | Cheomseongdae (Silla astronomical observatory) |
| 팔만대장경 | palmandaejanggyeong | Tripitaka Koreana (Goryeo woodblocks kept at Haeinsa) |
| 직지심체요절 | jikjisimcheyojeol | Jikji (oldest surviving book printed with movable metal type) |
| 동의보감 | donguibogam | Donguibogam (medical text by Heo Jun) |
| 조선왕조실록 | joseonwangjosillok | Annals of the Joseon Dynasty (official record) |
| 삼국유사 | samgugyusa | Samguk Yusa (legends and history by the monk Iryeon) |
| 삼국사기 | samguksagi | Samguk Sagi (oldest surviving Korean history book) |
| 난중일기 | nanjungilgi | Nanjung Ilgi (Yi Sun-sin’s war diary) |
| 거북선 | geobukseon | turtle ship (armored warship used by Yi Sun-sin) |
| 집현전 | jipyeonjeon | Hall of Worthies (scholars’ institute set up by Sejong) |
| 고려청자 | goryeocheongja | Goryeo celadon (blue-green ceramics) |
| 을지문덕 | euljimundeok | Goguryeo general who defeated the Sui army |
Level 3
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 경복궁은 서울에 있는 조선 시대의 대표적인 궁궐이에요. | gyeongbokgungeun seoure inneun joseon sidaeui daepyojeogin gunggworieyo. | Gyeongbokgung Palace is a representative palace of the Joseon era, located in Seoul. |
| 경복궁에서 수문장 교대식을 볼 수 있어요. | gyeongbokgungeseo sumunjang gyodaesigeul bol su isseoyo. | You can watch the changing of the royal guard at Gyeongbokgung. |
| 한복을 입고 경복궁에 놀러 갔어요. | hanbogeul ipgo gyeongbokgunge nolleo gasseoyo. | I went to Gyeongbokgung Palace in a hanbok. |
| 세종대왕이 백성을 위해 한글을 만들었어요. | sejongdaewangi baekseongeul wihae hangeureul mandeureosseoyo. | King Sejong created Hangul for his people. |
| 한글날은 한글을 세상에 알린 것을 기념하는 날이에요. | hangeullareun hangeureul sesange allin geoseul ginyeomhaneun narieyo. | Hangul Day commemorates the proclamation of Hangul to the world. |
| 이순신 장군은 거북선으로 바다를 지켰어요. | isunsin jangguneun geobukseoneuro badareul jikyeosseoyo. | Admiral Yi Sun-sin defended the seas with the turtle ship. |
| 거북선은 거북이 모양을 한 조선의 전투선이에요. | geobukseoneun geobugi moyangeul han joseonui jeontuseonieyo. | The turtle ship was a Joseon warship shaped like a turtle. |
| 광화문 광장에 가면 세종대왕 동상이 있어요. | gwanghwamun gwangjange gamyeon sejongdaewang dongsangi isseoyo. | You’ll find a statue of King Sejong at Gwanghwamun Square. |
| 국립중앙박물관에서 신라의 금관을 볼 수 있어요. | gungnipjungangbangmulgwaneseo sillaui geumgwaneul bol su isseoyo. | You can see Silla gold crowns at the National Museum of Korea. |
| 역사 박물관에서 조선 시대 유물을 구경했어요. | yeoksa bangmulgwaneseo joseon sidae yumureul gugyeonghaesseoyo. | I looked at Joseon-era relics at the history museum. |
| 경주는 천 년 동안 신라의 수도였어요. | gyeongjuneun cheon nyeon dongan sillaui sudoyeosseoyo. | Gyeongju was the capital of Silla for a thousand years. |
| 불국사와 석굴암은 유네스코 세계유산이에요. | bulguksawa seokgurameun yuneseuko segyeyusanieyo. | Bulguksa and Seokguram are UNESCO World Heritage sites. |
| 수원 화성은 정조 때 만든 튼튼한 성이에요. | suwon hwaseongeun jeongjo ttae mandeun teunteunhan seongieyo. | Suwon Hwaseong is a sturdy fortress built during King Jeongjo’s reign. |
| 조선은 500년이 넘게 이어진 나라예요. | joseoneun 500nyeoni neomge ieojin narayeyo. | Joseon was a kingdom that lasted more than 500 years. |
| 역사 드라마를 보고 조선 시대에 관심이 생겼어요. | yeoksa deuramareul bogo joseon sidaee gwansimi saenggyeosseoyo. | Watching historical dramas got me interested in the Joseon era. |
| 광개토대왕은 고구려의 땅을 크게 넓혔어요. | gwanggaetodaewangeun goguryeoui ttangeul keuge neolhyeosseoyo. | King Gwanggaeto greatly expanded the territory of Goguryeo. |
| 오만 원짜리 지폐에는 신사임당이 있어요. | oman wonjjari jipyeeneun sinsaimdangi isseoyo. | Shin Saimdang is on the 50,000-won note. |
| 만 원짜리 지폐에서 세종대왕을 볼 수 있어요. | man wonjjari jipyeeseo sejongdaewangeul bol su isseoyo. | You can see King Sejong on the 10,000-won note. |
| 천 원짜리 지폐에는 이황의 얼굴이 있어요. | cheon wonjjari jipyeeneun ihwangui eolguri isseoyo. | Yi Hwang’s portrait is on the 1,000-won note. |
| 백 원짜리 동전에는 이순신 장군이 있어요. | baek wonjjari dongjeoneneun isunsin jangguni isseoyo. | Admiral Yi Sun-sin is on the 100-won coin. |
| 창덕궁 후원은 아름다워서 꼭 가 봐야 해요. | changdeokgung huwoneun areumdawoseo kkok ga bwaya haeyo. | The rear garden of Changdeokgung is beautiful, so you must visit it. |
| 종묘는 조선 왕과 왕비를 모신 사당이에요. | jongmyoneun joseon wanggwa wangbireul mosin sadangieyo. | Jongmyo is a shrine honoring the kings and queens of Joseon. |
| 북촌 한옥마을에서 전통 한옥을 구경했어요. | bukchon hanongmaeureseo jeontong hanogeul gugyeonghaesseoyo. | I looked around traditional hanok houses in Bukchon Hanok Village. |
| 고려청자는 푸른빛이 아름다운 도자기예요. | goryeocheongjaneun pureunbichi areumdaun dojagiyeyo. | Goryeo celadon is ceramic ware with a beautiful blue-green color. |
| 팔만대장경은 해인사에 보관되어 있어요. | palmandaejanggyeongeun haeinsae bogwandoeeo isseoyo. | The Tripitaka Koreana is kept at Haeinsa Temple. |
| 직지는 현존하는 가장 오래된 금속 활자 인쇄본이에요. | jikjineun hyeonjonhaneun gajang oraedoen geumsok hwalja inswaebonieyo. | Jikji is the oldest surviving book printed with movable metal type. |
| 장영실은 세종 때 활약한 과학자예요. | jangyeongsireun sejong ttae hwaryakan gwahakjayeyo. | Jang Yeong-sil was a scientist who was active during King Sejong’s reign. |
| 허준이 쓴 동의보감은 세계기록유산이에요. | heojuni sseun donguibogameun segyegirogyusanieyo. | The Donguibogam, written by Heo Jun, is on UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register. |
| 조선왕조실록도 세계기록유산이에요. | joseonwangjosillokdo segyegirogyusanieyo. | The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty are also on UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register. |
| 서울에는 조선 시대 궁궐이 다섯 곳 있어요. | seoureneun joseon sidae gunggwori daseot got isseoyo. | Seoul has five palaces from the Joseon era. |
| 한국 역사에 대해 더 알고 싶어요. | hanguk yeoksae daehae deo algo sipeoyo. | I want to learn more about Korean history. |
| 이 유적지는 언제 만들어졌어요? | i yujeokjineun eonje mandeureojyeosseoyo? | When was this historic site built? |
| 이 유물은 어느 시대의 것이에요? | i yumureun eoneu sidaeui geosieyo? | Which period is this relic from? |
| 해설사 선생님의 설명을 들으니 이해하기 쉬웠어요. | haeseolsa seonsaengnimui seolmyeongeul deureuni ihaehagi swiwosseoyo. | Listening to the guide’s explanation made it easy to understand. |
| 박물관 안내 책자를 한국어로 읽어 보고 싶어요. | bangmulgwan annae chaekjareul hangugeoro ilgeo bogo sipeoyo. | I want to try reading the museum brochure in Korean. |
| 고구려, 백제, 신라를 삼국이라고 불러요. | goguryeo, baekje, sillareul samgugirago bulleoyo. | Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla are called the Three Kingdoms. |
| 신라는 삼국을 통일한 나라예요. | sillaneun samgugeul tongilhan narayeyo. | Silla was the kingdom that unified the Three Kingdoms. |
| 고려라는 이름에서 코리아라는 말이 나왔어요. | goryeoraneun ireumeseo koriaraneun mari nawasseoyo. | The word “Korea” came from the name Goryeo. |
| 단군은 고조선을 세웠다고 전해지는 인물이에요. | danguneun gojoseoneul sewotdago jeonhaejineun inmurieyo. | Dangun is the figure said to have founded Gojoseon. |
| 경복궁 앞에서 사진을 찍는 관광객이 많아요. | gyeongbokgung apeseo sajineul jjingneun gwangwanggaegi manayo. | Many tourists take photos in front of Gyeongbokgung. |
| 안내소에서 한국어 오디오 가이드를 빌릴 수 있어요? | annaesoeseo hangugeo odio gaideureul billil su isseoyo? | Can I borrow a Korean audio guide at the information desk? |
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