Why Is Korea Divided?

This Outer Side video uncovers one of Asia's most dramatic historical turning points, how one nation became two. Discover how centuries of kingdoms, empires, and global wars shaped the Korean Peninsula into the divided land we know today: North Korea and South Korea, and how Korea became divided.

Imagine a once-united land of kings and dynasties, from Silla to Goryeo to Joseon, torn apart by colonial rule, world wars, and superpower rivalries. How did a temporary postwar border become the world's most fortified divide? And why did two nations born from the same culture take such different paths?

Join us as we trace the rise of Korea's ancient kingdoms, Japan's occupation, and the Cold War conflict that split the peninsula. From the 38th Parallel to the DMZ, this is the story of how history, politics, and power drew one of the sharpest lines on Earth.