Koreans

The Koreans are a East Asian civilization that appear in Age of Empires as the Choson and in Age of Empires II: The Conquerors expansion as the Koreans

Age of Empires
In Age of Empires, the Koreans are known as Choson, which is another name for Joseon, the final Korean dynasty.

Age of Empires II
The Koreans are one of the five new civilizations featured in the Conquerors expansion. The Koreans have a unique cavalry archer unit called the War Wagon which is a heavily armored ranged archery unit. The Koreans also have a Turtle Ship which is a heavily armored, short-range cannon ship that is effective against Fire Ships and Demolition Ships. Their Watch Towers are automatically upgraded to Guard Towers in the Castle Age and Keeps in the Imperial Age.

However, the Koreans also have many disadvantages. They cannot research the Paladin upgrade, and are unable to research Redemption, which allows for the conversion of enemy buildings. They are also unable to research Crop Rotation.

Cultural Bonuses

 * Villagers have +3 line of sight.
 * Stone miners work 20% faster.
 * Guard Tower and Keep upgrades are free (Chemistry still required for Bombard Tower).
 * Towers (except bombard towers) have +1 range in Castle Age, +2 in Imperial Age.

Team Bonus

 * Mangonels, Onagers, and Siege Onagers have +1 range.

Cultural Information
Language spoken in Age of Empires II:

The language spoken by the units is Korean. There are many phases in this language's history, but they likely used Modern Korean in the game. Korean is a unique language with no proven relatives.

Words:

nah (yes)

te gi/ dah gee (tell me where to go)

joon bi (ready)

jha yo? (me?)

"kurachou" (Is that right?)

"she shi/ xiaeh xiaeh"

"I doun/tong"

Chowl tong (I'm departing)

nah mu goun (woodcutter)

che gen goun (food gatherer)

san yan goun (hunter)

oabu (fisherman)

nongbu (farmer)

pongbu (f) Kwongbu (m) (miner)

moksu (builder)

suri goun (repairer)

military: Chin ghou/ kin gio, toi ghou, shu ge, gon kio (attack!)

Monks dialogue-- "mongam", "marake", "pangamné" (nice to meet you), hmm, "harame", "guroche", "kagene" (I guess your leaving)

History
For the history of the Choson click here

For the history of the Koreans click here.

Official history from Age of Empires II:

The Koreans (314 - 1598)
When Europe fell into its Dark Age, Korea had been divided into three competing kingdoms: Koguryo to the north, Paekche to the southwest, and Shilla to the southeast. In alliance with China, Shilla conquered the other two kingdoms in the 7th century and then expelled their erstwhile Chinese ally. The central authority of Shilla disintegrated in the 8th-9th centuries, however, under pressure from local lords. Korea was unified once again as Koryo in the 10th century and after that, recovered territory reaching up to the Amnok River border with China in 993. The civilian nobility was thrown out of power by a military coup in 1170 and military rule then lasted for sixty years.

The Mongols invaded in 1231, initiating a 30-year struggle. The Mongols were often distracted by their wars in China and elsewhere but eventually brought enough power to bear that Koryo made peace with the invaders in 1258. Under the Mongols the Koryo maintained their distinct culture and were inspired to demonstrate their superiority to their conquerors through a burst of artistic accomplishment.

Land reform, the rise of a new bureaucracy, the diminishment of Buddhism, and the rise of Confucianism around 1400 were part of the creation of a new kingdom, the Choson, that would rule Korea until the 20th century. China heavily influenced the Choson politically and culturally. Korea became an important center of learning, aided by the invention of movable type and the woodblock technique of publishing around 1234.

The greatest test of the Choson dynasty was invasion by samurai armies from Japan in 1592 that ostensibly planned to conquer China. Although seven years of fighting left much of the Korean peninsula devastated, the Japanese were forced to withdraw because their fleets could not keep open sea lines of supply and reinforcement back to Japan. The great Korean admiral Yi Sun-Shin defeated the Japanese at sea. One key to the Korean naval victories was their innovative turtle ships, the first cannon-bearing armored ships in history. The Japanese had no answer for these slow but powerful weapons.

Leaders:

Sejong the Great (1397-1450)--fourth king of Joseon, created Hangul alphabet

General Kang Kam-chan (948-1031)--Gang Gam-chan, fought in the Third Goryeo-Khitan War

General Ch'oe Young (1316-1388)--Choe Yeong, Goryeo general, executed by Taejo of Joseon

General Ulji Mun-tok (early 7th century, mid 6th century-after 618)--Eulji Mundeok, military leader of Goguryeo, fought the Sui Chinese

Yi-Song-Kye (1335-1408)--Yi Seong-gye, Taejo of Joseon, its founder

Admiral Chang Bo-ko (787-846)--Jang Bogo, maritime leader in late Unified Silla period

General Kwon Yul (1537-1599)--Commander in chief of Joseon Dynasty

Admiral Yi Sun Shin (1545-1598)--Yi Sun-sin, naval commander who fought against the Japanese in Joseon Dynasty

General Kyebaek (-660)-- Gyebaek, Baekje general, fell in the battle of Hwangsanbeol

Ch'oe Mu-son (c1326-1395)--Choe Museon, inventor and general of late Goryeo dynasty and early Joseon, obtain a recipe for gunpowder

Wang Kon (877-943)--Wang Geon, founder of Goryeo Dynasty

General Taejoyoung (-719)--Dae Jo-yeong, aka King Go, founder of Balhae, r.699-719

General Kim Yu-Shin (595-673)--general of Silla, led unification of Korea