From 1950 to 1953, the Korean War profoundly affected the development of contemporary society on the Korean Peninsula and worldwide. It originated after the Soviet Union and the United States partitioned Korea into North and South following World War II.

On June 25, 1950, with support from the Soviet Union and China, North Korean soldiers invaded South Korea across the 38th parallel, sparking the Korean War. In order to back South Korea, the United Nations intervened, with the United States taking the lead. The war became increasingly bloody and destructive, with major gains and losses on both sides.

New weapons and strategies, like as jet aircraft and armored warfare, were used in this conflict. In 1953, both Koreas agreed to terminate their war and establish the 38th parallel as a demilitarized zone. The two Koreas are officially still at war because no formal peace treaty was ever signed.

The effects of the Korean War were far-reaching. It helped cement the split between North and South Korea, which has led to very distinct political and economic systems in the two countries. A long-term American military presence in the region may also be traced back to the escalation of Cold War tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union. The geopolitics of East Asia and the pursuit of peace and unification on the Korean Peninsula are still being influenced by the events of the war.