Korea as an integral part of China

During the Han dynasty period the northern parts of Korea were controlled by the Chinese so WI the Han had the the same thing in Korea like they did in what is now South China and integrated the peninsula to the point it was considered part of China and the people considered themselves to be Chinese.
 
Interesting idea but what is your POD? Honestly I'm having a difficult time coming up with a plausible scenario.

I think it's an exceedingly difficult task. Despite China ruling parts of Korea and sharing exceptionally close cultural and political ties I don't think Korea was ever considered part of China. And the people were never considered Chinese either by China or themselves. Korea at the high point of their relationship for example was considered more of a loved and culturally sophisticated younger brother, a younger brother who was not Chinese. China historically has had a very hard time admitting other groups into the Chinese designation. As you pointed out, even what we consider southern China today only became "Chinese" in the eyes of the north historically recently.

To assimilate Korea I think you'd need a major event, either a Korean group manages to administer and blend into China similar to the Manchus or migration from China results in an ethnically Chinese Korea. Both of which are pretty unlikely.
 
Look at the trouble that the Sui and Tang had attempting the same thing. The Tang that were one of the high points of Chinese civilization and economic and military power, and their most expansionist native dynasty.
 
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