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South Korea

Coordinates: 36°N 128°E / 36°N 128°E / 36; 128

South Korea ( listen), officially the Republic of Korea (Hangul: 대한민국; hanja: 大韓民國; RR: Daehanminguk,  listen) and commonly referred to as Korea, is a sovereign state in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula. The name Korea is derived from the ancient Kingdom of Goguryeo, also known as Koryŏ. Highly urbanized at 92%, Koreans lead a distinctive urban lifestyle with half of them living in the Seoul Capital Area, the world's second largest city with over 25 million residents and a leading global city with the fourth largest economy, rated in 2016 as the world's most livable megacity and safest city to live in. Highly mountainous, Korea is a popular winter sport destination in Asia, hosting the 2018 Winter Olympics.

The earliest Korean pottery dates to 8000 BC, with three kingdoms flourishing at 1st century BC. One of them, Goguryeo, ruled Northeast China, parts of Russia and Mongolia under Gwanggaeto the Great. Since their unification into Silla and Balhae in the 7th century, Korea enjoyed over a millennium of relative tranquility under long lasting dynasties with innovations like Hangul, the unique alphabet created by Sejong the Great in 1446, enabling anyone to easily learn to read and write. Its rich and vibrant culture left 17 UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritages of Humanity, the third largest in the world, along with 12 World Heritage Sites. Korea was annexed by Imperial Japan in 1910 due to its strategic and central location, after whose surrender in 1945, it was divided into North and South Korea. A North Korean invasion lead to the Korean War (1950–53). Peace has since mostly continued with the two agreeing to work peacefully for reunification and the South solidifying peace as a regional power with the world's 10th largest defence budget and strong global alliances. In 2016, Korea was rated as the world's safest country to live in, with the lowest crime rate.

Korea

Korea, called Chosŏn (Korean: 조선; Hanja: 朝鮮) in North Korea and Hanguk (Korean: 한국; Hanja: 韓國) or Daehanminkuk (Korean: 대한민국; Hanja: 大韓民國) in South Korea, is an East Asian territory that is divided into two distinct sovereign states: North Korea, formally the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), and South Korea, formally the Republic of Korea (ROK). Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by China to the northwest and Russia to the northeast. It is separated from Japan to the east by the Korea Strait and the Sea of Japan .

Korea emerged as a singular political entity after centuries of conflict among the Three Kingdoms of Korea, which were unified as Silla (57 BC – AD 935) and Balhae (AD 698 – 926). The united Silla was eventually succeeded by Goryeo in 935 at the end of the Later Three Kingdoms period. Goryeo, which gave name to the modern exonym "Korea", was a highly cultured state and created the Jikji in the 14th century. The invasions by the Mongol Empire in the 13th century, however, greatly weakened the nation, which forced it into vassalage. After the Yuan dynasty's collapse, severe political strife followed. Goryeo eventually fell to an uprising led by General Yi Seong-gye, who established Joseon in 1388.

Korea (disambiguation)

Korea may refer to:

  • Korea, civilization and geographical area in East Asia
  • Korean Peninsula, geographical area in East Asia
  • North Korea, country, officially known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
  • South Korea, country, officially known as the Republic of Korea
  • Goryeo or Koryŏ, medieval Korean kingdom
  • Goguryeo, Kogurea or Koguryŏ, ancient Korean kingdom whose name changed to Koryŏ in the 5th century
  • Korea, Otwock County, part of Sobienie Szlacheckie, east-central Poland
  • Korea, Gmina Telatyn in Lublin Voivodeship (east Poland)
  • Korea, Gmina Ulhówek in Lublin Voivodeship (east Poland)
  • Korea District (also spelt Koriya), Chhattisgarh, India
  • North Korea

    Coordinates: 40°00′N 127°00′E / 40.000°N 127.000°E / 40.000; 127.000

    North Korea ( listen), officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK; Chosŏn'gŭl: 조선민주주의인민공화국; hancha: 朝鮮民主主義人民共和國; MR: Chosŏn Minjujuŭi Inmin Konghwaguk), is a country in East Asia, in the northern part of the Korean Peninsula. The name Korea is derived from the Kingdom of Goguryeo, also spelled as Koryŏ. The capital and largest city is Pyongyang. North Korea shares a land border with China to the north and northwest, along the Amnok (Yalu) and Tumen rivers, and a small section of the Tumen River also forms a border with Russia to the northeast. The Korean Demilitarized Zone marks the boundary between North Korea and South Korea.

    Korea was annexed by the Empire of Japan in 1910. After the Japanese surrender at the end of World War II in 1945, Korea was divided into two zones by the United States and the Soviet Union, with the north occupied by the Soviets and the south by the Americans. Negotiations on reunification failed, and in 1948 two separate governments were formed: the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in the north, and the Republic of Korea in the south. An invasion initiated by North Korea led to the Korean War (1950–53). Although the Korean Armistice Agreement brought about a ceasefire, no official peace treaty was ever signed. Both states were accepted into the United Nations in 1991.

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    Latest News for: korea republic

    Trade chiefs of Korea, China, Japan discuss advancing trade cooperation at three-way meeting

    Korea Times 30 Mar 2025
    The 13th Trilateral Economic and Trade Ministers' Meeting among the Republic of Korea, Japan and the People's Republic of China took place in Seoul, involving Korean Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun, ...

    Record broken! India's Gulveer Singh betters his own time for new national high in men's 10,000m event

    The Times of India 30 Mar 2025
    His final selection for the continental championships in Gumi, Republic of Korea, is subject to the AFI's discretion.Gulveer's new personal best places him third among Asian runners in the 10000m ...

    Gulveer Singh sets new 10000m national record at The Ten 2025

    Beijing News 30 Mar 2025
    California [US], March 30 (ANI) ... The Ten is a World Athletics Continental Tour silver-level meet ... Final selection in the Indian team for the continental championships scheduled in Gumi, Republic of Korea, however, is subject to the AFI's discretion ... .

    China fuels global innovation through sci-tech cooperation

    China.dot.org 30 Mar 2025
    At a parallel forum focusing on sci-tech innovation cooperation between China and the Republic of Korea (ROK), multiple strategic cooperation agreements were reached.

    Tourism dept to invite Korean travellers, filmmakers for Iffi

    The Times of India 29 Mar 2025
    The roadshows aimed to position Goa as a premier travel destination for South Korean tourists while fostering stronger tourism ties between the two regions, Naik said.He met with the ambassador of ...

    Xinhua Headlines: China fuels global innovation through sci-tech cooperation

    China.dot.org 29 Mar 2025
    At a parallel forum focusing on sci-tech innovation cooperation between China and the Republic of Korea (ROK), multiple strategic cooperation agreements were reached.

    China Focus: China's innovation, opening-up drive global high-tech cooperation

    China.dot.org 29 Mar 2025
    Commenting on Samsung Electronics chairman Lee Jae-yong's recent tour of Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers including Xiaomi and BYD, he said this indicates potential for deepened supply chain cooperation between China and the Republic of Korea.

    China's innovation, opening-up drive global high-tech cooperation

    People Daily 29 Mar 2025
    Commenting on Samsung Electronics chairman Lee Jae-yong's recent tour of Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers including Xiaomi and BYD, he said this indicates potential for deepened supply chain cooperation between China and the Republic of Korea ... .

    'Chinese wave' already impacting the world

    China Daily 29 Mar 2025
    The Force Awakens at the box office ... Since the 1990s, the Republic of Korea's cultural industry has leveraged state support to propel the Korean wave, influencing global trends in music, television, fashion and cuisine ...  . .

    Turkeybuild Istanbul is set to shape the industry

    Steel Radar 29 Mar 2025
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    10 big things about China you should not miss (Mar. 23-Mar. 29)

    ECNS 29 Mar 2025
    1. Xi meets representatives of international business community ... 2 ... File Photo ... Fu Bao, the first giant panda born in the Republic of Korea (ROK), met the public for first time in 2025 following a rehabilitation period for more than 100 days on Tuesday.

    Korea's worst-ever wildfires contained in 149 hours, 48,000 ha of forest scorched

    Korea Times 28 Mar 2025
    “Our nation has not forgotten the Republic of Korea’s unwavering support during the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles and Hawaii.

    North Korea plotting 'new forms of provocations,’ claims South

    Anadolu Agency 28 Mar 2025
    "Moreover, they will firmly maintain the security posture by further strengthening the South Korea-US alliance and solidarity with the international community so that (North Korea) does not dare challenge the Republic of Korea," he added.

    Qatar expresses solidarity with Republic of Korea amid devastating wildfires

    The Peninsula 28 Mar 2025
    The State of Qatar has expressed its solidarity with the friendly Republic of Korea as it grapples with ...

    Russia’s Putin says North Korea, BRICS should join Ukraine ceasefire talks

    Al Jazeera 28 Mar 2025
    ... North Korea and other Moscow allies, according to Russian state media ... “And many others, for example, including the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,” he said, using North Korea’s official name.
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