South Korea, officially known as the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country located in East Asia. It occupies the southern half of the Korean Peninsula, sharing a border with North Korea along the Korean Demilitarized Zone. South Korea also asserts claims over its borders with China and Russia. To the west, the country is bordered by the Yellow Sea, while to the east, it is bordered by the Sea of Japan. South Korea maintains that it is the sole legitimate government of the entire Korean Peninsula and its surrounding islands. The nation has a population of 51.96 million, with half of the population residing in the Seoul Capital Area, which is the world’s ninth-largest metropolitan area. Other major cities include Busan, Daegu, and Incheon.
The Korean Peninsula has been inhabited since the Lower Paleolithic era. The first recorded kingdom in the region appeared in Chinese historical accounts in the early 7th century BCE. By the late 7th century CE, the Three Kingdoms of Korea were unified under Silla and Balhae. Subsequently, Korea was ruled by the Goryeo dynasty (918–1392) and the Joseon dynasty (1392–1897). In 1897, the Korean Empire was established, only to be annexed by the Empire of Japan in 1910. Following Japan's defeat in World War II, Korea was liberated but divided into two zones: the northern zone under Soviet occupation and the southern zone under U.S. occupation. When reunification negotiations failed, the southern zone declared itself the Republic of Korea in August 1948, and the northern zone became the Democratic People's Republic of Korea the following month.
The Korean War erupted in 1950 when North Korea invaded the South. The conflict, involving the U.S.-led United Nations Command and China's People's Volunteer Army with Soviet support, ended in 1953 with devastating consequences, including 3 million deaths and widespread destruction. In South Korea, the authoritarian First Republic under Syngman Rhee was overthrown during the April Revolution of 1960. However, instability persisted under the short-lived Second Republic, which was replaced by the Third Republic following a 1961 coup led by Park Chung Hee. Park's administration spurred rapid economic growth, transforming South Korea into one of the Four Asian Tigers through export-driven industrialization. Despite this progress, his rule became increasingly authoritarian, culminating in the Fourth Republic under the Yushin Constitution of 1972, which granted him sweeping powers and curtailed civil liberties. After Park’s assassination in 1979, authoritarianism continued under Chun Doo-hwan, who seized power through two coups and violently suppressed the 1980 Gwangju Uprising. Democratic movements culminated in the June Democratic Struggle of 1987, establishing the current Sixth Republic.
Today, South Korea operates as a unitary presidential republic under the 1987 constitution, with a unicameral legislature known as the National Assembly. It has emerged as a regional power in East Asia and ranks among the world’s most developed nations. The country boasts the 14th-largest economy by both nominal GDP and PPP, and it is a global leader in technology, with some of the fastest Internet speeds and densest high-speed railway networks. As the ninth-largest exporter and importer globally, South Korea’s economic success is complemented by a strong military presence, featuring the world’s second-largest standing army and a system of conscription.
Culturally, South Korea has gained global recognition for its influence in music, television, and film, collectively known as the "K
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