South Korea
Fast facts
- Capital
- Seoul
- Official language
- Korean Korean Sign Language
- Currency
- South Korean won (₩)
- Time zone
- Korea Standard Time
- Drives on
- right
- Calling code
- +82
Facts from Wikipedia’s “South Korea” page (CC BY-SA 4.0).
South Korea is a country in the southern part of the Korean peninsula, in East Asia.
The capital city of South Korea is Seoul. The official name of South Korea is the Republic of Korea in English, 대한민국 (Daehan Minguk) in Korean writing (Hangeul), and 大韓民國 in Chinese characters (Hanja). About half of the country’s people live in its capital city, Seoul, or near the city in the metropolitan area. Korea’s Seoul metropolitan area is one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. In fact, some sources say it is the second most populous after Tokyo, Japan. Recently, South Korean culture has become famous around the world. This is partially because of bands like BTS, TWICE, and BlackPink, Korean drama, as well as its economic miracle.
Classical antiquity
South Korea’s history began with Dangunwanggeom’s Gojoseon. Gojoseon was conquered by Han China. After Gojoseon collapsed, there were a lot of countries such as Buyeo, Okjeo, Dongyae, and Samhan. However, Baekje, Goguryeo, and Silla were the strongest. So their period began, and it is called the Three Kingdoms Period. Goguryeo and Baekje were conquered by Silla and Dang China’s allied forces, and Silla unified the three kingdoms. There was another country, Balhae. Balhae was founded by Dae Jo-Young.
Middle Ages
Later Silla and Balhae’s period is called the South and North Countries Period. A rebellion in Later Silla caused the birth of a new nation: Goryeo, which was founded by Wanggeon. Mongolia’s invaded Goryeo. Near the end of the Goryeo period, there was a great general Lee Seong-Gye. The king of Goryeo directed him to occupy Yodong, but he opposed it. However, Lee Seong-Gye went to Yodong to occupy it, but he returned to Goryeo and he revolted. His revolt succeeded, and he founded the country Joseon. Joseon’s first king, Taejo, moved the capital to Hanyang, now called Seoul. Joseon’s fourth king, Sejong, made the Korean alphabet, Hangeul. Joseon’s twenty-second king, Jeongjo, built the Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon.
Modern period
Joseon’s twenty-sixth king, Gojong, changed the country’s name to Daehanjeguk. When Daehanjaeguk’s power weakened, Japan occupied it for 35 years until Japan’s defeat in World War II in 1945. In 1950, there was a large and deadly war, the Korean War, which killed millions of people. As a result, Korea was split into two countries, North and South.
21st century
On 3 December 2024, President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law on a television. He accused the Democratic Party, which controls the National Assembly of supporting North Korea and trying to destroy the country. The martial law stopped all political activities and suspended press freedom. The Democratic Party and some members of Yoon’s People Power Party disagreed with the declaration, causing protests. Later, on 4 December 2024, after security tried to stop the vote, most lawmakers in the National Assembly voted 190-0 to end martial law. Yoon was impeached on 7 December 2024, however it did not pass. He was impeached again on 14 December, with this one being successful.
In 2045, South Korea is set to become the world’s most aged population, passing Japan. Senior citizens will reach 46.5 percent of the population in 2067, outnumbering the working age population.
Geography
South Korea is in East Asia, bordering North Korea, and is surrounded by water on three sides, as it makes up the southern part of the Korean peninsula. South Korea is separated from North Korea by the 38th parallel. It is separated from Japan by the Sea of Japan (known as the East Sea by the South Koreans). The capital city, Seoul, is quite close to the North Korean border. The largest island is Jeju Island and the highest mountain is Hallasan, on Jeju.
South Korea is mainly mountainous, and there are many islands off the south coast. 70% of the country is covered by hills and mountains.
Population
There are around 52 million residents in South Korea. The largest cities are Seoul (9.6 million people), Busan (3.3 million people), Incheon (2.9 million people), and Daegu (2.4 million people). The population density is about 507 people per square kilometre (1310 people per square mile).
Social issues
South Korea has one of the lowest birth rates in the world. The fertility rate, or number of children born per woman, was 0.92 in 2019. This is the lowest in the world. To keep the population the same, the fertility rate must be about 2, so the two children can replace their two parents. The low fertility rate will cause the population to start falling.
Politics and government
South Korea is a democracy, meaning that people can vote for their government. However, this is recent. South Korea was an authoritarian dictatorship for most of its history. The President of South Korea is elected to a five-year term, and cannot stand in a Presidential Election for a second time. In March 2025, the court system made its decision that Yoon Suk-yeol, was to be pushed out of power (as president).
Science and technology
South Korea is known for a lot of technology. This includes the car makers Hyundai and Kia. The well-known global brands Samsung and LG, which make mobile phones, semi-conductors, and electric devices, are also South Korean.
Culture
South Korea has been affected by both continental culture and marine culture because it is located on a peninsula. Ancient South Korean culture has developed with the culture of Siberia, the northern part of Central Asia, the southern part of Southeast Asia, and neighboring countries like China.
Language
South Korea’s customary and official language is Korean. Many linguists say that it is linked with Altaic languages. Hangul, the alphabet that is used to write Korean, was published by King Sejong the Great of Joseon in 1446. It is the only alphabet in the world whose creator, invention day, and invention principle are known.
Food
A customary South Korean regular meal is made up of rice, Korean soup, kimchi and other various dishes. Generally, Korean dishes are seasoned with sesame oil, soy bean paste, soy sauce, salt, ginger and chilli pepper paste. The most famous traditional food of Korea, kimchi, is eaten with nearly every meal. There are lots of popular South Korean typical foods such as bibimbap, tteokbokki, and bulgogi.
Religion
As of 2008, 19.7% of people are Protestant, 6.6% are Catholic, 23.2% are Buddhist, 49.3% have no religion, and 1.3% either are a part of other religions or have unknown beliefs.
Music
The most representative traditional music of Korea is Arirang and every region has its folk song. Many South Korean singers are well known in world as K-pop is steadily developing. Famous K-pop artists include BTS, BLACKPINK, EXO, TWICE & NCT. Hip hop artists such as Zico, Jvcki Wai, San E & Giriboy are also popular.
Circumcision
77% of South Korean men are circumcised; this tradition was taken from the US military.
Cities and provinces
South Korea has 1 special city (Teukbyeolsi; 특별시; 特別市), 1 special self-governing city (Teukbyeol-Jachisi; 특별자치시; 特別自治市) 6 metropolitan cities (Gwangyeoksi; 광역시; 廣域市), and 9 provinces (do; 도; 道). The names below are given in English, Revised Romanization, Hangeul, and Hanja.
Special cities
- Seoul Special City (Seoul-teukbyeolsi; 서울특별시; 서울特別市)
- Note: 서울 (Seoul) itself has no corresponding Hanja.
- Busan Metropolitan City (Busan-gwangyeoksi; 부산광역시)
Special self-governing city
- Sejong special self-governing city (Sejong-teukbyeol-jachasi 세종특별자치시; 世宗特別自治市)
Metropolitan cities
- Busan Metropolitan City (Busan-gwangyeoksi; 부산광역시; 釜山廣域市)
- Daegu Metropolitan City (Daegu-gwangyeoksi; 대구광역시; 大邱廣域市)
- Daejeon Metropolitan City (Daejeon-gwangyeoksi; 대전광역시; 大田廣域市)
- Gwangju Metropolitan City (Gwangju-gwangyeoksi; 광주광역시; 光州廣域市)
- Incheon Metropolitan City (Incheon-gwangyeoksi; 인천광역시; 仁川廣域市)
- Ulsan Metropolitan City (Ulsan-gwangyeoksi; 울산광역시; 蔚山廣域市)
Provinces
- Gyeonggi Province (Gyeonggi-do; 경기도; 京畿道)
- Gangwon Province (Gangwon-do; 강원도; 江原道)
- North Chungcheong Province (Chungcheongbuk-do; 충청 북도; 忠清北道)
- South Chungcheong Province (Chungcheongnam-do; 충청 남도; 忠清南道)
- North Jeolla Province (Jeollabuk-do; 전라 북도; 全羅北道)
- South Jeolla Province (Jeollanam-do; 전라 남도; 全羅南道)
- North Gyeongsang Province (Gyeongsangbuk-do; 경상 북도; 慶尚北道)
- South Gyeongsang Province(Gyeongsangnam-do; 경상 남도; 慶尚南道)
- Jeju Province (Jeju-do; 제주도; 濟州道)
Written for younger readers
South Korea, in simpler words
This version comes from Wikijunior, a set of books written for children aged 8 to 11. It is shorter and uses plainer language than the article above.
From Wikijunior: Asia
South Korea is a country that is hilly and mountainous and much of the uplands of the Korean Peninsula remain forested. Koreans are thought to be descended from several Mongol tribes that migrated from Central Asia. South Korea are formed after World War 2, after which Japanese occupation ends with Soviet troops occupying area north of the 38th parallel, and US troops in the south.South declares independence in 1950 sparking North Korean invasion. The armistice ends Korean War, which has cost two million lives.
The capital city of South Korea is Seoul and the currency used is Won.
South Korea is located on the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and bordering north toNorth Korea. It has coastlines along the Sea of Japan to its west and the Yellow Sea to its east.
48 million people live in South Korea according to a 2010 census. The Korean society is almost homogeneous (consist of single race) and almost 99% of South Koreans identify as ethnically Korean. The largest group of ethnic minorities in South Korea, the Chinese, only number around 20,000 people.
The Korean language, written in a script called Hangul, is the most common language for South Korea. In different areas of South Korea you’ll find that different dialects are spoken. For example, the Gyeongsang dialect spoken around Busan and Daegu to the south sounds quite rough and aggressive compared to standard Korean. Written Korean is also unique, using a phonetic system called hangul. It stacks sounds into blocks that represent syllables, and its consistency means it’s fairly easy to pick up.
Historically, several religions prevailed in the Ancient Korea: shamanism (the religious belief in gods, demons, and ancestral spirits responsive to a priest, or shaman), Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism. The principles and social outlook of Confucianism are still much in evidence in Korean daily life and family relationships, and Buddhism remains influential—even among people who may be nominally Christian.
Approximately 25% of the population professes Christianity, with Protestants (particularly Presbyterians and Methodists), independent Christians, and Roman Catholics the largest groups. Less than 15% of the population is Buddhist.
The national sport in South Korea is Taekwando (taekkyon) is the art of self defense that originated in Korea. It is recognized as one of the oldest forms of martial arts in the world, reaching back over 2,000 years.
During the 20th century, there were five major martial art academies or Kwans. They were called Mooduk Kwan, Jido Kwan, Changmu Kwan, Chungdo Kwan, and Songmu Kwan. Within these schools lie a variety of styles such as KongSooDo, Tae Kyon, SooBakDo, TangSooDo, KwonPup, etc. The way of teaching and employing many of the techniques varied as much as the schools and in 1946 an attempt was made to unify Dojangs (training halls) and standardize instructional methods. Some of the leaders wanted to uphold the martial art character of the schools while others wished to create a combat sport. These meetings met with no success.
In 1955 a board of instructors, historians and prominent society members sat down to coordinate all the schools and select a name for the hopefully unified art. In April 1955 a new name was from a group of names by the board, it was Taekwondo.
The name was selected for its appropriate description of the art: Tae (foot), Kwon (hand / fist), Do (art). Literally , Taekwondo meant “the art of the foot and hand/fist”
There are few rules related to Tae Kwan Do: (1) The aim of taekwondo is to land as many kicks and blows as you can on your opponent in the allowed target areas. (2) A taekwondo contest comprises three rounds of two minutes each – with a one-minute break between each round. (3) The whole taekwondo contest area is a 10m square mat. (4) One point is scored for each legitimate strike on the body, and two points are given for kicks to the face.
File:KOCIS Jeju Island (5982721099).jpg|Lake in Jeju Island File:Seoul Gyeongbokgung palace exterior view.jpg|Gyeongbokgung Palace File:전주 경기전.jpg|Gyeonggijeon Shrine
Jeju Island - Located off the southern coast of South Korea, it is nicknamed Island of the Gods.Jeju is a subtropical destination known as one of the top honeymoon and vacation spots in South Korea.
Gyeongbokgung Palace - Built in 1395, Gyeongbokgung Palace is also commonly referred to as the Northern Palace because its location is furthest north when compared to the neighboring palaces of Changdeokgung (Eastern Palace) and Gyeonghuigung (Western Palace) Palace. Gyeongbokgung Palace is arguably the most beautiful, and remains the largest of all palaces in South Korea.
Gyeonggijeon Shrine - Built in 1410 and holds the portrait of King Tae-jo, the founder of the Joseon Dynasty. The King and his wife’s mortuary tablets are enshrined here at Jogyeong Shrine.
Where this page comes from
The article above is adapted from “South Korea” on Simple English Wikipedia, by its contributors. We removed reference markers, navigation boxes and tables, expanded measurement templates into readable numbers, and kept the prose otherwise intact. The simpler version is adapted from Wikijunior on Wikibooks.
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