Korea: Quick Facts

Written and fact-checked by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Facts

Also Known As	Hanguk • Taehan • Chosŏn

Photos

Map of the Korean Peninsula highlighted in orange, showing North Korea in the north and South Korea in the south. The peninsula is bordered by China and Russia to the north, the Yellow Sea to the west, the East Sea (Sea of Japan) to the east, and Japan across the sea to the southeast. A small inset globe at the top left shows the peninsula's location in East Asia.

Topographical map of the Korean Peninsula highlighting major elevation changes, with mountain ranges such as the Taebaek Mountains, the highest peak Mt. Paektu in the north, and Mt. Halla on Jeju Island to the south. Major rivers and surrounding seas, including the Yellow Sea, East Sea (Sea of Japan), and East China Sea, are also labeled.

Pagoda of Jeongrimsa Temple in Buyeo, South Korea

Gyeongju, South Korea

Map showing the Korean Peninsula around AD 400 during the Three Kingdoms period, with territories of Koguryo in the north, Paekche in the southwest, Silla in the southeast, and Kaya in the south-central region. Key mountain ranges and major settlements are labeled, and modern international boundaries are outlined.

seated granite Buddha of Sŏkkuram

Ancient Korean burial sites from the Silla and Unified Silla kingdoms

Gyeongju: Seokguram

Korean bottle with a celadon glaze

Bronze statue of King Sejong the Great seated and holding an open book, on a stone pedestal inscribed with Korean characters in Yeouido Park, Seoul, South Korea.

See All Images →

Topics

Why Is Kim Such a Common Surname in Korea?Korean Provisional Government Anglo-Japanese Alliance Singanhoe Thrace Gascony Maine

Dig Deeper: More Articles That Discuss This Topic

Major Events

Japanese soldiers in uniform disembark from a boat onto a dock, with hilly terrain visible in the background during the Russo-Japanese War.

Russo-Japanese War

Antique map from 1902 showing Japan, Korea, and surrounding seas, with detailed labeling of cities, regions, and geographical features. Insets display the Kurile Islands, Liu-Kiu (Ryukyu) Islands, and Formosa (Taiwan) in greater detail. The map includes coastal outlines, major islands, and place names as they appeared in the early twentieth century.

Korea Under Japanese Rule

the three ancient Korean kingdoms

Three Kingdoms period

First Sino-Japanese War

First Sino-Japanese War

The Siege of Busanjin, 1592

Siege of Busanjin

Russo-Japanese War and the Treaty of Portsmouth

Treaty of Portsmouth

default image

March First Movement

default image

Donghak Uprising

Treaty of Shimonoseki

Treaty of Shimonoseki

default image

Hong Gyeong-Rae Rebellion

default image

Nangnang

ancient colony, Korea

South Korea

country, Asia

North Korea

country, Asia

Map showing the Korean Peninsula around AD 400 during the Three Kingdoms period, with territories of Koguryo in the north, Paekche in the southwest, Silla in the southeast, and Kaya in the south-central region. Key mountain ranges and major settlements are labeled, and modern international boundaries are outlined.

Goguryeo

ancient kingdom, Korea

Map showing the Korean Peninsula around AD 400 during the Three Kingdoms period, with territories of Koguryo in the north, Paekche in the southwest, Silla in the southeast, and Kaya in the south-central region. Key mountain ranges and major settlements are labeled, and modern international boundaries are outlined.

Baekje

ancient kingdom, Korea

Panmunjom “truce village”

P’anmunjŏm

demilitarized zone, Korean Peninsula

Map of the Korean Peninsula highlighting the territory of the ancient Silla kingdom in orange, covering much of present-day South Korea and part of North Korea. Surrounding regions including China, Russia, and Japan are labeled, with the Yellow Sea and East Sea (Sea of Japan) shown adjacent to the peninsula. A locator globe in the upper left corner indicates the region's position in East Asia.

Silla

ancient kingdom, Korea

Key People

Syngman Rhee

Syngman Rhee

president of South Korea

Joseon dynasty

Joseon dynasty

Korean history

ceramic cup repaired with the kintsugi technique

Goryeo dynasty

Korean history

Roy Chapman Andrews

Roy Chapman Andrews

American naturalist

Statue of Yi Sun-Shin

Yi Sun-shin

Korean admiral

Terauchi Masatake.

Count Terauchi Masatake

prime minister of Japan

Shidehara Kijūrō

Shidehara Kijūrō

prime minister of Japan

default image

Chu Ki-Chol

Korean clergyman

default image

Unified Silla Dynasty

Korean history

default image

Choe Je-u

Korean religious leader

default image

Wŏnhyo

Korean Buddhist priest

default image

Konishi Yukinaga

Japanese general

Saitō Makoto.

Shishaku Saitō Makoto

prime minister of Japan

Gojong

Gojong

Korean ruler

default image

Saint Chŏng Yak-jong

Korean scholar

default image

Choe Si-hyeong

Korean religious leader

Han Yongun

Han Yongun

Korean poet

default image

Bojo Guksa

Korean priest

Sejong

Sejong

Korean ruler

default image

Son Pyŏng-Hi

Korean independence activist and religious leader