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Why is the English name Korea derived from Goryeo?
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Korea
Map of the Korean Peninsula, indicating northern and southern regions.
The English name Korea is derived from the name of the Goryeo dynasty, which ruled the Korean Peninsula from 935 to 1392 CE.1
During this period, the kingdom established a distinct cultural tradition and maintained significant international contact, which led foreign traders and travelers to refer to the country by the name of the ruling dynasty. As the name Goryeo became the primary identifier for the region in the eyes of the outside world, it eventually evolved into the Western name "Korea".1