A region in East Asia located on the Korean Peninsula, bordered by China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and the Sea of Japan (East Sea) to the east, with the Yellow Sea to the west. The peninsula is divided into two sovereign states: North Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) in the north and South Korea (Republic of Korea) in the south. Korea features mountainous terrain, coastal plains, and river valleys, with a temperate climate in the north and subtropical conditions in the south.
Population:
Combined, the Korean Peninsula has around 75 million people, with South Korea accounting for roughly 52 million and North Korea about 23 million. Both countries have highly urbanized populations concentrated in major cities such as Seoul and Pyongyang.
Brief History:
Korea has been inhabited for thousands of years, with early states such as Gojoseon emerging in the 1st millennium BCE. Over centuries, the peninsula experienced the Three Kingdoms period, unification under the Silla and Goryeo dynasties, and later the Joseon dynasty. Korea was annexed by Japan in 1910 and remained under colonial rule until 1945. After World War II, the peninsula was divided along the 38th parallel, eventually resulting in the formation of North Korea and South Korea.
Current Day:
Today, South Korea is a democratic republic with a highly developed economy, strong technology and manufacturing sectors, and significant cultural influence worldwide. North Korea is a centralized, authoritarian state with a command economy and strict social control. The two Koreas maintain separate political systems and economies, though they share a common language, cultural heritage, and historical identity.
Image Credit: By Gringer – Own work, CC0 [Accessed 13/03/26]
