A country of eastern Asia at the southern end of the Korean peninsula. Korea was divided into a northern Soviet zone and a southern American zone after World War II, and Soviet resistance to reunification led to the establishment in 1948 of two separate countries, with the Korean War (1950–1953) leaving the peninsula divided along much the same line as before. Ruled until 1993 by a series of authoritarian military leaders, South Korea developed a prosperous economy on the strength of trade ties with Japan and the United States. Seoul is the capital and the largest city.
- South Korean
- A country in East Asia, comprising the southern half of the Korean Peninsula. Official name: Republic of Korea.