South Korea

South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and borders North Korea along the Korean Demilitarized Zone; though it also claims the land border with China and Russia. The country's western border is formed by the Yellow Sea, while its eastern border is defined by the Sea of Japan. South Korea claims to be the sole legitimate government of the entire peninsula and adjacent islands. It has a population of 51.96 million, of which half live in the Seoul Capital Area, the ninth most populous metropolitan area in the world. Other major cities include Busan, Daegu, and Incheon.

Some of the key events about South Korea

1910
Japan annexed Korea, beginning a 35-year period of colonial rule
1948
The Republic of Korea was officially established as an independent nation
1950
The Korean War began, resulting in millions of casualties and the division of the peninsula
1953
The Korean War armistice was signed, ending active hostilities
1960
The April Revolution led to the overthrow of an authoritarian government
1961
A military coup d'état established an authoritarian regime
1980
The Gwangju Uprising was violently suppressed, resulting in hundreds of civilian deaths
1987
Korean Air Flight 858 was bombed, killing all 115 people on board
1988
Seoul successfully hosted the Summer Olympics, showcasing the country to the world
1995
The Sampoong Department Store collapse killed 502 people and injured 937
1996
South Korea joined the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
1997
The Asian financial crisis severely impacted South Korea's economy
2002
South Korea co-hosted the FIFA World Cup with Japan
2003
The Daegu subway fire killed 192 people and injured 151
2009
South Korea became the first former aid recipient to join the OECD Development Assistance Committee
2012
Gangnam Style became the first YouTube video to reach one billion views, highlighting Korean pop culture's global influence
2014
The Sewol ferry disaster resulted in the deaths of 304 people, mostly high school students
2016
AlphaGo, an artificial intelligence program, defeated a top Go player, marking a milestone in AI development
2016
A political scandal led to the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye
2018
The PyeongChang Winter Olympics were held, promoting peace and cooperation on the Korean Peninsula

Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.