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.
south-korea

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.

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