South Korea: flag, capital, currency and history
South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea, is a country in Eastern Asia, Asia. Its capital is Seoul. The currency is the South Korean won. Languages spoken include Korean.
Quick facts about South Korea
- Official name
- Republic of Korea
- Capital
- Seoul
- Region
- Asia, Eastern Asia
- Currency
- South Korean won (KRW, ₩)
- Languages
- Korean
- Calling code
- +82
- Internet domain
- .kr
- Area
- 100,210 km² (38,691 sq mi)
- Land borders
- North Korea
- Demonym
- South Korean
- National day
- Liberation Day, August 15
Flag of South Korea
Download the flag of South Korea as a scalable SVG or as a PNG in three sizes. The flag emoji is 🇰🇷.
History of South Korea
Korean history is traditionally traced to Gojoseon, followed by the Three Kingdoms of Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla. Silla unified much of the peninsula in the seventh century, and later the Goryeo dynasty, founded in 918, and the Joseon dynasty, founded in 1392, ruled the country. Japan annexed Korea in 1910 and ruled until 1945. The peninsula was then divided, and the Republic of Korea was proclaimed in the south in 1948. The Korean War lasted from 1950 to 1953. Democratic reforms followed in 1987, and the country is a presidential republic.
Key dates
- 668Silla, allied with Tang China, defeats Goguryeo and unifies much of the peninsula.
- 918The Goryeo dynasty is founded.
- 1392The Joseon dynasty is founded.
- 1910Japan annexes Korea.
- 1948The Republic of Korea is proclaimed in the south.
- 1950The Korean War begins; an armistice is signed in 1953.
- 1987Democratic reforms lead to direct presidential elections.
A short overview, not a full history. Dates are given for well-documented events only.
Currency of South Korea
South Korea uses the South Korean won (KRW, ₩). Use our free currency converter to check exchange rates.
Festivals and greetings in South Korea
Celebrations observed in South Korea, with free greeting images and wishes you can personalise.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of South Korea?
The capital of South Korea is Seoul.
What currency does South Korea use?
South Korea uses the South Korean won (KRW, symbol ₩).
What languages are spoken in South Korea?
Languages used in South Korea include Korean.
What is the calling code of South Korea?
The international calling code of South Korea is +82. Its internet domain is .kr.
Which countries border South Korea?
South Korea shares land borders with North Korea.
On which continent is South Korea?
South Korea is in Asia, in the region of Eastern Asia.
What is the national day of South Korea?
South Korea marks Liberation Day on August 15.
Neighbours of South Korea
More countries in Eastern Asia
Country data from the open mledoze/countries dataset (ODbL), with corrections. Flags from flag-icons (MIT).