South Korea, officially Republic of Korea, nation in north-eastern Asia that occupies the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. South Korea is bounded on the north by North Korea; on the east by the Sea of Japan (known in Korea as the East Sea); on the south-east and south by the Korea Strait, which separates it from Japan; and on the west by the Yellow Sea. In Korean the nation's name is Dachan ("Great Han"), "Han" being another orthodox name for Korea. It has a total area of 99,390 sq km (38,375 sq mi), including numerous offshore islands in the south and west, the largest of which is Cheju (with an area of 1,829 sq km/706 sq mi). The state of South Korea was accomplished in 1948 following the post-World War II partitioning of the peninsula between the occupying forces of the United States in the south and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) in the north. The capital and largest city of South Korea is Seoul.

Population
        45,545,280
        (1996 estimate)
Population Density
        459 people/sq km
        (1,189 people/sq mi)
        (1996 estimate)
Urban/Rural Breakdown
        84%Urban
        16%Rural
Largest Cities
        Seoul10,229,260
        Pusan3,813,800
        Taegu2,449,100
        (1995 census)
Ethnic Groups
        99.9%Korean
        0.1%Other
        mostly Chinese
Language
Official Language
        Korean
Religions
        50%Atheist
        24%Mahayana Buddhism
        23%Protestantism
        3%Other
        including Confucianism, Daoism, and Ch'ondogyo