a former country in E Asia, now divided into two separate countries, North Korea and South Korea. Korea occupied the peninsula between the Sea of Japan (East Sea) and the Yellow Sea: an isolated vassal of Manchu China for three centuries until the opening of ports to Japanese trade in 1876; gained independence in 1895; annexed to Japan in 1910 and divided in 1945 into two occupation zones (Russian in the north, American in the south), which became North Korea and South Korea in 1948
Japanese name (1910–45): Chosen. North Korea, South Korea
Korea in American English
(kəˈriə; kɔˈriə)
peninsula & country in E Asia, extending south from NE China: divided (1948) into a)Korean People's Democratic Republic (North Korea) occupying the N half of the peninsula: 47,399 sq mi (122,762 sq km); pop. 23,030,000; cap. Pyongyang, and b)Republic of Korea (South Korea) occupying the S half of the peninsula: 38,326 sq mi (99,263 sq km); pop. 43,412,000;cap. Seoul
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Korea
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Korea
British English: Korea /kəˈriːə/ NOUN
Korea is a former country in East Asia, now divided into two separate countries, North Korea and South Korea.