The Canadian Encyclopedia — neutral, cited, updated
July 27, 2026Sources cited
Canadianwire.
Canada’s encyclopedia & explainer
Home›Politics & World›Country›South Korea
Politics & World • Country

South Korea

South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea, is a country in East Asia that occupies the southern half of the Korean Peninsula.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea, is a country in East Asia that occupies the southern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Seoul, and it has a population of about 51 million. Korean is the official language, and the country uses the South Korean won.

Geography

South Korea is located in East Asia on the southern half of the Korean Peninsula. It borders North Korea to the north and is surrounded by the Yellow Sea, the Sea of Japan/East Sea, and the Korea Strait.

Government and politics

South Korea is a unitary multiparty republic. Britannica identifies its form of government as a unitary multiparty republic with one legislative house, the National Assembly.

Population and language

South Korea's population is about 51 million, based on a 2026 estimate. Korean is the official language.

Economy and culture

South Korea is widely associated with advanced technology, major manufacturing industries, and global cultural exports such as K-pop, television dramas, and film.

Key facts

  • South Korea occupies the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula.
  • Seoul is both the capital and the largest city of South Korea.
  • The official language is Korean.
  • South Korea is a unitary multiparty republic with a president and a National Assembly.
  • The currency is the South Korean won.
🍁
Canadian context

South Korea is relevant to Canadian readers through trade, diplomacy, education, tourism, and the large Korean Canadian community.

Frequently asked questions

What is the capital of South Korea?
The capital of South Korea is Seoul.
What is the population of South Korea?
South Korea's population is about 51,055,000 in a 2026 estimate.
What language is spoken in South Korea?
The official language of South Korea is Korean.
What is South Korea known for?
South Korea is known for technology, manufacturing, and global popular culture such as K-pop, television, and film.
What is the government of South Korea?
South Korea is a unitary multiparty republic with a president and a National Assembly.
What is the currency of South Korea?
The currency of South Korea is the South Korean won.

References

  1. Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/place/South-Korea
    Supports: Official name, capital, population estimate, government type, official language, currency, area, and country overview.
  2. Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/place/Seoul
    Supports: Seoul as the capital and largest city of South Korea.
  3. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Korea
    Supports: South Korea's capital, population, and general national overview.
  4. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seoul
    Supports: Seoul as capital and largest city, with approximate population.