South Korea
South Korea is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula. The capital and largest city is Seoul, and about half the country's total population live in the Seoul Capital Area.
The first kingdom on the Korean Peninsula we know of was recorded in Chinese records in the early 7th Century BCE. Following the unification of Korea in 963 BC, it was ruled by the Goryeo and then Joseon dynasty. Korea was annexed by the Empire of Japan in 1910, which lasted until the Japanese surrender in World War II, after which Korea was divided into two zones; a northern zone occupied by the Soviet Union and a southern zone occupied by the United States, which became the Republic of Korea in August 1948.
In 1950, a North Korean invasion began the Korean War, which saw extensive U.S-led U.N. intervention in support of the South. The June Struggle led to the end of authoritarian rule in 1987, and the establishment of democracy. However, corruption has become a growing problem in recent years; all living former presidents have been sentenced to prison for various crimes ranging from abuse of authority to embezzlement.
South Korea's citizens enjoy one of the world's fastest Internet connection speeds and the densest high-speed railway network. In the 21st century, South Korea is renowned for its globally influential pop culture, particularly in music (K-pop), TV dramas and cinema.