Korea

geographical name

Ko·​rea kə-ˈrē-ə How to pronounce Korea (audio)
 especially in southeast and south central US  (ˌ)kō-
1
peninsula 600 miles (966 kilometers) long and 135 miles (217 kilometers) wide in eastern Asia between the Yellow Sea and the East Sea (Sea of Japan) with Korea Strait to the south and China to the north
2
or Japanese Chosen former country coextensive with the Korea Peninsula; once a kingdom and (1910–45) a Japanese colony; capital Seoul; divided in 1948 at the 38th parallel into the republics of North Korea and South Korea

Note: Though the people are still referred to by the general term Koreans, since the 1948 division they are now often specified as North Koreans and South Koreans.

Dictionary Entries Near Korea

Cite this Entry

“Korea.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Korea. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on Korea

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!