: , Hanja
: , tɛːhanminɡuk̚), (commonly known as South Korea ), is a sovereign state
in East Asia
, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula
. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China
(Mainland China
) to the west, Japan
to the east, North Korea
to the north, and the East China Sea
and Republic of China (Taiwan)
to the south. South Korea lies in a humid continental
and humid subtropical climate
region with a predominantly mountainous terrain. Its territory covers a total area of 99,392 square kilometers and has a population of almost .
1948 In Jeju, South Korea, a civil-war-like period of violence and human rights abuses begins, known as the Jeju massacre.
1948 The South Korean constitution is proclaimed.
1948 The Republic of Korea is established south of the 38th parallel north.
1950 The Korean War begins with the invasion of South Korea by North Korea.
1950 Korean War: Troops from the People's Republic of China launch a massive counterattack in North Korea against South Korean and United Nations forces (the Battle of the Ch'ongch'on River and the Battle of Chosin Reservoir), ending any hopes of a quick end to the conflict.
1960 Students in South Korea hold a nationwide pro-democracy protest against their president Syngman Rhee, eventually forcing him to resign.
1973 Kim Dae-Jung, a South Korean politician and later president of South Korea, is kidnapped.
1974 Yuk Young-soo, First Lady of South Korea, is killed during an apparent assassination attempt upon President of South Korea, Park Chung-hee.
1974 Yuk Young-soo, First Lady of South Korea, is killed during an apparent assassination attempt upon President of South Korea, Park Chung-hee.
1974 78 die when the Time Go-Go Club in Seoul, South Korea burns down. Six of the victims jumped to their deaths from the seventh floor after a club official barred the doors after the fire started.