Asia · Eastern Asia

Korea (Republic of)

Capital: Seoul
Population: 51,780,579
Region: Asia
Languages: Korean

Fun fact

South Korea is the global leader in digital connectivity and has the world's fastest average internet speeds. It is also the birthplace of 'e-sports' as a professionalized industry, with dedicated stadiums and television channels for gaming since the early 2000s. A unique cultural quirk is that Koreans are considered one year old at birth, as the time spent in the womb is counted toward their age. Additionally, the country is home to the world's first industrial-scale tidal power plant, located at Sihwa Lake.

Currency

The official currency is the South Korean won, identified by the ISO code KRW and the symbol ₩. Historically, the won was originally derived from the Chinese yuan and Japanese yen, sharing the same Chinese character meaning 'round shape.' While the modern won was reintroduced in 1962, the 10-won coin once cost more to produce than its actual face value due to the rising price of copper and zinc.

Flag symbolism

The white background of the Taegeukgi represents peace and purity, colors traditionally favored in Korean attire. In the center, the red and blue circle signifies the Um-Yang, representing the cosmic balance between proactive and reactive universal forces. The four black trigrams in the corners represent the fundamental elements of heaven, earth, water, and fire. Together, these symbols reflect the harmony of the universe and the continuous movement of nature.

Emblem history

The national emblem of South Korea, adopted in 1963, features the Taegeuk symbol surrounded by five stylized hibiscus petals. This flower is the Mugunghwa, or the Rose of Sharon, which has been cherished by Koreans for centuries as a symbol of perseverance and eternal vitality. The name of the flower translates roughly to 'the flower that never fades,' reflecting the nation's historical resilience. A blue and white ribbon at the bottom of the emblem bears the official name of the country in Hangul characters.