It has a total area of about 98,480 sq km (about 38,023 sq mi), including numerous offshore islands in the south and west, the largest of which is Cheju (area, 1829 sq km/706 sq mi).

The state of South Korea was established in 1948 following the post-World War II partitioning of the peninsula between the occupying forces of the United States in the south and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) in the north.

The capital and largest city of South Korea is Seoul.