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{{More citations needed|date=January 2007}}
[[File:NLC403-312001066443-4424 山海經 卷一十二.pdf|thumb|The name of Korea was first recorded in Chinese classic ''[[Shanhaijing]]'' vol.12. As shown in the picture, “Korea is located on the east of Lieyang (列陽, lit. '[[Yin and yang#Meanings|Yang side]] of the [[Taedong River|Lie River]]'), south of Haibei Mountains; Lieyang belongs to the [[Yan (state)|state of Yan]]."<ref>朝鮮在列陽東，海北山南，列陽屬燕。</ref>]]
There are various '''names of Korea''' in use today that are all derived from those of ancient Koreanic kingdoms and dynasties. The choice of name often depends on the language, whether the user is referring to either or both modern Korean countries, and even the user's political views on the [[Korean conflict]].

The name ''[[Korea]]'' is an [[Endonym and exonym|exonym]], derived from ''[[Goryeo]]'' or ''Koryŏ.'' Both [[North Korea]] and [[South Korea]] use the name in English. However, in the [[Korean language]], the two Koreas use different terms to refer to the nominally unified nation: ''Joseon'' or ''Chosŏn'' ({{Korean|hangul=조선|hanja=朝鮮|labels=no}}) in North Korea and ''Hanguk'' ({{Korean|hangul=한국|hanja=韓國|labels=no}}) in South Korea.

==History==
{{See also|History of Korea}}

The earliest records of Korean history are written in [[Chinese characters]] called [[hanja]]. Even after the invention of [[hangul]], Koreans generally recorded native Korean names with hanja, by [[translation]] of meaning, [[transliteration]] of sound, or even combinations of the two. Furthermore, the pronunciations of the same character are somewhat different in Korean and the various Korean dialects, and have changed over time.

For all these reasons, in addition to the sparse and sometimes contradictory written records, it is often difficult to determine the original meanings or pronunciations of ancient names.

===Ancient history===
====Gojoseon====
Until 108 BC, northern Korea and part of [[Manchuria]] were controlled by [[Old Chosŏn|Gojoseon]]. In contemporaneous [[China|Chinese]] records, it was written as {{Zh|c=|s=|t=朝鮮|labels=no}}, which is pronounced in modern Korean as ''Joseon'' ({{lang|ko|조선}}). Historically, these characters have been read in the Korean language as 됴션 ''Dyosyen''; 조선 ''Joseon'' is a very recent spelling, reformed to reflect recent changes in the phonology of the Korean language. The prefixing of ''Go-'' ({{lang|mul-Hant|{{linktext|古}}}}), meaning "old" or "ancient," is a historiographical convention that distinguishes it from the later [[Joseon dynasty]]. The name Joseon is also now still used by North Koreans and [[Koreans in China|Koreans living in China]] and [[Zainichi Koreans|Japan]] to refer to the peninsula, and as the official Korean form of the name of [[North Korea|''Democratic People's Republic of Korea'' (Joseon)]]. Cognates of 朝鮮 ''Joseon'' are also used in many Asian languages, such as Japanese, Vietnamese, and Chinese, to refer to the Korean Peninsula. {{Citation needed|date=September 2023}}

Possibly the [[Chinese characters]] phonetically transcribed a native Korean name, perhaps pronounced something like "Jyusin". Some speculate that it also corresponds to Chinese references to {{lang|zh-Hant|肅愼}} ({{lang|ko|숙신}}, [[suksin|Suksin (ethnic group)]]), {{lang|zh-Hant|稷愼}} ({{lang|ko|직신}}, Jiksin) and {{lang|zh-Hant|息愼}} ({{lang|ko|식신}}, Siksin), although these latter names probably describe the ancestors of the [[Jurchen people]].<ref>{{Cite web|url= http://www.pressian.com/news/article.html?no=46588 |script-title=ko:숙신이 조선에서 나온 아홉가지 이유 |last=김 |first=운회 |date=24 May 2005 |website=[[Pressian]] |language=ko |access-date=25 December 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url= http://www.pressian.com/news/article.html?no=56883 |script-title=ko:당신은 쥬신 |last=김|first=운회 |date=5 September 2008 |website=[[Pressian]] |language=ko |access-date=25 December 2018}}</ref>

Other scholars believe {{lang|zh-Hant|朝鮮}} was a ''translation'' (like Japanese [[kun'yomi]]) of the native Korean ''[[Asadal]]'' ({{lang|ko|아사달}}), the capital of Gojoseon: ''asa'' being a hypothetical [[Altaic languages|Altaic]] root word for "morning", and ''dal'' meaning "mountain", a common ending for Goguryeo place names (with the use of the character {{lang|zh-Hant|鮮}} "fresh" to transcribe the final ''-dal'' syllable possibly having been based on the pronunciation of the ancient ancestor of Middle Korean ''dɔl-'' > Modern Korean 달 ''dal-'' "sweet").<ref>{{cite web|url= http://urimal.cs.pusan.ac.kr/urimal_new/read/common/sisa/sisa.asp?page_num=1&ID=1054&search_str=&section=4 |script-title=ko:[땅이름&#93; 태백산과 아사달 / 허재영] |language=ko |date=25 July 2006 |access-date=18 July 2019}}</ref>

An early attempt to translate these characters into English gave rise to the expression "The Land of the Morning Calm" for Korea,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Graham |first1=Adam H. |title=Exploring 'The Land of Morning Calm' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/25/travel/korea-land-of-morning-calm.html?_ga=2.201840593.1576876695.1674488204-510650334.1674488204 |access-date=23 January 2023 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=25 September 2022}}</ref> which parallels the expression "The Land of the Rising Sun" for Japan. While the wording is fanciful, the essence of the translation is valid.{{citation needed|date=January 2019}}

====Han====
Around the time of Gojoseon's fall, various chiefdoms in southern Korea grouped into confederacies, collectively called the [[Samhan]] ({{Korean|hangul=삼한|hanja=三韓|lit=Three Han|labels=no}}). ''Han'' is a native Korean root for "leader" or "great", as in ''[[maripgan]]'' ("king", archaic), ''hanabi'' ("grandfather", archaic), and ''Hanbat'' ("Great Field", archaic name for [[Daejeon]]).{{Citation needed|date=September 2023}}

''Han'' was transliterated in Chinese records as {{lang-zh|labels=no|t=韓|p=hán}} ({{lang|ko|한}}), {{lang-zh|labels=no|t=幹|p=gàn}} ({{lang|ko|간}}), {{lang-zh|labels=no|t=刊|p=kān}} ({{lang|ko|간}}), and {{lang-zh|labels=no|t=干|p=gān}} ({{lang|ko|간}}). The Korean name Han is etymologically disconnected from both the Chinese state 韓; hán, despite sharing the same Chinese character, and the Han (漢; hàn) dynasty along with the associated ethnicity.

Beginning in the 7th century, the name "[[Samhan]]" became synonymous with the [[Three Kingdoms of Korea]].<ref name="kyunghyang">{{cite web |last1=이기환 |script-title=ko:[이기환의 흔적의 역사]국호논쟁의 전말…대한민국이냐 고려공화국이냐 |url=http://news.khan.co.kr/kh_news/khan_art_view.html?artid=201708300913001&code=960100&www |website=[[Kyunghyang Shinmun]] |access-date=2 July 2018 |language=ko |date=30 August 2017}}</ref> According to the ''[[Samguk sagi]]'' and ''[[Samguk yusa]]'', [[Silla]] implemented a national policy, "Samhan Unification" ({{Korean|삼한일통|三韓一統|labels=no}}), to integrate [[Baekje]] and [[Goguryeo]] refugees. In 1982, a memorial stone dating back to 686 was discovered in [[Cheongju]] with an inscription: "The Three Han were unified and the domain was expanded."<ref name="kyunghyang" /> During the [[Later Silla]] period, the concepts of Samhan as the ancient confederacies and the Three Kingdoms of Korea were merged.<ref name="kyunghyang" /> In a letter to an imperial tutor of the Tang dynasty, [[Ch'oe Ch'i-wŏn]] equated Byeonhan to Baekje, Jinhan to Silla, and Mahan to Goguryeo.<ref name="chosun">{{cite web |last1=이덕일 |script-title=ko:[이덕일 사랑] 대~한민국 |url=http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2008/08/14/2008081401512.html |website=조선닷컴 |publisher=[[The Chosun Ilbo]] |access-date=2 July 2018 |language=ko}}</ref> By the [[Goryeo]] period, Samhan became a common name to refer to all of Korea.<ref name="kyunghyang" /> In his Ten Mandates to his descendants, [[Wang Geon]] declared that he had unified the Three Han (Samhan), referring to the Three Kingdoms of Korea.<ref name="kyunghyang" /><ref name="chosun" /> Samhan continued to be a common name for Korea during the [[Joseon]] period and was widely referenced in the [[Annals of the Joseon Dynasty]].<ref name="kyunghyang" />

In China, the Three Kingdoms of Korea were collectively called Samhan since the beginning of the 7th century.<ref name="National">{{cite web |script-title=ko:고현묘지명(高玄墓誌銘) |url=http://gsm.nricp.go.kr/_third/user/frame.jsp?View=search&No=4&ksmno=7190 |website=한국금석문 종합영상정보시스템 |publisher=National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage |access-date=10 September 2018}}</ref> The use of the name Samhan to indicate the Three Kingdoms of Korea was widespread in the [[Tang dynasty]].<ref name="kwon">{{cite journal |last1=Deok-young |first1=Kwon |title=An inquiry into the name of Three Kingdom(三國) inscribed on the epitaph of T'ang(唐) period |journal=The Journal of Korean Ancient History |date=2014 |volume=75 |pages=105–137 |url=http://www.dbpia.co.kr/Journal/ArticleDetail/NODE02486618 |access-date=2 July 2018 |language=ko |issn=1226-6213}}</ref> Goguryeo was alternately called [[Mahan confederacy|Mahan]] by the Tang dynasty, as evidenced by a Tang document that called Goguryeo generals "Mahan leaders" ({{Korean|마한추장|馬韓酋長|labels=no}}) in 645.<ref name="National" /> In 651, [[Emperor Gaozong of Tang]] sent a message to the king of Baekje referring to the Three Kingdoms of Korea as Samhan.<ref name="kyunghyang" /> Epitaphs of the Tang dynasty, including those belonging to Baekje, Goguryeo, and Silla refugees and migrants, called the Three Kingdoms of Korea "Samhan", especially Goguryeo.<ref name="kwon" /> For example, the epitaph of Go Hyeon ({{Korean|고현|高玄|labels=no}}), a Tang dynasty general of Goguryeo origin who died in 690, calls him a "Liaodong Samhan man" ({{Korean|요동 삼한인|遼東 三韓人|labels=no}}).<ref name="National" /> The [[History of Liao]] equates Byeonhan to Silla, Jinhan to Buyeo, and Mahan to Goguryeo.<ref name="chosun" />

The "Han" in the names of the [[Korean Empire]], ''Daehan Jeguk'', and the [[Republic of Korea]] (South Korea), ''Daehanminguk'' or ''Hanguk'', are named in reference to the Three Kingdoms of Korea, not the ancient confederacies in the southern Korean Peninsula.<ref name="kyunghyang" /><ref name="chosun" />

====Goryeo====
{{unreferenced section|date=August 2021}}
Around the beginning of the [[Common Era]], remnants of the fallen Gojoseon were re-united and expanded by the kingdom of [[Goguryeo]], one of the [[Three Kingdoms of Korea]]. It, too, was a native Korean word, probably pronounced something like "Guri", transcribed with various hanja characters: {{lang|zh-Hant|高句麗}}, {{lang|zh-Hant|高勾麗}}, or {{lang|zh-Hant|高駒麗}} ({{lang|ko|고구려}}, Goguryeo), {{lang|zh-Hant|高麗}} ({{lang|ko|고려}}, Goryeo), {{lang|zh-Hant|高離}} ({{lang|ko|고리}}, Gori), or {{lang|zh-Hant|句麗}} ({{lang|ko|구려}}, Guryeo). The source native name is thought to be either *''Guru'' ("walled city, castle, fortress"; attested in Chinese historical documents, but not in native Korean sources) or *''Gauri'' ("center, middle"; cf. Middle Korean ''*gaβɔndɔy'' and Standard Modern Korean ''gaunde'' {{lang|ko|가운데}}). {{Citation needed|date=September 2023}}

The theory that Goguryeo referenced the founder's surname has been largely discredited (the royal surname changed from ''Hae'' to ''Go'' long after the state's founding). {{Citation needed|date=September 2023}}

===Revival of the names===
In the south, the Samhan resolved into the kingdoms of [[Baekje]] and [[Silla]], constituting, with Goguryeo, the [[Three Kingdoms of Korea]]. In 668, Silla unified the three kingdoms, and reigned as [[Later Silla]] until 935. The name [[Samhan]] became synonymous with the Three Kingdoms of Korea beginning in the 7th century, and by the Goryeo period it became a common name to refer to all of Korea.<ref name="kyunghyang" />

The succeeding dynasty called itself [[Goryeo]] ({{Korean|고려|高麗|mr=Koryŏ}}), and regarded itself as the successor to [[Goguryeo]] ({{Korean|고구려|高句麗|mr=Koguryŏ}}).<ref>{{cite book|last1=Rossabi|first1=Morris|title=China Among Equals: The Middle Kingdom and Its Neighbors, 10th-14th Centuries|date=20 May 1983|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=9780520045620|page=323|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=sNpD5UKmkswC&pg=323 |access-date=1 August 2016|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Yi|first1=Ki-baek|title=A New History of Korea|year=1984|publisher=Harvard University Press|isbn=9780674615762|page=103|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=g2mdVwXpMzwC&pg=PA103 |access-date=20 October 2016|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Kim|first1=Djun Kil|title=The History of Korea|date=30 January 2005|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=9780313038532|page=57|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=ci_iGuAAqmsC&pg=PA57 |access-date=20 October 2016|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Grayson|first1=James H.|title=Korea - A Religious History|date=5 November 2013|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781136869259|page=79|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=LU78AQAAQBAJ&pg=PA79 |access-date=20 October 2016|language=en}}</ref> The name Goryeo was the shortened form of Goguryeo and was first used during the reign of [[Jangsu of Goguryeo|Jangsu]] in the 5th century. Through the [[Silk Road]] trade routes, [[Islam in Korea#Early history|Persian and Arab merchants]] brought knowledge about Silla and Goryeo to [[India]] and the [[Middle East]]. Goryeo was transliterated into [[Italian language|Italian]] as "Cauli", the name [[Marco Polo]] used when mentioning the country in his ''Travels,'' derived from the [[Chinese language|Chinese]] form ''Gāolí''.

In 1392, a new dynasty established by a military coup revived the name [[Joseon]] ({{Korean|hangul=조선|hanja=朝鮮|mr=Chosŏn|labels=no}}), after the ancient state Gojoseon. The alternative name for this nation could have been Hwaryeong, but in the end, Taejo of Joseon decided to go with Joseon. The hanja for Joseon have been translated into English as "morning calm" and sometimes rather as "morning freshness" or "morning radiance"<ref>{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=FGI7AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA79 |title=The Korean Repository, Volume 4 |publisher=Trilingual Press |year=1897 |page=79}}</ref> and Korea's English nickname became '''"The Land of the Morning Calm";''' however, this interpretation is not often used in the Korean language, and is more familiar to Koreans as a [[Translation#Back-translation|back-translation]] from English. Only the interpretation as "morning freshness" is plainly viable, with "morning calm" and "morning radiance" being rather fanciful interpretations. The nickname "Land of the Morning Calm" was coined by [[Percival Lowell]] in his book, "Chosön, the Land of the Morning Calm," published in 1885.

In 1897, the nation was renamed ''Daehan Jeguk'' ({{Korean|hangul=대한제국|hanja=大韓帝國|lit=Great Han Empire|labels=no}}, known in English as [[Korean Empire]]). ''Han'' had been selected in reference to ''Samhan'', specifically the Three Kingdoms of Korea, not the ancient confederacies in the southern Korean Peninsula.<ref name="kyunghyang" /><ref name="chosun" /> So, ''Daehan Jeguk'' ({{Korean|hangul=대한제국|hanja=大韓帝國|labels=no}}) means it is an empire that rules the area of Three Kingdoms of Korea. This name was used to emphasize independence of Korea, because an empire cannot be a subordinate country.

===20th century===
When the Korean Empire came under [[Korea under Japanese rule|Japanese rule]] in 1910, the name reverted to ''Joseon'' (officially, the Japanese pronunciation ''Chōsen''). During this period, many different groups outside of Korea fought for independence, the most notable being the '''Daehanminguk Imsi Jeongbu''' ({{Korean|hangul=대한민국 임시정부|hanja=大韓民國臨時政府|lit=Provisional Government of the Great Han People's State|labels=no}}), known in English as the [[Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea]] ({{lang|mul-Hant|民國}} = {{lang|mul-Hant|民}}&nbsp;'people' + {{lang|mul-Hant|國}}&nbsp;country/state' = 'republic' in East Asian capitalist societies).{{efn|Actually Republic is {{lang|mul-Hant|共和國}} {{lang|ko|공화국}} ("Mutually peaceful country"), derived from the [[Gonghe Regency]] (共和), as can be seen in the names of the People's Republic of China and North Korea but the Republic of China and South Korea coined the latter {{lang|mul-Hant|民國}} {{lang|ko|민국}}}}

Korea became independent after [[World War II]] (1945) and the country was then [[Division of Korea|divided]].

In 1948, the South adopted the provisional government's name of '''Daehanminguk''' ({{Korean|hangul=대한민국|hanja=大韓民國|labels=no}}; see above), known in English as the Republic of Korea (ROK).<ref name=Tertitskiy2018/> ''Daehanminguk'' is sometimes used by South Koreans as a [[Metonymy|metonym]] to refer to the Korean nation as a whole, rather than just the South Korean state.<ref name="thefreelibrary.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/North+Korea's+state-loyalty+advantage.-a0274114570|archive-url=https://archive.today/20180520092751/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/North+Korea's+state-loyalty+advantage.-a0274114570|url-status=dead|last=Myers|first=Brian Reynolds|author-link=Brian Reynolds Myers|title=North Korea's state-loyalty advantage.|work=Free Online Library|date=20 May 2018|archive-date=20 May 2018}}</ref><ref name=unloved>{{Cite web|url=http://sthelepress.com/index.php/2016/12/28/still-the-unloved-republic/|title=Still the Unloved Republic|date=28 December 2016|access-date=10 June 2019|quote=''Taehan minguk''. In English it is translated as Republic of Korea or South Korea, names which to us foreigners denote the state as a political entity distinct from its northern neighbor. To most people here, however, ''Taehan minguk'' conveys that sense only when used in contrastive proximity with the word ''Pukhan'' (North Korea)." "Ask South Koreans when the ''Taehan minguk'' was established; more will answer '5000 years ago' than 'in 1948,' because to them it is simply the full name for ''Hanguk'', Korea, the homeland. That's all it meant to most people who shouted those four syllables so proudly during the World Cup in 2002.|last=Myers|first=Brian Reynolds|author-link=Brian Reynolds Myers|work=Sthele Press|archive-date=13 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180313210134/http://sthelepress.com/index.php/2016/12/28/still-the-unloved-republic/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Meanwhile, the North became '''Chosŏn Minjujuŭi Inmin Konghwaguk''' ({{Korean|hangul=조선민주주의인민공화국|hanja=朝鮮民主主義人民共和國|labels=no}}), translated in English as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). Each component of the name was carefully selected. ''Chosŏn'' was the natural choice for the short form, "Korea", since it had been used throughout the colonial period to denote the Peninsula. For the long form of the name, ''Konghwaguk'' was used for republic because of its leftist connotations over ''Minguk''. North Koreans wanted to adopt something that had already been used in the [[Eastern Bloc]] to borrow legitimacy. A choice was presented between a "[[People's Republic]]" and a "[[Democratic Republic]]", because they had been used in the names of the short-lived [[Ukrainian People's Republic of Soviets]] and the [[Finnish Democratic Republic]], respectively. "People's Republic" was favored by [[Pak Hon-yong]] of the [[Communist Party of Korea]] and it had already been used by the temporary [[People's Republic of Korea]] (PRK) formed in Seoul after liberation. "Democratic Republic", on the other hand, was associated with [[Mao Zedong]]'s concept of [[New Democracy]], which influenced [[Kim Tu-bong]] of the [[New People's Party of Korea]]. After his party merged with the [[Workers' Party of North Korea]], the concept found its way to [[Kim Il Sung]]'s parlance. Kim began to speak of a "Democratic People's Republic". This was echoed by what the true authorities of the country, the [[Soviet Civil Administration]], prescribed, albeit in different order: "People's-Democratic Republic" ({{Langx|ru|Народно-Демократическая Республика}}). Thus the name of the country became the "Korea(n) Democratic People's Republic" in Korean and "Korean People's-Democratic Republic" in Russian so that both parties could claim that they were behind the coining.<ref name=Tertitskiy2018>{{Cite web |title=How North Korea got its (official) name |last=Tertitskiy |first=Fyodor|author-link= Fyodor Tertitskiy |work=[[NK News]] |date=21 November 2018 |access-date=8 March 2019 |url= https://www.nknews.org/2018/11/how-north-korea-got-its-official-name/ }}</ref>

==Current usage==
[[File:Korean Peninsula.jpg|thumb|A South Korean map of the Korean Peninsula, using the official Korean name for South Korea and the colloquial South Korean exonym for North Korea. [[Korea]] is called ''Chosŏn'' ({{Korean|hangul=조선|hanja=朝鮮|labels=no}}) in North Korea, and ''Hanguk'' ({{Korean|hangul=한국|hanja=韓國|labels=no}}) in South Korea.]]

===East Asia===
====Korea====
Today, South Koreans use ''Hanguk'' ({{lang|ko-KR|한국}}, {{lang|ko-KR|韓國}}) to refer to just South Korea<ref>{{Dictionary.com|Hanguk|access-date=19 December 2018}}</ref> or Korea as a whole, ''Namhan'' ({{lang|ko-KR|남한}}, {{lang|ko-KR|南韓}}; "South Han") for South Korea, and ''Bukhan'' ({{lang|ko-KR|북한}}, {{lang|ko-KR|北韓}}; "North Han") for North Korea. South Korea less formally refers to North Korea as ''Ibuk'' ({{lang|ko-KR|이북}}, {{lang|ko-KR|以北}}; "The North"). South Koreans often refer to Korea as "uri nara" ({{lang|ko-KR|우리나라}}), meaning "our nation" or "our country". In addition, the official name for the Republic of Korea in the Korean language is "Daehanminguk" ({{lang|ko-KR|대한민국}}, {{lang|ko-KR|大韓民國}}; which is usually translated as "The Republic of Korea").

North Koreans use ''[[Joseon|Chosŏn]]'',<ref>{{Dictionary.com|Chosŏn|access-date=19 December 2018}}</ref> ''Namjosŏn'' ({{lang|ko-KP|남조선}}, {{lang|ko-KP|南朝鮮}}; "South Chosŏn"), and ''Pukchosŏn'' ({{lang|ko-KP|북조선}}, {{lang|ko-KP|北朝鮮}}; "North Chosŏn") when referring to Korea, South Korea, and North Korea, respectively. The term ''Pukchosŏn'', however, is rarely used in the north, although it may be found in pre-war sources, such as the [[Song of General Kim Il Sung]]. In the 1970s, [[Kim Il Sung]] suggested that in the event of a North Korean takeover of South Korea, "Koryo" ({{Langx|ko|고려}}) could become the Korean name of the country.<ref>{{cite news |last=Young |first=Banjamin R. |title=Why is North Korea called the DPRK? |url=https://www.nknews.org/2014/02/why-is-north-korea-called-the-dprk/ |access-date=2 July 2019 |work=[[NK News]] |date=7 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title="Conspiracy Theory"? — B.R. Myers |url=http://sthelepress.com/index.php/2019/08/20/conspiracy-theory-b-r-myers/ |access-date=24 August 2019 |work=Sthele Press |date=20 August 2019 |archive-date=25 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925040015/http://sthelepress.com/index.php/2019/08/20/conspiracy-theory-b-r-myers |url-status=dead }}</ref> Starting from January 2024, after North Korean leader [[Kim Jong Un]] stopped pursuing [[Korean reunification|reunification]], North Korea started referring to South Korea as ''Hanguk'' and ''Daehanminguk'' instead of ''Namjosŏn''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-16 |title=Kim Jong Un has weaponized South Korea’s own name against unification |url=https://www.dailynk.com/english/kim-jong-un-weaponized-south-korea-own-name-against-unification/ |access-date=2025-10-29 |website=Daily NK English |language=en-US}}</ref>

In the tourist regions in North Korea and the official meetings between South Korea and North Korea, ''Namcheuk'' ({{lang|ko-KR|남측}}, {{lang|ko-KR|南側}}) and ''Bukcheuk'' ({{lang|ko-KR|북측}}, {{lang|ko-KR|北側}}), or "southern side" and "northern side", are used instead of ''Namjosŏn'' and ''Bukhan''.

The [[Korean language]] is called ''Hangugeo'' ({{lang|ko-KR|한국어}}, {{lang|ko-KR|韓國語}}, referring to the Korean language) or ''Hangungmal'' ({{lang|ko-KR|한국말}}, {{lang|ko-KR|韓國말}}, referring to spoken Korean only) in the South and ''Chosŏnŏ'' ({{lang|ko-KP|조선어}}, {{lang|ko-KP|朝鮮語}}) or ''Chosŏnmal'' ({{lang|ko-KP|조선말}}, {{lang|ko-KP|朝鮮말}}) in the North. The Korean script is called [[hangul|hangeul]] ({{lang|ko-KR|한글}}) in South Korea and ''Chosŏn'gŭl'' ({{lang|ko-KP|조선글}}) in North Korea. The [[Korean Peninsula]] is called ''Hanbando'' ({{lang|ko-KR|한반도}}, {{lang|ko-KR|韓半島}}) in the South and ''Chosŏn Bando'' ({{lang|ko-KP|조선반도}}, {{lang|ko-KP|朝鮮半島}}) in the North.

====Chinese-speaking areas====
In [[Chinese language|Chinese]]-speaking areas such as [[China]], [[Hong Kong]], [[Macau]], [[Taiwan]] and [[Singapore]], different naming conventions on several terms have been practiced according to their political proximity to whichever Korean government although there is a growing trend for convergence.

In the Chinese language, the Korean Peninsula is usually called ''Cháoxiǎn Bàndǎo'' ({{zh|s=朝鲜半岛|t=朝鮮半島}}) and in rare cases called ''Hán Bàndǎo'' ({{zh|s=韩半岛|t=韓半島}}). Ethnic Koreans are also called ''Cháoxiǎnzú'' ({{lang|zh-Hans-CN|朝鲜族}}), instead of ''Dàhán mínzú'' ({{lang|zh-Hans-CN|大韓民族}}). However, the term ''Hánguó ren'' ({{lang|zh-Hans-CN|韩国人}}) may be used to specifically refer to South Koreans.

Before establishing diplomatic relations with South Korea, the [[People's Republic of China]] tended to use the historic Korean name ''Cháoxiǎn'' ({{lang|zh-Hans-CN|朝鲜}} "Joseon" or "Chosŏn"), by referring to South Korea as ''Nán Cháoxiǎn'' ({{lang|zh-Hans-CN|南朝鲜}} "South Joseon"). Since diplomatic ties were restored, China has used the names that each of the two sides prefer, by referring to North Korea as ''Cháoxiǎn'' and to South Korea as ''Hánguó'' ({{lang|zh-Hans-CN|韩国}} "Hanguk"). The Korean language can be referred to as either ''Cháoxiǎnyǔ'' ({{lang|zh-Hans-CN|朝鲜语}}) or ''Hánguóyǔ'' ({{lang|zh-Hans-CN|韩国语}}). The [[Korean War]] is officially called the ''Kàngměi Yuáncháo Zhànzhēng'' ({{lang|zh-Hans-CN|抗美援朝战争}} "War to Resist America and Aid Joseon [''i.e.'' Korea]") although the term ''Cháoxiǎn Zhànzhēng'' ({{lang|zh-Hans-CN|朝鲜战争}} "Joseon War" ''i.e.'' "Korean War") is also used in unofficial contexts.

[[Taiwan]], on the other hand, uses the South Korean names, referring to North Korean as ''Běihán'' ({{lang|zh-Hant-TW|北韓}} "North Han") and South Korean as ''Nánhán'' ({{lang|zh-Hant-TW|南韓}} "South Han"). The [[Republic of China]] previously maintained diplomatic relations with South Korea, but has never had relations with North Korea. As a result, in the past, ''Hánguó'' ({{lang|zh-Hant-TW|韓國}}) had been used to refer to the whole Korea, and Taiwanese textbooks treated Korea as a unified nation. The [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China]] under the [[Democratic Progressive Party]] Government considered North and South Koreas two separate countries. However, general usage in Taiwan is still to refer to North Korea as ''Běihán'' ({{lang|zh-Hant-TW|北韓}} "North Han[guk]") and South Korea as ''Nánhán'' ({{lang|zh-Hant-TW|南韓}} "South Han[guk]") while use of {{lang|zh-Hant-TW|朝鮮}} – which in Taiwan is not pronounced ''Cháoxiǎn'' but ''Cháo'''xiān''''' – is generally limited to ancient Korea. The Korean language is usually referred to as ''Hányǔ'' ({{lang|zh-Hant-TW|韓語}}).

Similarly, general usage in [[Hong Kong]] and [[Macau]] has traditionally referred to North Korea as ''Bak Hon'' ({{lang|zh-Hant|北韓}} "North Han") and South Korea as ''Nam Hon'' ({{lang|zh-Hant|南韓}} "South Han"). Under the influence of official usage, which is itself influenced by the official usage of the [[People's Republic of China]] government, the mainland practice of naming the two Koreas differently has become more common.

In the Chinese language used in [[Singapore]] and [[Malaysia]], North Korea is usually called ''Cháoxiǎn'' ({{lang|zh-Hans-SG|朝鲜}} "Chosŏn") with ''Běi Cháoxiǎn'' ({{lang|zh-Hans-SG|北朝鲜}} "North Chosŏn") and ''Běihán'' ({{lang|zh-Hans-SG|北韩}} "North Han") less often used, while South Korea is usually called ''Hánguó'' ({{lang|zh-Hans-SG|韩国}} "Hanguk") with ''Nánhán'' ({{lang|zh-Hans-SG|南韩}} "South Han[guk]") and ''Nán Cháoxiǎn'' ({{lang|zh-Hans-SG|南朝鲜}} "South Chosŏn") less often used.

In [[Hokkien]] speaking areas of Chinese communities in places like Taiwan and around [[Southeast Asia]], Korea is called ''Hân-kok'' ({{lang|zh-Hant-TW|韓國}} "Hanguk") where North Korea is referred to as ''Pak-hân'' ({{lang|zh-Hant|北韓}} "North Han") and South Korea as ''Lâm-hân'' ({{lang|zh-Hant|南韓}} "South Han").

The above usage pattern does not apply for Korea-derived words. For example, Korean [[ginseng]] is commonly called ''Gāolì shēn'' ({{lang|zh-Hans|高麗參}}, "Koryo ginseng").

====Japan====
In [[Japan]], North Korea is called ''Kita-Chōsen'' ({{lang|ja|北朝鮮}}) and South Korea ''Kankoku'' ({{lang|ja|韓国}}).

However, [[Zainichi Koreans|Japan-based North Koreans]] claim the name ''Kita-Chōsen'' is derogatory, as it only refers to the northern part of Korean Peninsula, whereas the government claims sovereignty over its whole territory.<ref>Shane Green, [http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/11/05/1068013255536.html Treaty plan could end Korean War], The Age, November 6, 2003</ref> Pro-North people such as [[Chongryon]] use the name ''Kyōwakoku'' ({{lang|ja|共和国}}; "the Republic") instead, but the ambiguous name is not popular among others. In 1972, Chongryon campaigned to get the Japanese media to stop referring to North Korea as ''Kita-Chōsen''. This effort was not successful, but as a compromise most media companies agreed to refer to the nation with its full official title at least once in every article, thus they used the lengthy ''Kita-Chōsen (Chōsen Minshu-shugi Jinmin Kyōwakoku)'' ({{lang|ja|北朝鮮(朝鮮民主主義人民共和国)}}; "North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea)"). By January 2003, this policy started to be abandoned by most newspapers, starting with ''[[Tokyo Shimbun]]'', which announced that it would no longer write out the full name,<ref>[http://www.gally.net/leavings/00/0013.html ''Tokyo Shimbun'', December 31, 2002]</ref> followed by ''[[Asahi Shimbun|Asahi]]'', ''[[Mainichi]]'', and ''[[The Nikkei|Nikkei]]''.<ref>[http://www.gally.net/leavings/00/0022.html ''Asahi'', ''Mainichi'', and ''Nikkei'']</ref>

For Korea as a whole, ''Chōsen'' ({{lang|ja|朝鮮}} "Joseon"; historically annotated as テウセン ''Teusen'', which should have been pronounced most often as *[ʨjeu.ɕjeɴ]) is commonly used. The term ''Chōsen'', which has a longer usage history than ''Kankoku'', continues to be used to refer to the Korean Peninsula, the Korean ethnic group, and the Korean language, which are use cases that would not cause confusion between South Korea and North Korea. When referring to both North Korean and South Koreans, the [[transcription (linguistics)|transcription]] of [[gairaigo|phonetic English]] ''Korean'' ({{lang|ja|コリアン}}, ''Korian'') may be used because a reference to a ''Chōsen'' national may be interpreted as referring specifically to a North Korean national.

The [[Korean language]] is most frequently referred to in Japan as ''Kankokugo'' ({{lang|ja|韓国語}}) or ''Chōsengo'' ({{lang|ja|朝鮮語}}). While academia mostly prefers ''Chōsengo'', ''Kankokugo'' became more and more common in non-academic fields, thanks to the economic and cultural presence of South Korea. The language is also referred to as various combined terms, such as ''Kankoku-Chōsen-go'' ({{lang|ja|韓国朝鮮語}}), ''Chōsen-Kankoku-go'' ({{lang|ja|朝鮮・韓国語}}), "Kankokugo (Chōsengo)" ({{lang|ja|韓国語(朝鮮語)}}), etc. Some people refer to the language as ''Koriago'' ({{lang|ja|コリア語}}), using the European name for Korea. This term is not used in ordinary Japanese, but was selected as a compromise to placate both nations in a euphemistic process called ''[[kotobagari]]''. Likewise, when [[NHK]] broadcasts a language instruction program for Korean, the language is referred to as ''hangurugo'' ({{lang|ja|ハングル語}}; "hangul language"); although it is technically incorrect since [[hangul]] itself is a writing system, not a language.{{efn|In the program, however, teachers avoid the name ''Hangurugo'', by always saying ''this language''. They would say, for instance, "In this language, ''Annyeong haseyo'' means Hello."}} Some argue that even ''Hangurugo'' is not completely neutral, since North Korea calls the writing system ''Chosŏn'gŭl'', not ''hangul''. ''Urimaru'' ({{lang|ja|ウリマル}}), a direct transcription of ''uri mal'' ({{lang|ko-KR|우리말}}, "our language") is sometimes used by Korean residents in Japan, as well as by [[KBS World Radio]]. This term, however, may not be suitable to ethnic Japanese whose "our language" is not necessarily Korean.

''Uri'' (우리 "we/us/our") is the first-person plural pronoun and it is commonly used as a prefix in Korean terms to describe things that are Korean, such as ''uri nara'' (우리나라, "our country") which is yet another name Koreans give their country.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hyunjinmoon.com/uri-the-korean-notion-of-the-collective-self/|title=<span lang="ko">우리</span> (Uri) – The Korean Notion of the Collective Self|last=Hyunjinmoon|website=www.hyunjinmoon.com|language=en-US|access-date=5 March 2016}}</ref>

In Japan, those who moved to Japan usually maintain their distinctive cultural heritages (such as the Baekje-towns or Goguryeo-villages). Ethnic [[Koreans in Japan|Korean residents of Japan]] have been collectively called ''Zainichi Chōsenjin'' ({{lang|ja|在日朝鮮人}} "Joseon People in Japan"), regardless of nationality. However, for the same reason as above, the euphemism ''Zainichi Korian'' ({{lang|ja|在日コリアン}}; "Koreans in Japan") is increasingly used today. ''Zainichi'' ({{lang|ja|在日}}; "In Japan") itself is also often used colloquially. People with [[Nationality Law of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea|North Korean nationality]] are called ''Zainichi Chōsenjin'', while those with [[South Korean nationality law|South Korean nationality]], sometimes including recent newcomers, are called ''Zainichi Kankokujin'' ({{lang|ja|在日韓国人}} "Hanguk People in Japan").

====Mongolia====
Mongolian people have their own word for Korea: Солонгос (''Solongos''). In [[Mongolian language|Mongolian]], ''solongo'' may mean either "[[rainbow]]" or "[[mountain weasel]] (''Mustela altaica'', ''heeriyn solongo'' "field/steppe ''solongo''") or [[Siberian weasel]] (''Mustela sibirica'', ''oyn solongo'' "forest ''solongo''")." Another theory states that the name is probably derived from the [[Solon people|Solon tribe]] living in Manchuria, a tribe culturally and ethnically related to the Korean people.{{citation needed|date=October 2018}} North and South Korea are, accordingly, Хойд Солонгос (''Hoid Solongos'') and Өмнөд Солонгос (''Ömnöd Solongos''). The authors of an article published in 2023 have related Mongolian ''Solongos'' for "Korea" to the Mongolic word *''solagaï'' (''cf.'' Khalkh Mongolian солгой "left-handed, a lefty; out of tune, sounding wrong"), which may in turn be from Turkic ''[https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Reconstruction:Proto-Turkic/s%C5%8Dl *sōl]'' "left.";<ref name = "Kang2023">Kang Junyoung and Yoo Byungjae (Feb 2023), "A Study on the Origin of the Name of Korea (Solongos) in Mongolia." ''Mongol Studies'' (몽골학) No. 72, pp. 117~148. https://doi.org/10.17292/kams.2022.72.005</ref> because "left" also means "east(ern)" in Mongolic languages (whereas "right" also means "west(ern)"), the authors suggest that this word may have been used to refer to "a foreign enemy force in the east," similar to Chinese 東夷 ''[[Dongyi|Dōngyí]]''.

The name of either [[Silla]] or its capital Seora-beol was also widely used throughout Northeast Asia as the ethnonym for the people of Silla, appearing [...] as '''Solgo''' or '''Solho''' in the language of the medieval Jurchens and their later descendants, the Manchus respectively. The plural of ''Solho'' ("Korea, Korean; a Korean") in the Manchu language is ''Solhoso'' ("[[Koreans]], Korean people"), similar to ''Solongos'' in Mongolian. Manchu also has ''solohi'' or ''silihi'' for certain kinds of weasel (specifically, ''suwayan solohi'' "yellow ''solohi''" for ''Mustela sibirica''), but ''nioron'' for "rainbow."

The Mongolian and Manchu names for Korea and Koreans also resemble [[Old Japanese]] ''Siraki'' ~ ''Siragi'' ("[[Silla]]") and Old Korean *''Syerapeur'' "Gyeongju; capital city of Silla" > Late Middle Korean ''Syeveulh'' "capital city (of Joseon)" > Modern Korean [[Seoul]] "capital city (of South Korea)."

====Vietnamese-speaking areas====
In Vietnam, people call North Korea ''{{lang|vi|Triều Tiên}}'' ({{lang|mul-Hant|朝鮮}}; "Chosŏn") and South Korea ''{{lang|vi|Hàn Quốc}}'' ({{lang|mul-Hant|韓國}}; "Hanguk"). Prior to unification, [[North Vietnam]] used ''{{lang|vi|Bắc Triều Tiên}}'' ({{lang|mul-Hant|北朝鮮}}; Bukchosŏn) and ''{{lang|vi|Nam Triều Tiên}}'' ({{lang|mul-Hant|南朝鮮}}; Namjoseon) while [[South Vietnam]] used ''{{lang|vi|Bắc Hàn}}'' ({{lang|mul-Hant|北韓}}; Bukhan) and ''{{lang|vi|Nam Hàn}}'' ({{lang|mul-Hant|南韓}}; Namhan) for North and South Korea, respectively. After unification, the northern Vietnamese terminology persisted until the 1990s. When South Korea reestablished diplomatic relations with Vietnam in 1993, it requested that Vietnam use the name that it uses for itself, and ''{{lang|vi|Hàn Quốc}}'' gradually replaced ''{{lang|vi|Nam Triều Tiên}}'' in usage.

In the Vietnamese language used in the United States, Canada, Australia, and other (pro-)Western countries, ''Bắc Hàn'' and ''Nam Hàn'' remain in use and are most commonly used, since most of Vietnamese diaspora there were from southern Vietnam area.

===Outside East Asia===

====English usage and spelling====
Both South and North Korea use the name "Korea" when referring to their countries in English. North Korea is sometimes referred to as "Democratic People's Republic of Korea" (DPRK) and South Korea is sometimes referred to as the "Republic of Korea" (ROK). The official names of both entities are also used by organizations such as [[United Nations]], [[International Olympic Committee]] and media such as the [[Associated Press]], [[China Global Television Network]] (CGTN), and several others.<ref>{{cite news |title=ROK, DPRK leaders to meet April 27 in historic summit |url=https://www.chinadailyhk.com/articles/27/25/44/1522321435932.html |access-date=22 April 2018 |work=China Daily |agency=Agencies |date=29 March 2018 |archive-date=21 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180621070214/https://www.chinadailyhk.com/articles/27/25/44/1522321435932.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

As with other European languages, English historically had a variety of names for Korea. These included "Cauli" (Marco Polo's rendering of ''Goryeo''), Caule, Core, Cory, Caoli, and Corai as well as two spellings that survived into the 19th century, Corea and Korea. The modern spelling, "Korea", first appeared in the late 17th century in the travel writings of the [[Dutch East India Company]]'s [[Hendrick Hamel]]. The terms "Chosunese" or "Chosonese" were first used to refer to the people of [[Joseon]] in the late 19th century but were eventually phased out.<ref>The Korean Repository, Volume 1</ref>

Both major English-speaking governments in the 19th and 20th centuries (the [[United States]] and the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|United Kingdom]] and its [[British Empire|empire]]) used both "Korea" and "Corea" until the early part of the [[Korea under Japanese rule|period of Japanese occupation]].<ref name=Corea>{{cite web|title=Korea versus Corea|url=http://www.monster-island.net/2005/05/korea-versus-corea.html|access-date=10 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140125161745/http://www.monster-island.net/2005/05/korea-versus-corea.html|archive-date=25 January 2014}}</ref><ref>[http://photos1.blogger.com/img/244/3976/1024/_Corea_palanquin_postcard.jpg Korea from around 1913 using the spelling "Corean"]</ref> English-language publications in the 19th century generally used the spelling Corea, which was also used at the founding of the UK's embassy in Seoul in 1890.<ref name=Demick /> However, at the turn of the century, the then U.S. [[Minister (diplomacy)|minister]] and [[consul general]] to Korea, [[Horace Newton Allen]], used "Korea" in his works published on the country.<ref>[[Horace Newton Allen|H. N. Allen, MD]] [https://books.google.com/books?id=DgeQVx0KS_sC&pg=PP11 ''Korean Tales: Being a Collection of Stories Translated from the Korean Folk Lore'']. New York: [[G. P. Putnam's Sons]], 1889.</ref> At the official Korean exhibit at the [[World's Columbian Exhibition]] in Chicago in 1893 a sign was posted by the Korean Commissioner saying of his country's name that "'Korea' and 'Corea' are both correct, but the former is preferred."<ref name=columbian>"Korea in the White City: Korea at the World's Columbian Exhibition (1893)." ''Transactions of the Korea Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society'' 77 (2002), 27.</ref> This may have had something to do with Allen's influence, as he was heavily involved in the planning and participation of the Korean exhibit at Chicago.<ref name=columbian />

A shift can also be seen in Korea itself, where postage stamps issued in 1884 used the name "Corean Post" in English, but those from 1885 and thereafter used "Korea" or "Korean Post".<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20040125121802/http://www.pennfamily.org/KSS-USA/kss-korbase.html KSS-Korbase's Korean Stamp Issuance Schedules]</ref>

<gallery caption="Names of Korea on 19th century Korean stamps" widths="150px" heights="150px" perrow="3">
File:Korea 1884 stamp - 10 mun.jpg|1884 stamp reading "Corean Post"
File:Korea 1885 stamp - 25 poon (bun).jpg|1885 stamp reading "Korea"
File:Korea 1900 stamp - 2 ri.jpg|1900 stamp reading "Imperial Korean Post"
</gallery>

By the first two decades of the 20th century, "Korea" began to be seen more frequently than "Corea" – a change that coincided with Japan's consolidation of its grip over the peninsula. However, the spelling "Corea" was occasionally used even under full colonial rule and both it and "Korea" were largely eschewed in favor of the Japanese-derived "Chosen",<ref name="Corea"/> which itself was derived from "Joseon".

A theory that grew in popularity in South Korea in the early 2000s and especially during the 2002 joint [[2002 FIFA World Cup|World Cup]] (and endorsed by the North Korean state) was that Japan as occupier had intentionally standardized the spelling on "Korea", allegedly so that "Japan" would appear first alphabetically. However, evidence of a deliberate name change orchestrated by Japanese authorities is circumstantial, for example, a 1912 memoir by a Japanese colonial official that complained of the Koreans' tendency "to maintain they are an independent country by insisting on using a C to write their country's name."<ref name="Demick">{{cite news |last1=Demick |first1=Barbara |author1-link=Barbara Demick |title=A 'C' Change in Spelling Sought for the Koreas |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-sep-15-fg-corea15-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |date=15 September 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240205222737/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-sep-15-fg-corea15-story.html |archive-date=5 February 2024}}</ref>

====Other languages====
{{Unreferenced section|date=August 2016}}
European languages use variations of the name "Korea" for both North and South Korea. In general, [[Celtic languages|Celtic]] and [[Romance languages]] spell it "Corea" (or variations) since "c" represents the {{IPA|/k/}} sound in most Romance and Celtic orthographies. However, languages that have a general preference towards representing {{IPA|/k/}} with "k" rather than "c", such as most [[Germanic languages|Germanic]] or [[Slavic languages]], generally use variants of "Korea" instead. In languages using other alphabets such as [[Russian language|Russian]] ([[Cyrillic]]), variations phonetically similar to "Korea" are also used for example the Russian name for Korea is Корея, romanization Koreya or Koreja. Outside of Europe, most languages also use variants of "Korea", often adopted to local orthographies. Some Languages, especially [[Romance Languages]] like [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]], [[French language|French]] and [[Spanish language|Spanish]] use spellings that start with "c": Coreia, Corée and Corea respectively. "Korea" in the [[Jin dynasty (1115–1234)|Jurchen Jin]]'s national language ([[Jurchen language|Jurchen]]) is "Sogo". "Korea" in the [[Constructed language|conlang]] [[Esperanto]] is "Koreio". "Korea" in [[Hmong language|Hmong]] is "Kauslim" ("s" and "m" represent [[Tone (linguistics)|tones]], not consonants).

===Koreans abroad===
Emigrants who moved to [[Russia]] and [[Central Asia]] call themselves ''[[Goryeoin]]'' or ''[[Koryo-saram]]'' ({{Korean|hangul=고려인|hanja=高麗人|lit=person or people of Goryeo|labels=no}}), or ''Koreytsi'' ({{lang|ru|корейцы}}) in [[Russian language|Russian]]. Many Goryeoin are living in the [[Commonwealth of Independent States|CIS]], including an estimated 106,852 in [[Russia]], 22,000 in [[Uzbekistan]], 20,000 in [[Kyrgyzstan]], 17,460 in [[Kazakhstan]], 8,669 in [[Ukraine]], 2,000 in [[Belarus]], 350 in [[Moldova]], 250 in [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]], 100 in [[Azerbaijan]], and 30 in [[Armenia]].<ref>''Commonwealth of Independent States Report'', 1996.</ref> As of 2005, there are also 1.9 million ethnic Koreans living in China who hold Chinese citizenship and a further 560,000 Korean expatriates from both North and South living in China.<ref>{{citation |publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade |publication-place=South Korea |year=2009 |access-date=21 May 2009 |url=http://www.mofat.go.kr/consul/overseascitizen/compatriotcondition/index6.jsp?TabMenu=TabMenu6 |script-title=ko:재외동포현황 Current Status of Overseas Compatriots |ref=CITEREFMOFAT2009 |archive-date=23 October 2010 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20101023213104/http://www.mofat.go.kr/consul/overseascitizen/compatriotcondition/index6.jsp?TabMenu=TabMenu6 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{citation|periodical=China.org.cn|url=http://www.china.org.cn/english/features/EthnicGroups/136926.htm|title=The Korean Ethnic Group|access-date=6 February 2009|date=21 June 2005}}</ref>

South Korean expatriates living in the U.S. may refer to themselves as [[Korean American|Jaemi<small>(-)</small>gyopo]] ({{Korean|hangul=재미교포|hanja=在美僑胞|lit=residents of America|labels=no}}), or "gyopo" for short.

===Names of Unified Korean sporting teams===
{{Main|Unified Korean sporting teams#Names}}

==Sobriquets of Korea==
In traditional Korean culture, as well as in the cultural tradition of East Asia, the land of Korea has assumed a number of [[sobriquet]]s over the centuries, including:

*{{lang|ko|계림 (鷄林)}} ''[[Gyerim]]'', "Rooster Forest", in reference to an early name for [[Silla]].
*{{lang|ko|군자지국 (君子之國)}} ''Gunjaji-guk'', or "Land of Scholarly Gentlemen".
*{{lang|ko|금수강산 (錦繡江山)}} ''Geumsu Gangsan'', "Land of Embroidered (or Splendid) Rivers and Mountains".
*{{lang|ko|단국 (檀國)}} ''Danguk'', "Country of [[Dangun]]".
*{{lang|ko|대동 (大東)}} ''Daedong'', "Great East".
*{{lang|ko|동국 (東國)}} ''Dongguk'', "Eastern Country".
*{{lang|ko|동방 (東邦)}} ''Dongbang'', literally "an Eastern Country" referring to Korea.
*{{lang|ko|동방예의지국 (東方禮義之國, 東方禮儀之國)}} ''Dongbang yeuiji-guk'', "Eastern Country of Courtesy".
*{{lang|ko|동야 (東野)}} ''Dongya'', "Eastern Plains".
*{{lang|ko|동이 (東夷)}} ''Dong-i'', "Eastern Foreigners".
*{{lang|ko|구이 (九夷)}} ''Gu-i'', "Nine-i", refers to ancient tribes in the Korean peninsula.<ref>{{cite book |last=Huang |first=Chun-chieh |title=Humanism in East Asian Confucian Contexts |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DIvJBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA54 |access-date=23 July 2015 |year=2014 |publisher=Verlag |isbn=9783839415542 |page=54}}</ref>
*{{lang|ko|동토 (東土)}} ''Dongto'', "Eastern Land".
*{{lang|ko|백의민족 (白衣民族)}} ''[[White clothing in Korea|Baeguiminjok]]'', "The white-clad race".
*{{lang|ko|삼천리 (三千里)}} ''Samcheon-ri'', "Three thousand [[Li (unit)|li]]", a reference to the length traditionally attributed to the country from its northern to southern tips plus eastern to western tips. 
*{{lang|ko|아사달 (阿斯達)}} ''[[Asadal]]'', apparently an [[Old Korean]] term for Joseon.
*{{lang|ko|청구 (靑丘)}} ''[[Cheonggu]]'', or "Azure Hills". The color Azure is associated with the East. 
*{{lang|ko|팔도강산 (八道江山)}} ''Paldo Gangsan'', "Rivers and Mountains of the Eight Provinces", referring to the traditional [[eight provinces of Korea]].
*{{lang|ko|근화향 (槿花鄕)}} ''Geunhwahyang'', "Country of Mugunghwa" refer to Silla Kingdom.
*{{lang|ko|근역 (槿域)}} ''Geunyeok'', "Hibiscus Territory", or Land of Hibiscus 
*{{lang|ko|삼한 (三韓)}} ''Samhan'', or "Three Hans", refers to [[Samhan]] confederacy that ruled Southern Korea. Beginning in the 7th century, Samhan became synonymous with the [[Three Kingdoms of Korea]].
*{{lang|ko|해동 (海東)}} ''Haedong'', "East of the Sea" (here being the West Sea separating from Korea).
*{{lang|ko|해동삼국 (海東三國)}} ''Haedong Samguk'', "Three Kingdoms East of the Sea" refers to [[Three Kingdoms of Korea]]
*{{lang|ko|해동성국 (海東盛國)}} ''Haedong Seongguk'', literally "Flourishing Eastern Sea Country", historically refers to [[Balhae]] Kingdom of north–south period.
*{{lang|ko|진국 (震國,振國)}} ''Jinguk'', "Shock Country", old name of [[Balhae]] Kingdom.
*{{lang|ko|진역 (震域)}} ''Jinyeok'', "Eastern Domain".
*{{lang|ko|진단 (震檀,震壇)}} ''Jindan'', "Eastern Country of [[Dangun]]".
*{{lang|ko|진국 (辰國)}} ''Jinguk'', "Country of Early Morning", refer to the Jin state of [[Old Chosŏn|Gojoseon]] period.<ref>Ancient History of the Manchuria By Lee Mosol, MD, MPH</ref>

==See also==
*[[History of Korea]]
*[[Romanization of Korean]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book|author=Kong Myong-song|date=2009|title=Successive Names of Korea and Their Deviations|url=http://www.naenara.com.kp/en/book/download.php?7+7009#.pdf|location=Pyongyang|publisher=[[Foreign Languages Publishing House (North Korea)|Foreign Languages Publishing House]]|isbn=978-9946-0-0371-9|access-date=2016-08-02|archive-date=2016-08-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817123749/http://www.naenara.com.kp/en/book/download.php?7+7009#.pdf|url-status=dead}}

{{Asia topic|Name of}}
{{Countries and languages lists}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Names Of Korea}}
[[Category:History of Korea]]
[[Category:Culture of Korea]]
[[Category:Country name etymology|Korea]]
[[Category:Lists of country names in various languages|Korea]]
[[Category:Names of Korea| ]]