As is true of all countries, Korea's geography was a major
factor in shaping its history. Geography also influenced the
manner in which the inhabitants of the peninsula emerged as a
people sharing the common feeling of being Koreans. The name
"Korea" is believed derived from the phrase "high mountains and
sparkling streams." Korea's other name, "Choson," is often
translated as "the land of morning calm." The Korean Peninsula
is a landmass in northeastern Asia that extends southward from
the northeastern corner of the Chinese mainland. South Korea,
officially known as the Republic of Korea occupies the southern
portion of the peninsula. The Korean peninsula is elongated,
irregular in shape, and is surrounded on three sides by large
expanses of water. It is bounded on the north by North Korea, on
the east by the Sea of Japan, on the southeast and south by the
Korea Strait (which separates it from Japan), and on the west by
the Yellow Sea (which separates it from China). The peninsula is
about 320 km (200 mi.) w