Corea

Corea is an older English spelling for the Korean Peninsula and for Korea as a historical entity. In modern usage, the standard form is Korea, while Corea appears primarily in historical, literary, or map-related contexts. The spelling reflects early transliteration practices and was common in Western texts from the 16th through the early 20th centuries.

Etymology and historical background: The name Korea ultimately derives from Goryeo (also spelled Koryŏ), a Korean kingdom and later dynasty that existed from roughly the 10th to the 14th centuries. European and American writers adapted the name into various spellings, including Corea, during the era of early exploration and navigation. Those forms appeared on maps, treaties, and scholarly works produced before standardization settled on Korea in English.

Geography and politics: Historically, Corea referred to the Korean Peninsula as a geographic and political region in East Asia, bordered by the Yellow Sea to the west, the Sea of Japan (East Sea) to the east, and the landmass of Manchuria to the north. The modern political landscape emerged in the 20th century with the division of the peninsula after World War II, leading to the establishment in 1948 of two states: the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) and the Republic of Korea (South Korea). In contemporary usage, Corea is largely confined to historical or literary contexts.

Modern usage: Today, Korea is the prevailing spelling in English for the country and its regions. Corea remains a historical spelling encountered in old maps, classical literature, and discussions of historical naming practices. The term is sometimes preserved in proper names or archival titles that reference older sources.