Cities

South Korea, officially Republic of Korea (1995 est. pop. 45,554,000), 38,022 sq mi (98,477 sq km), formally proclaimed on Aug. 15, 1948, has its capital at Seoul , the largest city. Pusan , the second largest city, is the country's chief port, with an excellent natural harbor near the delta of the Naktong River. Other important cities are Taegu and Inchon . South Korea is divided into nine provinces and six special cities. Syngman Rhee , who had established a provisional Korean government in exile in 1919, was elected South Korea's first president in 1948.