The Yellow Sea is the sea between the Korean Peninsula and eastern China. It is a shallow marginal sea of the western Pacific Ocean, bounded mainly by mainland China to the west and North Korea and South Korea to the east.
The sea gets its name from the golden-yellow colour that often appears in its water. Large quantities of silt and sediment flow into it from rivers, especially the Yellow River, giving the coastal waters their distinctive appearance. Its average depth is only about 44 metres, although its deepest areas reach roughly 152 metres.
The Yellow Sea is sometimes confused with the East China Sea or the Sea of Japan. Geographically, it is considered the northern portion of the East China Sea region, while the Sea of Japan lies east of the Korean Peninsula. The sea also supports major ports, fisheries, aquaculture, and heavily developed coastal zones.