Why is it the 'Korean War' but not the 'Korea War' and the 'Vietnam War' but not the 'Vietnamese War'

Answer 1

For this particular instance, it is because the war in Korea was between two nations of the same name (North Korea and South Korea). Thus the plural of the word Korea is used.

For Vietnam, there is only one country ... thus the singular is used.

Same thing for the US Civil War ... also referred to as "The War Between the States", because there were multiple states involved.

Answer 2

Linguistic double standard.
English is full of them.
I think that it might also stem from the Vietnam War being referred to by the media as "the war in Vietnam" while the Korean War was a war between North and Suoth Koreans.

Hope this helps

Answer 3

It is whatever sounds most mellifluous in my opinion. Thus 'Crimean War', not 'Crimea War', 'Boer War', not 'Boerean War', 'Napoleonic Wars', not 'Napoleon's Wars' and up to date, 'Gulf War', not 'Gulfean War' etc. There are no hard and fast rules

Answer 4

CanTexan, the word 'Korean' is not the plural of 'Korea'.