Hi I've uploaded a sound file of myself saying both words. I think there is a slight difference between the two words. I am from northern England and have a slight accent. I hope this is helpful! https://soundcloud.com/stephen-belfield/korea-or-career

NO! NO! NO! Not the same. Not in the USA. ko-REE-ah (Korea), 3 separate syllables. kah-REER (career), only 2 syllables.

I have always pronounced it as: Ko as in 'CORe, COURt, CORn'. Re as in 'REpeat, REEd, REAp ' A as in 'cUt, cUp '

Personally, yes I would pronounce those words in the same way. But it's not the case that every person from the UK does. Most people from England (specifically England and not the whole of the United Kingdom) would pronounce them in the same way.

Not everyone in Britain has the same pronunciation. Accents where the 'r' is pronounced at the end of words, such as Scottish and Irish accents, would pronounce these two words differently. But otherwise, yes, you're right. Most people in England, at least, would pronounce these two words the same: /kəˈrɪə/ Strange, but true.