South Korea trivia: 47 questions and answers

Seoul. Seoul has been the capital since 1394, when it was called Hanyang. About half of all South Koreans live in and around it.

Hallasan. Hallasan, the volcano at the heart of Jeju Island, is 1,947 m high. Jirisan, at 1,915 m, is the highest on the mainland, and Seoraksan, at 1,708 m, comes third.

True. True. Korea switched to driving on the right in 1946, after the end of Japanese rule.

King Sejong the Great. King Sejong the Great and his scholars created Hangul, and it was proclaimed to the people in 1446.

Goryeo. Goryeo ruled Korea from 918 to 1392, and traders carried its name to the rest of the world as Korea.

Seoul. Hanyang is today's Seoul, on the Han River. It has been the capital ever since, apart from the wartime years.

Yi Sun-sin. Admiral Yi Sun-sin won battle after battle at sea during the Japanese invasions of 1592 to 1598, and is one of Korea's great heroes.

The 38th parallel. The 38th parallel divided the peninsula in 1945, with Soviet forces in the north and American forces in the south.

False. False. An armistice signed at Panmunjom on 27 July 1953 stopped the fighting, but no peace treaty has been signed.

True. True. Jikji is the oldest surviving book printed with movable metal type, 78 years before Gutenberg's Bible.

Mixed rice. Bibimbap means mixed rice: rice topped with vegetables, meat, an egg and gochujang, all stirred together before eating.

Fire meat. Bulgogi means fire meat: thin slices of marinated beef cooked over a flame or in a hot pan.

Making and sharing kimchi together for the winter. Kimjang is making and sharing kimchi together for the winter, when families and neighbours prepare large amounts in late autumn.

Pork belly. Samgyeopsal is pork belly. The name means 'three-layer flesh', for its stripes of fat and meat.

Sweet potato starch. Japchae noodles, called dangmyeon, are made from sweet potato starch, which makes them clear and springy.

Chuncheon. Dak-galbi was created in a pub in Chuncheon, in Gangwon, and the city is still famous for it.

False. False. In Korea the rice bowl stays on the table and rice is eaten with a spoon.

True. True. It is said to have been first served at Gonghwachun, a restaurant opened in Incheon's Chinatown in 1905.

Gyeongju. Gyeongju was Silla's capital, and its many royal tombs and temples earned it the name 'museum without walls'.

True. True. Busan was never captured and served as the temporary capital, taking in huge numbers of refugees.

Suwon. Hwaseong Fortress surrounds old Suwon, about 30 km south of Seoul. King Jeongjo built it from 1794 to 1796.

Haeinsa Temple. The Tripitaka Koreana is kept at Haeinsa Temple, in special halls that are on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Jeju Island. Seongsan Ilchulbong is a volcanic crater on the east coast of Jeju Island, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Changdeokgung. Changdeokgung, built in 1405, has a large rear garden with ponds and pavilions known as the Secret Garden.

False. False. Gyeongbokgung is not a World Heritage Site. Changdeokgung is the Seoul palace on the list, since 1997.

True. True. Artists, students and residents painted houses and added murals and sculptures from 2009 on, and the village became one of Busan's top sights.

True. True. Since 28 June 2023 international age is the legal standard, though a few rules, such as school entry, still go by the year of birth. Before, a baby was counted as one at birth.

Kim. Kim is the most common family name, with 21.5 percent of the population in the 2015 census.

9 October. Hangul Day is on 9 October. 1 March marks the independence movement, 15 August liberation, and 3 October National Foundation Day.

Shin Saimdang. Shin Saimdang, a 16th-century artist, appears on the 50,000 won note, first issued in 2009.

Women who dive for seafood holding their breath. The haenyeo are women who dive for seafood holding their breath, without oxygen tanks. UNESCO listed their culture in 2016.

17. As of 2026 South Korea has 17 World Heritage Sites, 15 cultural and 2 natural.

True. True. Parasite won four Oscars in 2020, including Best Picture.

False. False. Taekwondo was a demonstration sport in Seoul in 1988 and became a medal sport at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.

Water. 'Mul' means water. In a restaurant you can ask 'mul juseyo', water please.

Grandmother. 'Halmeoni' means grandmother. Grandfather is 'harabeoji'.

A station. It points to a station: 'yeok' means station, as in Seoul-yeok, Seoul Station.

False. False. 'Ne' means yes. No is 'aniyo'.

Gamsahamnida. Gamsahamnida is the polite thank you. Annyeonghaseyo is hello, joesonghamnida is sorry and masisseoyo means it is delicious.

Jeogiyo. 'Jeogiyo' means excuse me, and it is the usual way to get a waiter's attention.

Jal meokgesseumnida. Before eating you say 'jal meokgesseumnida', I will eat well. After the meal you say 'jal meogeosseumnida', I ate well.

True. True. It means 'go in peace'. If you are the one leaving, you say 'annyeonghi gyeseyo', stay in peace.

119. 119 is for an ambulance or the fire service. 112 is the police and 1330 is the tourist helpline.

A rechargeable card for buses and subways. T-money is a rechargeable card for buses and subways, also accepted by many taxis. You top it up at convenience stores and stations.

Round two-pin European plugs. South Korea uses round two-pin European plugs (types C and F) and 220 volts.

False. False. Tipping is not customary in restaurants, taxis or hotels.

True. True. Shoes come off at the door of homes, temple halls and many traditional restaurants.