Location and Geography
What is the capital of South Korea?
Seoul
What do we call the most ancient kingdom of Korea founded, according to legend, by Dangun in 2333 BCE?
Gojoseon
When was Korea annexed by Japan?
1910
What is the Korean alphabet called?
Hangeul
What do we call traditional Korean clothes?
Hanbok
Which line divides North Korea from South Korea?
The 38th parallel
From 57 BCE to 668 CE, Korea was divided into three kingdoms. Name any one of them.
Goguryo, Baekje, Silla
(and Kaya)
When did Japanese occupation of Korea end?
1945
The Korean word for 'nation' is 나라. Can you read it?
Na-ra
What is the Korean 'Thanksgiving' holiday called?
Chuseok
What body of land are North and South Korea both located on?
The Korean peninsula
What is the name of the dynasty that ruled the whole Korean peninsula from 918 to 1392 CE? Hint: the name 'Korea' comes from this.
Goryeo
When was the Korean peninsula divided into Soviet (north) and U.S. (south) occupation zones?
1945
How do you say 'hello' in Korean?
Annyeong!
안녕하세요
Annyeonghaseyo!
When does Korea celebrate the New Year?
They celebrate the Lunar New Year during Seollal
What proportion of Korea is mountainous?
70-80%
Which famous king of the Choseon dynasty invented hangeul?
King Sejong
The war ended in stalemate. Neither side won.
Technically, the war never ended. An armistice was declared, but peace has never been signed and neither of the Koreas recognizes the other.
The Korean word for 'song' is 노래. Can you read it?
No-rae
What is the most famous Korean side dish?
Kimchi
Name any one of the seas surrounding Korea
The Yellow Sea. The East Sea (Sea of Japan). The Korea Strait.
Which national hero of Korea fought against the Japanese from 1592-1598 using armoured 'turtle ships'?
Admiral Yi Sun-Shin
Which part of Korea experienced an economic miracle between the end of the Korean War and today?
South Korea
Can you read this?
저는 한국 영화를 정말 좋아해요.
jeoneun hangug yeonghwareul jeongmal joh-ahaeyo
I really like Korean movies.
Name one religion that is very important in Korea.
Christianity (especially American style fundamentalist Protestant, but also including some Catholics)
Buddhism (established back in the Three Kingdoms period, there are many Buddhist temples in the Korean countryside).
Confucianism (ancestor worship, respect for elders and family is deep in Korean culture).
Shamanism (the original Korean religion, Korean shamans are women).