Korean Geography
Which body of water surrounds the Korean penninsula?
What is the Yellow Sea (to the west), East China Sea (to the south), Sea of Japan to the East
How many "gu"(boroughs) are there within metropolitan Seoul?
25: Seoul is divided into 25 'gus' which are Jongro, Jung, Yongsan, Seongdong, Mapo, Seodaemun, Dongdaemun, Eunpyoung, Gangbuk, Seongbuk, Dobong, Nowon, Jungrang, Gwangjin, Gangdong, Songpa, Gangnam, Seocho, Gwanak, Dongjak, Youngdeungpo, Geumcheon, Guro, Yangcheon, and Gangsuh
The "three Kims" era refers to the period when South Korean politics was dominated by Kim Dae-jung and which two others?
Kim Young-sam and Kim Jong-pil
These three have battled it out on the Korean political scene for decades, and two of them (Kim Young-sam and Kim Dae-jung) have served as the country's President. With Kim Dae-jung's presidency drawing to a close at the time of writing (2002), it is still an open question who will inherit their positions at the top of Korean movers and shakers.
What is the most popular traditional sport in Korea?
Taekwondo: T'aekwondo has a national membership of over 3.5 million and the World Federation is located in Seoul. It became a fully recognised sport at the 2000 Olympic Games. Ssirum is a form of wrestling that has been popular in Korea since the Three Kingdoms period (57 BC - 668 AD). In most contests the winner receives a large bull.
What is the Korean term for the family genealogy?
Chokpo: In Korea, the family genealogy is of the utmost importance. This relates to the Confucian tradition, imported from China. South Korea may in fact be the most Confucian of any nation today, very
carefully retaining the essential genealogy records required for ancestor worship.
The Korean Peninsula is bordered to the north by which two large countries?
What is the only other metropolis (gwangyokshi) physically touching metropolitan Seoul?
Incheon: Incheon is the correct answer here, Bucheon and Suwon are not considered "gwangyokshi" because they have a population less than 1 million people, and Daejeon is a metropolis but it's about a hundred kilometres south of Seoul.
What is the name of the traditional Korean costume?
hanbok: The man's basic outfit consists of a chogori (jacket), paji (trousers) and turumaji (overcoat). The jacket has loose sleeves and the trousers are roomy and tied with straps at the ankles. Women also have a chogori with two long ribbons tied to form the otkorum (bow) and has long full sleeves and a full lenth, high waisted wraparound skirt called the chima. White cotton socks with boat shaped shoes of silk, straw or rubber are worn as well.
What is the formal way of saying "Hello" in Korean?
Anyang-Haseyo: Both "Anyang-Keseyo" and "Anyangi-Kaseyo" are ways of saying "Goodbye" (one is for as you are leaving, the other for someone who is leaving). The word "Anyang" is a familiar way to say either "Hello" or "Goodbye."
North and South Korea share a mountain system along the eastern edge of the peninsula. Approximately how many kilometers long is the Baekdu-Daegan system?
1500: The mountain system (more than one range is involved) is never crossed by a body of water but contains the headwaters of many rivers. It is significant in many native religions as the source of life. The South Korean section is about 735 km and the crest trail is a pilgrimage/hiking trail; enthusiasts hope the North Korea portion will some day be linked for hiking. The tallest mountain in North Korea, Paektu, is at the northern end of the system - it is 2743m or 8999 ft high. The second highest mountain which is in South Korea, Jirisan, is at the southern terminus. It is 1915m (6283 ft); the tallest mountain in South Korea is on Jeju Island and is not part of Baekdu-Daegan.
Player pusdoc climbed through a lot of information to write this question for Phoenix Rising's Red Crew.
Many tourists flock to this beautiful island on the south coast of Korea every year. It is often called the "Hawaii of Korea." Its capital city is Jeju. Can you name this island?
Jejudo
When did construction start on the Seoul Subway network?
1970: In 1950, the Korean War had just started-redevelopment was a long way off.
Which country, outside of the two Koreas, contains the largest population of ethnic Koreans?
China: This may come as a surprise to many. There are approximately 1.8 million Koreans in China, 1 million in the United States and 700,000 in Japan. The Koreans claim that the ancient Koguryo kingdom extended well into territory now claimed by China.
At the beginning of the 21st century what percentage of Koreans were under the age of 25?
50 %: Only five percent of the population is over 65!
The Tripitaka Koreana, is a creation of the most complete collection of Buddhist scriptures in the world. This collection was carved on wood blocks in Chinese characters. How many wood blocks went into this creation?
81,340: The entire Korean Tripitaka was carved twice during the Koryo Dynasty (918-1392), on wooden blocks. The carving of the first set of blocks was completed in 1087. However, it was burnt in the invasion of the Mongolians in 1232. In 1236, King Kojong (r. 1213-1259) ordered them to be recarved. Sixteen years later, the present-day Korean Tripitaka was produced in 1251.
The blocks were made from white birch trees and were wholly submerged in seawater for three years, then cut into planks and boiled in seawater before being dried in the shade.
The logs were smoothed and the letters were painted on before being carved. There are 52,382,960 characters which were carved by 30 people, each character being carved after bowing to the Buddha. There is not a single mistake in the entire collection.
It is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Some scholars have compared Korea's shape (including both North and South) to which animal, sans tail?
Rabbit: The ears of the bunny touch Siberia, while Cheju island is considered the misplaced cottontail...cute huh? Korean scholars have also compared the shape of the country to a tiger.
There are many festivals and rituals in Korea, including the infant celebration of 'Tol'. What is its significance?
it is a celebration that the baby has reached one year old without dying.
The first birthday is celebrated with special foods all having a particular significance including: the white steamed rice cake which symbolizes a pure and clean spirit; honey cakes to ward off evil spirits; stuffed rice cakes shaped like a half-moon that are steamed on a layer of pine needles for the child to be blessed with good things to eat throughout life; jujubes and fruit for the child's descendants to multiply and prosper; and noodles for a long life. Various objects such as money, a bow and arrow, and a writing brush, ink-stone and ink stick are placed on the table to foretell the future of the child depending on the first object that is picked up.
For example the child would become rich if he or she picked up money, a scholar if a writing brush, and a courageous person if the bow. If the child is a girl, colored paper, a ruler, and thread are placed on the table since sewing skills are highly valued in a woman.
What term is given to South Korean soldiers who work closely with American troops?
KATUSA
In the United States, the number 13 is notorious for its superstitious overtones. What number is the equivalent to the number 13 in South Korea?
4: Yes, the number 4 is South Korea's unlucky number. I learned this one night, at a hotel in Ouijongbu. It was a four-story building, but the elevator buttons were labelled 1, 2, 3, and 5 (much like the number 13 is skipped within buildings in the U.S.).
Was the invention of the world's first movable metal type came from Korea?
Yes its true. It was invented in 1234 AD, which preceded Gutenberg by two centuries.
With its origins in the Taebaek Mountains and flowing through Busan before emptying in the Korean Strait, is which Korean river?
Nakdong: The Nakdong River, also called the Nakdonggang River, is the longest river in Korea. Despite a long history involving wars, phenol contamination and overdevelopment, there are still significant wetlands on the floodplains. The Joonam reservoirs in particular are home to many rare and threatened species of birds, fish and plants. The Nakdong and its tributaries also provide much of the river basin's drinking water, however domestic and agricultural wastewater has caused local water pollution.
When do Koreans celebrate their birthdays?
Lunar New Year's Day
Sol-nal is New Year's Day for Koreans. Family ties are renewed and on New Year's Eve, people place straw scoopers, rakes or sieves on their doors and walls for protection from evil spirits in the New Year. Next day, everyone dresses in new clothes, symbolizing a fresh beginning, and gathers at the home of the eldest male family member. Ancestral rites are held, and the younger generation bows deeply to their elders, wishing them good health and prosperity.
Who was the mythical founder of Korea?
Tangun: Tangun is said to have been born at Mount Taebaek in what is now North Korea. According to legend, his mother was a bear who had assumed human form after being instructed to fast in a cave for 100 days.
Queen Min was the "last empress" of Korea, assassinated by Japanese agents in 1895 and now the subject of a successful musical.
Yi Sun-shin is one of Korea's greatest heroes, a naval admiral famed for his defeats of the Japanese.
Chosun is the name of an ancient dynasty of Korea; it is also the name used by North Korea for "Korea" (the South uses "Hanguk").
What is the most southern point in Korea?
Marado (island): Marado is the most southern point in Korea (33N 06' 40"). Jeju is near but not the southern most, Uleung is east and Ddangkkeut Maeul is the most southern point on the mainland
What is a 'National Living Treasure'?
a performer or craftsman: The Office of Cultural Properties realised that for Korea to protect its culture and heritage it needed to recognise committed individuals and masters to pass on their artistry to future generations. Each person has a number, and covers categories such as music, dance, games, rituals, martial arts and crafts etc. There are approximately 180 'living treasures'.