Kimchi, Korea's most famous side dish, is usually made from what?

Fermented vegetables, often cabbage

South Korea Quiz: K-Pop, Kimchi and the Land of Morning Calm

This South Korea quiz explores the country from its capital Seoul and Gyeongbokgung Palace to Hangul and King Sejong, kimchi and Korean barbecue, K-pop stars like BTS, Korean dramas, Jeju Island, the 1988 Seoul Olympics and the world's leading tech companies. Ten questions.

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🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 90 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 90s

Capital
What is the capital of South Korea?
Alphabet
Which king created the Korean alphabet, Hangul, in the 15th century?
Food
Kimchi, Korea's most famous side dish, is usually made from what?
Palaces
Which royal palace in Seoul, first built in 1395, is the largest of the city's Five Grand Palaces?
Music
Which K-pop group became the first Korean act to top the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, with Dynamite in 2020?
Islands
Which volcanic island, South Korea's largest, is a popular holiday destination?
Sport
In which year did Seoul host the Summer Olympics?
Film
Which South Korean film won the Oscar for Best Picture?
Nickname
What poetic nickname is often given to Korea?
Border
What is the name of the strip of land that separates North and South Korea?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: What is the capital of South Korea?
Answer: Seoul
About half of South Korea's population lives in the Seoul metropolitan area. Busan is the second-largest city.
Q2: Which king created the Korean alphabet, Hangul, in the 15th century?
Answer: King Sejong the Great
Hangul was introduced in 1443 to help ordinary people read and write. Korea celebrates Hangul Day each October 9.
Q3: Kimchi, Korea's most famous side dish, is usually made from what?
Answer: Fermented vegetables, often cabbage
The tradition of making kimchi together, called kimjang, is listed by UNESCO as intangible heritage.
Q4: Which royal palace in Seoul, first built in 1395, is the largest of the city's Five Grand Palaces?
Answer: Gyeongbokgung
Visitors can watch the changing of the guard at its gate. Many wear rented hanbok, traditional clothing.
Q5: Which K-pop group became the first Korean act to top the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, with Dynamite in 2020?
Answer: BTS
BTS helped make K-pop a global phenomenon. Psy's Gangnam Style had become a viral hit in 2012.
Q6: Which volcanic island, South Korea's largest, is a popular holiday destination?
Answer: Jeju Island
Jeju has Hallasan, South Korea's highest mountain, and is famous for the haenyeo, female free divers.
Q7: In which year did Seoul host the Summer Olympics?
Answer: 1988
The Games helped introduce modern South Korea to the world. PyeongChang later hosted the 2018 Winter Olympics.
Q8: Which South Korean film won the Oscar for Best Picture?
Answer: Parasite
Bong Joon-ho's Parasite won four Oscars in 2020. Korean dramas and the series Squid Game have also found huge global audiences.
Q9: What poetic nickname is often given to Korea?
Answer: The Land of the Morning Calm
The nickname comes from an old name, Joseon, sometimes translated as morning calm. Japan is the Land of the Rising Sun.
Q10: What is the name of the strip of land that separates North and South Korea?
Answer: The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ)
The DMZ is about 4 kilometers wide. Because people rarely enter it, it has become an unexpected haven for wildlife.

South Korea Quiz – Tradition Meets Technology

South Korea is a country in East Asia occupying the southern half of the Korean Peninsula. In just a few decades, it has transformed from a country recovering from war into one of the world's most advanced economies. Today, it is famous for technology, K-pop, films, dramas and food, while keeping strong traditions rooted in thousands of years of history.

Korean history includes powerful kingdoms such as Silla and the long-lasting Joseon dynasty, which ruled from 1392 to 1897. During this time, King Sejong the Great created Hangul, the Korean alphabet, praised for its simple and logical design. After Japanese rule and the Korean War, the peninsula was divided, and the Demilitarized Zone still separates North and South.

The capital, Seoul, is a huge, modern city where royal palaces such as Gyeongbokgung stand beside skyscrapers and busy markets. South Korean companies such as Samsung and Hyundai are known worldwide, and the country has some of the fastest internet in the world. Seoul hosted the 1988 Summer Olympics, and PyeongChang hosted the 2018 Winter Games.

The Korean Wave, or Hallyu, has spread Korean culture around the world. Groups like BTS and BLACKPINK have topped global charts, Parasite won the Oscar for Best Picture and Squid Game became a streaming sensation. Korean food, including kimchi, bibimbap and Korean barbecue, is popular everywhere, and Jeju Island attracts nature lovers.

This quiz covers the history, culture and modern achievements of South Korea.

Everyday life in South Korea mixes old and new. People still bow to show respect, remove their shoes at home and share many dishes at the table, while also using cutting-edge smartphones and contactless payments everywhere. Public baths called jjimjilbang, late-night food streets and convenience stores open around the clock are part of city life, and hiking is a hugely popular weekend activity.

What This Quiz Teaches

This quiz is perfect for K-pop fans, food lovers and travelers planning a trip to Korea.

South Korea's capital and major cities
Who created the Korean alphabet
Traditional food and palaces
The global rise of K-pop and Korean film
Natural highlights such as Jeju Island
The history of the divided peninsula

Quick Facts About South Korea

South Korea's currency is the won.
Taekwondo is a Korean martial art and an Olympic sport.
Chuseok is a major harvest festival, similar to Thanksgiving.
Many Koreans traditionally count age differently, though official rules changed in 2023.
Seoul's subway is one of the busiest in the world.
Korean ginseng is famous for its use in traditional medicine.