110+ Interesting Facts About South Korea: How Many Do You Know?

South Korea is one of the most exciting places in the world.

People have recently started to discover the tasty foods of South Korea around the world, and they say they just can't get enough. From K-pop boy bands to delicious kimchi, there is much to learn about this amazing country.

We have put together some of the best South Korean facts and history, including some interesting facts about Seoul, about South Korean food, and about the traditions of the people of South Korea.

Information About South Korea

Get to know the best South Korean facts and information that make up the country. After you know the basics, you can learn all the other fun facts about South Korea.

1. South Korea is a country in East Asia.

2. South Korea is bordered by North Korea, which is also called the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

3. South Korea is also called the Republic of Korea.

4. The capital city of South Korea is Seoul.

5. South Korea takes up about 45% of the total area of the Korean Peninsula.

6. The population of South Korea is 51.8 million people as of 2021.

7. Most people in the country live in or around the city of Seoul.

8. A total of 10 million people live in Seoul.

9. The President of South Korea is Moon Jae-in, and he has been President since 2017.

10. The official language of South Korea is Korean.

11. The national anthem is called 'Aegukga', which literally means 'patriotic song'.

12. The currency in South Korea is the South Korean won, or the Korean Republic won.

13. The national flower is the rose of Sharon, which they call mugunghwa.

14. The 2018 Winter Olympics were held in South Korea.

15. South Korea celebrates 15 August as a holiday called National Liberation Day.

16. South Korea is roughly the same size as England; the latter is 1.3 times the former.

17. It is a bit smaller than the state of Pennsylvania, USA; with a difference of approximately 7722 mi2 (20,000 km2).

Historical Facts About South Korea

There are so many interesting facts about the history of South Korea. This list will help you get to know a little bit more about what has gone on there in times past.

18. For a long time before the year 1905, Korea was an independent kingdom.

19. In 1905 the Japanese took over the country and ruled over it.

20. After the Second World War the Japanese surrendered to the USA, and Korea became independent again.

21. When this happened, the country split into two halves - North and South Korea.

22. The peninsula was split into two by Russia and the USA.

23. North Korea was controlled by the Soviet Union for a short period - 1945-1948.

24. There is a big divide between the north and south of the peninsula because the north is generally poorer, and the south is more wealthy.

25. Recently, South Korea has experienced an economic transformation. Over the last 60 years, it has become the 11th biggest economy in the world (as of 2020).

26. Due to it being opened to foreign markets, the country makes a lot of money exporting goods.

27. The transformation of South Korea from a developing to a developed country is often described as the 'Miracle on the Han River.'

South Korean Culture Facts

These interesting facts about Korean culture will make you want to visit. Get to know what South Korean people do and how they live their lives.

28. About 81% of Koreans live in urban areas.

29. The Korean alphabet has 24 letters.

30. The two most followed religions in South Korea are Christianity and Buddhism.

31. Most people in South Korea live by the rules of the famous philosopher Confucius.

32. Confucianism itself is an ancient Chinese belief system.

33. The country of South Korea is the second most technologically advanced country on the planet (as of 2020).

34. Famous Korean companies you might have heard of are Samsung, LG Electronics, and Hyundai.

35. The economy in South Korea is very healthy. They often trade with China, the USA, Vietnam, Japan, and Germany.

36. The highest building in Korea is the Lotte World Tower in Seoul standing at 1,823 ft (555.7 m).

37. The Lotte World Tower is the fifth highest building in the entire world.

38. South Koreans celebrate the new year on January 1, and then also celebrate the Lunar New Year shortly after.

39. The Lunar New Year celebrations are three days long and children receive lots of gifts from their families and friends during this time.

40. Schooling till age 15 is compulsory in South Korea.

41. The city of Pyeongchang, South Korea - the site of the 2018 Winter Olympics - is famous among tourists.

42. In the Seoraksan National Park you can find the famous 48 ft (14. 6 m) high statue - the Great Unification Buddha.

43. The Myeongdong area of Seoul is the go-to shopping hub for high-end international fashion.

44. The world-famous Korean pop music is called K-pop.

45. The famous song 'Gangnam Style' by South Korean singer PSY was a YouTube sensation in the year 2013.

46. South Koreans consider the number four to be an unlucky number.

South Korea: Facts About Food

Korean food is becoming more and more popular around the world and it's clear to see why.

47. The people of Korea mostly eat rice, soya, meat, and vegetables.

48. South Koreans usually eat with metal chopsticks and spoons. Most things are eaten with chopsticks, and stews and soups are typically eaten with a spoon.

49. Kimchi is one popular dish in Korean food. It is made of fermented cabbage, ginger, garlic, and chilies. It has a strong flavor and is good for your gut.

50. There are hundreds of different types of kimchi.

51. Jajangmyeon is a popular food eaten by Korean people that is made from noodles, fried pork, vegetables, and seafood, prepared in a black bean sauce.

52. Most Korean foods contain sesame seeds and chilies although chili was only introduced here in the 16th century.

53. Korean cuisine is home to some of the spiciest food in the world, like chicken buldak.

54. One of the foods on the more unique side of Korean cuisine is beondegi, which is a street food made from the pupae of silkworms.

55. When you order a main course in a restaurant in South Korea, you usually get five or more side dishes with it.

56. Bibimbap is another Korean food that has worldwide appeal. It is a mild rice dish with vegetables and a fried egg on top.

57. Some of South Korea’s most iconic street foods include tteokbokki, fish cakes, and hotteok.

Facts About The Geography Of South Korea

The Korean Peninsula is filled with beautiful scenery. These facts about the physical features of South Korea will help you to understand the Korean countryside and wildlife.

58. To the east of South Korea you will find the East Sea, the sea of Japan.

59. The Seoraksan National Park - listed as a tentative UNESCO World Heritage Site - is home to breathtaking mountains.

60. South Korea's strong tides on the west coast are a great source of energy.

61. The weather in South Korea varies; they have mild summers with heavy rainfall and cold winters.

62. To the south of the country you can find the East China Sea.

63. To the west of South Korea is the Yellow Sea.

64. The southeast of the country is close to the Japanese island Tsushima, separated by the Korea Strait.

65. The Korea Strait is a sea passage.

66. The Nakdong River is the longest river in the country at 316.8 mi (510 km) long.

67. The largest lake in South Korea is Chungju Lake.

68. Chungju Lake is not a natural lake but is in fact the biggest multi-purpose dam in the country.

69. The highest mountain in South Korea is Paektu Mountain at 9,002 ft (2,744 m).

70. Hallasan is an active shield volcano on Jeju Island standing 6,388 ft (1,947 m) tall.

71. Hallasan is considered sacred and has not erupted for over 800 years.

72. About 70% of the land in South Korea is covered in mountains.

73. The Namsam Park is the largest in Seoul.

74. The largest island in South Korea is Jeju which is southward of the country.

75. There are over 3,000 islands in South Korea.

76. There are many endangered animal species living in this part of the world - the Siberian tiger, golden eagle, Amur leopard, and the lynx are some of them.

Wonderful And Weird Facts About South Korea

It wouldn't be right to leave you without some crazy and cool facts about South Korea, so we picked out some of the best to entertain you.

77. In Seoul, South Korea, restaurants typically close by 11 p.m.

78. Also in Seoul, shopping malls can stay open until four in the morning!

79. South Korean folk love camping; it is one of the most popular holiday activities.

80. The biggest department store in the world is the Shinsegae building which is over 3,163,000 ft2 (2,93,900 m2).

81. Some South Koreans think that your blood type is important in defining your personality.

82. Facial hair is sometimes considered dirty in South Korea. Having a beard might make it harder for you to get a job.

83. The Imperial Palace guards must have a beard to work, but they are asked to shave and wear a fake one instead of growing one.

84. Although they officially decided on a truce in 1953, there is still a lot of tension at the border between North and South Korea.

85. Valentine's Day is traditionally a day when men receive chocolates from women in South Korea, which is the opposite of the norm in lots of other countries.

86. Sun umbrellas - called parasols - are popularly used by Koreans when the sun is out and shining bright.

87. There is a day called White Day, exactly a month after Valentine's Day, where women traditionally receive gifts from men.

88. K-pop is mostly performed by young bands that are either all girls or all boys.

89. Fruit is expensive in South Korea; a single watermelon can cost as much as $10, which is more than 11,000 South Korean won.

90. Because it is expensive, fruit is considered a generous gift to give.

91. Age in South Korea is perceived differently from age in the rest of the world.

92. In Korea kids are born one year old as the time in the womb is counted towards their age.

93. In South Korea, you don't change age on your birthday; you get a year older on New Year's Day each year. Babies born on December 31 turn two the very next day.

94. Most restaurants home deliver food in South Korea; even McDonalds.

95. Only 4% of the population is considered overweight in South Korea.

96. South Korea and Japan are the only developed countries to also be among the top 10 slimmest ones.

97. Korean men cumulatively spend the equivalent of $1 billion on cosmetics in a year.

98. Adult South Korean families don't tend to spend Christmas together. Most of the time they spend the day with a significant other, but it is not hugely important to see other family members.

99. It is, however, very important to see the family for the Korean New Year.

100. Mostly, people refer to someone by their title and not by their first name in South Korea.

101. Spam has become a surprisingly popular food in Korea.

102. In South Korea, toilet paper or cleaning supplies are considered good housewarming gifts.

103. They believe cleaning products like detergent bring good luck into the home.

104. Koreans like to eat live octopuses - chopped up without cooking and served while the animal is still moving about on the plate.

105. Some of the fastest internet speeds in the world can be found in South Korea.

106. Before the pandemic, when ordering food delivery in South Korea, you could just put the empty dishes outside your front door and the restaurant would pick them up later.

107. Used toilet paper never goes in the toilet in South Korea; it is put in bins instead.

108. Cosmetic surgery is very popular in South Korea; they have the fifth-largest number of plastic surgeons in the world (2021).

109. A white tiger called Soohorang was the mascot of the 2018 Winter Olympics.

110. An Asiatic black bear called Bandabi was the mascot of the 2018 Winter Paralympics.