Fascinating Facts About Korea

Here’s a list of fascinating, fun, and surprising facts about Korea (mostly South Korea) that give a deeper look into its culture, tech, food, and more:

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🇰🇷 1. South Korea is the world’s most connected country

• It has some of the fastest internet speeds and highest smartphone penetration rates on the planet.

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👨‍🎓 2. Education is extremely competitive

• South Korean students take the Suneung (college entrance exam), a life-defining test — the entire country stays quiet during it, even planes are grounded.

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🍚 3. Side dishes (banchan) are unlimited

• Go to any Korean restaurant, and you’ll get a table full of small dishes like kimchi, seaweed, and pickled radish — and they’re refillable for free.

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🧍‍♂️🧍‍♀️ 4. Age is counted differently

• Traditionally, Koreans are considered 1 year old at birth, and everyone gets a year older on New Year’s Day — though this is changing to match international standards.

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🍲 5. Kimchi is life

• It’s a staple at every meal, and there are over 200 types — made from cabbage, radish, cucumber, and more.

• South Korea even has a Kimchi Museum in Seoul.

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🎮 6. Esports are a national obsession

• Pro gamers are treated like celebrities. Korea has TV channels and stadiums dedicated to StarCraft, League of Legends, and more.

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💄 7. Korea leads the global beauty industry

• Known for 10-step skincare routines, sheet masks, and innovations like cushion compacts and BB cream.

• Plastic surgery is also common and widely accepted — especially in Gangnam.

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🕊️ 8. The Korean War never officially ended

• There’s only an armistice, not a peace treaty — technically, North and South Korea are still at war.

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🎎 9. Traditional meets futuristic

• You’ll find palaces from the 1300s right next to ultra-modern skyscrapers and robot cafes.

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📱 10. KakaoTalk is everything

• It’s more than messaging — Koreans use it for banking, shopping, ordering taxis, making doctor’s appointments, and even reading webtoons.

This article was previously published on UAE Moments. To see the original article, click here