Famous South Koreans Quiz: Do You Know Your BTS From Your Ban Ki-Moon?
Written by Jessica Holom
Last updated · 5 min play time
From Nobel Laureates to K-Pop groups, can you name all of these famous people from South Korea?
"I will try and make peace between North and South Korea." – Yi So-Yeon
South Korea has a long and storied history that's been created by centuries of incredible people. In most cases, the country's contemporary famous people continue to put the nation's best foot forward. South Korea has produced great minds and talent for centuries, from peace-keepers to writers, from politicians to K-Pop bands, and more.
Can you name them all? Unveil your knowledge about South Korea's leaders, musicians, athletes, and other famous people with our Famous South Korean Quiz!
Test your Entertainment Knowledge
"My favorite thing about South Korea is the people - they are so kind and helpful." – Elana Meyers
If your favorite thing about South Korea is its people too, then you'll be sure to ace this Famous South Korean Quiz. Show us what you know about historic South Koreans up to today's rich and famous.
Who is the hit singer of "Gangnam Style"? What South Korean reached the Five Poles? Which South Korean president won the Nobel Peace Prize? Who served as Secretay General of the United Nations? What director recently matched Walt Disney in his record for most Oscars in one night? If you know all the answers, then you'll have no problem passing this Famous South Korean Quiz.
Now, meet all the kind and helpful people of South Korea with this Famous South Korean Quiz. You're sure to go home a winner!
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Kick back with trivia about your favorite celebrities, TV shows, films, and more through our collection of entertainment quizzes. This quiz section is designed for the pop culture guru in each and every one of us.
After ranking with this Famous South Korea Quiz, move onto other famous people in this series of country quizzes. Try our Famous Indians Quiz, Famous Japanese Quiz, Famous Chinese Quiz, Famous Mexicans Quiz, and Famous Canadians Quiz. Sick of famous people? Move on to theatre with our Broadway Quiz. Wherever your trivia knowledge may lead, QuizGriz has a quiz just for you!
Quiz written by
Jessica HolomJessica Holom is a freelance writer and digital nomad with a background in literature, art, and writing. She believes curiosity never killed a single cat and enjoys learning, world-exploring, and writing about both.
Famous South Korean Quiz Questions
25 Questions · 15 Plays · No comments
Question 1
“The people are the roots of a nation, and the roots should be strong so as to create a peaceful nation.” What king is known for creating the Korean alphabet?
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AKing Sejong the Great
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BKing Taejong
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CJang Young-Sil
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DKing Hyegong
King Sejong the Great
The fourth king of the Joseon dynasty, King Sejong the Great, took the reins in the late 14th century. Not only did he create the Korean alphabet, but his approach to everything during his rule was based in love for everyday people.
Question 2
What wildly popular K-Pop girl group was the first to have four songs reach a billion views on YouTube?
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ABlackpink
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BOrangeblue
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CGreenred
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DPinkwhite
Blackpink
If black and pink are your favorite colors, this is the band for you! Blackpink is a small group by Korean standards: just four members. The squad was the first K-pop group to have four songs reach a billion views on YouTube with “As If It's Your Last” breaking down that fourth wall.
Question 3
What famous Korean-American actor is arguably best known for his role as Harold in the Harold & Kumar films?
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AJi Chang-wook
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BHyun Bin
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CBong Joon-ho
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DJohn Cho
John Cho
Born in Seoul, John Cho moved to the States when he was young and started acting in the early 2000s. His big hit, <i>Harold & Kumar</i>, launched his fame in the States, and he has since starred in the films <i>Better Luck Tomorrow</i> and <i>Yellow</i>.
Question 4
Writing “Either a mother and daughter know each other very well or they are strangers," what renowned contemporary South Korean author wrote Please Look After Mother?
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ABae Suah
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BToni Morrison
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CShin Kyung-sook
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DHan Kang
Shin Kyung-sook
Shin Kyung-sook is one of the country's most highly acclaimed contemporary writers, winning countless national literary prizes. She's also won international awards, becoming both the first woman and first South Korean to take home the Man Asian Literary Prize in 2012.
Question 5
Sometimes referred to as the "Korean Joan of Arc," what courageous female fighter fought for Korean Independence and was tortured and killed by the Japanese?
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AYoo Gwan-Soon
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BEmmeline Pankhurst
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CKim Ransa
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DShin Saimdan
Yoo Gwan-Soon
Yoo Gwan-Soon was the the Independence Movement leader, witnessing both of her parents' deaths at the hands of the Japanese police. She was imprisoned as the leader of the protest demonstration and was tortured to death. Her last words were reported to be: "My only remorse is not being able to do more than dedicating my life to my country."
Question 6
Writing “Body and soul, let's all go / transformed into arrows! / Piercing the air / body and soul, let's go / with no turning back," what Buddhist monk and author of Ten Thousand Lives is one of Korea's greatest living writers?
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AKo Un
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BHwang Sok-yong
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CKim Dae-Jung
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DPak Kyongni
Ko Un
Having experienced the Korean War in all its ugliness, Hwang Sok-yong entered a Buddhist monastery, where he published his first book of poetry. Afterward, he helped drive the democracy movement and was imprisoned for years, where he wrote many other books of poetry. Amongst his works are <i>Ten Thousand Lives</i> and <i>The Sound of My Waves</i>.
Question 7
Winner of a gold metal in the Barcelona Olympics in 1992, what marathon runner collapsed on the track after his race?
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ALee Dae-hoon
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BJin Jong-oh
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CHwang Young-cho
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DYoo Gwan-Soon
Hwang Young-cho
Although it was the "slowest Olympic marathon" in about three decades because of heat in Barcelona and the climb for the last two kilometers, Hwang Young-cho's time of 2 hours 13 minutes and 23 seconds was nothing to sniff at. The South Korean took home the gold for his country after dropping to his knees and face-planting on the track, before being carried off on a stretcher.
Question 8
What Korean musician is regarded as one of the country's three greatest and has an annual festival held in his honor in his hometown of Yeongdong-gun?
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ALudwig Van Beethoven
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BNa Hoon-a
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CKun-Woo Paik
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DPark Yeon
Park Yeon
Park Yeon is one of South Korea's greatest musicians of all time. He served as the court conductor under the rule of King Sejong the Great, and did everything from tune instruments to compile the evening's set list.
Question 9
Pumping out hits like "I GOT A BOY" and "PARTY," what 8-member electro-pop band is sometimes referred to as the "Nation's Girl Group"?
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AS.E.S.
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BGirls' Generation
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CWonder Girls
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DDestiny's Child
Girls' Generation
Girls' Generation is South Korea's unofficial national group. CNN was noted that they are a "national phenomenon" and labelled them the "Asian version" of British girl group Spice Girls.
Question 10
What Korean pop star hit a billion views on YouTube - breaking the website's counter - with his global smash "Gangnam Style"?
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AJin
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BPSY
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CG-Dragon
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DV
PSY
Who could get "Gangnam Style" out of their heads in 2012? The single was the first video ever to reach a billion views on YouTube and, in fact, forced the video site to rebuild its counter when it exceeded the limit (which was a seemingly random 2,147,483,647 views).
Question 11
Giving Roald Amundsen a run for his money, what South Korean explorer was the first to reach the Five Poles?
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AZheng He
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BJames Cook
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CHong Sung-taek
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DPark Geun-hye
Hong Sung-taek
Korean mountaineer and explorer Hong Sung Taek, is famous for having reached the "Five Poles" – i.e., the North and South Poles, Greenland, Everest, and the Bering Strait. He walked to the North Pole, skied to the South, took a dog sled across Greenland, walked across the Bering Strait and, of course, climbed Everest.
Question 12
What U.N. Secretary-General from 2007 to 2016 once said “Saving our planet requires you to be ambitious in what you aim, and, equally, in how hard you work to reach your goal"?
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AShin Kyung-sook
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BBan Ki-Moon
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CKofi Annan
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DBoutros Boutros-Ghali
Ban Ki-Moon
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon served first as a diplomat for his country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a job that he was inspired to pursue after a visit with JFK when he was 18. Assuming the office of Secretary-General in 2007, his post ended in 2016, after having established a series of peacekeeping initiatives and strategies to make the "blue helmets" more effective in conflict zones around the world.
Question 13
What revered 15h century Korean scientist was the inventor of the world's first rain gage and has an asteroid named after him?
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AYoo Byung-eun
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BThomas Edison
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CJang Young-Sil
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DYuna Kim
Jang Young-Sil
The "cheugugi" was invented by Jang Young-Sil as the first rain gauge in the world. The 15th-century inventor also created an astronomical clock, a celestial globe, a hemispherical sundial, an observatory, and an automatic water clock. He seems outta this world – no wonder a celestial body was named after him.
Question 14
Writing under the pen-name Toegye - meaning "Retreating Creek" - what sage and scholar was the founder of Neo-Confucism?
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AYi Kwang-su
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BKo Un
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CYi Hwang
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DYi Sang
Yi Hwang
With a pen-name meaning "Retreating Creek," Yi Hwang was a Joseon dynasty Neo-Confucist. The sage taught that i and gi were the driving forces of the universe. He once wrote: "The ancients see me not, nor I, the ancients, Though I see the ancients not, the Way they trod is before me, Their Way before me, can I but follow.“
Question 15
Known as the "Nelson Mandela of Asia," which president and activist was the first Korean to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize largely due to his "sunshine policy" with North Korea?
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ASejong the Great
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BChun Doo-hwan
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CRoh Moo-hyun
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DKim Dae-Jung
Kim Dae-Jung
Serving as president for 5 years starting in 1998, Kim Dae-Jung did a lot for South Korea during his term. He aimed to stabilize the country's economy and re-establish its democracy, as well as restore North Korean relations with his "sunshine policy." The policy was centered on three agreements: 1) no provocation, 2) no attempts to absorb the North, and 3) the active promotion of reconciliation and cooperation.
Question 16
In 2020, what Korean director of Parasite matched Walt Disney with the most Academy Awards won in one night?
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AAng Lee
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BPark Chan-wook
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CBong Joon-ho
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DHong Sangsoo
Bong Joon-ho
Bong Joon-ho joined Walt Disney as the only film director to take home four trophies in one night for his film, <i>Parasite</i>. He won awards for Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best International Feature Film, and Best Picture – the first foreign movie to take home the big one. He said: "We never write to represent our country. But this is our very first Oscar to South Korea."
Question 17
What Korean royal physician wrote an internationally recognized book on medicine called Donguibogam?
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AIU
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BYi Seok
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CYun Chi-wang
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DHeo Jun
Heo Jun
The royal physician Heo Jun, wrote one of the most famous East Asian medical books, spending over a decade reading more than 240 medical books and curating the best information. <i>Donguibogam</i> has been translated into multiple languages and is internationally renowned.
Question 18
With mega-hits like "IDOL" and "FAKE LOVE," name this seven-member boyband that has taken the world by storm.
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AEXO
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BBackstreet Boys
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CNCT
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DBTS
BTS
If you thought the Backstreet Boys didn't have enough members, BTS just might be the K-Pop band for you. The seven-member group is one of the most popular in the world, selling out stadiums in their home country as well as in the U.S. and Europe. Many fans think they are "Dynamite."
Question 19
The first female president of the country, what South Korean leader's term ended in political scandal with her impeachment?
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APark Geun-hye
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BKim Yo-jong
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CChoo Mi-ae
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DKim Jung-sook
Park Geun-hye
Riding the coattails of her father, who also served as president, Park Geun-hye's political career ended in disgrace, when she was impeached in 2016 and imprisoned for her role in embezzlement and voting interference. She was the first female president popularly elected in all of East Asia, and the first president born after the First Republic of Korea was founded.
Question 20
Known for his role in the TV drama Boys over Flowers, name this South Korean actor who took won Best New Actor at the 45th Baeksang Arts Awards.
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ASong Joong-ki
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BPSY
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CLee Min-ho
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DKim Soo-hyun
Lee Min-ho
Triple-threat Lee Min-ho is a singer/actor/model and earned global fame for his role as Gu Jun-pyo, for which he won the Best New Actor award at South Korea's Baeksang Arts Awards. He also became the first South Korean to have a Madame Tussauds wax figure modeled after him in 2013.
Question 21
With five studio albums under her belt, name the actress/singer/songwriter known for such hits as "Celebrity" and "Blueming."
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AHa Ji-woon
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BIU
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CBae Suzy
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DLee Min-ho
IU
IU is certainly "bleuming." Born Lee Ji-eun, the singer-songwriter's name is intended to mean "you and I become one through music." She is sometimes referred to as "The Nation's Sweetheart."
Question 22
Known by his pen name Baekbeom, what politician and educator led the Korean Independence Movement from Japan?
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AAn Jung-geun
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BHong Sung-taek
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CKim Gu
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DGeorge Washington
Kim Gu
One of Korea's "Founding Fathers," Kim Gu was an important leader in the Independence Movement and in the reunification of Korea. He was the last president of the provisional government of the Republic of Korea and was assassinated by Ahn Doo-hee, who saw him as a Soviet Union agent. He once said: "If God asked me what was my wish, I would reply unhesitatingly, 'Korean independence.' If he asked me what was my second wish, I would again answer, 'My country's independence.'”
Question 23
Saying “I really hope that when I leave, my last trace will be beautiful," which South Korean athlete was the first to win a gold medal for the country in figure skating?
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AShim Suk-hee
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BLee Sang-hwa
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CYuna Kim
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DIl Choi
Yuna Kim
A girl next door ice skater, Yuna Kim was once one of the highest-earning female athletes in the world. Taking home the gold in the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, she was the first to medal in a figure skating discipline for her country.
Question 24
Writing “Of all things created by Heaven, a human being is the most precious. So it is the most fortunate thing to be born a human in this world," what brother-sister duo is among the most famous Korean writers?
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AJang Young-Sil and Heo Gyun
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BHeo Gyun and Heo Nanseolheon
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CSejong the Great and Jang Young-Sil
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DHeo Nanseolheon and Sejong the Great
Heo Gyun and Heo Nanseolheon
The Heos – Heo Gyun and Heo Nanseolheon – were rockstar siblings from the 16th century. Gyun wrote <i>The Tale of Hong Gildong</i>, the first novel in the Korean language. His literary sister, Nanseolheon, penned poetry that was held in high esteem in a society that favored male writers.
Question 25
Known for his ballpoint pen artwork, what artist's works have been described by The New York Times as "deceptively casual"?
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ASuh Yongsun
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BLee Ufan
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CHeo Jun
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DIl Lee
Il Lee
Who knew that all you needed to create a masterpiece was a ballpoint pen? Contemporary artist Il Lee creates large-scale abstract artworks on canvas and paper which have been shown all over the world – in New York, Paris, Seoul, and many more.
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