Famous South Koreans Quiz: Do You Know Your BTS From Your Ban Ki-Moon?

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"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!

Try all of our Entertainment Quizzes

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!


Jessica 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?

  • A
    King Sejong the Great
  • B
    King Taejong
  • C
    Jang Young-Sil
  • D
    King Hyegong

Question 2

What wildly popular K-Pop girl group was the first to have four songs reach a billion views on YouTube?

  • A
    Blackpink
  • B
    Orangeblue
  • C
    Greenred
  • D
    Pinkwhite

Question 3

What famous Korean-American actor is arguably best known for his role as Harold in the Harold & Kumar films?

  • A
    Ji Chang-wook
  • B
    Hyun Bin
  • C
    Bong Joon-ho
  • D
    John Cho

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?

  • A
    Bae Suah
  • B
    Toni Morrison
  • C
    Shin Kyung-sook
  • D
    Han Kang

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?

  • A
    Yoo Gwan-Soon
  • B
    Emmeline Pankhurst
  • C
    Kim Ransa
  • D
    Shin Saimdan

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?

  • A
    Ko Un
  • B
    Hwang Sok-yong
  • C
    Kim Dae-Jung
  • D
    Pak Kyongni

Question 7

Winner of a gold metal in the Barcelona Olympics in 1992, what marathon runner collapsed on the track after his race?

  • A
    Lee Dae-hoon
  • B
    Jin Jong-oh
  • C
    Hwang Young-cho
  • D
    Yoo Gwan-Soon

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?

  • A
    Ludwig Van Beethoven
  • B
    Na Hoon-a
  • C
    Kun-Woo Paik
  • D
    Park Yeon

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"?

  • A
    S.E.S.
  • B
    Girls' Generation
  • C
    Wonder Girls
  • D
    Destiny's Child

Question 10

What Korean pop star hit a billion views on YouTube - breaking the website's counter - with his global smash "Gangnam Style"?

  • A
    Jin
  • B
    PSY
  • C
    G-Dragon
  • D
    V

Question 11

Giving Roald Amundsen a run for his money, what South Korean explorer was the first to reach the Five Poles?

  • A
    Zheng He
  • B
    James Cook
  • C
    Hong Sung-taek
  • D
    Park Geun-hye

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"?

  • A
    Shin Kyung-sook
  • B
    Ban Ki-Moon
  • C
    Kofi Annan
  • D
    Boutros Boutros-Ghali

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?

  • A
    Yoo Byung-eun
  • B
    Thomas Edison
  • C
    Jang Young-Sil
  • D
    Yuna Kim

Question 14

Writing under the pen-name Toegye - meaning "Retreating Creek" - what sage and scholar was the founder of Neo-Confucism?

  • A
    Yi Kwang-su
  • B
    Ko Un
  • C
    Yi Hwang
  • D
    Yi Sang

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?

  • A
    Sejong the Great
  • B
    Chun Doo-hwan
  • C
    Roh Moo-hyun
  • D
    Kim Dae-Jung

Question 16

In 2020, what Korean director of Parasite matched Walt Disney with the most Academy Awards won in one night?

  • A
    Ang Lee
  • B
    Park Chan-wook
  • C
    Bong Joon-ho
  • D
    Hong Sangsoo

Question 17

What Korean royal physician wrote an internationally recognized book on medicine called Donguibogam?

  • A
    IU
  • B
    Yi Seok
  • C
    Yun Chi-wang
  • D
    Heo Jun

Question 18

With mega-hits like "IDOL" and "FAKE LOVE," name this seven-member boyband that has taken the world by storm.

  • A
    EXO
  • B
    Backstreet Boys
  • C
    NCT
  • D
    BTS

Question 19

The first female president of the country, what South Korean leader's term ended in political scandal with her impeachment?

  • A
    Park Geun-hye
  • B
    Kim Yo-jong
  • C
    Choo Mi-ae
  • D
    Kim Jung-sook

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.

  • A
    Song Joong-ki
  • B
    PSY
  • C
    Lee Min-ho
  • D
    Kim Soo-hyun

Question 21

With five studio albums under her belt, name the actress/singer/songwriter known for such hits as "Celebrity" and "Blueming."

  • A
    Ha Ji-woon
  • B
    IU
  • C
    Bae Suzy
  • D
    Lee Min-ho

Question 22

Known by his pen name Baekbeom, what politician and educator led the Korean Independence Movement from Japan?

  • A
    An Jung-geun
  • B
    Hong Sung-taek
  • C
    Kim Gu
  • D
    George Washington

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?

  • A
    Shim Suk-hee
  • B
    Lee Sang-hwa
  • C
    Yuna Kim
  • D
    Il Choi

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?

  • A
    Jang Young-Sil and Heo Gyun
  • B
    Heo Gyun and Heo Nanseolheon
  • C
    Sejong the Great and Jang Young-Sil
  • D
    Heo Nanseolheon and Sejong the Great

Question 25

Known for his ballpoint pen artwork, what artist's works have been described by The New York Times as "deceptively casual"?

  • A
    Suh Yongsun
  • B
    Lee Ufan
  • C
    Heo Jun
  • D
    Il Lee

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