Korea Trivia | Dorky Geeky Nerdy Trivia Podcast #348

Grab your passports because we’re heading to Asia. Today’s episode is Korea Trivia. Not North, not South, I’m covering the whole thing because the history is rich and goes way back.

If you’re new to Dorky Geeky Nerdy, welcome! Every week, it’s thirty questions to test your trivia skills. Think of this podcast as your very own pub trivia, minus the drink minimum.

Book of the Week

Korean History in Maps

Korean History in Maps is a beautifully presented, full-color atlas covering all periods of Korean history from prehistoric times to the present day.

It is the first atlas of its kind to be specifically designed for students in English-speaking countries.

There is a map for each era in Korean history, showing every major kingdom or polity that existed on the Korean peninsula, and maps are also included for topics of additional historical interest, including each major war that took place.

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Episode Intro

Grab your passports because we’re heading to Asia. Today’s episode is Korea Trivia. Not North, not South, I’m covering the whole thing because the history is rich and goes way back.

If you’re new to Dorky Geeky Nerdy, welcome! Every week, it’s thirty questions to test your trivia skills. Think of this podcast as your very own pub trivia, minus the drink minimum.

I’m your tour guide and host, Brian Rollins and this is episode 348 of the Dorky Geeky Nerdy trivia podcast.

Hop on the trivia train and let’s get started.

The Dorky Round

Korea is what kind of geologic landmass?
a. A peninsula
Which international organization did both Koreas join simultaneously in 1991?
a. The United Nations
Who is the current leader of North Korea (as of 2025)?
a. Kim Jong Un
What major war occurred on the peninsula between 1950 and 1953?
a. The Korean War
What 2019 Korean film won the Oscar for Best Picture?
a. Parasite
Korean singer Psy had a global smash with over 1 billion views on YouTube for what song?
a. Gangnam Style
What is the capital of and largest city in South Korea?
a. Seoul
What South Korean TV show became the most watched series on Netflix when it debuted in 2021?
a. Squid Game
If I’m talking about the Republic of Korea, am I referring to the North or the South?
a. South Korea
Korea was divided into the two nations we see today following the outcome of which war?
a. World War II. Due to rising tensions between the Soviet Union and the United States, the peninsula was divided in two in 1948.

The Geeky Round

Which Korean city hosted the 2018 Winter Olympics?
a. Pyeongchang
What parallel of latitude approximately divides North and South Korea?
a. The 38th Parallel
Which South Korean company produces the most mobile phones, after Apple?
a. Samsung
What area currently separates North and South Korea?
a. The Korean Demilitarized Zone or DMZ
What Korean filmmaker directed Parasite, Snowpiercer, and recently, Mickey 17?
a. Bong Joon Ho
What currency is currently used in Korea (both North and South)?
a. The won. Though they have different values.
What is the second-largest city in South Korea?
a. Busan. It’s about a third the population of Seoul.
Like in China, what number is considered unlucky in Korea?
a. The number four.
On December 3, 2024, what did the then-President of South Korea declare?
a. Martial Law. It was overturned by the legislature in South Korea and eventually led to his removal from office.
Where does South Korea rank in the world in terms of wireless Internet speed?
a. First. They’re three times faster than second place, Hong Kong.

The Nerdy Round

What is the largest island in South Korea?
a. Jeju Island
Which South Korean president won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000 for his “Sunshine Policy”?
a. Kim Dae-jung
In 1910, what country formally annexed Korea?
a. Japan.
South Korea first hosted the Olympics in which year?
a. In 1988. It was only the second time the games had been hosted in Asia.
What actor, from Busan, starred in Lost and is currently in the live-action Last Airbender series as Fire Lord Ozai?
a. Danial Dae Kim
What is the official name of North Korea?
a. Despite it being a dictatorship, they call themselves the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
What is the capital of and largest city in North Korea?
a. Pyongyang
Most South Koreans claim which religion?
a. None. A little over half of South Koreans claim “no religion”. 31% are Christian and 17% are Buddist.
Which Korean kingdom is considered the oldest?
a. The Gojoseon. It dates back to 2333 BCE.
What biological feature do many South Koreans use to help determine who to date and marry?
a. Blood type. For example, women with Type B blood are well matched with Type O or Type AB men but not Type A.

Episode Conclusion

And time to catch the plane back home. Or the train, if you live in Korea. If you are Korean, please reach out to me on social media. I love hearing from “locals” on these kinds of episodes.

Next week is science trivia. Here’s a clue:

In which class of animal will you find ticks, mites, and vinegarroons?

Yes, it’s time to get creepy and crawly for October. In the interim, take some time to sit down and listen to your favorite album. Not just the song. The whole album. You deserve the time.

See you on Wednesday, my friends.

This was the Dorky Geeky Nerdy Trivia Podcast. If you’d like to help support the show and get extra stuff, consider becoming a patron at Patreon.com/dorkygeekynerdy.

This podcast is written, produced, and hosted by Brian Rollins. If you love audiobooks or are looking to have a book turned into an audiobook, contact me at TheVoicesInMyHead.com.

The theme music is Punchfunk by the band, Punchfunk. Listen to all their music on Spotify.

Thanks for listening.