12 Interesting South Korea Facts For Kids
South Korea is an East Asian country located south of the Korean peninsula. It is a fascinating place with a rich history and culture, and in this article, you’re going to learn more about it! From how much alcohol the average Korean drinks to why they consider electric fans superstitious, there’s a lot to learn about South Korea.
Learn more about the fantastic country of South Korea from the facts below!
12 Interesting South Korea facts for kids.
1. The country’s capital Seoul is the third largest city in the world.
Seoul is a sizable metropolis and the biggest in South Korea. It is the capital city with 25 million people residing inside its boundaries. It’s also the third-largest city in the world; therefore, it’s not just like any big city. Even though traversing a heavily packed city can be a little intimidating at first, after a few days, the city becomes quite approachable and intuitive. With that many people residing in one area, there are countless eateries, shopping centers, and stores for people to explore while on their trip.
2. South Korea is primarily made up of rocks that are 540 million years old!
Approximately 540 million years old Precambrian rocks comprise much of the geological composition of South Korea. Most of the land is mountains, with a few little valleys and slender coastal plains. The drainage divide of the nation is formed by the T’aebaek Mountains, which extend along the eastern coastline and into North Korea. Many mountain ranges with a northeastern to southwesterly orientation diverge. The most significant are the Sobaek Mountains. The highest point in South Korea’s mountains, Mount Sŏrak in the T’aebaek Mountains, rises to a height of 5,604 feet, and Mount Chiri in the Sobaek Mountains to an elevation of 6,283 feet.
Two volcanic islands—Cheju and Ullng, and a lava plateau may be found in the country’s Kangwon province.
3. South Koreans make up the largest drinking population in Asia
Many people are shocked to learn that Koreans are one of Asia’s top drinkers. Compared to its other Asian neighbors, South Korea has a robust drinking culture.
This may have roots in their culture and custom, where drinking is a standard part of celebrating festivals. Based on a study conducted by the World Health Organization, Koreans are rated #17 globally and consume over 12 liters of alcohol annually! Koreans consume more alcohol annually per person than citizens of the United States, Ireland, and Australia. The nation is regarded as one of the top consumers on the globe! The intake of soju plays a significant role in earning this honor. In South Korea, soju, which typically has a 19% alcohol level, is frequently consumed with the two main meals of the day, lunch and dinner.
4. South Korea and North Korea are still at war.
Korea is a part of East Asia that is split between two nations: North Korea, formally known as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and South Korea, the Republic of Korea.
Most Koreans don’t give North Korean threats much thought, despite the frequent news reports about them. In South Korea, things feel almost entirely secure. Even if there isn’t a daily conflict between the two Koreas, they still haven’t reconciled. The Armistice Agreement led to the end of hostilities in July 1953 during the Korean War, which lasted from 1950 to 1953. There was never a signed peace treaty; therefore, the two Koreas were still formally at war and engaged in a heated battle. Although the Korean War has officially ended, the two nations are still divided and have technically been at war for the past 70 years. However, you’ll notice that there is still tension when you approach the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) border in South Korea.
5. South Koreans consider the number 4 unlucky.
Every culture has a number that superstitions have made unlucky. There is a fear associated with the number 4 known as tetraphobia. The fact that the number four is unlucky is one of South Korea’s most fascinating facts. Apartments in South Korea with a house number that contains several 4s (for example, 404) are commonly avoided, and the property values are lower. As a result, floors 1, 2, 3, and F are frequently seen in elevators. This is so because the Korean word for four sounds much like the word for death.
6. South Korea has the fastest internet in the entire world.
Source – https://www.statista.com/
With the quickest 5G networks, South Korea dominates internet connectivity. On the Speedtest Global Index, compiled by international internet analyst Ookla, the nation came in first place with an average internet connection speed of 121 megabits per second (Mbps). The index compared 140 countries’ mobile internet download speeds. The speed in South Korea is four times quicker than the 7.0 Mbit/s global average. It’s crucial to remember that 100 Mbit/s services are the typical standard in urban South Korean homes, and the nation is quickly introducing 1Gbit/s connections, or 1,024 Mbit/s, at $20 per month, which is roughly 142 times faster than the global average and 79 times faster than the average speed in the United States.
7. There is a lot of internet censorship in South Korea.
Despite being the fastest country in the world regarding internet speed, South Korea has many rules for what can be accessed on the internet. Despite being a democracy, the South Korean government continues to take a broad-based approach to regulating certain online content. It imposes heavy censorship on websites the government views as disruptive or socially detrimental and on discussions surrounding elections. For instance, the government prohibits pornography, and a “cyber defamation legislation” enables law enforcement to take action against remarks deemed “hateful” without receiving reports from victims, with residents facing penalties for such violations. The South Korean government claims that its censorship laws do not violate the right to free expression of its citizens and that it is legally permitted to control the content of the Internet within its borders.
8. Plastic Surgery is widespread in South Korea.
It is common for teenagers in South Korea to undergo plastic surgery before starting college. They don’t need to worry about getting permission from their parents because they continually support and pay for it! Unlike in Western nations, where plastic surgery is considered taboo, South Korea has embraced these surgeries. They are now accepted and sometimes even encouraged. Particularly in South Korea, more people are getting cosmetic surgery. It is the country with the highest rate of cosmetic procedures performed per population, according to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS), at 13.5 treatments for every 1000 people. Women in South Korea most commonly seek plastic surgery. The eyes, nose, and chin are the most widely operated on body parts to achieve a specific appearance. South Korea is also significantly less expensive than other nations regarding plastic surgery.
9. South Korea does not have a national religion.
There is no national religion in South Korea, and the constitution protects freedom of religion. There is also a lack of religious homogeneity, which can perplex outsiders. Throughout history, shamanism, Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism all reigned supreme. However, South Korea didn’t abandon any of those religions; each has contributed to the sociocultural advancement of the nation. As a result, many people still engage in shamanic ceremonies, which have been conducted in Korea since ancient times.
For example, Confucian values and societal orientation are still very much present in Korean life, even among those who may be technically Christian. The major groupings of Christians are Roman Catholics, Protestants and independent Christians, making up around one-fourth of the population. Buddhists make up less than a sixth of the people.
10. South Korea is the makeup capital of the world.
Image Source – https://ayabeauty.dk/
It is well known that South Korea is one of the world’s makeup capitals. Entire neighborhoods are devoted to cosmetic stores. Koreans view beauty as maintenance, not luxury. Facials are standard daily practice in Seoul. Kimchi and kalbi draw large numbers of people to the capital of South Korea. Many sheet-mask devotees and influencers are traveling the miles for wrinkle-erasing Fraxel laser treatments and serums containing snail mucus.
11. South Korea is superstitious regarding electric fans.
You might be wondering how electric fans can be a leading cause of death in the country; technically, they aren’t, but Koreans have many superstitions, and this is one of them.
The South Korean urban legend states that leaving an electric fan on while you sleep in a room with closed windows and doors can result in death. The theory is that fans can cause hypothermia (abnormally low body temperature) by reducing body temperature. Koreans also claim that breathing in a room with a fan can be difficult and lead to choking. Due to these beliefs, automatic shutoff timers on fans are considered a life-saving feature in South Korea. Although not all South Koreans have this opinion, it is best to avoid attempting to persuade those that do on behalf of others. Superstitious South Koreans are inclined to reject your claims even if you can scientifically back them up.
12. South Korean babies are one year old at birth.
Newborn infants are considered to be one year old in South Korea. Many believe this is due to the baby spending about a year or nine months in the mother’s womb. Thus, a newborn in South Korea is already one year old.
Conclusion
Apart from the well-known causes for the nation’s fame, South Korea has several unique facts unknown to outsiders unless they live there. We hope the points written above shed some light on the everyday life of the people in South Korea and help you better understand its various superstitions, culture, and many other things.