South Korea is a country with a rich cultural, sporting, and technological heritage whose influence extends far beyond its borders. South Korea is renowned for numerous traditional games and sports, such as Juldarigi (Korean tug-of-war), which is recognized as UNESCO intangible cultural heritage, Ssireum (Korean wrestling), and Yutnori (stick throwing). Notable Korean dances include Ganggangsullae, Talchum, and Bukcheong Saja-noreum, while Taekwondo is a globally recognized martial art in which South Korea excels.
South Korean athletes achieve success in archery, shooting, skating, and football, with stars such as Park Ji-sung, Son Heung-min, and Kim Min-jae. The film Parasite and the TV series Squid Game brought South Korea worldwide recognition in cinema and television, while author Han Kang won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2024.
South Korea is also a leader in technological innovation, excelling in artificial intelligence, robotics, the automotive industry, and semiconductor manufacturing. The country hosted the 1988 Summer Olympic in Seoul, the 2018 Winter Olympic in PyeongChang, and numerous international events, including the 2012 specialised EXPO in Yeosu and co-hosted the 2002 FIFA World Cup. South Korea has been a member of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) since 1987 and has won numerous awards at international exhibitions throughout its history.
