The finest flavors from Hungary’s renowned wine regions and the vibrant Mediterranean vibe form the essence of this year’s Budapest Wine Festival. But before diving into the premium wine experiences, the Wine Festival’s featured partner, Hankook, invites you on a unique cultural journey. We’ve rounded up some lesser-known — but all the more fascinating — facts about South Korea that are sure to surprise you!
1. Wine in Its Name, Yet Not a Wine
Long before grape-based wines took over the world, South Korea had already cultivated a rich tradition of making and drinking rice wine — known as makgeolli — for thousands of years. This milky, slightly sweet, and refreshing beverage is not only a staple of everyday life but also plays a key role in traditional celebrations and rituals. Makgeolli is as deeply embedded in Korean identity as kimchi or taekwondo.
2. The Wine Boom in South Korea
While rice wine reigned supreme for centuries, the past few decades have seen a dramatic rise in the popularity of grape-based wines in South Korea. Wine has become especially trendy among younger generations, who embrace it as part of a modern, global lifestyle. Today, South Korea is one of the world’s fastest-growing wine markets, with consumers increasingly eager to explore new flavors and high-quality, premium selections.
3. Winemaking Traditions on the Korean Peninsula
It might come as a surprise, but South Korea is also home to a handful of small yet passionate wineries. These producers craft distinctive wines from local grape varieties — and even wild fruits. Since winemaking is still relatively new in the country, there are no officially recognized wine regions (yet). Instead, the focus is on table wines and fruit wines, rather than on production tied to rigidly defined appellations.
F. The Unlucky Four
In Korean, numbers can be pronounced in two ways — one of Sino-Chinese origin and one native to Korean. The Chinese-derived pronunciation of the number four closely resembles the word for “death,” which is why many buildings skip labeling the 4th floor altogether or mark it with the letter F instead. In some places, the number four is even avoided in phone numbers and house addresses.
5. What’s Your Blood Type?
In South Korea, many people believe that your blood type reveals key aspects of your personality and temperament — much like horoscopes do in other cultures. The idea is so widespread that some matchmaking and dating agencies use blood types as a basis for pairing potential partners. According to past surveys, more than half of Koreans believe there’s at least some truth to the link between blood type and personality traits.
6. Soju: More Than Just a Drink
No conversation about Korean beverages is complete without mentioning soju — a distilled spirit that ranks among the world’s best-selling alcoholic drinks. Though it has a higher alcohol content than wine, soju remains a staple of Korean social gatherings and mealtimes. It’s a symbol of togetherness, friendship, and celebration — much like the Budapest Wine Festival itself.
7. Everyone Got Younger!
Until 2023, South Korea had two traditional systems for calculating age. Under the older system, people were considered to be one year old at birth—accounting for time spent in the womb—and everyone aged by another year on January 1st, regardless of their actual birthday. In 2023, South Korea officially adopted the international age system based on one's date of birth, as commonly used in many other countries. As a result, many people instantly became a year or even two years younger overnight.
8. A History Spanning Over 5,000 Years
According to tradition, the first Korean state, Gojoseon, was founded by Dangun in 2333 BC. Later, around 1100 BC, King Gija established the first dynasty. From 194 BC onward, three kingdoms emerged in the southern regions of the peninsula. Korea was unified in 668 AD under the name Silla. Each year, on October 3rd, the Korean people celebrate National Foundation Day, commemorating Dangun’s legendary founding of the nation.
