Korea

Cheongyang chili peppers, seemingly named after Cheongyang County, actually have no connection to it. Developed in 1983 by crossing Thai and Jeju peppers, the variety was named after Cheongsong and Yeongyang counties—taking one character from each name.

74% of Korean adults have only two bones in their little toe, compared to just 35.5% in Europe.

98% of Korean people carry a mutation in the ABCC11 gene that makes body smell nearly undetectable, and 99% have dry, flaky earwax. In contrast, 97% of Europeans and Africans have strong body odor and wet earwax. A single gene variant produces both differences simultaneously.

In Korea, only two companies can make soju bottle caps—not due to technical difficulty, but because the National Tax Service since 1972 restricts production to designated firms, cross-checking cap counts against liquor output to prevent tax evasion.

During the Imjin War, Mozambican soldiers served under the Ming dynasty. Called "Sea Ghosts," they dove underwater to puncture holes in Japanese warships. The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty recorded them as having "faces black as lacquer, lurking beneath the sea."

South Korea's National Treasure No. 904 is an ancient Greek bronze helmet. Meant for 1936 Berlin Olympics marathon winner Son Ki-jung, the IOC refused to deliver it. It reached him 50 years later in 1986, and he donated it to the nation.

In 1976, ten bright lights appeared in formation over Seoul. The military fired anti-aircraft guns, but the lights drifted away unscathed. Stray rounds killed one civilian and injured 31. Officials blamed a US cargo plane, but many questions remain unanswered.

Korea's 17th-century text 'Jibong Yuseol' records that chili peppers were introduced from Japan, while Japan's 'Yamato Honzō' claims seeds were brought back from Korea during Hideyoshi's invasion. Both countries believe chili peppers came from the other.