On Saturday, April 12, 2025, the UBC Asian Centre came alive with energy and excitement as students, faculty, volunteers, and special guests gathered for the 2025 Quiz on Korea: Canada Preliminary Round. Co-hosted by the UBC Korean Language and Culture Program and the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Vancouver, the event celebrated the growing global enthusiasm for Korean language and culture, while offering students a platform to showcase their knowledge and passion. Organized by Koreaโs national broadcaster, KBS, the Quiz on Korea competition is a global event that invites winners from preliminary rounds around the world to represent their countries in a final televised contest held in Korea. The Canadian preliminary round at UBC was a vibrant reminder of the power of cultural exchange and community spirit.
Warm Welcomes and Inspiring Messages
Dr. King, RossConsul General Kyun Jong-ho
The event officially began at 10:30 AM with a warm welcome from Consul General Kyun Jong-ho, who highlighted the significance of language and cultural learning in fostering international understanding. Following his remarks, Dr. Ross King, Professor of Korean Language and Literature, Department of Asian Studies, UBC, addressed the audience, emphasizing UBCโs long-standing commitment to Korean studies and cross-cultural dialogue.
Their speeches set a tone of encouragement and celebration, acknowledging the dedication of the students and the importance of embracing diverse cultural experiences.
Dynamic Series of Quiz Sessions
With over 40 enthusiastic participants in attendance, the preliminary round unfolded with a dynamicseries of quiz sessions conducted entirely in Korean.
Participants answered challenging questions that tested not only their language skills but also their understanding of Koreanhistory, proverbs, traditionalculture, modernlifestyles, and the globalphenomenon of K-pop.
The quiz was structured into multiple rounds, offering students opportunities to demonstrate their breadth of knowledge across various themes. Between quiz sessions, students engaged in interactiveactivities that brought additional energy and camaraderie to the event.
Jegichagi Game Competition (์ ๊ธฐ์ฐจ๊ธฐ)
One highlight was the Jegichagi (์ ๊ธฐ์ฐจ๊ธฐ) game competitionโa traditionalKoreanhacky sack game where participants competed for prizes by keeping the jegi airborne for as long as possible. This friendly challenge sparked laughter, cheers, and moments of playful competition.
Following the second round of quizzes, students participated in a spirited rock-paper-scissors tournament(๋ค๋์ผ ๊ฐ์ ๋ฐ์ ๋ณด), with winners receiving exclusive UBC Asian Studies merchandise. These interactive elements not only allowed students to relax and connect with one another but also deepened their appreciation for traditional and contemporary aspects of Korean culture.
Energizing Performances and Community Spirit
Zonic’s K-pop Dance Performance
In a specialperformance that truly captured the spirit of the day, the talented K-pop cover dance team Zonic took the stage, electrifying the audience with dynamic choreographies to โBillionaireโ and โDripโ by BabyMonster. Their performance added a vibrant and celebratory atmosphere, showcasing the global influence of Korean popular culture and leaving a lasting impression on everyone in attendance.
The integration of traditional games, academic knowledge, and pop culture made the event a holistic celebration of Koreaโs rich and evolving identity.
Recognizing Excellence and Achievement
🥇 Renee Zhang โ Grand Prize (Galaxy Tab) and Canadaโs representative at the Quiz on Korea Finals in Korea🥈 Vivian Zhi-Ting Fung🥉 Mirai Ohishi🎖️ Jonathan Keigan (4th Place)🎖️ Leon Zorn (5th Place)
As the quiz rounds came to a close, the event moved into a heartfelt awards ceremony, recognizing the remarkable efforts of the top performers. We proudly congratulate:
🥇 Renee Zhang โ Grand Prize (Galaxy Tab) and Canadaโs representative at the Quiz on Korea Finals in Korea
🥈 Vivian Zhi-Ting Fung
🥉 Mirai Ohishi
🎖️ Jonathan Keigan (4th Place)
🎖️ Leon Zorn (5th Place)
Renee Zhang, as the first-place winner, will travel to Korea later this year to compete in the final global round. We send her our best wishes for continued success and are proud to have her represent Canada on the international stage.
Participants and guests then gathered for group photographs to commemorate the memorable day, followed by a shared meal of Korean-style boxed lunches, offering a relaxed conclusion to a morning full of learning, excitement, and community connection.
A Grateful Reflection
The success of the 2025 Quiz on Korea Canada Preliminary Round would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of many individuals and organizations. We extend our deepest thanks to the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Vancouver, the UBC Korean Language and Culture Program, and the Department of Asian Studies for their partnership and support.
We are especially grateful to faculty members Dr. Jeonghye Son, Eurie Shin, and Jungeun Hong for their leadership and coordination, and to the student volunteers Gunwoo Lee, Cecilia Park, and Youngwan Choi, whose enthusiasm and hard work helped make the event such a seamless success.
Above all, we celebrate the dedication of every participant, whose commitment to learning and cross-cultural understanding was truly inspiring.
We look forward to welcoming even more students, alumni, and community members to future events as we continue to build a vibrant community centered on Korean language, culture, and shared experiences at UBC.
