Professional Documents
Culture Documents
small peninsula on the far East side of Asia. It is between China and
Japan. It is connected to mainland Asia in the North. It is separated from
China and Russia by the Yalu River and the Tuman River. Between
Korea and Japan is the East Sea. To the West between Korea and China
is the Yellow Sea. The size of Korea is roughly 1,000 kilometers in
length.
Korea is a divided country. At the End of World War II in 1948, Korea
was divided at the 38th parallel. This resulted in North Korea and South
Korea. North Korea became communist, while South Korea did not.
(This was based on the deal at the end of the War, dividing the country
in two just as Germany had been). North Korea is also known as the
Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and South Korea is also known
as the Republic of Korea. South Korea, or the Republic of North Korea
is slightly larger in physical size, while South Korea's population size is
about twice as large as North Korea's population size. The fact that this
division occurred has left both North and South Korea on the bridge of
war.
Alternative Names
Republic of Korea; Corean, Han'guk, Taehan, Taehanmin'guk
Korean War
The Korean War, commonly known as the Forgotten War, was a war
over communism between North Korea and South Korea during the
early 1950s. The war followed close after the end of World War II and
was right before the Vietnam War, often causing it to be forgotten about.
The Korean War is not a war to be forgotten, however. The Korean War
was the first war against the spread of communist and began the Cold
War. Millions of casualties occured.
Major Cities
Seoul is the
capital and
most
Koreans share one language, with approximately seventy million people around the globe
speaking Korean.
The language structure, grammar and vocabulary are similar to Japanese. Dialects are regional;
differing mainly in accent, but are so similar that comprehension for speakers, or listeners, is not
an issue. Key difference in dialect are also attributed to social status.
Korea has one of the highest literacy rates in the world due to the phonetic nature of the written
language which was invented in the mid-fifteenth century to give one language to Koreans.
Religion & Beliefs
South Korea supports religious freedom
Confucianism, Buddhism and Christianity are the main formal
religions
Many Koreans believe in the ancestral spirit and observe
Confucian rituals
Confucianism is a political and social philosophy that pervades
Korean culture
Major Celebrations/Secular Celebrations
There are two main national holidays
New Year’s Day (second full moon after winter solstice)
Chuseok (the eighth full moon)
Celebrations for these festivals are based around ancestors,
family, games, harvest festivals and food.
The Family
The family unit is an integral part of customs and life in South
Korea
Arranged marriages are common
Marriage is regarded as a rite of passage
D
ivorce was rare but has become more common in recent years
Food
Korean cuisine is based on rice, vegetables and meat
‘Kimchi’ is the national dish and is eaten with most meals
Kimchi is made from a variety of vegetables which are then
fermented and can be stored for long periods of time
Banchan are side dishes – these are often made in large numbers
and are served along with the main dish
Food is used in ceremonies, especially at weddings, birthdays and
to honour ancestors
The Concept of Kibun
Kibun is a word with no literal English translation; the
closest terms are pride, face, mood, feelings, or state of mind.
If you hurt someone's kibun you hurt their pride, cause
them to lose dignity, and lose face. Korean interpersonal
relationships operate on the principle of harmony.
It is important to maintain a peaceful, comfortable
atmosphere at all times, even if it means telling a "white lie".
It is important to know how to judge the state of someone
else's kibun, how to avoid hurting it, and how to keep your own
kibun at the same time.
In business, a manager's kibun is damaged if his
subordinates do not show proper respect. A subordinate's kibun
is damaged if his manager criticizes him in public.
Nunchi is the ability to determine another person's kibun by
using the eye.
Naming Conventions
In South Korea names operate in the reverse of Western
cultures; Family name (surname), a second family name shared
by all of that generation, and finally their given name.
It is considered very impolite to address a Korean with his
or her given name. They should be addressed using their
professional titles, or Mr, Mrs Etc, until permission is given
otherwise.
Meeting & Greeting
Bowing is the traditional way to greet in South Korea
Handshakes often accompany the bow among men
Your left hand should support your right forearm when
shaking hands
Korean women do not always shake hands and may slightly
nod instead of a full bow
Always bow to individuals when departing
Communication style
Communication can be complicated in South Korea due to
an inherent dislike of saying ‘no’ as it is considered poor
etiquette
Discussions can be prolonged due to the avoidance of
declining or refusing
If disquiet is verbally or visibly displayed it is a sure sign
that something is amiss
Good posture and positive body language is most beneficial
in meetings; patience and politeness must be maintained
throughout
Do not use excessive or overt body language
Use two hands, or support your right arm with your left,
when passing on business cards, gifts, or when receiving an item
Respect, trust and satisfaction are displayed through a deeper
bow
[Cooling off at Cheonggyecheon, a large recreation space in Seoul]
Dining & Food
Always wait to be seated by your host. If given the seat of
honour (looking at the front door) it is polite to demonstrate a
slight objection
Elders are served first and begin the dining process
Food and dining are important parts of Korean culture and
are used to build relationships. Be sociable and work at shaping
good associations for pleasure and business as they are
interlinked
[Offerings to the ancestors prior to the opening of a new complex. South Korea blends business with spirituality seemlessly]
TRADITIONAL ARTS
Gugak
The term gugak, which literally means “national music,” refers
to traditional Korean music and other related art forms including
songs, dances and ceremonial movements. The history of music
in Korea should be as long as Korean history itself, but it was
only in the early 15th century, during the reign of King Sejong
of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), that Korean music became a
subject of serious study and was developed into a system,
resulting in the creation of the oldest mensural notation system,
called jeongganbo, in Asia.
Folk Dance
Korean people have inherited a great
variety of folk dances such
as salpurichum (spiritual purification
dance), gutchum (shamanic ritual
dance), taepyeongmu (dance of
peace), hallyangchum (idler’s
dance), buchaechum (fan
dance), geommu (sword dance),
and seungmu (monk’s dance)
POTTERY
Korean pottery, which nowadays attracts the highest praise from
international collectors, is typically divided into three
groups: Cheongja (blue-green celadon), Buncheong (slip-coated
stoneware), and Baekja (white porcelain). Celadon refers to
Korean stoneware which underwent major development in the
hands of Goryeo potters some 700 to 1,000 years ago. Celadon
pottery is marked by an attractive jade blue surface and the
unique Korean inlay technique used to decorate it.
(Clockwise from left top) Celadon Melon-shaped Bottle (Goryeo, 12th century); Celadon Jar with Peony
Design (Goryeo, 12th century); White Porcelain Bottle with String Design in Underglaze Iron (Joseon,
16th century); Buncheong Bottle with Lotus and Vine Design (Joseon, 15th century) (Source: National
Museum of Korea)
Decorum
Decorum is the traditional Korean fondness for yeui, the rules of proper and polite
behavior. Nowadays, there is much less strictness, but nonetheless a marked formality
and sensitivity to what is appropriate in given circumstance and social situation still is
characteristic of Korean society.
KOREAN FOODS
Gimbap Bindaetteok
Gimchi Bulgogi
Bibimbap
Korean Religions
CHRISTIANITY
BUDDHISM
CONFUCIANISM
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KOREAN FESTIVALS
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