Korean culture. Why did Japan and South Korea become such technologically advanced countries with a high standard of living in a short period of time, while Russia did not? South Korean culture in brief

South Korea is a state of a single nation. 99.9% of the population is Korean and only 0.1% is Chinese, Filipino, Thai and American combined.

The official language is Korean, but English is also widely used, but reviews from tourists say the opposite. According to them, finding hotel employees who can communicate in English is not an easy task, which makes communication difficult in many ways. This shortcoming is easily offset by the general goodwill of the South Korean population, rooted in the people's high piety and knowledge of their unique national culture and history.

Korean Ancestors

In particular, according to archaeological research, several thousand years ago, the Korean peninsula was inhabited by people from the areas of what is now Altai. These were the proto-Altaians, whose descendants today's Koreans consider themselves to be, but the predominant religion, Confucianism, spread relatively recently, if it can be considered a religion at all. For Koreans, it is rather a way of life and a set of social and ethical rules, such as, for example, the correspondence of each person to his place in society; a subordinate depends on his boss, a son on his father.

Holidays in South Korea

South Korea loves to celebrate holidays. Among them, the Birthday of Buddha, celebrated in May and in scope reminiscent of Christian Christmas and the Day of Remembrance of those killed in the Korean War in the early sixties of the last century, with a siren calling for a Minute of Silence. A characteristic feature is celebrating the New Year twice! According to the solar calendar on the night of December 31 to January 1 and according to the lunar calendar, in February. The New Year's celebration is held exclusively with the family at the festive table with a large number of treats from national cuisine, since according to Korean beliefs, the spirits of deceased ancestors are present at the holiday along with the living.
A special place among Korean holidays is given to children's birthdays and weddings. Both holidays are rich in symbolism. For example, before taking a girl as his wife, a young man must present her mother with a gift in the form of a baked goose, as a sign of sincere intention for a long and happy family life. Korean weddings are so solemn and grandiose that to demonstrate them, the National Tourism Organization of South Korea organizes theatrical performances that exactly copy the wedding ceremony.

If you are lucky enough to receive an invitation to celebrate a real wedding or to the birthday of a child celebrated upon reaching the age of one, be sure to praise the hostess of the house for the prepared treats. Your praise will be appreciated!

Life of Koreans

Koreans are unpretentious in home improvement, with the exception of hotels for foreigners. The rooms in their houses are multifunctional and can serve alternately as a bedroom or a dining room. They prefer to eat while sitting on the floor, so depending on the assignment of the room at a specific period of time, they bring either a dining table or a mattress. By the way, the floor in the house is concrete or stone. Heating is carried out by supplying heated air or hot water to the underground space. This method of heating a room is called ondol, which means “hot stone” in Korean.

Alcohol and Koreans

It's unfortunate that the rooms are multifunctional, but practical in light of the increasing prevalence of alcoholism in South Korea. Almost all able-bodied Koreans, once a month, and many much more often, gather for a corporate feast, accompanied by drinking alcoholic beverages. Such feasts are called hoesik; they also have their own traditions. Toasts follow one after another, they cannot be missed, no one can refer to a sober orientation. The respectful attitude of the younger generation towards the older generation, the expression of which is also characteristic of Koreans, is fully manifested here. If the elder pours for the younger, then the younger should hold the glass with both hands, and if the younger pours for the older, then he holds the bottle with both hands. The same respectful body language is used in daily greetings. If the elder and the younger shake hands, then the younger shakes the elder’s hand with both hands.

Sign language

Sign language in South Korea, in general, carries its share of symbolism and hidden meanings. Among Koreans, like us, it is not customary to call each other with the characteristic movement of the index finger. With this gesture, Koreans call their dogs. And if they really call on someone, then they lower their palm and wave it slightly, moving their fingers at the same time.
South Korea is a forested and mountainous country that relies heavily on the development of ski tourism and, in particular, on attracting tourists from Russia. So, for several seasons in a row, the National Tourism Organization of South Korea has held and continues to hold ski festivals with the characteristic name Ru-Ski. During the event, tourists are allowed free use of ski equipment and lifts. Russian-speaking staff are hired for service.

The paradox of this social phenomenon is that South Korean culture, like the North, have not only a common language of communication, but also common historical roots of their ethical and moral traditions, based on the principles and postulates of Confucianism. And if, in the Southern country, these principles of universal respect for parents, family, friends and the older generation acquired more humanistic forms, then in the Northern country the Juche teachings significantly transformed these concepts.

All this led to the creation of not only a totalitarian state regime of the post-communist type, but also to the destruction of any human and personal freedoms. At the same time, if we consider current trends in the education of the younger generation in South Korea, then in this process special importance is primarily given to the aesthetic education of the individual, and then technical and humanitarian knowledge of a higher order is superimposed on this formed “foundation”.

Religion of South Korea

It is no secret that almost all religions of the world are significantly influenced by both certain national traditions and the ethnic characteristics of a particular people or social group that professes it. This happened in our case too, because geography of South Korea, suggests significant influence from the cultures of neighboring peoples. After all, having traditionally Buddhist beliefs, it absorbed more ancient religious interpretations of Confucianism, which for many centuries was the official religion of the Joseon Dynasty.

Economy of South Korea

The paradox of the development of the South Korean economy is the fact that, being backward until the sixtieth year and focused mainly on the production of agricultural products for domestic consumption, over the past fifty years it has become the most advanced economy in the world, ranking 15th in the world in terms of GDP. In addition, there was a radical reorientation. And today the economy South Korea is advanced in almost all sectors of industry and agriculture.

Science of South Korea

As many analysts in the field of economics write, one of the main reasons for the incredible successes of South Korea in the field of economic development and production lies in the fact that these transformations were based both in terms of significant investments in scientific and technological developments, and in the field of national education.

South Korean art

One of the main features of the development of contemporary art in South Korea is the fact that against the backdrop of the manifestation of modern urban trends, both in the field of architecture, monumental art and painting, modern carefully preserves the ancient, centuries-old traditions of masters of making the finest ceramics, architecture and metal work.

South Korean cuisine

Modern kitchen South Korea, as well as culture Many countries in this Asian region have the peculiarity that it is based on the use of the most common agricultural products, namely rice, beans and barley. At the same time, being a country surrounded by seas, the cuisine of South Korea abounds in seafood, which traditionally, like ordinary Korean dishes, is generously seasoned with spicy seasonings.

Customs and traditions of South Korea

If we talk about, then in addition to the peculiar national clothing “hanbok” and the traditional style in architecture, namely the construction of buildings in the form of pagodas, landscape design occupies a special place in the culture of South Koreans. South Korean gardens, which are an essential element of any home, differ significantly from the tradition of creating parks in China and Japan. So, in particular, South Korean parks and gardens have all the surroundings present in the park are only of artificial origin. So, quite often a South Korean garden or park looks much more attractive than its natural counterpart.

Sports of South Korea

South Korea, being quite tightly integrated into the modern world economy in the field of sports, cultivates almost all popular European sports. So, in many international arenas it is represented not only by football and basketball, but also by such somewhat exotic sports as computer sports, which are based on individual and personal participation in multiplayer computer games.

The history of the appearance of people on the Korean Peninsula goes back to the distant past, to the Paleolithic era, about 600 thousand years ago. The very first state appeared around the 10th century BC, when seven tribes united and formed a tribal union, which became known as Ancient Joseon. This state was subsequently conquered by Emperor Wudi of China's Han Dynasty in 108 BC, and several small isolated states were formed on its territory. As their political influence grew stronger, the Three Kingdoms gradually formed: Goguryeo, Baekje and Sila.

Subsequently, in the mid-7th century, the Silla Kingdom captured first Baekje and then Goguryeo, thereby uniting the territories of the Three Kingdoms and laying the foundation for the formation of a single nation. Refugees from Goguryeo founded a new state called Balhae - north of Korea, in Manchuria. This state preserved the traditions of Goguryeo culture for another 200 years. Then came the late Three Kingdoms period, when the Silla kingdom fought with Baekje and Goguryeo, and it was at this time that the state of Goryeo (918-1392 AD) was formed, uniting the nation to overcome the evil within the Silla kingdom. At the end of the Goryeo era, military leaders such as Yi Seong-gye entered into a secret conspiracy with representatives of the new, untitled nobility, and together they succeeded in overthrowing the Goryeo regime, seizing power and founding the Yi dynasty. This marked the beginning of the era of the Joseon state (1392-1910).

With the beginning of the Joseon era, a new starting point in the country's history began. The new belief system supported Confucian virtues and was aimed at strengthening the economic and military power of the state and improving the well-being of the people. But, starting from the second half of the 16th century, changes in the political structure of neighboring states led to the fact that the country was forced to constantly repel the threat of an attack on its territory by troops of the neighboring states of China and Japan.

In 1910, Japan, which had borrowed from Korean culture for centuries, brought an end to the Joseon era with its military invasion. The period of Japanese colonial rule began. For a certain period, a strict regime of Japanese enslavement operated in Korea. A provisional government of Korea was established abroad, and within the country all people, regardless of social status, united in the struggle for the liberation of the country. Ultimately, Japan was forced to capitulate. On August 15, 1945, with the help of Allied troops, Korea was liberated from 35 years of colonial oppression. However, after liberation, the territory of Korea was divided by the allies along the 38th parallel: into Soviet and American spheres of influence. Thus, due to the political interests of the superpowers, in 1948 the peninsula was divided into the Republic of Korea in the south and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in the north.

The ideological confrontation between North and South led to the Korean War, which began on June 25, 1950. The North Korean army went on the offensive, plunging the entire country into the horror of a fratricidal war. The war lasted three years and ended on July 27, 1953, the front line became a truce line and to this day is the border between the countries.

Acquaintance with the country usually begins with the landscape that unfolds behind the window glass before landing - after a long air flight. As you approach the huge Incheon Airport, you will discover countless islands scattered in the Yellow Sea. The airport is located on an island, 52 kilometers from Seoul. The island is connected to the mainland by a huge bridge. To get to the capital, you can take a taxi. If it turns out that the taxi driver does not understand where to take you, you can call the special phone that is in the cabin and use the services of a translator, explaining everything to him in English. But you don’t have to take an expensive taxi, but get by with a large, comfortable bus.

Korea is located mainly in a temperate climate zone, where four seasons are clearly visible.

At the end of March - beginning of April, the trees are covered with abundant foliage, and spring comes. The greatest number of sunny days occurs from March to May.

During the relatively hot and rainy summer, plant vegetation is especially intense. By June the average temperature exceeds 20C. The monsoon season usually starts from late June and lasts until mid to late July. August is hot and humid.

The arrival of autumn in late September brings with it continental winds and clear, dry weather, making autumn perhaps the most pleasant time of the year. The bright gold and crimson colors of October create a picturesque panorama.

The period from December to February is cold and dry, with occasional precipitation in the form of snow or rain. During the winter months, three to four cold days are usually followed by several warm days.

The Korean Peninsula stretches south from the eastern tip of the Asian continent. From north to south, the peninsula has a length of approximately 1020 km, and from west to east, at its narrowest point, its width is 175 km. 70% of Korea's territory is occupied by mountains. This is one of the most mountainous regions in the world. The highest mountains in South Korea: Hallasan on Jeju Island, 1950m; Chirisan, 1915m; Saraksan, 1708m.

As a result of the uplift and folding of a platform of granite and shale rocks on the Korean Peninsula, a unique landscape replete with picturesque hills and valleys was formed. The mountain range that runs the entire length of the eastern coast slopes steeply into the Eastern Sea, while the mountain ranges along the southern and western coasts fade into the coastal plains where most agricultural products, primarily rice, are produced.

In the far north, right on the border between the DPRK and China, there is Mount Paektusan (height 2744 m), and on the beautiful island of Jejudo, which is located between Korea and Japan, stands the second highest mountain in the country - Hallasan (height 1950 meters). The word "san", which appears in both names, means "mountain" in Korean (like many other Korean words, it is an old loanword from Chinese). Both Paekdusan and Hallasan are extinct volcanoes, and both have erupted in historical times. The last eruption of Hallasan was recorded in the chronicles under 1007, and Paektusan - under 1702. However, both eruptions were very minor, so the villages located at the foot of both main peaks of Korea are unlikely to be threatened by the fate of Pompeii.

In our time, mountains have begun to play a new role - the role of nature reserves, which are so necessary in densely populated Korea. Of the twenty Korean national parks (that is, in our understanding, nature reserves), sixteen are located in the mountains, and four are on the islands. In Korea, it is simply impossible to establish a nature reserve on a plain; flat land suitable for agriculture or construction is too valuable here. In addition, all the flat lands have long been converted into fields and gardens, so that the forests that once covered them were destroyed many centuries ago. Forests and wildlife were preserved only in the mountains - sometimes very close to large cities. Just half a century ago, in 1946, the last documented meeting with a tiger took place in the same Seoraksan Mountains.

Koreans are a nation of fishermen and mountaineers, and you can see this by going to one of the famous peaks on the weekend. A favorite Korean pastime is mountain walking. It is impossible to call them mountaineering in the exact sense of the word, because the heights to which the athletes climb are not so great, at most one and a half thousand meters. It should be taken into account that there are practically no parks in the Russian sense in Korean cities, and even in the most modern areas, the designers of which tried to follow Western models, you can see, at best, small public gardens. Therefore, hiking in the mountains, which has long been an integral part of the Korean and, more broadly speaking, the Far Eastern cultural tradition, remains the most accessible way for a city dweller to communicate with nature.

On Sunday, almost all the peaks located within a few hours' drive from Seoul become a place of pilgrimage. Those who, due to their employment, cannot leave Seoul, rush to the mountain ranges located in the city itself or on its outskirts. Among these climbers you can see a seventy-year-old man and a mother who, having tied her daughter tightly to her back, is carefully climbing up an almost vertical wall (an older son, 11-12 years old, can crawl behind her). The passion for mountain walking is perhaps the most widespread sports passion of modern Koreans. According to Korean climbers, 5-6 million people systematically take mountain walks, of which approximately 10 thousand can be considered professional rock climbers.

In the fall, many Koreans go to Seoraksan - these are the most beautiful mountains of South Korea, located in the east of the country and looking directly at the Sea of ​​Japan, which Koreans stubbornly continue to call the East Sea, citing old European maps as an argument. And don’t try to make the mistake of calling it Japanese: you will certainly be corrected, and perhaps even offended. Koreans in every possible way emphasize their national color and uniqueness.

Rivers: Naktong, 522k; Hangan, 482 km; Kumgang, 396 km.

The national flower of Korea is mugunghwa, or rose of Sharon. Every year from July to October, with an abundance of flowers, Mugunghwa decorates the entire country. Unlike most other flowers, mugunghwa is surprisingly resilient and is not afraid of diseases or insects. The symbolic meaning of the flower comes from the root of its name - mugun, which means immortality.

Holidays and non-working days: January 1, 2 (New Year), Lunar New Year (January or February)

The New Year begins in South Korea with Christmas. Decorated Christmas trees familiar from childhood, Father Frosts, aka Santa Clauses, bustle around the counters with New Year's cards and gifts. even snowdrifts along the sidewalks. Everyone invites each other to their place and prepares for the meeting. The hosts delight their guests with delicious dishes of Korean national cuisine, and the guests of the hosts are treated to a beautiful postcard with traditional congratulations written in hieroglyphs wishing them health and success in their studies, teaching, or simply in business, which since ancient times in Korea was considered not a very worthy occupation for a person. Some go to the mountains. There are a lot of mountains around Seoul - choose to suit every taste: rocks covered with frost or waist-deep snowdrifts, wooded ridges. And if you go to the Seoraksan Mountains, then, following a special route, you can meet the first sunrise of the new year right at the top. Someone is going home to their parents. Visiting your hometown or village on such days is the most cherished desire of every Korean. The arrival of a loved one from the capital is always a holiday; seeing your parents on New Year’s Day is doubly a holiday. There will be only one problem: return to Seoul before the start of the next working day. The roads are filled with cars, buses and trucks to such an extent that a hundred-kilometer stretch of the route will be covered in only five to six hours.

But a month will pass and the celebration of the traditional New Year according to the lunar calendar will begin to approach. At that moment, I was living with the family of my Korean friend, a student at the Seoul University of Foreign Studies "Hanguk", who had been studying Russian for the third year (not counting the three-year break during military service). Being old in age, Yu San called me to his room and told me that according to Korean traditions, on the first day of the new year it is necessary to perform one unusual ritual called “sebe”. The ritual consists of solemn worship of parents and everyone. The ceremony begins in the early morning of Seollal (the first day of the new year), and all day long the youth visit their elders, bowing three times in a row, falling on their knees and placing their foreheads on their hands folded in front of them in a certain way, lying on the ground.

Christmas holidays in Korea are much brighter than the calendar New Year, which is not perceived as a holiday: people only strive to use rare non-working days to get to their hometown and meet with friends. Everywhere in Seoul, instead of slogans like “We all have to work hard,” greetings and posters are posted wishing passersby more happiness in the coming year.

March 1 (Independence Day), April 5, May 5 (Children's Day), Buddha's Birthday (usually in May), June 6 (Memorial Day), July 17 (Constitution Day), Thanksgiving Days (late September or early October), October 3 (Korea Foundation Day), December 25 (Christmas).

National characteristics: Koreans are distinguished by their resilience. Koreans adhere to the teachings of Confucius. Confucianism is not a religion in its classical sense, but a philosophical teaching and life instruction. This philosophy assigns each person a certain place in society. If the son depends on the father, then the employee depends on the employer. This ranking of Korean society is strictly observed. In Korean society, men occupy a dominant position.

Koreans are punctual. The head of the Korean company enjoys unquestioned authority. During business negotiations, it is not customary to place advertising brochures or business materials on the manager’s table.

In Eastern countries, great importance is attached to colors. For example, you should not write a person's name in red ink. Buddhists use these paints if a person has died. Members of Korean society are constantly in cramped conditions, individual space is extremely limited, so they are accustomed to standing or sitting tightly pressed against each other.

One of the characteristic national characteristics of Koreans is politeness. This is the result of centuries-old Confucian traditions that are noticeably strong to this day. Also, there is almost no theft here, on the contrary: dropped wallets and forgotten cell phones are returned. Therefore, you should not hold your bag close to you in transport, looking sideways. This behavior will look strange.

But let's return to the city streets. Seoul is not teeming with historical monuments like Rome, Paris or Moscow. Much was destroyed during the Japanese occupation (1910-1945), and even more during the Korean War. However, the beautiful imperial palaces have been preserved, and today you can enter the stone gates and plunge into the distant past. Koreans themselves are very careful about traditions and history. A Korean woman in the national dress “Hanboke” is not uncommon on the streets. Traditional attire is worn here for various occasions: it could be a wedding, a birthday, or, oddly enough, a trip to a museum. Yes, yes, some Korean palaces do not charge entry fees for visitors wearing traditional clothes.

Koreans are taught to walk in the mountains from early childhood. On weekends, the whole family, including very young ones, can go to the mountains; fortunately, the places are really beautiful, abounding in mountain streams, a wide variety of plants and curious squirrels. If you dare to reach the peak, you will be rewarded with a beautiful landscape, and you will see that Seoul is modestly nestled between the foothills, and the main masters of the country are the mountains.

While conquering the peaks, you can stumble upon secluded Buddhist temples hidden in mountain forests. Sometimes you come across ancient sculptures with images of Buddhist saints; you can even see a whole pantheon of deities taken outside the fence during the construction or reconstruction of the temple. The situation with religion in Korea is interesting: the majority here considers themselves Christians and Buddhists, but when under your windows people in white robes start jumping in a circle and beating the drum, then you will understand that shamanism is close and is not going to go away. Speaking of windows, that is, about housing. This is completely normal in Korea. In addition to regular hotels, the cities are full of motels and yogwans (these are small hotels with rooms, usually for one night, costing 20-30 dollars). Motels are a little more expensive, but much more comfortable. In general, the number of motels in Seoul is simply amazing, and this despite the fact that it is not customary here to publicly express one’s feelings. That is, kissing couples are an unprecedented phenomenon, and for betraying your lawful other half you can easily end up in prison if this half has indisputable evidence of infidelity and a thirst for revenge. However, motels have special discounts for those who want to rent a room for a few hours.

When visiting a Korean restaurant, you need to be prepared not only for the spiciness of the food served, but also for the fact that you will most likely have to sit on the floor, having first taken off your shoes at the entrance. They say that American tourists are specifically warned before traveling to Korea to be especially attentive to the quality of their socks. There is no need to worry about such a seat: Koreans usually have heated floors (this tradition goes back to the deep past, when heat under the floor was created by smoke), and everything is very clean - Koreans generally love order, comfort and neatness. The only discomfort is that we, of course, are not accustomed to sitting cross-legged for a long time. You also need to be prepared for the fact that Korean chopsticks are not wooden, like in Japan, but steel - they are much thinner and heavier, and it takes time to get used to them. The dinner ritual is fundamentally different from ours: there is no traditional division of dishes into first, second and compote. As soon as you sit down at the table, they will immediately bring you water - cold in summer and warm in winter. Next, when you choose a dish (say, grilled meat), on your table, as if by magic, many small plates with all sorts of pickles and marinades will appear. There is no need to order and pay for them separately, since they are always included in the order by default. Many hot dishes are prepared directly on the table, in the middle of which there is a special roasting pan. The meat cooks very quickly and contains almost no fat. However, while waiting for the main course, if you are very hungry, you can refresh yourself with rice and snacks. A bowl of rice is the only personal utensil; everything else will have to be eaten from the “common pot”: remove the meat directly from the fryer, pick up the appetizer with chopsticks from those small plates that appear on the table first. Koreans even eat soups all together, from one cast iron pot. There is a real cult of food in Korea, so listing national culinary delights seems pointless. It can perhaps be noted that Koreans cook seafood very spicy. There is also a tradition of eating raw fish here. But this is not Japanese sashimi. Basically, you can try this fish on the coast. The dispassionate saleswoman will deftly chop off the fish’s head right in front of your eyes, promptly clean it, cut it, and immediately serve it with red pepper paste and a bottle of soch, so that you don’t inadvertently get poisoned.

Sakura blossoms in spring in Korea. Flowering begins in the very south of the country - on Jeju Island. This usually happens in early April, and TV news programs are filled with shots of the snow-white island parks. Jejudo is generally worth mentioning separately. This is the pearl of Korea, “a paradise for lovers” - this is how the Koreans themselves modestly dubbed it, considering it the best place for a honeymoon. And there is probably no reason to doubt this. As well as the fact that Korea is completely unfairly ignored in terms of tourism. She also has something to show the world.

Each nationality has its own specific characteristics that are unusual for representatives of other nations and cultures. One of the most prominent representatives of such nationalities is considered Koreans. Their many traditions and customs are fundamentally different from our established norms relating to a variety of areas.

I propose to familiarize yourself with the ten most interesting features of the Korean way of life that distinguish this Asian people from many others.

Men, Women and Children: Personal and Social Relationships in Korean

The first thing that distinguishes the people of Korea significantly is their relationships. Residents of the country see the role of masculinity and femininity somewhat differently than we do. It prevails here matriarchy, and it is the woman who is considered the head of the family.

Moreover, Koreans consider Saint Valentine exclusively the patron of the “weak” (that is, for them this means the male) half. Therefore, on February 14, in souvenir shops you can mainly find women choosing gifts for their loved ones. However, exactly a month later the situation changes. On March 14, the country celebrates White Day, when women receive gifts.

It is interesting to note that in both February and March, cosmetic stores make substantial profits. The fact is that Korean men are quite normal when it comes to makeup. Moreover, if for many of us young man wearing makeup still continues to evoke feelings of hostility, then in this country a man wearing makeup is a completely normal and common occurrence.

Koreans believe that in this way they take care of their appearance. That’s why the phrase “can I take your mascara?” is normal for dialogues between spouses.

The next interesting feature of the Korean people is age. If, for example, you are 25, and you meet a Korean who says exactly the same number of years in relation to himself, then by our standards he is still only 24.

A child spends 9 months in the mother’s womb, and Koreans believe that this period must be counted in the overall life savings account. Therefore, already three months after birth, a Korean turns one year old. Agree that although this position is quite unusual for us, it is quite logical.

Another difference in social life in Korea is the incredible hard work. The average working day in most companies is 14 hours. Thus, most Koreans spend more time at work than with their families.

Often, many of them appear at home only on weekends, which is associated with long distances to their place of work. Therefore, large enterprises often set up collective rest rooms where employees spend the night between work shifts.

Education and life

Koreans are very sensitive to questions raising children. There are two important points here that parents must pay attention to. The first of these is respect for the older generation. The second concerns the development of communication abilities.

Koreans try from early childhood to prepare the younger generation for future family life and existence in a collective environment. At the same time, they do not forget about the development of children’s intellectual abilities.

Warm and favorable relationships in Korean families are complemented by a desire to provide comfortable living conditions. Koreans are so scrupulous that in many houses and apartments they install electrically heated toilets.

The same unusual “resting places” can be found in many restaurants, clubs and boutiques. At the same time, warm toilets often cause queues near toilets in public places.

The most terrible tradition of the Korean people for us, of course, is considered eating dog meat. However, in recent years this custom has almost disappeared. Most Koreans began to prefer food that is more natural for other nationalities.

In addition, they never eat their pets. For cooking, only meat from dogs of a specially bred breed was used and is now used.

Signs and superstitions: almost like ours, but a little different

Speaking about the national characteristics of the Korean people, it is also worth noting some signs and superstitions characteristic of representatives of the nation. The most striking among them is panic fear of the number "4". Like our number "13", this serial number is often missing from the floor numbering of hotels and office buildings.

Moreover, in some of them all other numbers containing a four are excluded. Also interesting is the fact that the cost of real estate, the number of which contains the ill-fated figure, can be significantly lower than its analogues.

The next sign, unusual for us, is the establishment taboo on red ink or paste. Any letter or gift signed in this color will be regarded by Koreans as a manifestation of hatred.

Local residents believe that red symbolizes death. Therefore, don’t even think about giving your Korean friend a gift signed with a scarlet pen or marker. The recipient of such a “surprise” will perceive it as a wish for death, and will become your worst enemy.

Another sign of Koreans that is incomprehensible to us is the opinion about dangers of sleeping with a fan on. However, this time everything is explained very simply. The local climate is quite dry and hot. Therefore, people with weak hearts are contraindicated to spend nights under rotating blades. A sudden transition from cool to incredibly hot after turning off the fan can cause very unpleasant consequences.

You can’t understand Korea with your mind: 10 interesting features that distinguish the inhabitants of this country updated: April 20, 2019 by: Yuri Bokovnya

Since the state is located on a peninsula, Korea was regularly subjected to military invasions from its neighbors. This led to the interpenetration of many cultural values ​​and traditions, which, thanks to the country’s long closure, have survived to this day. Arriving in Korea, you will immediately feel the difference between the West and the East.

Of course, the main difference between each country is culture. It contains many aspects, but the very first thing we encounter when arriving in another country is etiquette.

Korean etiquette - origins

Etiquette can be called a set of certain rules that are undesirable to break. Failure to comply with one of them a few centuries ago would have been punishable by physical punishment or even death. Now everything is simpler, if you violated it, you will be condemned.

Any etiquette of an Asian country is tied to the dogmas of Confucianism. It precisely determined the place of each person in the family and in the country. Many dogmas have long been disobeyed, but some of them are firmly rooted in the consciousness of modern Korea. For example, traditional patriarchal relationships in the family, addresses, communication style.

Korea. Features of national etiquette

Communication is an important part of the life of every society. Each country has its own conventions when speaking. The etiquette rules of South Korea, as well as North Korea in general, prohibit calling a person by name. This is familiar and impolite. You can only call someone you know well by name: your child or a very good friend. In all other cases, they are addressed by last name and first name (strictly in that order) with the prefix “cabbage soup,” which means “Mr.” Features of Korean culture include strict adherence to hierarchy both in the family and in society: between the elder in age or position and the younger there is a huge gulf of endless respect and unquestioning submission. It is not customary to argue or argue with an elder. There is also no “you” in the Korean language. Despite the fact that there is a word with this meaning - “tanshchin” - it is used extremely rarely: when communicating between a husband and his wife, in poetry, or to insult a person.

Greetings in Korea

As in any Asian country, Koreans bow a lot: when they say goodbye, ask for a favor, thank you for something, or express their respect. Elders must be treated with respect and not interrupted. The youngest always bows first. The depth of the bow is determined by the difference in status between the interlocutors: the greater it is, the lower the bow of the younger one and vice versa. If the social status of the interlocutor is high, special respect is expressed by bowing to the floor. Handshakes are also common in Korea. The first to offer a hand is the one who is higher in position in society. The one who is lower in status must shake the other’s hand, preferably with both of his own, and bow. In Korea, it is generally not customary to do something with one hand, only with two. This is how they used to prove in the old days that they did not keep weapons on them and did not want to cause harm.

Another old tradition is the call “Annyonhaschimnikka?” or “Annyeonhaseyo!”, which literally translates to “How are you?/How are you?” and “Good health!” Previously, the Korean people were very oppressed by their neighbors. Almost every house buried their sons because of the war. This greeting was a wish for health, perseverance and longevity.

Gestures in Korea

In any country there are a lot of gestures, and they all have very different meanings. To avoid getting into trouble with them, let's look at the most common ones.

1. Do not call a person to you with your hand raised, palm up. This is the name of dogs in Korea. Just turn your hand palm down and no problem.
2. Koreans love to show their love and affection. The “heart” gesture is especially popular. To do this, raise your arms, spread your elbows to the sides, and place your palms on your head.
3. Koreans laugh a lot, but in Korean gesture culture, smiling is specific. Laughter used to be considered unacceptable, especially among women. Therefore, even now, when Koreans smile or laugh, they always cover their mouths with their palm.
4. The “peace” gesture—two fingers up—is very popular. Koreans love to take pictures with him.

Use of transport

Korea is a country with a high level of development. All buses or trains run strictly on schedule. The system of one universal card for all types of transport is very convenient. In Korea, you can buy such a card or pay separately each time. Each subway car or bus has special seats for disabled people and pregnant women. Even if the transport is crowded, no passenger will sit in these seats except those for whom they are intended.

Clothing and shoes in Korea

Koreans love fashion and follow trends. On the street you can often see the following picture: a Korean woman is wearing a short skirt or shorts and a closed neckline. The fact is that the traditional women's outfit until the beginning of the 20th century had a very short top that almost did not cover the chest. Thanks to missionaries from America, who were horrified by this, religious schools were opened in the 20th century, where Korean women were convinced to cover their neckline. This has led to the fact that even now, T-shirts or sweaters with a neckline are considered indecent.

Koreans almost never wear slippers. It is customary to walk barefoot at home, so the floors are always kept perfectly clean. We take off our street shoes at the entrance, and then go barefoot. We only wear slippers in the kitchen or toilet. Also, such shoes are issued in saunas or baths, where Koreans like to relax periodically.

Meal in Korea

A traditional Korean table will always have one or two main courses and plenty of appetizers. At a traditional dinner, the table will be low, and instead of chairs there will be soft pillows on which everyone sits cross-legged. A regular lunch is no different from what we are used to. At the head of the table sits the eldest by status or age (as well as the owner of the house or the one who invited you to the restaurant). Don't start eating first. Most often, the head of the table asks everyone to start eating, and if you are visiting a traditional Korean family, then start eating only after the host has done so. They eat everything with chopsticks (rice and snacks) and a spoon (soups, rice at informal meetings).

A little about chopsticks. They are called "chotgarak". Remember, under no circumstances “pok” chopsticks at your interlocutor or pin food on them - this is indecent. Do not insert chopsticks vertically into rice - this is a bad sign. This is how offerings are given to the deceased at a funeral.

Rules of conduct for women

Korea is a patriarchal country; the head of the family is always a man. Now Koreans are becoming more and more familiar with Western culture, and the fair sex has much more rights. Despite this, it is considered unacceptable for women to contradict their husbands, especially on the street. This is disrespect for your spouse. A girl has only two responsibilities: to raise children and take care of her husband’s well-being. For example, it is not uncommon for a wife to sit at home, looking after the children and the house, while the husband earns money.

Visit to a Korean home

It may happen that you are invited to visit. Don't worry, just follow these 2 rules:

1. It is customary to give and receive with both hands.
2. The eldest in age and position is always held in high esteem. You should be especially polite with him.

Hierarchy has become firmly established in communications between close people. Even in a family, the eldest has more power and his word is law.

Korean children are very different from ours. They are trained to be quiet and calm, to respect their elders, and not to contradict them.

Despite all the prejudices associated with Asia, there are tables and chairs in the Korean home. There are not many traditional houses left where they are absent.

Apchhi and some other nuances

Koreans are also aesthetes. They love everything beautiful and disdain the imperfect. They close their eyes to a lot of things here, but they won’t let you off the hook. It should be remembered that in Asia it is also indecent to blow your nose in public. You must sniff until the last moment, until you are left alone. Only then can you blow your nose. But coughing and sneezing are welcome. This is considered normal.

Smoking and drinking alcohol in public places is also considered unacceptable. This is prohibited by law. After all, in this way you disrupt order and cause inconvenience to other members of society.