Korean cultural habits

Well I am on the eve of my last night in Seoul. Since I really haven't seen anything new I have been making a list of Korean customs, or things that I think are note worthy of the Korean culture. So here goes:

1. Korean weddings - the bride and groom-to-be go together to buy a gown and tux at the same time. So the groom sees the bride-to-be as she is trying on dresses. The couple does not register for things prior to the wedding, instead it is customary to give money. At the wedding the women who are married or older Korean women usually wear the traditional Korean dresses. The wedding party also has white or pink balloons on their vehicles. Weeks after the ceremony, the bride's parents may then take people out to eat as a thank you for giving their children money.

These are pictures of Korean dresses I saw in a store window.

2. Korean funerals - there is never an open casket. If you were close to the person who passed away then you will stay at the funeral parlor for up to 36 hours to greet people and perhaps hold their hands while they pray. Cremation is rare, but do to space limitations in Korea it is becoming more popular. Many time there will be a family plot in the mountains or in a pasture, because space is limited. Vehicles for funerals have black balloons on them.

Plots on a hillside

3. Korean mayonnaise - for those of you that know me, know that I HATE mayonnaise. But I do have to say that Korean mayo is pretty good. One day I accidentally tasted some and thought it was butter!! I have since then eaten it again, by default mostly as it was on a sandwich. But it is much better than American mayo.

4. Drivers for drunks - there is a company here that will come to the location where you have been drinking and someone will drive your vehicle, you, and the occupants to your next location or home. This way no one gets in trouble for drinking and driving and there are no accidents; plus it is much cheaper than paying for a DUI. I asked how the drivers move around all night, and they either get a taxi or team up with other drivers and go around the city. What a brilliant idea!!

5. Korean education - education to Koreans is VERY important. The children start learning English when they are 3, usually. They then have English classes on top of regular school - so they may be at school until 10 p.m. just studying and doing homework. Most schools also are in session for a 1/2 day on Saturdays. Since Korea is so competitive for jobs (good ones), many Korean women may take their children to an English speaking country for their high school years (hence the high divorce rate in Korea). But when the students go to college most will go to an English speaking country for a college education. Any advantage they can get over the next person the better.

6. Korean military - all Korean men are required to serve 2 years in the military. They can do it immediately after high school or can do it after college. If the child has poor vision, a disability, or anything else that will not let them be active, then they are usually given police duty (as it is easier) or an office job of sorts. When asked if draft dodging is common the response was that sons who are born to wealthy families or into families who are high in society try to get out of it; and may even make up physical aliments to avoid active duty. A Korean musician moved to the states before he served his duty, and was considered a Korean American. But years later he wanted to come back to Korea to further his singing career; but people view him poorly as he never served his military duty. He kept saying he would do it, but he now tours in Russia, China, Japan, etc. just to continue to avoid the obligatory service.

7. Comfort women - during WWII the Japanese soldiers made Korean women become "comfort women" - or prostitutes, basically. Once a week on Wednesdays, the remaining women and supporters gather in front of the Japanese Embassy and protest. The women who were forced to be sex slaves continually ask for an apology from the Japanese government since 1992, but have never received it!

8. High heels - Korean women always wear high heels. This is not an over exaggeration. They wear them like other cultures wear tennis shoes or flip flops. Even on weekends when they are out sightseeing or on a stroll they have on heels. I have an image in my head of what happens at the gym, lol.

9. Kimchi - fermented spicy vegetables (usually cabbage) is very common in Korean diets. So much so that they will eat it for all 3 meals. Well it was believed that kimchi will protect you against SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome). So a few years back when SARS was in the media all the time, especially in Asian countries; the Korean people believed they would be safe by eating kimchi.

10. Korean age - Koreans count a newly born baby as being 1 year old, since they have already spent nearly a year in the womb. So since I am 30, I would be 31 in Korean age!

11. Work schedule - Korean people are work-a-holics. Many will get to the office before 8 and may stay until after 7 p.m. Even though they incur vacation days most will not use them (and they will go to waste), because using them may show that you are a slacker; especially if your coworkers never take time off either.

12. Korean breakfast - Koreans usually do not skip a meal (especially breakfast) because they believe it to be bad for their health. When I went to Jeju Island I had a "traditional" Korean breakfast. It consisted of rice, soup, kimchi, pickled squash, some sort of meat (usually dried fish), and seaweed strips. I think all Korean meals are the same; as this breakfast mimicked things I have had for lunch and dinner!

13. Blood type - Asian people (especially the Japanese) believe that a person's bloodtype determines personality characteristics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_blood_type_theory_of_personality). There are some companies that will actually ask that question in a job interview. I checked into this a little more, and the Asian people are very serious about this, but all research that has been done on it has not been able to actually prove it to be true. But it does add an interesting new pick up question to the list.

14. Korean names - a Korean name is usually three characters (stemming from the Chinese characters). The first 2 are someone's first name (usually hyphenated) and the last character is the last name. While last names are very common among many Korean people (Kim, Lee, Yang, etc.), it is believed that at one point in their very, very distant past they were all related. After a Korean child is born the parents will take them to a naming expert. The naming expert will then usually select the name for the child. The parents may have some say in the matter; i.e., if they like a certain character they can ask the expert about it, and if it is favorable then it may be chosen. The naming expert may also choose an English name (if the parents choose) for the child. The naming expert relies heavily on the meaning of the name. A name is chosen only if the meaning is something desirable. I have also met people who were named by their English teachers or from a name of a celebrity on t.v. Most Korean people who work with American companies will use the American name, as foreigners think Korean names are awkward and hard to pronounce.

15. Korean food - Korean food is very spicy, perhaps more so than Mexican food. But it is great, and I have taken a liking to almost all of it. My co-workers were very surprised to find that, 1) I am not a picky person who will try anything, 2) I like almost everything I have tried, and 3) I can name almost all of the food in its Korean name. They have actually been very complimentary in saying that they loved going to eat places with me because they knew I would at least try anything. They were also very relieved that they did not have to alter their eating habits and locations just to accommodate me.


Top: Korean pancake (veggies, seafood, and an egg batter). Middle: fried noodles. Bottom: military soup.

16. Korean respect - it is very common to bow to people who are your elders, someone who is of higher rank than you, or if you are showing gratitude to a person. Also, if you join someone who is higher rank, or your senior it is customary to pour their drink for them; actually you would pour drinks for everyone, set the drink container down, and then they would pour your drink. You should never pour your own drink. When pouring a drink you should either put both hands on the container, or use one hand while the other is touching your upper forearm/bend of arm.

Well that is all for now. I hope you have learned a little more about the Korean culture. I know this experience has been priceless for me.