Before we discuss about the country that I
really wanted to visit. I want to ask something, if I mention the name of
“South Korea” what is on your mind? Kimchi, K-Drama or K-Pop Music? yap! for
some people definitely know what I have mentioned above.
So, at this point I
want to discuss about the culture of South Korea. I think everyone already
knows South Korea country but only some people know about the culture of the
country that is synonymous with the name of ginseng country.
Seoul, South Korea
Seoul,
officially the Seoul Special City,
is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a
population of more than 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the
Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) developed world.
The Seoul Capital Area, which includes the surrounding Incheon metropolis and
Kyonggi province, is the world's second largest metropolitan area with over
25.6 million people, home to over half of South Korea's population.
I'll post some photos
of South Korea country
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| Seoul's View. |
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| King Sejong Statue. |
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| Seoul's Night View. |
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| Admiral Yi Sun-Shin Statue. |
- Fun Facts on Seoul
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Seoul is the capital of South Korea
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Seoul is considered the cultural,
economic, and political center of South Korea
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The name itself has come to mean
“capital” in the Korean language
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Seoul's population (2011) 10,580,000
- Seoul's area is 234 square miles (605
square km)
- Top 10 Things to Do/Visit in Seoul
1. Gyeongbok
Palace
2. Bukchon
Village
3. Shinsegae
Department Store
4. Bugaksan
Mountain
5. Itaewon
Shopping District
6. Namdaemun
Market
7. Cheonggyecheon
Stream
8. War
Memorial of Korea
9. Seoul
City Tour Bus
10. Korean
Feasts
- Relative Location of Seoul
Seoul is located on the Han River. Seoul
is also located in the northwestern part of South Korea. If you look at the
entire Korean peninsula it is just about in the center. The center of the city
is about 37 miles inland from the Yellow Sea which is to the west. Seoul is
also just 35 miles from the Demilitarized Zone which separates the Republic of
South Korea (ROK) from the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK). This is
an important note because a "state of war" still exits between the
two countries and this puts Seoul well within artillery and rocket striking
range of the DPRK.
- Absolute Location
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| South Korea Map. |
Let's learn about the
culture of south korea which I think is very unique.
1.
Language in Seoul
The official language of Seoul is
Korean. Korean script is known as Hangul. Korean is also classified as one of
the Altaic languages. It has affiliations to Japanese and contains many words
derived from Chinese. A large number of English words and phrases have also
crept into the language—either intact or modified by local usage—as a result of
the American presence in the country since 1950.
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2.
South Korea Population
South Korea is officially known as The
Republic of Korea and is located in the southern part of the Korea peninsula,
which neighbors China to the west, Japan to the east, and North Korea to the
north. The land area covers 99,392 square kilometers and has a population of
50.6 million in 2016. The largest city and capital is Seoul, which has a
population of just under 10 million. Under its current constitution, the state
is also referred to as the sixth Republic of South Korea. The country had its
first election at 1948 and operates under a powerful presidential system.
South Korea is known as for its
population density, which is more than 10 times the global average. Due to
rapid migration as a result of the quick economic expansion from the 1970s,
South Korea is now Asia's fifth largest economy and one of the world’s 15
largest economies.) The population is shaped by international migration; after
World War II, about four million people reached South Korea. This trend of net
entry reversed over the next 40 years of immigration. The percentage of foreign
nationals are also growing rapidly, and today it’s the most homogeneous society
in the world with 99% of residents being of Korean ethnicity. The birth rate of
South Koreans is no longer the lowest in the world, but a low birth rate and aging
population continues to lead to concerns regarding the future population.
3.
Seoul's Economy
The manufacturing sector is one of the
top employers in the city of Seoul.
However, the service sector employs the largest proportion of the city’s
workforce. Major employers include the many multinational and trade
corporations whose headquarters are in Seoul, financial and insurance
companies, and professional and business service firms. Seoul is also the
center of finance for the country. The headquarters of the major stock
exchanges and banks are located in the northern and southern districts and on
Youi Island. Seoul also hosts many
annual trade shows. Food processing, beverage production, and publishing and
printing are also important to Seoul.
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4.
Social Organizations
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Family Patterns
The
typical South Korean household consists of a nuclear family with a father,
mother, and two children. Fathers in particular exercise a great degree of
authority over their sons.
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Social Class
Historically,
people wore clothes in colors that reflected their social class. Kings and
other royalty wore yellow to symbolize their authority. Common people indicated
their modesty by wearing mainly white.
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| These are Korean court dresses. As you can see, they are not yellow to show modesty towards the king. |
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| This is a picture of a Korean court. The emperor is wearing yellow to symbolize his authority. |
5.
Arts and Literature
Seoul is the home of the National
Academy of Arts and nearly all of the country's learned societies and
libraries. The National Classical Music Institute, also located in Seoul, is
engaged in the preservation of the traditional court music of Korea and in the
training of musicians. Seoul is complemented by two Western-style symphony
orchestras. The Sejong Center for Performing Arts has facilities for concerts,
plays, and exhibitions and is the location of an arts academy. In addition,
there is a national theatre, an opera, and a number of public and private museums.
6.
Customs and Traditions
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Traditions
Here
are two examples of Korean traditions:
- Special celebrations, known as paegil, take place on the 100th day after the birth of a child. Friends and family members are invited for a lavish meal. Traditionally, the first offering of soup and rice is made to the grandmother of the child. Also, to share the joy in the birth of the child, plates of rice cakes are sent to neighbors and friends who return the plates with money, rice (wishing the child a prosperous life), or a long thread (wishing the child a long and healthy life).
- Dol (doljanchi, or tol) is probably one of the best-known of the Korean birthday celebrations. Dol is celebrated for the first birthday of a child. When Korea had little medicinal knowledge, many newborns would die from childhood diseases or because of Korea’s seasonal temperature differences. When a child lived to be a year old during that period, it was a very joyous occasion.
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Customs
Here
are a few examples of customs in Seoul:
- If an elder, including a Korean superior, wants to drink with you, turn away as you sip your drink.
- When eating with a group, it is bad manners to let someone's glass sit empty. When you notice someone's water, beer, soju, or any beverage is running low, ask if they would like a refill.
- When pouring for an elder, pour with your right hand and use your left hand to hold your right arm as a show of respect.
- Money is revered and is also handed back and forth between people using two hands to show respect.
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| This is a cup of Korean tea. |
7. Religion
Korea
has no national religion. Freedom of religion is constitutionally guaranteed in
South Korea. Christianity is relatively new in Korea as Roman Catholic
missionaries reached the peninsula in the late 18th century. Confucianism is
still very much in evidence in Korean daily life and family relationships.
Buddhism still remains influential—even among people who may be nominally
Christian. More than two-fifths of the population professes Christianity with
Protestants (particularly Presbyterians and Methodists), independent
Christians, and Roman Catholics comprising the largest groups. One-sixth of the
population is Buddhist.
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| This is a picture of Buddha on his birthday when many Buddhist Koreans visit him. |
8. Seoul's
Government
Seoul's government consists of the Seoul
Metropolitan Government, which is the executive branch, and the Seoul
Metropolitan Council, the legislative body. The administrative structure
contains three tiers: si (city), gu (district), and dong (neighborhood;
literally, “village”). The mayor of the metropolitan government and the mayors
of the gu are elected to four-year terms. Serving under the mayors at both
levels are vice mayors and directors of bureaus, offices, and divisions. The Seoul Metropolitan Council is headed by a
chairman and two vice chairmen and includes standing committees, special
committees, and a secretariat; it has more than 100 members, who serve
four-year terms. Most council members are elected to represent their respective
districts; ten other members are elected on the basis of proportional
representation.
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| This is a picture of the mayor talking at the opening ceremonies of the 2009 C40 Seoul Summit. |
9.
Human Environment Interaction
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Trying To Make Seoul Greener
Citizens
living in Seoul have taken drastic steps to try to reduce the amount of
pollution they create and to curb their reliance on fossil fuels. When they
found out Korea was ranked 136th out of 146 countries in the 2002 Environmental
Sustainability Index, and 120th out of 122 countries for air quality, the South
Korean government and major stakeholders recognized that air quality needed
major attention. Citizens are now trying to help their environment and are
aiming to make Seoul one of the greenest cities in the world.
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The Cheonggyecheon River
By
1970 the area along the Cheonggyecheon River had turned into slums and the
water was very polluted. The river was
later concreted over. As cars took over
the city, the river bed was turned into a road, and then an elevated six-lane
motorway was built above it. It was one of the most comprehensive obliterations
of the natural environment ever perpetrated.
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| This is a picture of what is left of the Cheonggyecheon River which used to be much bigger. |
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Okay, I think that's all you must know about South Korea hehehe How? interesting right? You should visit South Korea by yourself if you want to feel the unique culture.
