South Korea

Exploring South Korean Culture

South Korea is slightly larger than the state of Indiana with a wide variety of natural beauty, including mountain ranges, coastal plains, river basins, and rolling hills. The country also has many islands, primarily along the southern and western coasts. Most South Koreans live in urban areas

South Korea is one of the most ethnically homogeneous societies in the world, with more than 99% of people living in the country being ethnic Koreans. South Korean society is structured according to Confucianism. Interactions are determined by one’s social or relationship status. Age is greatly respected in South Korean culture.

Host a South Korean student in the U.S.

Family Dynamic

South Korean families possess a strong sense of obligation towards each other. In urban areas, South Korean family members do not live with their extended family members. Traditionally, the father is considered the head of the family and expected to support the family financially, while the mother oversees childcare and household duties. Now, it is more common for women to work outside the home to support their children.

Open and direct communication is common between South Korean parents and children. Respect for privacy is highly appreciated and seen as a sign of affection. Korean parents are quite cautious about their children’s school results and spare time activities. South Korean families enjoy having dinner together and watching popular TV talk-shows and games.

Teenage Life in South Korea

Teenagers in South Korea spend a lot of time studying and advancing their education. Sports are popular leisure time activities with taekwondo (a martial art that originated in Korea), football, and baseball topping the list. Korean school system is quite competitive and very demanding. South Korea’s education system is technologically very advanced as the world’s first country to bring high-speed fiber optic broadband internet access to every primary and secondary school nationwide. Using this infrastructure, the country has developed the first digital textbooks in the world. The school year begins in February and ends in December. A typical day of school begins at 8 am and ends at 5 pm, but most students stay at school or go to a study room to study until 11 pm or even later. Students wear uniforms in school and are expected to help clean the school after classes end.

Holidays

Official Language

The official language of South Korea is Korean.

Communication Styles

South Koreans generally favor an indirect and modest communication style. Nonverbal communication cues like posture, facial expression, and tone are important in South Korean culture to discern true meaning. Maintaining social harmony is of the utmost importance, so rather than saying “no” directly, they may subtly communicate their disagreement by using hesitation, for instance. This is to avoid “losing face,” or experiencing public embarrassment. While their communication style is indirect, South Koreans generally speak with a serious tone. At times, they may seem stern in conversation.

The South Korean Diet

A traditional Korean meal consists of a bowl of rice or noodles, a bowl of soup or stew, and side dishes. Side dishes are mostly vegetables, steamed or boiled, roasted meat, stir-fried and pan-fried food. One of the most popular side dishes is kimchi, a spicy pickled cabbage. Korean food tends to be very spicy. In most Korean families, breakfast is served and eaten at home. Lunch will be at school and dinner is often eaten outside the home: at a restaurant or school. Family dining communal style is common: Everyone is served an individual bowl of rice and shares meat and vegetable dishes placed in the center of the table.

Also, find cooking recipes from this region of the world.

The Land of the Morning Calm