Culture - South Korea
The present day South Korean culture is an offshoot from the traditional
Korean cultures but it is distinctly different from the North Korean
one. Like every country South Korean culture too has lots to say in
terms of mores, folklores, culinary art, traditions, beliefs etc. For
anyone traveling through the country it will be a unique educational
experience with lots to learn throughout the length and breadth of the
country. Though the common belief is that South Korean culture is
deep-rooted yet it has not been able withstand the influx of western
customs and culture into the society. This is noticeable in the way
multi-generation households have given way to nuclear families.
The best way to learn about a culture is through its language. Korean is
the official language of the country and it is also widely spoken
abroad. It is said that if you know the language of the country you can
feel its pulse too.
Another fascinating thing about the South Korean culture is the beliefs
and customs of the people. The religion of South Korea is secular in
nature and it accepts all other religions with open arms. Though South
Korea is mainly dominated by the Buddhist religion, there is a
considerable of Confucianism and Christianity. It is tolerant towards
other religions such as Hinduism and Judaism. If you understand the
common beliefs, customs and Korean religion in a nutshell then you will
also understand the aspirations, dealings and emotions of the South
Korean people.
The South Korean people are known to be very warm and friendly but you
run a risk of offending the natives if you are not sure of the
etiquettes of the land. There are no such hard rules and regulations but
certain do’s and don’ts that you need to follow when you are on Korean
land. The foreign travelers might need a little bit of time to get used
to these but an aberration from the accepted etiquettes is generally
frowned upon. Showing respect to elders and refusing the first offer of
a second help are just examples of such etiquettes.
South Korea has also made its mark in architecture which is visible from
the lovely palaces and high-rise buildings. In the world of Arts and
Craft the country has excelled in Calligraphy paintings, Tiger Chase
paintings, earthenware and stoneware.
From folk songs to contemporary music, South Korea has it all. It has
the traditional musical numbers including the ‘Chong-ak’ which is a
composition meant for the nobles only. ‘Sogak Music’ is more energetic
in nature. The festivals also have their own theme music. But if you are
wondering that South Korean music is all about hymns and rituals then
think again. Because Modern Korean music is definitely topping the
charts in SE Asia and singers like Joey has already made her mark in the
international music scene.
The Korean dance forms are generally traditional in nature and a bit
ritualistic. They have the folk dances, court dances, the monk dances
and the famous spirit-cleansing dances.
The country has made reasonable progress in the fields of painting,
pottery and sculpture. The Korean Art is a mixture of traditional and
contemporary art. The National Museum in Seoul has great pieces of art
forms. The types of pottery pursued are Earthenware, Stoneware,
Whiteware and Celadonware. In a nutshell it can be concluded that Korea
has successfully blended traditional and modern culture with a great
success.
This
project fulfilled many of my passions, the most prevalent being
travel in different cultures and teaching. It is an opportunity that
I find inspiring and wanted to take advantage of it.
