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Korea, "Land of the Morning Calm," is a land of opposites existing in
conjunction with each other. It combines ancient Oriental tradition with modern technology.
In downtown Seoul, one can find traces of its 5,000 year history
in its palaces, city gates, and temples, yet the country is also a rapidly developing
nation in terms of industry, trade, and commerce. |
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Calendar
 
As in many Asian countries, Korea uses both the solar and lunar calendars, and celebrates
holidays based on both. The country uses one time zone and is 9 hours ahead of GMT, the same
as Japan. Most Koreans work Monday through Friday and then a half day on Saturday mornings.
Usual business hours are 9:00-6:00 during the week and 9:00-1:00 on Saturday. During
national holidays, government offices and most
businesses are closed, although many private store keepers and large department stores may
remain open. The major exceptions occur during the 3-day holidays for the Lunar New Year (Seol-nal) and Harvest Moon Festival
(Chuseok) when just about everything shuts down except public transportation. (See the
Events Calendar section for upcoming
holidays and events.) |
Clothes
Although most people prefer Western clothes like suits and jeans, the national costume,
hanbok, is worn by many during national holidays. Traditionally, people wore white
clothes, reserving colors for the upper class or during festive occassions. Rubber shoes and
sandals have been replaced by designer shoes and sneakers; however, even these are removed
when entering a house or other area where shoes are not permitted. The
Cultural Spotlight area has an in-depth section on
Traditional Clothing. |
Education
In Korean culture, education is the key to success in life. The school one graduates from can determine
whether one will be a success or failure. To many Korean parents, the education of their children
outweighs all other considerations, and they will make tremendous sacrifices to let their children
get the best education possible.
The Korean education system consists of six years of primary school, three years of middle school,
then three years of high school. Those who pass the national exam go on to 4-year colleges or
universities. Others go to 2-year junior colleges, while the rest enter the work force. Until
recently, most middle and high schools were segregated by sex. However, because of complaints about differences
in education levels between the boys and girls schools and socialization problems later in life, most
schools have gone co-ed. |
Flag
After an incident with a Japanese boat in 1872 and increased contact with other countries,
the Korean government realized the need for a national symbol. The first flag was created
in 1882 and over the years the design has varied. Banned during the
Japanese occupation (1910-45), the present flag was
created in 1948 for use by the South Korean government. The T'aegukki
depicts the balancing philosophies of Yin/Yang and the concept of Ohaengsol (five directions).
In the central circle, the red portion represents positive Yang, while the blue
portion represents negative Yin. It is an ancient symbol representing balance
and harmony. The combination of bars in each corner also symbolizes opposites and balance.
The set in the upper left corner symbolizes heaven, spring, east, and gentility.
The lower right corner symbolizes the earth, summer, west, and justice.
The upper right corner symbolizes the moon, winter, north, and wisdom.
The lower left corner symbolizes the sun, autumn, south, and courtesy.
Buy online at Flagline.com! |
Food and Drink
Rice is the staple of the Korean diet and appears at almost all meals. A typical meal includes
rice, some type of soup, sometimes a main dish of meat or pork or poultry, and various side
dishes. Kimchi, the most common group of side dishes,
includes various vegetables (cabbage, radishes, and various roots) fermented with spices (garlic, red
pepper, and ginger). Korea produces several types of grain alcohol, most notably soju. Nowadays,
many people eat more and more Western, Japanese, and Chinese food, with pizza becoming more popular
than kimchi among the younger generation. |
Maps by
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Geography
Over 70% of the land is mountainous with the eastern regions consisting of mainly rugged
mountain ranges and deep valleys. Many people enjoy hiking in the foothills and mountains.
Most of the larger rivers and forests are located in the west. The coastline is dotted with
bays and it has some of the highest tides in the world. The eastern coastline has many
sandy beaches, while the western side consists mainly of mud flats and rocky shores. |
History
Korea claims a 5,000+ year history, dating from the country's foundation by
Tangun. Its history is full of foreign invaders and various
factions vying for power. Korean history is broken down into the following periods:
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Housing
Korea's characteristic traditional straw- or tile-roofed houses are quickly being replaced by
boxy houses and high-rise apartment buildings that all look alike. In the past, the norm was to
have several generations of one family living under one roof. However, the modern generation
favors a nuclear family, and the demand for new housing far exceeds the supply, driving up housing
prices in the cities. Modern housing still uses the traditional ondol method (flat stones
underneath floors that retain heat for long periods after being heated) for keeping warm during the
winter, although nowadays water pipes are used instead of stones. |
Language
The Korean language belongs to the Ural-Altic family of languages which also includes
Turkish and Mongolian. Although the language contains many words derived from Chinese and
printed media still use Chinese ideographs to represent many of those words, structurally
the two languages are very different. Korean is closer to the Japanese language
linguistically. Visit Life in Korea's language
section to learn some useful Korean vocabulary and phrases. |
Money and the Economy
Korea's currency is the won (W). In some tourist areas, merchants may be willing to
accept U.S. dollars or Japanese yen, but the exchange rate will be worse than the official rate. Most
banks and hotels can exchange money, and most will also take travelers checks. Cash advances on non-Korean credit cards
can be made in most subway stations and banks. Many international banks have offices in Seoul, and a few
have branches in Pusan.
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People
Population: over 46.9 million (1999 est.)
Koreans descended from the Mongolian race in prehistoric times. Periods of occupation have
also added Chinese and Japanese blood to the gene pool. Although they have borrowed from
other cultures, especially Chinese and Japanese, Koreans have maintained their own
distinctive language, culture, and customs. It is a family-orientated society, heavily
based on Confucianism, which even in modern times retains the basic patterns and manners of
family-centered life. |
Religion
Korea has been influenced by four major religions: Buddhism, Confucianism, Christianity,
and Shamanism. Additionally, a very large mosque in It'aewon-dong holds services for those
of the Islamic faith. Many Koreans follow more than one religion as many new Christian
converts continue to practice ancestor worship and perform Buddhist rites. |
Weather
As all the tourist books will tell you, Korea has four distinct seasons. The summers are
very hot and humid, and the winters are cold and dry. The springs and autumns, which
finish much too quickly, provide a welcome relief from the extremes of summer and winter.
The rainy season (changma) starts in late July and lasts through mid-August and
often causes flooding of low areas. Don't go anywhere without an umbrella during this time!
You can check the current weather conditions in major Korean cities on our
Weather page. |
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