South Korean Culture

Cultures around the world are divide by their distinctive characteristic of people, and how people interact within their society. Most cultures are driven by the way their environment has been set for them. Many of cultures have to adapt to the way their environment are due to the conditions that are set for them and the amount of resources that they are provided. The biggest drive for culture are the historical custom. Most countries continue to carry their ancestor custom so that the tradition may stay with them throughout their years, in which making other countries distinctive from one another. One of the particular country that will be discuss in this report is North Korea. In this report, I will be discussing the North Korean culture, with describing their living condition in the country, common issues that they face with on a daily bases, and common threat that they pose on other countries.

Family traditions are passed on from generation to generation, however they are not always static rules. Tradition is like a living organism that adapts to change over time. In order to understand modern North Korea’s family customs, it is important to consider the tradition of the past. Before North Korea’s liberation from Japan in 1945, North Korean families operated differently than they do today. Their ideology was founded on Confucius’s principles of family, including “only a country where family life was harmonious could be peaceful and prosperous” (Asia Society). The family is an integral part of society the same way a cell is important to a body (Suzy, 264). The government is even considered “one family” that everyone is a part of (Monday). Every individual in a family has a role and every family has a role in society. The ideal family is modeled from Kim Il Sung’s nuclear family (Suzy, 268). It is clear that family is a fundamental priority in North Korean society.

M.S. explained that the Korean culture has very defined family roles with the male dominating over the female. The male in the home is identified by M.S. as being the traditional “bread winner”. She noted that it is important to a man’s identity that he is able to work even as he ages. The females are allowed, and often needed to work, but the care for the children at home as well as for the aging parents of both the husband and wife is priority. M.S. told me that she was only allowed to work certain shifts and hours due to the need to accommodate her family. As mentioned earlier it is the strong tradition of respect for parents and grandparents that encourages the arrangement of caring for the elderly at home, and if at all possible to never place a parent in an institution such as a nursing home. M.S. stated that the family as a unit is collectively more important and individualism is frowned upon. When I asked M.S. about adoption she

There are some images associated with Korean food, but the most well- known Korean food is absolutely Kim-chi. Kim-chi is a traditional fermented Korean food. According to the Health Magazine, Kim-chi is one of the top 5 healthiest foods in the world. It has full of Vitamins A, B and C. But since it is a fermented food, its biggest benefit is their healthy bacteria which are called lactobacilli.(health.com) So, Kim-chi by itself is just a pack of lots of good stuff and we can see our ancestor’s wisdom of keeping their body healthy from food. From the early stage that Korea has been settled down, Kim-chi has been served on Koreans’

The goal of this project was to use CBPR methods to collaborate with partners in the Korean community to address oral health among particularly vulnerable Korean elderly adults in NYC. We worked with Korean Community Services of Metropolitan New York (KCS), to assess oral health needs among older Koreans, their community, and family caregivers, and use the information collected to develop a targeted oral health intervention(s). This research can potentially impact approximately 5000 Korean seniors through KCS. My responsibilities were the following: 1) Convened an Advisory Group of five members from the Korean Community: In order to gain familiarity with the Korean community in NYC, and gain insight into the oral health needs and challenges of the Korean senior population, I convened the Community Advisory Group of Korean stakeholders every three months; 2)

The importance and symbolism of this theme is food. Food is important part of national identity. It is also an important part of Korean culture. For example, Gang Do worried that his daughter might not have anything to eat. Huyn Seo and Se-joo discussed what they will eat after getting out the sewer. At the end, Gang Do and Se Joo (his new son) are at the food home. They were watching television and eating the dinner. However, Se Joo said that there is nothing good on the the news and asked his father to turn off the TV. Then, they can enjoy their dinner. I think it is the message that the director wants to send to Korea. Koreans should focus and remain the culture of South Korean instead of consuming America culture.

South Korea loves sport, sport is not only a popular physical activity but is a significant social practice. Sport operates as an important cultural resource and produces and disseminates nationalism. Indeed, in recent years, south korea has shown competence in hosting, playing, and managing sport. South Korean athletes have created notable results at major international sport events. For example, since 1984, the national Summer Olympic team has unfailingly been ranked in the top 10 nations on the medal table, with the only exception being the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. The country has also produced a number of major world sporting events, including hosting

She said she feels strong bond with Koreans even though she speaks English to them. Her experience is very similar to that of Gloria Anzaldua, the author of “How To Tame A Wild Tongue” when Gloria “could not stop humming the words” when she heard the music from Mexico. For example, Yoorim never listen to any of the pop music you can find on the Billboard chart. She loves Korean Pop music and she loves going to the karaoke and singing in Korean. Like Gloria, my interviewee also ties food to her identity. She has been living in a community where Korean is a minority group. However, she cooks and eats Korean food daily. She said she must go to Korean markets bi-weekly to purchase Korean foods because she cannot live a day without a Kimchi, the Korean traditional side-dish made from

Thesis Statement: Though South Korea may be a small country, the style of cuisine, community culture, and generosity are just a few uniquenesses that outshine its stature.

There are different foods from different countries around the world. The different elements are noticeable in our foods. Chinese dishes are prominent and it is the ultimate food. People have different tastes in food though many people appreciate Chinese’s. It is famous for color, appearance, taste, aroma, and meaning. Around the bay area there are many Chinese restaurants. My family is Chinese, so Chinese food are something we eat almost every day. Even though I eat Chinese food every day, I still don’t get bored with it. My favorite Chinese foods are sweet and sour pork and fried rice. Sweet and sour pork is my favorite because of the sauce and fried rice because of its taste and it is simple to make when I have to make my food; both foods are the traditional dishes may be found all over the world.

South Korea is one of the most homogeneous countries in the world, in which it has its own culture, language, and customs that are different from other Asian countries. In South Korea, the citizens greatly value hard work, filial piety, and humility in their daily lives. South Koreans are very proud people in which they pride themselves in their traditional culture and their financial success.

Manners represent an individual by the way they dress, behave, communicate, and their etiquette, while customs refer to the traditional way that a culture is practice individually, or by a group of people. Workers are expected to bow to their seniors when they greet them, and to use only formal language to their seniors, as it is rude to speak informally to someone of higher rank. In Korean businesses, meetings are often held in evenings at a restaurant or bar. Drinking is part of the Korean culture, as Koreans believe that drinking helps to bond colleagues in the company, and an offered drink must never be refused as it is considered to be rude. Along with drinking, Karaoke is a popular activity after meetings. People who attend the meeting are usually expected to sing a solo song.

Parent’s role in South Korea is taking care of their children until they get married. Children usually live with their parents until they are married, even if they are full grown adults. Parents are desperate attempt to give children an educational advantage, and grant them explore to a globalized worldview (in contrast with Korea's strictly homogenous culture and community), children are often sent to boarding schools abroad usually to the U.S., Canada and Australia, and family members strangely separated for many years.

My return to Korea in the summer of 2001 was nothing short of a culture shock. I was in a country I thought I had learned by heart. It was the country I always rooted my identity and pride from. I wasn’t ready for the shock. I

South Korean are very cautious in consuming their food or buying certain products. Typical Korean cuisine usually consist of ‘kimchi’ (fermented cabbage), ‘gochujang’ (fermented chili sauce), less salt, less sugar, and less condiments because it considered bad for health. In terms of other