The Korean Mind : Understanding Contemporary 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.

Other countries, such as Asia, have proven that their diet is healthier than that of an American. “The structure of South Korea’s economy, along with the country’s dietary and disease patterns, began an accelerated shift in the 1970s. Major dietary

Many people in Seoul, South Korea opposed hamburgers, especially if they are from McDonald’s, because it goes head to head with the Koreans that produce their rice locally. Korea had seen the McDonald’s commercials on the media and after receiving the results of the market survey they were anti-American because of the tense relationship between Korea and America after the end of WWII. However years later, Korea and McDonald’s came to an agreement and opened the first McDonald’s. As soon as McDonald’s opened it attracted many young people because of its different trend that no one had ever seen before; it was considered modern and a chic place to eat. The

Poor nutrition; in Kfc Company has being nutritionists argue of high fat, low fiber diet promoted by Kfc Company is linked to serious diseases such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes and obesity. The sort of diseases that are now responsible for nearly three quarters of premature deaths in westerns world. Kfc company food has classified as junk food also contains many chemical additives that can cause ill-health and also it can cause hyperactivity in children. Poor nutrition is one of ethical issues to be consider by Kfc Company. (Anonymous, 2016)

Kim (2011) states in the essay, “We hip hop to Usher with as much enthusiasm as we have for belting out Korean pop songs at a karaoke. We celebrate the lunar Korean thanksgiving as the American on, although our choice of food would most likely be the moon-shaped rice cake instead of turkey. We appreciate eggs Benedict for bunch, but on hung-over mornings, we cannot do without a bowl of thick ox-bone soup and a plate of fresh kimchi” (pg.

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’

Understanding how North Korea as a country defines itself in a changing world. Where do they derive their customs and practices, political standings and military power? Define North Korea’s history leading into the modern age and define its culture and characteristics and how they interact with the world today. Understanding a subject as broad as the term culture begins where the culture began with the birth of civilization and the people that influenced it. There are many factors that play a role in the shaping of a nation none so much as turmoil and conflict and the Korean peninsula saw its fair share for the better part of a millennia. A complete statistical breakdown of North Korea shows a struggling nation that strongly depends on

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.

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.

"What's that smell?" When a non-Korean first encounters kimchi, his or her reaction is often one of surprise, shock, even slight disgust. However, in my eyes kimchi is the food of my homeland, the food of my family. It is every bit as important to me and part of my upbringing as the potato chips that an American child puts on his tuna fish sandwich or the perfect pasta an Italian grandmother cooks for a Sunday dinner.

South Korean cuisine is unlike any other. South Korea has national pride, being very different from China and Japan and wants to be remembered as independent, therefore their foods tend to be very distinct from other Asian foods.The cuisine consists of very healthy meal items, being varied and usually very spicy. Food is a major part of Korean life, and presentation is key. Red peppers, green onions, garlic, sesame oil, and soy sauce provide powerful aromas to give Korean food that distinct and easily identifiable aroma which stands out among other Asian cuisines.

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.

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

The culinary tradition difference between the two countries can be identified from the level of sophistication. Food from Japan shows exceptional focus on the beauty of serving which is often recognized by the term “moritsuke”. Japanese specially pay attention to how food is arranged on the plate. Furthermore, they even establish multiple strict rules of food arrangement. For example, the dish should never be fully covered or filled with food; instead, the balance between the empty and the occupied space should be maintained at certain level (Ashkenazi and Jacob, 161). Conversely, Korean meals have no such rules concerning their food and its appearance, making Korean meals much simpler than Japanese meals. A typical Korean meal usually consists of a bowl of rice and vegetable soup. Sometimes, there are a few side dishes served on the table for more flavors such as various kinds of kimchi (Clark, 103). Regarding lifestyle, people from Japan reveal more sophisticated manners and habits than Korean do. Japanese have predilection for sipping tea in the afternoon, which is customarily conducted under their artistic tea culture. In addition, they possess a mysterious way of silence communication known as chinmoku that only Japanese themselves can understand (Davies, Inkeno, 51). On the other hand,

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