The cultural component of a country is a very serious subject for study, especially before traveling. Each people has its own traditions and customs, its own prohibitions and beliefs. One and the same gesture in different countries can be interpreted in a completely different way, and if one can tolerate comical situations, no one will tolerate insults from visitors. If you are planning a vacation in South Korea , it's time to get acquainted with its culture.
The founding beginnings of the culture of South Korea
The cultural component of a country is a very serious subject for study, especially before traveling. Each people has its own traditions and customs, its own prohibitions and beliefs. One and the same gesture in different countries can be interpreted in a completely different way, and if one can tolerate comical situations, no one will tolerate insults from visitors. If you are planning a vacation in South Korea , it's time to get acquainted with its culture.
The founding beginnings of the culture of South Korea
In 1948, there was a division of one large state of Korea into the DPRK and the Republic of Korea. After that, the culture of each country began to develop in different ways, but the origins and roots they have alone. In particular, the behavior of society is based on the principles of Confucianism, which were developed in China, in 500 BC.
Koreans from a small age instill in their children love and respect for their parents, family and those who have power. Great importance is given to such concepts as justice, honesty, humanism, peace and education. In the modern culture of South Korea on this basis, developed a model of behavior, called the Rule of Five Relationships. In particular, it provides for certain norms in communication between father and son, husband and wife, older and younger generations, ruler and subjects, between friends.
Tourists coming to rest in this country often drop out of this pattern of behavior. Therefore, sometimes it seems that the Koreans are rude and ignorant. But in fact, until you enter into one of the types of relationships, you may simply not notice.
It is because of the Five-Mutual Relations Rule that Koreans sometimes ask a few inconvenient and personal questions. But if a local resident is interested in your marital status or age, do not rush to be rude in response - he is just trying to determine which rules should interact with you.
Separate manifestations of the culture of South Korea
Understanding the fundamental principles of building relationships between Koreans, it will be interesting to consider more specific manifestations of their behavior patterns. In particular, they are:
- Respect for elders. In Korea, it is accepted that young people and those who are rank lower are required to follow the desires and directions of the elders without any objection.
- Attitude to marriage. Koreans consider marriage to be almost the most important event in life. Divorce, on the contrary, is interpreted as a huge and indelible disgrace.
- Names. Among residents of the CIS countries, practice is common when the wife takes the husband's surname. In South Korea, they adhere to other traditions - the spouse retains a surname, but their common children inherit the father's family name.
- Public quarrels. Evil and offended women are everywhere. Especially rattling this mixture is obtained in case such a woman is also elderly. In South Korea, quite often there are such types of grandmothers who can show their discontent not only verbally, but also physically. However offensive, it is impossible to react to this, even if you are provoked. It is best to just step aside.
- Handshake. Equal to each other in status, people, or those who are in friendly relations, use the familiar form of a handshake. But if one of them is lower in rank or younger, then he must shake the outstretched hand with both hands. Quite often the greeting is complemented by a bow. The older and the higher the status of a person, the deeper he is bowed to.
- The boss is always right and can not be denied. Surprisingly, such a rule extends to virtually all spheres of life. Even a proposal to drink can not be denied. Therefore, if the chief alcoholic - it's easier to change jobs than to give a refusal.
Traditions of South Korea
The culture and traditions of South Korea are closely intertwined, for one thing follows from the other. However, with the passage of time and the moving seven-league steps of globalization, any open society undergoes certain changes. But there are fundamental beliefs that are honored at all times. In relation to South Korea, such traditions, customs and holidays are especially distinguished:
- Chere, or rite of commemoration of ancestors. According to the beliefs of the Koreans, after death, the soul of a person goes to another world only after a change of 4 generations. And all this period he is a full member of the family, which, according to legend, cares for and protects the whole family from misfortunes.
- Hanbok, or traditional clothing. It is in it that Koreans wear such solemn days as the Lunar New Year, the Harvest Day, or the wedding ceremony.
- Korean wedding. In relation to marriage, Koreans skillfully created a model that combines both modern trends and traditional rituals. Today, the Korean wedding is divided into two parts: first a Western European style ceremony, a white dress, a veil and a tuxedo for the groom, and afterwards the newlyweds dress in traditional outfits and go to a special room for dinner with their parents.
- Sollal, or the Lunar New Year. This holiday is celebrated with the first day of the lunar calendar. It is customary to meet with a family, remembering ancestors, preparing special dishes and dressing up for hanbok.
- Chusok, or the Day of Harvest. The fifteenth day of the eighth month of the eastern calendar, the Koreans dedicate an ancestral commemoration and thanks to the gods for food.
To the tourist on a note
In order not to get into a mess when communicating with a Korean, or not to incur the wrath of the representatives of order, a tourist in South Korea should remember a few rules:
- Watch the gestures. Calling a person with a palm up or beckoning with a finger is considered offensive.
- At the entrance to the Korean house you should take off your shoes, but walking on the floor without socks is a bad form.
- Public expressions of feelings between a couple, be they kisses or embraces, are considered indecent in Korean society, but the manifestation of friendly relations is entirely acceptable.
- Smoking in public places is strictly prohibited, and the police closely monitor the implementation of this rule.
- Do not poke the sticks with food and leave them directly in the dish, especially at a party - the hostess can take it for insult.