This is something that has attracted considerable human rights interest as the individuals involved have often yet to be charged. Candles! Confucianism, Buddhism and Christianity are the main formal religions 3. Asia Exchange is a Finnish company providing study abroad opportunities in Asia Pacific for students from all around the world. Caused by many issues such as the lack of taking responsibility for the Sewol ferry disaster as well as corruption, back in 2016/2017, millions of Koreans took to the street to protest against their president (on a side note: this president was Park Geun-Hye, quite interestingly the daughter of the aforementioned, alleged dictator leader of Korea in the 60s and 70s). ...our South Korea Cultural Profile is the #1 most viewed profile on our website... ...our Cultural Insight Report into South Korea is our top selling guide and. Asia Exchange offers the chance to study abroad in China, Bali Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, South Korea and Vietnam. The Korean language is spoken uniformly throughout the nation. Sign up for our monthly newsletter! These eight facts about education in South Korea catch a glimpse into the life of students and the rigorous curriculum. It took until 2015 for any other pop star to gain 1 billion views (with the accolade going to Justin Bieber with 'Baby'). What’s more, watching live broadcasts of people eat is a massive thing in Korea, everything can be delivered, and food trends are a big thing: every season has their one-hit wonders and new food experiments. Back in the days, when Koreans were poor and winters were long, there was not much choice for Koreans but to ferment cabbage to be able to survive. Only in specific situations are you allowed to call someone by their first name. Love motels, which include rooms for several hours or one night, mostly designed for one very reason. In this lesson, learn about South Korea's cultural roots, history, and important facts. Daily life and social customs The once-dominant Confucian culture—with its emphasis on respect for ancestors, age, and seniority—continues to influence Korean family, work, and social life, albeit to a lesser degree than in the past. Discover some of the more unknown aspects of South Korean culture and society! Webinar about studying abroad after high school. 1981 -- South Korea's military government reduces opposition leader Kim Dae-jung's death sentence to life in prison. Bearers of gifts in South Korea are also unlikely to take gifts in blocks of four – e.g. Why? The difference is that in Korea, everyone is already one year old at birth. Take online courses and live in Taiwan just like Mathilde. Main article: Korean dance. Between 1910 and 1945, Japan worked to wipe out Korean culture, language and history. South Korea’s the country of the hour. All of our partner universities have been carefully selected and are counted among the best in their respective countries. And why all that? 4. The people in rural areas are still much poorer and many live a simple life. Interesting Facts about South Korea #1 – Almost everywhere you want to go can be done as a day-trip from the major cities South Korea is roughly 100,000 square km in size, but more than half of the land is cloaked in forests. chaste are utterly crazy. Photo by Florian / CC BY. It’s for all these reasons, that Korean’s are sometimes called ‘Italians of the East’. In much the same way that you won’t find a hospital bed in the UK numbered 13 for example, you won’t find the ‘fourth floor’ in South Korea and houses won’t be numbered ‘4’. South Korea is the country making up the southern half of the Korean Peninsula. We’ll send you also a free Guide of studying in Asia. 10 Interesting Facts about South Korea The name “Korea” comes from Goryeo, which was the name given to the dynasty established by General Wang Geon in AD 918. Despite the political unrest that resulted in the division of the region, these two countries still share the same culture and traditional values. Learning Korean is becoming increasingly popular. You rarely see South Koreans break rules. The culture of South Korea includes its traditions and customs, as well as folklore, music, language, art, and food, which developed from the early Korea culture. Not only is Hallyu (the Korean wave) sweeping over the Western world, also traditional elements of Korean culture from kimchi to, well… most likely your smartphone (or parts of it) are gaining popularity world-wide. Korean pioneer kids during military parade on March 23, 2010 in Pyongyang, North Korea (Image credit: Maxim Tupikov / Shutterstock.com). One example of this may be with the older Koreans. Why should you choose to study abroad in South Korea? By maintaining thousands of years of ancient Korean culture, with influence from ancient Chinese culture, South Korea split on its own path of cultural development away from North Korean culture since the division of Korea in 1948. Well at least if you both count in your native way. Quite logical, then, that Koreans also say ‘Kimchi’ instead of ‘Cheese’ when taking photographs. This tradition is so deep-rooted in the Korean history and character that today you’d have a hard time going to a restaurant and not having any Kimchi. As the name suggests, Haesingdang Park is home to a wide range of sculptured penises which is,  apparently, the largest collection of animated giant penises globally! As one of the biggest global movie industries, it is also on the way to its first Oscar: Boon’s Parasite is the movie of the hour. Ceramics. Photo: Nungning20/Shutterstock. Music. You’ll always see a smile on every Korean’s face mentioning the three syllabus Kim Yuna (which is, by the way, the right order to spell names in Korea). Topping the music charts of 30 different countries by the end of 2012, Gangnam Style refers to the wealthy lifestyle within the Gangnam District of Seoul. History and culture. Something of a rather unusual concept for many Westerners, love motels are big business in Korea. Sometimes, parents gift their daughters “double eyelid surgery” for their sweet 16th birthday, a popular procedure on the eyelid to appear more western. The Korean alphabet is easy to learn and Korea enjoys one of the highest literacy rates in the world. I love South Korea and meeting people in this country is an adventure. You don’t even need to clean your rubbish up afterwards – just leave it outside your door and the delivery person will pick it up later. From fun facts to cultural peculiarities: Ladies and Gentlemen here are 15 stunning facts about South Korea. The facts don't end here. 9. … 10 Very Cool Facts About South Korean Culture 1.South Korean men like to make the most of their appearances and, as such, it is believed that almost a quarter of men... 2. Life as an Exchange Student in Kuala Lumpur – Nadia. So little is known about North Korea that the … From K-Pop to Korean Dramas, you can easily find Korean culture everywhere. It makes the country extremely safe compared to many other European countries. 8 Facts about Education in South Korea. Pungmul. Why Do Middle Eastern Men Wear a Chequered Head-dress. This is because Korean popular culture has swept the world. 1950 W. Corporate Way PMB 25615, Anaheim, CA 92801, USA. Only … That means, in turn, that in Korean age, you could already be two years older than you are in an international age. It’s no wonder then, that education is a massive industry in this Asian tiger state and that already in high school students spend up to 16h per day in school… This country is all about them studies! Just check out her Wikipedia, she’s basically won everything possible and sort of brought the Olympics to Korea on her own. It’s heaven for tech junkies. is the #1 most viewed profile on our website... Cross Cultural Training Vital When Relocating to Asia, The Powerful Impact of Culture on your Export Success. Korea is divided by boundaries, but still united by culture. In fact, approximately 20% of the worldwide male cosmetic industry is generated by South Koreans. Like a number of other cultures, babies in South Korea are considered one year old at birth. North Korea is home to a population of around 25,381,085 individuals. This is a country where the service culture rules supreme! One of the most interesting facts about South Korea that often gets confused is when to use names or titles. 5. Its border with North Korea is at a ceasefire line, which was established at the end of the Korean War in 1953 and corresponds roughly to the 38th parallel. Love what? Computer rooms (PC bangs) in Korea are as normal as bakeries in Europe. Upon release of ‘Gangnam Style’ in 2012, South Korean musician Psy, became an unlikely global treasure; loved and imitated by Prime Ministers and small children alike. Culture. Such is the food in Korea that you cannot ignore a separate food tour on your Korea itinerary while vacationing in the country. Common court dances are ... Painting. Although the Constitution grants religious freedom to the North Koreans, reports mention that it is hardly practiced. The contemporary culture of South Korea developed from the traditional culture of Korea which was prevalent in the early Korean nomadic tribes. It’s part of the identity and the culture to not cause too much trouble or problems for others. Like all agricultural societies, Korean life has always centered on tightly knit families. A s the Winter Olympics continue in South Korea, here we highlight some of the most interesting and quirky facts about the country.. 1. Schooling is compulsory in South Korea until the age of 15. In a culture where ‘face’ is everything, the fall out for those who are subsequently found to be innocent can be devastating. Main article: Music of Korea. It is surrounded by the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea and is around 38,502 square miles (99,720 sq km). How is it to be an exchange student in Seoul during COVID-19? Get inspiring stories from our students and latest news straight to your inbox. These companies are now helping to reshape Korea’s cultural history by backing institutions such as the Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art in Seoul. 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