South Korea
login to the site
Sightseeings
Seoul is the capital of the republic
Airport in Incheon
Cities of South Korea
Jeju Island (Jejudo)
Korean food
Koreans
"Russian" Korean in Korea...
Hangul is a Korean script...
State
Korean War
"Foreigners" in Korea
Books about Korea and Koreans
Your search queries
Travel and impressions
Hotels in Korea
Flights to Korea
Bibliography
News
Read in this section:
Koreans
|
I am Koryo saram, a descendant of Koreans who migrated to the Far East in the 60s. Like many Soviet and post-Soviet Korean women, I married a Russian man. My child was born with a blue spot above the upper buttocks, characteristic of Mongoloids.
My father is a military man, so I've lived my entire life outside the main "habitat" of Soviet Koreans. I've only visited Uzbekistan during school holidays. My apprehension about traveling to South Korea is understandable; I was sure I'd feel like an outcast. However, it's not for nothing that I was born with a blue spot above my butt! Korea immediately felt familiar and at home to me, despite the shortness of my stay. My impressions of Koreans are, of course, subjective, and my judgments are likely debatable, as I was raised in a Russian environment and culture. However, I'll try...
Beyond the well-known Korean economic miracle, there are many wondrous things about the history and culture of the Korean people that I don't quite understand. The relatively small Korean Peninsula, rich in minerals in the north, fertile lands in the south, surrounded by seas teeming with fish, and boasting numerous convenient bays in the south, has always been a coveted morsel for neighboring countries. Korea's history is a history of wars and struggles for independence. Yet, Koreans are proud that, despite everything, they have preserved their monoethnicity and monoculture. Hangul, the Korean alphabet , which was inscribed on the list of World Heritage Sites in 1997, has played a significant role in preserving Korean culture and nationhood. Yes, yes, despite its superficial similarity to hieroglyphic writing, the Korean alphabet consists of 24 letters. Its introduction in the 15th century ushered in near-universal literacy in Korea.
There are over 70 million Koreans worldwide, and almost 50 million in South Korea. They call themselves Hanguk Saram. Koreans are a warm-hearted and welcoming people. Despite the vast differences between European and Eastern mentalities, you're unlikely to feel awkward when visiting Korea. This is primarily due to the tact and natural respect for others that are characteristic of the Korean people.
Four religions coexist peacefully in South Korea: the traditional ones—Confucianism, Buddhism, and shamanism—and a relatively new but increasingly widespread religion—Christianity. I believe this factor explains much of the Korean character, so different from that of its closest neighbors—the Chinese and Japanese. Confucian traditions are evident in the strict hierarchical nature of Korean society, which persists to this day. Don't be surprised if, when meeting new people, you're asked what we consider personal questions about your age, marital status, job title, and education. It's important for a Korean to understand their place in your life. Respect for elders is traditional for all Koreans, including children and the "new" generation. Your level of education will also inspire respect, not least because of the prestige of the institution you attended. Koreans are very sensitive to family and their country, and they have a strong sense of collectivism, duty, and patriotism.
Buddhism, in my opinion, is manifested in the peaceful, non-aggressive nature of Koreans, their tolerance and deep philosophical attitude towards life and towards the personality of a person as an individual.
Koreans owe the preservation (even though they change over time) of everyday traditions and rituals, and the patriarchal nature of society, I think, to the third, most ancient, traditional religion – shamanism.
Many Koreans attribute the economic boom to Christianity; nearly 20% of Koreans are Protestants. At first glance, it seems that Christians are significantly more numerous. This is explained by the meticulous way Koreans attend services and the number of churches built since 1948. However, faith does not prevent Korean Christians from celebrating local traditional religious holidays with equal devotion.
Koreans are a very hard-working people; staying late at work is commonplace. In Korea, unlike in Europe, shops, markets, and bars stay open late, and many stay open 24 hours a day. When Koreans sleep is a big mystery. After work, it's common to go out for dinner with colleagues (which, by the way, is usually cheaper than at home) and visit karaoke, of which there are an incredible number. Koreans drink quite a lot; we've never seen anyone staggering, crawling, cursing, or even fighting. They sometimes party until late into the night, even on weekdays, yet they rise early and walk to work on time, feeling energetic. Perhaps the secret lies in the low-alcohol Korean vodka or the famous sobering spicy soup often eaten in the morning. Paid vacation in Korea is three days.
Before the trip, while reading guidebooks, I noticed that they all emphasized gestures and manners. For example, you should never blow your nose at the table (and the food is so spicy that you just want to), you shouldn't serve anything with one hand; your left hand must support your right, you shouldn't leave chopsticks in your rice (for funerals), and you shouldn't beckon someone with an upturned palm (like calling a dog). However, you can slurp at the table and noisily suck on long Korean noodles... Honestly, I doubt we observed all the rules of etiquette, but we didn't notice any disapproval or alienation, perhaps because we were mostly in tourist spots, where people had seen a lot. The only time I felt awkward was when we were taking a photo with the association's staff at the Korean Paper Art Association. I must have stood too close to one of the staff; she suddenly recoiled in surprise.
In general, I found Koreans to be generally unobtrusive. Some members of our group noted that if someone accidentally pushes you on the street, they won't apologize. But even if you push someone or even step on their foot, you're unlikely to hear a curse or get pushed back. Everyone understands that it's wrong, but is it worth getting offended over such trivial matters? |
Read in this section: