Cultural Literacy: The Culture of Korea

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Cultural Literacy The Culture of Korea

• By Kara Donahoe

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Shelter Farmhouse

• Traditionally farmhouses are selected by using
  geomancy, which is the belief that any geographic
  figure generates invisible forces of good or ill.
  
• A house is typically built against a hill facing
  the south to receive the most amount of sunlight.
• Geomancy dictates the shape, direction, and
  materials of the home.

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Shelter House of Scholar

• A traditional Korean house can be structured into
  an inner and outer wing consisting of heated
  floors that have been used for centuries.
• The layout of the home is determined by the
  region and wealth of the family.
• It is forbidden for any family besides the king
  himself to have a home more than 99 kan, which is
  the distance between two pillars used in a house
  of scholar.

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Clothing Hanbok

• The traditional dress known as hanbok, which is a
  shirt, pants, and hat known as a gwanmo, has been
  worn for centuries. Today the hanbok is used for
  only formal occasions and not everyday wear.
• In the past Koreans used to dress according to
  their social status. While royal families wore
  costumes and jewelry, common people were
  restricted to only solid colored clothing.

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Food Rice

• Rice is the primary food of Korea. For ceremonies
  and rituals rice cakes are always included.
• Until recently Korea was almost entirely used for
  farming. The main crops in Korea are rice,
  barely, and beans. Fish and other types of
  seafood are also used in cooking because Korea is
  a peninsula.
• The common five flavored ingredients include
  garlic, spring, onion, wild rocambole leek, and
  ginger. Temple food does not use these strong
  ingredients plus meat.

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Religion Buddhist North vs. Christian South

• The religion in includes a number of different
  traditions. Religions such as Buddhism,
  Christianity, Confucianism, and traditional
  shamanism are all a part of Koreas religious
  tradition.
• 40 of Koreans associate themselves with
  religion. Of this, 34 of Korea practices
  Buddhism, while 21 practice Christianity.
• Today the separation between of Korea into North
  and South Korea have contributed to different
  religious followings. Mainly North Korea is
  Buddhist, while South Korea Christian.

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Meeting Customs and Etiquette

• The person of lower status bows to the person of
  higher status. However, the older person
  indicates the handshake.
• When meeting a person for the first time details
  about the other person will be given prior to the
  actual meeting.
• At social gatherings a person is suppose to wait
  to be introduce plus bowing to individuals when
  exiting.
• Always remove shoes before entering a home.

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Education

• K-3 focuses on math, science, social studies,
  English, and Korean.
• School year is divided into two semester, where
  one begins in March and the other in August.
  Students typically only have one month off from
  school.
• English is a mandatory subject from third grade
  through high school.
• High school is not mandatory for Koreans. 97 of
  South Koreans do complete high school, which is
  the highest percentage in any country.
• Many Koreans continue their post-secondary
  education by attending universities throughout
  different areas of Korea and other countries
  around the world.

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Work Cited

• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Korea
• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Korea
• http//www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-e
  tiquette/south-korea-country-profile.htm
• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_South_Ko
  rea
• http//images.google.com/images?um1hlenqKorea
  nshoes
• http//edition.cnn.com/2000/ASIANOW/east/06/14/kor
  ea.summit.03/map.pyongyang.seoul.gif