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SouthKorea.docxSouth Korea
Did You Know
· The Korean language is written in Hangul, a phonetic alphabet created in 1446.
· Because of the Confucian emphasis on family hierarchies, Koreans keep detailed genealogies.
· South Korea has one of the fastest internet networks in the world.
· South Korea has technically been at war with North Korea since 1950 because a peace treaty to end the Korean War has not yet been signed.
Flag
The flag of South Korea is called Taegeukgi. Its white background symbolizes peace and purity. The center, the yin-yang symbol, signifies the concepts of creation and movement through balance and duality. The surrounding symbols represent the four universal elements: heaven, earth, fire, and water.
Official Name
The common name of the country is South Korea. The official name is the Republic of Korea (Daehan Minguk). The term Hanguk is used by South Koreans to refer to their country.
Anthem
The national anthem of South Korea is “Aegukaa” (“Patriotic Song”), adopted in 1948. Music by Ahn Eak-tai.
Country and Development Data
|
Capital |
Seoul |
|
Population |
51,418,097 (rank=27) |
|
Area (sq. mi.) |
38,502 (rank=107) |
|
Area (sq. km.) |
99,720 |
|
Human Development Index |
22 of 189 countries |
|
Gender Inequality Index |
10 of 162 countries |
|
GDP (PPP) per capita |
$39,500 |
|
Adult Literacy |
NA |
|
Infant Mortality |
3 per 1,000 births |
|
Life Expectancy |
80 (male); 86 (female) |
|
Currency |
South Korean Won |
Background
Land and Climate
38,502
99,720
South Korea is slightly larger than Hungary or the U.S. state of Indiana. Its only land border is shared with North Korea, roughly along the 38th parallel, where the Korean Peninsula was divided at the end of World War II. At its closest point, South Korea is 123 miles (196 kilometers) from Japan. Around 63 percent of South Korea's territory is forested, and approximately 15 percent is suitable for cultivation. The country is dominated by hills and mountains, with plains found in the west and south. South Korea also has a number of islands, mostly along the southern and western coasts. The largest is Jeju, a popular tourist destination off the mainland's southwest coast.
South Korea's climate is temperate, with hot, humid summers and cold, relatively dry winters. The nation experiences all four seasons; spring and fall are the most pleasant times of the year. The monsoon season is from mid-July to mid-August. During this time, South Korea receives over half of its annual rainfall. Korea is traditionally known as Joseon ("Land of the Morning Calm"). South Korea is prone to typhoons in the monsoon season, and heavy flooding is common in parts of the country, sometimes resulting in fatalities. The country's rapid industrialization and continued high levels of manufacturing have resulted in significant pollution. Deforestation and the resulting soil erosion are additional environmental concerns.
History
Early Kingdoms and the Yi Dynasty Powerful kingdoms flourished on the Korean Peninsula more than two thousand years ago. Of particular importance were the Silla (established in 57 BC), Goguryeo (37 BC), and Baekje (18 BC) dynasties. Silla kings united the three warring kingdoms in AD 668 and developed a rich Buddhist culture. By 935, the strong new Goryeo kingdom had established itself on the peninsula. The name Korea comes from "Goryeo." During the Goryeo era, the world's first movable metal-type printer was invented. A coup in 1392 ended the Goryeo kingdom and began the Joseon (or Yi) Dynasty. The Yi ruled for more than five hundred years. During this time, Korean culture was heavily influenced by Chinese culture, and much of this influence can still be felt today.
Occupation and Liberation In the latter part of the Yi Dynasty, China and Japan sought control of Korea, a struggle the Japanese eventually won. They annexed Korea in 1910. Japanese rule became increasingly heavy-handed and violent, and the social and political effects of this period are still a significant part of Korean society.
At the end of World War II (1945), the Soviet Union entered Korea from the north and the United States entered the south to accept the surrender of Japanese troops. The peninsula was accordingly divided (at the 38th parallel) into two administrative zones. After attempts to hold nationwide elections failed, an independent government was established in the south with U.S. support; Syngman Rhee became president.
The Korean War In June 1950, North Korean troops invaded South Korea, triggering a three-year war. The United States and United Nations (UN) sent troops to help South Korea. Concerned that the war might spill into Chinese territory, China sent troops to aid North Korea. The war ravaged the peninsula and ended in a stalemate and a cease-fire agreement (a peace treaty still has not been signed), with the original border virtually unchanged. Violent border incidents have occurred over the years, and South Korea and North Korea continue to have large military presences at the border.
Road to Democracy Rhee resigned in 1960 after students protested against his authoritarian rule. General Park Chung-hee took advantage of the weakened government and seized power in a 1961 military coup. Under Park's leadership, South Korea's economy began to grow rapidly, leading to an increasingly higher quality of life for South Koreans. However, Park also took away many civil liberties and political rights, usually under the pretense of national security. He was assassinated in 1979.
Another coup in 1980 brought General Chun Doo-hwan to power. Chun's brutal suppression of student demonstrations in Gwangju increased public and international opposition to his government. In the face of growing protests, which had spread to include much of the middle class as well, and with international pressure for reform leading up to Seoul's hosting of the 1988 Summer Olympics, Chun stepped down in 1987. General Roh Tae-woo was freely elected that year, and he began instituting reforms that paved the way for civilian rule. Kim Young-sam won elections in 1992 to become the first civilian to hold the presidency in more than 30 years.
Relations with North Korea Since the end of the Korean War until the late 1990s, South Korea's relationship with North Korea was very tense and mistrust was high. In 1998, Kim Dae-jung took office as president and implemented a "sunshine policy" of constructive engagement with the North in hopes of eventually achieving reunification. The two countries started a joint industrial park at Kaesong, in North Korea, as a sign of their cooperation. Kim's successor, Roh Moo-hyun, continued diplomacy with North Korea, organizing a historic leaders' summit in Pyongyang in 2007.
North Korea began openly testing nuclear weapons in 2006, and with President Lee Myung-bak, who took office in 2008, promising to take a tougher stance on North Korea, relations quickly deteriorated. 2010 was an especially violent year: a South Korean warship was allegedly sunk by a North Korean torpedo, and North Korea fired on Yeonpyeong, a small island in contested waters of the Yellow Sea, killing four. Tensions rise frequently, and North Korea regularly threatens to destroy South Korea, Japan, and the United States. While the goal of reunification has long been espoused on both sides of the border, different visions and deep suspicions, especially regarding the nuclear issue, keep the two Koreas far apart.
First Female President Park Geun-hye, daughter of former president Park Chung-hee, was elected president in December 2012, becoming South Korea's first female president. In addition to the continued threat of North Korea, challenges facing Park included reviving the economy and a variety of social issues. One major challenge President Park faced was the April 2014 ferry incident that killed more than three hundred passengers, including many high school students. Many of the victims’ families accused the government of negligence and failing to protect its citizens; Prime Minister Chung Hong-won resigned soon after. In 2017, President Park Geun-hye was impeached and removed from office, following a corruption scandal and several large public protests. Park was also arrested on 13 charges, including bribery, extortion, and abuse of power, and is awaiting trial.
Recent Events and Trends • Presidential election: In May 2017, Moon Jae-in of the Democratic Party of Korea was elected president, winning over 40 percent of votes. Moon is the son of North Korean refugees and favors seeking dialogue with North Korea while maintaining sanctions to bring about change. Voter turnout was high, as about 77 percent of South Korean voters participated in the election. • Winter Olympics: In February 2018, South Korea hosted the XXIII Winter Olympics in PyeongChang. As a sign of improved relations, South Korean and North Korean athletes walked together in the opening ceremony under a unified flag. This is the second time South Korea has hosted the Olympics; the first was the 1988 Summer Olympics. • Historic meeting: In April 2018, President Moon met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for a summit at the Panmunjom border crossing. The meeting marked the first time a North Korean leader has entered South Korea since 1953. Though both leaders agreed to work together toward permanent peace and eventual denuclearization of the peninsula, working out the details of these agreements is expected to be a lengthy process.
The People
Population
51,418,097
81%
0.4%
Most of South Korea's population lives in urban areas. Seoul is the largest city, followed by Busan, Incheon, and Daegu. Except for small Chinese and Southeast Asian minorities, South Korea is an ethnically homogeneous country. However, regionalism divides the population and creates biases and tensions that have impacted politics and social interaction throughout the nation's history. A person's dialect or accent can be used to identify his or her home region.
Language
The Korean language plays an important role in national identity. It is written in Hangul, a phonetic alphabet created in 1446 because classical Chinese (the only written language available) was difficult to master. Hangul made it possible for the commoner to read and write. Hangul also instilled a national pride in Koreans that helped them preserve their culture during periods of foreign occupation. Hangul has 24 letters, 10 of which are vowels. While Korean is related to Chinese—many words share a common origin—the pronunciation can be very different. Korean used in South Korea sometimes mixes numerous Chinese characters with Hangul script in newspapers and government documents; however, media and government are making efforts to reduce the number of Chinese characters used.
An "honorific," or respectful form of address signaled by the addition of a suffix to a noun, is used by younger people when addressing older people, or when one wishes to speak humbly. There are also seven levels of speech, indicated by different forms of verbs that change based on the formality of the situation and the level of respect a speaker wishes to convey. Modern Korean has adopted many English and other foreign terms associated with Western culture. Although Korean has several mutually intelligible regional dialects, the Seoul dialect is the standard taught in school. English is also taught in schools as part of a compulsory education requirement.
Religion
Confucianism permeates all aspects of Korean society, but it is a philosophy and not a religion. Confucianism orders social behavior, stressing virtue, morality, and filial piety (respect for one's parents and ancestors). Children are expected to show deference to their parents and perform certain duties for them in life and after they die. Confucian rites conducted on behalf of ancestors promote this respect and family unity. Even Christians perform these cultural rites in honor of their dead. Christians comprise about 28 percent of the population. Most belong to a variety of Protestant churches, although about 8 percent are Roman Catholic. Roughly 16 percent of South Koreans are Buddhist, and over 55 percent do not claim a particular religious belief at all.
General Attitudes
Korean society is vertically ordered according to tenets of Confucian philosophy. Nearly all interaction is determined by one's place in various social groups or one's status in a relationship. Status is determined by gender, education, family background, wealth, occupation, and/or political ideology. However, age is the primary determiner of status. For example, the elderly are to be respected regardless of socioeconomic status. Success depends on social contacts. Koreans often use extreme modesty when speaking about themselves. They are reluctant to accept high honors and graciously deny compliments.
Giving gifts as a means of obtaining favors is common, especially in the workplace, and accepting a gift carries the responsibility of reciprocity. Open criticism and public disagreement are considered inappropriate because they can damage another person's reputation. Out of respect for the feelings of others, Koreans may withhold bad news or adverse opinions or express them in an indirect way. The hesitancy to criticize and disagree with others is rooted in the cultural importance of "saving face" (avoiding embarrassment, shame, or dishonor). Greater democracy, economic prosperity, and Westernization are changing Korean society for the rising generation and reducing the emphasis placed on traditional Confucian values, though their influence remains strong.
Personal Appearance
Most South Koreans wear Western-style clothing. The youth wear modern fashions, and Korea has an active fashion industry. Clothing often depends on the event. In public, conservative dress is important. In the business world, Western-style suits and dresses are the norm. On special occasions or holidays, however, some people wear hanbok, simple traditional outfits characterized by bright colors. For women, hanbok is a two-piece dress with a long skirt. For men, it includes trousers and a loose-fitting jacket or robe.
Customs and Courtesies
Greetings
Within the Confucian social structure, how one is greeted depends on one's age and social standing relative to the greeter. A bow is the traditional greeting, but it is usually accompanied by a handshake between men. As a sign of respect, the left hand may support or rest under the right forearm during the handshake. Women shake hands less often than men do. Among friends and relatives, a simple nod is acceptable. Children bow when greeting adults. Professionals meeting for the first time exchange business cards, presenting and accepting the cards with both hands after a handshake.
A common greeting between peers or for subordinates is Annyeong haseyo? (Are you at peace?). Children and very close friends of the same age often greet each other with a simple Annyeong? To show respect for a social superior, one uses the honorific: Annyeong hashimnikka?
Gestures
Proper courtesy is shown with gestures. Items are passed with both hands or the right hand grasped by the left at the wrist or forearm. Feet are not placed on a desk or chair. When laughing, yawning, or using a toothpick, it is considered polite to cover one's mouth. Koreans beckon by waving the fingers together with the palm down. Beckoning with the index finger is rude. Facial expressions are often more important than body language in communicating unspoken messages. When embarrassed, a person may respond by laughing. People may also laugh if they are uncertain of how to respond. Eye contact is important in conversation among peers, but a person may avoid eye contact in conversation with a person of a different age group to be polite. Couples might hold hands, but kissing in public is not appropriate.
Visiting
Guests invited to a home remove their shoes upon entering. While Western furniture is common, in many homes guests are seated on floor cushions. Men sit cross-legged and women tuck their legs to one side behind them. The guest receives the warmest or best location. When visiting relatives, men and women usually separate to socialize; for example, the women gather in the kitchen. Refreshments usually are served. Guests invited for a meal customarily bring a small gift, often something that can be served at the gathering. Wrapped gifts are not opened in front of the giver. At the end of a visit, the host accompanies the guests to the door or outside. While South Korean men in rural areas used to socialize in dabang (teahouses), a hof (beer house) is now a more common gathering place.
Eating
South Koreans eat three meals a day, though busy schedules make it difficult for the family to always dine together. Metal chopsticks and spoons are the most commonly used utensils. At a dinner party, the meal usually is served before socializing begins. People pass items and pour drinks with the right hand. To show respect, the left hand is used to support the forearm or wrist of the right when passing items to older people and those of a higher social class. Eating while walking on the street is not considered appropriate for adults.
Lifestyle
Family
Structure The family is bound by a strong sense of obligation among its members. Though Koreans traditionally lived with members of the extended family, it is now more common to live in nuclear family arrangements, especially in urban areas. As Korean women increasingly delay both marriage and childbirth to establish careers, South Korea's birthrate has fallen to one of the lowest in the world; families with more than two children are considered large.
Because of the Confucian emphasis on family hierarchies (younger family members owe respect to their elders), Koreans keep detailed genealogies. These records date back many centuries and include a person's birth, relations, achievements, and place of burial. At family gatherings, the elderly are treated with greater respect by younger generations.
Parents and Children Parents go to great lengths to provide for their children, especially when it comes to educational opportunities. Because children are largely expected to have their education be their sole focus, many children do not do much to help around the house. In return for such care from their parents, children are expected to take care of their parents when they are older. An oldest son's aging parents are traditionally cared for by his wife, but this duty, while common, is often privately perceived as a burden. A weakening of Confucian values in society has caused some to claim that parents are increasingly neglected in their old age.
Gender Roles The father is the head of the family; he and the oldest son receive the greatest respect. Traditionally, men were seen as the primary providers and final decision-makers, and mothers were responsible for supervising the household and children. Today, however, women are generally expected to work outside the home to help support their families and pay for their children's educational expenses, which can be significant given the focus on high-quality education in South Korea. Women have increasingly been able to pursue both higher education and careers. However, broadened opportunities for women have not meant an increase in household responsibilities for men. Working women are still expected to maintain households and rear children—often without help from their working husbands.
Although women comprise slightly more than half of the labor force, their status is lower than men's in the workplace. Even so, urban women enjoy greater equality with men than rural women do. While women are occupying a growing number of high positions in traditionally male-dominated fields, the gender balance in executive positions is still very unequal. Female politicians are becoming more common, and the first female president was elected in 2012.
Housing
Exteriors Most Koreans live in high-rise apartment buildings. In smaller towns, buildings may be between 5 and 10 storeys, but a typical city building has 20 to 30. New upscale high-rises may have more than 100. Stand-alone houses are more common in older and rural areas.
Interiors A typical apartment has a kitchen, a living room, two or three bedrooms, a bathroom, and a small balcony. The family eats at a dining table in the kitchen. In the living room, they entertain guests, relax on the sofa, and watch television or play video games. Most Koreans have Western furniture (considered a sign of affluence), but even families with this type of furniture may also use traditional floor cushions. Some people still use a Korean-style bed, or yo, which consists of thick comforter-like bedding that is laid on the floor. Apartments are heated using a modern version of ondol, a traditional system for heating floors where fire-burning stoves heated passages beneath a home's floor. Today, heated water pipes or electrical cables warm the floors. No shoes are worn in the house (though slippers are common), so a shoe cabinet is placed next to the entry area.
Ownership Many families own their apartments, but it is also possible to lease an apartment using the jeonse (deposit) system, in which a large deposit is placed with the owner in lieu of rent. The owner profits by investing the jeonse money, which must be surrendered at the completion of the lease term (usually one or two years). Paying monthly rent is another possible, but less popular, option.
Dating and Marriage
Dating and Courtship Young South Koreans enjoy going to movies, shopping, taking short trips, and meeting friends at coffee shops, fast-food restaurants, karaoke rooms, or "video rooms" (establishments that show movies on DVD in private viewing rooms). Few South Korean youth have time for serious dating before they enter college or the workforce. Couples often meet on blind dates, most often set up through acquaintances.
Couples might exchange rings (similar to engagement rings), which signify their commitment, shortly after becoming an official couple. They then celebrate relationship milestones frequently. In addition to Valentine's Day in February, for example, couples celebrate White Day in March, Rose Day in May, and Pepero Day in November. Young women offer chocolates to their partners on Valentine's Day, and young men reply with candy on White Day. Pepero Day is celebrated by exchanging Pepero candy (chocolate-dipped cookie sticks) as well as other gifts. Additional celebrations occur to mark the 100th, 200th, and 300th day of the relationship. Many establishments and industries cater to couples, and people can buy "couple outfits" (matching items of clothing or entire outfits) or order from a special "couple's menu" at restaurants.
Engagement Per Korean tradition, before getting married the groom prepares the living arrangements. The bride prepares the furnishings for the home with her dowry. The couple's parents' expectations for the quality of home and furnishings can be a point of contention between families. In recent years, couples have worked to prevent friction between families by openly negotiating the budget and shared expenses.
Marriage in Society Matchmaking, called jungmae, is sometimes used to arrange marriages between wealthy families, though this service is in decline. Today, most Koreans choose their own partners and then discuss their intentions with their families.
While divorce often brings with it a social stigma, the increase of divorce in recent years has made it somewhat more socially acceptable. Remarriage is common.
Same-sex marriage is not legally recognized in South Korea.
Weddings Wedding ceremonies today often take place in public wedding halls that are designed to accommodate both Western-style and traditional ceremonies, as a typical Korean wedding consists of both. Most weddings occur at lunchtime on a weekday. Guests wear business attire. Wedding guests are greeted at the door by the parents of the bride and groom. They then sign an entry book and present gifts for the new couple, generally envelopes of money, to the parents. The Western-style ceremony typically takes place first. Western wedding clothes are generally provided as part of the services arranged through a wedding planner.
After the ceremony, the bride and groom pose for photos with groups of friends and family. While non-family guests enjoy a meal, the couple changes into traditional wedding attire, which is elaborately embroidered and features unique headwear. The couple and their families then go to a smaller room for a short traditional Korean ceremony. Afterward the couple changes into hanbok (traditional clothing) and mingles with the guests as they eat. Although the wedding is considered finished at the conclusion of the meal, family and close friends may throw a small party after the reception for the couple before they leave on their honeymoon.
Life Cycle
Birth Koreans tend to celebrate pregnancy individually or among family. After giving birth, women are encouraged to eat seaweed soup and to keep themselves and the baby warm. Family and friends wait about three weeks to visit the baby. This tradition is said to protect the mother's and newborn's immune systems.
Each syllable in a Korean name typically represents a different meaning based on traditional Chinese characters. Generally, family names are one syllable and given names are two, though they sometimes have one or three. Kim, Lee (Yi), and Park (Pak) are the most common family names. Women retain their maiden names when they marry.
One of the two syllables in the given name is often a generational name. All relatives of a given generation may have the same syllable as part of their full name. This generational name, called a dollimja, applies to the entire clan. For example, the Park family's sons may be named Gi Gon and Gi Chul and have a cousin of roughly the same age named Gi Seok. While some families still incorporate this naming system into their family names, in recent years fewer families choose to continue this tradition.
Milestones After baegil (one hundred days) of life, a small party is held in honor of the child's survival to that point (a milestone often not reached in the past). A larger celebration, called a dol, is held on the first birthday. The highlight of this event is when several items (such as a book, money, and thread) are placed in front of the baby. The item the child picks up first is thought to signify his or her fortunes in life. For example, if the child chooses a book, it is thought that he or she will become a scholar. Today, some families combine the one-hundred-day and first birthday celebrations, although a first child will likely still have both.
Generally, young people are considered adults when they graduate from high school. Other milestones coincide with the legal ages for driving a car (18) and drinking alcohol (19). People who have recently turned 20 celebrate Adult's Day on the third Monday in May and receive perfumes, roses, or kisses as gifts from friends on this holiday.
All South Korean men between ages 18 and 35 must enlist in the military or work as civil servants. The length of conscription varies depending on which branch of the military they serve in; however, most terms are roughly two years. Young men who refuse to serve or try to evade enlistment can be subject to up to 18 months in prison. Young women are not obligated to enlist but may volunteer for service if they desire.
On a person's 60th birthday (called hwangap), extended family members gather for a grand celebration. Guests enjoy large amounts of food, drink traditional liquor, and perform songs. Families may save money for months to pay for the event. The age of 60 is notable because it represents completing the full 60-year cycle of the traditional Chinese lunar calendar.
Death Depending on several factors, including the family's social prominence, a three- or five-day mourning period follows the death of a loved one. The family of the deceased rents a funeral parlor (which is usually part of a hospital), where mourners gather to pay respect and offer condolences. Black is usually worn. Funeral customs vary according to the religion of the deceased and the guests. Christian funerals feature a service by a pastor or priest, while Buddhist funerals feature a visit by a monk to the parlor on the last day of the mourning period.
At the funeral, guests are received by the deceased's family in a memorial room featuring photos of the deceased, by which guests place a white chrysanthemum. Buddhist guests bow two-and-a-half times to the photo, while Christian guests offer a silent prayer in front of the photo. Guests offer their condolences to the family and give them envelopes of money to help support them after their loss. Guests are then served traditional Korean food and drink. Close friends may stay with the family throughout the evening to offer support. The deceased is buried in a family plot, often on a mountainside. The grave is marked with a carved stone and a small earthen mound. After the burial, mourners share a meal. Land for cemeteries is scarce, so cremation is becoming more popular. Mourners usually spread the ashes in the countryside.
Diet
Korean food is generally spicy. Rice and kimchi (fermented vegetables, such as cabbage) are staples at almost every meal. Rice is sometimes combined with other ingredients, such as grains, beans, or vegetables. Bibimbap is rice mixed with seasoned vegetables; an egg is usually put on top, and sometimes bits of meat are added. Gimbap is a popular on-the-go or picnic food made of steamed rice, vegetables, and meat or seafood, rolled in dried seaweed. Favorite delicacies include samgyupsal (slices of grilled pork belly), bulgogi (strips of marinated and barbecued beef), and galbi (marinated short ribs). Various soups are common. Chicken and beef are typical meats. Koreans also eat large amounts of fish, seafood (clams, oysters, squid, octopus, sea cucumbers), and tteok (pounded rice cake).
Juk (rice porridge) is the basis for many dishes. Traditionally a food for people with digestive troubles, juk is now a popular everyday food. Busy working people often eat it for breakfast. Juk is also believed to have certain mystical powers. For example, sweet red bean juk is said to chase away evil spirits and ensure a long life. Soju, a common alcoholic drink traditionally made from rice, is a popular drink ordered with meals. Makgeolli, another rice-based alcoholic drink, is also popular throughout the nation. Fruit is often served as dessert.
Recreation
Sports The most popular sports in South Korea are soccer, baseball, basketball, and volleyball. People also enjoy badminton, table tennis, swimming, tennis, bowling, and golf. Baseball and soccer are popular among teenage boys, and they play these sports anywhere they can: schools, gyms, or even on the street. Children enjoy taekwondo (a martial art), and most men have some experience with it from their two compulsory years of military service. Jokgu (a blend of volleyball, tennis, and soccer played across a low net using only the feet or head) is also introduced to men during their time in the military, and many continue playing it in later years as well. Unique to Korea is a form of wrestling called ssireum, in which contestants hold on to pieces of cloth tied around their opponent's waist and thighs during their match. Women do not generally play sports as often as men but instead often workout indoors, at gyms or home, participating in activities such as yoga, pilates, aerobics, or dance classes.
Leisure During college, when young men are legally old enough to do so, they enjoy frequenting billiards parlors. An especially popular game there is sagu (also called "four balls," a game played with two cue balls and two target balls). A popular card game called go stop is played with hwatu cards (a deck containing 12 sets of 4 cards), originally from Japan. Go stop is played among family, friends, and neighbors and is also gambled on. Hiking is a popular activity for weekends and vacations.
Young people enjoy music and television, and computer games are extremely popular. Professional gaming competitions have rather large followings. Noraebang (karaoke) is enjoyed by people regardless of age or gender. Noraebang is a popular activity for groups of friends and coworkers as a way to relax after work or school. Women enjoy going to movies, visiting friends and family, going out for coffee, and shopping.
Vacation Wealthier Koreans travel abroad for vacations, usually to other East Asian countries or to the United States. Staying at resorts is also popular. For Koreans who do not travel abroad, day trips to the mountains or the beach are also popular. Jeju island, which is sometimes referred to as the "Hawaii of Korea," is a popular destination for all Koreans.
The Arts
Prose, poetry, legends, folktales, and plays were either passed down orally or recorded in the Chinese language until Hangul was developed in the mid-15th century. Poetry was originally performed through song; sijo (an ancient poetic form) has endured in popularity. Themes included Confucian principles, love, and nature, while current renditions also include political topics. Folk music and dance continue to be popular. Pansori is sung by a soloist accompanied by drums. Mask dances, drum dances, masked theater (sandae), and puppet theater (kkokdugaksi) are performed at festivals. Movies, art exhibits, and theaters also provide entertainment. Calligraphy is an important art and has influenced traditional painting. Every brush stroke represents an object in nature. Art forms are distinctly Korean but have been influenced by China as well as Buddhism and Shamanism.
South Korea is increasingly well-known for its popular culture. Korean soap operas (often called dramas) and music groups are the passion of many in South Korea and abroad, especially in other East Asian countries.
Holidays
Public holidays include New Year's Day (1 January), Seollal (lunar New Year), Independence Movement Day (1 March), Children's Day (5 May), Buddha's Birthday (in April or May, observed according to the lunar calendar), Memorial Day (6 June), Liberation Day (15 August), National Foundation Day (3 October), and Christmas (25 December).
Other holidays, such as Arbor Day (5 April), Armed Forces Day (1 October), and Korean Alphabet Day (9 October), are marked by various celebrations but are not public holidays. Several national and regional festivals also take place throughout the year.
Seollal South Koreans celebrate the international New Year and Seollal (the lunar New Year), though Seollal celebrations are much larger, making it one of the most important holidays of the year. South Koreans celebrate Seollal in January or February by visiting their hometowns or vacationing at resorts. Almost everybody takes off work the day before and the day after. On the morning of Seollal, families gather and enjoy a meal of tteokguk (sliced-rice-cake soup), typically made of garaetteok, a long, cylindrical-shaped rice cake. Garaetteok symbolizes luck, health, and a long life. Manduguk (Korean-style dumpling soup) is also popular. Families also gather to exchange gifts, honor the dead, play games, tell fortunes, and enjoy large meals. People often dress in traditional clothing, though this is becoming less common in cities. To honor deceased ancestors, the family gathers around a table that has food and incense on it. After the male relatives have bowed to pay respect to their ancestors, they make an offering to them by holding a glass of traditional alcohol over the incense and pouring it into an empty bowl. After the ceremony, the family eats the food placed on the table.
Buddha's Birthday While today only about 24 percent of Koreans consider themselves Buddhist, Buddha's birthday is celebrated by those of all faiths. On Buddha's birthday (the eighth day of the fourth lunar month), temples are decorated with pink lotus-shaped lanterns, and they offer special services and meals. At lantern festivals across the country, people write wishes on paper and attach them to the lanterns. Buddhists also worship Buddha and offer prayers in the temple.
Chuseok Chuseok (a harvest festival that is often compared to the U.S. Thanksgiving) is an important family holiday, celebrated on the fifteenth day of August on the lunar calendar, though like Seollal, celebrations span the day before and after the holiday. Family members visit ancestral tombs to clean the grave sites and leave food offerings in honor of the dead. Large family reunions are common during this festival. People visit their hometowns and enjoy traditional meals such as songpyeon (half-moon-shaped rice cakes steamed on top of a layer of pine needles).
Patriotic Holidays Independence Movement Day recognizes an independence movement in 1919 against the Japanese. Many observe this holiday by placing South Korean flags outside of their homes or businesses.
Memorial Day, observed 6 June, honors those who died during the Korean War and the Japanese occupation. At 10 a.m. on Memorial Day, sirens sound and people stop what they are doing to pay silent tribute to the deceased. Bars and nightclubs voluntarily close on Memorial Day, and people are encouraged to fly their flags at half-mast.
Liberation Day celebrates Korea's liberation from Japanese occupation in 1945. In the past, TV programs aired on Liberation Day focused on the cruelty of the Japanese occupation. In recent years, however, holiday celebrations have focused on building a relationship with Japan as a neighbor and a friend.
Society
Government
President Moon Jae-in
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun
Seoul
Structure
South Korea (officially the Republic of Korea, often referred to as the ROK to distinguish it from North Korea) is an electoral democracy led by a president, who is head of state. The president is directly elected by plurality vote to a five-year term and cannot run for reelection. The head of government is the prime minister, who is appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly (Kuk Hoe). The prime minister has little power independent of the president, making the office of prime minister more like that of vice president in the United States than the office of prime minister in many parliamentary systems.
The country's legislative branch is the unicameral National Assembly. Of the National Assembly's 300 seats, 253 are filled through a majoritarian system, and 47 are filled through proportional representation. All members of the National Assembly serve four-year terms. South Korea has both a Supreme Court and a Constitutional Court; the Supreme Court is the highest appeals court in the country, while the Constitutional Court generally limits its focus to constitutional disputes.
South Korea is divided into nine provinces, though eight major cities (including Seoul and Sejong City) have special status that essentially makes them function as eight additional provinces. Local government officials are usually elected or appointed by local governments. As a result of decades of authoritarian rule, government in South Korea tends to be very centralized, with sub-national governments having relatively little autonomy. However, local autonomy has been increasing incrementally since the mid-1990s.
Political Landscape While South Korea is a multiparty democracy, only a handful of parties gain representation in the National Assembly. Political parties in South Korea are very unstable, regularly changing names and alliances. Historically only two parties have held power: the center-right party (currently called the Liberty Korea Party) and the center-left party (Democratic Party). The Liberty Korea Party and its predecessors have held the presidency in South Korea for about 40 of the past 50 years and have been the largest party in the National Assembly for even longer.
As democracy in South Korea has matured, political dialogue has increased and center-left parties have more of a voice. Some political issues highlight regional political rivalries, especially between the Gyeongsang and Jeolla provinces. Voters often prefer to elect someone from their own region, regardless of the candidate's qualifications. Sensitive political issues include the reformation of government relationships with the major conglomerates (chaebol), an aging population, and national security (especially dealing with North Korea). South Korea's lack of gender equality is being discussed more openly since the election of Park Geun-hye as the country's first female president. The future of Sejong City is also at the center of political debate. For decades, reunification with North Korea has been a major political objective, but support for reunification has decreased in recent years.
A political issue that most South Koreans agree on is South Korea's claim to the Liancourt Rocks (known as Dokdo in South Korea), a group of small islets in the Sea of Japan (which many South Koreans call the East Sea). While South Korea currently has possession of the islets, Japan also claims them, and South Korea has vigorously fought this claim for decades.
Government and the People South Korea's laws generally allow individuals to enjoy broad freedoms of speech, religion, press, and assembly. A notable exception is South Korea's National Security Law, which forbids engaging in pro-North Korea activities. In the past, the government has used this law as legal cover while silencing its critics, and some claim the government still does so. Corruption is prevalent throughout society. Bribery is especially a problem among government officials who interact with big business.
Elections, however, are not only transparent but also free and fair. Voter turnout for presidential elections generally exceeds 70 percent of registered voters. Turnout in National Assembly elections has decreased significantly since direct elections for the president were implemented in 1987. Since then, voter turnout rarely exceeds 60 percent, while previously turnout regularly exceeded 70 percent of registered voters. The voting age is 19.
Economy
$2,035
$39,500
South Korea experienced rapid economic growth after the 1960s to earn a position as one of the Four Tigers of East Asia. In just one generation, South Korea rose from poverty to relative prosperity. Most families came to identify themselves as part of the middle class. In the late 1990s, strikes, a large budget deficit, political scandals, bankruptcies, and foreign competition made South Korea vulnerable to the economic crisis that swept Asia. The nation's chaebol (huge conglomerates) had not followed sound fiscal policies and began to fail. The government responded with a campaign that, among other goals, sought to make the chaebol more responsible.
Since the crisis, the economy has continued to grow, often at a high rate, and its industries have become increasingly high tech. Due to heavy dependence on international trade, the economy is vulnerable to global and regional downturns. Most recently, large amounts of foreign debt and the economy's dependence on exports made South Korea one of the hardest hit by the 2008 global economic crisis, though it rebounded quickly. The South Korean economy remains vulnerable to changes in global demand for its products, however. Other economic struggles include an aging population and the dominance of the chaebols.
Chief agricultural products include rice, barley, vegetables, fruit, and fish. About 5 percent of South Korea's labor force is in agriculture and lives in rural villages, cultivating small plots or collective farms. Around 25 percent of the labor force works in industry (mainly manufacturing). More than two-thirds is involved in service occupations. Major industries include electronics, automobiles, textiles and clothing, chemicals, steel, and shipbuilding. The currency is the won (KRW).
Transportation and Communications
Internet Users (per 100 people)
96
Cellular Phone Subscriptions (per 100 people)
130
92%
Air, rail, and bus connections provide a good transportation network between cities. A bullet train travels between Seoul and Busan in two-and-a-half hours. Roads are paved and in good condition. Buses, private cars, and taxis handle urban transportation. Seoul has efficient subway and bus systems. Taxis are plentiful and inexpensive. Driving habits are aggressive and accidents are common.
South Korea has many daily newspapers and numerous public and private radio and television stations, allowing for generally free and vibrant public discourse. The government does have some influence over the media with strong anti-defamation laws and legal restrictions on pro-North Korea materials. The government is especially sensitive to online media and activities. The country has efficient postal and telephone systems. Cellular phones are widespread, and South Korea has one of the fastest internet networks in the world.
Education
NA
12.1
Structure and Access Education is greatly valued in Korean culture and is considered a virtue in Confucianism, a philosophy that permeates Korean society. Education is seen as a key to success, respect, and power. Children enter elementary school at either six or seven years old. Elementary school has six grades (ages 6–12), while middle school (ages 12–15) and high school (ages 15–18) each have three. Schooling is compulsory and free for the first nine years, and nearly every child completes primary schooling. Most children continue on to secondary schools.
Though public and private high schools with a general curriculum are available, students can also attend schools that specialize in science and art, or vocational schools for careers that don't require university education. Foreign language and science schools are prestigious due to their competitive application process. Non-specialized high schools function primarily as institutions concerned with getting children into good universities.
School Life Because academic success is considered so important, middle school and high school often demand long hours and high performance. Core subjects include Korean, English, and mathematics—the subjects of the university entrance exam. Less emphasis is placed on art, music, and physical education. Many students spend just as much time, if not more, attending various types of hagwon (private tutoring academies) as they do on their actual schoolwork. Attending hagwon to prepare for the extremely competitive and rigorous university entrance exam is especially important. Students prepare intensively for months to pass the exam. The pressure to perform well on entrance exams has moved down to middle school–aged children, who try to get into good high schools from which to apply to universities.
Higher Education South Korea has a number of well-respected junior colleges and universities, which offer two-, three-, and four-year degrees. Seoul National University, Korea University, and Yonsei University are widely considered the best, and sending a child to a SKY (Seoul, Korea, Yonsei) University is considered a great accomplishment. While most of the top universities are in Seoul, few students in Korea live far from a reputable city or provincial university. Many students choose to study abroad as well; English-speaking countries (especially the United States), China, and Japan are popular destinations.
Health
All segments of the population have access to good health care. The best medical facilities are in Seoul. Traditional Korean medicine remains popular and is often used in conjunction with more modern treatment methods. Life expectancy and the quality of and access to health care have progressed with economic growth. Most people have access to safe water and adequate nutrition. Increased nutrition has resulted in an increase in the average height of the population. Nearly all women receive prenatal care and medical attention during delivery, and most children are immunized. Childhood obesity, partially a result of increased fast-food consumption, is a growing concern. Smoking is a public health concern among adults.
At a Glance
Contact Information
Embassy of the Republic of Korea, 2450 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008; phone (202) 939-5600; web site www.overseas.mofa.go.kr/us-en/index.do . Korea Tourism Organization, phone (201) 585-0909; web site www.visitkorea.or.kr .
