Cultures Around The World!!!: CAN YOU GUESS IT?? By : Michelle Toh Chia Ling

Can you name a country based on the hints given ?

It is called " Land of the Morning Calm "
Foreigners have to register Alien Registration Card (ARC) as shown in the picture below :

Fruits are very expensive in that country
They are the 2nd MOST hardworking people in the world
Tipping is NOT appreciated
The LARGEST shipbuilder in the world
Owns a TALKING elephant named Koshik as shown in the video below :

And the answer is.....................................................................................................................

SOUTH KOREA !!!

안녕하세요 (anyeong haseyo) !! Greetings from South Korea

South Korea is a beautiful country with four seasons : Autumn,Summer,Winter and Spring.

The four seasons

Map of South Korea

South Korea's Flag

Seoul,the capital of South Korea

In the past,it has been invaded by several countries such as China (as we can see by the influence in their language) ,Japan during World War II (South Koreans still mistrust Japanese until today due to the terrible treatment like women were forced to become sex slaves) and the peninsula was divided into North Korea and South Korea by the Soviets and the Americans.There was one war between them in 1950 to 1953 and Koreans have been preparing for another one ever since like what had happened in April this year.We can know more about the war in these 2 movies :

Taegukgi : The Brotherhood of War (Trailer)

Starring Jang Dong Gun and Won Bin
You can watch the full movie at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTg5W1Lgyzo

71 Into the Fire (Trailer)-based on a true story in which
71 student-soldiers fought during Korean War

Starring T.O.P from BIGBANG and Kwon Sang Woo
The link below is the full movie on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGfOK5ZHnP4

I first knew about South Korea was when I flipped through the world map and the name was unique for me at that time.Then,when the drama "Dae Jang Geum ,"대장금", a true story about the first female doctor in South Korea after being a kitchen cook,was broadcasted in Astro,I became curious about that country and searched for more information about South Korea.

The opening of the drama

The drama was a hit at that moment and Hong Kong's singer Kelly Chen even came out with her own Cantonese version of the drama soundtrack,"Onara".

Kelly Chen's version , "Hope"

As everyone knows that South Korea is known for their K-Pop as their music has become a norm to most parts of the world today ,Korean Wave,their courtesy, competitive education system and the lists continue.Now,let me introduce to you more about the WEIRD facts about them. Let's Go!

K-Pop Fever !!

I believe that most of you will know who is PSY,right?

He is the one that sings "Gangnam Style" which becomes a hit song all around the world.He has the most number of views in YouTube followed by Justin Bieber.Not to forget he came and did performance in my hometown,Penang,Malaysia during Chinese New Year this year.Below is the video of Psy performing with his dancers in Penang :

First of all,let me introduce you some facts about K-Pop industry :

1) The "Big Three" Entertainment Agencies :

First is S.M.Entertainment .This agency has the highest profit among all the other agencies.S.M stands for Lee Soo Man,the head of the company.

Lee Soo Man

Want to become the next K-Pop Star? Join the S.M Global Audition held in South Korea,Japan and USA NOW!

The SM Family

S.M. produces artists such as TVXQ,Girls Generation,Super Junior,Shinwa,SHINEE and EXO.

Girl Generation

Next is YG Entertainment.

YG stands for Yang Goon the nickname of the head,Yang Hyun-Suk.

Yang Hyun Suk

The YG Family

YG Family consists of the well-known PSY,BIBANG,2NE1,SE7EN and Epik High.Note that some of the names are in capital letters while some are not.

BIGBANG

Last but not least is the JYP Entertainment.

JYP stands for Park Jin-Young,the head of the company.He is the only head that is also a singer in the K-Pop industry until now.

Park Jin-Young

The JYP Family

2AM,2PM and Wonder Girls are a part of the JYP Family.

2PM in their latest song's MV, ADTOY

2.There have been articles stated that S.M. Entertainment will go for looks first before talents while YG and JYP Entertainment will go for talents first then only looks.However,S.M.Entertainment stated that one's talents can be improved by training.

3.There have been a lot of complaints from the K-Pop artists for not having enough rest as their schedules are always fully packed with activities.

The video shows Krystal (white pants) fainted during live performance due to fatigue.

4.The trainee system-it is a must to be a trainee before you can debut as a singer.However,there are still a lot of trainees that do not even have a chance to perform on stage even after more than 10 years of training.The worst of all,they may even do not have a chance to debut.

2AM's leader , Jo Kwon talked about his training years

http://www.allkpop.com/article/2011/03/jo-kwon-suffered-from-depression-during-his-trainee-years

Click the link above for full story

Nightline news about K-Pop Boot Camp

Life as a trainee starts around at the age of 9 or 10.The trainees have dancing and singing classes at night and live together at the dorm provided while attending school during the day.They are also taught foreign languages such as English and Chinese.They are fully subsidized by the company.

Taemin,a member of SHINEE attending school

According to the CEO of Universal Music's Southern Asian branch, the Korean idol trainee system is the most unique in the world.

You can watch the full training system before 2AM and 2PM debuted by JYP Entertainment on this website :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWvwqXt_ZBI

You can also watch the confession made by JYP ex-trainee here :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBOtltTvVSQ

Why do the most of us are so into K-Pop??

According to a research, most of us are addicted to K-Pop because of the uniqueness in their music.It makes us feel different from the others' music.Next, the idols.They are always connected to their fans. As fans,we can add them through their Facebook or Instagram and they will always update their status or photos.It makes K-Pop not only about music but also a lifestyle.Those are the reasons more and more people are addicted to K-Pop.

T-ara with their catchy song , "Bo Peep" which became a hit after it was released

Festivals Not To Be Missed In South Korea

If you are planning to travel to South Korea,why don't you consider these few months with some interesting festivals?

May-The Day The Buddha Came ( Buddha's Birthday/Wesak Day)

It is also known as the "Festivals of Lanterns"

June-Gangneung Danoje Festival(Place:Gangneung,Gangwon-Do)

To celebrate the traditional "Dano" which is the 5th day of the 5th month in the Lunar year.The main purpose of this celebration is to worship the guardian spirit of a mountain which protects the town, pray for the peace of the town, all the families and prosperity of farming.It is normally celebrated for 5 days and the activities include Ssirum(Korean wrestling),mask playing and eating ddeok(Koreans' rice cake).They will burn sacred woods and the festival ends.

July-Boryeong Mud Festival (Place:Daecheon,Chungcheongnam-do)

Activites include mud wrestling and mud slides.

Not only it is a great to have fun in the mud but also you will get free beneficial skin treatment while rolling around in the mud.

The 16th Mud Festival occurred last month from 19th to 28th of July.

October-Busan International Film Festival or BIFF (Place: Busan)

The LARGEST and MOST RENOWNED Korea's film festivals which features films throughout Asia.Last year,304 films from 75 countries participated in BIFF.

Cold War as the opening movie of BIFF

Television as the closing movie of BIFF

Korea's Traditional Dance and Music (Before K-Pop Started)

At first , let's have some look on Korea's Farmer Dance.

The dance is also known as Suwon Dance which was introduced during The Three Kingdom period.It is normally performed during the planting and harvesting seasons.Today,it is also performed during festivals and special village holidays.

Next is Korea's Fan Dance.

The dance is also known as Bucheachum Dance.It is normally performed during shamans ritual(shaman acts as the intermediate person between spirits and human beings),celebrations,festivals and traditional Korean holidays.

Now,let's enjoy the video below which is one of the traditional Koreans' music.

Arirang

The new version of Arirang sung by SG Wanabe

P'ansori is a one-person narrative based on folk tales and classical novels.It can take up to 5 hours for one performance.One may have to train for around 20 years for that.

Koreans' Family

Family which also stands for "Father And Mother I Love You" is the most important in any Koreans' lives.The head of the family is the father which has the following responsibilities :

Provides food,clothes and shelter for his entire family
Approves marriages in the family

While the elder son of a family has a few special duties to :

the parents
siblings according to their ages
his sons
his wife
his daughters

Women in South Korea are traditionally staying in their houses doing household chores but now they take on larger roles by working outside their houses.

Koreans' ancestors are based on the male family line.Children are raised to believe that they can NEVER repay their parents thus ancestor worship is very popular.They carry out ancestor ceremonies a few times in a year like during Chusok and New Year's Day.

A Korean Family

Chusok

KOREANS' DATING CULTURE

After I did some research on Koreans' dating culture,below is the outcome :

Age-Koreans' first love are normally during ther high school

Dating Places-Common places such as cinema and karaoke bars

Couple Rings-This is a MUST to have item to show that they are in love

Meeting Parents-Couples will NOT meet each other's parents until they are ready to get married

Koreans' Wedding Day !!

Although Koreans these days are more open-minded, they still hold on to the belief that wedding is not just about a relationship but a merging of 2 families.Marriages are sometimes arranged by matchmakers or jungmae .However,the final decision is still up to the man and the woman involved.Parents' disagreement of a relationship can easily break the whole relationship as the children are very respectful to their parents.
In South Korea,men over 18 years old and women over 16 years old can legally married with parental consent.After the age of 20,they are able to marry at their own will.

A Korean's traditional wedding outfits,hanbok

A Modern Korean Wedding

As we can observe that Koreans practice Western style in their weddings like they wear white wedding gown instead of the traditional hanbok these days. Below is the video of a traditional Korean wedding.

How to propose to a Korean friend ?

Just follow these 5 simple steps to bring your relationship to a whole new level !

1)Meet each others' parents

2)Seek approval

3)Set the wedding date

4)Ask for their daughter's hands

5)Dinner-exchange of gifts (napp'ae)

"Happy Wedding !! Wishing you a good life ahead."

You can learn how to impress your Korean-in-laws using this website :

http://sweetandtastytv.com/2013/03/28/how-to-impress-korean-parents-your-future-in-laws-kwow-81/

Hanbok,Korea's Traditional Clothes

As most of you know,Hanbok is South Korea's traditional clothes.In the past,the colour represents one's social rank.For example,a commoner would wear normally white hanbok and that was the reason why they were called the "white clad people" while the King and other royalty would wear yellow.These upper class would also wear jewellery to distance themselves from the lower class.

Hanbok can be divided into a few types :

Men's Hanbok

Women's Hanbok

Wedding Hanbok

Mourning Hanbok(Funeral)

Today's hanbok has changed.The colour system that was used to differentiate social rank was not practiced anymore.As long as you have the money,you can have whatever hanbok's design as you wish.Below are a few pictures of the modern hanbok :

Kim MeHee's Design

Lee Young Hee's Design

Furthermore,hanbok is not only worn by Koreans but also people from all over the world these days.Below are a few pictures of celebrities wearing hanbok:

Britney Spears

Paris Hilton and the "Infinity Challenge" casts

Education in South Korea

Have you ever planned to study in South Korea?Their education system is one of the best in the world as:

Koreans have the world's highest estimated national IQ with leading rankings in Mathematics,Science,Problem-solving and Reading,as declared by the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development)
South Korea is the first country in the world to provide high-speed Internet access to all the schools

South Korea's Students

Basically,South Korea's education can be divided into a few categories :Primary Education,Middle School,High School and Higher Education. They also have Private School and Special Needs

School.Education system in South Korea stresses on subjects such as Mathematics,Science,English,Korean and Social Studies.The most prestigious universities in South Korea in which every students yearn to enter are Yonsei University and Seoul National University.In order to enter college,it is a must for them to take a very crucial exam that is the college entrance exam.

Seoul National University

Yonsei University

However,South Korea's education has been criticized for its stressful learning environment.In order to pass the exam with flying colours,students not only attend the unusual long hours of schooling from 8.00am to 4.30pm but also attend private tuitions from 10.00pm to midnight.They even study before and after school.

Students taking the college entrance exam

Koreans' Students Taking College Entrance Exam

Are You Hungry ??

I think after you read the title above,you should know what I am going to talk about next which is the Koreans' food.Let me show you some of the popular Koreans' cuisine with pictures:

Kimchi

Kimbap(Koreans' sushi roll)

Bibimbap(Rice with egg and other dishes mix together)

Gaeran Mari(Koreans' Rolled Egg Omelette)

Ddukboki (Koreans' Spicy Rice Cakes)

I have tried Ddukboki before in Rock Café near my college,Sunway College in Kuala Lumpur and it was so spicy for me.So if you are a Korean food lover,then I recommend you to come to this shop.

Rock Cafe,Bandar Sunway

How to make kimchi in 3 minutes ?

Korea has so many delicious food that we must try if we visit Korea.When we are eating,we have to follow some Koreans' eating etiquettes such as:

1.Do not throw chopsticks on the table

2.Do not let your spoon touch your plates

3.Do not ever lift your bowls from the table unlike in China and Japan

4.Always serve the eldest man first

5.Women usually dine in a separate portion of the house after the men were served

6.The younger family members should not pick up their chopsticks and start eating before the elders and should not stop eating before the elders finish eating

7.Do not eat too fast or too slow

8.When drink alcohol,we should face away from the eldest man and cover our mouth

9.We should not refuse the first drink offered by the host

10.However,if the guests refuse the drink thrice,drink is not to be offered anymore

Koreans' Sports

I think most of us know Taekwondo right? It was introduced in South Korea along with Taekkyeon and Hapkido.

Taekwondo

It became popular after World War II . It involves kicking and punching. I learned Taekwondo in high school for 2 years until I was awarded green belt but I had to stop training due to injuries.

Taekkyeon

It was introduced during Goguryeo period in the 4th century.It involves both hands and feet but fists are not permitted in the game.It is smoother and more curvilinear than Taekwondo.

Hapkido

It was developed during the Three Kingdoms.It is nearly similar to the Japanese's Aikido.

Let's us continue with Korea's traditional sports :

Rope Walking ( Jul T'agi)

The walkers will jump up and down,do somersaults on the rope and tell jokes to the audiences.

Korean See-saw (Nol-Ttwigi)

Players will stand on their side and jump up forcing their partners into the air on the opposite side.It is normally played by females during traditional holidays and festivals.

Korean wrestling (Ssirum)

It is similar to the Japanese's sumo wrestling.The one who manages to throw his partner to the ground wins a point.One of the Korea's MC ,Kang HoDong was the national ex-wrestler.

Kang HoDong

Go-Stop

It is a type of card game and people normally play that for money.They normally play on trains,in the park,at restaurants and bars until now.

A Korean family playing Go-Stop at home

Before I end the topic of sports,let me ask you a simple question. Do you know what is Korea's most popular sport today?

South Korea's gymnast Shin Soo-Ji threw the first pitch at a baseball event

It is none other than BASEBALL !!Korea is considered one of the best baseball players in the world with the following achievements :

Korea won the Gold Medal in baseball at the 2008 Olympic Games
Korea is also a regular participant in the World Baseball Classic

Korean Language aka Hangul or Chosongul

At first, Koreans used Chinese alphabets or hanja but it was so difficult that only the privileged aristocrats(yangban) commonly male could read and write well in Chinese.

Hanja

Due to this reason,the 4th King of Joseon Dynasty,Sejong the Great introduced Korean alphabets or commonly known as hangul or chosongul so that even a commoner could read and write.According to Haerye,"A wise man can acquaint himself with them before the morning is over,a stupid man can learn them in ten days."

Portrait of Sejong the Great

The cartoon version

The movie version

However,South Korean government states that about 25% of the older generations are still illiterate in hangul.On the other hand,one is said to be literate in North Korea if he could write the name of their late King Kim Il Sung.

Kim Il Sung

So,they state that the successful of hangul has not been completely measured.

Koreans' Dialects

South Korea consists of many provinces such as Jeju thus they also have many dialects.Each provinces has their very own dialects and Koreans agree that their standard language is Seoul dialect.The video below is about the different dialects in South Korea.

Video showing the different dialects in South Korea

Religions

In the past,they combined Taoism,Confucianism and Buddhism to be practiced in their daily lives.Today,we can observe the changes in their religions in the pie chart below :

What do we need to focus on when doing business with Koreans?

Koreans' Business Cultures

Here are a few things you should remember when greetings:

Korean Businessmen-Shake hands with a bow

Korean Businesswomen-Give a nod of acknowledgment and usually do not shake hands with Western Businessmen

Next, rules during meetings :

1 ) Be punctual

2) Koreans Businessmen and Businesswomen are very hopeful . They will wait for as long as 30 minutes if a person is late for the meeting.

3) Business should not be discussed during the first meeting as it is to build a trustworthy relationship.

When giving or receiving business cards,use both of the hands.Then, view the information before keeping it in a briefcase or card case.Do not write or fold the card and treat it with respect.

After a negotiation, Korean businessmen and businesswomen will give a low,deep bow in the end of the meeting.We should return the bow if we agree with the negotiation.However, if they are dissatisfied with the result,they will give a short bow.