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Showing posts with the label Korean Culture

how to start the day in the country of the calm morning

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  The Korean breakfast is very different from the Western one: in fact, Korea tends to avoid sweet early mornings and to have a purely salty breakfast. To be honest, the traditional Korean breakfast doesn't differ much from a lunch or dinner and is very filling. However, given the hectic life of recent times, many Koreans have started to have a more frugal breakfast or skip it altogether, indulging in just a takeaway coffee from one of the many coffee shops. Now let's see what the traditional Korean breakfast is made up of and how it has changed over time. Traditional Korean breakfast The traditional Korean breakfast is meant to be a full meal and gives a lot of energy to face the day. It, therefore, consists of many dishes served in small portions, so that all together give the necessary nutritional intake. On the table we always find steamed white rice, which is the basic ingredient of the Korean diet, a soup, and various banchan, that is side dishes, including kimchi, that i

The main rules of etiquette in Korea

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Going to another country you are faced with different customs and traditions, and Korea is no exception. Like all Asian cultures, Korean to has a series of rules to respect, imposed by society on relative occasions. Let's see together the 10 main rules of etiquette in Korea. 1. Take off your shoes It is good etiquette in Korea, in most homes, to take off your shoes before entering. Shoes are not worn indoors, it is unhygienic after walking down the street, and Koreans, like many other Asian peoples, sleep, study, eat, and spend most of their time on the floor. It may also happen that in some traditional restaurants, with wooden floors, it is required to take off your shoes, so don't be too surprised! 2. Bow down As in Japan, people in Korea bow out of respect, especially among people who do not know each other or work colleagues. It is not uncommon to see students bowing when they meet their sunbae  (older student), just as it is common for the restaurant ajumma (middle-aged la

Hanbok, the traditional Korean dress

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The hanbok is a traditional Korean dress with ancient roots. The style belongs to the Joseon Dynasty era, in the late 1300s, but some researchers argue that it is of Mongolian or Siberian origin. Having falle in into disuse in the 1960s, the hanbok is now used as a formal dress or during particularly formal occasions. Let's find out what it is. How hanbok is made There are two versions of hanbok: a male and a female. The female version is mainly composed of two parts: a wide skirt that reaches up to the foot tied below the breast by a band, and a short jacket. Both parts are embroidered and are of different colors. Usually, the models used by the nobles were in silk or cotton, while the poorest used hemp fabrics. Together with the hanbok, decorative accessories were often used, such as clips called bingo, traditional long hairpins used to pin the chignon, and cheopji , or decorations for the front part of the hairstyle. The male version is instead made up jacket and pants (baji), a

How the Korean wave Hallyu achieved worldwide success

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The term "Korean Wave", also known as Hallyu or Korean Wave, indicates the recent phenomenon that sees the considerable increase in interest from the rest of the world towards South Korean culture and entertainment products. Begun in the 1990s in Asia and more recently in the rest of the world, the Korean wave has brought about major changes in South Korea, especially in the economic and image fields. The first to talk about the Korean wave was in 1999 a Chinese journalist who, coining the term Hallyu, wanted to define the phenomenon that from Korea, like a real wave, was preparing to overwhelm the international entertainment industry. Let's see together in this article how it was born. Drama, or Korean TV series To determine the considerable increase in interest in Korean cultural products was mainly the drama. Notably, the 2002 drama Winter Sonata had a blazing success in the rest of Asia, also causing a growing tourist interest in Nami-som, an islet east of Seoul where

Discovering Korean traditional dances

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The traditional Korean dances are a very fascinating aspect of the country's culture. Very different from modern ones and from what we are used to in the West, there are several. To simplify, we can distinguish mainly into three groups: Buddhist ritual dances ( Jakob, court dances ( Jeong Jae), and folk dances.  The most famous buchaechum, the dance with fans, is part of the latter group. Probably if you have participated in events such as the Oriental Festival or Korea Week, you will have already seen one of these dances represented and you will have noticed that, being of ancient origins, many of them are performed in hanbok, the traditional Korean dress. Let's now look at the differences between the various groups. Buddhist ritual dances The jukebox is Korean traditional dances that were performed during Buddhist rituals . Of this group, the most famous and appreciated are the nabichum and the barachum. Nachum literally means butterfly dance (from nabi that is the butterfly,

4 Things You Need to Know About Korean Culture if You’re Moving to South Korea

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4 Things You Need to Know About Korean Culture if You’re Moving to South Korea There are many things you need to know before moving to South Korea. Whether you’re a long-term expat, a  traveler  relocating here, or just thinking about visiting, it’s important to learn the rules and regulations of the country you have chosen as your new home. Here are some helpful tips for those looking to move to South Korea, whether temporarily or permanently. 4 Things You Need to Know About Korean Culture if You’re Moving to South Korea   What are some basic rules of etiquette in Korea?   What are the important holidays in South Korea?   What is the climate like in South Korea?   4 Things You Need to Know About Korean Culture if You’re Moving to South Korea South Korea is the fourth largest country in Asia, but it is one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world. With over 50 million people, South Korea has a wealth of culture and history to explore. There are a few things you shoul