Interesting facts about South Korea and Koreans. Interesting and unusual facts about South Korea

In my personal rating of visited Asian countries, South Korea confidently took 1st place. We spent 3 wonderful months here, most of the time at the strawberry farm, where we helped in the workaway to harvest strawberries and make desserts from them (the best strawberry in my life). I will leave a link to the farm , suddenly someone wants to come, I highly recommend this place. Conditions for arrival - the ability to stay for at least a month, the ability to speak English fluently, friendly character. Bonuses - food, taekwondo lessons, badminton and various outings to eat and karaoke, and for those who stay for 2 months - a paid trip to Jeju Island.

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Russians can come to Korea without a visa for 60 days and then return for another 30 days (the rule of stay in the country is 90/180 days).

In this country, you very often forget that you are in Asia, although it still has its own characteristics. Below I will tell you about things that seemed interesting, unusual, strange to us, or which we had to get used to.

Korean age. In Korea, there is a breakdown of Korean and international ages. Here, a child born on December 31st will be considered 2 years old the next day. The fact is that when a child is born, Koreans already believe that he is a year old, and on January 1, regardless of the date of birth, all residents of the country become one year older.
Here you can forget O habitual green or black tea... Even tea that is labeled green on the packet will actually be a mixture of green with, for example, rice tea. Here you can also try a variety of incomprehensible teas, including pure onion.
Most Koreans are catholics... The number of churches per square meter is simply off scale.
If you've watched a Korean movie, you should have seen that they eat all the time in movies. ramen(instant noodles or instant noodles). In real life, they eat it even more than in the movies. Even at a soccer game, huge numbers of people can sit and chew canned noodles.
Red color is considered “good”, green is “bad”. Those. hazard signs are likely to be written in green.
It is almost impossible to find anything with an inscription in Korea. "Made in China", on all products, as a rule, there is a stamp “Made in Korea”. And, in my opinion, this is very cool!
With english it is bad here, although studying it is one of the most popular hobbies at the present time. Parents try to make their children learn the language from an early age, so that in the future they can get a more decent job. Even if the work does not require English, first of all they will hire an employee who knows this language (although it is not clear why).
Korean was invented to supplant Chinese, which was (and is) much more difficult than Korean and which was difficult for ordinary people to learn.
Light subway runs in some parts of Korea without drivers... This is space, although we have already seen this in Malaysia.
If you will be eat rice with a fork most likely someone will start laughing. If rice is not eaten with chopsticks, then it will be eaten with a spoon. The fork will seem strange to them.
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Foreigners there are not very many here and they are straightforwardly loved, but no one will rush to take pictures with you or try to take an inconspicuous selfie with you, as they did in some other countries.
Farming sector receives state support (we received this information from the owners of the strawberry farm where we volunteered).
Food here it ranges from moderately spicy to "laschasumruumenyavsorit".
One of the most popular after-work meals is chimek - fried chicken + beer... Well, do not forget about kimchi - pickled vegetables (cabbage or radish), not a single meal can do without this snack.
There is Russian language! Due to the fact that during the war between North and South Korea, many Koreans fled to the USSR, and now their children and grandchildren are returning to Korea, Russian speech and signs in Russian can be found quite often. In Busan, for example, there is even a Russian street.
Here is very purely, and the culture of sorting and recycling waste is at a very high level.
Korean has a crazy amount of styles of courtesy... When speaking Korean, there are a lot of details to consider when choosing the right shape, such as age, social status and god knows what else, but that also needs to be done. Often the elder will be right. And the point.
Saying hello, saying goodbye, thanks, you always bow down... I love this part of culture and already bow down in conversation with might and main and get the same politeness in return. When we went to Hong Kong (about our trip it is possible, I bowed out of habit in conversation, but this is not at all accepted there.
Samsung and only Samsung- the most popular brand in Korea, no iPhones. This country really supports its manufacturers, although this is not difficult, because Korean brands are really high quality (LG, KIA, HYUNDAI).
Using transport card, for travel you will pay almost 2 times less than if you pay in cash (provided that you travel on more than one vehicle).
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The most popular sport is badminton... We also played adult badminton, through the net. This is much more interesting than simply tossing the shuttlecock to each other, as it was in childhood.
A tomato here is a fruit, so you can periodically see it in desserts, I even saw tomato ice cream. Also in desserts you can see red beans... They generally love her madly.
Korean cosmetics- this is love and advice to try it. It is of high quality and affordable. Here I really fell in love with taking care of my skin, from the country I take a whole suitcase of various products, masks and creams.
K-POP culture and Korean dramas are deeply intertwined with the lives of ordinary Koreans. The hairstyles, clothing style of actors and singers, as well as accessories are copied by almost everyone, so in Korea now most boys, young men and men go with a haircut in the shape of a pot, while girls go mostly with loose long hair with or without bangs. The shape of glasses polls all - ala Harry Potter. Makeup - various shades of red lipstick. Grandmothers go with short hair and curly hairstyles. Even in Korea, you will not see not only bearded men, but even light stubble, only clean-shaven faces.
The most popular alcoholic drink is soju(about 20 degrees) - costs about 1 euro, while a can of beer costs 2.5 euros and more. Wine and champagne are generally a wild luxury - from 10 euros and more. The most popular soft drink - coffee, which is sold here at every turn.
Despite Korea's strict adherence to the rules, drivers of them are not the best, they can pass on red, ignore the fast lane, do not always look around when making a maneuver.
Korea is in 1st place in the world in terms of the number of plastic surgery per capita, and medical tourism is a significant part of the country's income.
Korea is one of the top selling countries cryptocurrencies(item from husband).
Although Korea is located in Asia, fruit prices here they bite very much (very, very straight).
When you jumping in the cold To keep warm, Koreans will stand calmly in sneakers and unbuttoned jackets, without hats. Apparently, they are frost-resistant. We are not.

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Our results

Three months passed very quickly, I can say that I did not breathe Korea, but during this time we:

received a green belt in taekwondo (we studied with the Korean champion in taekwondo and his students);
learned a few “vital” phrases, such as: delicious strawberries, eat more, I'm smart, thank you, hello, beauty, soju please;
went to Jeju Island;
visited the stadium that hosted the 2002 FIFA World Cup, and also attended a football match in the Asian Champions League;
I got into the Gimhae City newspaper and a video about a strawberry farm that was filmed by one of the three most popular channels in Korea, and my husband was published on the website of the Gimhae City Administration;
first went to Asian karaoke (when you sing in a separate room only with your friends) and it's divine. I found out that I have a great voice and I don't sing as badly as I thought my whole life (after I was kicked out of the choir in elementary school); tried on the national dress - hanbok;
we went to a mini-island not far from Seoul - one of the most popular dates for Korean lovers;
watched the cherry blossoms;
loved Korea for life.

In this country, care is felt in relation to the population, even in the smallest details. When I left, I left here a piece of my heart, which is already bored. I really hope that this will not be our last visit to the country of Han (the old name of Korea).

Would you like to visit Korea? And if so, why?

P.S. My memories of Korea .

South Korea is one of the few countries where old traditions are preserved and honored. Korean traditions regarding social relationships are specific. The younger ones are obliged to respect and listen to the elders, and influential people are the authority for ordinary citizens. Koreans will ask you questions about family, age and social status before getting to know you better. This is necessary in order for the Korean to know in what form he should contact you.

It is not customary for Koreans to hug or kiss when they meet; it is enough to shake hands or bow. But you should not shake your hand too much, since a strong handshake can be regarded as rude. You should also know that when greeting someone older than you, you should definitely bow.

All Koreans love to drink, they do it well and with their own traditions. You cannot pour yourself. While drinking a glass, you need to turn away from people older than you.

Koreans are very superstitious, one of which says that writing a person's name in red ink entails a lot of trouble, illness and possibly even death.

All Koreans are afraid of the number "4" like fire. The pronunciation of this number is consonant with the word "death". Instead, they write the English letter "F" or skip it altogether.

Unlike Russia, there are very few surnames in Korea, but a large number. Meeting people with the same name is hard enough.

All Koreans carry a toothbrush or dental floss with them. Dentistry in Korea is very expensive, so Koreans monitor the condition of their teeth with great responsibility.

If you want to call a Korean to you, do not do it with your palm up or with your finger - only animals are called in this way.

Many Koreans cannot swim.

Shoes must be removed when entering a Korean home. It is considered bad form and disrespect if your feet are bare, it is best to wear socks or knee-highs.

All Korean homes have electrically heated floors, so people go barefoot at home.

Korea is one of the safest countries in the world. You can safely walk the streets at a late hour without fear of running into robbers or hooligans.

All Korean girls love to wear mini skirts. When they fought with this for a long time, but then spat - now it is considered absolutely normal. However, it is considered vulgar to wear sweaters or dresses with a deep neckline.

Divorce among Koreans is considered a shame for the whole family of a divorced son or daughter.

Many Koreans suffer from myopia. However, young people also wear glasses as a fashion accessory without glasses.

There are many different coffee shops and bakeries in Korea, as Koreans are avid coffee lovers.

There are many interesting and extraordinary nations living on our planet, each of which is unique and inimitable in its own way. However, if relatively much is known about some in Russia, at least at the level of stereotypes, then almost nothing is said about others. For example, about the Koreans is known to insulting little ...

Interesting facts about Koreans, by the way, relate to their entire life. More precisely, the fact that it is completely regulated. Tradition prescribes food in each season, clothing, typical occupations. In the summer, for example, they definitely eat hot soup ... but to try it in January or February is unthinkable for a Korean.

However, the soup is just a trifle. In summer, if it rains, Koreans eat spicy noodles; if it is in a bucket, then it cannot be eaten at all. Moreover, in the summer months it is necessary to watch horror films (to shiver and cool, apparently).

The Korean attitude to tanning is radically different from the European one. Just imagine: a hot sunny day, and it would seem that it's time to leave a minimum of clothes. But no, in general, everyone just then pushes it to the maximum. Walking down the street, you just see - long sleeves, hats with long visors or even masks; people do not walk along the streets, but quickly run from one place to another, in such a way that there is as much shadow as possible along the way. There is not a single window where the blinds are not closed, the curtains are closed on all buses.

There is nothing surprising in this. Until recently, by historical standards, people tried to avoid tanning in every possible way all over the world. He was a symbol of strenuous physical labor in the open air (which means low social status, poor intellectual development). Korea, in which traditional ideas of this kind are preserved to this day, has practically become a "reserve" of the anti-tanning tradition.

It must be said that tradition in many respects is not a minus, but a plus of Korean society (including for tourists). Criminal crime, including murder, robbery, theft, drug trafficking, are almost exceptional phenomena here. Carjacking is becoming a newspaper sensation.

As in Japan, Koreans avoid the number four because it sounds the same as the word for death. What they almost never eat is dairy, which is a delicacy on the Korean peninsula.

Since, according to all the same traditions, the left side is honorable, then the road traffic is also left-sided. Interestingly, there are three hundred surnames in Korea, and there are many thousands of names.

There are many traditions associated with footwear. For example, entering a house, it is immediately removed; and they hide it on New Year's Eve. If the “spirit” walking around the house at that time takes away the shoes you like in some mystical way, then the whole next year will be unsuccessful.

South Korea is one of the most developed Asian countries. This country is one of the world's major suppliers of computer technology, along with mighty China. It is located next to the most closed state in the world - the DPRK, or North Korea. The country was divided during the civil conflict, and so much time has passed since then that the North and South Koreans can rightfully be considered different, albeit related, peoples.

Koreans believe that the founder of their country was the son of a woman and a bear.
Residents of South Korea, according to official figures, have the highest level of intelligence among the entire population of the Earth.
The most visited Christian temple in the world is located in South Korea - the Full Gospel Church receives about 20 thousand parishioners weekly.
South Korea is one of the five largest car manufacturers in the world, and also ranks first in shipbuilding.
The staff at Seoul National University were the first scientists to clone a dog.
On the territory of South Korea, there was a place for more than two dozen national parks.
The largest building on the Korean Peninsula is the residence of the President of South Korea, which is called the "Blue House".
Video game competitions, like the very concept of "esports", originated in South Korea.
Korea is the birthplace of the martial art of taekwondo.
Residents of South Korea are not indifferent to alcohol, in the local cuisine there is even a special "hangover soup" in pork broth. Drinking alcoholic beverages is accompanied by a lot of conventions - for example, pouring alcohol into your glass is indecent, and the one who is older in age will certainly drink the first from the company.
South Koreans have an extremely negative attitude towards red ink - it is believed that if a person's name is written in red, misfortune or even death awaits him in the near future. The reason for this superstition is that earlier the names of the deceased were displayed in red on the gravestones.
In South Korea, there is a special handshake culture, according to which one can only greet peers or friends with one hand, and to greet respected or older people, you need to use two hands and bow slightly.
In South Korea, private educational institutions are widespread, the quality of education in which is very high. Parents of South Korean schoolchildren spend $ 17 billion annually on the education of their offspring. A teacher is a prestigious profession, a really good teacher in a private school can earn several million a year.
Despite outward prosperity, South Korea has the highest suicide rate in the world.
Suwon has a quirky amusement park entirely dedicated to toilets. You can visit this place for free.
Plastic surgery is very popular in South Korea - many parents give their daughters a trip to the surgeon to graduate from school. One of the latest fashion trends is the artificial lifting of the corners of the lips, which creates the illusion of a constant light smile.
In South Korea, they conduct their own bullfights, only bulls are fighting not with people, but with their own kind. The battle is considered over when one of the animals leaves the arena.
South Korean scientists have developed a special robot to combat jellyfish, which interfere with fishing and recreation of tourists.
Almost the entire population of South Korea (90%) has some vision problems from birth.
South Koreans believe that a person's essence is closely related to his blood type. On the basis of this indicator, a decision is often made about the success or failure of a marriage.
South Korea has its own system for calculating a person's age - in this country it is customary to count the year a child spent in the womb, and then add the age at each calendar change of the year.
The most common Korean surname is Kim.
Korean woman Cha Sa Sung was able to pass the theoretical part of the driving license exam after 950 unsuccessful attempts. When she finally achieved success, she was 69 years old.

South Korea is one of the most interesting countries in the world. Asia is fascinated by Korean food, music and TV programs. Its influence can rival that of Chinese and Japanese. And the Boston Consulting Group even called this country the most innovative in the world. Not bad at all for a state founded only in 1948! "The Land of Morning Freshness" is only gaining momentum and is full of curious customs and interesting facts.

Alcohol

Drinking is an important part of the culture of South Korean society. There are some serious rules here. If the elder pours you a beer, you must hold the glass with both hands. If pouring for a senior, hold the bottle with both hands. Only the elderly or those in power can use one hand. In addition, you should always wait until the elder starts drinking.

Even if you are not drinking, you should take the first serving offered. Always leave some alcohol in the glass and never add yourself.

Red ink

Every society has its own strange superstitions. Koreans hate red ink. It is believed that if you write someone's name with a red pen, the person will be in serious trouble in the near future. He may even die. Some believe that red ink wards off demons and protects the dead, but the opposite works with living people.

A proper handshake

Not long ago, Bill Gates stirred up the South Korean media at a meeting with President Park Geun-hye. His act was considered inappropriate and even indecent gesture. What did the billionaire do? When Gates extended his right hand to the president for a handshake, he left his left in his pants pocket. In South Korea, one hand can be used to shake hands with a friend, peer, or younger person. But a senior person or official should always shake hands with both hands.

South Korean education

South Korean students are unusually bright and intelligent, they are ranked second in the world in terms of reading. It's all about special private educational institutions. Children attend these academies from an early age to study a wide variety of subjects, from math and science to taekwondo, ballet and belly dancing. The very best teachers attract huge numbers of students, and some teachers become so popular that they earn several million dollars a year. It should be noted that Korean parents spend $ 17 billion a year for the education of children in such academies.

There is also a downside to the education medal in South Korea. Students who did not pass the main CSAT test too well cannot be enrolled in prestigious colleges; only the most unsuccessful educational institutions can be the ultimate in their dreams. This system has led to a very high rate of student suicide in the state.

Korean-Japanese rivalry

In the past, Japan had a "bad habit" of invading the Korean Peninsula. In 1910, the Japanese conquered Korea and ruled the country very brutally, forcing Koreans to practice Shinto and speak Japanese. During World War II, the Japanese military forced nearly 200,000 Korean women to work in brothels throughout China.

According to a 2012 survey of the countries Koreans despise the most, Japan topped the rankings by a huge margin, with a whopping 44.1% of the vote.

Skirt disputes

Despite the fact that South Korea is very conservative, mini-skirts and micro-shorts are almost always in fashion here. Such clothes are considered the norm even for business women. But it was not always so. From 1963 to 1979, dictator Park Chung Hee ruled here, under whose regime it was considered illegal to wear skirts ending 20 cm above the knee (or even higher). The regime was so harsh that even the length of the hair of women was determined by law.

Toilet - theme amusement parks

There are many bizarre theme parks around the world, but South Korea is home to some of the quirkiest of them all. It is home to the world's first toilet-themed amusement park, which opened in 2012 in honor of the beloved ex-mayor, Sim Jae Duc, nicknamed "Mr. Toilet." He was obsessed with toilets, and his goal was to provide humankind with hygienic toilets and teach the world to maintain them.

Plastic surgery

According to a 2009 survey, one in five women in South Korea had plastic surgery. Here it is considered absolutely normal, and many schoolgirls are even presented with plastic as a gift at the graduation ceremony.

Bullfight

There are no bullfights, matadors and red cloaks in South Korea. Bullfight is just bull against bull. Farmers select animals with large horns, thick necks and stocky torsos. Fighting bulls undergo special training programs and sit on special diets consisting of fish, live octopuses and snakes.

Terminator jellyfish

Hordes of jellyfish have invaded the world's oceans, and a team of scientists must develop robots that can fight deadly creatures. Sounds like a sci-fi movie? But this is not the case! This is happening off the coast of South Korea and very soon could become a problem for the entire planet. The number of jellyfish around the world is growing, and this is causing a number of problems, disrupting commercial fishing, as well as forcing tourists to stay away from beaches. In this regard, scientists from the Korean Institute of Advanced Science and Technology have teamed up to fight the jelly-like horde. They invented the special JEROS (Jellyfish Elimination Robotic Swarm) robots that hunt and destroy any jelly that gets in their way.

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