Introduction to Korean Culture: Origins and Basics

1. Listen to a 2 min presentation. 2. Learn about Korean Culture. 3. Discuss about Korean Culture.

What do you know about Korean culture? What did you learn about Korean culture?

Culture is a dynamic way of life of a group of people which covers food, intrapersonal interaction, and the way people dress. Korean culture was influenced strongly by Confucianism and holds the family unit in high regard. Also, Confucianism has taught Koreans to respect their elders, teachers, and rulers.

In Korea, people tend to keep to themselves. The Korean culture is to not make interpersonal relationships difficult for people in general. Unless, a person is in grave danger, Koreans usually do not take the initiative to start a conversation. There are exectpions to the rule; and, newer generations of Koreans are more likely to take the initiative to break ice.

Korean has different levels of formality: honorific, formal, and informal. These leves were derived from the Chosun dynasty. 1. Honorific is used for superiors and rulers. 2. Formal is used for people who you meet for the first time, and people older than you. 3. Informal is used between friends or for people younger than you. 4. Do not use informal first when meeting new people even when they are younger than you because using informal without fully knowing the person is considered VERY rude.

Honorific 저는, 저희는, 선생님께서는, 그이는, 그이들은 옥체: the king's body 어명: the king's decree 각하: Mr. President Formal 저는, 우리는, 당신은/아저시깨서는/아줌마께서는, 그는/그녀는, 그들은 어머니: Mother 아버지: Father 형님: Big brother 누이: Sister 아우: Younger brother Informal 나는, 우리는, 너는, 그는/그녀는, 그들은 엄마: Mother 아빠: Father 형: big brother 누나: older sister 동생: younger siblings

Before the Japanese occupation of Korea, not a lot of foreigners were allowed to reside in the country. Even after the Korean War, most of the Korean populations did not have any interaction with foreigners. Due to that the older generations may be racist towards foreigners, but the younger generations are more accepting to foreigners. Also, international marriages are on the rise and Korea is becoming a multicultural nation.

1. 신발을 벗는다. Take off your shoes 2. 주인의 냉장고를 열지 않는다. Do not open the owner's refrigerator. 3. 주인이 식사 시작하기 전에 식사 시작하지 않는다. You don't start eating until the owner of the house starts to eat. 4. 값이 얼마냐고 물어보지 않는다. Do not ask how much the owner's property costs.

1. 처음 본 사람에게 반말을 하지 않는다. Do not use informal to a person you just met. 2. 서로 인사를 한다. Bow to each other. 3. 말을 끊지 않는다. Don't cut the other person off

1. 팁을 주지 않는다. Do not tip. 2. 메뉴 이상의 것을 주문하지 않는다. Do not order something that is not on the menu. 3. 미리미리 알러지 있음을 알려준다. Always tell about your allergies ahead. 4. 신발을 벗는 음식점이면 신발을 벗어야 된다. Take your shoes off if the restaurant wants you to take your shoes off.

1. 상사와 동료의눈치를 잘 본다. Be an expert in reading between the lines of your superiors and colleagues. 2. 막내면 항상 일찍온다. Come to work early and be the first one at work if you are the new recruite. 3. 식당에서는 막내가 상을 차린다. Hand out napkins and silverware if you are the new recruite. 4. 선배들의 음료 취향을 잘 알고 있어라. Know the favorite drinks of your fellow coworkers if you are the new recruite.

1. 선생님의 말에 토를 달지 말자. Do not speak back at the teacher (even if he is wrong). 2. 공부할때는 목숨을 걸자. Study as if your life depends on it. 3. 수능 보는 학생들 앞에서는 미역국을 먹으면 안되고 떨어졌다고 하면안된다. Do not give students taking the KSAT seaweed soup; do not talk about failure infront of them. 4. 항상 선생님을 존중해라. Always respect the teacher.

1. 공공장소에서는 소란을 피우지 않는다. Do not make a scene in public places. 2. 다른 사람의 개인공간을 침해하지 않는다. Do not infringe on personal space. 3. 태이블 위에 가방이나 핸드폰이 노아 자리를 표시한다. Leave a bag or cellular phone on a table or seat to mark it. 4. 길을 잃으면 알려달라고 부탁한다. Ask for directions if you are lost in the streets. 5. 인사 안 받아준다고 섭섭해하지 말자. If a Korean doesn't smile or answer you back do not be hurt.

1. 서로의 선을 넘지 말고 눈치를 잘 보면서 마춰준다. Do not overstep someone's boundary, and understand each other by reading between the lines. 2. 급발진하면서 좋안한다고 고백하지 말자. Do not ask a Korean out just on a whim. 3. 남자가 대이트 비용을 부담하자. The men usually pays for the date. 4. 항상 문자나 카톡 답장을 잘하고. 연락이 뜸하면 마음이 없다고 알자. Respond well to messages or Kakao messages. If the conversation is stalled, know that the person is not interested in you.

Reading between the lines is very important in South Korea. Because we DO NOT want to infringe on other person's time or space, we try to understand the person's true motive through his words, pattern of speech and actions. If a person cannot read the other person's mind well and the other person has to be direct, that person in Korea is considered to be young or uncultured. Because of this, the youngest has to set the table and other bad side of Korean culture was formed.

Are there any quesitons and answers considering Korean culture?