Culture in Korea

Home

Culture in Korea

Korean Temple Korea is oft dubbed "The Land of the Morning Calm"... maybe in years past... Present day Korea is a country that never sleeps, though the morning is generally one of the calmest parts of the day. You can always find somewhere to go or something to do at any hour of the day.

Oddly enough, despite the chaos and cacophony there are places you can go even in the heart of Seoul where you can escape the fast-paced life and revel in the culture of Korea.

Korean people are generally a friendly playful lot. Moreso when alcohol is involved. They take great pride in their country and culture and are thrilled by any effort we demonstrate to learn more about them and their language. Any time I spoke Korean I was constantly befriended and given hugs and arms around my shoulder like that Korean person was my proud long lost brother. They would show incredible pride in ME for learning their language and they would take me under their wing and (because they were often older than me) I would be dubbed "dongsaeng" (little brother). This could occur at a bus stop, in a pub, on the top of a mountain, in a fishing boat, on a bus, literally wherever I was.

Koreans are often looking for a place to unwind and let loose. It's a fun, funny experience. Be open to this.

The Origin of Korea

Korea Information - Culture in Korea

Korean history spans 5000 years. Many Westerners find this difficult to comprehend considering our recorded histories in our respective countries.

The maintenance of their culture and language throughout this span of time is remarkable considering the many hostile occupations and invasions they have experienced over time which could account for the incredible sense of patriotism and nationalism that is plainly evident all over Korea.

Arts and Culture

Korea Information - Culture in Korea

Arts and Culture

While missing home and complaining about where you are is a normal part of the ex-pat lifestyle, you will often find that those who complain the most are those that exert the least effort getting the most out of their time abroad. Any country will suck if you never give it a chance. If you get tired of spending your weekends listening to other foreigners whinge, there are alternative diversionary activities to engage in, most depend on where you live, but be assured, there are always things that will make you smile and bring you back into touch with why you started on this adventure in the first place.

Join Them and Let the Fun Begin

Korea Information - Culture in Korea

When you get invited to join a group of Koreans for pretty much anything, go along with them, and go along with it. Koreans will invite you ALL the time to hike or fish or "mountain climb". Be approachable and you'll be amazed at the experiences.

Museums and Art Galleries

Korea Information - Culture in Korea

Korea has a surprising number of fascinating art galleries and museums. There seems to be a paucity of information available about the Korean arts scene in English, but if you poke around there are some rewarding gems hidden both in the cities and the countryside.