Korean CultureKorean Culture

• Ms. Erin Esford • Global History &

Geography

I. Korean FoodI. Korean Food

• Korean food consists of many small dishes usually a variety of vegetables and plenty of rice.

• At times meat will be served that’s usually marinated and is sometimes called Korean BBQ.

• Koreans also enjoy several types of fish.• Traditionally, Koreans sit on the floor and eat with chopsticks.

Kimchi Kimchi

• Fermented dish made of vegetables

• The most common dishes are pickled cabbage, cucumbers, or radishes

• It is also the most common side dish

• Many times kimchi is featured in soups, rice, and stews

• Kimchi is stored and fermented in large jars outside of the home

Common Ingredients Common Ingredients

• Red chili paste, bean paste, and soy bean paste

• Ginger, garlic, salt• Sesame oil & soy

sauce• short grain rice• Pepper flakes

Famous Dishes Famous Dishes

• Bibimbap- plenty of vegetables including bean sprouts, spinach, mushrooms, cucumbers, onions, carrots, and one fried egg

• Korean chicken ginseng soup- to cool & rejuvenate the body during summer

Korean BarbequeKorean Barbeque

• The sirloin beef is marinated in sesame oil, ginger, soy sauce, pepper, and garlic

• Cook on the BBQ, and then spread red bean paste and rice over a piece of lettuce and ENJOY!

II. ClothingII. Clothing

• Hanbok- Traditional clothing 57 BC- 667 AD

• Jeogori- top blouse with long sleeves

• Upper class wore vibrant colors to show their status

Traditional HanbokTraditional Hanbok

• The Upper class wore lots of red, yellow, blue, black

• These represent- fire, earth, water, metal, and wood

• Commoners wore white except for festivals and special occasions

Male Hanbok Male Hanbok

Modern Clothing Modern Clothing

• Many Koreans dress up for work or school

• Many Korean schools require uniforms to help students focus on academics and not fashion

• More and more American fashions are making their way to Korea. On the weekends, Koreans wear jeans, tee-shirts, and the latest fashions.

III. Beliefs & Values III. Beliefs & Values

• Korea is very religiously diverse

• 23% of Koreans are Buddhist

• 29% are Christian

• Many Koreans do not officially have a religion however, they have many morals mostly originating from Confucianism

Buddhist Temples Buddhist Temples

• Buddhism culturally diffused from China in 527 BC and was adopted by the Shilla kingdom

• Several temples are built throughout Korea and differ based on the sect of Buddhism practiced.

• Some temples display prayer flags to remind people why they made a journey to the temple.

Buddhist BellBuddhist Bell

• The bell’s function is to drive away evil spirits

• The sound the bell makes is the Buddha teaching dharma or the duties of every Buddhist

• The bell symbolizes the attainment of wisdom and the understanding of emptiness

Buddhism & the Dharma WheelBuddhism & the Dharma Wheel

• The major beliefs in Buddhism are the Four Noble Truths and the Eight fold Path

• The wheel or dharma wheel represents the path of Buddhism

• The eight spokes represent the right behaviors or Eight fold Path to reach nirvana

BuddhismBuddhism

• Buddhism is a major religion or philosophy in Korea

• Several temples are dedicated to Buddha and serve as a place to worship, pray, and meditate

Christianity Christianity

• About 18% of Koreans are Protestant consisting mostly of Presbyterian and Methodist, introduced in 1784

• About 11% of Koreans are Roman Catholic which historical was introduced by the French in 1784

• Korea is the second largest Christian community in all of Asia

ConfucianismConfucianism• Confucianism serves as more

of a philosophy or way of life rather than a religion in Korea

• Confucianism was most influential during the Choson Dynasty and continues to impact Korea today

• People are taught to respect their elders called filial piety and education is extremely important

• People are taught that everyone has responsibilities based on their age and/or gender, all people should be good citizens, and overall people should do the right thing

Confucian Exams Confucian Exams

• In ancient times, men of all ages competed for government jobs by taking exams.

• These civil service exams were based on the life of Confucius, his teachings, and modeled after the Chinese exams.

• Men studied for years to take and pass these exams in order to obtain the honor to work for the government.

• The exams were given three times a year and your teacher gained great honor if his pupil passed the exam.

• Even today, Korea honors their yangban or government officials from the past and have placed them on their currency.

V. Korean Entertainment- BaseballV. Korean Entertainment- Baseball

• Going to the ball park in Korea is an exciting experience

• Everyone cheers for their team and beats their thunder sticks when a great play happens

• Buy some squid, sushi, or KFC and it will be a true Korean Baseball game

Korean Baseball Organization was Korean Baseball Organization was founded in 1981founded in 1981

• Fans cheer for favorite teams such as the Lotte Giants, Samsung Lions, LG Twins, Doosan Bears, Kia Tigers

• The most famous player is Lee Da- Ho. He made a world record by hitting a home run in nine consecutive games.

Shopping Shopping

• Many Koreans love to shop at outdoor markets including Dongdaemun & Insadong Market

• They have everything from shoes to shirts to toys and food.

V. EducationV. Education

• Koreans believe that education is the key to success.

• A great education means you will earn yourself a wonderful and rewarding job in which you can provide for your family and be an intricate part of the Korean economic boom.

• Education is stressed in the home and many believe that Confucianism is the driving force behind this success driven society.

Levels of Education Levels of Education

• Primary school- 6 years• Middle school- 3 years• High school- 3 years • General High School,

vocational high school, science high school, or specialized high school

• You must be accepted into a particular high school, therefore your grades are key

Education is EXTREMELY Education is EXTREMELY Important Important

• Many Korean families push their children to achieve and want them to attend college and earn a degree

• Course grades in the five topics including health, expression, language, exploration, society affect your college opportunities.

VI. Occupations VI. Occupations

• As with any country, Korea has several occupations to choose from

• Many people choose to work for one of the three major companies; Hyundai, LG, or Samsung

• Others become teachers and gain enormous respect

• All boys must serve in the military for two years and some men make this a career

Industries Rule South KoreaIndustries Rule South Korea

• Samsung produces cell phones, TV’s, flash drives, and computers

• LG produces several TV’s and cell phones

• These industries offer excellent benefits including competitive salaries and college scholarships

Hyundai Heavy Industries Hyundai Heavy Industries

• Hyundai Industries was founded in 1968

• Today they manufacture cars, large ships, and heavy machinery

• In 2000 they merged with Kia Motors

• They sell cars all over the world• Their employers are paid well and

enjoy several benefits • As a conglomerate, Hyundai also

owns gas stations, middle and high schools, and even colleges and hotels in cities they have manufacturing facilities