detail from: KRK Art dizajn

WORLD CULTURES AND FOLK CUSTOMS

SIMO JELAČA, Ph.D.

Preface

This book summarizes information about the culture and customs of different peoples. There are noticeable differences in customs among Christian, Islamic and Buddhist nations, although in everything the intention for the beautiful and the greatest prevails.

It would be too much to include every country, as there are similarities among many peoples of the same or close nationality. Russia, Ukraine, Serbia, Belarus, Croatia, Montenegro, Macedonia, as well as Germany and Austria are characteristic. A similar conclusion is valid for the Latin peoples, and among themselves.

Readers will find basic information about each country, such as its location and size, population and ethnic composition, religion, climate, language, etiquette, and more.

This book can be used equally by travelers, whether as tourists or business people, so that everyone will find the necessary information about the etiquette of people at home and at work.

My intention was to find as much good information as possible. Readers will judge how successful I was.

Author

SOUTH KOREA

CULTURE AND FOLK CUSTOMS

Facts and Statistics

Location: Eastern Asia, southern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the East Sea and the Yellow Sea.

Capital: Seoul, population 25,620.000

Climate: temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter.

Population: 49-50 million.

Ethnic Make-up: homogeneous (except for about 20,000 Chinese)

Religions: no affiliation 46%, Christian 26%, Buddhist 26%,

 Confucianist 1%, other 1%.

Government: republic

Size: 222.000 square km.

The Korean Language

The Koreans are one ethnic family speaking one language.  They share certain distinct physical characteristics which differentiate them from other Asian people including the Chinese and the Japanese, and have a strong cultural identity as one ethnic family.

The Korean language is spoken by more than 65 million people living on the peninsula and its outlying islands as well as 5.5 million Koreans living in other parts of the world.  The fact that all Koreans speak and write the same language has been a crucial factor in their strong national identity.  Modern Korea has several different dialects including the standard one used in Seoul and central areas, but they are similar enough that speakers/listeners do not have trouble understanding each other.

Korean Family Values

·         The family is the most important part of Korean life. 

·         In Confucian tradition, the father is the head of the family and it is his responsibility to provide food, clothing and shelter, and to approve the marriages of family members. 

·         The eldest son has special duties: first to his parents, then to his brothers from older to younger, then to his sons, then to his wife, and lastly to his daughters.

·         Family welfare is much more important than the needs of the individual. 

·         Members of the family are tied to each other because the actions of one family member reflect on the rest of the family. 

·         In many cases the family register can trace a family's history, through male ancestors, for over 500 years.

Confucianism

·         The teachings of Confucius describe the position of the individual in Korean society. 

·         It is a system of behaviors and ethics that stress the obligations of people towards one another based upon their relationship. 

·         The basic tenets are based upon five different relationships: 1) ruler and subject, 2) husband and wife, 3) parents and children, 4)brothers and sisters and 5) friend and friend

·         Confucianism stresses duty, loyalty, honor, filial piety, respect for age and seniority, and sincerity.

 Korean Ancestors

·         Ancestors are based on the male family line. 

·         Children are raised to believe they can never repay their debt to their parents, hence the popularity of ancestor worship. 

·         They hold ancestral ceremonies for the previous three generations (parents, grandparents, and great grandparents) several times a year, particularly on Chuseok and New Year's Day. 

·         On Chuseok, people cook and set out food to celebrate their ancestors.

The Concept of Kibun

·         Kibun is a word with no literal English translation; the closest terms are pride, face, mood, feelings, or state of mind. 

·         If you hurt someone's kibun you hurt their pride, cause them to lose dignity, and lose face. Korean interpersonal relationships operate on the principle of harmony. 

·         It is important to maintain a peaceful, comfortable atmosphere at all times, even if it means telling a "white lie". 

·         Kibun enters into every facet of Korean life. 

·         It is important to know how to judge the state of someone else's kibun, how to avoid hurting it, and how to keep your own kibun at the same time. 

·         In business, a manager's kibun is damaged if his subordinates do not show proper respect. A subordinate's kibun is damaged if his manager criticizes him in public.

·         Nunchi is the ability to determine another person's kibun by using the eye. 

·         Since this is a culture where social harmony is crucial, being able to judge another person's state of mind is critical to maintain the person's kibun. 

·         Nunchi is accomplished by watching body language and listening to the tone of voice as well as what is said.

Etiquette & Customs in South Korea

Meeting Etiquette

·         Greetings follow strict rules of protocol. 

·         Many South Koreans shake hands with expatriates after the bow, thereby blending both cultural styles.

·         The person of lower status bows to the person of higher status, yet it is the most senior person who initiates the handshake. 

·         The person who initiates the bow says, "manaso  pangapsumnida", which means "pleased to meet you." 

·         Information about the other person will be given to the person they are being introduced to in advance of the actual meeting. 

·         Wait to be introduced at a social gathering. 

·         When you leave a social gathering, say good-bye and bow to each person individually.

·          

Gift Giving Etiquette

·         Gifts express a great deal about a relationship and are always reciprocated. 

·         It is inconsiderate to give someone an expensive gift if you know that they cannot afford to reciprocate accordingly. 

·         Bring fruit or good quality chocolates or flowers if invited to a Korean's home. 

·         Gifts should be wrapped nicely. 

·         The number 4 is considered unlucky, so gifts should not be given in multiples of 4. 

·         Giving 7 of an item is considered lucky. 

·         Wrap gifts in red or yellow paper, since these are royal colors. Alternatively, use yellow or pink paper since they denote happiness. 

·         Do not wrap gifts in green, white, or black paper. 

·         Do not sign a card in red ink.

·         Use both hands when offering a gift. 

·         Gifts are not opened when received.

Dining Etiquette

If you are invited to a South Korea's house: 

·         It is common for guests to meet at a common spot and travel together. 

·         You may arrive up to 30 minutes late without giving offense. 

·         Remove your shoes before entering the house. 

·         The hosts greet each guest individually. 

·         The host pours drinks for the guests in their presence. The hostess does not pour drinks. 

·         The hosts usually accompany guests to the gate or to their car because they believe that it is insulting to wish your guests farewell indoors. 

·         Send a thank you note the following day after being invited to dinner.

Table manners

·         Wait to be told where to sit. There is often a strict protocol to be followed. 

·         The eldest are served first. 

·         The oldest or most senior person is the one who starts the eating process. 

·         Never point your chopsticks. 

·         Do not pierce your food with chopsticks. 

·         Chopsticks should be returned to the table after every few bites and when you drink or stop to speak. 

·         Do not cross your chopsticks when putting them on the chopstick rest. 

·         Do not pick up food with your hands. Fruit should be speared with a toothpick. 

·         Bones and shells should be put on the table or an extra plate. 

·         Try a little bit of everything. It is acceptable to ask what something is. 

·         Refuse the first offer of second helpings. 

·         Finish everything on your plate. 

·         Indicate you are finished eating by placing your chopsticks on the chopstick rest or on the table. Never place them parallel across your rice bowl.

Business Etiquette and Protocol

Relationships & Communication 

·         South Koreans prefer to do business with people with whom they have a personal connection. 

·         It is therefore crucial to be introduced by a third-party. 

·         Relationships are developed through informal social gatherings that often involve a considerable amount of drinking and eating. 

·         Individuals who have established mutual trust and respect will work hard to make each other successful.

·         South Koreans treat legal documents as memorandums of understanding. 

·         They view contracts as loosely structured consensus statements that broadly define agreement and leave room for flexibility and adjustment as needed. 

·         Under no circumstances insult or to criticize in front of others. 

·         Sensitive matters may often be raised indirectly through the intermediary that first made the introductions.

·         South Koreans are extremely direct communicators. They are not averse to asking questions if they do not understand what has been said or need additional clarification. 

·         This is a culture where "less is more" when communicating. Respond to questions directly and concisely. 

·         Since there is a tendency to say "yes" to questions so that you do not lose face, the way you phrase a question is crucial. It is better to ask, "When can we expect shipment?" then "Can we expect shipment in 3 weeks?", since this question requires a direct response.

Business Meeting Etiquette

·         Appointments are required and should be made 3 to 4 weeks in advance.

·         You should arrive on time for meetings as this demonstrates respect for the person you are meeting. 

·         The most senior South Korean generally enters the room first. 

·         It is a good idea to send both an agenda and back-up material including information about your company and client testimonials prior to the meeting. 

·         The main purpose of the first meeting is to get to know each other.

·         Meetings are used to understand a client's needs and challenges. They lay the foundation for building the relationship. 

·         Do not remove your jacket unless the most senior South Korean does so. 

·         Have all written materials available in both English and Korean.

Dress Etiquette

·         Business attire is conservative. 

·         Men should wear dark- coloured, conservative business suits with white shirts. 

·         Women should dress conservatively and wear subdued colors. 

·         Men should avoid wearing jewelry other than a watch or a wedding ring.

Business Cards

·         Business cards are exchanged after the initial introductions in a highly ritualized manner. 

·         The way you treat someone's business card is indicative of the way you will treat the person. 

·         Have one side of your business card translated into Korean. 

·         Using both hands, present your business card with the Korean side facing up so that it is readable by the recipient.  

·         Examine any business card you receive carefully. 

·         Put the business cards in a business card case or a portfolio. 

·         Never write on someone's business card in their presence.

Identification 

Koreans share a common culture, but a sense of regionalism exists between northerners and southerners and between southeasterners and south-westerners in terms of customs and perceived personality characteristics.

Location and Geography 

South Korea occupies the southern half of the Korean peninsula, about 1,000 kilometers southward from the Eurasian landmass between Soviet Siberia in the northeast and Chinese Manchuria to the north. About three thousand islands belong to Korea, among which the Province of Cheju Island is the largest. The total area of the peninsula, including the islands, is about 85,000 222,000 square kilometers, of which about 45 percent constitutes the territory of South Korea.

 Symbolism 

The national flag, Taegukgi, is a unique symbol. The flag of Taeguk ("Supreme Ultimate"), symbolizes the basic ideas of East Asian cosmology shared by the peoples in the Chinese culture area. In the center of a white background is a circle divided horizontally in two by an S-shaped line. The upper portion in red represents the yang, and the lower portion in blue symbolizes the um (yin in Chinese), depicting the yin yang principle of a universe in perfect balance and harmony. The central symbolism in the Taeguk form is that while there is a constant movement of opposites in the universe (day and night, good and evil, masculinity and femininity), there is also balance. The four trigrams at the corners of the flag also express the ideas of opposites and balance. The three unbroken lines in the upper left corner represent heaven while the three broken lines placed diagonally in the lower right corner represent the earth. The trigram in the upper right corner represents water while the one placed diagonally at the lower left corner represents fire. 

Urbanism and Architecture

Traditionally, dwellings with thatched roofs and houses with clay-tile roofs symbolized rural—urban as well as lower-class—upper-class distinctions. The traditional houses of yangban (gentry) families were divided by walls into women's quarters (anch'ae), men's quarters (sarangchae), and servants' quarters (haengnangch'ae), reflecting the Confucian rules of gender segregation and status discrimination between the yangban and their servants in the social hierarchy of the Choson Dynasty.

Food in Daily Life

Some urbanites may eat toast, eggs, and milk for breakfast, using a fork and knife. KimchI is the national dish. It is a pungent, often hot, mixture of fermented and/or pickled vegetables. Almost any vegetable can be fermented to make kimchI, but Chinese cabbage and daikon radishes are the most commonly used. Meat dishes such as bulgogi (barbecued meat) and kalbi (short ribs) are popular among both Koreans and foreigners.

Basic Economy

South Korea still produces most of its domestically consumed rice. Traditional cash crops such as ginseng, tobacco, tea, and silkworms remain important. The livestock industry raises beef and dairy cattle, hogs, and chickens. Meat production has increased, largely in response to increased consumption and government support. South Korea imports beef and milk, exports pork to Japan, and maintains self-sufficiency in chickens and most vegetable products. 

Major Industries

Farm work increasingly is done by women and old men as young people leave for urban jobs. As a result of structural reforms in the economy, Korea has built a strong industrial foundation, especially in the areas of electronics, automobiles, shipbuilding, and petrochemicals. The shipbuilding industry is second only to Japan's and has a 32 percent share of the world market. In the semiconductor industry, Korea ranks third in the world market. Three Korean companies supply more than 40 percent of the global demand for computer memory chips. The Korean automobile and petrochemicals industries rank fifth in the world in terms of production. 

Social Welfare 

The National Health Insurance Program, which started in 1977 with coverage of less than 10 percent of the population, covered the entire population by 1989. 

Labor by Gender 

Gender and age have been the two fundamental influences in patterns of social organization. Housework is most commonly regarded as women's work even when a woman works outside the home. Industrialization and democratization have given women more opportunities to play diverse roles in public life, but the basic structure of a gender division of labor is observable in public life.

Marriage and Family

In urban centers, the arranged meeting often takes place in a hotel. Marriage has been regarded as a rite of passage that confers a social status of adulthood on an individual. Marriage also is thought of as a union of not just a man and a woman but of their families and a means to ensure the continuity of the husband's family line.

Traditionally, three-generation stem families were patrilineally composed.  Traditionally, the oldest son received a larger proportion of an inheritance than did younger sons.

 Generally, during the first two years children receive a great deal of affection, indulgence, and nurturing from their parents.

Education 

Obedience, cooperation, respect for the elders, and filial piety are the major values inculcated in a child's early years. Most children receive traditional gender role socialization from early childhood.

Higher Education

 The traditional high regard for education as a means to improve one's socioeconomic status continues in contemporary Korea. The annual college entrance examinations are extremely competitive. Many unsuccessful applicants repeat the examinations in order to enter elite universities.

Health Care 

The health care system includes both Western and traditional medicine. There were 62,609 Western doctors and 9,289 traditional doctors in 1997. Traditional doctors practice acupuncture and prescribe herbal medicine for the prevention and treatment of illness.  

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