Traditions in Korea are unique and special, they possess their own set of values and social rules that they strictly follow.
When I think about Korea traditions, the first impression that I would garner would be the soup opera "Dae Jang Geum". It showcases the ladies dressed up in traditional Korean dresses called "Hanboks" and also Lee Young Ae whipping up traditional Korean medicines and dishes for the Royal Palace. The amazing accomplishment that traditional Korean costumes have achieved is that it has surpassed the test of time and is still a very important feature in Korea's culture. People would still clad themselves up in Korean costumes during festive seasons and it is of no surprise to see the whole town in their costumes walking around. The costumes that the male wear are called Shimui (where they would clad themselves during their free time) and Hakch'angui (worn by scholars). I believe that such costumes enhances the culture of a country and is also a really lovely thing to showcase to the tourists.
South Koreans also possess a certain set of etiquette that they strictly adhere to. For example, it is necessary to sit on the floor with your legs crossed when having a meal in Korea. Koreans uses a spoon for rice, chopsticks for noodles and side dishes. Koreans also only use their right hand to hold the spoon and chopsticks, not simultaneously. Personally, I feel that the Koreans are very patient when it comes to consuming their food. In Singapore, it is normal to hold the chopsticks and spoon together and the time spent on a meal would be much faster. However, the Koreans would concentrate on a certain dish one at a time and this is being achieved with the usage of only one utensil at a time.
Other significant meal etiquette would be:
- It is rude to consume your soup directly from the bowl
- Do not place your chopsticks or spoon directly into your dish as it is regarded as a offering to the dead.
- Do not lift your dishes up from the table as it is considered rude.
- Always offer to pour liquor rather than pouring for yourself
Religion in Korea is pretty flexible as compared to countries like Israel or Afghanistan, where most of the inhabitants belong to one religion. Almost half of the Koreans does not believe in anything while the other half do. The majority groups would be Christianity (29.2%) and Buddhism (22.8%), other religious groups would be Confucianists, Islam, Shamanism and Chondogyo.
Koreans also celebrate a certain array of holidays that represent their traditions. Korea have two Korean New Years, such is the case as Koreans go by two caldenders, one that is Westernized and theother being the lunar calender. As for the modern Korean New Year, the activities that Koreans engage in would be to gather together and bond, people would also make new year resolutions and pay respects to the ancestors. As for the Lunar New Year, the Koreans would dress up in their traditional costumes and exchange gifts, children would also receive money. It is very similar to Chinese New Year where we receive "Hong Baos".
Similar to our National Day, they celebrate Independence Day when the Koreans were declared independent from Japanese rule. It has been celebrated since 1919 and the date would be on the March of 1st every year. In my personal point of view, the Independence Day that Korea and Singapore celebrate is pretty much similar as both of the countries would survive on themselves the following years after independence. Independence Day is an annual reminder to the nation how fortunate we all are and that never to suffer from events like the Japanese Occupation ever again.
Other holidays that are exclusively Korean would be Chuseok (similar to Mid-Autumn festival) and Hangul Day (where the country celebrates the creation of their own language)
Indigenous Groups in South Korea
After doing a fair amount of research of South Korea's indigenous groups. It is safe to say there is no such major existence of indigenous groups in South Korea. South Korea is one of the most ethnically homogenous nations in the world and the number of indigenous groups would be minimal to a large extent.
