Korean Culture

The Korean culture has continued many of the traditions and events that came into their culture generations ago. These very special aspects are what make Korea what it is today. Korea was first inhabited by many primitive tribes. Many were ancestors of the Mongolian culture. These tribes moved East into new lands where they began their new era. Many of the people living in Korea today are related to these first settlers. As time went on these tribes united to form a single culture. Since the start of this culture the most important thing has always been the family.

All things are done with the families permission. The eldest in the house is considered the most wise, and therefore makes most of the decisions. This tradition was started years ago, and is still being used today. Every relative in the family that is of the same blood is referred to as ilga. This means one house. Another term that is continually heard is tongjok. This is the group of paternal relatives. These relatives are a very tight knit group that, in many cases, live together in one home. Only paternal relatives can be in the tongjok. Maternal relatives can never join this group. The tongjok is mainly controlled with the property of the head family. In other words, the oldest living relatives take care of this group. Officials are appointed, and the family has a type of small government running the show. These officials hold special meetings where they discuss things ranging from ancestral rights to repair of graves. The final decisions of these meetings are made by the oldest living male. This leader takes care of things like funeral planning, festivals, graveside rituals, and helps with daily life.

Koreans take great pride in their ancestry and never forget the dead. From an early age the children are taught to respect their elders and the people who have passed away. Shrines are constructed in honor of the deceased and are maintained by the tonjok. The shrines are kept on sacred grounds that are consistently kept up. When walking in Korea you may see an area with beautiful trees or shrubs in a pattern. This is probably the place where a family buries their dead. When a parent dies in a family the eldest son is in the most mourning. He walks around with a hat made of reeds and covers his face with a fan. He goes about his daily life, but refrains from meeting people and calls himself a sinful man. The way Korean people treat their dead is just one of the many interesting things these people believe in.

When a Korean couple wishes to be married, a great deal of things happen. First, some marriages are still arranged. This is mainly found in the upper class society of Korea. Wealthy families wish for their children to be married to a son or daughter of a wealthy family. This way the marriage is more of a union between families than a union between two people. Social standing is very important in Korea. They believe wealth will bring a long, happy life. The arranged marriage gets started when a person with a great deal of information is appointed to find a spouse for a families son or daughter. This person researches candidates and comes to a conclusion. The two people have a small time of dating before they are told to marry. If there is a connection, these two people will go on with the marriage. In recent years, marriages between two people of different social classes are becoming much more common, but it is not the best way to go in the eyes of many families.

Most families in urban families have about 4.8 people in them. This is just the immediate family not the extended. In rural areas the families are slightly larger with 5.3 people. All the families live either with each other or near each other. These groups of families are called a clan. If the families are all living in one home there can be up to 4 generations living together. The homes are built with heavy squared posts at each angle of the house. Huge beams are used to support rafters for the ceiling. There is a main building in the middle or sometimes a court. This is the center of the home and is furnished with decorations and many flowers. The men and women have separate rooms on opposite ends of the house. Men are never allowed to enter the womens' courtiers. This is a private place where a woman can be alone. Each room throughout the home are similar to little apartments. Windows are made of paper and are very fragile.

Most people are seen wearing jackets all year round. As the climate changes they either add padding or take some away. Both men and women can be seen wearing pants. Some women, however, enjoy wearing skirts. Males sometimes choose to wear a vest in place of the jacket. The most common colors of the Korean people are white and light blue. The land of Korea is ideal for growing rice and many vegetables. These two food groups make up much of the food consumed. They also enjoy eating fish and meat. Mullet or barley sometimes takes the place of rice. This is most common in the poorer families dishes. Korea is also known for its strong spices. Korean people enjoy flavoring their food with red peppers or garlic. Korean people enjoy sports much like other cultures. One of the most common for males is wrestling. Their style is very different from other cultures. The two wrestlers tie their right legs with a rope 2 feet long and kneel down in front of each other. With their left hand they hold the end of the rope and with their right hand they hold the clothes of the opponent. They get up and push and pull one another until one falls down and is beaten.

When the first night of the new year comes everyone hides their shoes. This is because they believe a ghost will come down and try on everyones shoes. If it finds a pair it likes it will take them. The owner of the shoes will then have bad luck for the whole year. The Korean culture is one of the oldest cultures known. These people have many beliefs and traditions that are still being used today. These traditions are what make these people who they are. Life, death, and their relatives are very important to them and this is seen in their every day life.