GUIDE BLOG FOR FOREIGNER, LIVING IN KOREA PART # 04-A

GUIDE BLOG FOR FOREIGNER, LIVING IN KOREA PART # 04-A

GUIDE BLOG FOR FOREIGNER,

 LIVING IN KOREA 

 PART # 04-A

Korean Culture and Life

* Family Culture

* Food

* Housing Culture

* Consumption and Economic Life

* Transportation in Korea

* Use of Public Administration

* Use of Convenience Facilities

* Family Culture

i) Family life in Korea is unique. Marriage immigrants who understand the characteristics of Korean families can more easily adjust themselves to their new families, and 

understand the culture of Korea. Family culture can vary by family and by region.Korean  culture is based on Confucianism. The family culture of Korea has some similarities 

to that of countries with Confucian culture, but it has changed in the course of rapid industrialization.

i) Family Relations

• A harmonious family is just as important as each member’s happiness.

• Hierarchy is important within the family. Children should be taught to respect their 

elders and to express their opinions in a polite manner.

• Parent-child relationships are special. Korean parents place great emphasis on

providing love and care for their children. Sometimes, they can overly indulge their children and cause them to become extremely dependent. 

• Filial piety is greatly emphasized. This refers to the children’s duty to take care of their parents in their old ages.

iii) Husband and Wife Relations

• Husband and wife relations are important, but your role as a son or daughter and a parent plays a large part as well.

• Housework and bringing up children have traditionally been considered the woman’s job. But recently more men are starting to help out at home.

• Korean men are not used to showing affection in public. As a husband praising his wife in front of other family members is generally frowned upon, they take a prudent attitude about it.

ii) Adapting to Family Life

In order to have a happy marriage in Korea, it is important to overcome the cultural differences. It can be difficult to adapt to family life and culture in Korea. If you are experiencing problems, consider the following recommendations.

• Try to understand each other’s family culture

• Learn more about family tradition from your husband and in-laws

• Respect and follow the family culture

• Solve problems through communication

• Seek help from others

P.S @ ※ If you are still facing difficulties, contact your nearest Multicultural Family Support Center (☎1577-5432) or the Migrant Women’s Hotline 1366 Center (☎1577-1366).

vi) Language Etiquette

“Title” is used when we call someone, and “Designation” is used when we speak of the person. In Korea, we often use diverse titles or designations to call or refer to the same person. Korean names and names in Chinese characters are mixed and used as titles and designations. The use of an incorrect title or designation may give offense to others.

a) Titles and Designations of Family Members

In Korea, there are specific titles for each family member. The family trees* below show the titles and designations used by the husband and wife within the family. The wife 

usually uses the honorific level towards the husband’s family, regardless of age. The husband uses the honorific towards the wife’s family if they are older in age, and less formal language if they are younger. These customs differ according to the household, so you should discuss this matter with your husband or in-laws beforehand.

✽ Family tree: Connecting lines are used to explain family relations. A horizontal line indicates ties by marriage, while a vertical line refers to parent-children relationships.

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Honorific and Casual Expressions

In Korea, there are slight differences in language style depending on the difference in age, relation, and social status between the speaker and the listener. These differences can be broadly described as two speaking styles: honorific and casual.

• The honorific level is used towards elders and less formal language for younger people.

• Speak at a casual level when speaking to a friend or someone younger than you.