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

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

GUIDE BLOG FOR FOREIGNER,

 LIVING IN KOREA 

PART # 04-B

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 fferences 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.


Important Days of Celebration for 

Families

In family life, many significant events take place, such as the births, marriages, or deaths of family members or friends. These are important to both the individual and the family, so you should spend time with members of your family on such occasions.

Birth

• Baekil (One Hundredth Day): In Korea, the hundredth day following the birth of a child is cause for a big celebration. Typical foods served at a hundredth day celebration include
steamed rice cakes, honey cakes made from red bean, and seaweed soup. The child is dressed in new clothes to celebrate this special day.

• Dol (First Birthday): Relatives and friends are invited to the child’s first birthday party. The child is dressed in a traditional Korean costume, known as hanbok. Traditionally,
a table is laid in celebration, with steamed rice cakes, honey cakes, fruits, thread, rice,
money, a pencil, and a book. The child selects an object from the table, and he or she is
given words of wisdom from his or her elders.



 Recently, some restaurants have begun to offer a first birthday table preparation service.

Birthday: With regards to one’s elders, birthdays are referred to as saengshin. In Korea,
seaweed soup is cooked for breakfast on birthdays. Sometimes, relatives and friends
are invited to celebrate together. The invited guests prepare birthday gifts, or give money.

Marriage

In Korea today, most weddings are performed in the modern instead of the traditional style. Modern style weddings can be held in wedding halls, churches, or temples. During the ceremony, the groom wears a suit, and the bride wears a dress. After the ceremony,
the bride and groom change into traditional Korean outfits for Paebaek* to the groom’s parents.



✽ Paebaek: Special food prepared for the bride’s parents-in-law during the first visit




Hoegap and Gohiyeon (Banquets 

to wish for longevity)

• Hoegap: 60th birthday. As life spanswere shorter in the past, children would offer congratulations to their
parents on their 60th birthdays, to wish them good health and longevity. Although big parties were thrown in the past, these are now often replaced with gifts such as travel packages or money.

• Gohiyeon: On one’s 70th birthday, a party is held on a larger scale than for a typical birthday.

Funeral

The family wears mourning clothes and dresses the deceased in garments. In general, the garments are prepared in advance for the elderly while they are alive. These garments will differ depending on the household and the region. 

In some cases, the deceased is dressed in hemp clothes, in black or white. Guest sattending a munsang* should avoid
wearing bright colors, and dress in black or white. During munsang, you should pay your respects and pray together with the family. Money is also offered to the family, as a means of showing condolences.

Munsang: Visiting the family of the deceased to offer condolences

Ceremonies

Korean rituals help you to gain a sense of belonging and identity while remembering your ancestors.

• Death Memorial Service: Performed on the night of the anniversary of a death. Usually the service is performed for ancestors in the two preceding generations.

* Three cups of wine and a memorial address
* Night of the anniversary of a death
* Plain clothes
* Rice, soup, etc.
* Candles are lit






• Family Memorial Service: Performed at festivals such as the New Year’s Day, Hansik, and Chuseok.

* One cup of wine
* Morning of the festival
* Bright and fancy clothes
* Festival food
* No candles