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.

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