Korean CultureKorean Culture
• Ms. Erin Esford • Global History &
Geography 9 & 10
• Amherst Central High School
• eesford@amherst. k12.ny.us
Please contact me with Please contact me with questions:questions:
•Ms. Erin Esford •Global History & Geography 9
& 10• Amherst Central High School • [email protected]
I. Korean FoodI. Korean Food
• Korean food consists of many small dishes usually a variety of vegetables and plenty of rice.
• At times meat will be served that’s usually marinated and is usually called Korean BBQ.
• Koreans also enjoy several types of fish.
• Traditionally, Koreans sit on the floor and eat with chopsticks.
a) a) Kimchi Kimchi • Fermented dish made of
vegetables• The most common dishes
are pickled cabbage, cucumbers, or radishes
• It is also the most common side dish
• Many times kimchi is featured in soups, rice, and stews
• Kimchi is stored and fermented in large jars outside of the home
b) Common Ingredientsb) Common Ingredients
• Red chili paste, bean paste, and soy bean paste
• Ginger, garlic, salt• Sesame oil & soy
sauce• short grain rice• Pepper flakes
c) Famous Dishesc) Famous Dishes
• Bibimbap- plenty of vegetables including bean sprouts, spinach, mushrooms, cucumbers, onions, carrots, and one fried egg
• Korean chicken ginseng soup- to cool & rejuvenate the body during summer
d) Korean Barbequed) Korean Barbeque
• The sirloin beef is marinated in sesame oil, ginger, soy sauce, pepper, and garlic
• Cook on the BBQ, and then spread red bean paste and rice over a piece of lettuce and ENJOY!
II. ClothingII. Clothing
• Hanbok- traditional clothing 57 BC- 667 AD
• Jeogori- top blouse with long sleeves
• Upper class wore vibrant colors to show their status
a) Traditional a) Traditional HanbokHanbok
• The Upper class wore lots of red, yellow, blue, black
• These represent- fire, earth, water, metal, and wood
• Commoners wore white except for festivals and special occasions
b) Male b) Male HanbokHanbok
c) Modern Clothingc) Modern Clothing
• Many Koreans dress up for work or school
• Many Korean schools require uniforms to help students focus on academics and not fashion
• More and more American fashions are making their way to Korea. On the weekends, Koreans wear jeans, tee-shirts, and the latest fashions.
III. Beliefs & ValuesIII. Beliefs & Values
• Korea is very religiously diverse
• 23% of Koreans are Buddhist
• 29% are Christian
• Many Koreans do not officially have a religion however, they have many morals mostly originating from Confucianism
a) Buddhist Templesa) Buddhist Temples
• Buddhism culturally diffused from China in 527 BC and was adopted by the Shilla kingdom
• Several temples are built throughout Korea and differ based on the sect of Buddhism practiced
• Some temples display prayer flags to remind people why they made a journey to the temple
b) Buddhist Bellb) Buddhist Bell• The bell’s function is
to drive away evil spirits
• The sound the bell makes is the Buddha teaching dharma or the duties of every Buddhist
• The bell symbolizes the attainment of wisdom and the understanding of emptiness
c) Buddhism & the Dharma Wheelc) Buddhism & the Dharma Wheel
• The major beliefs in Buddhism are the Four Noble Truths and the Eight fold Path
• The wheel or dharma wheel represents the path of Buddhism
• The eight spokes represent the right behaviors or Eight fold Path to reach nirvana
d) Buddhismd) Buddhism
• Buddhism is a major religion or philosophy in Korea
• Several temples are dedicated to Buddha and serve as a place to worship, pray, and meditate
e) Christianity e) Christianity • About 18% of Koreans
are Protestant consisting mostly of Presbyterian and Methodist, introduced in 1784
• About 11% of Koreans are Roman Catholic, which was introduced by the French in 1784
• Korea is the second largest Christian community in all of Asia
f) Confucianismf) Confucianism• Confucianism serves as more of a
philosophy or way of life rather than a religion in Korea
• Confucianism was most influential during the Choson Dynasty and continues to impact Korea today
• People are taught to respect their elders called filial piety and education is extremely important
• People are taught that everyone has responsibilities based on their age and/or gender, all people should be good citizens, and overall people should do the right thing
g) Confucian Examsg) Confucian Exams • In ancient times, men of all ages
competed for government jobs by taking exams
• These civil service exams were based on the life of Confucius, his teachings, and modeled after the Chinese exams
• Men studied for years to take and pass these exams in order to obtain the honor to work for the government
• The exams were given three times a year and your teacher gained great honor if his pupil passed the exam
• Even today, Korea honors their yangban or government officials from the past and have honored these scholars on their currency
V. Korean Entertainment- V. Korean Entertainment- BaseballBaseball
• Going to the ball park in Korea is an exciting experience
• Everyone cheers for their team and beats their thunder sticks when a great play happens
• Buy some squid, sushi, or KFC and it will be a true Korean Baseball game experience
a) Korean Baseball Organization a) Korean Baseball Organization was founded in 1981was founded in 1981
• Fans cheer for favorite teams including the Lotte Giants, Samsung Lions, LG Twins, Doosan Bears, Kia Tigers
• The most famous player is Lee Da- Ho. He earned a world record by hitting a home run in nine consecutive games.
b) Shopping b) Shopping
• Many Koreans love to shop at outdoor markets including Dongdaemun & Insadong Market
• They have everything from shoes to shirts to toys and food
V. EducationV. Education
• Koreans believe that education is the key to success.
• A great education means you will earn yourself a wonderful and rewarding job in which you can provide for your family and be an intricate part of the Korean economic boom.
• Education is stressed in the home and many believe that Confucianism is the driving force behind this success driven society.
a) Levels of Educationa) Levels of Education
• Primary school- 6 years• Middle school- 3 years• High school- 3 years • General High School,
vocational high school, science high school, or specialized high school
• You must be accepted into a particular high school, therefore your grades are key
b) Education is EXTREMELY b) Education is EXTREMELY ImportantImportant
• Many Korean families push their children to achieve and want them to attend college and earn a degree
• Course grades in the five topics including health, expression, language, exploration, society affect your college opportunities
VI. OccupationsVI. Occupations
• As with any country, Korea has several occupations to choose from
• Many people choose to work for one of the three major companies; Hyundai, LG, or Samsung
• Others become teachers and gain enormous respect
• All boys must serve in the military for two years and some men make this a career
a) Industries Rule South Koreaa) Industries Rule South Korea
• Samsung produces cell phones, TV’s, flash drives, and computers
• LG produces several TV’s and cell phones
• These industries offer excellent benefits including competitive salaries and college scholarships
b) Hyundai Heavy Industriesb) Hyundai Heavy Industries
• Founded in 1968, today they manufacture cars, large ships, and heavy machinery
• In 2000 they merged with Kia Motors
• Their employers are paid well and enjoy several benefits
• As a conglomerate, Hyundai also owns gas stations, middle and high schools, and even colleges and hotels in cities they have manufacturing facilities