In this article, I’ll provide nine interesting facts about South Korea. Because it is situated in Asia, it has numerous distinctions from the West, which is the most fascinating aspect of understanding it.
For Westerners, Korean culture is full of surprises. And, here, I’m going to write about Korean population peculiarities; maybe a romantic holiday experience will occur. Isn’t that correct?
Another thing to know about South Korean laws is that they are not without quirks. Are you doing something that seems normal but is really illegal?
This is something that few tourists consider, yet it is essential for a pleasant stay in unfamiliar locations. Some of them I just found during my time in the nation, so I’m sharing them with you so you can go to South Korea prepared.
As you can see, we’ll be discussing everything here: traditions, culture, religion, and so on. So, if you want to come to Korea knowing exactly what to anticipate in terms of local behavior, this post is for you!
Korean age is different
Did you know that infants are born at the age of one year? Yes, it is! As a result, a Korean born the same year as you are regarded older.
Koreans do not calculate age from birth, but rather from the time the kid is created in the womb. However, instead of being nine months old upon birth, the kid will be one year old; I believe this is for simplicity. Discover the attractions in Seoul.
Regardless of birthday month, all Koreans get one year older on New Years; for example, if a person is 28 years old on December 31st, he would be 29 the following day (January 1st).
Because age and birthday are unconnected, the guy will still be 29 when his birthday comes.
Koreans treat people according to their age
Anyone who is a dorameiro or knows one must have heard phrases like “oppa”, “hyung”, “noona”, and “unnie”. These are some of the treatments available in South Korea.
For them, age is more than just a number; it is a major matter, since the culture places a high importance on hierarchy. As a result, when a Korean meets someone, one of the first inquiries they inquire is their age.
This knowledge will influence how he acts, talks, and behaves toward the new “acquaintance,” mostly since they are not yet acquainted. Discover which South Korean travel advice will be quite useful on your trip.
When you are the same age as someone, you are referred to be “chingus,” which translates as “friends.” Not that you will become friends immediately soon, but this statement implies that you will be able to communicate informally with each other.
“Oppa” is what a female should call a guy she is acquainted with; if he is older, he might be a brother or lover; “Unnie” is what a boy should call another older girl; and “Hyung” is what a boy should call another older boy.
Finally, he should refer to an older female as “Noona”; this also applies to an elder sister or lover.
Koreans place a high value on aesthetics
Another oddity about Korea is that Koreans are incredibly conceited, so much so that guys wear cosmetics such as foundation and eyeliner. Members of Kpop groups predominate.
Seoul is recognized as the cosmetic surgery capital of the world; it is claimed that one in every five Korean women has had one.
As a result, when their children graduate from high school, it is extremely customary for parents to gift them with some kind of cosmetic operation.
The most common are eyelid alterations and facial slimming. This is because meeting the Korean beauty standard is required for decent career chances.
Another consideration is that pale skin is appreciated in the nation. As a result of the climate in South Korea, it is usual to see individuals on the street wearing various types of equipment to shield themselves from the sun’s rays, including foundations that are lighter than their skin tone.
Going out more than once with the same person is considered dating
You know the phrase “I’m dating so-and-so”? This does not exist in South Korea since Koreans kiss other people in clubs.
If a Korean takes your number and wants to see you again, it suggests he is looking for something more serious. Congratulations, you’re dating if you make it to that date!
But don’t worry, you won’t be exposed to the family until they’re ready to marry, which is why hotels are so popular in the nation.
A pair in Korea is simple to spot since they usually wear the same clothes on several occasions. Koreans celebrate the first 100 days of dating rather than months.
Half of Koreans have no religion
Although Buddhism has had a significant influence on Korean culture, Christianity began to spread in the region in the 1960s, during the post-Korean War period, for those seeking solace and hope in the midst of chaos; however, Protestantism has always had a greater number of followers among Christians, with 18%.
The Catholic Church is currently growing in numbers of followers. Along with Catholics and Protestants (29%), Christianity has more followers than Buddhism (23%); yet, half of the population considers itself to be non-religious.