Korean national costume: description. Korean culture

A Korean wedding is not only an interesting tradition that has its roots far back in history, but also a union of two families, as well as a ritual that must be present in the lives of all young people in Korea. Those who have not started a family before the age of 30 are considered strange, and all the relatives and friends of this person will do everything to try to arrange his personal life as quickly as possible - they will try to marry the girl to a Korean, and marry the young man. Often, in search of their soulmate, young people resort to the help of qualified matchmakers who are confident that when choosing a partner for life, you should not be guided only by feelings, since in this case you see only positive qualities in a person and it is quite possible to make a mistake and make the wrong choice.

Times are changing and the traditions according to which young people could not influence the choice of their life partner and knew nothing about him until the wedding ceremony have long since sunk into oblivion. Today, marriages are built on love, but despite this, one tradition remains, which continues to be followed to this day. The fact is that marriage cannot be concluded between young people with the same origin or pon. Pon is a family name inherited through the male line. For example, the surname Kim is the pon Kimyatinga. One surname can have more than a dozen pons, which can become a reason for refusing marriage.

Dating Korean newlyweds

Although today an agreement about the upcoming wedding does not happen behind the backs of the newlyweds, parents play a significant role in their fate. They make sure to find out all the information about the bride or groom and only after that give their blessing for the Korean wedding.

The fate of the young people is decided at a meeting called “Sogethin”. It takes place on neutral territory, which is often a restaurant. It is there that the parents of the young people meet and their acquaintance occurs. Often at such meetings, pre-prepared medical certificates are exchanged indicating the state of health of the young people. This is due to the fact that Koreans place great emphasis on the health of their future offspring. And after this, the girl’s parents decide whether she will marry a Korean or remain a girl.

Matchmaking of a Korean bride

After a successful acquaintance, the groom can send matchmakers to the bride. The groom's father, uncles and accompanying persons act as matchmakers. The main thing is that their number must be odd, which is very important for Koreans. The attendants are called "wushi" and the main requirement for them is the ability to sing, joke and dance. Relatives of a young person, as well as divorced people, who can bring misfortune to a future young family, cannot be included in the number of “wushi”.
Matchmakers, who are considered very honorable, go to the bride’s house, where all the nuances of the upcoming wedding celebration, as well as the future life of the newlyweds, are discussed.

Traditions of mini-wedding "chenchi" in Korea

At the request of the bride's relatives, the groom's side organizes a mini-wedding "chenchi", or, in simpler terms, a bride's party, which is a kind of test for the groom. One can only sympathize with the future spouse, since at this mini-wedding everyone present will constantly make fun of him and ask many tricky questions.
The groom's relatives, in turn, must generously gift the bride, preparing in advance for this purpose pieces of beautiful material, watches, scarves and other things. Most often, gifts are targeted and each of the groom’s relatives must present his own gift to the bride.

The bride's side should respond with gratitude to the mini-celebration the next day. To do this, the bride must give gifts to all those who previously presented her with their gifts.

Wedding ceremonies in Korea

Before the start of the wedding celebration, a certain thanksgiving ceremony takes place in the groom’s house, during which, after the entire groom’s family has tasted the food at the festive table, the groom kneels down, folds his palms, bows and says words of gratitude to his parents.

After this, accompanied by “usi”, the groom goes to the bride’s house to go through the tradition of her ransom, which for some reason many consider to be primordially Russian. In fact, the custom of ransom has existed in Korea for a long time.

The first to meet the groom are the brothers, sisters and girlfriends of the bride, who will definitely be presented with gifts, and those who are younger - with sweets. Only after this will the groom be able to enter the house and freely reach the bride’s room, where he will have to pay a more serious ransom for the opportunity to see his chosen one. The size of the ransom directly depends on the skills of the “usi”; if he has eloquence and can praise the groom, then he may well be allowed to go to the bride for free.

There is another way to compete for the bride. To do this, the groom can enter into a playful fight with his beloved’s older brother. It looks quite fun, and a positive attitude from this action is guaranteed to everyone around.

After the groom is finally reunited with the bride, everyone sits down at the table, at which the newlyweds have a place of honor. Parents give useful instructions to the bride, advising her to obey her husband in everything and to be a good housewife and wife. Next comes the process of transferring the bride's dowry to the groom. By the way, until this moment he is strictly forbidden to touch it.

It's time to go to the groom's house, at the entrance to which a bag of rice is prepared, which is considered the main breadwinner in Korea. Stepping over the bag, the bride must walk along the laid silk path, symbolizing wealth and prosperity, without stumbling. In order to unite with her future mother-in-law and avoid any omissions in the future, the girl must look with her in the mirror she brought with her from home. The bride is followed by her entire dowry.

Korean wedding banquet

Envelopes with money are most often given as wedding gifts. This is a tradition and it is extremely rare for cash gifts to be replaced with our usual tea sets. The custom of giving exclusively money during the holidays is found, by the way, in many Asian countries.

Favorite performers are often invited to modern wedding ceremonies in Korea to provide musical accompaniment to the celebration. Relatives of the newlyweds also indulge in the pleasure of singing a couple of songs in honor of the new family, and this is almost the main entertainment of the Asian holiday. And even if the singers sing terribly, they will still receive a storm of applause from those around them.

The festive table is sure to include expensive drinks, sweets and a wide variety of treats. Most of the food is purchased in advance by the groom's relatives to show their wealth.

Many traditions in Korean weddings come from modern times. Here, as in other countries, the bride throws her wedding bouquet into the crowd of her unmarried girlfriends, and the guests at the festive table happily shout “Bitter!”

Korean traditions after the wedding

The morning after the celebration, the bride must get up before everyone else, cook rice for the whole family and start cleaning. Modern Korean girls are very lucky, since they only have to clean the apartment, but in the old days, young wives had to tidy up the entire house and yard.

After a while, the groom’s relatives come to visit, and the girl must give each of them gifts prepared in advance, which her parents purchase.
This is how the family life of every Korean girl begins, and although many traditions are not observed by modern couples, the main part of the Korean wedding takes place the same as many years ago.

Each nation has its own customs and traditions that characterize the stages of the people’s life path. And the Koreans are no exception in this case. The Koreans have four such stages, which have also been preserved among the Koreans of Kazakhstan. These are the so-called “four tables”. Holidays of the “four tables” are truly family celebrations. The first and second tables are the sacred duty of parents towards their children; the third and fourth, in turn, are the return of debt to parents by grateful children. The first table is the first anniversary of the child’s life, the second is the wedding, the third is the sixtieth birthday, the fourth is the funeral and wake. If for some reason a Korean did not celebrate on one occasion, a taboo was placed on subsequent celebrations. So, if a child died before reaching one year of age and did not receive the “first table” in connection with this, then he should have been forgotten, no wake was celebrated for him, and no visit to his grave.

If the family hero of the day did not have a “wedding table,” then on the eve of his 60th birthday, he was sure to have a wedding first, even if by that time he already had children and grandchildren.

The custom of the “four tables” unites the Korean family, makes it monolithic and friendly, contributing to the preservation of national traditions.

Now let's try to describe all four tables separately. The “first table” occurs when the baby turns one; Koreans consider the first year to be the beginning of a child’s life. Only from this moment does the cub begin to truly be considered a person. Every Korean child needs to celebrate his time; this is considered a sacred duty of parents. There is not a single Korean family where this date is not celebrated.

It is customary to celebrate holidays in grand style, just as other nations celebrate weddings. It is believed that the richer and more crowded this day is, the fuller and happier the child’s life will be. It is usually customary to set the table for a child in the morning, from about 10 to 12 o'clock. Koreans have a belief that girls should set the table early so they don’t end up being old maids, and boys should set the table later so they don’t get married early. Before the child is brought to the table, he is dressed in everything new, always bought with his father’s money. The child is brought to a table on which various objects are laid out: money, a pen, a notebook, a book, scissors, threads, three cups of national bread “chaltegi”, beans, rice. A child's future is determined by what he chooses first. As soon as the child grabs the first three objects, he is taken away from the table so that he does not grab other objects. If a child chooses a pen, notebook or book, it means he will be capable, striving for knowledge, educated. If a child chooses money, he will live comfortably and in abundance; if there are threads, then he is waiting

long life. However, if a child chooses rice or bread, this does not bode well: he will be frail and in poor health, and will live in poverty. Therefore, “bad” objects are placed on the table away from the baby. Guests and relatives always give the child money. The fun continues all day.

"Second table"

Modern Koreans, like their distant ancestors, attach exceptional importance to marriage. This is one of the four main events in life, and perhaps it is celebrated most solemnly. Marriage in the minds of many Koreans in Kazakhstan to this day remains not so much a personal matter of two young people, but rather a matter concerning their clan and family.

Marriage is usually preceded by matchmaking. This act is accompanied by certain rituals. Thus, only elders from the groom’s family can be matchmakers. This could be the father himself, his older brother, and only as a last resort, if there are none, the groom’s mother. In the absence of parents, the groom's elder brother or the elder brother-in-law - the elder sister's husband - can act as matchmakers. As a rule, divorced people, widows, widowers, and remarried persons do not have the right to marry. Having received the consent of the bride's parents, the parties agree to hold a "chencha" - an engagement party, which is fully financed by the groom, but is held in the bride's home. At “chenchi,” the groom’s relatives seem to demonstrate their financial capabilities. It is considered obligatory to present the bride's family with a goose - a symbol of marital fidelity. At the engagement, the mother or the eldest woman from the groom’s family must show everyone present gifts for the bride. The gift includes: a piece of material, underwear.

"Third Table"

Today, various anniversary celebrations organized by adult children in honor of their elderly parents remind us of the traditional veneration of the oldest family members by Koreans. But especially significant and obligatory is the celebration by children of the 61st anniversary of their parents, i.e. the first year of a new century, determined by a 60-year cycle. It is usually customary to celebrate this anniversary if by that time all the children in the family who have reached adulthood have started families, all of them have had weddings, and there is no misfortune. Otherwise, this anniversary is pushed back and celebrated already at 2, 4, 6 years, but it is imperative that this date in Korean is already odd. National clothes are sewn for the hero of the day, which he must wear for the first half of the holiday, and in the second half he can change clothes. The spouse, friends, and relatives should sit next to the hero of the day. The toastmaster introduces the children of the hero of the day and their families to everyone present. Each of the congratulating children pours a glass of alcohol for the hero of the day and serves it to him with only two hands. Then the person congratulating his children, wife or husband makes a national bow - “ter”. This is a special national tradition in which you need to kneel, rest your hands on the floor and lower your head low, demonstrating respect and obedience. It is customary for Kazakh Koreans to do “ter” once. After the children, his relatives congratulate him, strictly observing the hierarchy. Only after observing all the rituals do the guests begin the meal. Relatives and friends always try to sing songs in honor of the hero of the day or play something on a national instrument. Children and grandchildren have been preparing a kind of family concert for a long time for the hero of the day and are very happy if they manage to please him.

It is usually customary to give money to the hero of the day, and everyone present strives not to lose face. Many parents then divide this money between their children.

"Fourth Table"

The death of a person is perceived both by representatives of other nationalities and by Koreans as an extreme, greatest grief, morally obliging all relatives and friends of the deceased to actively participate in the funeral and commemoration ceremony. Providing proper honors to deceased loved ones is seen by Koreans as the most important duty of all adult family members. That is why in Korean families, funerals of loved ones are arranged very solemnly, in accordance with traditional ritual.

After death, the Korean receives his last, “fourth table”. This is the last duty of children to their parents, the fulfillment of which is associated with all kinds of special rituals and ceremonies. By leaving behind children, a Korean thereby fulfills the most sacred duty on Earth, ensuring posthumous honors and prosperity for himself and all deceased ancestors.

Immediately after a person breathes his last breath and leaves for another world, he must take off a piece of clothing - it could be a T-shirt, shirt, blouse, etc. Having taken it, you need to go to the corner of the house, building, or to the balcony and stand facing the sunrise, holding in outstretched hand the thing taken from the deceased, shout out his personal name three times with the words: “chabiko kadegao!” This ritual is called “honu purunda” - calling the spirit of the deceased.

The deceased must be dressed in the same way as the living: first they put on underwear, then a suit or dress, and then outerwear.

Clothing must be made of three layers. The older child pours a glass. Then boiled pap rice is placed in a cup of water in three portions. After this, you need to do “ter” three times. The vodka is poured into a separate cup, into which the rest of the vodka poured for the deceased by other relatives will then be poured. Relatives should cry and moan loudly. The coffin with the body of the deceased must be carried out only through one threshold or through a window. If there are many rapids, then at each threshold three notches are made with an ax. Young girls, children and pregnant women are not allowed to go to the cemetery, and their husbands are not allowed to dig a grave or install a fence or monument. The deceased's clothes are burned in the cemetery. Mandatory funeral dishes are rice porridge “pap”, a cup of clean water, a spoon, fork, funeral pancakes, fried fish, boiled pork with lard, salads, candies, fruits, cookies, peeled eggs. Then the “ter” ceremony is performed. The next day, all loved ones go to the cemetery and set the table again. This is considered the first year of commemoration. Then this ritual is performed on the day of death 2 years later. After this, it is considered that mourning is lifted.

There are only three days on which you can go to the cemetery. The permanent date is April 5-6. These days are called “hanzok”. You need to go to the cemetery in the morning. On these days you can touch the grave, clean it, wash it, etc. During the rest of the year, touching the grave is strictly prohibited. Another parent's day falls on May 5th according to the Korean calendar. "Tanya" day. On this day you cannot touch the grave either. The third day of the commemoration falls on August 15th according to the Korean calendar and is called “chisogi”.

Koreans even prepare the coffin in advance, during their lifetime. It is believed that if a person has everything prepared in advance, he will live longer.

Marriage is preceded by matchmaking. Matchmakers can only be the elders of the groom's family - the father, his elder brother, and only as a last resort, if there are none, the groom's mother. Having received the consent of the bride's parents, the parties agree to hold a chencha - an engagement ceremony, entirely financed by the groom, but held in the bride's house. All close relatives and friends of the bride and groom are invited to the ceremony. It is considered obligatory to offer the bride's relatives a goose - a symbol of marital fidelity, a special "shock" bread - chaltegi, made from a special variety of glutinous rice, as well as white rice cakes - timpeni.

Despite the fact that world society has recently changed significantly and is no longer the same as it was just a century ago, the traditions of Korea are still determined depending on the traditional Confucian structure of social relations.

The role of Confucianism in the country is still very important. Age and position in society are of great importance. The traditions of South Korea regarding relations in society are very clearly defined - the younger ones follow the wishes of the elders, and people from high social strata are authorities among ordinary citizens. This has always been the case in this country, and now such simple laws also apply, although it is worth noting that, compared to the earlier stages of the development of Korean culture, the features of such rules are now a little blurred. Therefore, before making acquaintance with a new person, South Koreans try to find out as much as possible about him. In order to determine their behavior with a certain person, Koreans learn about his marital status, age, and status. And they don’t ask these questions out of ordinary curiosity, although, of course, not everyone answers them honestly or even prefers to remain silent.

To more clearly understand Korean culture, you need to know their attitude towards marriage.

A wedding is, without a doubt, the most important event in the life of every resident of this country. Divorce is a shame and a stigma for the rest of your life, and not only for spouses, but for all members of their families. Although, modern society is taking its toll and, despite harsh criticism from society, more and more married couples are officially breaking off their relationship.

Residents of Korea are not very emotional people and it is not customary for them to hug or kiss when meeting. Usually, everything is limited to a handshake. However, once the relationship becomes closer, some familiarity is possible. It should be noted that Koreans have an extremely negative attitude towards girls who walk holding hands. So, in order to avoid misunderstandings when visiting Korea, it is better not to do this.

People who are in close relationships with each other may well touch their faces in a busy place - public morality in this country allows this. Although passionate kisses and hugs are still very obscene and well-mannered Koreans will not allow themselves to do this in crowded places.

Meals in Korea take place on the floor, so be sure to take off your shoes when visiting.

In the country it is not polite to be bare-legged in the presence of older people. In this case, you should always wear stockings or socks.

The norm of behavior in society is when visiting any establishment, everyone pays for themselves (shared), although if someone expresses a desire to pay for everyone, no one will object. Not so long ago, lunch or dinner in Korea had to be silent, but in modern society it is acceptable to discuss something and laugh while eating.You always need to thank the hostess or owner for food, which is very highly valued.In Korea, you should not lure a person towards you with your finger or palm facing up, since in this way only dogs attract attention in the country.

Holidays in Korea.

Thanksgiving is in mid-September.

Sokhonje is celebrated in March and September. A huge number of people come to Confucian chapels these days. There you can see costumed rituals and hear traditional orchestras. The best place to attend such a holiday is Sungkyunkwan (Seoul University).

On the birthday of Buddha (May), lantern parades are held - a very spectacular spectacle. At the beginning of September, another significant Korean holiday falls - the Lunar Harvest Festival.Also this month, you can visit the National Folk Arts Festival and see how Hanjongshik, a cultural holiday of Korea, is celebrated there.

European culture is radically different from Asian culture. This is manifested in absolutely all social and everyday nuances, which is why Asia is incredibly attractive for tourists from all over the world. Of particular interest is the culture and customs of South Korea, which for quite a long time was somewhat isolated from the rest of the world. Today, Europeans find this country incredibly beautiful and unique, so we decided to tell you the most interesting facts about Korean culture.

Korean culture: features

At the beginning of the article, I would like to clarify that Koreans are an indivisible nation with common traditions, religion and customs. But due to certain circumstances, the country was divided into parts and now represents two absolutely sovereign states - South and In cases where journalists or sociologists mention Korea, they mean precisely the state called South Korea. We will do the same. Moreover, the cultural heritage of both countries is identical.

South Korea: customs and traditions

Korean culture was formed under the influence of the Chinese and Mongolian people. This can be seen in some elements of folk costume and musical tastes, which are surprisingly reminiscent of traditional Chinese chants. If you ever find yourself in Korea, you will be surprised how often you can hear music and songs on the city streets. They accompany the life of an ordinary Korean from the moment of birth until death.

Religion has greatly influenced the cultural traditions of Korea. Initially, almost all Koreans were ardent adherents of shamanism. Only with the arrival of the first Buddhist monks from China to these lands did a new religion begin to spread throughout the country. It surprisingly quickly entered the life of Koreans and overlapped with their traditions. In addition, Buddhism gave a powerful impetus to the development of art. Traditional painting, for example, under the influence of the new religion, was enriched with previously unused styles and trends. Silk painting and paintings in the style of naturalism became popular.

The attitude towards the older generation occupies a special place in culture. This tradition can also be attributed to Koreans. It is still customary among them to treat their elders with great respect and carry out their words without reservation. Quite often, when finding themselves among strangers, Koreans try to find out their social status and age. This is what they start from when building a model of behavior in society.

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Young Koreans respect the will of their parents above all else and marry only after their blessing. After all, in Korea, divorce is considered a shame not only for two people, but also for their families. Nowadays weddings are played mainly in two versions - traditional and Western style. In this way, all secular laws and cultural traditions are respected. The most common clothing at any festive ceremonies is the Korean national costume, Hanbok. It evokes admiration among Europeans because this clothing represents a riot of colors and simplicity of lines, which together form an incredibly attractive image.

Korean folk costume: general characteristics

The costume, which is the national holiday clothing in Korea, is called hanbok. It has remained virtually unchanged for several millennia. Korean consists of three main parts:

• jeogori;
• chhima;
• old

Chogori is an outer shirt, chhima is an A-shaped skirt, and otkorym are wide and long ribbons that prevent the shirt from opening and are a decorative element of the costume.

A Korean men's suit consists of the following elements:

• jeogori;
• paji;

The jegori outer shirt in a man's suit differs little from that of a woman's, and paji pants are comfortable baggy trousers tied with two ribbons, which makes them almost universal. In the cold season, a type of coat called pho was worn on the jegori.

Hanbok color scheme

In various runway photographs, the Korean national costume appears to foreigners as something surprisingly colorful. Koreans know how to combine bright and rich colors with each other to create unique images. Usually two or three colors are used in one suit in unusual combinations. Chhima and jeogori were often decorated with gold foil embroidery, which was elevated to the rank of a special art in Korea.

The bright colors of hanbok have always been available only to noble Koreans. They had the right to use all kinds of colors, which often played an informational role when meeting with acquaintances. For example, only women with one son could wear deep blue.

Commoners were forbidden to use bright colors: their Korean national costume was replete with shades of gray and beige. The poor could afford some color variety - pink and green colors. But it always had very pale shades, in contrast to the pure and rich colors of the hanbok of the aristocrats.

What material was hanbok made from?

The Korean national costume was most often made from cotton blend fabrics. They wore well in the hot season; in other seasons, silk clothing was common. But only the rich could afford such variety. The general population of Korea wore hanbok made of plain cotton or hemp.

Women's Hanbok: details

It is worth noting that throughout the history of its existence, the folk costume has changed only its length and design elements. In general terms, it remained intact, which speaks of its extreme convenience, which Koreans are proud of to this day. The outer shirt of jeogori has always been quite short; in the traditional version it reaches the waist. But at different times its length changed significantly. For example, in the eighteenth century, chogori turned into a kind of top that barely covered the chest. In some provinces, it even left the breasts uncovered, which indicated that the woman had children.

Chhima also did not always have the current bell shape. Under the influence of Mongolian and Chinese culture, the skirt began to widen towards the hips and narrow towards the legs from the seventeenth century. In the nineteenth century, this form of chhima reached its maximum expansion and gradually began to take on a more traditional appearance. Nowadays, the skirt of the national costume starts just below the chest and widens towards the floor. Okorym ribbons were originally very narrow, but over time they began to be made from fabric that contrasted with the color of jeogori in order to create an additional design element from them.

Hanbok: men's suit

Hanbok for men has undergone virtually no major changes. Chogori and paji were often made from different colored fabrics, allowing for unique combinations and combinations. In a men's suit, jeogori reaches mid-thigh and is loose-fitting, unlike the fitted women's version.

As outerwear, men often wore not only the already mentioned pho, but also magoja - and a removable collar. It was customary to wear it over the jegori and not fasten it. This element of clothing came into Korean culture thanks to the Mongolian princesses. But a few years later, it became so integrated with the traditional hanbok that to this day it is considered the main part of the national costume of not only men, but also women.

Children's traditional clothing

The Korean national costume for girls and boys is not much different from adult models. Parents try to buy suits of bright colors for their beloved children, which are worn not only on official public holidays, but also in close family circles. It is also customary to wear hanbok to various festive events in kindergarten and school.

It is difficult to imagine at least one celebration in Korea that would be complete without a national costume. Absolutely all Koreans, without exception, love him. And this is not surprising, because in addition to its beauty, hanbok is distinguished by its extraordinary convenience and practicality. Therefore, if you happen to visit South Korea, be sure to bring a hanbok from there as a souvenir. With its help you can make an unforgettable impression at any party.

The population of South Korea is more than 51 million people, of which the vast majority are Koreans. Only the Chinese minority became a noticeable inclusion in the ethnic picture of Korea - according to the latest data, about 35 thousand people. This situation, unique for the modern world, in which the ethnic group is equal to the state, has developed due to the special idea of ​​the Koreans about the world: in it, the main thing for them is not citizenship, not the territory of residence, but belonging to their people.

However, there are prerequisites that the homogeneity of the population will soon be disrupted: Koreans are increasingly marrying foreigners, mainly Chinese, Vietnamese, and women from the Philippines. However, Europeans are unlikely to be able to distinguish between Koreans and Vietnamese, so for many years to come, tourists and guests of South Korea will see its residents as surprisingly similar to each other, as if the entire state is a big family.

Peoples inhabiting South Korea

Koreans

Until recently, scientists could not answer the question of how and when the Koreans appeared. Only modern genetics and DNA research have solved the mystery: the Korean people come from the eastern environs of the Sayan Mountains and Lake Baikal.

Today, Koreans speak their own language, their self-name is “hunguk saram”. A characteristic feature of Koreans is hard work: work for them is more than a way to earn a living; the work team and the company are an extension of the family, often its most important part.

Korean hospitality is very reminiscent of Russian and Chinese: for them it is important to feed the guest, so the first question you will hear in a Korean home or when meeting is: “Are you hungry?” Another feature similar to us is high alcohol consumption, more than 9 liters per year for each person.

The ethnic characteristic of Koreans was good singing ability, but poor dancing ability. Scientists have not yet figured out what the reason is. An important national trait is a penchant for learning: more than 93% of school students graduate from universities, which gives them good chances for a career and a prosperous life. In the world, South Korea ranks 2nd in terms of the number of people who read regularly.

The most important Korean tradition is politeness. They say “thank you” and “hello” to everyone - the seller, the courier, the janitor, the cleaning lady, etc. Koreans are very respectful towards their elders, even if the difference is 1 year. Therefore, at the first meeting, they immediately find out how old you are and whether you are married. Marital status for a Korean is also a sign of maturity: an unmarried man until a very old age will be considered a youth and... a little “out of his mind.”

Chinese

“Huaqiao” is the name given to the Korean Chinese. Most of them are citizens of Taiwan, but they live permanently, for many generations, in South Korea. They even came up with a special term for them - “permanent foreigners.” The Chinese appeared in South Korea in the 40s of the twentieth century, during the Chinese Civil War. Many years have passed, but they do not become South Korean citizens due to government policies. They are not allowed to serve in the army or hold government positions; they experience great difficulty in finding employment in large companies. The primary activity of the Korean Chinese is trade.

Life of Koreans

90% of Koreans are middle class. The country ranks 13th in terms of living standards in the world ranking: there is no clear division between rich and poor, the vast majority of people live prosperously.

More than 80% of city residents live in “apatas” - houses of the same type - comfortable high-rise buildings with 20 - 30 floors. There is a free parking lot under the house, and nearby there are playgrounds and sports grounds, where the most common games are chokku (Korean football) and badminton. Each microdistrict has a tennis court and often a swimming pool.

Inside the houses there are always working elevators, in which a small bench is installed under the panel: for children. Children, even in large cities, often walk alone, because the level of danger in the country is extremely low: something like this was the case in the best years of the USSR.

Houses often don’t have number “4”—no fourth floor, no fourth apartments—because “4” is an unlucky number for Koreans. But there are video cameras everywhere and in large numbers. There are so many of them that you can safely leave bags, exercise equipment and anything else in the courtyard of the house, in the entrance: it is unlikely that anyone will encroach on someone else’s property. And the reason for this is not only cameras, but traditions and upbringing.

In each apartment, a special device is installed in the kitchen ceiling to notify residents about important events and activities. It is impossible to turn it off. Next to the “sounder” is a fire safety device, which is mandatory for all premises in Korea.

The apartment begins with a tiny hallway, where it is customary to leave shoes and hats. The floor level in the hallway is 7 - 10 cm lower than the floor level in other rooms, so that less dirt and dust enters the rooms.

The kitchen is usually not separated from the main apartment in any way and is a standard kitchen set with cabinets, a sink, an extractor hood, a stove, a washing machine, etc. All this is a normal component of an apartment that is rented out by a developer, and therefore is the same for everyone. The most commonly purchased refrigerators are a standard one and a refrigerator for kimchi - Korean “bread” made from vegetables (Chinese cabbage, radish, onions, cucumbers, etc. Kimchi is called “bread” because Koreans eat it at every meal.

A typical Korean apartment has a bedroom - a small room where there is often not even room for a bed: most Koreans sleep on the floor. When they wake up, they carefully fold the blanket and bedding into a corner. All this is possible thanks to the “ondol” system - a heated floor.

“Ondol” is a modernized thousand-year-old tradition of heating a house through the floor, an analogue of the Russian stove with a stove bench, in which the floor is the “bed”. In ancient times, for its construction, chimneys were diverted from the stove under the floor, but today the smoke is replaced with ordinary water or electricity. There are 5 heating levels, the owners themselves choose what temperature they require.

Warm floors have largely determined the life of Koreans. They sleep on the floor, sit on the floor - have lunch, work, relax. The same thing happens in Korean restaurants, where diners take off their shoes in the “hallway” and sit on the floor at low tables.

Korean family

Traditionally, in a Korean family, the man is the breadwinner (earns money), the woman is the housewife and teacher of the children. Before marriage, young people do not live together - this is not encouraged, and they get married on average at 27 - 30 years old.

Korean families are very active. There you don’t have to cook, wash, or clean the house yourself: catering, dry cleaning, and cleaning companies are very accessible. That’s why families often spend weekends and hours after work going to parks, going to the movies, theaters, and going on short trips.

Traditions and customs

One of the most ancient traditions of South Korea is the celebration of the Lunar New Year - Seolyal. The weekend lasts three days and people dress up in hanbok, a traditional costume. For women, it consists of a jegori blouse, a chhima skirt, and a jacket. For men - from jeogori and paji pants. On holidays, Koreans go to their relatives, to the seashore, and congratulate each other.

Chuseok is another ancient holiday that also requires 3 days of rest. It is celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month and is called the festival of the harvest and remembrance of ancestors. On this day, Koreans go to cemeteries, decorate their homes and yards with cereals, fly kites, and organize festivals of the national dance Kankansulle. Koreans bring fruits of the new harvest, traditional and simply delicious dishes to the cemetery. If the cemetery was nearby, it was customary for the table to be set at home, and the woman to carry it on her head to the grave.

A special date in the life of a Korean is considered to be the celebration of the first birthday - tol-chanchi. Many guests gather with gifts, a special ritual is performed, which should determine the fate of the one-year-old baby. For girls, the holiday begins in the morning so that they get married quickly, for boys - from about 12 o'clock, so that they do not get married early.

This holiday is part of the “four tables” tradition. The first two parents arrange for the child are the first birthday and the wedding. The second two children give their parents a 60th birthday and a funeral, a wake. In ancient times, the absence of one table canceled all subsequent ones.

There are few public holidays in South Korea, these are:

• Independence Day (March 1st),
• Constitution Day (July 17),
• Liberation Day (August 15),
• Founding Day of the country (October 3),
• Hangeul National Alphabet Day (October 9).