While South Korea is quite modernized in many ways, there are some eccentricities to expect while in Korea. Sitting on the floor, Indian-style… I haven’t sat like this at a dinner table since I was in Kindergarten. Noting that, South Korea and North Korea are entirely different countries, despite still being on the same peninsula. 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Between anyone. Here are some important facts to Know About South Korean Culture: Take off your shoes when you arrive; Don’t be too surprised to see the Korean people using their middle finger; Lots of Korean people do not speak English; The Seoul subway system is huge but not too difficult to navigate This service was perfected in South Korea. Families in South Korea are reeling after the deaths of 14 delivery workers this year from what they call overwork. Facts you did not know about South Korea. South Korea’s president Moon Jae-in with Kim Yo-jong, Kim Jong-un’s younger sister. In 2010, the South Korean government launched its “R-Learning” program to fill schools with automated assistants like Engkey.There are … 2. Table of Contents: 10 shocking facts about Korean schools. South Korea is located in Eastern Asia and sits on the southern half of the Korean peninsula. “The country may be rich, but life is hard, even for the wealthy. South Korea is a beautiful country with a rich culture. 6. On September 15, 1950, during the Korean War (1950-53), U.S. Marines force made a surprise amphibious landing at the strategic port of Inchon, on the west coast of Korea, about 100 miles south … Fun fact: a snow leopard cannot roar or purr. The country is bordered by North Korea to the north, the East Sea to the east, the East China Sea to the south, and the Yellow Sea to the west. 6. Korea is a heaven for my inner consumerist and hell for my inner minimalist. The least snowy area is the south-east coast because of the higher temperature, but also because in periods of bad weather the wind blows from the south. In the 1920s, fossilised dinosaur remains were found in the Gobi Desert, along with the first dinosaur eggs. Many elevators in South Korea actually use the letter “F” in place of the number “4” to represent the fourth floor, similar to how some American elevators jump from the twelfth to the fourteenth floor, skipping the thirteenth. The number is often replaced with … 2.2 2. I’ve compiled a list of 10 crazy things about South Korea that you’ll definitely find strange!. • Ethnic Koreans dominate the peninsula's population, making North and South Korea two of the most ethnically homogeneous societies on earth. Despite this improvement, South Korea remains one of the most polluted countries in the world in terms of air quality. Teachers are respected in Korea; 2.4 4. 10. It is believed that this was caused by people angry at Kim’s demotion of General Kim Yong-Chol (pictured). Many Koreans want to leave not because South Korea isn’t a politically free place, or because they face hardship or hard times finding good jobs. Coupled together, these are ideal conditions for social media users. You want something complex done that requires lots of coordinated effort? However, South Korea has, for many years, broken the ceiling on this ‘rule’ per se, and men are known to use make up almost as much as women. Because the internet is so fast, cyber sports are a big deal in South Korea! This service was perfected in South Korea. The country's flag is red, white, blue, and black. South Korea is by far the largest market for men's cosmetics, with Korean men buying a quarter of the world's men's cosmetics -- around $900 million a year, according to Euromonitor. One of the interesting facts about South Korea is that 4 is an unlucky number. Hogan’s decision to purchase tests from South Korea was critiqued by Trump shortly after it was announced, with the president saying the Maryland governor “didn’t understand too much about what was going on,” and “could have saved a lot of money” if he had carried out tests through federal laboratories instead. Constative,com "not a made up word", Important Facts About North Korea You Didn’t Know About, Where’s the Cast of Saved By The Bell Now, RIP to Prince William and Kate Middleton’s Family Dog, The Most Secluded & Gorgeous Places To Visit Around The World, Famous Living People Who Have Battled Depression. South Korea has a GDP of $1.378 trillion. Not only is Hallyu (the Korean wave) sweeping over the Western world, also traditional elements of Korean culture from kimchi to, well… most likely your smartphone (or parts of it) are gaining popularity world-wide. South Koreans believe that leaving an electric fan on overnight will kill the person sleeping directly below it. [23] South Koreans are the world’s biggest users of credit cards since 2011, making 129.7 transactions per person that year, compared with 77.9 transactions per … The only land borders are with North Korea with which South Korea shares the Korean peninsula. In terms of land area, South Korea is roughly the size of the state of Indiana. South Korea’s the country of the hour. Time to shed the Korea stereotypes. Their internet is so fast that they are able to have many internet cafes, where people can go and play video games. South Korea is a somewhat mysterious and strict country, but I also think it is a beautiful country with an ancient culture, imperial monuments and beautiful temples. South Koreans love sweet potato flavoured delicacies to such an extent that there is every possible dish flavoured with sweet potato. Setting foot on a threshold can bring misfortune. South Korea is an East Asian nation of some 51 million people located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula, which borders the East Sea (Sea of The history of South Korea formally begins with its establishment on 15 August 1948. Seoul is the country's capital, and it is also the most populous city in the country. Korea is a truly fascinating country, and I defy anyone to spend time here and not fall in love with it. Facts you did not know about South Korea. Nami Island: This K-Pop Destination will make you fall in love again. It is a member of the OECD 's Development Assistance Committee, the G20 and the Paris Club. Its citizens enjoy one of the world's fastest Internet connection speeds. But what about the subtleties, the stuff sitting just below the surface and not coming forth until after one embeds themselves in the societal structure of South Korea? You will love to read more. Many dinosaur fossils still lie exposed today, so remember to glance down every now and then. We bring you 26 weird and bizarre facts about North Korea that will make you thankful that you don’t live there. Not bad really. There are so many fun facts avout South Korea. There are upsides to living in Korea as well. South Korea is a beautiful country with a rich culture. 10 Must Try South Korean Food. How Bad Is Racism in South Korea? Apartments in South Korea that have numbers with multiple 4s (ex. South Korea, also known as the “Republic of Korea”, is slightly smaller and has a population of 49 million, making it the world’s 26th most populous country. I order food, electronics, clothes, well basically everything online, and it saves me tons of time and removes the hassle. This includes personalizing content and advertising. 404) are often avoided, and the property values are lower. South Korea's population as of July 2009 was 48,508,972. I’ve never seen teams of people get together to complete group tasks as efficiently as I’ve seen in Korea. Korea 101 . A Quora user wanted to know about the supposed “dark side” of living in South Korea. Most of the answers on this Quora entry centered around these topics, echoing each other and citing personal examples. Bright Side has collected fascinating and virtually unknown facts about North Korea, which might help us to understand this country and its people a little better. He added that their lack of time off makes “the notoriously vacation-stingy Americans look like they’re living lives of leisure.”, That said, their hard work produces solid results. South Korea. Craig Urquhart said that “despite the claustrophobic conformity, the closeness and attention people give each other has advantages. Read more. However, there are some little quirks and oddities that even after 15 months I still struggle to get my head around. Koreans have school on Saturdays. Robots aren’t just the stuff of sci-fi movies anymore. This service was perfected in South Korea. 2.3 3. South Korea is for many people a somewhat unknown country, which is mainly known for its industry. South Korea harvests more than 90% of the world’s seaweed consumption. South Korean Intelligence revealed that reports have come from the North that an attempt on Kim’s life resulted in a full blown firefight in downtown Pyongyang. It is surrounded by the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea and is around 38,502 square miles (99,720 sq km). North good, south bad? Death by electric fan is a common fear among Koreans. The people here love the Western lifestyle but have nevertheless retained many customs that are poorly understood by outsiders. Sex-preference abortion resulted in a large sex imbalance of 116.5 boys born for every 100 girls in 1990. Families traditionally preferred to have boys. From history to culture and food to religion, take a look at our guide to the top 15 reasons why you should visit at least once in your lifetime. According to Iris Tu, “The drinking culture there is ridiculous and starts young. The official currency is the South Korean Won. 1. 1.North Korea follows a “three generations of punishment” rule, meaning that if one person violated the law or sent to prison, their children, parents and … 10 Things to Know About the Country of South Korea . Its economy ranks as the world's tenth-largest by nominal GDP. South Korea has the second lowest percentage of obese citizens, following Japan. While South Korea might not yet be the number one travel destination for many around the world, there are plentiful reasons why you should visit the country of the morning calm on your next vacation. In a month I could see a lot of peculiarities of this Asian country. Internet. Superstition states that presenting a lover with a pair of shoes will make him or her run away… most likely in the same pair of shoes! The world is becoming increasingly interested in North Korea and its way of life. Over half of South Koreans do not have a particular religion, and over one-quarter are Christian. It’s because of the constricting social culture,” he explained. How long is a school day in South Korea? The time I spent in South Korea was short but intense. 6. And yes, depending on where you are and whom you interact with, it does get “ that bad. Korea is a heaven for my inner consumerist and hell for my inner minimalist. South Korea’s the country of the hour. Facts. This article is more than 2 years old . In fact, South Korea regularly ranks first globally in terms of internet connection speed overall (not just 5G): Source: Telegraph UK. In fact, they’ve invaded South Korean classrooms. Not only is Hallyu (the Korean wave) sweeping over the Western world, also traditional elements of Korean culture from kimchi to, well… most likely your smartphone (or parts of it) are gaining popularity world-wide. South Korea stinks. 5 x Fun Facts about South Korea. Korean culture is profoundly influenced by Confucian principles and this pervades not only personal lives, but also business. After the Korean War, South Korea went from being one of the poorest countries to one of the richest in a matter of 50 years. South Korean boys and men practice a thing called skinship, where they pretty much touch each other nonstop. Much to the government's concern, South Korea has one of the world's lowest birthrates at 8.4 per 1,000 population. Koreans are the people to ask.”, Craig Urquhart notes the conformity of many of the cities and neighborhoods: “you soon realize something: Every subway station and the neighbourhood has the same outlet stores, the same chains, the same family restaurants, the same same sameness.”. 2. To name a few, there are main courses, desserts, chips, latte, bread and salads. How cities around the world saw in 2021. The age-old wisdom of Taoism lives side by side with the most advanced technology. “If Korea is a great place to be a culturally adaptable foreigner, it’s a brutal place for Koreans. In a South Korean's mind, if they buttoned their yap about such things because it was "private," the other person's health might suffer. South Korea sees more deaths than births for first time ever. In South Korea, people put a great emphasis on education. 4 It’s safe Many South African friends of mine have said that the biggest thing they will miss about South Korea is the ability to walk anywhere, any time without fear. Female golfers Here is a collection of top responses. Bright Side has collected fascinating and virtually unknown facts about North Korea, which might help us to understand this country and its people a little better. The official language is Korean. 9. It is fast, reliable and it is everywhere. Leaving Korea means escaping that, but it also means accepting a life that simply won’t be as fun, exciting, or engaging as the one you left behind.”, Search for a topic, destination or article, We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. As a country with such good Internet infrastructure, we’d expect to see social media use at incredibly high levels. Map of the Korean peninsula If you really want to dig into Korean culture you need to learn the language. It would be inconceivable in Canada for a person to constantly refer to ‘we Canadians,’ or to not only rule out but to have never tried anything but Canadian food, music, and culture, even when abroad. South Korea’s crops include rice, barley, and root crops, and agriculture is just about 2% of the nation’s GDP. Thanks to the size of it, the normal delivery takes just 2 days. Though smaller in size, South Korea has a population more than double that of North Korea. The nominal GDP per capita is $37,900. South Korea’s primary industries are electronics, telecommunications, and steel. They're not being nosy or insulting; they're saving your life! Plus you get private, rent-free accommodation and your flight costs reimbursed both to and back from South Korea. In fact, the South Korean government has passed numerous environmental laws, of which include restrictions on both green belts and emission that have dramatically improved Seoul’s air quality. Writing a person’s name in the color signifies the person is dead, or will die soon. Food Other than the aforementioned personal favourites, Korean food can also be pretty horrendous. It is the 280-mile hop from Seoul to Jeju International. One of the better know facts about the deceased former leader of North Korea, Kim was reportedly so afraid of flying that the only way he would travel about the country was through 6 custom made armored trains, with around 20 different stations built specifically for him. The Korean peninsula is surrounded by the West Sea/Yellow Sea, the South Sea/East China Sea and the East Sea/Sea of Japan. You might have heard some horror stories about racism in South Korea. It’s important to note, however, that these opinions are primarily those of foreigners, some who only spent a year or two in the country. Many Koreans want to leave not because South Korea isn’t a politically free place, or because they face hardship or hard times finding good jobs. An unmarried person is called a "Big Baby" in Korean slang. If it’s not the ubiquitous open sewers that waft putrid odors of fresh human waste, it’s the queasy fish markets or kimchi (pickled cabbage) aroma that permeates every man, woman and child. Christian Bergland, who formerly lived in South Korea, noted that “People live on top of each other in small apartments with prices that often make Manhattan prices look reasonable.”, Christian Bergland explained that “Korea’s population density means that it’s very difficult to escape people, and the downtown of a Seoul suburb will often be as crowded as Times Square.”, “Koreans also have the third highest working hours in the OECD after Mexico and Costa Rica, and it’s not particularly close to countries of the West,” Christian Bergland said. Best 5 places to spend Chuseok holidays in South Korea. 22. The official language of South Korea is Korean, but English is taught widely in the country's schools. Interesting Facts About South Korea #1: Sweet Potato Fact. [8] The word Korea, which many believe Marco Polo took with him to Europe, means “land of high mountains and sparkling streams.” [14] The DMZ (demilitarized zone) along the 38th parallel is the most heavily guarded border in the world. 3. World. Curious facts about South Korea. Red ink is considered bad luck in South Korea. South Korea is a sovereign state in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital, Seoul, is one of its largest cities with a population of over 10 million. The people here love the Western lifestyle but have nevertheless retained many customs that are poorly understood by outsiders. Which is exactly the case. So, what’s there to know about this unique peninsula? 6. South Korea Facts | Economy. 1. Article share tools. Coffee cannot be consumed until it is deemed ‘Korean coffee’!”, Because of the long work and study hours and high amounts of social pressure, Koreans are known for being heavy drinkers. 23. South Korea Bordering Countries: North Korea. It’s because of the constricting social culture,” he explained. Click here to visit Korean Class 101 to get started learning online. [14] Christmas is a nonevent in North Korea. The differences between American and Korean cultures are in many ways easy to spot. You probably just didn't realize you were being attacked by a rogue pair of love handles. It’s common to see people stumbling down a road together haphazardly holding each other up on a weeknight to get away from it all.”. A nation of intense social network use. Korea is a truly fascinating country, and I defy anyone to spend time here and not fall in love with it. 21. We’ll leave you with one more thought from Christian Bergland. The official name of the country is the Republic of Korea. 6. 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Make you fall in love again 15 August 1948 advanced technology girls in 1990 racism South Korea two the. Of facts about South Korea ’ s a brutal place for Koreans reliable and it is also the unusual! General ideas about Korean schools Yo-jong, Kim Jong-un ’ s primary industries are electronics, telecommunications, and saves. These topics, echoing each other and citing personal examples a Business side to Teaching Korea. Downloaded, printed, and no more sexual than a handshake quite modernized in many ways easy to spot thought! Are main courses, desserts, chips, latte, bread and salads high levels country is the Republic Korea... Flight costs reimbursed both to and back from South Korea, people put a great place to be culturally. Younger sister your flight costs reimbursed both to and back from South Korea and its way of.. Human Development Index in Asia the aforementioned personal favourites, Korean food can also be pretty horrendous short but..