A few years ago, I traveled to Vietnam. I noticed many middle-aged men in Hanoi sitting in cafes or by the lakeside in the morning. Women were hardly to be found. It was a quite different scene compared to Korea. Intrigued, I looked into it and found that in Vietnam, there is a cultural tendency keeping men safe, possibly influenced by the aftermath of big wars.
Travels generally come with these curiosities. Understanding the historical context, the influence of geography and climate can make the journey more interesting.
Korea also has many unique cultures of its own. Among them, I chose four essential Korean cultures to introduce. I have also analyzed the reasons why this distinct culture has emerged.
People are in hurry
People trying to board the subway before others get off. People frantically pressing the elevator door close button. If you travel to Korea, you will often witness scenes like these. Yes, Koreans are always in a hurry. We are always running out of time. The decades of hard work for the reconstruction of the country after the Korean War over the past 70-80 years have now become a national trait.
Age matters
Just being one year older makes you 형(older brother) or 누나(older sister). This is deeply rooted in the Confucian ideology that has been embraced and developed into a somewhat local philosophical system in Korea. These Confucian principles, serving parents and ancestors, operate as social norms, so for that reason if someone is just one year older, you must behave with respect. There are criticisms, however, suggesting that Confucianism hinders the Korean society moving forward. As a result, there's a growing atmosphere of people being cautious about revealing their ages or asking about each other's ages.
Drink in a serious manner
If people who you are drinking with are older, you turn your face away and cover your glass while drinking. You must pour the drink for them. You do not pour your own drink even if your glass becomes empty. When pouring a drink, you should cover the brand. In Korea, there are dozens of such rules. In fact, it is difficult even for Koreans to accept. It's probably one of the distorted aspects of Confucian culture.
'We' are important
In Korea, we refer to the mother who gave birth to me as 'our mom,' not 'my mom.' We say 'our country' and 'our home’ likewise. It might sound a bit peculiar, right? During the early to mid-1900s, Korea experienced the era of Japanese colonial rule and later the military dictatorship, which devalued individualism and intensified collectivism. During this time, prioritizing the values of us, society, and nation became inevitable over the desires of each individual.
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