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South Korea Culture and traditions South Korea

 
 
Area : 14939  sq.mi - Population 48875000 hab.
South Korea

Our expert South Korea

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Culture and traditions South Korea

 Traditions and customs

When meeting someone you do not know, you should bow, and bow more deeply if the person is older. Even if you are just on a pleasure trip, a visiting card is highly recommended (to be presented at the beginning of any conversation). Take the time to slowly decipher the card given to you by the person you are speaking to, showing your interest. After this first very formal stage, you do not need to dwell on excessive greetings: in the end, Koreans are natural and very sociable people. For example, a present would be welcomed if you go to a private home. It is offered and received with the two hands. Take your shoes off systematically (no bare feet; socks are preferable) when going into a private space, and into most restaurants, where you often eat sitting on the floor. The bill is not shared: either you pay, or you are paid for. At the table, do not fill your glass yourself: wait for your neighbour to do it, and you do the same for them. Food is never taken with the fingers; chopsticks (in metal, not wood) are used for this; the spoon is used for rice. You should also be aware that many Koreans are still affected by very old shamanic rites originating from Siberia. If you come to know some of them well, they will show their friendship by inviting you to share some meals or simple rituals loaded with symbolic "magic".

 To read, see, listen

guide
Korea. Lonely Planet.
Seoul. Lonely Planet City Guide.
Korea. Lonely Planet Guide (8th edition published in April 2010).
books
"Stars"by Hwang Sun-Won.
Film
"Lies" by Jang Sung Woo.
movies
Old Boy by Park Chan Wook. Main prize awarded by the jury of the 2004 Cannes Film Festival.
Spring, summer, Autumn, Winter... and Spring, Samaria (Berlin silver bear award in February 2004), Binjip - "The Empty House" - (Special silver lion award for direction at the 61st Venice Film Festival in September 2004). By the director Kim Ki-duk.
Films by the director Im Kwon-taek, who received the Fellini medal from Unesco in 2002 for all his work. Also awarded an honorary Golden Bear during the Berlin film festival in February 2005 for Drunk on women and painting (Cannes prize for direction in 2002). Good-bye Duman River, his first film, in 1962. With Mandala and Gilsodom, presented in Berlin, together with Sibaji, his international reputation increased in the 80s. The Pansori singer (considerable success in Korea) introduced him to western cinema fans. This film is inspired by the form of Pansori (a Korean opera written for a singer and a percussionist), and is coupled with a portrait of Korea in the 30s. See also, on the same theme: The Song of the faithful Chunhyang (presented at Cannes in 2000), on the story of impossible love in the 18th century. The Underworld, his following film, goes back to his beginnings (Korea in the 30s).

Other Korean directors:
Lee Chang Dong, Hong Sang Soo.
music