Top 9 Fascinating Aspects of Korean Kimchi Land Culture

When it comes to credit card usage, we often think the United States is the country with the most users in the world. However, the top spot in the world for the number of people using this form is South Korea, not the United States as we mistakenly believe. On average, South Koreans make about 129.7 transactions per year, while in Canada it's 89.6 and in the US it's 77.9 (according to statistics from the Bank of Korea in 2011).

South Koreans use credit cards more because it is one of the most effective ways to save money and control spending well. In addition, credit card companies often have high discount, promotion, and rebate programs, competing with each other to encourage customers to use their products. Not only that, but using credit cards is also the most effective and useful measure to prevent corruption in South Korea.

Not only serving domestic citizens, nowadays, countries in the neighboring region like China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Vietnam have also chosen South Korea as the destination for cosmetic surgery or simply beauty care. Many people worldwide have flocked to South Korea to enhance and change their appearance, through tours combining exploring the land of kimchi and beauty care. This place is not only famous for the quality of service but also has reasonable prices for customers from all over the world. Therefore, advertisements for cosmetic surgery abound on the streets and spread to many countries through online advertising. Cosmetic surgery has become one of the industries contributing positively to the country's GDP, becoming a leading economic sector.

Cosmetic surgery is a great way to achieve a beautiful appearance regardless of the potential health risks and life expectancy. Many people believe that having a beautiful appearance will broaden their job opportunities in society and may change a person's entire life. According to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 20% of women have undergone cosmetic surgery in South Korea. Medical tourism for cosmetic surgery is also a lucrative market, accounting for about 1/5 of medical tourism to South Korea. Revenue from cosmetic surgery tourism in 2014 was $107 million USD.

When it comes to advanced technology, South Korea is the first country in the world to install nationwide Wi-Fi coverage. Here, the daily Internet usage rate has reached nearly 90%, and supermarkets have to add direct selling methods to meet the huge demand of customers. When you hop on a taxi or stand at a bus stop, you'll notice – taxis are all equipped with GPS navigation, and bus stops have countdown clocks and state-of-the-art curved TVs. South Korea is also a pioneer in rolling out 5G networks – capable of downloading 800MB of data in just 1 second, set to be widely deployed by 2020!

The capital city of Seoul, South Korea, is ranked as the 'world's leading digital city' and the 'world's tech capital.' South Korea is also among the countries with the most advanced digital connectivity and technology, ranking third in broadband Internet users among OECD countries. South Korea also leads globally in electronics, digital displays, semiconductors, and mobile phones. South Korea also exports equipment for producing radioisotopes used in medical and industrial applications to countries like Russia, Japan, Turkey, and others.

When it comes to matchmaking, it's often thought to be prevalent in China. However, nowadays, matchmaking has become an important issue for the people here. Successful gentlemen and career-oriented ladies are too busy with work to have time for dating. Therefore, thousands of companies have opened this matchmaking service to support young people in finding their life partners.

Matchmaking services have been present on websites for many years, in South Korea and elsewhere. But in South Korea, matchmaking services are affirmed by the most advanced scientific systems, helping South Koreans to be cautious of fraud or too shy when proposing dates, or too busy to find a suitable partner. For example, a series of profiles with information about oneself - everything from height, weight, blood type, drinking and smoking habits to monthly income, spouse's personality traits, job, and educational qualifications of everyone in the family are stored at matchmaking service offices.

Second only to Japan, South Korea is also known for its diligent workforce. Office workers often work overtime after regular hours. Anywhere in the city, you'll see electric lights shining in offices, buildings, and people diligently working regardless of the hour. Your success and quality of life in South Korea reflect how hardworking you are. As a country influenced by Confucianism, which encourages people to work diligently, it's no surprise that Koreans are known for their industriousness.

People typically work diligently 6 days a week, 12 hours a day, including students at school, who start their day at 8 in the morning and end at 10 or even 12 at night. High school students often have little concept of dating or much interaction with the opposite sex. More and more people arriving in South Korea from elsewhere are immediately shocked by the laziness of workers in other countries, where there's the concept of leisure time. Furthermore, the high work ethic and diligence in South Korea reflect strong competition in society. Each individual must strive relentlessly to achieve the desired success.

South Korea is not only famous for its diverse market of skincare and beauty products for both men and women but also for constantly innovating and creating various types of products. The main ingredients supplied to the cosmetics industry here are quite diverse and unique, such as skincare creams made from volcanic clay, fermented soybeans, and snail mucus. The cosmetics industry is very promising in South Korea, both in terms of overall market and commercial value.

South Korea ranks as the 9th largest cosmetics market in the world, accounting for nearly 2.8% of the global market and continuously growing annually, bringing in enormous profits. The most popular products in this market are hair care, makeup, and perfumes. To meet the high consumer demand, there are increasingly more retail channels for cosmetic products ranging from high-end to affordable, catering to various market segments. Famous South Korean cosmetic brands are also well-known worldwide, from budget-friendly to luxury, and even in Vietnam, there are many customers who love products from South Korea.

If you've ever flown on a South Korean airline, you've likely noticed how professional the flight attendants are. The flight attendant training center in South Korea is one of the most attractive training facilities in the world. Many flight attendants from airlines around the globe come here to learn about customer interaction and service on each flight.

To become a flight attendant in South Korea, you need to pass a series of rigorous tests and requirements. For example, fluency in English and proficiency in Korean are major advantages. The preferred age for flight attendants is 27, but those with more experience above this age are also considered. You're required to have a degree, though experience is not necessary, it's a plus. The minimum height requirement is 163cm. Flight attendants also need to have aesthetic qualities such as having a beautiful smile and clear skin.

If you're someone who loves South Korea, often delves into this country through books, newspapers, media, or simply has a passion for its cuisine, then you probably know about the dish that embodies the spirit of the Korean people: Kimchi. Did you know that in South Korea, the number of kimchi varieties made from various vegetables is estimated to be up to 250 different types?

Indeed, in different regions of South Korea, starting from various vegetables grown throughout the year in large quantities and fermented in a simple manner suitable for use and storage over a long period, kimchi made from vegetables is diverse. Examples include kimchi made from Chinese cabbage, young radish kimchi (Yeolmu Kimchi), radish kimchi, cucumber kimchi (Oi Sobagi), ginseng kimchi (Insam Kimchi), and more. Each different ingredient used to make kimchi brings a unique flavor to it, but all are prepared according to a common recipe that has been passed down through generations. When eaten, you will experience the sour taste along with the distinctive aroma of the vegetables, combined with a strong spicy flavor and the bright red color that are characteristic and create the attraction of this dish. In Korean cuisine, kimchi is used in almost every meal, from white rice, kimchi soup with tofu, kimchi fried rice, to expensive dishes like grilled meat, beef rib soup, all have kimchi.

South Korea is a small country with only 250 golf courses, mostly frequented by politicians and businessmen. Out of the top 100 female golfers globally, South Korea boasts 38 players. Over the past decade, South Korean women have dominated the world's premier women's golf tournaments, such as the U.S. Women's Professional Golf Association (LPGA). South Korea has had four players honored in the top 10 worldwide. It has the best professional golf development program globally and boasts three shining stars: Se Ri Pak, Jiyai Shin, and So Yeon Ryu.

Among the 138 elite female golfers eligible to compete in LPGA tournaments, 34 are South Korean, accounting for nearly a quarter of the participants. South Korean women's golf has seen a remarkable surge in the past two decades. From the iconic Se Ri Pak to trailblazer Jiyai Shin and the supremely talented Sung Hyun Park, they epitomize South Korea's women's golf. With these extraordinary and inspiring women as icons and a development system poised to produce future superstars, South Korea will continue its era of dominance for years to come.