Buzz
South Korea stands out as one of the most captivating nations across the globe. The allure of its cuisine, music, and TV shows has deeply penetrated Asia, and its cultural influence competes with giants like China and Japan. The Boston Consulting Group even crowned South Korea as the most innovative country in the world. Not bad for a nation that has only existed since 1948. Known as the Land of the Morning Calm, South Korea is a growing powerhouse full of intriguing traditions and incredible facts.
10. Alcohol Consumption
In South Korean society, drinking plays a crucial role in socialization. People gather to eat and drink with their colleagues frequently, often on a monthly or even weekly basis. These gatherings, known as "hoesik," are often accompanied by plenty of alcohol. However, strict etiquette governs drinking. When an elder pours you a drink, it is customary to hold your glass with both hands. If you pour for someone older, you must also use both hands on the bottle. Only elders or those in positions of authority are permitted to use one hand. Additionally, always wait for the senior to take their drink first, and when you drink, make sure to turn away so they don’t see you.
Even if you’re not a drinker, it’s polite to accept the first glass offered; otherwise, people may think you’re rude. Always maintain some alcohol in your glass and never pour your own drink. Remember that once the drinking begins, it doesn’t stop. In a “hoesik,” there are no limits, and people continue to drink while shouting “Kon-Bay!” which is the Korean version of “Cheers!” The next morning, many opt for a bowl of pork-based soup, called “haejangguk,” also known as ‘hangover soup,’ which is said to cure a pounding headache. But before long, it’s time for another “hoesik,” so if you see a bunch of businessmen stumbling down the street, just assume it’s the alcohol at work.
9. Red Ink
Every culture has its own peculiar superstitions. While Westerners worry about black cats, open umbrellas, or spilled salt, Koreans fear the use of red ink. Supposedly, if someone’s name is written in red, bad luck is sure to follow, and they might even meet their demise.
But why does red ink cause such concern in South Korea? When a person passes away, their name is written in red ink on a family register and funeral banners. Some believe the red ink wards off evil spirits and safeguards the dead. However, if you write a living person’s name in red ink, it’s said to bring bad fortune. So, whether you’re signing a document, composing a letter, or grading a test, it’s better to stick with black ink for safety.
8. The Proper Handshake
Bill Gates made headlines in South Korea earlier this year when he met with President Park Geun-hye. His actions sparked a media frenzy, with newspapers and talk shows discussing his behavior, and Internet forums debating his apparent rudeness. What was the cause of all the fuss? When Gates shook President Park's hand, he kept his left hand in his pocket.
In South Korea, the way you shake hands is important and reflects the hierarchy between the individuals. A one-handed handshake is considered casual and may even suggest dominance in some situations. When shaking hands with someone of your age or younger, using one hand is perfectly fine. However, when meeting someone older or in a higher position, you should use both hands. On the flip side, it’s acceptable for elders to use just one hand. If you’re shaking hands with your South Korean boss, be sure to support your arm with your free hand. Adding a slight bow and making eye contact shows respect. Good manners are always crucial, even for the richest person in the world.
7. South Korean Education
South Korean students are among the brightest in the world. They rank second globally in reading, boast a 93 percent graduation rate (while the US stands at 77 percent), and possess the second-best education system worldwide. How did they become so academically successful? The key lies in "hagwons."
Hagwons are private institutions that remain open even when public schools close. Students attend these centers to learn a wide array of subjects, from math and science to taekwondo, ballet, and even belly dancing. The best teachers attract the highest number of students, and some earn millions annually. On the other hand, those who fail to deliver are placed on probation. It’s capitalism at its finest, with hagwons operating as money-making machines. Korean parents spend $17 billion yearly on these academies, surpassing the $15 billion Americans spend on video games. Hagwons are so lucrative that major corporations like Goldman Sachs and A.I.G. invest in the Korean education sector.
Yet, the hagwon system has its dark side. Wealthy families can afford the top educators, leaving less privileged students with lower-quality tutors. To make matters worse, hagwon classes are scheduled right after regular school hours, meaning children attend school twice a day and return home mentally and physically drained. Under President Lee Myung-bak, the government restricted hagwons from operating after 10:00 p.m. to allow students to get the necessary rest. The pressure to succeed is largely driven by the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT). A high score opens the door to a prestigious college, while a poor result limits opportunities to attend a subpar institution. With such intense stress, it's not surprising that South Korea has one of the highest student suicide rates. So, is the intense effort worth the potential consequences? Only the students can decide.
6. The Korean-Japanese Rivalry
Many countries have playful rivalries, like Australia and New Zealand. Others, however, are far more tense, such as the relationship between Pakistan and India. Somewhere between these extremes lie South Korea and Japan. Although nuclear war isn’t on the horizon, their interactions have certainly been far from peaceful in recent years.
Historically, Japan had a troubling tendency to invade the Korean peninsula. After several failed attempts, Japan successfully took control of Korea in 1910 and imposed harsh rule, forcing Koreans to adopt Shintoism and speak Japanese. The situation worsened during World War II, when Japan’s military coerced nearly 200,000 women, many of them Korean, into becoming “comfort women” in brothels across China. In addition, thousands of Koreans were subjected to brutal experimentation by the notorious Unit 731.
Even decades later, a large number of South Koreans harbor resentment, feeling that Japan has never fully atoned for its wartime atrocities. Over 20 years ago, Japan’s government acknowledged the occurrence of these crimes, but since then, there has been some regression. Certain Japanese politicians have controversially claimed that the women volunteered to work as prostitutes, and one mayor even argued that the “comfort women” were essential to Japan’s wartime effort.
The situation is further complicated by a territorial dispute over a group of islands located off South Korea’s coast. Known as Dokdo in Korea and Takeshima in Japan, these islands have been a source of as much controversy as the events of World War II. South Korea asserts that it has had control of the islands since 1696, while Japan argues that it has owned them since the mid-1600s.
So it’s no surprise that relations between Koreans and Japanese are strained. In 2012, Gallup Korea conducted a poll asking which country Koreans disliked the most, and a striking 44.1 percent picked Japan, while North Korea only received 11.7 percent. This anti-Japanese sentiment fuels numerous controversies. For instance, Koreans call the “Sea of Japan” the “East Sea.” When UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre wore a gi featuring the Rising Sun emblem, featherweight fighter Jung Chan-Sung (“The Korean Zombie”) publicly condemned both GSP and the world, equating the Rising Sun to how Jews view the swastika. Even during the 2012 Olympics, South Koreans were outraged when Japanese soccer players wore the controversial symbol on their jerseys. Expect things to get even more heated when Korean athletes head to Tokyo for the 2020 Olympics.
5. The Skirt Controversy
South Korea is a conservative society, which makes it all the more surprising to see so many legs on display. The “no pants” trend is quite popular, and miniskirts and micro shorts are the everyday attire. Even professional women wear miniskirts to work. However, Korea’s attitude toward revealing clothing wasn’t always this progressive.
From 1963 to 1979, South Korea was under the authoritarian rule of Park Chung-hee, and during his regime, women's clothing was strictly controlled. It was illegal for skirts to be shorter than twenty centimeters above the knee, and schools enforced this rule by having teachers measure skirts before class. (The regulations were so strict that even a woman’s hair length was legally regulated).
Many Koreans are currently concerned that their country may regress into a fashion police state. Recently, the government passed an “overexposure bill,” which has sent shockwaves through both the media and the fashion world. However, politicians assure that the law is aimed solely at punishing those who expose themselves indecently, so K-pop fans around the world can breathe a sigh of relief.
4. Toilet-Themed Amusement Park
South Korea may be home to many quirky theme parks, but none are quite as unique as the world’s first toilet-themed amusement park, located in Suwon. Suwon is already known for housing Samsung Electronics, but it also boasts the Restroom Cultural Park, which opened in 2012 to honor the city’s former mayor Sim Jae-duck, affectionately dubbed “Mr. Toilet.”
Mr. Toilet was, as you might guess, a huge enthusiast of toilets. Sim Jae-duck dedicated his life to promoting clean and hygienic toilets while educating the world on their maintenance. He founded the World Toilet Organization (WTO), and during the 2002 World Cup in South Korea, he made sure that FIFA fans had access to clean facilities. The WTO has since expanded its mission, building modern toilets in developing countries like the Philippines.
In 2007, Sim constructed an unusual building shaped like a toilet, which became the headquarters for the World Toilet Organization (WTO). After Sim’s passing in 2009, the building was transformed into a museum. While this “theme park” doesn’t have any rides (probably for the best), it is home to a variety of toilet-related exhibits, including medieval bedpans, traditional Korean squat toilets, a urinal sculpture by Marcel Duchamp, and bronze statues of people mid-relief. And like all great attractions, entry to the Restroom Cultural Park is free.
3. Jellyfish Terminators
It’s like the plot of a sci-fi thriller. The world’s oceans are being overrun by swarms of jellyfish, and a team of scientists must develop robots to battle these deadly creatures. But this isn’t a movie—it’s actually happening off the coast of South Korea, and it could soon spread globally.
The jellyfish population around the world is on the rise, and it’s causing significant issues. Swarms can stretch for hundreds of miles, disrupt commercial fishing, and drive tourists away from beaches, which in turn hurts the economy. South Korea alone has lost $300 million due to jellyfish plagues, and a nuclear power plant in Sweden recently had to shut down because jellyfish clogged the pipes that supplied water for cooling its reactors. As a result, scientists from the Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology have come together to tackle the jellyfish problem.
Enter the Jellyfish Terminators, or JEROS (Jellyfish Elimination Robotic Swarm). These robots work in coordinated packs, wiping out any jellyfish that crosses their path. The lead robot is programmed with a set of directions, and the others follow it, receiving instructions wirelessly. Floating above the water, the robots use cameras to track down their prey. Once they spot a jellyfish, they trap it with nets and shred it with razor-sharp propellers. Initially, JEROS could eliminate 900 pounds of jellyfish per hour, but now they’re capable of destroying nearly 2,000 pounds. Currently, scientists are fine-tuning the robots to ensure they can endure waves and cooperate smoothly. Soon, the Korean coastline will be free of jellyfish, and before long, the JEROS might just turn their attention to the swimmers.
2. Bullfighting
In South Korean bullfighting, there’s no matador, no red cape, and no swords. Instead, it’s all about bulls battling each other. Around 500 ranchers travel across the country looking for the perfect fighting bulls. These ranchers select animals from herds destined for the meat market, focusing on bulls with large horns, thick necks, and low-set torsos. They then put the bulls through a tough training regimen, including shaping their horns with wires to create deadly hooks, dragging tires filled with rocks, butting heads with trees, and jogging with their handlers. After a workout, the bulls get special treats, such as body rubs. Their diet includes fish, live octopus, and even snakes.
When the time comes to fight, the ranchers give their bulls a little liquid courage—soju (a strong grain liquor)—because it's always a good idea to get a one-ton, testosterone-fueled beast drunk before a fight. The arena is filled with musicians, cheerleaders, and spectators munching on local beef. The bulls are led into the arena with their names painted on their sides (such as Power Punch, Flying Tiger, and Komodo Dragon). They’re drawn together with ropes, and the battle begins. Fortunately, there isn’t much bloodshed, and most bulls leave the arena unharmed. The match ends when one bull backs away, meaning fights can be over in seconds or drag on for hours. The winner takes home the prize money, while the loser (and their rancher) drowns their sorrows in rice wine. Nothing says a good fight like bulls and booze.
1. Plastic Surgery
Beauty is highly valued in South Korea, where the pursuit of perfection is deeply ingrained. A 2009 survey revealed that one in five Korean women has undergone plastic surgery, and unlike in many other countries, there is no stigma attached to it—it’s simply a part of the culture. Parents often encourage their daughters, particularly high school students, to get cosmetic surgery as a graduation gift, and it’s widely accepted. One of South Korea's top reality shows showcases “ugly” individuals being transformed into “beautiful” ones. Even the winner of the 2012 Miss Korea pageant had plastic surgery, and no one batted an eye. But it’s not just women who face pressure from the beauty industry; men are also often told that their personal and professional lives will improve if they alter their looks.
In South Korea, most women aspire to achieve the same beauty standards, which typically include small noses, V-shaped chins, and large eyes. However, many are paying a heavy price for their desired appearance. Over half of the women who undergo corrective surgery lose sensation in their faces and even the ability to chew and swallow. To make matters worse, a disturbing new trend is emerging—the “mouth corner lift.” People are actually opting to have their mouths permanently curved into an upward smile, so they appear happy even if their facial muscles are paralyzed.
