Korean Culture

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Korean Culture
Introduction
The Korean people inhabit the Korean peninsula bordering Russian and China in the North, and Japan to the East. Even though, modern day North Korea and South Korea have different political systems, the two countries share the same language and culture. Similar to other cultures, interaction with people of diverse cultures influenced Koreans. In particular, Chinese cultural influences had a lasting impact on the Korean culture. In most cases, culture changes through integration among different people whereby cultures deemed to be more civilized prevail as they are more influential. China had better technology as were their religious organization and administrative efficiency. Hence, China’s influence led to the development of a unique Korean culture, incorporating aspects of Chinese culture. This essay explores aspects of Korean culture, influences and distinctiveness, while highlighting on influences from areas surrounding the Korean peninsula.
Brief history on Korea
From the first century BCE to the Seventh BCE, there were three major Kingdoms in present day Korean peninsula. In the north of the peninsula and parts of Manchuria was Koguryo (37BCE-668BCE), in the southwestern part of the peninsula was Paektche (18BCE -660BCE), while in the southeastern portion of the peninsula was Silla (Pettid 17). Even though, there were smaller polities in the Korean peninsula, each had its own culture and foods, and differences in regional food culture were common even in the Three Kingdom Period when there was cultural diversity. It is in this period that there was frequent interaction with Chinese culture, resulting to adoption of Buddhism, Confucianism, and a modified form of Chinese writing as well the legal system. Even though, the Korean peninsula has been divided in modern times, inter Korean trade was $1.9 billion in 2010 (Korea net).
Korean culture
Culture typically passes from one generation to the next, and the political structure can affect the way people pay attention to various aspects of their culture. Both North and South Korea have maintained a sense of culture, through languages, religious practices and social relations. Essentially, both Koreas hold similar cultural values through the family system, and use of the Korean language shows shared cultural bonds of the two divided countries. Even though, South Korea follows a more open foreign policy while North Korea is isolationist, Confucianism and emphasis on strong family ties shows similarities. Interaction between the Korean people with both islanders and continental people has led to the development of a unique Korean culture (Korea Net). Nonetheless, globalization has led to more changes in the South Korean family structure, but unlike Western philosophy of individualism, family relations and societal roles still play a prominent role in Korean culture.
Family and social relations
The typical Korean family is patriarchal, with family role playing a critical role in Korean culture, whereby the father is the family head in a society that highlights on a family oriented life. Confucianism has influenced family life among Koreans, whereby fathers are expected to take care of basic needs and health. The Korean family structure is hierarchical, with the eldest son then having responsibilities of making major decisions affecting the family after the father (Brown & Brown 83). Even though, South Korea has adopted aspects of democracy and equality, decision making in families is typically male oriented. On the other hand, North Korea is less open to the outside world with political leadership predominantly male, and this also influences the family life. South Korea currently has a female president, showing that the society is changing and accepting more women leaders. Overall, loyalty to family still plays a major role among Koreans, and at times individual dreams are secondary.
Confucianism has influenced the Korean society from the political structure, marriage institution, social relations, and education, to the family structure. The Confucian social system resulted to the adoption of kinship based community and family structure. Even in modern day South Korea, Confucian familism still plays a prominent role in family ideology and roles in the family set up (Chang 598). The ideology influences many of the traditional values, while influencing moral hierarchy and support relationships between generations and genders (Chung 598). There were various kin name families, which were given land by royal governments and encouraged to settle in those lands. Over time there were kinship based communities consisting of related members, and even now people in a community may refer to older members as aunts, and uncles to the extent that one may call a friend’s father just like his her own biological father (Song & Moon 27). There was no practice of calling someone by their first name, with the names identifying the birthplace and order among family members. This in turn influenced social relations in social ranks and how people related with others.
Beliefs and practices
Oriental people use bowing more frequently than shaking hands, and among the Koreans it signifies gratitude and respect. Although, handshakes are increasingly common especially in the workplace among the younger generations, bowing is still viewed positively in Korean culture, and at times integrates shaking hands followed by bowing. Besides this practice, gifts are part of the Korean culture. Similar to bowing which shows gratitude, giving gifts is another aspect of the Korean culture, whereby Koreans use gifts to show appreciation with reciprocating also part of the gift culture. Additionally, bright colors especially, yellow, pink and red, represent prosperity and happiness, and Koreans are concerned with the number of gifts with four and multiples of four being considered lucky unlike those in multiples of seven (Goel ).
Marriage
Unlike the Western philosophy on marriage whereby family relations typically focus on a couple and their children, the Korean culture views marriage as a unification of two families. In traditional Korean culture, matchmaking has been part of finding mates, but nowadays there is less emphasis on matchmaking, but the role of extended families in marriages is more prominent than in Western societies. Additionally, traditional Korean attires are worn during traditional festivals, marriage ceremonies and family functions, and this gives the people a common identity (Goel). Traditional marriage ceremonies were also elaborate and intertwined with Confucian values and elaborate rituals, but nowadays ceremonies and rituals are more likely to take place in folk villages.
Religion and philosophies
Like other Oriental countries, eastern religions and philosophies are common, with Buddhism having more adherents, but nowadays there is a growing Chr...