Korean Culture for Curious New Comers

Preface
A letter of recommendation

Chapter I
First Impression of South Korea
Vibrant South Korea, Dynamic Korea!
Step 1 South Korea in the World…18
Step 2 Symbols of Korea…22
Step 3 Korean People and the Korean Alphabet…27

Chapter 2
Natural Environment and Administration
There are many beauties in Korea because it has clean water!
Step 1 Geography and Climate…42
Step 2 Nature and Korean People…48
Step 3 Administration District and Population…53

Chapter 3
Family and Manners
Why do Korean people always ask people’s age when they meet for the first time?
Step 1 Characteristics of Korean Families…64
Step 2 Family Relations and Manners…74
Step 3 Dol, Wedding Ceremony, Hoe Gap and Ancestral Rites…83

Chapter 4
Clothing Life and Han Bok
Korean People who Say ‘The Tailor Makes the Man.’
Step 1 Korean People and Clothes…98
Step 2 Han Bok Culture…100

Chapter 5
Dietary Life and Kimchi
Kimchi, hot and mouth-watering!
Step 1 Cooked Rice and Soup…110
Step 2 Table Setting and Table Manners…117
Step 3 Kimchi and Mak geol li…124

Chapter 6
Housing Lifestyle and On Dol
You take off your shoes at home?
Step 1 Traditional Han Ok…136
Step 2 On Dol and Sedentary Lifestyle…142
Step 3 Apartments and Modern Architecture…145

Chapter 7
History and Peoples
Korean History which Has Bounced Back up Like a Roly
Poly through Loyalty and Filial Piety
Step 1 Overview of Korean history…150
Step 2 People on Korean Currency…170

Chapter 8
Politics and Economy
Do you know the division of South and North Korea and ‘Miracle on the Han River’?
Step 1 Democracy and the Division of South and North Korea…180
Step 2 New Village Movement and Miracle on the Han River…194
Step 3 Today’s Korean Economy…201

Chapter 9
Education and Occupation
Korean People Live to Learn, even if They Are Poor! A Country without Illiterate People
Step 1 Education Fever and Education System…208
Step 2 Study in South Korea…216
Step 3 Career Path and Occupation…223

Chapter 10
Culture and the Korean Wave
National Character of Loving to Sing and Dance
Step 1 Traditional Culture and Heritage…230
Step 2 Contemporary Pop Culture…247
Step 3 Korean Wave and Korean Culture…257

Chapter 11
Sports and Tourism
The 1998 Seoul olympics and Cheering Heat in the
2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan
Step 1 Taekwondo and Soccer…264
Step 2 Sports and Leisure Culture…270
Step 3 Traffic, Tourism and Shopping…278

Chapter 12
Tradition and Religion
Lunar New Year’s Day, gift money, be happy!
Step 1 Korean Festive Days…290
Step 2 Religion …300