FACTS AND STATISTICS SOUTH KOREAN CULTURE & The Family
SOCIETY
Location: Eastern Asia, southern half of The family unit is an integral part of
the Korean Peninsula bordering the East Religion & Beliefs customs and life in South Korea
Sea and the Yellow Sea
South Korea supports religious freedom Arranged marriages are common
Capital: Seoul
Confucianism, Buddhism and Christianity Marriage is regarded as a rite of passage
National anthem: Aegukga are the main formal religions
Divorce was rare but has become more
Nationality: Korean Many Koreans believe in the ancestral common in recent years
spirit and observe Confucian rituals
Ethnic Make-up: Homogenous (except for Patriarchal lineage is ubiquitous and links
small percentage of the population who Confucianism is a political and social ancestors through the husband’s line
are from elsewhere but reside in the philosophy that pervades Korean culture
country permanently). It is one of the Traditionally, the eldest son inherited,
most racially pure countries in the world. Major Celebrations/Secular Celebrations however, this has recently altered and is
now equal by law
Population: 50,924,172 (July 2016 Est.) There are two main national holidays
The eldest son bears extra responsibility to
Population growth rate: 0.53% (2016 Est.) New Year’s Day (second full moon after his family and it is supposed that he will
winter solstice) care for his parents in their old age
Climate: temperate, with rainfall heavier
in summer than winter Chuseok (the eighth full moon)
Time Zone: Korea Standard Time UTC Celebrations for these festivals are based
(UTC+09:00) around ancestors, family, games, harvest
festivals and food.
Currency: South Korean ‘won’
Government: Republic
Internet penetration: 92.1% (2016)
Social Stratification Gender Roles Socialisation
Since the Kabo Reforms of 1894 there has Equality of the sexes is constitutional Daily care of infants is primarily parent
been no traditional gentry based for at least the first two years with
Daily life is dominated by male guidance little, or no, separation from the mother
60% of Koreans considered themselves to within a primarily patriarchal society
be middle class Patriarchal obedience, cooperation,
Social organisation is influenced by gender respect for elders, and familial piety are
Class position is often linked to and age
imbued into early childhood
educational attainment
47.7% of adult females worked outside the Gender specific roles are encouraged
Industrialisation and urbanisation home (1998) within the family and education system
contribute to class difference
Women occupied 2.3% of provincial and Sons generally receive the best education
Family, upbringing, wealth, education and local seats in (1999) and remain more dependent upon their
occupation contribute to social standing
Women dominate Shamanism as family, even into marriage
Symbols of status include; large homes, priestesses but have limited roles within The Economy
chauffeur driven cars, dress, membership Christian and Buddhist religions
to certain clubs, and higher educational South Korea changed from an
Women are expected to be submissive in underdeveloped country, to the 11th
degrees
public situations and at informal largest economy globally, within one
Urbanisation is 82.5% of total population gatherings generation
(2015)
Women are considered more independent South Korea is heavily dependent upon
Language is hierarchical and one must than their male counterparts exports for its GDP; almost half of its
address social superiors in a fitting manner business is exported through products or
services
48% of all exports are electronic
31% of exports are transport related (cars,
boats, etc)
HISTORY: BEAUTIFUL PLACES:
The history of South Korea formally
begins with its establishment on August
SOUTH
15, 1948.
Korea was administratively partitioned in
1945, at the end of World War II. As
KOREA Korea was under Japanese rule during
World War II, Korea was officially a Seoul, the capital of South Korea, is a huge
belligerent against the Allies by virtue of metropolis where modern skyscrapers, high-
being Japanese territory. The tech subways and pop culture meet Buddhist
unconditional surrender of Japan led to temples, palaces and street markets. Notable
the division of Korea into two occupation attractions include futuristic Dongdaemun
zones (similar to the four zones in Design Plaza, a convention hall with curving
Germany), with the United architecture and a rooftop park;
States administering the southern half of Gyeongbokgung Palace, which once had more
the peninsula and the Soviet than 7,000 rooms; and Jogyesa Temple, site of
Union administering the area north of ancient locust and pine trees.
the 38th parallel. This division was
meant to be temporary (as was in
Germany) and was first intended to
return a unified Korea back to its
people after the United States, United
Kingdom, Soviet Union, and Republic of
China could arrange a single
government for the peninsula.
Busan, a large port city in South Korea, is
known for its beaches, mountains and temples.
Busy Haeundae Beach features the Sea Life
Aquarium, plus a Folk Square with traditional
games such as tug-of-war, while Gwangalli
Beach has many bars and views of modern
Diamond Bridge. Beomeosa Temple, a
Buddhist shrine founded in 678 A.D., is at the
base of Geumjeong Mountain, which has hiking
trails.
Jeju City, on Jejudo Island, is the capital of
South Korea's Jeju Province. In the city, Sinsan
Park has displays of marine animals at Jeju
Folklore and Natural History Museum.
Jejuhyanggyo Confucian School houses
ancestral tablets and offers calligraphy classes.
On the coast, Yongduam Haesu Spa Land has
seawater saunas. Nearby, divers at the dragon-
shaped Yongduam Rock collect seafood using
traditional methods.
Sokcho is a city in Gangwon-do province,
South Korea. It is located in the far northeast of
Gangwon-do. Lying north of the 38th parallel,
the city belonged to North Korea from 1945 until
the end of the Korean War, when the dividing
line between the two Korean states was
officially alteredConsequently, many of the
population have relatives in North Korea.
Today, Sokcho receives a number of tourists
attracted by the closeness to the DMZ. The city
is also a well-known gateway to nearby
Seoraksan national park.
