16 Interesting facts about life in South Korea

It’s no secret that South Korea is a vibrant country with a very rich culture. However, due to the long distance to Brazil, few of us Brazilians have already visited this country or know its peculiarities in depth. And not all cultural differences are so evident, such as the food – there are nuances in many aspects of everyday life in this small oriental country. Curiosities and peculiarities about everyday life in South Korea are the subject of this post.

we, from awesome.club, we have researched in depth about life and customs in South Korea and are ready to share with you the most interesting facts. Check out!

Many South Koreans cover their laps with a blanket when they sit down, even if it’s hot in their surroundings. And not only the simplest people keep this custom, but also idols of the k-pop and media stars during their activities in public places. This is done to avoid embarrassing situations when wearing miniskirts and also as a sign of respect for one’s personal space, since the sheet is considered a symbol of extreme privacy. Thus, when a man covers his lady’s lap with a blanket or a jacket, it is considered a gesture of chivalry in the country.

In the past, girls were taught that laughing was not a very feminine gesture. So, when something funny happened, they immediately walked away or covered their laughter (a tradition that ended up continuing to this day). So if you find a South Korean woman hiding her mouth, she is most likely laughing, not bored hiding a yawn.

The “V” silhouette refers to the line from the chin to the jaws. This is considered a standard of beauty for both men and women, as it makes the look more elegant. The “S” silhouette refers to the harmonious contours of the female figure. If a South Korean compliments your pretty “V” and “S” silhouettes, it means you have a nice chin and body.

During the night, most often on Fridays and Saturdays, South Korean police officers often block a lane of the street to check the alcohol level of drivers of cars, trucks and motorcycles — everyone, in fact, except taxi drivers. Upon seeing the blitz, the driver has the obligation to stop, open the vehicle window and blow into the breathalyzer, procedures similar to those carried out during the Prohibition Law inspections in Brazil.

The fines for the infraction depend on the alcohol content in the blood: from 0.05 to 0.10 ppm the values ​​vary between 6 thousand and 12 thousand reais (in converted values). Despite this, there is a legend among South Koreans that drinking up to 400 ml of beer or a dose of soju (traditional drink of the country) will not influence the test, but better not to take the risk, do you agree? There is also a curiosity: in bohemian neighborhoods there is usually no inspection of drivers.

The rainy season generally lasts from July to the end of August, and flooding is frequent. But that’s no reason not to leave the house: vehicles are passing through the water and pedestrians are not shy about getting around with water up to their knees under their umbrellas — even because, in the face of all this, the most unpleasant thing for the South Koreans is getting their hair wet.

Standard hospitals in South Korea serve a different menu every day. Traditional side dishes such as kimchi, pickled radishes and pancakes stuffed with vegetables are added to the main dishes, which can be clam soup, mushroom porridge, among others.

Before the start of classes, university students undergo special training. During 2 days, freshmen learn the history of the institution and get to know each other. But, according to the students, this is just a cover story: in these trainings, senior students actually party with the freshmen, teaching them to have fun without compromising their studies. In a way, this custom reminds us of our freshmen, do you agree?

It is the students themselves who set up their timetable, and the timetables can be checked on the university’s website. However, the number of places in each subject is limited, ranging from 60 to 100 students. In the most popular subjects, places fill up in a matter of minutes, so to guarantee registration, it is necessary to be attentive and have a fast Internet connection. And this whole process can be done in the campus or in a LAN house — where, by the way, it is possible not only to study and play, but also to order food.

the singers of k-pop are so famous in the country that you can even find dolls of them in toy stores. In the photo above, for example, they are dolls of the boy band world famous BTS.

Traditional South Korean saunas are called Jjimjilbang. They are generally open 24 hours a day, and the visit costs only 30 reais (in converted values). Because of their value, they end up being a good attraction for tourists who want to relax, and a good way to recover after work for locals. At the entrance, visitors are given a bathrobe and a towel, which is called yangmeori (“sheep’s head” in Portuguese) and which is tied in a typical way. Inside, in addition to what you would expect for a sauna, there are also sofas, games for children and even some food options.

In South Korea, people believe that there is no such thing as friendship between men and women when in a relationship. So when a man or a woman starts dating, they can no longer meet friends of the opposite sex.

the holiday is called Pepper Day in the country, as a tribute to the traditional colored icing cookie in the shape of a stick. Other than that, their shape allows composing the date 11/11. And lovers usually present their pairs with these cookies and play a game: each one has to bite both sides of their cookie, and the winner is the one with the smallest stick left over. And gifting is not limited to lovers only, friends and parents can also give and receive gifts.

Just as there are theories that Valentine’s Day in Brazil was invented, there are rumors in the country that this holiday was invented by the company Lotte, manufacturer of traditional cookies. Be that as it may, this commemorative date has consolidated itself and is already part of South Korean culture.

In South Korea it is very difficult to find couples who have different physical characteristics such as height and weight on the streets. South Koreans, in general, follow very strict sociocultural rules when choosing a partner. And in this matter, it doesn’t matter how good a person is if he doesn’t have physical characteristics that match his partner’s. Other than that, age and blood type are also taken into account when choosing the ideal companion.

If you’re at a beauty salon, nail salon, or any other similar place in South Korea, they’ll certainly offer you a cooler bag to warm your hands, even if the place has a good heating system. Generally, such cooler bags have an aggravable appearance and are made of velvet.

“Parents School Police”

Every day, 2 parents are assigned to inspect the school — they check on the children’s educational process and try to maintain order. The patrol also tastes the food served at the institution to assess the quality of the food served to their children. When parents are patrolling the school, they wear a uniform and follow a schedule that outlines everything they need to do and when to do it. In their free time, they can relax in a special room.

Parents always accompany their children everywhere, and the drive to develop an independent personality is not encouraged in the country. Often, only the father works in South Korean families, while the mother is responsible for the education and upbringing of the children – and she is so immersed in this task that she ends up not having a life of her own apart from the routine of the little ones. No matter what the child’s activities (educational or extracurricular), the mother must also actively participate in them.

A blogger who has been living for a long time in South Korea shared the following account: “My daughter used to walk around the city alone, but now I have to accompany her everywhere as she was recently asked, ‘Are you sure your mother is even your birth mother?’ For South Koreans, a biological mother cannot help but be present in her children’s lives and let them walk around the city alone.” After that, the blogger went on to accompany her daughter everywhere, even during the recordings of the series in which the girl participates.

South Korean children are not always put to sleep in an environment with ideal darkness and silence, but in bright and noisy places. This is because in the country it is believed that this practice strengthens the nervous system of the little one. That way, as adults, they can regain strength by taking a short nap during a train, subway or bus ride to work. In general, the sleep of South Koreans is independent of external factors — they can sleep literally anywhere.

Do you think you could adapt to South Korean culture? Which of these features do you think could also work in Brazil? Tell us in the comments section.