SOUTH KOREA
INTRODUCTION
South Korea is officially establish their country on 15 August 1948. Eventhough Syngman Ree already declare their establishment on 13 August in Seoul. After the colonialism of Japan in Korea. Japan lose to them in world war 2 in year 1945. After the war Korea divided into two region based on 38 degrees north latitude accordance with the agreement provided by the United Nations.
PEOPLE, RELIGIONS, LANGUAGE IN KOREA
There are a few religions in South Korea, Christian (49%), Buddahism (47%), Prostestant, Catholic, Islam, Shamanism, and many more. But mostly Korean people follow Christianity religions. Korea's population is one of the most ethnically and linguistically in the world. In 2013 , population of South Korea is 50.22 million people. Korea official language is Korean.
FESTIVALS IN SOUTH KOREA
KOREAN NEW YEAR
Usually early February, South Korea will be having a 3 days holiday in a row. All offices will be closed and Korean people will be taking a leaves for a few days to return to the their hometown to gather with the family to celebrating Korean New Year
CHILDREN'S DAY
Every year in 5th May, South Korea will be celebrating children's day, where on that day children will spent time with their parents and wearing a nice cloth. On this festival, parents will be eating together with their children and give them gift . They will spent time with their kids and bring them to the playground, museum, or theater that offer free enter for the kids.
CHILSEOK DAY
Chilseok fall on the 7th day at the 7 month of the lunar calendar. As traditional, Chilseok is the day where special occasion for the star that symbolizing for Gyeonu and JIknyeo both of them are falling in love each other and that's make King Surga mad. And because of that Gyeonu and Jiknyeo wil meet once a year in the night before the Chilseok day. South Korea celebrate Chilseok day when summer comes to end. There's a unique compulsory that Korean people need to do in this festival which are they need to eat all types of food that based by the wheat because after Chilseok day the wheat is hard to get.
CHUSEOK DAY
Chuseok, also known as 'Hangawee' or 'Korean Thanksgiving' falls on the 15th day of the 8th month lunar month and is one of the four main festive holidays of Korea. All family will go to their hometown to celebrate Chuseok with their family. It is said that Chuseok is derived from the full moon.
ROSE DAY/YELLOW DAY
Every year in 14th May in south Korea they will be celebrating rose or yellow day. Rose day is for people who are already in relationship, while yellow day is for people who are still single where on that day they will wearing something yellow or eating food in yellow colour such as spicy curry with the hope their love story will hot as spicy curry.
KOREAN TRADITIONAL FOOD
KIMCHI
KIMCHI
Korean people likes to eat sour and spicy food and kimchi is one of their favorite food. Kimchi have many different kind of them and each season have different of kimchi. The ingredient for making kimchi also different such as vegetables. For those who are new to korean culture you guys should taste it because it is a must!
SUMMER
Yeolmu kimchi usually they made in summer season, they use radish and cucumbers and eat in several bites. This kimchi looks like Malaysian 'sayur kangkong'.
AUTUMN
This kimchi is prepared by inserting blended stuffing ingredient between salted leaves of uncut and stuffed it in Napa cabbage. This kimchi called Baekchu kimchi and I think most korean fans know this kimchi.
WINTER
This kimchi usually availabe during winter time. Korean people made this kimchi early winter and stored it in a large kimchi pots. This kimchi called gimjang kimchi.
SPRING
On spring after the winter, potherbs and vegetables were used to make kimchi. Usually these kind of kimchi not fermented or stored it for long periods.
TTEOKBOKKI (RICE CAKE)
I think Korean fans know this type of food and to the newbies you guys also need to try this food and describe it how it taste. Tteokbokki or rice cake is a traditional street food that you can buy this food in anywhere Korean street and also they called it as 'pojangmacha' it mean street in Korean language. The taste of this food is spicy and a bit chewy. There is various types of tteokbokki such as 'Shanghai tteokbokki', 'rabokki is ramyeon with ttekbokki, 'tteok kocchi' is for those who are busy and they wil sell it in a form of beak with skewers, tteokbokki cream sauce is made up from tteokbokki with carbonara in a Korean style. There are more types of tteokbokki such as curry tteokbokki, pasta tteokbokki, cheese tteokbokki, chicken tteokbokki, and much more.
TTEOKBOKKI
RABOKKI
TTEOK KOCCHI
TTEOKBOKKI CREAM SAUCE
CHEESE TTEOKBOKKI
SONGPYEON
Songpyeon is one of the famous traditional food in South Korea. Songpyeon is symbolizing Chuseok day. This food is i half-moon shaped rice cake.It is made up from red beans, chestnut, jujubes, bean powder, soybean, sesame or honey. while doing Songpyeon you have to do carefully and gently because Korean people believes if you do it carefully the daughter will become beautiful.
KOREAN TRADITIONAL CLOTH
HANBOK
'Hanbok' is a Korea traditional cloth 'Han' means Korea 'Bok' means cloth. Korean people feel so proud waering Hanbok because it shows their traditional cloth identities, Hanbok generally having bright colours, simple line and there's no pockets.
DURUMANGI
Durumangi worn by government officer as everyday attire. Durumangi is a long coat and used as an external wind chill was blowing.
Cangot
In dysnasty Joeseon, Changot worn by a rich people. known as another variants of Hanbok that are usually see.
KOREAN TRADITIONAL GAMES
DDAKJI
Ddakji is a traditional game which are they use a piece of paper that folding until it be a card. this game can play 2 or more people in one game. How to play this game is we throw our card to the opponent card until the card reverse. And that's how to win the game. To the fans outside of Korea I think you guys know this traditional game.
GONGGINORI
Gongginori is a famous Korean traditional game, it is famous among children. This game usually play using five or more stones but nowadays they using a stone that made up from plastic. This game same as Malaysia traditional game which Malaysian people call it as 'Batu Seremban'.
KANGKANGSULLAE
Kangkangsullae is a traditional games for girls only. The girls will gather under the full moon and dance together while holding each other hand.
CONCLUSION
Korea culture is very interesting and wonderful tradition it makes me wanna go visit their country and taste their food. it is a place where you find both perfect peace and harmony.
If you want to know more about Korean looks:
- http://listverse.com/2013/11/02/10-more-awesome-facts-about-south-korea/
- http://www.justonewayticket.com/2014/10/27/10-amazing-things-to-do-in-seoul-south-korea/
- http://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/travel/88874-travel-cheap-tips-seoul-south-korea
