things newcomers need to know to live in korea
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THINGSNEWCOMERSNEEDTOKNOWTOLIVEINK
OREA
THINGS NEWCOMERS NEED TO KNOW
TO LIVE IN KOREA
THINGS NEWCOMERS
NEED TO KNOW
TO LIVE IN KOREA
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Tings Newcomers Need to Know to Live in Korea
Tings Newcomers Need to Know to Live in Korea
-2011 Edition
Copyright 2011
Published by
Korean Culture and Information Service
Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism
/
15 Hyojaro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Telephone 82-2-398-1914~20,
Fax 82-2-398-1882
/
All rights reserved
Printed in Seoul
/
For further information about Korea.
please visit:
www.korea.net
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01 _
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010
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024
026
028
032
034
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042
044
048
052
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060
062
064
068
072
080
082086
088
090
092
094
096
100
102
106
108
114
006 Korea life and Culture
Korea at a Glance
Provinces & Cities o Korea
Korean History through Tales
Korean Lie and Culture
01 _ Family
02 _ Family Events
03 _ Traditional Holidays
04 _ Wedding Ceremonies
05 _ Funerals and Jesa
06 _ General Etiquette
07 _ Etiquette Reected in Language
08 _ Table Manners
09 _ Food
10 _ Housing
Adapting to Daily Lie
11 _ Finding Housing
12 _ Using Utilities
13 _ Using TV and Communication Systems
14 _ Disposal o Trash and Garbage
15 _ Economy
16 _ Where to Buy Things
17 _ Banks
18 _ Transportation
19 _ Drivers Licenses
20 _ Public Institutions
21 _ Amenities
22 _ Medical Facilities
23 _ National Health Insurance or Foreign Nationals
24 _ Educational System
25 _ Education or Foreign Nationals
26 _ Korean Language and Lie Education
27 _ Cultural Facilities
28 _ Employment
29 _ Job Training
Appendix
1 _ Laws Foreign Nationals Should Know
2 _ Service Institutions or Foreign Nationals
Contents
010
014
016
024
026
028
032
034
036
038
042
044
048
052
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062
064
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008 Korean Life and Culture 009
.
109
, ,
. 20
,
, .
, ,
, , IT
1988
2002
. 2010 G20
.
,
.
The Republic Of Korea is a small country
on the ar eastern edge o Asia. Although
it ranks 109th
in the world in terms o land
area, the country is a center of economic
activities, culture and arts in Asia. Korea
was colonized by Japan in the early 20th
century and later had to endure the Korean
War (1950-53), but it has achieved amazing
economic growth in a short period, dubbed
the Miracle on the Han River.
Today, Korea is an industrial nation standingtall on the world stage. Its semi-conductor,
automobile, shipbuilding, steel making
and IT industries have a leading edge in
world markets. It hosted the 1988 Seoul
Olympics and the 2002 Korea-Japan FIFA
World Cup. More recently, Korean dramas,
movies and music are attracting manyaudiences in Asian countries, creating
what is being called the Korean Wave.
Koreas new standing in the international
community was highlighted in 2010 with
the nation becoming the frst Asian country
to chair the G20 and host the G20 Seoul
Summit.
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Language /
Korean Alphabet (Han-geul) /()
In 1443, King Sejong t he Great, the ourth monarch
o the Joseon Kingdom, made the unique Korean
alphabet (Han-geul), which people could learn
and use easily. Han-geul is very scientiic and
systematic in structure. UNESCO recognized its
cultural value in 1997, listing Han-geul on the
Memory o the World Register. Han-geul consists
o 10 vowels and 14 consonants, which can be used
to represent every sound in Korean.
1443 4
.
.
1997
. 10 14
. 24
.
Consonants /
Vowels /
The Korean National Flag /
National ower /
Mugung-hwa /
The mugung-hwa (rose o Sharon) is said to
blossom eternally and never ade away. In Korea, it
has come to symbolize an unbreakable spirit.
.
.
Taegeukgi /
Depicted on the ag is a taeguek symbol, a circle
divided equally and in perect balance. The upper,
red section, represents yang and the lower, blue
section, yin, an ancient symbol o the universe.
These two opposites express the dualism o
the cosmos. The central thought in the taegeuk
indicates that while there is movement within
the sphere o ininity, there is also balance and
harmony. The trigrams at the our corners also
carry the ideas o opposition and balance. They
represent heaven, earth, the sun or ire and the
moon or water. The white background symbolizes
the peace-loving spirit o the Korean people.
4 .
.
() () .
4 , , (), () .
National anthem /
Aegukga(A Song o Love o Country) /
The Aegukga was written to encourage Koreans
to love their country ater it was colonized in the
early 1900s. Ahn Eaktay composed the music or
the national anthem in 1935.
1900
. 1935 .
g
ng
a ya eo yeo o yo u yu eu i
n
j
d
ch
r
k
m
t
b
p
s
h
Name o Country /
Republic o Korea /
Korea /
South Korea /
Capital City /
Seoul /
Seoul frst became the capital at the beginning o
the Joseon Kingdom in 1392. The Bukhan, Surak
and Gwanak mountains surround Seoul while the
Han River lows through the middle o the city.
With a population o more than 10 million, Seoul
is the center o the economy, culture and politics
o the country. The city was the venue o the Asian
Games in 1986, the Seoul Olympics in 1988, the
FIFA World Cup in 2002 and the Seoul G20 Summit
in 2010.
1392 ,
. , ,
, . 1,000
, , . 1986
, 1988 , 2002 , 2010 G20
.
Major cities /
Busan /
With 3.6 million people, it is the 2nd largest city and
largest international port in Korea.
360 . . 1
.
Incheon /
With 2.7 million people, Incheon, located on the
northwest coast, is central to international logistics
with its harbors and international airport.
270 . .
.
Daegu /
With 2.5 million people, its major industry is
textiles and ashion rounded out with sports.
250 . . .
Daejeon /
With 1.5 million people, Daejeon is a core city
o central Korea, specializing in science and
technology research & development. It is also an
administrative city, with a government complex.
150 . .
. .
Ulsan /
With 1.1 million people, it is noted or shipbuilding,
automobiles, and other large scale industrial
complexes.
110 . ,
.
Gwangju /
With 1.4 million people, Gwangju is the central
city o the southwestern region and is amous or
culture and art.
140 . . .
Location /
The country is located in the southern hal o the
Korean Peninsula in the northeast Asian continent,
neighboring Japan, China and Russia.
, , ,
.
Korea at a Glance
Korea/
Japan /China/
Mongolia /
Vietnam/Thailand/
Myanmar/
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Economics /
Voting right / Voting right /
GDP(GrossDomesticProduct)
(GDP)
US$832.9 billion (2009),
15th largest GDP in the world
832.9 (2009)
Gross National Income
(GNI)
US$837.2 billion (2009)
837.2 (2009)
Per capita income
US$17,175 (2009)
17,175(2009)
Baekdu Mountain /2,744 m
Halla Mountain /
1,950m
Jiri Mountain /
1,915m
Taebaek Mountain /1,567m
Amnok River /
790 km
Nakdong River /
521.5 km
Duman River /521 km
Han River /281.7 km
Population /
Political system /Korea has a presidential system. The president o
Korea is elected by direct popular vote and has a
single ive-year term. The legislative, executive,
and judicial powers are independent o each other.
Through checks and balances, a concentration o
power is prevented and the reedoms and rights
o the people are protected. In addition, Korea haslocal autonomy making it possible to balance the
development o each province in cooperation with
the local governments.
.
, 5 .
.
.
Voting right / Elections /
Universal surage or
citizens over the age o
19 (Korean age)
19
President : every 5 years
: 5
Lawmakers : every 4 years
: 4
Local governments :
every 4 years
: 4
(as o December, 2009 /2009 12 )
49,773,145total /
Males
24,929,939Females
24,843,206
Foreigners
870,636
Religions /
Korea has religious reedom, and a number
o religious aiths coexist in Korea, including
Buddhism, Christianity (both Protestant
denominations and Catholicism), Islam and several
native religions.
. , , ,
.
Major mountains & rivers
Major industries /
semi-conductors, automobiles, shipbuilding, iron
& steel, mobile devices, home appliances and
chemical products.
, , , , , ,
Currency /Won/
Weather /
Temperate with our distinct seasons.
.
Spring /
In spring, lowers blossom on mountains and
in ields, and its a little cold in the morning and
evening but warm in the day. In mid April, light
clothes are enough. Although the air is usually
resh in spring, yellow dust rom t he north
sometimes lows onto the Korean Peninsula,
causing respiratory problems or many. When the
weather turns abruptly cold rom time to time ater
the lowers have begun to blossom, Koreans say
the cold is jealous o the owers.
, ,
. 4
. ,
.
, .
Summer /
In summer, the temperature usually ranges rom
25o to 35oC (77o to 95oF), and its very hot and humid.
The rainy season is rom June to July. In late
summer, typhoons sometimes hit the Peninsula,
accompanied by strong winds.
25 35
. 6 7
, .
.
Autumn /
In autumn, it begins to get cool but there are still
warm days. The temperature ranges rom 10o
to 25oC (50o to 77oF), and many days are sunny
with blue skies. Mountains and ields are illed
with colorul autumn leaves, which attract many
tourists.
10 25
. ,
.
Winter /
Winter can be very cold, and the temperaturesometimes alls below 10oC (14oF). It requently
snows with chilly winds, making people wear thick,
warm clothes and turn the heaters on.
10
.
, .
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014 Provinces and Cities of Korea 015
The Republic of Korea consists of 16 regions: 1 special city (Seoul), 6 metropolitan
cities (Busan, Daegu, Daejeon, Incheon, Gwangju and Ulsan); 1 special self-governing
province (Jeju-do) and 8 Provinces (Gangwon-do, Gyeonggi-do, Chungcheongbuk-do,
Chungcheongnam-do, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Gyeongsangnam-do, Jeollabuk-do and
Jeollanam-do)
16 . 1 (), 6 (, , , , , ), 8 (, , , , , , , )
. 1 () .
Gyeonggi-do
Gangwon-do
Gyeongsangbuk-do
Chungcheongbuk-do
Chungcheongnam-do
Jeju-do (Island)
Ulleung-do (Island)
Dok-do (Island)
Jeollabuk-do
Jeollanam-do
Gyeongsangnam-do
Provinces and Cities of Korea
Seoul
Incheon
Daejeon
Gwangju
Ulsan
Daegu
Busan
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016 Korean History through Tales 017
5,000 .
.
. 2333
.
108, , ,
. . 1,000
.
.
676, .
.
.
.
.
935,
.
.
.
,
.
. 1234
200 .
.
1392
.
.
,
. 4
,
, .
Cheomseongdae, built in the Silla Kingdom, is the oldeststone observatory in the world
Cheukugi, a kind o rain gauge, was invented during
the reign o King Sejong the Great (r. 1418-1450), theourth king o the Joseon Kingdom. 4 . .
Korea has a long history o thousands o years, which
is commonly expressed as 5,000 years. With the arrival
o Bronze Age weapons and tools, walled-town states began
to develop in the region o present-day northeast China and
the Korean Peninsula. According to ancient documents, one
o the states, called Gojoseon (Old Joseon), was established
in 2333 BCE in the Daedong River basin. Gojoseon was headed by Dan-gun
Wanggeom (King Dan-gun). Dan-gun is revered as the ounder o the Korean
nation. By the 4th century BCE, Gojoseon became the most advanced o these
walled states and proceeded to combine with other states scattered throughout the
region between the Daedong and Liao Rivers, orming a single large conederation.
In 108 BCE, Gojoseon was conquered by the Han Dynasty o ancient China.
Ater that, three strong kingdoms (Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla) appeared on the
Peninsula. The Baekje Kingdom (18 BCE-660 CE) brought Buddhism to Japan. The
Silla Kingdom (57 BCE-935 CE) blossomed into a glorious culture over a period o
about 1,000 years. The Goguryeo Kingdom (37 BCE-668 CE), through courage and
valor, grew in strength and extended its vast boundaries.
In 676 AD, the Silla Kingdom unifed all the three kingdoms with the help o
Tang China. Ater uniication, political stability made it possible or Buddhism to
prosper and a sophisticated art to blossom.
Ater the Goguryeo Kingdom collapsed, the people o Goguryeo had a diicult lie
under various rulers until they were reunifed under Dae Jo-yeong, who ounded the
state o Balhae, which grew strong, inheriting the spirit and culture o Goguryeo.
By 935, the Uniied Silla Kingdom had become weak and was divided into three
states again. Wang Geon reunifed these three states under the Goryeo Kingdom (918-
1392). Goryeo accepted people rom the Balhae Kingdom that had perished by then and
became widely known or overseas trade. The name Korea comes rom Goryeo
During the Goryeo Kingdom, Buddhism prospered, and many invaluable
artistic works, such as celadon,
were created. O special note,
movable metal type cast in 1234
during the Goryeo period precedes
Gutenbergs type by more than 200
years. The 80,000 woodblocks or
printing the Tripitaka Koreana are
registered on the UNESCO CulturalHeritage list.
Korean History through Tales
Dolmen from the Paleolithic Era
Janggunchong (thought to be the tomb o King Jangsu oKoreas Goguryeo Kingdom, now located in Jilin, China)
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018 Korean History through Tales 019
When Goryeo collapsed, Yi Seong-gye ounded
the Joseon Kingdom in 1392. It revised the political, economic
and social systems based on Neo-Conucianism. In particular,
according to the teachings o Conucius, they emphasized a spirit o loyalty to
country and flial piety, values that are still maintained today. King Sejong the Great,
the ourth monarch o the Joseon Kingdom, created the unique alphabet called
Han-geul, and greatly advanced agriculture, science, technology and music.
In 1592, the Joseon Kingdom aced a crisis due to Japanese invasions.
However, volunteer armies, known as righteous armies, were raised and ought
the Japanese army. Admiral Yi Sun-sin (1545-1598) built several Geobukseon
(turtle-shaped warships) and won great naval battles against Japan. In the Battle
o Myeongnyang, Admiral Yi deeated a Japanese eet o 133 warships with only
13 warships o his own. This is recorded as one o the three greatest naval battles
in the world. Admiral Yi is the most respected person in Korean history.
In the 18th century, practical studies grew greatly, resulting in technological
advancement in astronomy, medical science, agriculture, commerce and other
areas. In addition, the lower classes who had become auent enjoyed Pansori (long,
solo epic song), Talchum (mask dance-dramas), novels in Han-geul (the Korean
alphabet) and music.
At the end o the 19th century, Japan and several other western
imperialist countries competed to gain control o Joseon. Japan robbed Joseon o its
sovereignty and colonized the country. The Koreans in exile ounded the Provisional
Government o the Republic o Korea in Shanghai, China and organized an army to
fght or Korean independence. On August 15 1945, Japan surrendered to the Allied
Forces, and Korea was liberated.
Although librated, Korea was quickly divided into
North and South. The US Army was stationed
in the South and the Soviet Army in the North,
divided by the 38th parallel. On June 25, 1950,
the North invaded the South, starting the Korean
War. Many people died during the three years o
war and the country was completely ruined. The
people suered terribly rom poverty and hunger.
Korea was rebuilt rom the ruins o war. Koreans
worked hard, and by the 1970s, the countrys
economy had grown remarkably, earning the titleThe miracle on the Han River. In 1988, Korea
1592,
.
.
(1545~1598)
, 13 133
3
.
.
18 ,
. , ,
, .
19 ,
. 1910
.
. 1945 8 15
.
. 38 ,
. 1950 6 25
. 3
. .
.
. 1970
. 1988
, 2002
.
.
15th century sundial15
The Korean drama Daejanggeum (Jewel
in the Palace) contributed to spreadingHallyu, the Korean Wave, in Asia
King Sejong the Great, the ourth monarch o theJoseon Kingdom, reigned rom 1418 to 1450 4
Despite the ruins o the Korean War (1950-53),Korea achieved amazing economic growth in ashort period. This has been dubbed the Miracle onthe Han River.
.
The 2002 FIFA World Cup in Seoul2002
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020 Korean History through Tales 021
hosted the Seoul Olympics, and in 2002, co-hosted
the FIFA World Cup with Japan. The enthusiasm
o the Red Devils, who wore red t-shirts while
cheering or the Korean World Cup ootball team,
caught the attention o people around the world.
Since the 1990s, Korean pop music,
movies and dramas have been very popular in
Asia creating Hallyu (the Korean Wave). Ater
spreading out to China, Taiwan, Japan, Vietnam,
Mongolia, the Philippines and Thailand, Korean pop culture can even be ound in
Central America, Europe and Arica. A Korean drama Daejanggeum or Jewel in the
Palace was exported to 60 countries around the world. The actor and actress, Bae
Yong-joon and Choi Ji Woo, acting together in the drama Winter Sonata, became
top celebrities in Japan. Furthermore, young Korean singers enjoy
skyrocketing popularity in Southeast Asia and Japan. The movies Old
Boys and Secret Sunshine (Milyang) won awards at the Cannes Film
Festival, which attracts people rom all over the world.
Korean artists are very active and have achieved much on
world stages. Jo Sumi, soprano; Chang Han-na, cellist; Kang Sue-
jin, ballerina; Chung Myung-whun, conductor; and Nam June Paik, video
artist, have all made Korea shine.
IIn addition, Korea has risen as a powerul country in sports. The country
reached the semifnals o the 2002 FIFA World Cup and was ranked eighth at
the Beijing Olympics in 2008. The Korean archery team improves on its world
record at every competition. The Korean short-track skating team has shown
at every recent winter Olympics that it is the strongest in the world.Soccer player Park Ji-Sung, who is playing in the Premier
League in the United Kingdom; swimmer Park Tae-Hwan, who won gold
and silver medals in the 2008 Summer Olympics; fgure skater Kim Yuna
who won the gold at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics; Park Se-Ri and Shin Ji-
Ae, who have won LPGA tournaments; Yang Yong-Eun and Choi Kyung-Ju who have
won PGA tournaments; Park Chan-Ho, who is a major league baseball player in the
United States; and Jang Mi-Ran, who set a new world record in weightliting: these
are Koreas best sports stars.
Korea is currently ranked in the top 15 in economy in terms o Gross National
Income. Furthermore, in 2010 Korea has shown itsel as one o the worldseconomic leaders by holding a G20 Summit.
1990 (
) .
, , , , ,
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.
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.
.
.
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. 2002
4 , 2008
8 .
.
.
, 2008
, 2010
, LPGA ,
PGA , ,
.
13
, 2010 G20
.
Bae Yong-joon and Choi Ji-woo, amousHallyu stars
Artworks o Nam June Paik, an internationally renownedvideo artist .
Weightliter Jang Mi-Ran has set new world records .
Figure skater Kim Yu-nawon the gold at the 2010Vancouver Winter Olympics2010
.
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022 Korean Life and Culture 023
Korean Life and Culture
01 _
02 _
03 _
04 _
05 _
06 _
07 _
08 _
09 _
10 _
01 _ Family
02 _ Family Events
03 _ Traditional Holidays
04 _ Wedding Ceremonies
05 _ Funerals and Jesa
06 _ General Etiquette
07 _ Etiquette Reected in Language
08 _ Table Manners
09 _ Food
10 _ Housing
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024 Korean Life and Culture 025
, .
,
.
.
.
.
. , ,
.
,
. ,
.
.
These days, most Koreans live in nuclear families, with a husband and wife living with their unmarried children.
.
Korean amilies have traditionally been
extended, with grandather, grandmother,
parents, and children all living together. he
oldest man in the house was the head and
ruler o the household. Family members
usually ollowed him.
As Korea has changed rom an agricultural
society into an industrial society, the extended
amily had to give way to the nuclear amily, with a husband and wie living
with their unmarried sons and daughters. However, the role o head o the
amily is still important in Koreas amily system, a carryover rom the days o
large amilies. In addition, as it is inuenced by the large amily tradition, Korea
emphasizes harmony among amily members. Seniority and proper order among
amily members are used to maintain Koreas amily system. Korean people show
respect to their grandparents and senior relatives by being very polite in speech
and behavior.
raditionally men have worked outside the home and women at home. But
as the number o workingwomen is increasing, men are naturally taking part in
housework. However, most Korean men still tend to think that house chores is
really the womans responsibility.
Koreans have traditionally maintained an extended family system.
.
01
Family
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026 Korean Life and Culture 027
,
.
. .
, .
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.
, ,
, .
.
. ,
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,
61 . 60
.
.
. 70
.
Koreans set a special table or their baby to celebrate the frst birthday or dol. .
Te One-Hundredth Day Celebration
In Korea, when a baby is 100 days old, people
invite their relatives and riends and hold a east
or them to celebrate the babys wellbeing. It is
the tradition to put rice, thread, and money on
the dining table to wish or the babys health
and long lie. Ater the east, the parents give
white rice cake to their guests to take home.
Te First Birthday
Relatives and riends gather or a east to celebrate a babys
irst birthday or Dol. hey set the table or the baby
putting noodles, rice, a pencil, book, thread and money
on it and wait or the baby to grab one o those items.
I the baby grabs rice, they think she will be very
ortunate throughout lie. I the baby grabs
money, he will be wealthy. I the baby grabs
thread or noodle, she will live long, and
i he grabs the book or pencil, the baby
will study hard or become a great
scholar.
Other Birthdays
Korean people usually eat miyeokguk
(seaweed soup) or breakast on birthdays. Family or riends buy a birthday cake
or special ood and throw a party. Te guests give gis to the birthday person
and play games together.
Hoegap, Gohuiyeon 61st birthday, 70th birthday
Hoegap or hwangap is the 6oth birthday (although it is the 61st birthday
according to the way Koreans count it). In the past, ew people lived that long,
so the 61st birthday was a big event to be celebrated by all the relatives and
riends. As people live longer now, the 61st birthday party is much simpler, but it
is still special. Although it depends on each amilys situation, people oen travel
and receive gis on their 61 st birthdays. Gohuiyeon is the 69th (70th) birthday
celebration with amily and close riends.
When a baby is 100 days old, Koreans invite theirrelatives and riends and hold a east or them tocelebrate the babys wellbeing. .
02
Family Events
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028 Korean Life and Culture 029
.
, . , , .
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.
Koreans eat tteokguk (soup with sliced ovals o unsweetenedrice cakes in a clear bee broth) on Seollal or Lunar NewYears Day.
On Seollal or Lunar New Years Day, Koreans hold ancestral memorial rites and sebae (make a deep bow) to older relatives. .
raditional holidays are celebrated with amily
gatherings. People cook special ood and play
games. Koreas traditional holidays are Seollal
or Lunar New Years Day; Daeboreum or the
First Full Moon o the New Year and Chuseok
or the Harvest Moon Festival. All traditional
holidays are based on the lunar calendar.
Lunar New Years Day
Te First Day o the First Month by the lunar calendar is a estive day, which
most Korean people eel is the real beginning o the New Year. On New Years
Day, people visit their hometown. hey wear new clothes, hold ancestral
memorial rites and sebaeor make a deep bowto their older relatives, who
give them money. Families gather together and eat special oods and wish each
other well. Tey also play traditional games.
On Lunar New Years Day, people eat tteokguk (soup with sliced ovals o
unsweetened rice cakes in a clear bee broth). When they eat tteokguk on the
rst day o a new year, they say they are eating one more year. Other oods
prepared on New Years Day are jeon (oods prepared by dipping in our and
egg and then pan rying), japchae (a colorul dish made with glass noodles,
strips o bee and stirried vegetables), tteok (sweetened rice cakes) and namul
muchim (parboiled greens mixed with soy sauce and other seasonings).
Daeboreum First Full Moon Day of the Lunar Year
Korean people used to regard the irst ull moon o the year (January 15
according to the lunar calendar) as a big estival day signiying the start o
arming. People held some rituals to hope or a year o abundance. Tey alsoenjoyed selling my heat (a game where people pretended to sell their heat or
the upcoming summer to others beore sunrise on this day), viewing the rst
ull moon, stepping on a bridge (as people step on a bridge, they eel as though
their legs are getting stronger) and ying kites.
On the irst ull moon day, people cook and eat
Bureom (nuts), Yakbap (sweet rice with nuts
and jujubes), Ogokbap (vegrain rice), Mugeun
namul (sauted dried vegetables) and Bokssam (rice
wrapped in dried seaweed or various leaves. It is said
that bok (good luck) or the New Year is wrapped
up (ssam) and eaten.)Food or Daeboreum
03
raditional Holidays
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030 Korean Life and Culture 031
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Flying kites on Daeboreum /
Koreans bow to their ancestors at gravesites and holdancestral rites on Chuseok. .
Chuseok Harvest Moon Festival
Chuseok is one o the most important holidays in Korea, celebrated on the
15th day o the Eighth Month by the lunar calendar. On that day, many
Korean people visit their hometowns. People hold ancestral rites in gratitude
or nishing the years arming well and share with their neighbors and play
games.
On the morning o Chuseok, ancestral rites are held. Food rom the new
harvest is prepared, including rice, songpyeon (halmoon shaped, lled ricecakes), liquor, jeon (panried oods) and three colored mixed greens, as well
as chestnuts, jujube, persimmon and pear. Aer the ancestral rite, people visit
the graves o their ancestors and cut the grass and clean around the burial
mound. Tey also hold a rite that includes oering rice wine and bowing to
the ancestors.
Villagers oten organize themselves into teams between villages or
neighborhoods and have a juldarigi (tugowar) while they enjoy armers
band music and dancing. In Jeollanamdo (South Jeolla Province), women
perorm a Ganggangsullae, holding hands and dancing in a circle while the
Chuseok moon rises.
Food or Daeboreum /
Bureom /
Nuts such as chestnut, pine nut and walnut that are eaten on this day to protect against boils
and abscesses
. .
Ogokbap/
Five-grain rice made with white rice, glutinous rice, barley, millet, sorghum or other grains plus
red beans
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Mugeun namul /
Dried vegetables such as radish, cucumber, zucchini, gourd, eggplant, mushrooms and
bracken are reconstituted in water and then sauted.
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Yakbap /
Soak glutinous rice in water and then steam in an earthenware steamer. Simmer honey or sugar,
sesame oil and jujube and strain through a sieve. Add this liquid to the steamed rice with soy
sauce, chestnut, jujube, cinnamon, dried persimmon and pine nuts and steam again.
,
T I P
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032 Korean Life and Culture 033
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Hanbok(traditional Korean clothes) /
Hanbok, tradit ional Korean clothing, is
distinctive in design. It exudes harmony
between straight lines and curves as well as
beautiul colors. It is made o such materials
as silk, ramie or hemp cloth. Traditionally, the
basic color or hanbok was white, but the colors
and materials varied depending on the season,
place and time. Today most hanbok are made o
colorul materials.
The hanbok consists o a jeogori (a short, loose
shirt-jacket or men or blouse or women with
long, ull sleeves), baji (wide, baggy trousers,
tied at the ankle and waist) or men, chima (a
high-waisted ull wrap-around skirt) or women
and a durumagi (a long overcoat). The usual
hanbok or men consists basically o a jeogori,
a jokki (vest) and magoja (outer jacket), which
is worn when going out. The usual hanbok or
women consists o jeogori and chima. A magoja
and durumagi are worn when going out. Thesedays, people wear hanbok or special days
such as traditional holidays, weddings, the
60th birthday celebrations, and the babys frst
birthday.
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T I P
In traditional Korean weddings, the bridegroom
puts on wedding clothes and goes to the brides
house or the wedding ceremony. But today,
this traditional wedding ceremony is almost
gone, and most Koreans have simpler weddings
with the bride wearing a white bridal dress and
the bridegroom a tuxedo as Korean society
increasingly ollows Western culture.
Although most people use wedding halls, many people use temples or
churches. Aer the wedding ceremony, the bride changes into traditional Korean
clothes and holds a Pyebaek (a traditional ceremony held immediately ollowing
the wedding ceremony when the new couple pays respect to the grooms amily).
Pyebaek was traditionally the rst greeting a bride gave to her parentsin
law. Te brides amily prepares ood or her parentsinlaw, and she bows rst to
them and then to the bridegrooms older relatives one by one. Foods or Pyebaek
are usually jujube, chestnut, chicken, liquor, meat and tay. Jujube and chestnuts
represent a wish or many children. Jujube symbolizes sons and chestnuts
daughters.
04
Wedding Ceremonies
Koreans use commercial wedding halls, Buddhist templesor Christian churches or weddings.
, ,
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Pyebaek is a traditional ceremony held immediatelyollowing the wedding ceremony when the new couple pays
respect to the grooms amily. .
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034 Korean Life and Culture 035
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How to set a jesa table /
Candle /
Sinwi (ancestral tablet) /
Soup /
Bap (steamed rice) /
Meat /
Po (dried fsh) /
Buchim (pan-ried ood) /
Namul (seasoned vegetables) /
Jogi (yellow corbina) /
Jujubes /
Chestnuts /
Persimmons /
Pears /
Apple /
Incense Burner /
Kettle /
Cup /
Bowl or ritual wine /
T I P
Funerals
Funerals in Korea are usually carried out
according to Conucian traditions. Te amily
o the deceased send notices to their relatives
and acquaintances and prepare the uneral.
hey dress the deceased in a shroud and
wear mourning clothes. Most people prepare
shrouds in advance while the deceased was
still alive. People wear hemp clothing or white or black clothes or mourning.
Te uneral is perormed at dierent places, as determined by religious customs.
Funerals are held on the last day o a threeday mourning period. Both burial
and cremation are generally accepted.
When people come to oer condolences, black or white clothing are
recommended. Mourners make a deep ormal bow twice in ront o the picture
o the deceased and then the guest and the chie mourners make a deep ormal
bow to each other. When its diicult to bow or religious reasons, the visitors
will pray or the deceased or the amily. Ater expressing their sympathy,
people usually give money to help the amily with uneral costs according to
their ability.
Jesa Ancestral Memorial Rites
Jesa is the ancestral rites in general or
remembering ancestors and deceased
parents or which much ood is
prepared. Gijesa is memorial rites
perormed on the anniversary o the
day o death, while charye is the ritesperormed on traditional holidays
such as Lunar New Years Day or
Chuseok (Harvest Moon Festival).
Jesa is perormed or up to two generations o deceased relatives. Te time or
jesa is rom midnight on the date when the ancestor passed away to 1am. However,
these days, any time aer sunset is an acceptable time or jesa. Although preparation
and procedures or jesa vary depending on the region or amily tradition, people
put bap (rice), tang (soup), namul (vegetables), jeon (panried oods), chestnuts,
liquor, yakgwa (honey cookies), dasik (tea cookies), and ruit such as jujubes, dried
persimmons and pears.
Jesa is the word or ancestral memorial rite in generalperormed or deceased parents and ancestors. . .
05
Funerals and Jesa
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036 Korean Life and Culture 037
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How to Make a Deep Formal Bow /
Bowing is started by putting one o your own hands on top o the other just below your waist;
this is called gongsu ( ) .
Mens Posture or Bowing /
1. While perorming gongsu, with the let hand on the right hand, keep elbows and hands
horizontal at your abdomen,
2. Bend at the waist and put your hands on the oor, keeping your let hand on the right,
3. Kneel down on your let knee and then right knee. Put the top o the right oot over the sole o
the let oot and hold your heels apart and sit down on your heels,
4. Make sure your orehead touches the back o your hands by bending enough or your elbows to
touch the oor but keep your buttock down, and fnally
5. Lit your upper body up and then stand by liting your right knee frst. Keep your eet together.
1. . .
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Womens Posture or Bowing /
1. While perorming gongsu, with your right hand over your let hand, raise your hands to shoulder
level, lower your head slightly, keeping hands and elbows horizontal.
2. Keep your eyes down and the right hand over the let.
3. Kneel down on your let knee and then right knee. Put the top o the let oot over the sole o the
right oot and hold your heels apart and sit down on your heels,
4. Bend your upper body orward about 45, and fnally
5. Lit your upper body up and stand by liting your right knee frst. Keep your eet together.
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T I P
Greetings
he traditional ormal greeting in Korea
was a deep bow, down on the knees with the
orehead touching the back o the hands.
Nowadays, the deep ormal bowing is rare in
daily lie, but is still common as a gesture o
respect on traditional holidays such as Lunar
New Years day and Chuseok or during the
Pyebaek ceremony at weddings. People also bow to the deceased and chie
mourners at a uneral or during jesa.
Normally, people greet each other by bending at the waist and neck slightly
and saying Annyeong haseyo? or Annyeong hasimnikka? (Are you well?)
regardless o time and place. People say Bangap seumnida (Its nice to meet
you) the rst time they meet someone.
Etiquette toward Neighbors
When Koreans lived mostly in small communities, they were well acquainted
with all their neighbors. Tey showed respect to the elders in the neighborhood
the same as they would to their parents. hese days, Koreans still greet their
elders politely every time they meet them. Tey always use honoric words or
seniors.
Titles / Meanings /
Eoreusin
used or parents riends, riends parents or elderly persons
, ,
Seonsaengnim
used for older people the speaker respects and teachers
Hyeongnim, Hyeong,
Nunim, ,
used by men or people a little older than the speaker
Seonbaenim, Seonbae
,
used or older people who graduated rom the same school as the
speaker, or older co-workers
,
Name, Janae
,
used or close riends and younger people
10
Title + nim
used as an honorifc ater a persons title or name
- .
Childs name + Abeonim,
childs name + Eomeonim
,
used or riends parents or acquaintances parents
,
. .
06
General Etiquette
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040 Korean Life and Culture 041
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Titles
Mans termsor his in-laws
Titles usedby the couples children
Parent
Jangineoreun, Jangmonim
,
Oeharabeoji, Oehalmeoni
,
Wie
Yeobo, childs name +Eomma
, 00
Eomeoni, Eomma
,
Wies older brother
Hyeongnim
Oesamchon
Older brothers wie
Ajumeoni
Oesungmo
Younger brother
Cheonam
Oesamchon, Oesukbu
,
Younger brothers wie
Cheonamdaek
Oesungmo
Elder sister
Cheohyeong
Imo
Elder sisters husband
Hyeongnim, Dongseo
Imobu
Younger sister
Cheoje
Imo
Younger sisters husband
Dongseo
Imobu
Members o large Korean amilies call their relatives by dierent names depending on their relationship. .
Family itles Vary According to the Relationship
Members o large Korean amilies call other members by dierent titles depending
on their relationship. Words or honoriics or relatives are very dierent and
complex depending on ones exact relationship, or position or situation. his can
result in discourtesy when certain words are misused.
Titles
Womans termsor her in-laws
Titles usedby the couples children
Parent
Abeonim, Eomeonim
,
Harabeoji, Halmeoni
,
Husband
Yeobo, childs name-abba
, 00
Abeoji, Abba
,
Husbands elder brother
Si-ajubeonim
Keunabeoji
Elder brothers wie
Hyeongnim
Keuneomeonim
Husbands elder sister
Hyeongnim
Gomo
Elder sisters husband
Ajubeonim
Gomobu
Married younger brother
Seobangnim
Jageunabeoji
Younger brothers wie
Dongseo
Jageuneomeoni
Unmarried younger brother
Doryeonnim
Samchon
Younger sister
Agassi
Gomo
Younger sisters husband
Seobangnim
Gomobu
Due to Conucian inuence, Koreans are taught to respect their elders. .
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042 Korean Life and Culture 043
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Etiquette to remember when having a meal
Having a Meal with Your Elders /
- When you have a meal with your elders, let them sit away rom the door.
- Sit up straight.
- Let them pick up their spoons and chopsticks frst, and try to keep pace with them.
- Wait until they get up rom the table beore you do.
- .
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Arranging Food on the Table /
- Put rice on the let and soup on the right.
- Put cold or dry ood on the let side o the table.
- Put kimchi in the middle o the back o the table.
- Put meat on the right, vegetables on the let.
- Put the spoon on the right o the soup bowl and chopsticks on the right o the spoon.
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T I P
able manners in Korea are relatively simple.
Younger people wait until older people begin
eating. Overall table manners
are as ollows:
- Do not lit up bowls o rice
or soup when you eat.- Do not pick up ood with
your hands.
- Do not hold the spoon and chopsticks at the same time.
When you use chopsticks, put the spoon on the table.
- Do not place the spoon or chopsticks on rice or soup bowl.
- Do not make loud noise when chewing.
- Do not clink spoon and chopsticks on dishes or containers.
- Do not move the ood around in the side dishes or rice bowl with your spoon or
chopsticks. Do not pick things out o the ood or shake the sa uce o.
- Do not leave ood on your spoon or chopsticks.
- Set the spoon and chopsticks down neatly ater eating.
08
able Manners
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044 Korean Life and Culture 045
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Popular Korean oods, including rice and a side dish
Bibimbap /
Bibimbap is a distinct Korean ood. It is rice mixed with greens, bee, sesame
oil, red pepper paste and garnishings. Jeonju Bibimbap is the most amous.
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Bulgogi /
Bulgogi, along with kimchi, is one o the most popular oods or oreign
nationals. It is thin slices o bee seasoned in a marinade o soy sauce,
garlic, green onion, sesame seed, sesame oil, and sugar; and then roasted.
.
.
T I P
As agriculture is advanced in Korea, various types
o rice and other cereals are grown and eaten.
Moreover, as the Peninsula is surrounded by
the sea on three sides, there is an abundance o
ish and other marine products. Many kinds o
ermented ood such as salted seaood, kimchi and
soy sauce have been developed. A wide variety o
seasonings are used to avor ood.
Cooked White Rice
Rice is the most basic staple in Korean cuisine, so much so that the term bab,
meaning steamed white rice, is synonymous with a meal in Korean. Barley,
beans and millet are sometimes added to rice, as well as chestnuts, potatoes,
greens, kimchi, meat and seaood.
Side Dishes
Side dishes are any kind o ood eaten together with rice. here are alsodishes, such as guk or tang meaning soup and jjigae or jeongol meaning stew,
which are cooked by boiling meat, sh or vegetables in a broth. Te names o
soups and stews are made up o the main ingredient plus the type o cooking
method. For instance, galbi+tang = galbitang (short rib soup), kimchi + jjigae =
kimchijjigae (kimchi stew), myeolchi + bokkeum= myeolchibokkeum (stirried
anchovies).
Other side dishes are muchim (seasoned), jjim (braised), jorim (boiled in a
sauce), gui (broiled), bokkeum (stirried), twigim (deep ried), jeon (pan ried)
and hoe (raw sh or meat). Even dishes with the same ingredients have dierent
names depending on the cooking method, such as roasted sh and braised sh.
Bulgogi, one o Koreas best known oods, is roasted (gui).
Fermented oods
Korea has many traditional ermented oods, which include ingredients good
or health. he main ermented oods are kimchi, doenjang (soybean paste),
ganjang (soy sauce), gochujang (red pepper paste) and jeotgal (salted seaood).
Kimchi, the most wellknown ermented ood rom Korea, is made by
salting napa cabbage and white radish and leaving it overnight beore rinsing
them. Te cabbage is then mixed with red pepper powder, green onions, garlic,
ginger and salted sea ood and le to erment. It has been proven that kimchi
can prevent cancer and strengthen the immune system, and this has recently
09
Food
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046 Korean Life and Culture 047
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Yangnyeom (Seasonings) /
Seasonings are not only used to avor oods, but to reduce the strong fshy and animal-at smell o
some oods. The Korean word yangnyeom means healthy ingredients, which act as medicine.
Korean yangnyeom includes green onion, garlic, dried red pepper powder, ginger, black pepper,
sugar, salt, powdered sesame seeds, sesame oil, vinegar and soy sauce.
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T I P
Tteokbokki, a popular Korean snack
made kimchi more attractive in many countries. Tere are numerous kinds o
kimchi, including Pogi kimchi (whole napa cabbage kimchi), Chonggak kimchi
(whole young radish kimchi), baek kimchi (white napa cabbage kimchi), nabak
kimchi (radish and napa cabbage water kimchi), yeolmu kimchi (young radish
kimchi), dongchimi (winter white radish water kimchi), oi sobagi (stued
cucumber kimchi), gat kimchi (mustard lea kimchi), kkaennip kimchi (perilla
lea kimchi)
Doenjang (soybean paste) is a ermented ood made by crushing meju
(ermented soybean paste blocks) that remain aer making ganjang (soy sauce).
It is known or its anticarcinogenic eects.
Eating between meals
Some oods are easily and quickly cooked and eaten mainly between meals
as snacks. hese oods are tteokbokgi (stirried rice cake), ramyon (instant
noodles), mandu (Koreanstyle dumplings), gimbap (dried seaweed rolls) and
sundae (Koreanstyle sausage).
Seasonal oods and ruit
In Korea, there are many kinds o ruit and vegetables in every season. Tese
days, there are greenhouses throughout the country, which allows people to eat
ruit and vegetables any time during the year. However, sunripened ruit and
vegetables are much better.
Greens are picked in spring on the mountains or in elds and eaten raw
or parboiled and seasoned. Cherries and strawberries are among the spring
ruits in Korea. In summer, people oten eat cold oods such as naengmyeon
(chilled buckwheat noodle soup) and ruit punch or nutritious hot oods such as
samgyetang (whole chicken soup with ginseng) or yukgaejang (hot spicy meat
stew). Korea produces many kinds o ruit such as peaches, watermelons, Korean
melons, and plums. In autumn, such healthy oods such as chueotang (loach
soup made with bean paste) are popular. Autumn ruit includes persimmon,
pears, apples, jujube, chestnuts and grapes. In winter, people eat rice with soup,
such as siraegiguk (soup made with cabbage and radish leaves that are dried and
then reconstituted in water) and manduguk (dumpling soup) along with stored
oods such as kimchi and several kinds o jangajji (vegetables pickled with soy
sauce) and seasoned dried vegetables. Mandarin oranges become available in the
winter.
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048 Korean Life and Culture 049
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Hanok, traditional Korean houses
Apartments are a popular orm o housing in Korea
Korean traditional houses, called hanok,
are built with materials mostly taken rom
nature, including stone, wood and clay, and
are intended to harmonize with the natural
surroundings. In addition, people have added
other natural things to their homes, such as
applying hanji (traditional Korean mulberry
paper) on windows or doors.
Korea has our distinct seasons, with cold winters and hot summers. Tus
homes have an underloor heating system called ondol or the winter, and
woodenoor rooms called marubang, which are cool in summer.
In Korea, people have sat on the loor since long ago. Even ater the
introduction o chairs rom the West, people take o their shoes beore entering
a home. Ideally, houses were built acing south, so that they are well ventilated
in summer and catch the sunlight in winter. Tere are various kinds o houses
in Korea, including chogajip (thatched houses), giwajip (tilerooed houses) and
neowajip (shinglerooed houses).Nowadays, apartments, oicetel (a single room that can be used as a
residence or oice), row houses and villas (small apartment buildings) have
greatly increased. Housing in Korea is very expensive. Te capital area is densely
populated, and house prices are more expensive than in other areas.
10
Housing
What is Jipdeuri? /
A jipdeuri is a house-warming party. The guests, including riends,
relatives and colleagues, bring gits such as laundry detergent or toilet
paper. Giving soap is a symbol o the hope that the person's assets
will increase like soap bubbles and giving toilet paper symbolizes the
wish that all the problems in the persons lie will be easily solved like
unrolling the toilet paper.
,
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.
.
T I P
Adapting to Daily Life
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Adapting to Daily Life
11 _
12 _
13 _
14 _
15 _
16 _
17 _
18 _
19 _
20 _
21 _
22 _
23 _
24 _
25 _
26 _ ,
27 _
28 _
29 _
11 _ Finding Housing
12 _ Using Utilities
13 _ Using TV and Communication Systems
14 _ Disposal o Trash and Garbage15 _ Economy
16 _ Where to Buy Things
17 _ Banks
18 _ Transportation
19 _ Driver's Licenses
20 _ Public Institutions
21 _ Amenities
22 _ Medical Facilities
23 _ National Health Insurance or Foreign Nationals
24 _ Educational System25 _ Education or Foreign Nationals
26 _ Korean Language and Lie Education
27 _ Cultural Facilities
28 _ Employment
29 _ Job Training
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052 Adapting to Daily Life 053
Things to be careul o /
1. First o all, visit the unit you wish to live in and check the appliances and surroundings.
2. Be sure to identiy the landlord and make the contract with the landlord. I you make a contract
with someone other than the landlord, and the landlord doesnt acknowledge the contract, you
may not get your deposit back (usually a signifcant sum).
3. You can see a certifed copy o the property register to identiy the landlord. You will see the
name o the landlord, the address, size and structure o the unit and the status o any debt on
the unit. You can get a certifed copy o the property register by visiting registry ofces or on
their website.
4. At the time o contract, 10 percent o the total deposit is paid, with the remainder paid on the
day you move in. Be sure to get a receipt.
5. Check the list below beore signing any contract.
- Check i the address o the property in the contract is identical to that o the certifed copy o the
property register;
- Make sure the amount o deposit is correct;
- Check that the dates or the down payment, any interim payments and payment o the remainder are
correctly recorded;
- Make sure you understand the terms o the contract and everything else in the contract;
- Make sure the landlord has signed or stamped the contract him- or hersel;
- There should be three copies o the contract made: one or you, one or the landlord and one or the
real estate agency. All should be stamped or signed.
6. Ater you move in, make sure to fll in the proper documentation to notiy the dong ofce that
you have moved in, and get a stamp saying Date confrmed on the contract, otherwise you
might not get your money back i there are any problems.
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T I P
here are several dierent ways to ind a
place to live in Korea. Its possible to do so by
reerring to local ree newspapers such as the
Byeoruksijang (Flea Market). But in general,
real estate agencies are used. Real estate
agencies provide such services as preparation
o documents or a contract and conrmation
o procedural checklists or moving into a
home. When a client uses a real estate agency, he or she needs to pay a ee or
commission. Instead o buying a house or condo, it's also possible to lease.
Leases are divided into two types; one is called jeonse, requiring a large one
time deposit and the other is wolse, monthly rent.
he large amount o money or jeonse is given to the unit owner or the
right to live there; it is returned to the tenant aer the contract expires. Wolse is
monthly rent paid to the unit owner, who oen also requires a sizable deposit but
smaller than the jeonse deposit.
.
.
. ,
.
.
.
, .
,
. , .
11
Finding Housing
Generally, real estate agencies are reliable in Korea. .
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054 Adapting to Daily Life 055
, ,
, , .
, 2 .
.
.
220V .
220V . 110V
.
.
.
.
.
() .
.
.
LPG
. LPG
. LPG
.
.
.
.
As cities in Korea are equipped with city gas systems,most houses are supplied with natural gas.
.
IIn order to use the electricity, gas and tap
water aer moving into a new house (or turn
them o beore moving out), you need to
contact KEPCO, the gas company, and the
waterworks company online or by telephone.
Electricity and gas bills are issued every
month while water and sewage bills are issued
every two months. You can pay or these bills
at the bank or post of ce beore the due dates, or you can opt to have the money
automatically withdrawn rom your bank account.
Using Electricity
All home appliances in Korea use 220V, as that is the standard voltage. I any
home appliance uses 110V, a transormer is needed to convert the voltage.
I many electrical devices are used at the same time, a shortcircuit
breaker may kick in, which results in electrical ailure. In this case, turn o any
unnecessary electrical devices and li the breaker up.
Using the Water and Sewage System
Korea has good water and sewage systems in every house. In many places, tap
water is clean enough to drink, but most people drink boiled or puried water.
Many also drink bottled water.
Using Natural Gas
As cities in Korea are equipped with city gas systems, most houses are supplied
with gas, with consumers paying or what they use. City gas is used or heating
rooms and cooking. Farmhouses mostly use LPG or cooking and oil or
charcoal or heating, as most o them do not have city gas connections. LPG is
delivered to each armhouse as ordered. I there is any abnormality with the gas,
stop using it immediately and ventilate the rooms by opening windows. Call the
nearest gas company immediately and do not use any open ame.
12
Using Utilities
Short circuit breaker Gas valve Electric transormer
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056 Adapting to Daily Life 057
.
, .
, ,
100 .
, .
.
.
.
.
.
.
For any enquiries about telephone use, call 100. 100 .
Foreigners need to have an alien registration card in orderto purchase a mobile phone in Korea. .
Telephone card
Korea has very advanced communication
systems and Internet acilities. People can
use the Internet, telephone and even mobile
phones everywhere.
elephones
I you want to install a new telephone orhave problems with it, you can dial 100
everywhere in the country. elephone bills can be paid at banks or by automatic
withdrawal rom your bank account.
Mobile phones
Buying a mobile phone isnt easy or
nonKoreans. He or she must have an
Alien Registration Card with them and
must pay or the phone with cash. For
this reason, most oreign nationals rent
a mobile phone and use a prepaid phone
card, which can be used by entering the
card number into the mobile phone,
allowing them to use the balance on
the card. Although there isnt any
subscription ee or other charges, calls
are a bit more expensive.
13
Using V andCommunication
Systems
People can use the Internet, telephone and even mobile phones everywhere in Korea. , .
Many foreigners buy prepaid telephone
cards or use prepaid phones.
''
.
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060 Adapting to Daily Life 061
.
.
.
.
.
, , .
.
.
,
.
.
.
,
.
You need to dispose recyclables separately rom other trash. .
In Korea, you need to separate garbage and
recyclables, such as paper, plastic and cans,
rom rubbish. Korea uses a volume rate when
charging or rubbish disposal; you pay or as
much rubbish as you throw away. here are
designated plastic bags or the disposal o
rubbish, which you can buy in local grocerystores. Each neighborhood has a speciic
location to dump rubbish, garbage and recyclables. Fines are charged to those
who violate the disposal system.
General rubbish
Put into the specied waste bag and dispose.
Food waste
Drain liquid and put into a ood waste bag or dump it in the ood garbage bin.
Recyclables
Separate paper, glass, plastic and cans and put them in specied locations. You
can reduce the volume o plastic or cans by washing and drying and attening
them.
Inammable wastes
Put into specied bags and dump at designated locations.
Large items such as home appliances and urniture
Notiy the dong or village oice and get a sticker issued and attach it on the
items. Te cost o the sticker depends on the size othe item. In some provinces, people can buy stickers
at supermarkets.
Clothes, bedding or leather
Put into specied boxes.
14
Disposal orash and Garbage
Trash disposal bags or ood waste (let) and or general rubbish (right) . (), ()
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062 Adapting to Daily Life 063
(GNI) 13
. , ,
.
.
. 1, 10,
50, 100, 500 , 1,000, 5,000, 10,000, 50,000
. 100,000 . , 1,000
, 5,000 .
70 . 10,000~14,000
.
Korean currency / T I P
50,000 won bill
500 won coin ,
100 won coin , .
50 won coin , .
10 won coin , .
10,000 won bill
5,000 won bill
1,000 won bill
Koreas gross national income is high, ranking
13th in the world. Although consumer prices
are less expensive compared to Europe, the
United States or Japan, they are a little higher
than Southeast Asian countries. While living
in Korea, you need to consider the value o
your currency and the price o goods in Korea.Koreas currency, the won, comes in 10,
50, 100 and 500 won coins and 1,000, 5,000, 10,000 and 50,000 won bills. You
can get checks or 100,000 won or higher at banks.
Consider the amount o Korean won you will need or various things: 1,000
won to take the bus; around 5,000 won and up or a meal out; 70 won to use
a pay phone and 6,0009,000 won or the bus to and rom Seoul and Incheon
International Airport.
Value o Korean currency /
Currency / Won /
United States US$ 1 / 1 1,133 Won / 1,133
Thailand 1 Baht /1 37.78 Won / 37.78
Bangladesh 1 Taka / 1 16.06 Won / 16.06
Vietnam 100 Dong /100 5.91 Won / 5.91
China 1 Yuan /1 170.41 Won / 170.41
Pakistan 1 Rupee / 1 13.21 Won / 13.21
Philippine 1 Peso /1 25.94 Won / 25.94
(As o Dec. 2010 /2010 12 )
15
Economy
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064 Adapting to Daily Life 065
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Home shopping channelTV
Online shopping mall
Tere are many places to buy things in Korea,
ranging rom neighborhood supermarkets to
largescale department stores, rom traditional
markets to discount stores. You can purchase
whatever you want anywhere at almost anytime
Neighborhood supermarketsIn Korea, small ood stores are also called
supermarkets or just super. hey primarily sell groceries such as snacks,
ramyon, noodles, vegetables, meat and rice
Convenience stores
Tese stores are oen open around the
clock. Tey sell some grocery items, as
well as books and magazines, at prices
a bit higher than supermarkets.
Big discount stores
You can buy clothes, groceries, home
appliances and other items. hese
stores, including EMart, HomePlus
and LotteMart, are convenient or
buying a large number o goods or a
good price
Department stores
Tese have many kinds o goods such as clothes, groceries, cosmetics, jewelry,
brandname products, home appliances and urniture o good quality. Prices are
rather expensive. From time to time, they hold discount sales.
V Home shopping
It is possible to immediately order products by phone rom companies on
V home shopping channels. Books, clothes, shoes, bags, home appliances,
computers, cosmetics, insurance, ood and all kinds o other things are available.
16
Where to Buy Tings
Convenience stores
Discount stores
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066 Adapting to Daily Life 067
, , .
, , .
.
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Traditional markets in Korea
Internet shopping malls
It is also possible to order all kinds o products online. You should be warned
that sometimes the photographs on the sites might be dierent rom the real
products, and you need to be careul about giving companies your Resident
Registration Card number and credit inormation.
raditional marketsPeople can buy groceries, including resh vegetables and ish, clothes and
numerous other things in traditional markets. Prices are lower and sometimes
you can get additional things or ree. hese markets include market days in
rural areas, small neighborhood openair markets in Seoul as well as the large
markets o Namdaemun (South Gate Market) and Dongdaemun (East Gate
Market) in Seoul.
Payments and Reunds /
Depending on where you shop, you can pay or goods with cash, checks, credit cards, debit cards
and git cards. I you want to return something or get a reund, you have to do so within seven or 14
days ater purchase. However, i you've already used the items or damaged them, you can't return
them or get a reund. When you return something, make sure to bring the receipt. I you have any
problems when you return something or ask or a reund, call the Korea Consumer Agency (02-
3460-3000, www.kca.go.kr) or Consumers Korea (02-739-5441, www.cacpk.org).
, , , , . , 7
14 . , .
(02-3460-3000, www.kca.go.kr) (02-739-
5441, www.cacpk.org) .
T I P
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068 Adapting to Daily Life 069
, 9 4 .
365 (ATM) .
(, , ), ,
.
( ) ( )
. ,
() .
,
.
.
,
. (ATM)
.
,
, (secret
card) .
Inside a bank /
Credit cards /
Banks in Korea are open rom 9 am to 4 pm,
Monday to Friday. AMs (oten called 365
Corner) are open at each bank aer business
hours. When you wish to open a bank account,
go to the appropriate teller, and make sure you
have your passport, Resident Registration Card
and money or your initial deposit.
Deposits and Withdrawals
Deposits and withdrawals with a teller
Fill in the deposit or withdrawal orm. Withdrawals require your signature and
PIN number.
Depositing and withdrawing money at ATMs
You can do this by bankbook or
bankcard. I you wish to use your
bankbook to deposit or withdraw
money rom the AM, notiy a teller,
as they need to make some changes in
your bankbook to allow you to do so.
Withdrawing money with a bankbook
or bankcard requires a PIN number. I
the PIN number is entered incorrectly
3 times, you cant use the bankbook or
card. A ee is charged or the use o an
AM that does not belong to your own
bank or i you use an AM aer business
hours.
Internet banking
You can do your banking online, but you will need a digital authentication rom
KFC (Korea Financial elecommunications and Clearings Institute), which needs
to be saved on your computer. You also need a security card (sometimes called secret
card) issued by your bank.
Tele-banking
You will need a card with a unique pass code issued by your bank and a PIN number.
17
Banks
You can deposit or withdraw money with your bankbook orbankcard rom ATM machines.
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070 Adapting to Daily Life 071
,
.
. , , , , , .
, , .
,
.
.
, .
,
.
.
. .
Remittances (Sending money home)
I you want to transer money to your home country, you need to get the
inormation about a bank account in your home country in the name o
someone in your amily. Te receivers name, address, telephone number, name
o the receivers bank and account number need to be given. Go to the oreign
currency desk at the bank and show your Resident Registration Card.
Paying or Utilities
Utilities include electricity, gas and water. You can pay utility bills and your
residence tax at a bank or post ofce. I you pay or the bill at a bank, you can
choose one o the ollowing methods:
Payment in person
You can pay or the bill by visiting a bank with the bill. Nowadays, people like to
use the automatic payment machine. You will need to have your bankbook.
Automatic Withdrawals
You can pay the bill by automatic withdrawal (money is automatically
transerred rom your account to the utility company). You can apply or this
at the bank or by making a phone call to the utility bill issuer. Be sure you
have enough money in your bank account to pay the bill, or there will be an
additional charge or insufcient unds.
Automated utility payment machine
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072 Adapting to Daily Life 073
. .
, , , , , .
, , , .
.
.
.
. , , .
.
.
, .
City Buses in Seoul /
City buses are blue, green, red or yellow. , , , .
Operate between Seoul and the suburbs.
.
Go to nearby subway stations or bus terminals.
.
Express buses or commuters travel between downtown and
nearby cities.
.
Circulate in downtown Seoul, stopping at major railroad
stations, commercial areas, tourist attractions and shopping
areas.
,
.
T I P
Blue buses/
Green buses/
Red buses/
Yellow buses/
ransportation and highways are well developed
in Korea. Public transportation includes buses,
subway, taxis, trains, ships and airplanes. O
course, many people preer to use their own
cars, motorcycles, scooters, or bicycles.
I you want to drive a car in Korea, you
need a drivers license issued in Korea or aninternational drivers license issued in your
own country.
Buses
City buses
City buses are numbered and ollow set
routes. Check the route map beore you get
on. Bus stops are located all over the city.
here are three types o city buses:
general buses, seat buses and village
buses. General buses are available all around
the city. Seat buses stop only at major bus
stops allowing a quicker arrival at their destination. Village buses circulate
around a certain neighborhood, sometimes going through narrow roads where
general buses cant.
18
ransportation
Using the City Buses /
- Pay the bus are with cash, credit card or transportation card.
- Touch your transportation card to the card reader on the bus. The bus are is withdrawn rom
your card.
- You can buy transportation cards at stores near the bus stop. Cards can be charged in units o 1,000
won up to a maximum o 90,000 won.
- There is a discount o 100 won when using the transportation card instead o cash. There is also
a substantial discount when you transer to subway or another bus.
- .
- , .
- , 1,000 9 1,000
.
- 100 ,
.
T I P
Transportation cards
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074 Adapting to Daily Life 075
. .
,
.
, , . (
) .
. .
.
You can catch a bus to other cities or the provinces at the Express Bus Terminal. .
Intercity Buses and Express Buses
People take intercity buses or express
buses to go rom city to city. here
are oten dierent terminals or the
two types o bus. Intercitybuses take
longer as they go via several cities
whereas express buses are nonstop,
and reach their destinations in less
time.
here are three kinds o express
buses: general express, premium and midnight buses. Premium buses have wider
seats and single seats or passenger comort and charge higher ares than general
express buses. he time they take to go rom one place to another is about the
same time. Midnight buses are or those who need to travel at night to another city.
Passengers need to buy bus tickets rom the departure station beore getting on the
bus.
*Reer to www.kobus.co.kr or www.gbus.co.kr or more detailed inormation such as timetables and
reservations.
* (www.kobus.co.kr)
(www.gbus.co.kr) .
.
What Is the Transer Service? /
The transer service is a discount are depending on distance when people transer rom bus to
bus, bus to subway or subway to bus. This service is available only with a transportation card.
When passengers use cash to take the bus, they have to pay the ull are with every transer. But
i passengers use a transportation card, they do not pay extra or transers within a 10 km area.
And i the total distance exceeds 10 km, passengers will be charged only 100 won or every 5 km.
Be sure to touch your transportation card to the card reader by the exit doors, and wait or a single
beep. This service is available on all subway routes and the discount varies outside o Seoul. , ,
. .
, ,
10km . 5km 100
( ) . .
, .
T I P
When using intercity-buses or express buses,passengers need to buy a ticket at the bus stationbeore getting on the bus. .
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076 Adapting to Daily Life 077
, , , , . 9
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5 30 ,
2.5~3 , 4~5 .
,
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Subway /
Te Subway
Subway service is available in Seoul, Busan, Incheon, Daegu, Gwangju and
Daejon. Te subway in Seoul has nine routes. Some subway routes connect with
metropolitan electric railway system, which goes rom the suburbs o Seoul to
satellite cities in Gyeonggido.
Service runs rom 5:30 a.m. to midnight with 2.53 minute intervals during
rush hour and 45 minute intervals at other times.
axis
Although taxis are expensive, they
are convenient or those who are not
amiliar with the city, or when other
transportation is not available.
axis are easy to locate due to
the colored lamp on the roo and are
available around the clock. People
lag down taxis on the street or wait
at a taxi stand. An empty taxi runs a
red Empty sign (in Korean) on its
windshield or people to see.
here are three types o taxi:
general taxis, deluxe taxis and large
taxis (call vans). axi are is a basic
rate plus distance (based on the meter)
and time. he basic rate or taxis is
Using the Subway /
- The basic are is 1,000 won cash or 900 won with transportation cards. When using cash,
passengers need to buy a ticket in advance rom ticket machines installed at each station beore
getting on the subway. You can also use a credit card.
- Transportation cards enable passengers to receive transer discounts. Passengers can buy or
recharge transportation cards rom ticket machines.
- All instructions are available in Korean and English. In addition, Korean and English
announcements are made in the subway at each stop and Japanese and Chinese at specifed
stops.
- 1,000, 900.
. .
- , .
.
- , .
T I P
Call van /
General taxi /
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078 Adapting to Daily Life 079
.
, 2,200~2,400. 9
4,500.
.
,
.
(KTX) ,
. (KTX)
2004 ,
.
.
. ,
(www.korail.com), .
, ,
9 7
.
, ,
,
.
,
.
.
.
Train /
Incheon International Airport /
Port o Incheon /
2,2002,400 won, varying by province. Te basic rate or premium taxis or large
taxis (with capacity o up to nine passengers) is 4,500 won. axi ares can be
paid with a credit card or cash when the passengers get out.
rains, Airplanes and Ships
Trains
As almost all major cities in Korea have train stations, its a convenient way to
travel quickly between cities. rains include KX (highspeed trains) as well
as the Saemaeul and Mugungwha trains. Te KX, which began operations in
2004, travels ast and stops at a limited number o stations. It is more expensive
than other trains. Mugungwha is relatively slow and stops at a larger number
o stations, but is the cheapest. Saemaeul costs less than KX but more than
Mugungwha. rain tickets can be purchased at train stations, online at www.
korail.com, or rom travel agencies, and can be bought in advance.
Airplanes
Korea has nine international airports, including Incheon, Jeju and Gimpo, and
seven domestic airports, making air travel convenient. Domestic airlines include
the big airlines, KAL and Asiana, and budget airlines such as Jeju Airlines,
Eastar Jet, Jin Air and Air Busan. Airplane tickets can be bought at airports or
rom airlines and travel agencies online or by telephone.
Ships
ravel to islands is possible by ship. It is recommended that you check the
weather inormation rom the ship company beore purchasing a ticket, as ship
travel is dependent on weather conditions.
Scooters and Motocycles /
In Korea, scooters and motorcycles with an engine displacement o even
less than 50cc require a drivers license. I the driver does not wear
a helmet, drives without a license or violates traic laws, he or she
will be fned the same as drivers o cars as they are all classifed as
automobiles in Korea.
50CC .
, ,
.
T I P
d
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080 Adapting to Daily Life 081
Testing procedures or a driver's license
1. Complete trafc saety education
Trafc saety education takes place in the trafc saety education center at drivers license test
sites or at driver training institutions.
2. Complete physical examination and written test
Available languages : English, Chinese and Vietnamese Required items when taking the written
test: Application orm (with three photos), a marker or computer paper and an ID card
3. Test on a driving course ater passing the written test
Necessary Documents : Application orm, Resident Registration Card (or other document
proving your identity)
4. Ater passing the test on the driving course, a learners permit is issued to complete 10 hours o
road training.
5. Complete the road test.
6. Notifcation o pass or ail
1. .
2. .
- , , .
- ( 3), , ( )
3. .
- , ( )
4. 10 .
5. .6.
*Multicultural amily support centers and police stations can help oreigners or married
immigrants to acquire a driver's license or ree. For detailed inormation, contact your
local Multicultural Family Support Center or police station or driver's license examination
ofce.
* .
, .
www.dla.go.kr 1577-1120
T I P
o drive a car in Korea,
people need a drivers
license or an international
drivers license rom their
own country.
International drivers
licenses are valid or a period
o one year. hose who have drivers licenses
rom their own countries need to submit an original copy o the license, a
certied translation o the license, certication rom the embassy, their passport,
Alien Registration Card, certication o immigration and three colored photos
to the drivers license examination of ce to be exempted rom some o th