Korea's Distinct Culture, Which is Not Found in Other Countries, Aren't You Curious about It?

This article is a posting about Korea’s public order and security, stores open late into the night or open 24 hours a day, no. 1 in internet speed, no. 2 in healthcare than other countries, etc.

 

Hello, this is Silla University's OIA (Office of International Affairs)!

Today I’ll be talking about Korean’s unique cultures that most of other countries don’t have.

 

1. Korean’s Public Order and Security

 

Many people think of Korea as a "divided country." So, many foreigners consider the country to be dangerous. Many stores stay open late at night. Many people walk the streets alone and drink, so seeing such people surprises them. Of course, nothing is completely secure, but it appears that Korea is the only country where items are left for extended periods of time and are not stolen no matter where they go. As a result, I think that the Korean safety culture will move foreigners and make say, "That's a nice surprise!"

 

2. Stores Open Late into the Night or Open 24 Hours a Day

 

Before COVID-19, Korean cities sparkled all night with neon signs. Signs for countless stores, including convenience stores, PC rooms, karaoke rooms, and bars, were turned on at 24 o'clock, and stores were open regardless of time, day or night. In other countries, most stores close at 8 p.m., so foreign visitors are embarrassed by Korea's 24-hour night streets.

 

3. No 1 in Internet Speed

 

Koreans have a fast Internet culture in our daily lives that tend to get pent up even if there is a minor delay. However, there are many places in foreign countries where access to fast Internet is not natural. As a result, as a country with the world's fastest average Internet access, foreigners are said to be fascinated by our fast Internet speed when they visit Korea, where approximately 93 percent of the population is Internet users.

 

4. Easier and Cheaper Healthcare than Other Countries

 

Foreign visitors are commonly surprised to see Korean medical services. In uncomplicated contrast to Korea, many countries, including the United States, not only make it difficult to meet with doctors, but the cost of treatment and medicine is extremely high. It's essential to make an appointment to see your own doctor, and even if you do, you may have to wait for several hours. The cost of treatment and medicine are also high. In the United States, drugs such as over-the-counter pain relievers are relatively inexpensive; otherwise, the cost of the medicine can be as high as the cost of treatment. Many foreigners are surprised at how simple and inexpensive it is to get medical services in Korea.

 

5.  Seats on the Subway for Pregnant Women

 

The Korean subway has special seats for pregnant women. What's more surprising than the presence of pregnant women is that this seat remains empty.

 

6. The Custom of Eating Some Main Dishes in a Large Bowl

 

When Koreans eat large meals, such as kimchi stew, they place spoons together in a bowl. They tend to get closer to each other, create a friendly atmosphere, and taste different foods together as a result. Foreigners usually hesitate when they first encounter this culture because they have never seen multiple people putting their spoons in one bowl.

 

7. The Custom of Cutting Meat with Scissors

 

Foreigners have strong ideas about how to cut meat with a knife. That is why it is interesting to them to see Koreans cutting meat with scissors. 

 

8. A Common Hangover Cure in Korea

 

Hangover drinks are widely available in convenience stores in Korea. As a result, if you have a lot of drinking appointments, you will first look for hangover drinks. As a result, hangover drinks are a very common cultural practice in Korea. However, there are no hangover cures in foreign countries. Foreigners are sure to be intrigued by the various types of hangover drinks that are popular in Korea. 

 

9. The Restaurant's Bell to Summon the Staff

 

It is natural that there is a restaurant bell in Korea that can call employees. Because there is no such thing in foreign countries, foreigners who visit Korea for the first time often get shocked at restaurants. The bell is attached to the table, so it is usually used to call the staff to order food.

 

10. Korea's Rapid Delivery Service

 

Korea's fast delivery culture is based on the Korean culture of "Hurry, hurry." It is a wonderful and touching service for visitors from other countries. because it is not easy to enjoy rapid delivery abroad.

 

11. The Custom of Thinking Negatively about Painting Names Red

 

Koreans feel that if they write their names in red, bad things will happen to the main character of the name. So if they have to write something in red, and if they have a name, they just write that name in a different color. Each person has a different intensity of feeling bad, so it is not necessary to keep it, but Koreans keep it as if it were a rule.

 

12. Unexpectedly Many Automatic Doors in Korea

 

Many automatic doors in Korea open and close automatically when touched. There are still a few automatic systems in foreign countries. Foreigners are amazed by Korea's automatic door system, which allows them to open and close doors with a single touch.

 

13.  Are Side Dishes Free? Korea's Abundant 'Jung' Culture

 

There is no such thing as side dishes in other countries, and you are paid for each meal. One of the "Jung" cultures is that even if you order only one menu at a Korean restaurant, a variety of side dishes will be served. – Jung is synonymous with attachment, caring, and affection. Foreigners are said to be impressed by restaurant owners' generous service.

 

14. Convenient Public Transportation and T-money Cards

 

The integrated transfer discount, which allows you to transfer buses and subways several times with a single transportation card, is one of the many convenient public transportation policies that foreigners envy. If you pay for transportation with a transportation card once, you don't have to pay an additional amount if you transfer to another public transportation within 30 minutes. In addition, among many transportation cards, the transportation card called T-money is attracting great attention from foreign tourists because it can make its own transportation card by putting pictures of its favorite celebrities on it. 

 

15. A Culture that Values Courtesy to One's Superiors

 

Each country has many honorifics. Above all, Korea has a unique culture of showing respect and courtesy to its superiors. Koreans value manners so much that there is a saying that manners toward their superiors are honorific. Unless you are very close or can speak informally, you should use honorifics for him, even if he is one year older. It is said that the culture between honorifics and informal speech and the culture between seniors and juniors are the most difficult for foreigners in Korea. 

 

16. Ondol, Korea's Heating System, Envy by Other Countries

 

The culture of ondol, Korea's floor heating system, is such a deep tradition that it has recently been designated as a national intangible cultural asset. This culture boasts 2,000 years of history and shows the lives of Koreans. Foreign tourists are unfamiliar with the culture of sitting on the floor and eating. Ondol is characterized by a very warm room where the floor warms quickly. 

 

In this way, I introduced Korean culture to people from other strange countries.

You learned a lot for the first time, didn't you?

I think you will be able to read it more interestingly while recalling your experiences during your visit to Korea! Then let's meet again with a useful and fun topic! 😎