Four shots of soju plus several beers in, and I was very pleasantly buzzed; the Koreans barely even seemed affected. South Korea harvests more than 90% of the world’s seaweed consumption. We’re all guilty of jaywalking. The number of foreign nationals in South Korea is increasing rapidly. In 2016 she plans to move to Japan to continue teaching English to students there. Although navigating a city that densely populated can be a little daunting if you haven’t done it before, the city is actually very approachable and intuitive once you’ve been there for a couple of days. These are really interesting facts about South Korea. Overall, Korea has been a crazy rollercoaster of adventures and learning experiences. I knew seafood was a common staple in Korea. Another reason why I love Korea: The crime rate is incredibly low and I’ve never felt this safe before. One of the interesting facts about South Korea is that Valentine’s Day is a day where the males receive chocolate from females, while girls receive sweets on White Day. This can be rooted in their tradition and culture where most holidays are celebrated with alcohol. ?” (Every time they saw me with a man), “Teacher, do you wear a bikini to the beach?” (Umm…. A s the Winter Olympics continue in South Korea, here we highlight some of the most interesting and quirky facts about the country.. 1. South Korea is renowned as one of the world’s leading producers of technical goods such as mobile phones, televisions and computers. While you may need to clear out some space in your house to stockpile all the extra household supplies, the great thing about this tradition is that it makes picking out housewarming presents a piece of cake. How Do I Obtain a Work Visa to Teach English in Korea? Therefore, in elevators, you’ll often see floors 1, 2, 3, and F. 4 is the Scariest Number Apartments in South Korea that have numbers with multiple 4s (ex. Not long ago, South Korea was a small, developing nation closed off to much of the world. What is the EPIK Program for Teaching English in South Korea? Besides the popular reasons for the country’s fame, there are a lot of unique facts about South Korea that you don’t hear about until you are actually experiencing everyday life here. Do you live in South Korea? The National Institute of Biomedical Information conducted a study that researched the cause of life expectancy in South Korea increasing over the past few decades. We've picked what we believe to be some of the more the cooler facts about South Korean culture that offer a fascinating windown into the country. The good news is, you don’t have to wait for that! I’m going to send this to my friend who will be living in South Korea for a month next year! If you are an adventurous eater, this won’t likely be a problem for you. Cassie is an American teacher currently working in South Korea. The teacher translated, asking if she was a Red Sox fan, and the girl had never even heard of them. Despite a reputation for being uber-macho, South Korean men are obsessed with cosmetics. It’s hard to walk down the street in a major city like Seoul in South Korea and not see a sign for 성형외과 (seonghyeongoegwa), which means “plastic surgery”. Amur leopard. (At least, that’s what I tell myself so that I feel less guilty.) It’s not that critical that they see their families on this day. South Korea is an interesting and complex country. So the next time you’re in South Korea in the fall, look out for shelves stocked with deluxe canned meat gift sets. Sounds like a plan! It’s not considered unlucky. Last Updated: December 18, 2020. Just when you thought there were enough Hallmark holidays, South Korea upped the ante and introduced “White Day”. The Lack of English. South Korea: Quick Facts. Learn how to say “no seafood”. Last accessed 27 May 2020; Russell Holloway. Korea is a very safe country to live and travel. Bright Side has collected fascinating and virtually unknown facts about North Korea, which might help us to understand this country and its people a little better. Do you know any interesting facts about South Korea? "Korean Culture." There is an urban legend in South Korea that electric fans that are left on while you are sleeping in a room with the windows and door closed can cause death. 설날 (seollal | Lunar New Year) is a common word in South Korea, so it’s a good word to know! The literacy rate in South Korea is more than 95%. Photo credit: http://plaitingsandpairings.com. It is believed that the fan can lower body temperature and cause hypothermia (abnormally low body temperature). Photographers have been able to enter the DMZ and take photos of flora and fauna that existed long before the peninsula became heavily populated with people. Even if you are able to scientifically or logically prove your point, you’re still likely to be doubted by superstitious people in South Korea. South Korea is one of the world's most densely populated countries, with an estimated 425 people per square kilometer in 1989—over sixteen times the average population density of the United States in the late 1980s. Make sure you order delivery at least once while you’re in Korea to experience what all the fuss is about — most restaurants are open late night for delivery, so if you’re looking for a snack after a night out you can call in your order so you don’t even have to leave your apartment. Unfortunately, some South Koreans are indifferent to what happens to the DMZ. There are 250 different types of kimchi, which explains how kimchi can be versatile enough to be incorporated into so many different types of South Korean dishes! Some things you just can’t prepare yourself for and have to see and experience for yourself. Currency: Sticky Currency Switch to metric measurement units. The hardest decision you’ll have to make is whether to buy Kleenex brand or 깨끗한나라 (kkaekkeuthannara) brand. In the year 1953, the two sides agreed to a truce. How Do I Get a Visa for Teaching English in Japan? See if your knowledge points north or south while journeying through Korea. These questions are usually simply a way for Koreans to find out how to relate to you. Koreans love their soju. Clothing for big and tall. Click here to visit Korean Class 101 to get started learning online. Teach English in South Korea, Teach English in Asia, Busan. Her interests include traveling, animal welfare, and anything caffeinated. They often have NO IDEA what it means or represents. Foreign Nationals . Those living in poverty in South Korea increasingly rely on loans to survive. I have been on city buses where I literally could not move. Nice to meet you!” every time they see me. If you visit South Korea, make sure to make time to explore the natural beauty with a trip down to the beach or up into the mountains. One thing to start with is by getting to know their culture, lifestyle, and etiquette. South Korea boasts Asia’s fourth largest economy, yet the country struggles to find adequate placement for a workforce that is fast becoming over qualified for the few jobs that are available. 10 Things to Know About the Country of South Korea . How about walking in the middle of the street? 1. Tentacles everywhere! One explanation is that people think it’s because the baby is in the mother’s womb for 9 months, which is about 1 year. South Korea has become a popular destination for young South Africans who want to teach English, have an adventure, save some money and experience an entirely different culture. Before I say anything more, I want to say that this IS NOT a bad thing. This means the country has one of the highest life expectancies in the world, … Before the list lets take a quick look at some general ideas about Korean history and language. If you believe that the Irish and Russians are the “best drinkers”, you are sadly mistaken my friends. General Facts about South Korea. Pipes are immediately under the floor in South Korean homes, and heat passes through these pipes to send warmth up through the floor into the above apartment or home. The word for “Spam” is 스팸 (seupaem), look for it the next time you visit a local South Korean grocery store! If you have future plans to travel to South Korea for your studies or business, it is important to know more than just their pop culture trends and how to speak the language. South Korea actually has a strong drinking culture compared to its neighboring countries in Asia. var parentScript=document.getElementById("wistia-embed-2"),embedContainer=document.createElement("div");embedContainer.className="wistia_responsive_padding",embedContainer.style="padding:56.25% 0 0 0;position:relative;",parentScript.parentNode.parentNode.insertBefore(embedContainer,parentScript.parentNode),embedContainer.innerHTML='',window.addEventListener("load",function(){setTimeout(function(){var e=document.createElement("script");e.async=!0,e.src="https://fast.wistia.com/embed/medias/c1y0c0jpnj.jsonp";var t=document.createElement("script");t.async=!0,t.src="https://fast.wistia.com/assets/external/E-v1.js",parentScript.parentNode.insertBefore(e,parentScript),parentScript.parentNode.insertBefore(t,parentScript)},3e3)}); Even if the extent of their English is “Hello, how are you? Is that considered unlucky too??? South Korea, officially known as the Republic of Korea, is located in south East Asia and occupies the southern portion of the Korean peninsula. South Koreans are one year old when born, 8. Hanging out in the city and experiencing Korean culture is an incredible experience, but you can’t say that you truly know South Korea until you’ve experienced the natural beauty of the countryside! Cherry blossom is one of the most-loved seasons in the country and can be seen in plenty. Daily life in North Korea has come under greater scrutiny over the past few years as worries about political stability in the region have intensified. It also lets many people that are insecure with parts of their appearance feel more comfortable in their skin on a day to day basis. My hope, however, is that these observations might at least make you aware of some of the things you’ll be getting yourself into if you ever decide to move to South Korea! What is TEFL and What is TEFL Certification? At the workplace, this can be somewhat confusing, especially if you’re managing someone who is older than you. Many Korean students seem far more dedicated to their studies than some of my students back home, but again, each student/person is different. Kimchi is also wonderful for the digestive health, so Koreans are way ahead of the game for making it a part of every meal. While teaching was familiar territory for me, TEFL was not, and living in East Asia was, well…totally foreign to me. That being said, you’re in for a virtual treat when you visit South Korea! “Before the 1990s, usually younger people supported their parents during their retirement so it was not that serious of a problem,” Ku added in his interview with the NPR. Below you see animal statues at Heading Yonggungsa temple in Busan. South Korea's population as of July 2009 was 48,508,972. Despite this, South Korea is still surprisingly safe. South Koreans, on average, have a life expectancy range that goes into the mid-80s for men and into the 90s for women. First, let’s start with some interesting facts and things to know about South Korea.. There will be times you are walking down a street when a smell hits you full force and you’ll be left with watering eyes wondering “What IS that?!? Even those who have been there might give absolutely contradictory accounts. People come from all across the globe to have their looks enhanced during a short trip to South Korea. People all around the world hear about South Korea’s love for plastic surgery. South Korea's population is approximately 50,924,000 (2016 estimate). What is a Hagwon for Teaching English in South Korea? Patricia 22/11/2017 - 4:39 am. For many people around the world wild Animals have been able to flourish, unharmed by the fan makes much. And now occupies a warm place in the rule-of-law pillar critical, and almost all restaurants are up! 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