I would like to discuss about the culture of Korea as I like Korean culture the most. Korea is a region in East Asia. It has been divided between two distinct sovereign states, North Korea and South Korea since 1948. First, I would like to talk about intercultural communication. Intercultural communication is the verbal and nonverbal interaction between people from different cultural backgrounds. Intercultural communication is extremely important to break down cultural barriers. It helps people to understand each other’s cultural differences and to communicate effectively without misunderstanding.
Food
Korea is well known for its food culture. ‘Kimchi’ is the national dish. It is eaten with most meals and made from a variety of vegetables which are then fermented and can be stored for long periods of time. Seasoning such as red pepper powder, garlic, ginger, scallions, radish, and others is added. Kimchi is a healthy food as it is anti-bacterial and it is full of fiber because it is made up of vegetables, which is good for digestion and prevent constipation. Kim Jeong-ok (2004)
Custom
Koreans are well-mannered and well-educated. Korea is a land of strict Confucian hierarchy and etiquette is important. For an example, it is typical for Koreans to bow to each other or shake hands when they meet as it is a sign of respect. Besides that, it is a must to take off your shoes in houses and in many traditional Korean restaurants. Chris Tharp (2016)
Taboos
One of the taboos in Korea is Koreans don’t like the number 4, they insist that it brings bad luck. For an example, in the elevator, sometimes you will perceive that number 4 doesn’t show up since it is replaced with “F”. Besides that, Koreans have once believed that if they unintentionally touch a butterfly, they must avoid touching their eyes because that would bring about blurry eyes. However, this belief has now been discarded. Seansul (2014)
In a nutshell, we should learn about Korean culture as it can help us have a deeper understanding of Korean drama and shows. Apart from that, you can help someone else if you can speak Korean well. If you travel to Korea, or meet Korean in the United States, you can use your Korean-language skills to bridge the cultural gap and help someone else to learn English. Lastly, we will not violate the taboos of Korea as we know the rules of the culture.
