The Culture of South Korea

 

THE CULTURE OF SOUTH KOREA

 

A Nyong Ha Se Yo (Hello)

Welcome to the Culture of South Korea

FOOD

1. Grain Food


Dolsot Bibimbap

Bibimbap (mixed rice): rice topped with vegetables such as spinach, mushrooms, sea tangle, carrots, bean sprouts, and served with red pepper paste, and variations which include beef and egg. Everything (seasonings, rice and vegetables) is stirred together in one large bowl and eaten with a spoon.

2. Kimchi

Kimchi Dish

 

Kimchi is the vegetables (usually cabbage, white radish, or cucumber) commonly fermented in a brine of ginger, garlic, green onion and chilli pepper. There are endless varieties, and it is served as a side dish or cooked into soups and rice dishes. Koreans traditionally make enough kimchi to last for the entire winter season.

3. Grilled Dishes

Galbi

Thinly sliced or shredded beef marinated in soy sauce, sesame oil garlic, sugar, scallions and black pepper, cooked on a grill (sometimes at the table). Variations include pork, chicken or squid.

4. Tteokbokki

Tteokbokki

It was made by meat, vegetables, eggs, and seasonings in water, and then serving it topped with walnuts. In its original form, tteokbokki, which was then known as gungjung tteokbokki, was a dish served in the royal court and regarded as a representative example of haute cuisine.

TRADITIONAL CLOTHES

1. Women's Clothing

                                      

These clothes represent formal ceremonial clothes which were worn by

females during the Chosun Dynasty (1392 - 1910)

Commoners generally wore white clothing except for special festivals and occasions. Festival clothes were bright and colourful whereas the funeral clothes were bland.

2. Wedding Clothes





 

It has grown into a very formal and lavish ceremony. The groom wore a black hat whereas the bride wore a veil covering her face until halfway through the ceremony.

3. Men's Clothing
(a) Cheogori and Paji

     

Cheogori

Paji

-Cheogori
The design of Cheogori is reaching down to the waist or even lower.
-Paji
The earliers versions of paji had narrowed legs. However, the agrarian society dictated wider legs to facilitate squatting in the fields. The baggier pants are also more comfortable for sitting on floors than narrower pants.

(b) Scholar's Clothing

- Dop'o
It was a scholar's overcoat which was used from the middle of the Chosun Dynasty (1392 - 1910). Commoners also wore it for family rites or special occasions.

Dop'o

- Hakch'angui
Hak means "study" in Korean, and the style symbolizes a sublime, noble mind.

Hakch'angui

4. Imperial Clothing

(a) Myonbok and Cheokui ( King and queen's ceremonial clothes)

It is the king and queen of Korea's ceremonial clothes. This design was based on a present from China's Empress Hoyja (Ming Dynasty).

(b) Wonsam

Female ceremonial topcoat during Joseon Dynasty. The queen and princess consort wore it.



(c) Gwanbok

Korean general term referring to all business attires of government officers given by government.



KOREAN DANCE

1. Court Dance

Korean court dance is originally referred to "display of all talent" including not only dance but also other performing arts such as tightrope walking but gradually only denoted "court dance". The term has been used since the early period of Joseon Dynasty. It was used to perform for the royal family, court officials, and foreign envoys or for festive occasions sponsored by the state.

Court Dance





Video of Court Dance

2. Folk Dance



In contrast to court dance, folk dance expresses the emotions of people and ordinary life. There is a lack of constraint and reveals freedom of improvisation, where folk music and relatively fast tempo beats accompany each dance. Popular folk dances include buchaechum (fan dance), changgochum (hour–glass drum dance), and ogomu (five drum dance).

 

(a) Buchaechum (fan dance)

It is an exuberant and breathtaking display of beautiful large fans forming an assortment of patterns, such as butterflies, a flower in full bloom, and a sea wave. Its origins can be traced back to shaman dance and can be performed in various choreographed forms for different occasions.

Video of Fan Dance

 

(b) Changgochum (hour–glass drum dance)

It is usually performed solo with an hour–glass shaped drum, or changgo, either loosely held by a shoulder strap or also fastened around the waist.

(c) Ogomu (five drum dance)

It consists of dancers simultaneously beating various patterns and rhythms on (usually five) drums in a synchronized fashion. The dance originates from Buddhist and shaman rituals, where the style of playing can vary and the number of drums can be altered to three, five, or even up to seven or nine

Video of Ogomu (five drum dance)

 

Kam Sa Ham Mi Da (Thank You)

Thanks for your reading

Written by,

Jamie Tee Jie Mi

Foundation In Arts

July Intake.