South Korea is one of the most developed countries today. Her interests include traveling, animal welfare, and anything caffeinated. South Korea’s economic freedom score is 74.0, making its economy the 25th freest in the 2020 Index. But an international driver’s license is a good to have on hand when exploring the countryside, or even taking a trip outside the country. Cassie is an American teacher currently working in South Korea. South Korea is almost the opposite. Back to personal space. The simplest way to answer the age question in South Korea is to just tell Koreans the year you were born. ^^. Kimchi is also wonderful for the digestive health, so Koreans are way ahead of the game for making it a part of every meal. South Korea Facts | Resources. WANT TO GET LIVE UPDATES? Most scientific organizations recommend a solid eight to nine hours a night, so South Koreans are definitely technically sleep deprived! Monthly Living Expenses. It’s not that critical that they see their families on this day. And don’t be surprised if you smell soju practically evaporating from the skin of the older man in front of you, even if it’s 10 am on a Tuesday morning. Food Delivery is Taken VERY Seriously, 22. A population of over 51 million makes this the 27th largest country in the world based on population. Before the list lets take a quick look at some general ideas about Korean history and language. Stereotype: Asians are all brilliant, especially at math. This was so interesting! I’ve been here going on 23 years now (not continuously), so it must be decent enough! While most Western countries have at least some regulations on where you can and cannot drink in public, South Korea is a firm believer in the freedom to drink wherever you want. If the two Koreas are ever united, there has been talking of making the DMZ a peace park or a national park to continue to preserve the wildlife. What’s less well known is that men and women alike wear makeup in South Korea — there is no stigma about men wearing makeup, so some men wear significantly more makeup than women here! How-To & Guides. In Korea, as in many Asian societies, citizens tend to enter a job and stay with that one company until retirement. Amongst all, Jeju island is the largest island. Writing a person’s name in red ink indicates that the person is about to die or is already dead and gone. One of the most important South Korean tourism facts says that it is home to more than 3000 islands. South Korea’s public transportation system is, put simply, amazing. 27. Do you know any interesting facts about South Korea? 9. 5 Surprising Facts about Living in South Korea you should know. When I pointed out the logo on the hat and said ‘Red Sox’ she gave me a blank look. A near-perfect balance of exciting new technology and old-world tranquility, living and teaching English in South Korea is a great opportunity to explore the country’s fascinating history, vibrant, modern culture, and exciting technological advances. Good question, Tamanna! Tax: $30 It’s said that when South Koreans try something, they go hard at it. Before moving to Korea, she spent 4 years teaching in the United States. Now that’s what we call amazing service! I grew up in New England and was still shocked by the amount of seafood here. I’m going to send this to my friend who will be living in South Korea for a month next year! South Korea is a country that is located in East Asia. In case you’re not up on your phobia lingo, tetraphobia means to avoid the number four. An easy word to learn is 아파트 (apateu | apartment), which also sounds like the word “apartment.”. Blood types can be used to help choose a spouse since your partner’s blood type may not be a good match for yours. South Korea is renowned as one of the world’s leading producers of technical goods such as mobile phones, televisions and computers. We’re all guilty of jaywalking. While there’s no arguing that Seoul is an amazing city full of culture, shopping, and food which makes it a huge tourist destination, South Korea is also full of great day hikes. The Demilitarized Zone is a 4km wide by 248km long stretch of land that separates the North from the South on the Korean peninsula. South Korea has plenty more foods for the daring! This one of the fun cum interesting facts about South Korea: This country is one that permits drinking in public and the act is considered perfectly legal. ctaList.push('5f2b0cd4-c5e9-4803-a965-0e4e395419e3'); 2. He added that their lack of time off makes “the notoriously vacation-stingy Americans look like they’re living lives of leisure.” The two Koreas may not be battling it out on a day-to-day basis, but they still haven’t made up. It was constructed in the 1950s when electricity was a luxury in rural areas on both sides of the border. Stop by an internet cafe while you’re in Seoul and experience what it’s like to have super-powered internet. Some stereotypes I’ve seen in movies and music are incredibly accurate… And many are so far from the truth, it’s almost humorous. After failing to take control of South Korea in 1953, North Korean leader Kim Il-sung adopted a policy of economic and diplomatic isolationism meant to minimize outside influence. Life Expectancy: The life expectancy rate is one of the highest in the world. Not only because of its rich flavor and wide variety but also because of Koreans’ love for freshness. South Korea has definitely been getting an increasing amount of publicity around the world. Everyone also wants to know where I am from. Explaining Seollal, Korean Lunar New Year. South Korea - South Korea - Daily life and social customs: The once-dominant Confucian culture—with its emphasis on respect for ancestors, age, and seniority—continues to influence Korean family, work, and social life, albeit to a lesser degree than in the past. Both Men and Women Are Obsessed with Makeup. Many of the older Korean’s experiences with foreigners are centered around the Korean War–not necessarily happy memories or positive associations. With soaring house pricing in Seoul, it’s a possibility that the area would be demolished to build more apartment complexes. The official language of South Korea is Korean, but English is taught widely in the country's schools. They often have NO IDEA what it means or represents. However, it’s apparently relatively easy to get around the censorship by using proxy servers to access restricted sites, so don’t let the censorship deter you from visiting South Korea! Here are 20 of such facts. Top 10 Facts about Living Conditions in South Korea. 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”. Whether you’re a city lover or a fan of adventuring around the outdoors, South Korea truly has something for everybody! South Koreans drink more alcohol per person per year than Germany, the U.S., Ireland, Canada, and Australia, which are known to be top consumers of alcohol in the world! One of the common facts is that South Koreans think that there is some significance to their blood type. The average Korean can drink them under the table. Just when you thought there were enough Hallmark holidays, South Korea upped the ante and introduced “White Day”. 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?!? See our, Teaching English to Young Learners Specialty Class, Teaching Business English Specialty Class, 4-Week Intensive Online Course Dates & Tuition, Teach English Online Employer Comparison Chart, Non-Native English Speakers Teaching Abroad, Buy TEFL Course & Specialty Class Textbooks. She loves to travel and meet new people. One thing that certainly stands out about South Korea is its cuisine which is gaining so much attention from the rest of the world today. Kimchi is a fermented dish that can utilize a variety of vegetables and seasonings depending on preference. How-To & Guides. Do NOT put that toilet paper in the toilet, 30. “Gagnam Style” was a global sensation and rightfully earned Psy international fame. Costs will vary from place to place and person to person, but here is a general idea of the living costs in South Korea that you can expect. The number “four” in Korean is 사, which also means “death”. I knew seafood was a common staple in Korea. 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. As they say, to be forewarned is to be forearmed, uh? Kelly 22/11/2017 - 5:02 am. Many people are curious about South Korea these days. You’ll get plenty of it as gifts! It is believed that the fan can lower body temperature and cause hypothermia (abnormally low body temperature). South Korea Facts | Resources. Despite a reputation for being uber-macho, South Korean men are obsessed with cosmetics. 123. Therefore in South Korea, the baby is 1 year old when born. It’s not comfortable – trust me! There are different schools of thought as to why this is. Truth: In my experience, yes! Despite this, South Korea is still surprisingly safe. If you don’t have a credit card and live in South Korea, getting one is a worthwhile investment. There’s a lot more to kimchi than meets the eye, many questions you’ll want to ask your potential partner, If you’re planning to do any road trips around that time, the way South Korea handles food delivery, ordering from a Korean barbecue restaurant or a fast-food restaurant, Learn the Korean Alphabet & Read the Hangul Characters, Korean Phrases: The Ultimate List for 2020, Korean – Overview and History of the Language, How to Speak Korean – Online Guide for Conversational Fluency, The Most Common Korean Words and Basic Vocabulary, Top 28 Korean Drama Words & Phrases for K-Drama Fans, Korean Slang – 101 Popular Words & Phrases in 2020, My Korean Name: Choose Your Very Own Name in Korean. How about walking in the middle of the street? Though small, South Korea is a very diverse and interesting country. Some also have international soccer teams - Brazil seems to be a popular jersey - and a few of English soccer teams (Man United or Liverpool usually). It is not meant in rudeness, simply curiosity. However, what about Korea in general? So the next time you’re in South Korea in the fall, look out for shelves stocked with deluxe canned meat gift sets. The good news is, you don’t have to wait for that! If you’re on a date in South Korea, it’s one of many questions you’ll want to ask your potential partner. 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. 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. Busan, South Korea English Teaching Q and A with Anne Shelton, How Teaching in Korea Helped Me Come Out (or Led Me To Come Out), 10 Companies That Let You Teach English Online Without a Degree. One year ago, I stepped on a plane heading to Busan, South Korea, for a public school teaching contract. You had better at least offer to give your seat up if an older woman gets on or be prepared to bear the wrath of her death glare. It’s heaven for tech junkies. Stereotype: Asians eat a ton of seafood / tentacles / intestines. People can carry alcoholic containers in public and can take a drink or two. The best part about the motorcycle is that it means they can squeeze in between cars and zig-zag through traffic, so they’ll get to you way more quickly than if your food was being delivered on four wheels instead of two! "10 Animals native to South Korea and where to see them. People all around the world hear about South Korea’s love for plastic surgery. Wherever you are in the world, you’ve probably experienced the frustration of slow internet at some point — whether it’s from being in a remote location or having periodic issues with your internet service provider, internet connectivity problems can be a serious inconvenience and put anybody in a bad mood. 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