Many people are curious about South Korea these days. While I won’t be hopping on the no-jaywalking bandwagon anytime soon, I can respect the people in South Korea in obeying laws and putting safety first part of their day to day culture! While South Korea is quite modernized in many ways, there are some eccentricities to expect while in Korea. If your mouth is watering at the thought of some squirming octopus, you can order some 산낙지 (sannakji | live octopus) when you visit the country. It’s not that critical that they see their families on this day. 10 Things They Don't Tell You About Living in South Korea, Our website uses cookies to understand what content is most relevant to your research on teaching English abroad. 16 Jun, 2011 facts. Just when you thought there were enough Hallmark holidays, South Korea upped the ante and introduced “White Day”. The more facts you learn, the more you’ll want to know! As somebody who is on the internet pretty much all day every day, I can’t say that this is something I’d be necessarily excited about. 1. However, these days that is rapidly changing and has become a very popular tourist destination due to its rich history and amazing food scene (among other things). var parentScript=document.getElementById("wistia-embed-1"),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/wncq6h09k2.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)}); 3. Here are some interesting tidbits that might make you want to go to Korea to discover more fun facts on your own! 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. Korea is a very safe country to live and travel. Food Delivery is Taken VERY Seriously, 22. South Korea’s Internet is Blazing Fast, 20. 8 Male Makeup. Before the list lets take a quick look at some general ideas about Korean history and language. If you really want to dig into Korean culture you need to learn the language. It’s extremely easy to get around, especially if you’re living in one of the bigger cities. However, South Korea boasts competitive salaries. So the next time you’re in South Korea in the fall, look out for shelves stocked with deluxe canned meat gift sets. Stereotype: Asians eat a ton of seafood / tentacles / intestines. Koreans would barter with American troops for the canned delight and come up with a recipe called bujae jiggae (army stew). 27. Below are some general info such as total population, land area, biggest lake, highest mountain and other general facts about South Korea that might be interesting to know. 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). Explaining Seollal, Korean Lunar New Year. Westerners visiting South Korea rarely resist a visit to Haesindang Park – or, as Westerners like to call it ‘Penis Park’. Stereotype: Asians are short. You name it. Moving into a new house in South Korea? Pass? Clothing for big and tall. Related. South Korea's population is approximately 50,924,000 (2016 estimate). South Korea Facts | Resources. 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. In the year 1953, the two sides agreed to a truce. One of the interesting facts about South Korea is that it is a popular destination for medical tourism, specifically cosmetic surgery. We definitely don’t have signs for plastic surgery everywhere, nor is it common. While plastic surgery taboo at best and frowned upon at worst in the majority of Western countries, South Korea has fully embraced plastic surgery to the point that it is very accepted (and even encouraged). Stop by an internet cafe while you’re in Seoul and experience what it’s like to have super-powered internet. Facts About Living Conditions in North Korea. There are weird facts about North Korea that will just blow your mind. As I am American, I can most certainly tell you that after living in South Korea for two years, most of these issues are isolated to the country. While being sleep deprived is a reality all across the world in some industries, it’s usually restricted to a select few industries and isn’t a huge part of a given culture. Do you know any interesting facts about South Korea? Restaurants. 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. An easy word to learn is 아파트 (apateu | apartment), which also sounds like the word “apartment.”. Whether you’re ordering from a Korean barbecue restaurant or a fast-food restaurant, you will probably have your food delivered to you via an employee on a motorcycle. Tax: $30 If you’re on a date in South Korea, it’s one of many questions you’ll want to ask your potential partner. So good! Your email address will not be published. Only in specific situations are you allowed to call someone by their first name. 404) are often avoided, and the property values are lower. Jennifer is an English teacher living in Busan, South Korea. The method for calculating this is a little tricky since it can vary with the lunar calendar, solar calendar, and your birthday. Before moving to Korea, she spent 4 years teaching in the United States. Looking back on my time living and teaching in South Korea, I often think “ if only I had known that BEFORE moving to Korea.” There are so many things that we take for granted in our day-to-day lives that we miss only … What is it like living in South Korea? Despite their obsession with American/English speaking culture. 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. It was constructed in the 1950s when electricity was a luxury in rural areas on both sides of the border. 9 English-Speaking Therapists | Psychologists in Korea for 2021. While people in other countries may or may not know their blood type, every South Korean certainly does know his or hers! Whether you are on a bus, a subway, or an elevator, be prepared to surrender any of that personal bubble you may like to usually have. 1.South Korean men like to make the most of their appearances and, as such, it is believed that almost a quarter of men use makeup as part of their daily routine. Any way they can connect to you is seen as an accomplishment, especially those with limited English. The average starting salary for a 1st year teacher in Korea is around 2.0 – 2.1m KRW per month ($1,800 – $1,900 USD). !” One block down the road and you’re greeted with some amazing chicken, bulgogi, shabushabu, you name it… and your stomach instantly starts growling. Goryeo means “high and clear.” Some poetic interpretations of the name Korea are “Land of High Mountains and Sparkling Streams” and “Land of the Morning Calm.” In case you’re not up on your phobia lingo, tetraphobia means to avoid the number four. In 2016 she plans to move to Japan to continue teaching English to students there. Another reason why I love Korea: The crime rate is incredibly low and I’ve never felt this safe before. If you’re planning on having a housewarming party (집들이 | jipdeuri) after the move in, don’t bother buying toilet paper or laundry detergent. Patricia 22/11/2017 - 4:39 am. ctaList.push('ce7d9091-7f6a-44d8-abf6-2e41f5ba37c2'); 6. Among them are the Siberian tiger, the Amur leopard, the golden eagle, the lynx and the Siberian musk deer. (At least, that’s what I tell myself so that I feel less guilty.) 5 x North Korea Facts for Kids The current leader is Kim Jong Un, which is the grandson of Kim II-Sung A Mythical winged horse, known as Chollima is the national animal North Koreans born after the Korean War are about 2 inches shorter than South Koreans on average Public trash cans are few and far between in Korea. A friend had a student with a baseball cap that said in large letters “COCAINE”. People can carry alcoholic containers in public and can take a drink or two. Before beginning your life in Korea, it’s great to be prepared for what’s to come – and not just with the school or workplace that you’re going for. It’s common knowledge that South Korea is one of the makeup capitals of the world — there are entire districts of Seoul dedicated to cosmetic shops, so it’s truly a makeup lover’s paradise. South Korea’s public transportation system is, put simply, amazing. My 5’4 frame is by no means considered tall here. And remember next New Year’s to tell your South Korean friends Happy Birthday! More often than not, this is met with excited smiles and a rambling of cities they know… usually New York City or LA. This policy has since greatly contributed to substandard living conditions for the nation’s people. The most common seekers of plastic surgery in South Korea are women. People all around the world hear about South Korea’s love for plastic surgery. Currently, South Korea rests among the top 10 leading countries in terms of life expectancy, with its citizens predicted to live around 83 years. Lesson learned: do not challenge a Korean to a drinking contest. See if your knowledge points north or south while journeying through Korea. Living and Teaching in South Korea. South Korea is almost the opposite. Without further ado, here are the most interesting facts about South Korea! Type AB males will also do, but stay away from Type A’s! 8. However, what about Korea in general? [23] South Koreans are the world’s biggest users of credit cards since 2011, making 129.7 transactions per person that year, compared with 77.9 transactions per American. This is also the case for home and family life. 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. Nice to meet you!” every time they see me. People come from all across the globe to have their looks enhanced during a short trip to South Korea. South Korea harvests more than 90% of the world’s seaweed consumption. On the long working hours: “Koreans also have the third highest working hours in the OECD after Mexico and Costa Rica, and it’s not particularly close to countries of the West,” Christian Bergland said. 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. 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. "Cultural Spotlight." For major cities in those countries you get more relevant data by specifying cities. A population of over 51 million makes this the 27th largest country in the world based on population. The average cost of living in South Korea is reasonable. South Korea is located in the midst of three formidable neighbors: China, Japan and the infamous North Korea. South Korea has plenty more foods for the daring! I grew up in New England and was still shocked by the amount of seafood here. Before I go into the dark side, let's look at a few outstanding goodies you get to have as a wide-eyed foreigner in exile from your own homeland. Truth: Asian students – and people – are just as diverse as any other school/country I have been in. This can be rooted in their tradition and culture where most holidays are celebrated with alcohol. Everywhere else, expats can expect to earn a decent wage and save a good bit of it without having to pinch pennies or live on a … 10 Interesting Facts about South Korea The name “Korea” comes from Goryeo, which was the name given to the dynasty established by General Wang Geon in AD 918. North Korea is a bizarre country to say the least. Employment contracts also frequently cover costs like accommodation and schooling, which saves expats a lot of money monthly. How Do I Get a Visa for Teaching English in Japan? This often contributes to some of the more unpleasant smells you’ll encounter in Korea. The word for “Spam” is 스팸 (seupaem), look for it the next time you visit a local South Korean grocery store! There are different schools of thought as to why this is. "South Korea." With great power comes great responsibility, however, so if it’s your first time in a country without regulations on where you can drink, try not to pass out on the sidewalk. Bit of advice: invest in a reusable water bottle so you don’t have to worry about always finding a trash can. South Koreans work hard, are paid well and enjoy a stable currency and a high standard of living. South Koreans are one year old when born, 8. Life in Korea. Therefore in South Korea, the baby is 1 year old when born. I told you, the smells… you can never be 100% prepared for what you will get. Amongst all, Jeju island is the largest island. There’s way too much to do in a couple of days or even in a couple of months, but you’re bound to have a great time visiting as many restaurants, street food shops, and shopping districts in Seoul as you can! In a South Korean's mind, if they buttoned their yap about such things because it was "private," the other person's health might suffer. With soaring house pricing in Seoul, it’s a possibility that the area would be demolished to build more apartment complexes. South Korea is an interesting and complex country. South Korea's population as of July 2009 was 48,508,972. Writing a person’s name in red ink indicates that the person is about to die or is already dead and gone. Despite this, South Korea is still surprisingly safe. It is not as cheap as living in some Asian countries like Laos or China, but it is also not as expensive as Japan or Singapore. The national household debt recently topped US $971.6 billion, or 81% of the South Korean GDP. 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. It is almost impossible to walk down any street without seeing at least one restaurant – or market – with live octopus or any number of sea creatures waiting to be eaten. A fully functioning UN Command is at the top of the chain of command of all forces in South Korea, including the U.S. forces and the entire South Korean military – if a sudden escalation of war between North and South Korea were to occur the United States would assume control of the South Korean armed forces in all military and paramilitary moves. 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. Some like K-Pop and K-Dramas, while others may be interested in speaking Korean so they can take a trip to Seoul. Lets take a tour of Korea and see modern Korean cities. Some things you just can’t prepare yourself for and have to see and experience for yourself. Its overall score has increased by 1.7 points due to higher scores in the rule-of-law pillar. South Korea ranked #6 for exports globally in 2012. (Or don’t, if you’re worried you’ll be jealous once you return home!). Photo credit: http://plaitingsandpairings.com. Many will refuse to take your seat, but the offer is what they are looking for. If you believe that the Irish and Russians are the “best drinkers”, you are sadly mistaken my friends. While not everyone believes in this, expect to hear about it while you’re in South Korea. Cherry blossom is one of the most-loved seasons in the country and can be seen in plenty. Therefore, in elevators, you’ll often see floors 1, 2, 3, and F. Apartments in South Korea that have numbers with multiple 4s (ex. Everybody wants to put their best face forward, and makeup plays a big part in that. Korean Language. #4: Deathly Facts. 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='
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