KOREA HOMESTAY
Cultures and Lifestyle in Korea

Bali Homestay    Date  Duration Package Fee  Venue  Closing  Status  2 - 10 Jun -  24 Nov - 2 Dec 9 days Send us email to request Seoul, Korea  13 Apr 2007 - 28 Sep 2007 Open - Open

Program Requirement    Who can apply Group Individual Family Program Objective Assignment Attendance  Malaysian only  Minimum 8 delegates per trip (above schedule)  Available upon 6 weeks advance request (own schedule)  Available upon request (max. 4 people in one family)  Homestay  Cultural Exchange  Submit an essay about your Korea Homestay  Orientation + Cultural & Family Events + Post Gathering

What is Include?    Return economic air ticket KLIA > Incheon >  KLIA with tax Accomodation for 8 days by Korean host family  3 Meals a day Travel Insurance in Korea Host family placement and administration fee Orientation for Korea Homestay

Cultures & Tradition of Korean

Koreans are primarily one ethnic family and speak one language. Sharing distinct physical characteristics, they are believed to be descendants of several Mongol tribes that migrated onto the Korean Peninsula from Central Asia.

In the ancient past, Koreans had a deep fondness for the country's picturesque landscape of mountains and rivers. In addition to this attachment to the land, they developed a love for their fellow tribal members who shared the same territory and long history.

Indeed, one of the most outstanding aspects of the Korean character is the deeply rooted sense of homogeneity. From ancient times, Koreans have proudly referred to themselves as a distinct people, a concept which implies several specific ideas.

First, Koreans think of themselves as a consanguineous community of descendants from a single common ancestor. Second, they see themselves as a linguistic community united by a single language. Third, they consider themselves to be a community embodying a unique culture. Fourth, they are united geographically as a group that has lived on the Korean Peninsula since ancient times. Fifth, they are united by the common experiences of a community which has survived millenniums of invasions and external pressure.

Koreans have maintained this multifaceted identity as a people throughout their extensive history. As a result, they have never felt the need to distinguish between people and nation. This notion of people and nation as an inseparable unity does not exist in neighboring nations such as China and Japan, and of course is rarely seen in the West. To this extent, Korean's traditional character is truly unique.

Two foods that people have come to identify with Korea are kimchi, a fermented vegetable dish, and bulgogi, a marinated meat dish. Whereas kimchi is a staple dish that is eaten at every meal, bulgogi is more like a party food in that it is generally eaten on special occasions and when dining out or entertaining guests. Koreans tend to favor beef when entertaining or eating out, and bulgogi is one of the most popular beef dishes and one that even non-Koreans find very tasty.

Koreans like traditional rice-based wine and enjoy drinks with meals. Entertaining guests with traditional wine is customary. Although the repeated pouring of drinks to fill up an empty or half-empty glass might be viewed as an annoyance by a Westerner, Koreans who are not asked to fill their cup frequently would think it very rude on the part of the host. Reciprocity in sharing wine in a congenial atmosphere is important to Koreans. During gatherings, the hierarchy of social relations between members of the party is still maintained. Younger members or inferiors are not allowed to drink or smoke in front of their superiors.

Traditional hanbok is usually worn on special days like the lunar New Year holidays and Chuseok (Thanksgiving) and family festivities such as Hwangap, which marks one's 60th birthday. Of the three basic elements of life - house, clothing and food - the change in dietary habits has most significantly affected Koreans. Rice still remains the staple of most Koreans, but among the younger generations, many prefer Western-style food.

Rice has been usually accompanied by various side dishes, mostly seasoned vegetables, soup, pot stew, and meat. A traditional Korean meal is not complete without Kimchi, a mixture of various pickled vegetables such as Oriental cabbage, radish, green onion and cucumber. Certain types of kimchi are made spicy with the addition of red chili pepper powder, while others are prepared without red chili peppers or are soaked in a tasty liquid. However, garlic is always used in Kimchi to add to its flavor.

Among meat dishes, seasoned bulgogi (usually beef) and galbi (beef or pork rib) are most favored by both Koreans and foreigners. When meeting for the first time, Koreans of the same family name must first decide whether they are members of the same clan. If so, they must consult the genealogy to find how closely they are related. Should one of them belongs to an older generation, respect must be shown through the use of the polite form of the language.

The leisure industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors in Korea, as an increasing number of people engage in various leisure activities as a result of the nation's rising living standards. Koreans, by nature, are outgoing and engage in leisure activities with as much enthusiasm as they do work. The many museums, palaces, temples, royal tombs, parks and scenic and historic sites found all across Korea have always been popular sites for family outings and picnics. In recent years, many people seem to find physical exercise as a good way of spending their free time while promoting their overall well-being.

Family Life

Korean life is defined by family relationships. Confucian beliefs influence family roles and relationships between the government and people, men and women, parents and children, and also between seniors and young people. Some customs based on Confucian beliefs are still practised today. Parents place great importance on teaching children to respect their elders and to fulfill family duties. Koreans lower their eyes when speaking to an older person as it is considered disrespectful to make direct eye contact. Koreans never address an older person by his or her first name, but use the older person's last name with a title.

Traditionally, extended families lived together and one household might contain a dozen people. Today though, more people are moving into their own apartments in urban centres and smaller families are becoming common. Koreans still believe in looking after their elderly parents.

Because of the importance placed on the family in Korean society, people keep track of their family trees and can trace their roots back several generations. Family documents such as Family Census Registers, also known as family certificates, are more important than birth or marriage certificates.

When friends and family gather for social, religious or cultural events, it is common for women and men to socialize in different rooms. It is the custom for most women to choose to stay home after marriage. Even men with working wives are not used to helping with the housework.

A traditional Korean home is L or U shaped and has one storey separated by sliding doors into three to five rooms. Rooms may be multi-functional. A table may be brought out to create a dining room and later put away or mattresses spread out to create a bedroom. Rooms are sometimes decorated with delicately painted, folding screens. People sit on the floor on cushions and eat off low tables. Koreans use wooden chests inlaid with ivory and enamel to hold mattresses and clothes.

Both traditional and modern houses are built with ondol, a self-contained heating system where air from the central heating system travels through the pipes in the floor to warm up the house.

Also read: Korea Etiquette