korea erika

8/12/2019 Korea Erika

1/20

Korean Customs - In General

You will see teenage men walking in the street with their arms around each

other's shoulders and teenage girls walking hand-in-hand. This means nothingmore than intimacy. Touching close friends while talking to them is perfectlyacceptable in Korea. Koreans will touch any children to show their warmaffection. This is a compliment to let the child know how cute he is. Bumpinginto other people while passing is acceptable unless you shove them offensively.

Take off your shoes when entering someone's home. There is usually a shelf orample space for every guest's shoes.

The family is the most important part of Korean life. In Confucian tradition, thefather is the head of the family and it is his responsibility to provide food,clothing and shelter, and to approve marriages or moves by family members.The eldest son has special duties including first his parents, then his brothersfrom older to younger, then to his sons, then to his wife, and lastly to hisdaughters. Family welfare is much more important than the individual.

There are many family rituals tied to Confucian tradition. You might see a stringof dried red peppers hung across an entrance to a Korean home. These signifythe birth of a boy within a week.

Because 60 years is considered a cycle in the Asian Zodiac, a large birthdaycelebration is held for those who turn 60 years of age. In the past, living to theage of 60 also exceeded the average life expectancy in Korea. It is also an agewhen a man can retire and let his sons support him.

The number four is considered unlucky. It is treated the same way as the

number 13 in western countries -- no 13th floor, etc. This stems from the Koreansyllables derived from Chinese characters. Two of those, (four) and (death),are pronounced the same - (sah).

Writing a person's name in red ink is tantamount to saying they are dead or willdie soon.

Large outdoor markets can be found throughout Korea. Spirited bargaining goeson as the buyer hopes to pay the lowest prices for food, clothing, shoes, andcooking supplies.

In Korea, the surname (family name) is given first. First names are seldom usedin addressing another because of the social hierarchy established byConfucianism. Addressing a person by title or position is most correct. Theseinclude (sunsaengnim - teacher) or (paksa - doctor). Individualswho have achieved this title are given high respect because highest respect isdeserved for scholars in the Confucian tradition.

While women are not as secluded at home as they once were, it is still unusualfor women to join their husbands for a night on the town. Many women areearning university degrees, but the care of the family is still considered mostimportant.

Gift giving is an important part of Korean tradition. Gifts might be given tocultivate a personal relationship, before conducting business, or to encourage aidfrom someone in a position above. A return gift or favor is usually expected.

Koreans seldom open a gift in public. The recipient may put your gift asidewithout opening it in consideration of not to embarrass you at the smallness ofthe gift. They'll open it if you politely ask them to.

Korean Customs - Respect

Respect for others according to seniority is a pillar of Korea's Confucianisttraditions. Seniority is based on age, position in the family, job position,being a teacher, and the list goes on.


2/20

When drinking with a much older person, it is customary to turn your head awayto take a drink. Some Koreans may feel strange about a foreigner doing so, andthey will tell you if that's the case.

If you are smoking while walking along and you approach an older person, eitherhide or put out your cigarette. Korean teens that smoke typically do so in

stairways and basement levels of buildings, away from adult's eyes. Towesterners it seems sexist, but Korean women who smoke are seen as women ofloose morals (if you get my meaning).

Koreans believe that direct eye contact during conversation shows boldness, andout of politeness they concentrate on the conversation, usually avoiding eye-to-eye contact.

Out of respect for the elderly, young people usually give up their seats for anaged person on a crowded bus or subway train. Nowadays some young peopledo not but most still do. Most Koreans wouldn't expect a foreigner to do this, butif you do it will make you look like a well-mannered guest in their country.

Koreans shake hands and bow at the same time. The depth of the bow dependson the relative seniority of the two people.

When you receive something (a present, a cup, a pen, etc.) from an olderperson, you should use two hands when receiving it, with a bow. If it's smallenough for one hand, use one hand to receive it and the other under yourforearm or your lower chest (for support). When you are shaking hands with anolder person, use two hands. If the person receiving the gift is younger or lowerin stature, passing with one hand is acceptable.

Confucian tradition also demands that the elderly be treated at all times with theutmost respect. When elders are present, young Koreans would never loungearound, wear sunglasses, or expect to eat first.

Relationships with friends are the one area where Koreans can view each otheras equals. Friends, however, really means those born the same year who are,therefore, the same age and capable of being equal.

Korean Customs - Marriage and Weddings

Marriage in Korea is mainly in the western spirit - in a church or weddinghall. But getting there and the gifts are a bit different.

If you attend a wedding or funeral, it's customary to take a white envelopecontaining a sum of money. Handing cash to someone is considered rude exceptwhen paying a shopkeeper for merchandise.

Many marriages are still arranged by families through a matchmaker. WhileKoreans may date, often those dates are with individuals chosen by the family ormatchmaker as possible mates. Koreans wouldn't consider displaying affection inpublic, and hugging or kissing would be considered a strong breach of etiquette.Repressing emotions, according to Confucianism, is a sign of culture.

It is not uncommon for the parents to move in with their eldest son and his wife.This shows the son's filial piety, or sense of devotion to one's parents.

Youth Culture - Dating

Dating in Korea depends on individual people, but the average Korean

starts dating around high school age. Due to the fact that manyschools are separated by gender, some Korean youths might not kisssomeone of the opposite sex until they reach college age or beyond.

On dates, it's not uncommon for youngsters to go to movies, gamerooms ( ), singing rooms ( ), PC rooms (PC ), or videorooms ( ). However, video rooms tend to have a nastyreputation for being places where Koreans make out or have varyingdegrees of sex while viewing a movie in a semiprivate room. On alighter note, if all goes well for a young couple, they will buy couplerings. Obviously, this displays to others that they are a couple. When


3/20


4/20

The Koryo Dynasty (918-1392) that immediately followed witnessed aflourishing of Buddhism which had arrived in Korea during the ThreeKingdoms era. The period is best known internationally for its famousblue-green inlaid celadon pottery, arguably the finest in the world. Itwas also during this period that the world's first moveable type was

developed. The year 1392 saw the end of the Koryo Dynasty and the

establishment of the Choson Dynasty (1392-1910) by Yi Song-gye,later known as King T'aejo (r.1392-1398). In 1394, he moved thecapital from Song-ak (present day Kae-song) to Hanyang (present daySeoul). Confucianism replaced Buddhism as the main ideologicalinfluence, and a rigidly structured, heirarchical social system evolved,dominating the kingdom for five centuries. Choson pursued a rigorousisolationist policy until the late 19th century, earning the nickname"the Hermit Kingdom." Korea's foreign relations were basically limitedto China, and as its traditional patron and ally struggled in coping withthe West and the rising might of Japan, Choson, already weakened bythe increasingly inefficient bureaucracy, became vulnerable toexploitation and was annexed by Japan in 1910.

Korea was finally liberated from Japanese rule at the end of World WarII -- but only to become entangled in the fierce Cold War ideologicalconflict that led to the formation in 1948 of two separate states, theRepublic of Korea in the south and the Democratic People's Republic ofKorea in the north, divided along the 38th parallel. In 1950, NorthKorea launched an all-out attack on the Republic of Korea, triggeringthe Korean War, which raged until 1953. The devastating conflict was

ended by an armistice agreement which established the DemilitarizedZone (DMZ) that now divides the Peninsula.

Reunification remains the long-cherished but elusive goal of allKoreans on both sides of the vigilantly guarded Military DemarcationLine. The fall of Communism in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europeand the unification of Germany raised expectations in Korea thatunification could be achieved in the not very distant future. Someapparent progress in promoting trust and cooperation between the twohalves of the peninsula was made in 1991 and 1992, but the threat ofNorth Korea's suspected nuclear weapons development program

undermined such progress. On June 13th, 2000, South Korean president Kim Dae Jung visitedNorth Korean Worker's Party Chief Kim Jong Il. This astonishingmeeting was the first time in 55 years that the leaders of the twonations had met. They talked of the possibility of reunification andarranged for an Independence Day (August 15th) gathering to reunitefamilies separated by the Korean War. They plan to meet again inSouth Korea in 2001.

Kim Dae Jung was selected as the winner of the 2000 Nobel Prize forPeace on Octobe The Arts


5/20

Korean art possesses several distinguishing characteristics that create aunique style quite distinct from other Asian art. It respects nature, and theextensive use of quiet and subdued colors is manifested in Korean paintingsand ceramics. Humor is another characteristic of Korean Art. Boldexaggeration, the acceptance of non-symmetrical cubic objects, and unique

spatial beauty conveyed by imperfect roundness are examples of humor inKorean art.

A sense of quiet harmony is other characteristic of Korean art, meaning thatthere is no excess, the right materials being selected in scale with thesurroundings. With all these characteristics, the Korean arts have beenimbued with a unique aesthetic sense which depicts beauty with honesty andsimplicity that is free of artifice.

r 13th.

Korean Culture

The Koreans are one ethnic family speaking one language. They sharecertain distinct physical characteristics which differentiate them from otherAsian peoples including the Chinese and the Japanese, and they have astrong cultural identity as one ethnic family. The Mongol tribes whichmigrated onto the Korean Peninsula from Central Asia particularly during theNeolithic Age (c. 5000-1000 B.C.) and the Bronze Age (c. 1000-300 B.C.).

The Koreans were a homogeneous people by the beginning of the Christianera. In the seventh century A.D., they were politically unified for the firsttime by the Shilla Kingdom (57 B.C.-A.D. 935) and subsequently witnesseda great cultural flourishing.

Korean society retains a strong Confucian tradition, which is clearlymanifested in the strong devotion to the family and the emphasis onhierarchy and vertical relationships, although modified to adapt to modernconditions. This tradition combined with the passionate nature of Koreanscan perhaps explain the strong loyalties felt between relatives, co-workers,classmates, and friends. For things deemed worthy -- family, friends,company, causes, etc. -- Koreans will give their utmost. They work hard,

and enjoy life and entertainment with the same fervor.

Koreans all speak and write the same language, which has been a crucialfactor in their strong national identity. There are several different dialects,but they are similar enough so that speakers have little trouble inunderstanding each other. The Korean language belongs to the Ural-Altaicgroup, which also includes Turkish, Hungarian, Finnish, Mongolian, andJapanese.

The written alphabet, Hangul, was developed by a group of scholars at thebehest of King Sejong the Great (r.1418-1450), the fourth monarch of theChoson Dynasty (1392-1910). Hangul consists of 10 vowels and 14


6/20


7/20

Soups ( ) in Korea vary in taste and potency. Maeuntang ( ) is a spicy,hot seafood soup that usually includes white fish, vegetables, soybean curd,red pepper powder, and a poached egg. Twoenjang-guk ( ) is afermented soybean paste soup with shortnecked clams in its broth. Miyok-guk ( ) is a vegetable soup prepared with dried spinach, sliced radish,or dried seaweed. Also popular is a light broth boiled from highly seasoneddried anchovies.

The herbs and spices which give Korean meals such a delicious flavor alsocarry medicinal properties. Mugworts, aralia shoots, sowthistle, andshepherd's purse are eaten in the meal to help cool or warm the head andbody. Additionally, kimchi is a valuable source of vitamin C.

Korean food, whether a spicy hot kimchi or a mild dish of cold naengmyon,is characteristic of Korean tradition. The serving style of multiple side dishes

and at-your-table cooking creates a warm, homely feel. The long andthorough preparation makes the taste completely fill a dish, through thebroth cooking and fermentation. Korean food is in a class by itself.

Youth Culture - Video Games

Due to changes in the game market, this article is outdated.

By far one of the most popular video games ever to hit Korea was StarCraftand the popular add-on, Broodwar, both by Blizzard entertainment. Untilrecently (2000), 80% of Blizzard's Battle.net multiplayer hub was being usedby South Korean StarCraft players. The game debuted in Korea in early1998, and its popularity was so fierce it led to the rise of the PC room (PC

), where 20 or more computers are connected by LAN and to the outsideworld by a T1. These PC rooms can be found in every corner of the country,wherever kids can be found. And at a price of about $1.00 (U.S.) per hour,they can afford it. When kids finish school in the evening or afternoon, theymake their way to PC rooms to chat and play multiplayer video games.Nowadays, StarCraft is still popular, but Korean-made role-playing computergame "Lineage" is taking over.

Another wildly popular Asian game, this time an arcade game, is "Pump".Pump is competitor of "DDR", a game where the player stands on a danceplatform with pressure-sensitive arrows and mimics dance movementsindicated with similar arrows seen on the screen. As players improve theirmoves, it looks more like a dance than someone stomping around, and thepros use their hands and work in pairs, creating quite a display ofcoordination.


8/20

Youth Culture - Music

Due to changes in popular music, this article is outdated.

Korean teens like music as much as any other. Weekly TV programs likeMusic Bank, Music Camp, and Pop Songs ( ) show off the hottestmusic stars, some of which will only be popular for a month. At the time ofthis writing, , H.O.T., Baby V.O.X., and FIN.K.L. are popular musiciansand groups with staying power. Male pop star recently returned fromthe U.S. after 4 years on hiatus. His return caused an absolute mob at

Kimpo international airport. H.O.T.'s crowds of screaming, crying teenagegirls is reminiscent of the Beatles.

Korean pop music is varied in its genre. In Korea, you can listen to nativeska, punk, techno, ballad, metal, industrial and rock. American pop music,as always, has numerous fans.

Music isn't limited to typical media. The popularity of digital PCS phones (cellphones, or hand phones as they are called in Korea) has led to the ability todownload your favorite song into your phone and have it ring with that tune.This is useful since almost everyone over the age of 14 has a cell phone, andphones with similar rings are confusing, especially on the subway.

History of Hangul

Koreans use their own unique alphabet called Hangul. It is considered to beone of the most efficient alphabets in the world and has garnered unanimouspraise from language experts for its scientific design and excellence.

Hangul was created under King Sejong during the Choson Dynasty (1393-

1910). in 1446, the first Korean alphabet was proclaimed under the original


9/20

name Hunmin chong-um, which literally meant "the correct sounds for theinstruction of the people."

King Sejong, the creator of Hangul, is considered to be one of the greatestrulers in the history of Korea. Highly respected for his benevolent disposition

and diligence, King Sejong was also a passionate scholar whose knowledgeand natural talent in all fields of study astounded even the most learnedexperts.

During his reign, King Sejong always deplored the fact that the commonpeople, ignorant of the complicated Chinese characters that were being usedby the educated, were not able to read and write. He understood theirfrustration in not being able to read or to communicate their thoughts andfeelings in written words.

The Chinese script was used by the intelligentsia of the country, but being offoreign origin, it could not fully express the words and meaning of Koreanthoughts and spoken language. Therefore, common people with legitimatecomplaints had no way of submitting their grievances to the appropriateauthorities, other than through oral communication, and they had no way torecord for posterity the agricultural wisdom and knowledge they had gainedthrough years of experience.

King Sejong felt great sympathy for the people. As a revolutionary rulerstrongly dedicated to national identity and cultural independence, heimmediately searched for solutions. What he envisioned was a set of letters

that was uniquely Korean and easily learnable, rendering it accessible andusable for the common people.

Thus, the Hunmin chong-um was born. In the preface of its proclamation,King Sejong states, "Being of foreign origin, Chinese characters areincapable of capturing uniquely Korean meanings. Therefore, many commonpeople have no way to express their thoughts and feelings. Out of mysympathy for their difficulties, I have created a set of 28 letters. The lettersare very easy to learn, and it is my fervent hope that they improve thequality of life of all people." The statement captures the essence of KingSejong's determination and dedication to cultural independence andcommitment to the welfare of the people.

When first proclaimed by King Sejong, Hunmin chong-um had 28 letters inall, of which only 24 are in use today.

A Korean syllable is divided into three parts: Ch'osong (initial consonant),chungsong (peak vowel), and chongsong (final consonant). This is the basicframework that King Sejong and the Chiphyonjon scholars adhered to whencreating the letters. Chongsong was not separately created and was arepetition of the ch'osong. Therefore, Hangul is the consonants and vowels.

The Korean language has a well-developed and expansive vocabulary, andtherefore, it is very difficult to express fully in foreign letter.

Because of its simplicity and the rather small number of letters, Hangul isvery easy to learn even by children and foreigners.

It is no coincidence that by the time they reach the age of two or three,most Korean children are already capable of expressing their feelings andthoughts, albeit in primitive form. By the time they reach school age, mostexhibit mastery of Hangul, which is indeed a rare phenomena throughout the


10/20


11/20

The Vowels

Due to the subjective nature of language, pronunciations will vary fromregion to region as well as person to person.

To hear a sample of the pronunciation of each letter, click the icon to the leftof the Korean character. You can then hear its name and pronunciation.

Hangul Pronunciation

ah (R ah )

uh (r un)

oh (d ough )

oo (m oo n)

uh (br oo k)

ee (m ee k)

ae ( a t)

eh (m e t)

yah ( ya wn)

yuh ( yu m)

yoh ( yo del)

yoo (v iew )

yae ( ya k)

yeh ( ye s)

wah ( wa nd)

wae ( wa x)

wuh ( wo nder)

weh ( we b)

weh ( wai t)

wee ( wee k)

uey (m uey )

Structure of Hangul

Syllable Construction

Syllables are always constructed beginning with a consonant. Then a vowelfollows. The syllable could stop here, or there could be another vowel, orconsonant, or both. The syllable begins with the initial consonant on the leftor top and the vowel(s) and other consonant(s) follow to the right orbottom, like this:

where "k" is the consonant, and "ah" is the vowel. It is pronounced"Kah".

where "k" is the consonant, and "oh" is the vowel. It is pronounced"Koh".
http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/


12/20

When constructing syllables, always move from left to right and top tobottom. This is the same for reading. Sound out the initial consonant andthen the following vowel(s), making it flow into the other endingconsonant(s), if any. It's just like reading in English. Read left to right,sounding out each letter. And there you have the pronunciation of the

syllable. Then move on to the next syllable. Words are separated by spaces,and syllables are right next to each other. Again, just like in English.

where "t" is the consonant, and "ah" is the vowel, followed byanother consonant, "l". It is pronounced "Tahl".

where "t" is the consonant, and "oh" is the vowel, followed byanother consonant, "l". It is pronounced "Tohl".

When writing Hangul, start in the upper left of the letter and move left to

right, top to bottom. Always write the characters in this manner. If youpractice this way, then as you write more and more, your Korean writing willbecome more natural. This way even your quickly and messily writtenHangul will be legible to Koreans.

Some Examples

Above is a brief chart showing the construction of every two-characterconfiguration. Do you notice that there are some vowels missing? That'sbecause those other vowels are dipthongs, which are sounds made from twovowels next to each other. We do the same in English, as in "o and "u" puttogether make an "ow" sound as in "out".

Korean Pronunciation

Pronunciation of Korean can be tricky, but reading it is easier. Most peoplecan memorize the sounds of Korean letters in a matter of days. Simply makesome flash cards and drill, drill, drill. We've provided this page as an aid tounderstanding the sounds. The grammar lessons do not contain"Romanized" Korean (Hangul written out in English phoenetics) like this,therefore we strongly encourage you to study the Korean. Go tothe Appearance page to get started.

To hear a native speaker voice these sentences, simply click the

speaker next to the Korean sentence.
http://www.zkorean.com/hangul/appearancehttp://www.zkorean.com/hangul/appearance


13/20

Note: you may notice that the sound of some letters change when next toeach other, like and together make a "mn" sound instead of theexpected "bn" sound.

I'm American.

.Che-ga meegookin imneeda.

I'm studying Korean. .

Hangook-mal-ul kongbu-hamneeda.or: Hangoong-mal-ul kongbu-hamneeda.

My name is Charles. Charles .

Che eerum-un Charles imneeda.

I like exercising. .

Oondong-ul cho-ah-haeyo.

He speaks English well.

.Cho-boon-un yongo-rul chal hamneeda.

I live in Seoul. .

Cho-nun soh-ul-eh-soh salgo issumneeda.

Where do you work? ?

Oh-dee-eh-soh il-ha-shimni-gha?

(We're) eating now. .

Chi-gum shiksa-hanun joong-imneeda.

This is delicious..

Mashee-eessoyo.

Kim Mi Kyong is a student. .

Kim mee kyong-un hak-saeng imneeda.

It looks like rain. .

Piga ol goht katahyo.
http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/


14/20

I can read Korean. .

Hangul-ul ilgul soo issoyo.

Korean Romanization

Romanization is the translation of sounds of a foreign language into Englishletters. Romanization of Korean words allows those who can't read Korean tophonetically pronounce it. Below are two tables showing the Romanizationrules for transliterating from Korean to English:

Consonants

Vowels

Running sounds together

In the table below, note the resulting sound of the ending character on asyllable (final) and the beginning character on the following syllable (initial).

Rules in Brief

When is followed directly by , it should be Romanized as shi.

Example: (again) would be dashi.

To avoid confusion of syllables, a hyphen can be used.

Example: (after) would be hu-e.

When , , , are found directly before vowel, they are Romanized as g, d,r, b.

When , , , are found directly before a consonant, they should beRomanized as k, t, r, p.

What is the most popular sport in Korea?
http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/http://void%28%27click%20to%20listen.%27%29/


15/20

T'aekwondo. T'aekwondo has a national membership of over 3.5 million and theWorld Federation is located in Seoul. It became a fully recognised sport at the2000 Olympic Games. Ssirum is a form of wrestling that has been popular inKorea since the Three Kingdoms period (57 BC - 668 AD). In most contests thewinner receives a large bull.

What is the name of the traditional Korean costume?

hanbok. The man's basic outfit consists of a chogori (jacket), paji (trousers) andturumaji (overcoat). The jacket has loose sleeves and the trousers are roomy andtied with straps at the ankles. Women also have a chogori with two long ribbonstied to form the otkorum (bow) and has long full sleeves and a full lenth, highwaisted wraparound skirt called the chima. White cotton socks with boat shapedshoes of silk, straw or rubber are worn as well.

The Tripitaka Koreana, is a creation of the most complete collection of Buddhistscriptures in the world. This collection was carved on wood blocks in Chinesecharacters. How many wood blocks went into this creation?

81,340. The entire Korean Tripitaka was carved twice during the Koryo Dynasty(918-1392), on wooden blocks. The carving of the first set of blocks wascompleted in 1087. However, it was burnt in the invasion of the Mongolians in1232. In 1236, King Kojong (r. 1213-1259) ordered them to be recarved. Sixteenyears later, the present-day Korean Tripitaka was produced in 1251. The blockswere made from white birch trees and were wholly submerged in seawater forthree years, then cut into planks and boiled in seawater before being dried in theshade. The logs were smoothed and the letters were painted on before beingcarved. There are 52,382,960 characters which were carved by 30 people, each

character being carved after bowing to the Buddha. There is not a single mistakein the entire collection. It is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The invention of the world's first movable metal type came from Korea.

t. It was invented in 1234 AD, which preceded Gutenberg by 2 centuries.

What is a 'National Living Treasure'?

a performer or craftsman. The Office of Cultural Properties realised that for Koreato protect its culture and heritage it needed to recognise committed individualsand masters to pass on their artistry to future generations. Each person has a

number, and covers categories such as music, dance, games, rituals, martial artsand crafts etc. There are approximately 180 'living treasures'.

Rice is the traditional main dish in Korea. Next to rice comes kimchi. What iskimchi?

a spicy vegetable dish. Kimchi is comprised of celery cabbage heads, turnips orcucumbers, seasoned with salt, garlic, onions, ginger, red pepper and shellfish.

Korean custom forbids people marrying within their own clan.

t. Like all agricultural societies, Korean life has always centered on tightly knitfamilies. Large families have been prized, and over many centuries familiesintermarried within the regions of Korea to form large clans. Family names reflectthis. A dozen family names predominate, especially Kim, Park, Lee, Kang, andCho. But Kims from the city of Pusan in the south are not the Kims from Seouland all the Kims know exactly which group they belong to. In order to know whois who, families and clan keep detailed genealogical records that might go backmany hundreds of years. Even in today's westernized Korea many people canstill recite the glorious history of their clans and take pride in them.

There are many festivals and rituals in Korea, including the infant celebration of'Tol'. What is its significance?


16/20

it is a celebration that the baby has reached one year old without dying. Althoughthe mortality rate has dropped dramatically, a child's first birthday, 'Tol' isconsidered a special event because the infant has survived a whole year. Thecustom is still practiced today. The first birthday is celebrated with special foodsall having a particular significance including: the white steamed rice cake which

symbolizes a pure and clean spirit; honey cakes to ward off evil spirits; stuffedrice cakes shaped like a half-moon that are steamed on a layer of pine needlesfor the child to be blessed with good things to eat throughout life; jujubes and fruitfor the child's descendants to multiply and prosper; and noodles for a long life.Various objects such as money, a bow and arrow, and a writing brush, ink-stoneand ink stick are placed on the table to foretell the future of the child dependingon the first object that is picked up. For example the child would become rich ifhe or she picked up money, a scholar if a writing brush, and a courageousperson if the bow. If the child is a girl, colored paper, a ruler, and thread areplaced on the table since sewing skills are highly valued in a woman.

Shamanism in Korea is practiced mostly by men. F. Shamanism is the oldest religious ideal in Korea and performed mostly bywomen. There are beliefs that the natural world is filled with spirits both helpfuland harmful that can be addressed by shamans. Herbal medicines, dances,chants and other ceremonies mark the work of shamans. Though few peoplebelieve in the religious ideas today, they do accept old ideas about the naturalworld and use many ancient herbal remedies.

When do Koreans celebrate their birthdays?

Lunar New Year's Day. Sol-nal is New Year's Day for Koreans. Family ties are

renewed and on New Year's Eve, people place straw scoopers, rakes or sieveson their doors and walls for protection from evil spirits in the New Year. Next day,everyone dresses in new clothes, symbolizing a fresh beginning, and gathers atthe home of the eldest male family member. Ancestral rites are held, and theyounger generation bows deeply to their elders, wishing them good health andprosperity. The elders often give gifts of newly minted money after the bows areperformed. Rice cake soup (ttokkuk) is served in the belief that it will add oneyear of age. In fact, Korean age is calculated at the New Year, however mostpeople now celebrate their birthdays on the actual date they were born. Ch'usok -The Harvest Moon Festival on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month honoursancestors and there are offerings of newly harvested food. Songp'yon, crescent-shaped rice cakes stuffed with sesame seeds, chestnut paste or beans are afavourite. Families visit the graves of their ancestors to bow and clean the areafor the coming winter. Community activities include masked dancing, an ancientcircle dance, tug-of-wars and the tortoise game, in which two men dress as atortoise and tour the village dancing and performing for food and drink. Mostly itis a time to give thanks for the autumn harvest and reaffirm familial andcommunity ties. Ch'ilsok - The 7th day of the 7th month One night each year theconstellations Altair and Vega cross a bridge made of magpies to meet in thesummer sky. Rain in the evening means the two lovers have met and areshedding tears of happiness. Rains the next morning are the lovers' tears as theyare forced to separate again. Rural villagers make offerings of newly harvestedrice at the local shrine. Women and children clean the area around thecommunal well and light candles in a well rite and pray for the well being ofchildren. Taeborum The first full moon is on the 15th day of the first lunar month.

And is the beginning of the agricultural cycle. Koreans rise early, eat nuts anddrink a cup of cold wine. It is believed that the nuts will strengthen the teeth andthe wine will sharpen the ears, which is thought to clear the ears for good news.

A special 'five-grain rice' of millet, glutinous rice, beans and sorghum and driedvegetables is also eaten to ward off heat in the summer. Rural communitieshonour local spirits, hoping for a good harvest, and kites emblazoned with theword song-aek, 'good riddance to evil,' are flown, then released in hopes of goodfortune through the year.


17/20

True or false: The Chinese and Korean languages belong to the same languagefamily.

f. Actually, the origin of the Korean language is in question as it pertains to theother Asian languages, although it does have similarities with Japanese and the

Altaic languages, of which Mongolian is an example. The Chinese languagebelongs to the Sino-Tibetan (or Tibeto-Burmese) language family, unrelated to

Altaic, Korean or Japanese.

True or false: Approximately half of the words in a standard Korean dictionaryare of Chinese origin.

t. Although the Chinese and Korean languages are unrelated, the Koreansborrowed from the Chinese language extensively for terms related togovernment, scholarship, abstract concepts and other relatively complex

concepts. This is not to say that the Korean language does not contain nativeconcepts that are complex, but only that Chinese words have very successfullyinfiltrated and superseded the native words, largely because of the massiveinfluence of Chinese philosophy, education and the like.

Which country, outside of the two Koreas, contains the largest population ofethnic Koreans?

China. This may come as a surprise to many. There are approximately 1.8 millionKoreans in China, 1 million in the United States and 700,000 in Japan. TheKoreans claim that the ancient Koguryo kingdom extended well into territory nowclaimed by China.

What is the Korean term for the family genealogy?

Chokpo. In Korea, the family genealogy is of the utmost importance. This relatesto the Confucian tradition, imported from China. South Korea may in fact be themost Confucian of any nation today, very carefully retaining the essentialgenealogy records required for ancestor worship.

Though the family is the key unit of Korean culture, Korean men during theKoryo period traditionally sought out alternate forms of entertainment outside offamily life. This included seeking out the company of Geisha-like individuals

called what? Kisaeng. Kisaeng were professional entertainers, like Geishas, and should not bethought of as prostitutes. Rather, a Kisaeng is more of a well-educated andhighly talented escort, capable of playing musical instruments, reciting poetry andother such things. Today, however the Kisaeng have been reduced to whatwould essentially be considered the status of a prostitute.

Which of these practices was most frowned upon in Korean tradition?

Marrying within one's clan. Traditionally, Korean men who were wealthy werewelcome to take on a second wife, aka a concubine. Marriage arrangement has

always been acceptable in Korea, and still is today although it is not as prevalent.In the traditional Korean family, once a girl married in, she became the property,essentially, of the husband and his family. Under the thumb of a demandingmother-in-law, life could thus be a living hell! One major taboo in Korean cultureis to marry someone of the same family name and clan, even frowned upon up tothe modern day...which is tough considering how few major family names(important: there's more than one clan for each family name) there are in Korea!

Which scholar of Korean history of the 16th century coded Confucian principlesfor official use by all Korean families?

Cho Kwang-jo. Cho lived from 1482-1519 and created a Confucian 'village code'which became the basis for law in the many small villages throughout Korea.


18/20

Many traditional Korean homes were equipped with a highly effective heatingmechanism. What was this early home heating system called?

Ondol. The Ondol was a serpentine channel created with rocks and clay thatpassed underneath the home, from the kitchen oven to the chimney. Travelingthrough the Ondol, the heat from the kitchen fire was enough to warm the entirehouse, creating a comfortable environment for a Korean family even in the coldwinter months. By the way, the Ondol system is still used in many Koreanhomes!

Another feature of the traditional Korean home was a room called theSarangbang. What was the purpose of a Sarangbang?

Meeting place for men. For relatively wealthy Koreans, the sarangbang was aplace of refuge for men to entertain their friends and male relatives. Women weretraditionally not allowed in the Sarangbang for any reason.

Which of the following best describes the 'Yangban' of traditional Koreansociety?

Scholar-officials. The Yangban are the traditional elite ruling class of Koreansociety, and some Yangban families to this day retain a relatively high level ofstatus in Korean society!


19/20

The name for Korea comes from an early dynasty name, 'Koryo' meaning 'high mountains and clearwater', which makes sense, as roughly 75 percent of Korea is mountainous.Seoul is a Korean w ord meaning simply the capital. Located on the banks of the Han -gang River,Seoul (population 11 million) is home to around a quarter of Korea's 45.5 million population, making itthe world's 10th largest city. Yet even with so many people, there are only about 300 different familynames.Kimchi is an authentic Korean side dish of pickled vegetables, often made with Chinese cabbage.Almost any food can be kimchi-ed, and there are over 170 varieties!Central heating has always been part of traditional Korean housing. Originally trenches carried warmair from the kitchen fire and directed the heat under the floors.The mungunghwa (or Rose of Sharon) is the national flower of Korea.Koreans have Thanksgiving too. Called Chuseok, it falls in autumn and people return to their hometowns to be with their families and take part in the half-moon festival, as well as a feast, visits to theirancestors' graves, and traditional dances.The Korean alphabet (hangul) was invented in the fifteenth century by King Sejong. Easier than theChinese characters which had been used previously, hangul depicts the shapes of the sounds, is theonly manmade alphabet, and the only one with a special day to celebrate it - Han-gul Day, October9th. It is called the "morning alphabet" because Koreans say that even a fool can learn the wholealphabet in a morning, making illiteracy in Korea almost nonexistent.Korean chopsticks and eating bowls are often made of metal as Koreans have been working in metalfor centuries, even developing metal type for printing, two hundred years before the Europeans did.The Seoul underground railway system, used by 4.4 million people daily has 219 kilometres of track,and is the eighth largest in the world.- Sally Hammond

Which of the following isn't a Korean beer?

Daechi Dark . Be careful when holding a Cass beer. Don't place your finger over the wrong letter!

At the beginning of the 21st century what percentage of Koreans were under the age of 25?

50 % . Only five percent of the population is over 65!

What year did the so-called "Kwangju Massacre" take place in which hundreds of streetprotesters were gunned down by the military in the southern city of Kwangju?

1980 . The people were protesting the assumption of power by General Chun Doo Hwan.

South Korea is roughly the size of which of the following?

The US state of Virginia . It is also about the size of Hungary.

What percentage of Korea is mountainous?

70 percent . Not many high ones though.

What is the largest island in Korea?

Cheju . Busan is the second largest city. Cheju hosted three 2002 World Cup games.

What is the name of the spicy cabbage side dish that accompanies most Korean meals?

Kimchi . It is the best-known Korea food and there are over 200 types of it!

Who scored the 'Golden Goal' header in the Round of 16 of the 2002 World Cup to send theItalians home in tears?

Ahn Jung Hwan . Hong Myung Bo scored the winning shootout goal to move Korea past Spain

and into the semi-finals.

What is the most popular Korean surname?

Kim. About 21 percent of Koreans share this name. One crazy phone book.

Korea doesn't have an alphabet.

F. Korea has one of the most scientific alphabets in the world.

Decidedly not the happiest place on the peninsula, this line practically divides the Koreanpeninsula in half. What is the three letter designation for this area?

DMZ. The DMZ represents "demilitarized zone". The term itself is really a misnomer as the regionis one of the most heavily fortified and guarded borders in the world. The atmosphere is verytense, but visitors and tourists are allowed carefully scrutinized access. The warning sign inKorea and English serves to underscore the tension and apprehension.


20/20

The highest mountain on the Korean peninsula is located on the border between China andNorth Korea. What is the Korean name for this mountain (as opposed to the Chinese name)?

Baekdu Mountain . North Korea does allow a very limited number of visitors to the country. One ofthe most spectacular sites to see is that of a crater lake also known as Heaven Lake. BaekduMountain may be approached from China or North Korea.

To which city in China does the Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge lead, starting from Sinuiju, NorthKorea?

Dandong . Dandong sits on the border between North Korea and China. As China is NorthKorea's largest trading partner, the city is a major point of exchange between the two countries. Ithas been suggested that China loves Korea so much that it wants two Koreas.

There exists a fabricated town not too far from the border in North Korea. What is the less thanflattering name of this place commonly used outside of the DPRK?

Propaganda Village . Interesting enough, even though the two countries on the peninsula sharethe same language for the most part, this particular place has two different names. In NorthKorea, it is called Gijeongdong. It is also known as "Peace Village". In South Korea, however, the

name is "Seonjeon Maul", literally "Propaganda Village". The village appears to be unoccupiedand only exists for appearances and publicity.

There is beauty inherent in the largest and capital city of North Korea despite its perception bythe outside world. What is the name of this city?

Pyongyang . There are many interesting sites and tourist attractions in North Korea's main city. Ithas most of the modern conveniences and features that any other comparatively large city wouldhave. Even so, foreign visitors to the city generally are only allowed to see what the governmentwants them to see.

Haeundae is one of the most popular tourist destinations in South Korea. It is located near thesecond largest city in South Korea. Which city is it?

Busan . Busan, or Pusan, is the second largest city in South Korea. It rivals Seoul with respect tocosmopolitan features and attractions. Each summer, vacationers flock to Haeundae for rest andrelaxation. "Haeundae" is also the local name for South Korea's first disaster film. The film iscalled "Tidal Wave" outside of Korea.

The city of Seoul, South Korea comprises twenty-five city districts. One of the more upscaledistricts has been popularized in song by the musician named PSY. Which district is this?

Gangnam . The Gangnam district is one of the most influential and popular in the city of Seoul.The COEX Mall and COEX Aquarium are in this district. A significant number of successfulapplicants to South Korea's most prestigious university, Seoul National University, come from theGangnam district. In context, the term "Gang" means "river" and "Nam" means "south".

The fourth longest river in South Korea flows through the capital city, Seoul. What is the name ofthis popular tourist destination?

Han River . The Nakdong River is the longest river in South Korea, and flows through Busan. It isone of the most scenic and well visited sites in Seoul. In the Korean film entitled "The Host", ahideous monster emerges from the river as a result of toxic waste dumping into the river. Inreality, the river has been faulted for being polluted, but extraordinary efforts have been made toclean up the river and its image.

One of the largest national parks in South Korea is Jirisan National Park. Based on the photo,what type of park is it?

mountain park . Jirisan is the largest mountainous national park in South Korea. It was establishedin 1967 and spans approximately 472 square miles. The was the first park to have been

established as a national park in South Korea.

On the island of Jeju, South Korea, there is an occupation which is primarily dominated bywomen. What is this occupation?

divers . During a trip to Jeju Island, one may be fortunate to see the famous "sea women" orfemale divers of Jeju Island. They are well known for their diving stamina and endurance.Unfortunately, with the continuing success of tourism on the island, the profession may bewaning.

korea erika

Documents