Cultural Immersion: Seoul (South Korea)

▪ The country (South Korea)

Flag of South Korea

South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea is a country in eastern Asia that occupies the southern parto f the Korean peninsula, wich is located between the Sea of Japan (East Sea) in east, the Yellow Sea in West and the Korea Strait. The country also shares  maritime borders with China and Japan. South Korea is a small country with a lot of people,  so there is a huge demand for space. As a result , many of the country’s natural habitats have been squeezed into smaller areas. (Read more)

Seoul
Seoul is the capital city of South Korea, the city  is located at the nort-west corner of South Korea. With more than 11 million residents in the downtown area. Seoul is also one of the word’s largest mega cities. In perspective, roughly half of Korean population lives within the Seoul Metropolitan area. Seoul has a number of popular intertainment area’s that remains busy all week long. It’s a economic, cultural and political Center of South Korea. (Read more)

▪ Tourist spots

Gyeongbokgung Palace
Gyeongbokgung Palace was the first and largest royal palaces built during Joseon Dynasty. Built in 1935, the palace was located at the heart of newly appointed capital of Seoul and represented the  sovereignty of theJeseon Dynasty. The Koren government has invested much time and effort into rebuilding and mantaining the palace for future generations. (Read more)


▪ Bukchon Hanok  Village
Situated between two palaces, Gyeongbokgung to the West and Changdeokgung to the East, this village has the largest cluster of privately owned traditional Korean wooden homes or hanok in Seoul.The Bukchon area is a traditional and residential area in Seoul that boasts 600 years  of history. Its location reflects the views of neo-Confucianism, regarding the world and nature, during Jeseon Dynasty. (Read more)


▪ Gwangjang Market 
Gwangjang Market was the first permanet market in  Korea selling local delicacy, silk, satin, and linen bed-sheet.The market continue to attracts both local and tourists and might be the best place to try all shorts of Korean street  food. (Read more)



▪ The Blue House 
The Blue House (Cheong Wa Dae or Cheongwadae) named for the beautiful blue tiles that cover the roof is the presidential home, is also na old Joseon Dynasty Royal garden, the Blue House sit with Mount Bugaksan as its backdrop in a spot deemed auspicius. Built in the tradictional Korean architectural style, the House has more than 150,000 tiles of roof, each formed and baked individually  and thought to be strong enough to last for centuries. (Read more)

▪ Jongmyo 
Jongmyo is a sacred place dedicated to the performance of ancestral rites for the deceased kings and queens of the Joseon Dynasty. The simple and elegant buildings of this sacred place have faithfully kept their original forms since the  16th century. Jongmyo  was designated as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site together with Jongmyo Jerye and Jongmyo Jeryeak. (Read more)

▪ Deoksugung Palace 
Located in Seoul’s busiest downtown intersection, Deoksugung Palace is famous for the elegance, it’s also the only palace that sits alongside a series of western style buildings  that add to the uniqueness of the  surrounding scenery. The palace originally belonged to Wolsandaegun, the older brother of King Seongjong of the Joseon Dynasty, it become a proper place when  Gwanghaegun ascended to the throne and gave this royal residence the name Gyeongungung Palace in 1611, the name did not official change to Deoksugung Palace. (Read more)

▪ Cuisine

▪ Kimchi
One of the oldest and probably the most essential dishs in Korea cuisine, kimchi is a spicy and sour dish made up of fermented vegetables. It’s prepared with various kinds of ingredients, but the most common main ingredient is cabbage. Kimchi is popular among foreigners for its unique flavor, as well as its high nutritional value. However, for Koreans, its most popular due to its significant cultural value. (Read more)

▪ Bulgogi 
A juicy, savory dish of grilled marinated beef, bulgogi is one of the most popular Korean meat dishes throughout the world, and was also ranked as the 23rd most delicious food in the world according to CNN Travel’s reader’s poll in 2011. It is often grilled with garlic and sliced onions to add flavor to the meat. (Read more)



▪ Sundubu-Jjigae (Soft  Tofu Stew)
Served in a large stone bowl, sundubu-jjigae is a common spicy Korean stew generally made of dubu (tofu), vegetables, mushrooms, seafood, beef or pork and gochujang (chili paste). Differents variations exist, traditionally,a raw egg is placed on top of the stew and mixed with the soup before serving to add additional flavor to the dish. (Read more)

▪ Misutgaru
Misutgaru is a shake made from roasted grain powder and sweetened with some honey or sugar. The number of different grains, beans, and nuts depends on the brand, but more often than not, you’ll see some mixture of healthful  ingredients like barley, rice, millet, soybeans, and sesame seeds. (Read more)


▪ Budae Jjgae 
Budae Jjgae or Army Stew, was originated shortly  after the Korean War when food was scarce and many Koreans were starving, the local Koreans used the American ingredients to creat a stew. With processed meats such as spam and hot dogs, the stew become an assortment of Korean vegetables, spicy seasonings and others leftovers thrown into a large pot. The Budae Jjgae was created out of necessity during a difficult time. (Read more and check out the recipe)

▪ Music

▪ Korean Folk Music 
The  Folk Music represents the soul  and  the sound of traditional Korean villages with an ecletic types of music including various instrumental pansori pieces and shaman ritual music. (Read more)

Song: Arigang Song | Orchestra : Korean National Classical Orchestra

▪ Korean Pop Song 
Gangnam Style is one of the most famous Korean pop songs. The words “Gangnam Style” is a reference to the rich people in the Gangnam District of Seoul. People in Gangnam District are known for being rich. They also are supposed to be classy and upscale, a Korean version of Beverly Hills.
( Read more)

Song : Gangnam Style | Artist: Psy

▪ Habits

Korea is greatly influenced by the Chinese and Japonese cultures. This influence can be seen by Confucianism, wish established many traditions that can be seen in modern Korea today, these traditions include the ethical code of conduct in social life and showing  respect to the elders and family. Family is the most important parto f Korean society  and the father is the leader of the family. They also believe in a hierchical structure  and children help their parents and must obey them and show respect to the elders. (Read more)

▪ Curiosity

Korean conflict: Before the division between North and South Korea, the peninsula was ruled as a dynasty known as Choson, this period, during which an independent Korea had diplomatic relations with China and Japan, ended with imperial Japan’s annexation of the peninsula. (Read more)


▪ Famous Personalities

      

                                           Park Bom                                        Psy (Jae-Sang Park)

                                         Pop Singer                                                    Singer

▪ Climate

Seoul the climate is continental, with cold but sunny winters, and hot sultry and rains summers. Similar to the rest of Korea the city is affected by the monsoon circulation. In winter the  northwest cold currents will prevail, while in Summer they will be replaced by hot and humid currents of tropical origin. (Read more)

▪ Cost of Living

Seoul is a place with an incredible beauty also one of the high tech capitals of the world, Seoul is a good destination for travelers around the world. The cost of living in South Korea is also  not as high as many people may imagine... ( Read more)

 Compare prices in Seoul with prices in your country [here]


▪ Extra