Top 10 facts about Korea : you might get surprised after reading this article !
Fact 1 : Pedestrian Law
In South Korea it’s forbidden to cross the street even if there’s no car. As long as the pedestrian light is red, you cannot cross the road, or you may get a fine. It’s pretty much the same in every country but we often see people crossing the streets when there’s no one, here in Korea no one does it… So when you come here, try to stick to the rule and don’t try to jaywalk if you don’t want to get a fine !
Fact 2 : Korean Age
In Korea, when a baby is born, he is already 1 year old ! The age system in Korea is different from the rest of the world. So basically Korean have their Korean age and their international one ! If you ask a Korean their age, they might give you both their Korean and international age.
Fact 3 : Free Wifi
Korea has the fastest wireless speed on the planet ! And moreover, there’s Wifi everywhere, even in the subway and buses ! So if you’re a smartphone addict don’t worry, you will be able to get wifi everywhere once you arrive in Korea, and for free !!
Fact 4 : Number 4 Superstition
There is one number that is considered unlucky among South Koreans, and it’s the number 4. This belief comes from China, and associates the number with death. Therefor, when you get in the elevator, 90% of the time the number 4 is replaced by the letter “F”. So don’t be scared if you get in an elevator and don’t find the 4th floor ! Just press ‘F’.
Fact 5 : Korean Alcohol
Korean people drink a lot of alcohol, twice as much as Russians ! The national alcohol drink is called ‘Soju’. This clear, colorless distilled alcohol is part of the traditional Korean lifestyle. Soju can be as strong as 53% down to 16,8% !
Fact 6 : Beauty Standards
In South Korea, beauty and appearances are a very important aspect in everyday life and play a major role in social and professional success. That’s the reason why south-koreans pay a lot of attention to their make-up, face, cosmetic utilisation, health. Makeup for men is also pretty normal as 20% of men use makeup on a daily basis.
Fact 7 : Hierarchical Society
Hierarchy and seniority are pillars structuring Korean society both in professional life and beyond. Hierarchy is very important in Korea and this, from childhood, with the system of seniors and juniors. In business and company, this will also be accentuated, you owe respect to seniors and your superiors. In society, respect for older people are really dominant, you will have certain codes to integrate according to the age of your interlocutors, such as not drinking, eating or sitting before the oldest person present has done so.
Fact 8 : Spicy Gastronomy
Korea is a region known for the variety and quality of its cuisine but also for its spicy food. Kimchi, used as an accompaniment to a majority of Korean dishes and meals, is and will always remain spicy. Korean cuisine uses a lot of hot peppers, and sesame, seeds and spices are almost constant. In general, the cuisine of the regions further north is less spicy than that of the regions located in the south. You have to be a bit careful if you are not a spiciness lover and do some research about which dishes you can try without it being too spicy!!
Fact 9 : Taekwondo
Taekwondo is a representative national sport of Korea taking into account important values of the country. The taekwondo of many offensive attacks using the hands and feet. But, the sport also gives priority to defense techniques to respect the peace and authenticity of martial arts.
Fact 10 : Shopping Paradise
South Korean love shopping, they go to huge shopping malls around all the nation. Seoul is an ideal city for shopping with the bustling well-know area for shopping like Myeongdong or Gangnam! Besides, the country owns some of the biggest shopping malls such as Shinsegae!
Written By Soukaina Alaoui & Caillebotte Laura