National Symbols

Hi everyone, how have you been? Good? Are you ready for your first history lesson? Come on don’t give me that look. I promise you, it will not be boring. So please stay around for a while. But before I begin, I am going to ask you 3 very basic questions about South Korea. Can you tell me the name of the national flag, the national anthem and the national flower? If your answers are Taegeukgi, Aegukga and Mugunghwa then you are correct. But do you know the history behind them? So, today I’m going to tell you something about them.
The Taegeukgi became the official flag of the Republic of Korea in 1948. The name was derived from the taeguk circle in the center. The flag has a white background in the center of which is the taegeuk, or yin-yang symbol, around which are arranged four trigrams. The circle is divided equally and in perfect balance. The red upper section represents the yang and the blue lower section stands for the yin. According to traditional Oriental Philosophy, the two symbolize the great cosmic forces, which oppose each other but yet achieve perfect harmony and balance.
The white background of the flag symbolizes the purity of the Korean people and their peace-loving spirit. White also reflects the Koreans' traditional affinity for this color. The flag as a whole is symbolic of the ideal of the Korean people to develop forever together with the universe.
The four trigrams that surround the taegeuk circle in the four corners denote the process of yin and yang going through a spiral of change and growth. The three unbroken bars in the upper left-hand corner denote geon(heaven - justice), the three broken bars in the lower right-hand corner denote gon(earth - fertility), the two broken bars with one unbroken bar in the middle in the upper right-hand corner denote gam( water - life), and the two unbroken bars with a broken bar in the middle in the lower left-hand corner denote ri(fire - wisdom). Collectively the Taegeukgi represents universal harmony and unity.
And to show their patriotism to their country the Koreans will recite a pledge which goes like this, “Before this proud Taegeukgi, I firmly pledge my loyalty and will devote my body and soul to the eternal glory of my country and people."
Now that you know the meaning of the flag, do you know how and when it should be flown?
When and How to Fly the Flag
Days on which the Flag is flown

• January 1 - New Year's Day
• March 1 - Independence Movement Day (Anniversary of the IMD in 1919)
• July 17 - Constitution Day
• August 15 - Liberation Day
• October 1 - Armed Forces Day
• October 3 - National Foundation Day
• October 9 - Hangeul Day 
  (The anniversary of the promulgation of the Korean alphabet in 1446)

Other days the government designates as national holidays

• The flag may be flown on days local autonomous governments or provincial or city councils designate as local holidays.
• The flag is flown at half-mast as a sign of mourning on Memorial Day (June 6), during periods of national mourning, and for state or public funerals.

Places Where the Flag is Flown All Year Round

• It is obligatory to fly the flag every day at national and local government offices, public organizations, schools, and military installations.
• It is recommended that the flag be flown at places where international events are held such as hotels, large buildings, and parks where large crowds assemble, along walls of government buildings and anywhere flag polls are installed.
• Private homes and other places may display the national flag all year round if the residents so wish.

Raising and Lowering the Flag

• The flag may be flown 24 hours a day, but if flown at night, it must be illuminated.
• Schools and military units are required to fly the flag only during daylight hours.
• The flag should not be flown if there is any possibility that it might be torn or damaged by wind or rain.

How to Fly the Flag

On national holidays and ordinary days, it should be flown at full-mast.

On days of mourning, it should be flown at half-mast.

When the flag is flown in a line with other flags in threes or
in other odd numbers, it is placed in the center.
 
When the number of flags is even, the flag is flown on the left end as viewed from the front.

* When the flag is flown in Korea together with the U.N. flag and flags of other countries, they should be flown in the following order: the U.N. flag, the Korean flag and flags of other countries in alphabet order. Order of Raising or Lowering the Flag When the flag is flown along with other flags, it should either be raised first or simultaneously with the others. When the flag is lowered with other flags, it should either be lowered last or simultaneously with the others. Safekeeping and Care of the National Flag The flag must be folded with great care and stored in a flag box or other container for safekeeping. Additionally, the box or container must be stored in plain sight and be easily accessible. If the flag is dirtied or wrinkled, it may be washed and ironed but care should be taken to ensure its original form is not distorted. If the flag is damaged or worn out, it should not be discarded casually or used for other purposes; it should be burned in a discreet place. And now we shall go our next topic, the National Anthem of South Korea. Korea's national anthem is called the "Aegukga," which means “The Song of Love for the Country” or "The Patriotic Song." The original words of Aegukga appeared in written form around 1907 to inculcate allegiance to the nation and foster the spirit of independence as the country faced threats of foreign annexation. Over the years, the lyrics went through several changes until they were adopted as the national anthem in the present form in 1948. Before the birth of the Republic in 1948, the words were often sung to the tune of the Scottish folk song, Auld Lang Syne. Maestro Ahn Eak-tay (1905-1965), then living in Spain, felt that it was inappropriate to sing this patriotic song to the tune of another country's folk song. So, he composed new music to go with the lyrics in 1935, and the Korean Provisional Government in exile adopted it as the national anthem. While Koreans outside the country sang the anthem to the new tune, those at home continued to use Auld Lang Syne until Korea was liberated in 1945. At a ceremony celebrating the founding of South Korea on 15 August 1948, the Scottish tune was finally replaced by the Finale of Korea Fantasia that Ahn Eak-tae had composed. The new "Aegukga" was later adopted by the Presidential Decree of 1948 by the then President Syngman Rhee (or Lee Seungman).

And finally the national flower of South Korea. According to records, the Koreans have treasured the rose of Sharon as a heavenly flower since ancient times. In fact, the Silla Kingdom called itself Mugunghwa Country. Even the ancient Chinese referred to Korea as "The land of gentlemen where Mugunghwa blooms." Love for the flower was further heightened when Mugunghwa samcheolli hwaryeo gangsan" ("Rose of Sharon, thousand miles of beautiful mountain and river land!") was written into the national anthem in the late 19th century. As the rose of Sharon has been an important part of the Korean culture for centuries, it was only natural that the government adopted it as the national flower of Korea. There are about 200 cultivars, of which 100 are indigenous to Korea. Of these, the government designated the Dansim, single types of flowers, as the national flower in 1990.

The flower's name in Korean is Mugunghwa meaning 'immortal flower', Koreans call the Rose of Sharon (Botanical name Hibiscus Syriacus L.) the Mugunghwa, as it flowers endlessly. Every year from July to October, a profusion of mugunghwa blossoms graces the entire country. Unlike most flowers, the Mugunghwa is remarkably tenacious and able to withstand both blight and insects. The flower’s symbolic significance stems from the Korean word mugung, meaning immortality. This word accurately reflects the enduring nature of Korean culture, and the determination and perseverance of the Korean people.

Ever heard of the legend of the Mugunghwa? No? Do you want to hear about it? I’m sorry it will have to wait till next time as there's not enough space here. Bye for now.

Special thanks and appreciation to the following:
Photos and articles © courtesy:
http://visitkorea.or.kr/enu/AK/AK_EN_1_4_1.jsp     
http://www.kuksuldo.com/new_page_3.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_of_Sharon 
http://prkorea.com/engnews/index.cgi action=detail&number=793&thread=10r01

I’m back!

 

Hi everybody, how are you? Looks like my blog has been left idle for the past 3 months or so. OMG, I didn’t even realize that it was that long. Sorry about that as I was very busy looking after a friend’s restaurant business while she was away visiting her children studying abroad. I was so tired by the time I came home that I just had no inclination to write at all. I tell you the hours are very long, there’s always work to be done. Then when this fried came back, another good friend asked me to go back to my hometown some 250 miles away to keep her mother company, as she would be alone in the house, while this friend and her husband went to visit her-mother in-law in Australia for a month. In a way I was glad, because they had a beautiful house by the sea, so it would be a sort of holiday for me and I needed the rest too after the hectic time I had at the restaurant. But the real reason I wanted to go back was the food. I haven’t been back for quite a while and I was missing all that yummy food I grew up on. I really had a good time meeting up with old friends and the lunch and dinner dates we had. On most days we ended up cooking all our favorite dishes.

I would have come back to work on my blog earlier if not for a big disappointment I suffered. All my friends know how much I wanted to go to Korea. Being a contest buff, I will always enter any contest offering a free trip to Korea as a prize in the hope that I will win it and visit the place that I love so much. In one such contest I came so close to it. I managed to get the 2nd prize, but a miss is as good as a mile. All my friends were congratulating me saying that something was better than nothing. But I was only interested in the free trip to Korea and not the other prizes. How disappointed I was and I couldn’t help feeling a bit depressed. How nice if I had won it, as the trip would be during the autumn with all the colorful red and gold autumn leaves. It has always been my wish to visit Korea in the autumn.This depressed mood gave me an excuse to work in my garden. Some of my plants had suffered during my absence and some had even died. So I began to repot the plants that were spared.and within 2 weeks my garden became alive again, with the flowers blooming everywhere. Gardening   proved  good therapy  for my depression.  One night I was reading my scrapbook collection of quotations when I came across this one “Things always happen for a reason.” That jolted me out of my reverie instantly. Yes, I was thinking, there must be a reason why God didn’t want me to go to Korea at this time. All negative thoughts began to flood my mind.

I told myself, I had to put an end to my procrastination. So today, I literally forced myself to sit at my computer table and start typing on the keyboard. Like they say, it’s now or never! I only hope that I can manage to come up with something. If you don’t see this being published then you’ll know that I’ve failed. Anyway, today I won’t be writing anything about Korea, this is just a warm-up, so to speak, and to get back on my feet once again.

All of us who are blogging about Korea and all things Korean have one thing in common, and that is our passion for Korea. What do you readers love about Korea? I love Korea for many reasons, its beautiful scenery, Its wonderful shopping, Its k-drama and k-pop. But most of all I love Korea for its rich heritage and culture which comes with an outstanding 5,000 year old history, I have always been interested In history since my school days and that is why I love watching period/costume dramas be it Korean or otherwise. So I was thinking that why don’t I write about all these things that I love so much. Do you think that it might be too boring to those of you who are not too keen on this? I hope that you all can share my enthusiasm for all things cultural and historical. Mind you culture can mean a lot of things like Hangeul, Hanbok, Hanok, Hanji, Hansik, Hanguk-Eumak, Korean Food and the UNESCO WORLD Cultural Heritage. Yes, I think I shall enjoy that much better than writing about pop-stars and pop-music, I shall leave that to the younger generation to do that. History can be fun really, I’ll try not to be too boring. So please bear with me and keep the feedback coming so that I know if you all enjoy it or not.. I guess that’s about all for now. So hope to see you all again soon.

Why the Silence?

You must be wondering what happened to me as I haven’t posted anything new since April 8 (almost 3 month now.) I had actually thought of giving up blogging. You see I was so pissed off because I fell for a scam and I was cheated of some money.

So today, I want to tell you all about it so that you won’t go through the same experience I had. I wonder if you have come across or heard about “Windows Recovery” which is a fake disk defragmenter that displays fake error messages and pop-ups to make you think that your computer has some serious hard drive problems. The rogue program prompts to pay for a full version of the program to fix the errors. If you choose to purchase this bogus program, you will lose your money and give your credit card details to the scammers who created this malware. I wish I had known about this before I purchased it.

You see, one morning I woke up to find that I could not startup my computer, no matter what I tried to do. There were error messages displayed on my computer screen which could not be removed and I was advised to buy the “Windows Recovery” program in order to fix my problem. I had no idea it was a scam as it looked like a genuine windows program. My new post on my blog was due and I wanted a quick solution to the problem I was having, so I like a fool, fell for it and purchased it.

After that this message was what appeared on my computer screen. So I was quite happy about it. How was I to know that it will be short-lived.

I only realized my mistake a few days later when I could not locate this “Windows Recovery” program that I had purchased on my PC. It had just disappeared. The customer care website that they provided turned out to be non existent.Then only did it occur to me, to do a search on “Windows Recovery” where  I discovered too late that I had been conned.

From what I found out, it seems that “Windows Recovery” enters the system via Trojans, infected websites and fake online scanners. The program runs system scanner and later on reports critical errors detected on your system. It warns you that some of your private data might be lost because of the lack of free space, RAM memory usage, etc. The truth is that it is fake information and Windows Recovery only wants you to believe your system is infected. Windows Recovery will offer you purchasing a full version of its program with a promise that this will fix everything. However, its real intention is to receive your money, but in return you won’t get anything. So my friends, if you do come across this program, please remember, this is a scam to cheat you and you’ll only part with your money if you believe in what they say. do not fall for it but immediately do a search on “Windows Recovery” where you can get instructions on how to remove this program. Quickly remove it and you’ll be safe.

Now that I have got this off my chest, I think I’m ready to start blogging again. So for today, I’ll just stop here and hope to post something new in the next few days. Thank you for stopping by, see you again soon!

Korean Etiquette & Table Manners

Looks like I’m late again with my blog post, the same old excuse I’m afraid. I’ve been busy watching Korean dramas again. That’s the only pleasure I get these days I guess. Like in many Eastern cultures, politeness and proper etiquette are very important in Korean culture. So thought I’d tell you something about it today.
But before I go into it, I would like to introduce you to the Korean word “kibun” which has no exact English translation to it; and the closest terms to describe it, are pride, face, mood, feelings, or state of mind. For example, if you hurt someone's kibun, it means that you have hurt his pride, which will cause him to lose his dignity and probably lose face. Korean interpersonal relationships operate on the principle of harmony so it is important to maintain a peaceful and comfortable atmosphere at all times. Thus it is important to know how to judge the state of someone else's kibun, how to avoid hurting it, and how to keep your own kibun at the same time. In business, a manager's kibun is hurt if his subordinates do not show him proper respect while a subordinate's kibun is hurt if his manager criticizes him in public.
To be able to judge another person's state of mind is essential in order not to hurt the person's kibun. The ability to determine another person's kibun by using the eye is known as “nunchi”. This can be accomplished by watching the body language and listening to the tone of voice as well as what is being said. As long as you keep these two things in mind, you will never embarrass your Korean friends and neither will you  embarrass yourself.
So let’s start with the introductions first.

Meeting and Greeting
The bow is the traditional Korean greeting, although it is often accompanied by a handshake among men. To show respect when shaking hands, support your right forearm with your left hand.
Korean women usually nod slightly and will not shake hands with Western men. Western women may offer their hand to a Korean man.
Bow when departing. Younger people wave (move their arm from side to side).

Names and Titles
It is considered very impolite to address a Korean with his or her given name. Address Koreans using appropriate professional titles until specifically invited by your host or colleagues to use their given names.
Americans should address a Korean with Mr., Mrs., Miss + family name; however, never address a high-ranking person or superior in this manner.
Korean names are the opposite of Western names with the family name first, followed by the two-part given name. The first of the two given names is shared by everyone of the same generation in the family, and the second is the individual's given name. Example: Lee (Family) + Dong (Shared Given) + Sung (Given). Dong Sung is the individual's given name. Address him as Mr. Lee or Lee Sonsaengnim (which means "teacher").
Koreans consider it a personal violation to be touched by someone who is not a relative or close friend. Avoid touching, patting or back slapping a Korean.
Direct eye contact between junior and senior businesspeople should be avoided. This is seen as impolite or even as a challenge.
Do not cross your legs or stretch your legs out straight in front of you. Keep your feet on the floor, never on a desk or chair.
Always pass and receive objects with your right hand (supported by the left hand at the wrist or forearm) or with two hands.
To beckon someone, extend your arm, palm down, and move your fingers in a scratching motion. Never point with your index finger.

• Many South Koreans shake hands with expatriates after the bow, thereby blending both cultural styles.
• The person of lower status bows to the person of higher status, yet it is the most senior person who initiates the handshake.
• The person who initiates the bow says, "man-na-suh pan-gop-sumnida", which means "pleased to meet you."
• Information about the other person will be given to the person they are being introduced to in advance of the actual meeting.
• Wait to be introduced at a social gathering.
• When you leave a social gathering, say good-bye and bow to each person individually.

Different cultures follow different rules for table manners. Korean table manners are generally governed by respect where respecting elders is one of the most important rules.
Koreans usually eat rice, soup, with three to four side dishes, and sometimes more, so a typical Korean table setting would consist of a bowl of rice, a soup bowl, a spoon and chopsticks, which are arranged from left to right, in that order, for each person. Korean meals are not usually served in courses.
Stews and side dishes are placed in the center to be shared by all members. Koreans generally believe that sharing food from one bowl makes a relationship closer, but if one feels uncomfortable with sharing the one-for-all dishes, it is okay to ask for an individual bowl or plate. Today many Korean restaurants naturally provide individual bowls and plates.
Since ancient times, Koreans have used a spoon to eat the rice, soup and stews while chopsticks were used to eat the rather dry side dishes. Koreans have been trained to use the spoon and the chopsticks correctly from childhood. Using both of these utensils at the same time is considered to display bad manners.
Koreans often say no when asked to have a second helping, even if he would like to do so. It is polite etiquette to decline the first invitation for a second helping. Your host will then keep on insisting that you take a second helping, and only then is it considered alright to accept it. Of course, you can politely decline if you are already full.
 
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Dining and Entertainment
Sharing a dinner is vital to building friendships that foster trust. Your business success is directly related to your social relationships.
Do not pour your own drink, but do offer to pour others'. It is common to trade and fill each other's cup. To refuse is an insult. Women pour men's drinks, but never another woman's drink. A woman may pour her own drink. Leave some drink in your glass if you don't want a refill.
Wherever you see a "No Tipping" sign, do not tip. Koreans find tipping offensive, although tipping is now becoming expected in Western hotels. 
Koreans do not like to talk a lot during dinner. Periods of silence are common and appreciated at a dinner. The meal usually comes before socializing at a dinner party.
It is polite to pass or accept food or drink with your right hand while your left hand supports your forearm/wrist.
The person who invites pays the bill for everyone. However, it is polite to offer to pay. When two people are dining, usually the younger person pays for the older person.
Prepare to sing a solo number after dinner, no matter what kind of voice you have. Any song is acceptable, as long as you sing with spirit.
After dinner, the host may invite his guests to go drinking. Don't refuse this invitation.
Following are the dos and don’ts at the Korean dinner table.

If you are invited to a South Korean's house:

• It is common for guests to meet at a common spot and travel together.
• You may arrive up to 30 minutes late without giving offence.
• It is customary to bring a gift for the hostess.
• Remove your shoes before entering the house.
• The host greets each guest individually. 
• The host pours drinks for the guests in their presence. The hostess does not pour drinks.
• Always allow your host to seat you. The seat of honor is the seat looking at the front door. If you are seated in the seat of honor, it is polite to protest slightly.
• Before you eat, especially at someone's home, it's polite to say that you are looking forward to the meal. Jalmukesumneda (I will eat well) and it is customary to acknowledge your thanks after the meal.  Masegaemugusuyo (I ate well).
• The hosts usually accompany guests to the gate or to their car because they believe that it is insulting to wish your guests farewell indoors. 
• Send a thank you note the following day after being invited to dinner.

And if you are at a restaurant or a house guest, the same rules apply

• Wait for the elderly people at the table to start eating first before you do so, no matter how hungry you may be. Older people are highly regarded in Korean culture and eating before them is considered impolite.
• At first, taste soup, and then try the rice or other dishes. Use spoon for rice and liquid foods, such as stews or soups; use chopsticks for other foods.
• Do not pick out what you don't like or shake off seasonings.
• Hold your chopsticks and spoon one at a time. Never hold both at the same time.
• When using chopsticks, the spoon is rested on the table. The spoon and chopsticks should not rest on any bowl or dish during the meal.
• Never point with your chopsticks when you speak.
• Don't stick your chopsticks straight up into your bowl because that resembles traditional Korean ancestral ceremonies.
• Chopsticks should be returned to the table after every few bites and when you drink or stop to speak.
• Do not cross your chopsticks when putting them on the chopstick rest.
• Unlike in China and Japan, Koreans do not hold their bowls or plates in the palm of their hands while eating.
• Do not leave the table while eating unless you need to go to the restroom very badly.
• Do not read a book or newspaper or watch TV while eating.
• Do not reach across the table for distant food - ask a nearby person to pass it to you.
• Eat as quietly as possible. Making a lot of noise while chewing is frowned upon, as is making excessive sounds with your cutlery.
• It's not good manners to eat faster or slower than others, so try to keep pace with the other people around you by eating not too fast or too slow.
• Try to maintain an upright posture when eating and bring the food to your mouth rather than leaning forward to take a bite.
• Don't take so much food that you can't finish, as that is considered wasteful.
• Try a little bit of everything. It is acceptable to ask what something is.
• Refuse the first offer of second helpings.
• Finish everything on your plate.
• Bones and shells should be put on an extra plate.
• If someone senior to you is extending you a drink, you should accept it with both your hands cupped on the glass. More importantly, you are expected to drink with your head turned sideways, away from your senior.
• When you pour for someone senior to you, place your other hand lightly under your pouring hand or under your opposite elbow.
• Ensure that you keep the glasses of your seniors always full; a good way of being in their good books.
• Indicate you have finished eating by placing your chopsticks on the chopstick rest or on the table. Never place them parallel across your rice bowl. You can put the napkin back on the table loosely folded.
• Wait to leave the table until after the oldest person at the table has left his seat. Then you may follow. It is considered rude if one leaves the table before the elder finishes. Staying put until the oldest person is finished is considered a basic concept of Korean table manners.
• If you have to cough or sneeze at the table, turn completely away from the table and cover your mouth.
• It's acceptable table manners to use a toothpick, but you must cover your mouth so others cannot see. Be sure to throw away the toothpick discreetly.
• If you happen to finish your meal before one or more of the elderly people at the table, refrain from resetting your place setting, and just leave your spoon in the rice bowl until the others have finished.
• Always follow the example of the host or of other native Koreans at your table if you are confused about how to eat a specific Korean dish.
• Do not pick up food with your hands. Fruit should be speared with a toothpick. 

Gift giving is very common in Korea. Offer and receive a gift with both hands. Wrapped gifts are never opened in the presence of the giver.
Reciprocate with a gift of similar value when receiving a gift from your Korean colleague. Koreans like regional United States gifts and Indian/Western artifacts.
Wrap your gift nicely. Bright colors are preferred for wrapping gifts. Yellow and red or green stripes are a traditional Korean wrapping paper design. Avoid wrapping gifts in dark colors. Always bring a small gift for the hostess when invited to someone's home. Give: small gift, candy, cakes, cookies, flowers, fruit. Do not give liquor to a woman.
It is common to exchange gifts at the first business meeting. Allow the host to present his gift first.
Give: liquor (good quality scotch), fruit, desk accessories, small mementos, gifts from France or Italy (which often indicate status).


Gift Giving Etiquette

• Gifts express a great deal about a relationship and are always reciprocated.
• Do not give too expensive gifts (Koreans will feel obligated to reciprocate with a gift of equal value), knives or scissors (they signify "cutting off" a relationship), green headwear, gifts with red writing (denotes death) or gifts in a set of four (denotes death).
• Bring fruit or good quality chocolates or flowers if invited to a Korean's home.
• Gifts should be wrapped nicely.
• Giving 7 of an item is considered lucky.
• Do not wrap gifts in green, white, or black paper.
• Do not sign a card in red ink.
• Use both hands when offering a gift.
• Gifts are not opened when received.

Corporate Culture
Koreans expect Westerners to be punctual for social occasions and business meetings. Call if you will be delayed. However, you may be kept waiting up to a half hour. This is not a sign of disrespect, but reflects the pressure of time on Korean executives.
Professionals meeting for the first time usually exchange business cards. Present your card and receive your colleague's card with both hands.
Building trust and relationships is vital to establishing a successful business relationship. This requires patience. Koreans prefer to do business with people they know.
The first meeting is to establish trust, so business should not be discussed. Be formal in meetings until the Korean delegation loosens up.
Negotiations are generally long and require several trips. Be prepared for business meetings to go well beyond business hours.
Koreans generally start negotiations at an unreasonable position and prepare to compromise. Koreans are tough negotiators and admire a firm, persistent negotiator, but refrain from being too aggressive.
A low, deep bow from Koreans at the end of a meeting indicates a successful meeting. A quick, short parting bow could mean dissatisfaction with meetings. Send a meeting review outlining all discussions and agreements to your Korean counterpart after you leave Korea. Make several visits during negotiations and after business is established.
"Yes" is not necessarily “yes.” Koreans avoid saying "no." Try to phrase questions in a manner that doesn't require a "yes" or "no" answer. Example: Instead of saying "Could we sign the agreement by next Friday?” say "When is the earliest date that we could expect to sign this agreement?"
And this is for the women.Foreign women may have difficulty doing business in Korea. Although women are becoming more accepted in the Korean business place, Korean men generally prefer to negotiate with men.
Korean women seldom shake hands. A Western woman can offer her hand to a Korean man, but should not to a Korean woman.
Foreign businesswomen should always act elegant, refined and very "feminine.” Laughing and loud talking are frowned upon.
Generally, women wait for Korean men to make the first move.

• South Koreans prefer to do business with people with whom they have a personal connection.
• It is therefore crucial to be introduced by a third-party.
• Relationships are developed through informal social gatherings that often involve a considerable amount of drinking and eating.
• Individuals who have established mutual trust and respect will work hard to make each other successful.
• South Koreans treat legal documents as memorandums of understanding.
• They view contracts as loosely structured consensus statements that broadly define agreement and leave room for flexibility and adjustment as needed.
• Under no circumstances insult or criticize in front of others.
• Sensitive matters may often be raised indirectly through the intermediary that first made the introductions.
• South Koreans are extremely direct communicators. They are not averse to asking questions if they do not understand what has been said or need additional clarification.
• This is a culture where "less is more" when communicating. Respond to questions directly and concisely.
• Since there is a tendency to say "yes" to questions so that you do not lose face, the way you phrase a question is crucial. It is better to ask, "When can we expect shipment?" than "Can we expect shipment in 3 weeks?", since this question requires a direct response.

Business Meeting Etiquette

• Appointments are required and should be made 3 to 4 weeks in advance.
• You should arrive on time for meetings as this demonstrates respect for the person you are meeting.
• The most senior South Korean generally enters the room first.
• It is a good idea to send both an agenda and back-up material including information about your company and client testimonials prior to the meeting.
• The main purpose of the first meeting is to get to know each other.
• Meetings are used to understand a client's needs and challenges. They lay the foundation for building the relationship.
• Do not remove your jacket unless the most senior South Korean does so.
• Have all written materials available in both English and Korean.

Business Cards

• Business cards are exchanged after the initial introductions in a highly ritualized manner.
• The way you treat someone's business card is indicative of the way you will treat the person.
• Have one side of your business card translated into Korean.
• Using both hands, present your business card with the Korean side facing up so that it is readable by the recipient.
• Examine any business card you receive carefully.
• Put the business cards in a business card case or a portfolio.
• Never write on someone's business card in their presence.

Dress Etiquette

• Business attire is conservative.
• Men should wear dark- colored, conservative business suits with white shirts.
• Women should dress conservatively and wear subdued colors.
• Men should avoid wearing jewelry other than a watch or a wedding ring.

And now a few helpful tips:-
Never use words like "fellow," "guy," "this man" or "that man." This is considered demeaning.
Expect Koreans to ask personal questions. This is viewed as showing a polite interest in your life.
Deny a compliment. Don't say "thank you." It is impolite and shows a lack of humility.
Never expect Koreans to admit to not knowing an answer when questioned. They may give an incorrect answer or an answer they think you would like to hear to make you feel good or to save face.
Don't talk about Koreans or their customs or culture within earshot of a Korean, even if you are saying good things. Do not talk about politics.
So there you are, I think you should be able to survive with these tips I’ve given you today. So  see you again next time.


Special thanks and appreciation to the following
Photos and articles © courtesy:
www.lifeinkorea.com/food/f-manners.cfm
www.kwintessential.co.uk/
http://www.ediplomat.com/np/cultural_etiquette/ce_kr.htm

The Thought of BYJ Getting Married!

 

First and foremost, I would like to apologize for changing my theme for today’s topic. As you all know, I’m an avid fan of Bae Yong Joon and there’s some hot news going around about him which I feel I have to write about urgently.

The news that Bae Yong Joon recently purchased a house for himself in Seongbuk-dong, the residential area for the rich and famous, has gained much public attention. Why? Because BYJ has never ever bought a house before, not that he couldn’t afford it but perhaps he never felt the need for it. All this while he has been leasing the houses where he has stayed in. So naturally with this move, everybody’s busy speculating that he’s going to get married soon.

It didn’t take long for the rumors to start flying on the internet that BYJ will be getting married to Lee Na-young in April. Some even suggested that they had already got married.

When I saw the articles, I was really shocked. How could BYJ do that to us, his fans, “his family” the endearing term he coined whenever he spoke of us. He distinctly made us a promise that we would be the first to know if he planned on getting married. How relieved I felt when it was denied by both parties.

Here’s the article as sourced from english.kbs.co.kr... ( English ) 2011/03/02

Bae Yong-joon and Lee Na-young NOT Getting Married

As the rumors surrounding actor Bae Yong-joon and actress Lee Na-young getting married have been getting harder to ignore, both stars' entertainment agency have spoken up. And the verdict? The rumors are groundless.
Yang Geun-hwan, a representative of KEYEAST Entertainment, reported to Star News, "The wedding rumors are groundless. This rumor circled Korea a bit in the past, and now it seems to have reached Japan. However, it's just a rumor that got out of hand; no truth to it at all". According to the recent rumors, Bae and Lee were set to get married this April.
Bae had even addressed similar rumors directly, denying them vehemently, last year. He explained that it was strange that the rumors started in the first place, because Lee played Bae's younger sister in the drama that they acted in together, "Did We Really Love".

I think there is nothing wrong if BYJ wants to get married, in fact, it’s only natural. But some people marry early in life whilst others later in life. I think it's about time he settled down with a woman whom he can love and raise a proper family. He is at the pinnacle of his life, with a string of success stories to his name. But there’s one thing still lacking in his life! Yes, what’s the use of all this vast empire of his, if he has to come home to an empty house? By empty, I do not mean devoid of material things, but not be surrounded with love showered by a loving wife and children who will wait to greet him welcome the moment he steps into the house. After a hard day’s work, the man of the house should be entitled to a bit of pampering from a loving wife, don’t you think so? He deserves to be happy, after all he has done to make us all happy.

It’s also the Korean custom that the eldest son in the family take care of his parents in their old age. I don’t know if he is the elder of the two children but he being the only son, qualifies him to be the one to take care of his parents I think.

We, his fans, must not be selfish and demand that he remain single for the rest of his life. We must stand by him, no matter whom he chooses to be the love of his life and be his wife. We only ask that the woman he marries will be an understanding person who will allow him to share a part of his life with us, his dearest fans from all over the world.

Whoever that lucky girl may be, I hope that they have dated and had the chance to discover each other. Marriage is a lifetime thing and should be given much thought and consideration before going into it. Whatever his decision, I'm sure God will be with him and He knows what is best for him. So let's wish BYJ Good Luck and God Bless.

I know many of his fans may not want him to get married...you know, fans usually tend to lose interest once their idols get married. As for me I will be happy for him, that he has found someone to share his life with for the rest of his life. I will still be his greatest fan like before. Nothing will ever change my love for him. BYJ, thank you for bringing some happiness into my life. The person who marries him will be very lucky indeed. God bless you both!

An Introduction to Korean Food

New to Korean food, you don’t know what to order in a restaurant? Korean cuisine may seem intimidating especially to newcomers, with the array of side dishes at every meal and the different varieties of pickled dishes. Don’t worry, allow me to introduce you to a few of the more well-known Korean dishes. I hope that this quick introduction to Korean cuisine will give you all the basics you need to know.

The staple food of Korea is rice (bap). But Korean rice is different from most other rice in the world. It is known to Koreans, as sticky rice. Unlike rice from Southeast Asia, Korean rice is moist and sticks together rather than falling apart. It makes it easy to eat with chopsticks. Rice with kimchi, soup and some other vegetable side dishes is the typical meal eaten in most Korean homes.

     

I’m sure you must have heard of kimbap and bibimbap. Kimbap/gimbap which literally means seaweed rice can be compared to the Japanese sushi. Sushi uses a special vinegar rice in the making whereas not so in the Korean Kimbap. The seaweed paper used to wrap the rice and filling is called nori in Japanese and Gim or Kim in Korean. For the Kimbap, the rice is rolled up in a thin piece of dried seaweed and usually includes fried egg strips, cucumber, spinach, radish, imitation crabmeat and a couple of other vegetables.

A dish that is a welcome sight to vegetarians is the bibimbap, which literally means, mixed rice. Either in a large steel bowl or a piping hot earthenware bowl, a variety of vegetables and a spoonful or two of hot chili sauce piled on a bed of rice makes up the ingredients for the bibimbap. An egg is usually included and depending on the restaurant it could be fried or raw. A word of advice to all of you vegetarians out there, some places put some meat in their bibimbap, so make sure you say, ‘Gogi bbae juseyo’ to have it excluded.

The first thing that comes to mind when speaking of Korean cuisine is the Kimchi, eaten at almost every meal. There are many different kinds but most of them are made from cabbage mixed with various spices, most commonly garlic, chili pepper and ginger. Most foreigners who try kimchi for the first time are generally not overly impressed with the taste but like many things, it grows on you. You must have an acquired taste for it. Some people didn’t like the taste of it at first but have become addicted to it with the passing of time like some of my friends. Here are a few examples of the more popular kimchis

1.T'ong-baech'u Kimchi (cabbage head kimchi)
The classic Korean kimchi made with Chinese cabbage, served at almost every Korean meal.

2.O-e Sobaegi (stuffed cucumber kimchi)
Suitable for the summer months when people lose their appetite. Slit-cut cucumbers are stuffed with a mixture of vegetables and seasonings, and fermented a day or two.

3. Yeolmu Mul Kimchi (young radish water kimchi)
A popular kimchi in summer. Not spicy.

4.Kkaktugi (diced radish kimchi)
Made with big white radishes.

5. Tong-chi-mi (radish water kimchi)
Radishes are marinated in brine seasoned with garlic and ginger until fermented.

6. Ch'ong-gak Kimchi (bachelor radish kimchi)
Nice and crunchy. Unmarried Korean men traditionally wore their hair in a long braid. Radishes with tops were thought to resemble this head and ponytail.

7.Nabak Kimchi (sliced radish & cabbage kimchi)
The tangy juice is refreshing and fragrant.

Korean soups (tang) are eaten year round but enjoyed most, like the stews when the temperature drops to below freezing. Unlike the stews, spice is not a main ingredient Sam-gye tang is a delicious, healthy soup that is made with a whole chicken, ginseng, garlic and jujube. It's believed by Koreans to give one "stamina or energy." Kal-bi tang is made with boiled pork short ribs and most commonly green onions. The restaurant can make or break this soup depending on the quality of meat that is used. Sol-long tang is a hearty beef stock soup that you add salt to. Most of the soups, like most all Korean meals, are served with rice and plenty of side dishes.

Korean stews (chigae) generally have two things in common, they're hot and spicy. The most common stews, which are all served with rice, are kimchi chigae, dwen-jang chigae, soon-dubu chigae and boo-dae chigae. All of these stews can be quite spicy so remember to ask them to cut down on the spices if you cannot take too spicy food. Kimchi chigae is loaded with kimchi, small pieces of pork and various vegetables. Dwen-jang chigae is a soy bean paste based stew of vegetables and clams. If you like tofu, you'll love soon-dubu chigae. Vegetables, clams and an egg are added to this tofu bonanza. Boo-dae chigae originated from the Korean War. After the American soldiers finished eating, many times they had a little food remaining that they threw away. The Koreans were very poor at that time and they would go around collecting that thrown away food and cook it in a big pot and thus the birth of boo- chigae dae chigae. It includes slices of sausages, ham, glutinous rice, and other vegetables. Ramen noodles are usually added in as well.

Next come the side dishes which make a particular Korean meal go from good to excellent. There will always be some type of kimchi served as a side dish and normally anything from 2 to 6 others as well. Most common side dishes include spinach, potatoes, radishes, small black beans, bean sprouts, zucchini, seaweed and anchovies.

 

Meat? Bul-gogi, which is beef strips marinated in salt, soy sauce, sesame oil and sugar, is one of the more popular dishes that most people order in a restaurant. The marinated beef strips are put on a grill and cooked over coals where you do your own table-top cooking. After the meat is cooked,take a piece and put it on a lettuce leaf with some rice, vegetables and other spices. Roll it up like a burrito and enjoy! There is also a dish called, twae-ji kalbi, which is the pork version of bul-gogi.

Dakkalbi is chicken mixed with some cabbage, onions, green onions, glutinous rice and a spicy hot sauce that makes it a popular choice among diners in Korea. Also the whole atmosphere of eating dalkkalbi adds to the taste. The contents are put on a large iron skillet and it's up to you to cook it.. There are also many other chicken dishes as well as beef and pork.

Not in the mood for rice then how about giving noodles a try like kal-gook-su or naeng-myun? Kal-gook-su is a big bowl of steaming hot thick noodles with onions and  sometimes clams thrown in. The noodles alone are a bit bland so add a spoonful of chili pepper sauce to spice it up. Naeng-myun, or cold noodles, is a dish with very thin buckwheat noodles that comes in two forms. Bi-bim (mixed) naeng-myun contains some vegetables, a lot of chili pepper sauce and mool (water) naengmyun contains vegetables, water, a splash of vinegar and very little or no chili pepper sauce

When you think about Korea, you probably don't think about scrumptious delicacies but there are many wonderful sweets for the sweet tooth. There are numerous store bought cookies, cakes, and other goodies made for export but it's the things that are mainly bought on the street or in restaurants that really taste fantastic. Ho-ddok is a fried sweet roll with cinnamon and a honey paste inside. Pot-bingsu is a cold dessert made with crushed ice. sweetened red beans, fruit and a sugary sauce on top. Boong-aw bbang is a hot bread with sweetened red beans inside. Ddeok/tteok is a very soft and chewy rice cake in various shapes, sizes and ingredients.

Tea lovers, you must have your daily cuppa? There are lots of flavors for you to try. Unlike China and Japan, which are well known for their teas, Korea though not that well known, produces what are arguably the best teas in the world. The most famous tea(cha) in Korea is probably nok cha, or green tea. It's considered extremely healthy and has been linked to a variety of health benefits. If you like sweet teas try,mae-shil cha or ggool tae-chu cha.Check out omi-ja cha and you-ja cha for something a little more tart. Sweet teas mae-shil cha- apricot tea mo-gwa cha- quince tea ggool cha- honey tea ggool tae-chu cha- honey jujube tea ggool insam cha- honey ginseng tea Tart teas you-ja cha- citron tea omi-ja cha- five tastes fruit tea

Bitter teas saeng-gang cha- ginger tea ssang-hwa cha- herb tonic tea insam cha- ginseng tea ssuk cha- mugwort tea

Others
chik cha- arrowroot tea
nok cha- green tea
yul-moo cha- Job's Tears tea

Don’t worry, for you alcoholic drinkers, here’s what you can drink.

It's been said that Koreans consume more alcohol per capita than anywhere else in the world. Whether this is true or not is debatable but they do love their alcohol. Although beer is a staple at any bar, soju is the national liquor that is guzzled by all. It's cheap booze made from potatoes.

Makkoli and dong dong ju are traditional drinks made from rice and have a milky appearance. Makkoli can be found in most convenience stores. Drinking dong dong ju is a little more expensive but a cool experience. It's generally consumed in a more traditional, rustic establishment and is served out of a large bowl and poured into a separate cup with a ladle.

Well guess that wraps up what I have to say for today. With the keywords you’ve learnt like bap, tang, chigae etc I think you should be able to order your next meal in a restaurant. Watch out for Korean table manners in my next post, so see you around.

Special thanks and appreciation to the following
Photos and articles © courtesy:

http://www.1stopkorea.com/index.htm?cooking.htm~mainframe

Happy Lunar New Year!

Today, Koreans celebrate the Lunar New Year or better known as Seollal or Seol Nal. So this is just a short post to wish all of you Koreans around the world a Happy New Year.

And here’s something about how Koreans celebrate this auspicious day to all those who may be curious to know.

On this day, Koreans wear their new traditional Hanboks, hold ancestor-memorial services, and bow to their elders and wish each other Happy New Year, followed by the eating of traditional Korean dishes and the playing of traditional Korean games. Apart from it being the New Year, Seollal is also a time for the reunion of family members, who seldom see each other during the year as they may be staying far away from each other.

The celebrations start on the eve when the villagers will stay awake all night to perform ‘narye’, an exorcising ceremony to expel any stray evil spirits. Dancers wearing Ch'oyong masks will dance to the musical accompaniment. People will burn bamboos to ward away evil spirits. They believe that with the sound of the exploding bamboo's knots, the demons would get scared and run away. According to Korean belief, nobody should sleep on that night. Lights of every room in the house and the kitchen will be kept on all night. This is a special way to welcome the New Year with brightness and open eyes.

Then on Seollal, everyone will wake up early in the morning, take a hot bath to cleanse their bodies before donning their best hanboks. Together, the extended family will then perform ch'arye (a ceremony to commemorate their ancestors). This will be followed by bowing to the elders starting with the grandparents, then parents, uncles and aunts. Children are highly elated with the New Year celebrations as they receive cash from their elders. Women spend all day preparing sumptuous meals. They make ddeokguk, a rice dumpling which is the most important dish prepared for the day. Only after eating ddeokguk, is it considered truly the New Year. No Seollal is complete if this dish is not served. Other dishes include garettok, fried meats, fish, dried persimmons, a variety of walnut, dates, vegetables and traditional cookies etc. It is also customary for family members to drink a glass of special liquor which is supposed to improve the power of hearing. Consumption of this liquor on New Year enables one to hear clearly all year long. On Seollal, traditional Korean folk games are played such as Yutnori (a board game played by tossing sticks), Paengichigi (top spinning) and Neolttwigi (standing, high-jump seesaw). Young boys will fly kites trying to cut loose each other's kites by coating their strings with powdered glass.

So I hope that you will enjoy yourselves going back to your hometowns to meet up with friends and relatives.

Today, Koreans celebrate the Lunar New Year or better known as Seollal/ Seol Nal. So this is just a short post to wish all of you Koreans around the world a Happy New Year.

On this day, Koreans wear their traditional Hanbok, hold ancestor-memorial services, and bow to their elders and wish each other Happy New Year, followed by the eating of traditional Korean dishes and the playing of traditional Korean games. Apart from it being the New Year, Seollal is also a time for the reunion of family members, who seldom see each other during the year as they may be staying far away from each other.

The celebrations start on the eve when the villagers will stay awake all night to perform ‘narye’, an exorcising ceremony to expel any stray evil spirits. Dancers wearing Ch'oyong masks will dance to the musical accompaniment. People will burn bamboos to ward away evil spirits. They believe that with the sound of the exploding bamboo's knots, the demons would get scared and run away. According to Korean belief, nobody should sleep on that night. Lights of every room in the house and the kitchen will be kept on all night. This is a special way to welcome the New Year with brightness and open eyes.

Then on Seollal, everyone will wake up early in the morning, take a hot bath to cleanse their bodies before donning their best hanboks. Together, the extended family will then perform ch'arye (a ceremony to commemorate their ancestors). This will be followed by bowing to the elders starting with the grandparents, then parents, uncles and aunts. Children are highly elated with the New Year celebrations as they receive cash from their elders. Women spend all day preparing sumptuous meals. They make ddeokguk, a rice dumpling which is the most important dish prepared for the day. Only after eating ddeokguk, is it considered truly the New Year. No Seollal is complete if this dish is not served. Other dishes include garettok, fried meats, fish, dried persimmons, a variety of walnut, dates, vegetables and traditional cookies etc. It is also customary for family members to drink a glass of special liquor which is supposed to improve the power of hearing. Consumption of this liquor on New Year enables one to hear clearly all year long. On Seollal, traditional Korean folk games are played such as Yutnori (a board game played by tossing sticks), Paengichigi (top spinning) and Neolttwigi (standing, high-jump seesaw). Young boys will fly kites trying to cut loose each other's kites by coating their strings with powdered glass.

So I hope that you will enjoy yourselves going back to your hometowns to meet up with friends and relatives.

소원 비는 모두들 새해 복 많이 받으세요!