People and Culture
- Learn Korean (Welcome)
- About the Program
- About Korea
- Study Korean
- Where to Study Korean
- Exchange
- Work in Korea
- People and Culture
"Korea is a country with an abundance of culture, a unique and long history, a people that are both friendly and fascinating and a cuisine that is second to none."
Matthew McKenzie
Korean Graduate
Most people think of Korea merely as the backdrop to the M*A*S*H series, the birthplace of their shiny Samsung TV or a unknown nation lodged uncomfortably between China and Japan. Such ignorance is unfortunate for there is so much more to Korea than these vague perceptions. Korea is a fascinating contrast of old and new, where ancient traditions mix with the newest technologies, trends and fashions. It is no longer the "Hermit Kingdom" as it became known in the 19th century. Today it is one of the most vibrant and open countries in the Asia. With its unique and distinct past and its modern outlook Korea is well worth a look.
One of the best places to start exploring Korean pop culture is the internet. Korea is one of the most "wired" places on earth, with one of the highest rates of internet connection anywhere in the world. Koreans do virutally everything online. They buy and sell anything from groceries, used mobile phones, to funeral services for departed pets. For young people email is the primary means of communication and online dating is becoming increasingly popular. The internet is also used as an education tool with every type of English-language-learning site and online English-Korean dictionary available (very useful when studying Korean). And with the abundance of entertainment, hobby and gaming sites, one need hardly leave the keyboard to fill one's day.
Visit the site of Mashimaro and experience the animated adventure series of an extremely cute and slightly mischievous rabit, Mashimaro (follow "episode" links). The lovable rabit, shocking as he is, has been hugely popular not only in Korea but throughout Asia and is a symbol of Korea's obsession with cute furry things who get up to no good.
"When I think of Korea I think of an absolutely stunning country filled with some of the most genuine, generous people I have ever met. I also see a clash of old traditions and modern expectations."Molly Alexander
4th year Korean student, UMAP scholarship recipient
Ever seen a Korean flick or heard a Korean rock band? If you lived somewhere in East Asia, chances are you would have. Korean pop culture is enjoying something of a renaissance in east-Asia for its fresh, innovative and rebelliousness style. Korean pop (or K-pop, as it is affectionately known) with its distinct blend of hip-hop, techno and its funky performance style, has enjoyed widespread popularity within Asia youth communities, spawning many imititators. See H.O.T's fansite . If you're into something a little more raw, there is currently a resurgance of underground punk bands. While some in true punk style deal with political issues like Japan's colonisation of Korea, most sing about the pressures of overbearing parents, the demands of school and the difficulty of finding yourself in modern Korea. Check out the homepage of Punk band Crying Nut.
The Korean film industry has also recently made a name for itself for its internationally-respected productions. Korean film-making covers the entire spectrum of genres. Some highlights include the spy movie Swiri, the macarbe comedy Attack the gas station, the political drama of Joint Security Area where humanism meets ideology on the DMZ (the border between North and South Korea). Don't miss the gripping thriller, Momento Mori, where things start going very wrong in a Korean girls high school. Film is a great vehicle for Korea's centuries-old art of story-telling and an accessible way to access Korean culture. More on Korean film
Korea's recent history has shaped the country in many ways. The most graphic evidence of this is the continued division of the Korean Peninsula into two separate countries: the Communist North and the Capitalist South. The division (called the De-Militarized Zone or DMZ) is the painful reminder of the tumultuous events which have befallen Korea in the 20th century: a local war which became a struggle for ideological supremacy between cold-war giants (America, Russia and China) and foreign occupations, particularly by Japan, which denied Korea's independance. South Korean President, Kim Dae-Jung, has recently taken steps to bring North Korea into dialogue and work towards Korean unification. South Korea's recent history has also been marked by popular movements and Government reforms which have resulted in huge economic growth and democratisation.
"...I see the tragedy of a homogenous culture divided by a political ideology that eagerly awaits the opportunity to put history behind them as one unified nation."
Molly Alexander
4th year Korean student, UMAP scholarship recipient
Yet Korea's history begins in the much more distant past. According to creation myths, the story begins with the birth of a deity-like figure named Tan'gun at around 2333 BC. Tan'gun's progeny, who peopled Korean Peninsula, became players in a riveting history. They saw Kingdoms rise and fall, incursions from marauding Mongolians, Manchus and Japanese, alliances made with various Chinese dynasties, and the development of distinctly Korean forms of folk religion, Buddhism and Confucianism. The influence of these historical forces continue today. Whether it's the Confucian ethos attached to education (getting into uni is a matter of live and death in Korea), the beautiful and still-used Buddhist temples in Korea's mountains, brightly-coloured Korean textiles, the continuing use of Shamans (some companies consult Shamans on executive matters), or spellbinding forms of pottery, calligraphy, drawing, theatre, music and opera, Korean traditions are still very much alive.
If you are interested in Korean History or culture (you can study on virtually any topic you wish) and wish to research a specific area, learning Korean is probably the best way of acquiring knowledge. Korean language skills allow you to access original texts, not just the ones published in English, and make field reseach (ie. doing your own research in Korea) a much more viable option. There are many research scholarship opportunities at all the Universities in Australia and abroad which offer Korean.
More
on Korean Culture and contemporary issues:
Korean
Overseas Information Service
The
Korea Herald (English Language newspaper)
Dept of Foreign Affairs
and Trade (follow "country" link)