The World of Culture
Paula Seward
Intercultural Communication
World Culture Paper
Capella University
September, 2014
What is culture? “Culture is a learned set of shared interpretations about beliefs, values, norms, and social practices, which affect the behaviors of a relatively large group of people.” (Lustig, M.W. & Koester, J. 2013) Koreans take tremendous pride in their traditions and cultural mannerisms. Culture can show in music, art, folk lore, and festivities. Koreans speak and write the same language. Language is one way to continue and spread culture. Koreans value and promote harmonious social and communicative interactions. In the Korean culture, Koreans use a traditional health practice. They rather use Chinese medicine and folk medicine, for example the concepts of “yin and yang,” and the “five elements” of the internal organs. They sometimes use traditional fold medicine with Western medicine. Korean culture displays the important experiences that shaped life in Korea today. It has passed down over centuries of tradition and has been influenced by other types of cultures in the area.
Most people have a variety of intercultural relationships that may feature differences in age, physical ability, gender, ethnicity, class, religion, race, or nationality. The types of interpersonal relationships are among strangers, acquaintances, friends, romantic partners, and family members, may also vary greatly across cultures. (Lustig, M. & Koester. J.)
Korea is located on the continent of Asia and known as the “Land of the Morning Calm.” In the Korean culture, Koreans have a lot of harmony within the family, community, and society as a whole. They believe in strong family ties, education is very significant, strive for hard work, and ambition. In Korean families, they put huge importance on family institutions, showing and giving respect to their parents and elders. The elders are addressed with respect, met with the traditional bow, and are served first at every meal. As stated, Koreans place strong values on family, harmony, and education. It is the main drive in one’s life and the center of the Korean society. Koreans continue several traditions and celebrations that entered their culture several generations ago making Korea what it is today. Religion within the Korean culture is Buddhism, Christianity, Shamanism, and Confucianism. Koreans believe in family, community and society, unlike western ideology of individualism. Korea is very much diverse religiously. Koreans believe in sincerity and following protocols while meeting, eating, praying or even celebrating is very important. Let us have a look at different Korean etiquette in this section of the article. There is an estimated 23% of Koreans that worship Buddhism and 29% that worship Christianity. However, there are several Koreans that do not have a specific religion. They do have morals that originated mostly from Confucianism. (http://www.pbs.org/hiddenkorea/culture.htm)
In the Filiopiety custom, the father is responsible for the family and is to be obeyed and revered. Family celebrations are held when a couple gets married, when a child reaches 100 days old and its first birthday, and when someone reaches their sixtieth birthday. By tradition, Korean marriages are arranged by the family elders and parents of the bride and groom in consultation with a matchmaker. The groom’s family sends the bride’s family a Sajupalja; it is something like a horoscope. Then the date for the marriage is set and organizes the wedding at the bride’s place. The dress the bride will wear is sent from the groom’s family along with gifts. They also believe in upholding positive ties with neighbors and taking part in events and activities within the community. Nowadays, people in Korea dress a little more like Americans. Korean Americans tend to maintain aspects of their culture, while also adopting