Motherhood in Korean Society
A brief walk through the infancy and childhood customs of Korea.
Location: North Korea; South Korea
Pregnancy Customs in Korean Culture
In Korean tradition, children were a family's key to future prosperity. Sons, tasked with caring for the parents in old age, were generally preferred. A woman who learned she was pregnant brought the news to her mother-in-law before announcing it to her husband and remaining family. The shape of her growing belly was said to predict the baby's gender: round for a girl and flat for a boy. Throughout their pregnancy, women were expected to work hard to increase their chances of having a boy.
During the Joseon dynasty, pregnant Korean women took care to remain as happy, comfortable, and clean as possible. The mood and experiences of the mother were thought to have a direct impact on the growth and temperament of her baby. It was important for her to look at beautiful things. Women also avoided foods like duck, chicken, pork, rabbit, tofu, and blemished fruits, all of which could lead to defects in the child.[1][2]
Birth Customs in Korea
In childbirth, Korean women were traditionally expected to make as little noise as possible. Not only did this show discipline in the mother, but it also allowed her to focus on her life force. To help her channel her energy, ropes hung from the ceiling to grab during labor. After a successful birth, mother and child spent 21 days together in recovery. Today, South Korean women usually choose to give birth in modern hospitals.
Celebrations and Ceremonies for Infants
From birth, Korean babies spent almost all of their time with their parents, including sleeping in their bed. Women carried their children on their backs, with the child facing toward the mother, thought to increase the bond between them. Parents often referred to infants by nicknames like "dung." Far from insulting, this custom was meant to prevent the jealousy of passing spirits. Official naming duties fell to a child's maternal grandfather. Traditional Korean names consist of two syllables; the first identifies a person's family, and the second is used individually.[1]
In past centuries, children surviving their first year was never guaranteed. Recognizing this, many Korean families still keep the custom of celebrating important anniversaries. The most widely seen today is dol, held on an infant's first birthday. The celebrated infant sits on cushions and is presented a variety of objects to choose from. The items picked up are said to offer a clue into his or her future.[3]
Bibliography
Victoria Williams, Celebrating Life Customs Around the World: From Baby Showers to Funerals (Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 2017), 186-189.
Margaret M. Andrews and Joyceen S. Boyle, Transcultural Concepts in Nursing Care (Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer, 2016), 106-107.
Ju Brown and John Brown, China, Japan, Korea: Culture and Customs (North Charleston, SC: BookSurge, 2006), 160.
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