Korean Cultural Overview

Koreans are the people of the Korean Peninsula of East Asia, now divided between the nations of North and South Korea.

Geography

The Korean Peninsula is a mountainous land-mass extending into the Pacific Ocean’s Sea of Japan, Yellow Sea, and East China Sea. While the historic Joseon dynasty controlled the entirety of the Peninsula, it has been occupied by two separate governments since 1945, commonly known as North and South Korea. They are separated by a neutral, demilitarized zone called the DMZ. The peninsula as a whole is rugged and temperate, seeing warm, wet summers and cold, snowy winters. Its largest mountains run down the eastern coast, transitioning into coastal western lowlands.

• Climate: Temperate

• Capitals: Seoul (South Korea) and Pyongyang (North Korea)

• Total Population: 51,418,097 (South Korea) and 25,381,085 (North Korea)

Learn more about Korean Geography

History

Korean culture developed with close ties to that of China, but the region historically stood independent. According to tradition, the first Korean state emerged around 2,500 BCE, founded by the mythic hero Tan’gun. His kingdom is known as Gojoseon. By the time historical records developed, the peninsula was roughly divided between three major kingdoms: Silla, Baekje, and Goguryeo. The Three Kingdoms eventually united under Silla and then the Goryeo dynasty. Goryeo Korea embraced Buddhism and consolidated many familiar elements of Korean culture, including its celadon pottery and, later, state exams.

The Goryeo dynasty weakened in the shadow of the Mongol Yuan Empire. Although it was not conquered by the Yuan, it acted as a tribute state for about a century before reasserting its autonomy. In 1392, the Joseon dynasty assumed control of the peninsula. Joseon Korea for the most part rejected Buddhism in favor of Confucianism. Its government was staffed by yangban nobles, who qualified for their posts through official exams. The Joseon dynasty proved stable and prosperous, enduring for over 500 years.

The 19th and 20th centuries brought increasing outside contact and new challenges to Korea. Joseon preferred to limit its dealings to Japan and China but opened its borders under military pressure in 1876. The weakening dynasty could not keep up with the industrialization of Japan. Following the assassination of its empress, ‘Queen Min,’ in 1895, Korea was formally annexed by Japan in 1910. It would remain under Japanese control until the end of World War II, when Soviet forces liberated the country.

The United States and allies compromised with the Soviet Union to divide Korea between their ideologies. North Korea and South Korea were born, but both nations sought control of the entire peninsula. This led to the Korean War, which has never formally concluded. Today, North and South Korea are culturally distinct nations. While North Korea has remained isolated, South Korea has grown to become one of the largest economies in the world.

Learn more about Korean History

Daily Life

Korea, historically, was a nation built on farmers. Rough terrain made roads and heavy transportation difficult if not impossible, encouraging the growth of small, self-sufficient communities. Between its mountain peaks and coasts, common people toiled to raise livestock and crops like millet, rice, and barley. They fermented cabbage in jars each winter to produce a year’s supply of kimchi, which is still commonly enjoyed today. Their homes, or hanok, varied in size and grandeur. Most contained a central courtyard, with rooms linked by corridors, and an ondol heating system that piped warm air beneath the floor. The traditional outfit of Korea is the hanbok, which includes a jacket worn over wide pants or a skirt. While peasants tended to dress in white cotton, the upper classes could afford colorful silks or hemp cloth.

Today, echoes of Korea’s past are still commonly seen in both nations, including traditional houses and clothing. In the urban centers of South Korea, however, Western apparel and apartments are now the norm. Korean cuisine is now globally recognized with a strong international presence.

Learn more about Korean Daily Life

Society

Joseon Korean society generally followed a Confucian standard. This system emphasized a respect for ancestors, family members, authority figures, and education. Because farming was seen as productive and harmonious with the land, farmers held a higher social status than most craftsmen and merchants. At the top of society, yangban nobles competed for prestigious posts in service of their king or emperor. Women typically lived in separate parts of the house from their male family members. Upper class women in particular rarely ventured out by day, and only while wearing a veil.

Today, the Korean Peninsula is home to two very different societies. South Korea, strongly influenced by the United States, swung between dictatorship and democracy for several decades before settling into a presidential system. North Korea, meanwhile, has remained stable under a dynasty now headed by Kim Jong-Un. While South Korea is now a booming member of the global economic system, North Korea remains one of the most isolated nations in the world.

• Major Languages: Korean

• Urban Population: 81.5% (South Korea) and 61.9% (North Korea)

Learn more about Korean Society

Economy

In the Joseon era, merchants held a low social status. Because prestige was attained through state exams and family history more than money, the wealth they gathered was not held in especially high esteem. Villages tended to be remote and hard to access, and so most acted as traveling peddlers, carrying their wares on their back or by oxen. More developed towns, especially along the coast, hosted larger market days with sedentary shops. Korea has historically been known for its pottery, mines, and paper.

The modern nations of North Korea and South Korea operate on very different economic systems. North Korea practices a form of state communism. Its lack of foreign trade, combined with outsized military spending, have left the nation with many economic woes, most notably widespread famines in recent decades. South Korea, on the other hand, has embraced more free-market principles in union with its longer tradition of education. Its economy is highly competitive and still dominated by chaebol, or powerful family-owned corporations. Some of the most successful companies of South Korea include Hyundai, Samsung, and LG.

• Major Industries: Electronics, telecommunications, automobile production, chemicals, shipbuilding, steel (South Korea only)

Learn more about the Korean Economy

Beliefs

Like China and other nations of East Asia, Korea is home to a variety of faiths, many of which have coexisted for centuries. Oldest of these is its indigenous faith, a form of shamanism known as Muism. Besides its spiritual work to bring prosperity, health, and mental well-being to communities, Korea’s folk religion is intimately connected with its myths. Tan’gun, who founded Choson, was said to be the grandson of the supreme heavenly deity. His father, Hwanung, descended from heaven. One day, Hwanung tested the patience of a bear and, finding her worthy, transformed her into the first woman.

Korea’s folk religion has survived to the present day, but it has been joined by faiths like Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, and Christianity. Buddhism and Taoism were most popular during the Goryeo period before losing ground to Joseon Confucianism. Christianity came much later with the arrival of European missionaries but is now the largest faith in the country. Today, South Korea is a religiously diverse nation with a growing population of non-believers. North Korea is officially an atheist state that protects its citizens’ freedom of worship. In reality, however, religious minorities such as Christians have seen severe persecution.

Religious Demographics:

• None: 56.9%

• Protestant: 19.7%

• Buddhist: 15.5%

• Catholic: 7.9% (2015 est., South Korea only)

Learn more about Korean Beliefs

Arts & Music

Korea’s art history has been influenced but not dominated by the styles and techniques of China. Among its traditional specialties are pottery, sculpture, painting, calligraphy, literature, poetry, and dance. Korean celadon pottery is known for its subtle designs and soft, jade-gray color. Literature, poetry, and calligraphy all featured heavily in state exams, making them an essential pursuit for young noblemen. Besides the court music and gisaeng dancers of the upper classes, Korea is also home to a broad school of peasant plays, songs, and folktales. In former times, traveling troupes arrived at villages to stage puppet shows, perform acrobatic exploits, and tell popular stories. These arts are kept alive today, but modern South Korean artists may pursue art in any number of styles and formats.

Learn more about Korean Arts & Music

References

Clark, Donald N. Culture and Customs of Korea. Greenwood Press. 2000.

Hwang, Kyung Moon. A History of Korea. Macmillan International Higher Education. 2016.

Kim, Djun Kil. The History of Korea. 2nd ed. Greenwood Press. 2014.

Koehler, Robert. Traditional Food: A Taste of Korean Life. The Korea Foundation. 2010.

Ku, Yangmo, Inyeop Lee, and Jongseok Woo. Politics in North and South Korea. Routledge. 2017.

“The World Factbook: Korea, North.” Central Intelligence Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, 18 June 2018, https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/korea-north/.

“The World Factbook: Korea, South.” Central Intelligence Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, 20 June 2018, www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ks.html.

TOTA

Traditions of the Ancestors

This group is for articles produced or approved by TOTA staff, covering a wide variety of cultures and topics.

View Group