Korean Daily Life
Explores the traditional foods, clothing, housing, and lifestyles of Korea.
Traditional Lifestyles of Korea
Life for most people in Joseon Korea took place in small farming villages. Confucian philosophy valued agriculture and its close ties to nature. Staple crops included rice, millet, barley, beans, radish, and cabbage. In mountainous areas, wild mushrooms and plants also played a heavy role in family diets. Coastal peoples enjoyed plentiful seafood and shellfish. Koreans preserved their foods for winter by pickling and drying meats or vegetables. The staple food for most commoners was kimchi. Each winter, families fermented large batches of pickled cabbage and seafoods in ceramic jars. After the arrival of New World crops, red chilis were added as well. Farmers also raised livestock, including chickens, pigs, dogs, and cattle. Beef was especially prized, but cattle were more often raised as oxen to perform labor.
Historic Housing of Korea
Korean lifestyles in this era primarily depended on social class. Most people built their homes, or hanok, from timber, stone, and white plaster. Larger houses often featured rooms connected by corridors, creating inner courtyards, and tiled roofs similar to Chinese styles. Peasants roofed their houses in thatch. The ondol system heated homes by piping warm air from a fire beneath the floors.
Customary Korean Clothing
Traditional Korean clothing is referred to as hanbok. In Joseon society, both men and women wore jackets, or jeogori. Women’s jackets tended to be shorter, resting above the waistline. Men sported baggy trousers, known as baji, and women a long skirt, or chima. Po overcoats protected their wearer from the cold. While the upper classes wore outfits made of silk and hemp ramie cloth, peasants dressed in white cotton.
Modern Lifestyles of Korea
Many of the old traditions of Joseon Korea have faded with modernization. Hanok houses are now most commonly seen in folk villages. The hanbok may still be worn by elders, but it is typically reserved for formal occasions. Other customs remain a vital part of Korean culture. Ondol heating systems, hanji paper, and interior courtyards continue to influence modern architecture. The average Korean today, however, works in a city and lives in apartment-style housing. Foods like kimchi, bibimbap, and Korean barbecue have grown popular around the world. Street foods are also common fare among the busy populations of cities such as Seoul.
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, www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/kn.html.
“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.
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