Personally, I would say that the Korean ajumma’s, aunts or auntie-like figures, are a good gauge for Korean culture itself. They’re a little loud, in your face, slightly haughty at times but they always have your best interest at heart and want to see you happy in life. Like other Asian cultures, a lot of that love and compassion is expressed through food rather than through affectionate words. You’ll commonly find a caring ajumma or ajusshi, the male “uncle” version of an ajumma, shoving more food onto your plate or peeling fruits for you. I experienced this firsthand as I became close with my driver Simon. When we went to eat ganjang gejang, raw soy sauce marinated crab, he finished his plate and then started peeling more crab for me to eat. In these little kind gestures, a lot of love and affection is shown. In the few months I was able to live in Korea, I was deeply impacted by Korean culture and their way of thinking.
The explosion of Korean culture worldwide, known as Hallyu or the Korean Wave, has thrust South Korea into a whole new light, outshining the image of the underdeveloped country it used to be. The level of thoughtfulness and intention in the architecture even astonished me. Incheon Airport, one of the largest busiest airports, is open and airy with carpets that simulate an outdoor, forest environment. I’ve been to a lot of airports in my many years of traveling and creating a feeling of openness in such a stuffy environment can make all the difference on one’s mental health when flying.
Entertainment
Korea’s fast paced claim to fame is unsurprising when you look at the colossal industry they’re creating. K-pop bands like BTS and Blackpink have members selected from an elite group of singing and dancing trainees. Everything from their music, choreography, public appearances and clothes are curated to establish a certain image. Brands will even pay an obscene amount of money for the K-pop stars to wear their clothes while traveling, known as “airport fashion.” K-dramas have also become extremely popular not only here in the US but in other countries like Japan. The protective and romantic Korean man has compelled many women to swoon. The characters are well developed, and the nature of the format is so dramatic that it you have no choice but to watch the following 16 episodes. My parent’s favorite was The Glory which is a revenge-based K-drama, a popular subgenre. I also convinced them to watch It’s Okay to Not Be Okay which they also enjoyed. The Korean film industry is also slowly emerging in the west. Parasite became the first non-English-language film to win the Academy Award for best picture. My senior year of college I took a class on Korean film, and I highly recommend the films Green Fish, The Bacchus Lady and Microhabitat.
The rapid influx of interest in Korean culture can be traced back to their entertainment industry. When film industry first started, most of the directors or artists were from countries like France, Germany, Russia, Japan, etc. Many of the film techniques and styles we know today came from them. However, once World War II began, the progress they had been making had to be put on hold. After the war, those countries had to focus on rebuilding. America used this gap in the industry to further their progress in filmmaking. Nowadays, the US is known as a media giant thanks to the writers and directors that used that time to their advantage. All this to say, there was no gap for Korea, but a great deal of their time and energy was used to advance the film industry effectively giving them an opportunity.
K-Beauty
I thoroughly enjoyed my time receiving my Heritage Ginseng Journey from Sulwhasoo Spa in the Lotte Hotel. It was a full body treatment meant repair damaged skin, provide a firming effect, and balance/rejuvenate the skin and body. I remember being entirely relaxed during the treatment. It surprised me how strong and intentionally my masseuse worked. In America, it’s a known fact that when you get a facial it’s going to be painful because of the extractions. I prepared myself for that brutal fate during this treatment and it never came. The facial was gentle and cleansed all the blackheads out of my nose. Korean skin care is known for being gentle but entirely more effective than other skin care regimens. Both the noninvasive and invasive procedures are cheaper than in non-Asian countries. However, it’s still a multibillion-dollar industry. The goal is to walk away with yuri pibbu or glass skin, where the skin is so smooth and translucent that it looks like glass. Though I cannot claim I have glass skin, I think it takes a few treatments to get the full effect, I did feel cleaner and dewier.
Food
Exploring Korea’s food allows you to learn a remarkable amount about the culture itself. Community and communal eating are generally emphasized in Asian countries. In Korea, there’s even a term for specific foods eaten with alcohol, known as anju. Some of these include packaged seafood flavored snacks (cuttlefish and shrimp are popular flavors), homemade vegetable crisps, jeon is a savory pancake which can include kimchi, seafood, vegetables, etc. While visiting Nami Island Annalise, Caleb, Michelle (our guide) and myself indulged in some jeon with vegetables and makgeolli, a milky white sparkling rice wine. The savory, greasy pancake with a soy sauce-based dip paired perfectly with the bubbly, dry rice wine.
One of my favorite meals was the first full night I was in Seoul. I found a BBQ beef place that gave me tons of banchan (side dishes) and grilled the meat over a charcoal flame. One of the reasons I adore Asian food so much is the ability to play around and be creative. One bite can have simmered garlic, one can have ssamjang (a fermented soybean paste with red chili, sesame oil and some other ingredients), and one can have pan fried/grilled kimchi. Regional foods also introduced me to new and exciting flavors. I
n Mokpo, a stopover during my time in Jeonju, I ate beef tartare with local size dishes like pumpkin soup. Mokpo is known for their wide array of side dishes, even more so than what is regularly given at a restaurant. I had a delightful cinnamon tea that was surprisingly sweet and enjoyable.
In Gyeongju, I went to a small restaurant that served bibimbap (a mixed rice bowl) with local vegetables, edible flowers and seasoned watercress. As a foodie, these new experiences excited me.
I even tried “scary foods” like sannakji. The dish consists of fresh, raw octopus’ arm that’s been chopped into small pieces served with sesame oil and salt or other dips. Even though the octopus is killed and then the arms are removed, the pieces move around due to the lingering nerve activity. During my graduation trip, Annalise and I tried it and loved it, but Caleb chose to sit that one out. Exploring Korea’s food allows you to learn a remarkable amount about the culture itself. It’s an understatement to say that food is important in Korean culture. Everything from the way the table is set to the end of the meal when leftovers are made into fried rice, is conscientious.
Cafe Culture
There is a huge cafe culture in Korea. Korea has more coffee shops per capita than any other city! It’s impossible to walk a block without seeing multiple cafes with tons of customers. The most famous ones will have a line that may take a couple hours just to get in! For the coffee drinkers out there, you’ll have to try an iced americano, the nation’s favorite drink. During my stay, I chose to go for fruity ice teas.
Picking which café suits your tastes is also extremely important. Some cafes are meant for working or lounging with a nice beverage, but others are dedicated dessert cafes. Contrary to western culture, Korean restaurants do not serve dessert in house. A sweet treat can only be found at one of these dedicated cafes. Pastries are very popular at these establishments and have received a lot of praise on sites like Instagram and TikTok. Though I’d like to issue a general PSA that if you see a cheese product, it will not be savory. Cheese and most dairy products, besides mozzarella, are considered desserts.
Similarly, bread is considered a dessert item as well. I enjoyed salt bread in Ikseondong, known for its traditional architecture and great boutiques. Soha Salt Pond had plenty of flavors, but I chose their truffle, corn and olive cheese salt breads. Surprisingly, I remember their corn bread being my favorite.
Hiking
Hiking is a common activity thus a lot of nature trails are available and remain in good condition. With 70% of South Korea being mountainous, even people who live in Seoul are accustomed to walking up steep inclines. The subway systems are also a hike on their own since there are a substantial number of staircases. I’m positive my walking increased by about 500%. It’s typical to eat a large meal and immediately head out for a hike up the mountainside.
With a culture that is so centered on food and eating well, a good workout regimen is highly recommended. It took me a while to become accustomed to strenuous hikes on a full belly. I would issue a warning to my fellow Americans that a mild hike for Koreans is typically anywhere from medium to moderate.
Good footwear is also greatly encouraged, see my Jeju ankle sprain for an example of bad footwear.
Japan VS Korea
“What’s the difference between Japan and Korea?” “Why should I go to one over another?”
During my numerous years of traveling, I’ve been hounded with these questions over and over. The answer is multifaceted and complex. Japan and Korea have history’s that’s so intertwined with one another that in this case you can’t understand one without the other. Japan has been able to retain their historical architecture due to their imperialist status. They overpowered Korea and added their own touches like planting cherry blossoms (Beot-kkot) for “cultural refinement.” For 35 years, Koreans weren’t allowed to speak or write in their own language. When Japan finally pulled out of Korea, there was a lot of rebuilding to do. Some monuments like Gyeongbokgung Palace still remain but historically speaking, there’s not much purely Korean architecture. Especially in comparison to Japan. Recognizing the role that history plays is important when considering traveling to them. If you want to immerse yourself in a historical space with tangible examples of culture and Shinto beliefs, I recommend visiting Japan. If you want to step into an innovative age that is actively restoring their beautiful cultural strength, I recommend visiting Korea.
The Korean wave is only growing and I’m planning on riding that wave. The entertainment industry, the beauty products and the food are only a small portion of what I learned on my trip. Not to mention how affordable it was due to the incredibly low, exchange rate prices. I truly miss living there and hope to visit again soon. Part of the Korean culture is something called “bali bali” or “hurry hurry.” This refers to the fast paced, often impatient lifestyle. Everything needs to be done quickly. Though I did feel myself get swept up in it a bit, I don’t think I’ve ever felts so present in the moment. As someone who has faced a lot of turbulent times in the US, it was nice to take a break and feel safe with others who looked like me. It truly felt as though Korea, being one huge ajumma, swooped me up and took me under her wing for a bit.
