Korea: Culture, Festivals & Traditions...

		Past Spotlights
		Korean War Korea gained independence from Japan in August 1945 at the end of WWII. Ideologically split by the U.S. and the Societ Union into South and North, both sides dreamed of eventual reunification. On June 25, 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea, starting a bloody war lasting more than 3 years and involving more than 20 countries. Learn about the Korean War.
		Korean Festivals & Holidays Korea's long history, agrarian culture, and mix of religions provide a multitude of different festivals and holidays throughout the year. Some are held according to the Lunar Calendar, some are more regional than others, but most are very colorful and have specific customs and unique characteristics. Learn about the Korean Festivals & Holidays.
		Korean Buddhism Buddhism has a long history, originating in India over 2,600 years ago. Travelers introduced the religion to Korea around the fourth century A.D. Since that time, Buddhism has greatly influenced Korean society, culture, and the arts. Although Buddhism's influence over society has declined in recent years, the devout still make regular pilgrimages to give offerings at temples. Discover Korean Buddhism.
		Traditional Alcohol Every culture has its own traditional alcohols, of which only a fraction are widespread. German and English beer, Scotch whiskey, French wine, Japanese sake, and Mexican tequila are known the world over. What about Korea, a country famous not for its alcohol but its reclusiveness and secrecy? Worldwide, alcohols have developed with idiocyncratic original charateristics. Europe has the perfect conditions for a viniculture that produces fine wines and dry Mexico makes Tequila out of cactus plants. Korea has created unique alcohols using rice malt. Discover Korea's Traditional Alcohol.
		Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), the symbol of the ideological dispute between North and South Korea and poignant reminder of the Korean War (1950-53), winds 155 miles across the Korean Peninsula. The last remaining vestige of the Cold War, the closed border region between North and South Korea highlights the fact that the Korean War did not end. An uneasy truce continues between the antagonists, but no peace treaty has ever been signed. Review the Korean War and the various parts of the DMZ.
		Korean Traditional Embroidery Traditional Korean handicrafts have been rapidly disappearing in modern times. Traditional embroidery had almost completely disappeared. Fortunately, the method and artistry found during the Joseon Dynasty has been restored. It is believed that the Korean people used embroidery quite early in its history, but historical records only give evidence during much later periods. Discover Korean Traditional Embroidery.
		Taekwondo Taekwondo is one of the most systematic and scientific of Korean traditional martial arts. It is a discipline that not only emphasises physical expertise, but also enhances ones spirit and life through training ones body and mind. Although developed through Korea's 5,000-year history, it is also a modern sport that has gained an international reputation and is now included among the official sports in the Olympic Games.
		Rice Cakes (Deok) Korean traditional cakes have long been shared among neighbors and friends on many occasions of happiness and sorrow. The cake shape, content, and color vary from one region to another. More than just another way of using rice, rice cake culture has a long history. Rice cakes have found their ways into many different Korean customs and traditions. Each year, the city of Kyongju holds a festival to celebrate the traditions of rice cakes.
		Samulnori basically means "four instruments" and refers to the four instruments (kwaengwari, jing, janggu, buk) played by the musicians. With roots in Buddhist and folk music, the style has changed through the years and evolved in different ways. Samulnori also refers to the name of the traditional musical group (debuted in 1978) founded by Kim Duk Soo. This group did much to revive interest in Korean traditional arts.
		Traditional Patterns and Symbols Korean people traditionally adapted to and found meaning in the order of nature. Wanting to teach the hidden meanings of nature to their children and believing them as law and order in their daily lives, they created beautiful and diverse patterns. These patterns can be found almost everywhere you look in Korea, from the Taegeuk in the national flag to the animal designs on chopsticks in restaurants. Many symbols are similar to the Chinese characters for luck, fortune, longevity, and fertility.
		Traditional Court Clothes The clothes of the ruling class were much more ornate and expensive than the clothes worn by the lower classes. Certain types of clothing and special colors were reserved only for those of the royal family. Symbols and patterns denoted various levels within the government hierarchy. Crowns and other headdresses could only be worn by royal family members. Korea's various dynasties had differing styles.
		Village Guardians In rural areas, most villages had some sort of guardian to protect against evil spirits. Villages would hold offerings during certain times throughout the year to ask for good crops, protection from disease, and even male children. Shapes and sizes ranged from small hand-sized paintings to human-sized poles (similar to North American totem-poles) to large mounds of rocks tightly piled over 2 meters high. Types varied from region to region.
		Traditional Tools and Utensils Many Korean traditional tools and utensils look very similar to those found in other agricultural societies: stone mills for grinding grains into powder, weaving looms for making clothes, and measuring tools for dispensing agricultural products. Korea also has many tools and utensils made from bamboo and straw.
		Kimchi- Korea's Food Although most people think of kimchi as Korea's firey hot and red food, there exist dozens of different types of kimchi. Some recipes call for little or no red pepper powder, so not all types are spicy. (In fact, kimchi developed long before the red pepper was introduced to Korea.) Because of the its ingredients and fermentation process, kimchi has many nutrients. Over the years, Koreans have created many types of foods from kimchi.
		Child's First Birthday (Tol) Until recent times, the death rate for children in Korea was extremely high. Many children died very young, not even surviving the first year of life. Those who lived to see their first birthday generally survived past childhood. As a result, the first birthday marked a major milestone in a child's life. The ceremony of the Tol celebrates the child's life with praying for longevity, preparation of special food to be shared with family members and neighbors, and a special event which is supposed to foretell the child's future.
		Traditional Marriage As in any culture, marriage in Korea represents one of the major stages of ones life. The traditional ceremonies surrounding the event have deep Confucian roots, symbolizing the importance of the families involved. Ceremonies have some differences according to the region where they are performed and the social status of the participants, but they all follow the same basic format.
		Traditional Clothing Korean traditional clothing is both brilliant in its bright colorings and subdued in its flowing lines and the way it hides the body shape. The colorful national costume hanbok is often worn during national holidays and festive occassions. The designs and colors of the various forms represent the rich culture and society of traditional Korea.
		Lunar New Year Although Koreans use both the solar and lunar calendars, the Lunar New Year (Seol-nal in Korean) traditionally holds more importance than its solar counterpart. During this 3-day holiday, most people gather together with their entire families in their hometowns. The holiday includes many traditions for food preparation and ancestor worship. Link...