Welcome to South Korea > Culture and habits

Culture
Traditional music, dance and painting reflect the artistic talents of the Korean people, expressed over 5000 years of history. Today contemporary art is as common as the ever-popular traditional arts.

Traditional Korean music, gugak, has shared cultural roots with that of China and Japan. Music is divided into court music and folk music. Dances are divided in the same way and the slow graceful gestures reflect the influence of Confucianism.

Painting is very different from that in the west. It attests to the conditions of life, with strong colors representing strength, humor and pleasure. Modern artistic currents harmoniously blend eastern and western influences. Koreans are very proud of their tradition of making ceramics such as the subtly beautiful celadon porcelain of a unique blue-green, or white porcelain.

Religion
Most Koreans are Buddhist, though - unusually for Asia - Christian religions also have a significant presence, with 20% Protestants and 5% Catholics. There is a small but important Shamanic presence, brought long ago from Siberia.

Habits and Customs
There are several rules of etiquette you should know: Bow when you meet a stranger, making your bow lower if the person is elderly. Even if you're on a simple pleasure trip, business cards are highly recommended (offered at the beginning of every conversation.) Show an interest in any a card offered by the person you're speaking to, and take time to examine it carefully. Once this first hurdle has been crossed, effusive greetings are not necessary.

Koreans are simple and friendly. A gift is appropriate if you're invited to a private home. It is presented and received using both hands. Shoes are removed when entering a private space (no bare feet: socks are preferable), as well as many restaurants, where you'll often sit on the floor. Restaurants bills are not shared: either one is a host or guest. Don't fill your own glass at table: wait until your neighbor does it, and do the same for him. Food is never picked up with the fingers: chopsticks (metal, not wooden) are provided for that purpose and a spoon is used for rice.

Koreans are quite superstitious and many still are influenced by ancient Shamanistic beliefs. If you get to know a Korean well, he may express friendship by inviting you to share certain foods or simple rituals that are imbued with a "magical" symbolism.