MODULE 4 – TRADITION, FESTIVALS AND CULTURE

South is a country rich in culture and tradition. The lineage of the Korean tradition helped to shape up the modern . The country is a vivacious platform to showcase the rich heritage through festivals, dressing, food, lifestyle, arts and crafts etc. Various temples, fortresses, monuments etc. exhibit the tangible cultural heritage of South Korea and the festivals, performing arts, customs, lifestyle etc. exhibit the intangible cultural heritage of South Korea.

Content Partner: 10

CUSTOM The South Korean people observe a distinct culture and way of life and this is reflected through their living habits, food, dressing, lifestyle, art and craft, family tradition etc. HANOK 3 Traditional Korean House

A traditional Korean house is called a Hanok. A hanok creates a living space based on the coexistence of man and nature. Since Korea has hot summers and cold winters, the 'Ondol,' a floor-based heating system and 'Daecheong,' a cool wooden floor style hall were devised long ago to help survive the chilly winters and to block sunlight during summer. These primitive types of heating and air-conditioning were so effective that they are still in use in many homes in South Korea.

For more information, please click here 4 The Unique Traditional Attire Of Korean People Hanbok is the unique traditional attire of Korean people. Before the arrival of Western-style clothing one hundred years ago, hanbok was worn as everyday attire. Men wore jeogori (Korean jackets) with baji (trousers), while women wore jeogori with a chima (skirt). For more details, please click here SEOLLAL OR 5 LUNAR NEW YEAR’S DAY

The major festivals of South Korea were the result of the mid 20th Century’s Agrarian community. Seollal or Lunar New Year’s Day which is generally regarded as the most important of all the traditional seasonal festivals, is celebrated with a special festival food called tteokguk. The festival is related with the ceremony of performing the Sebae (New Year’s Bow) before the elders of one’s family and neighborhood. After Sebae, the elders present New Year’s gift money to the younger ones.

For more information, please click here 6 DAEBOREUM (GREATER FULL MOON)

Another important seasonal festival called Daeboreum (Greater Full Moon) celebrates the fifteenth day of the first month of the year by the . On that day, people eat special festival food called ogokbap, a dish made with five grains and served with an assortment of cooked vegetables, play games aimed for the unity of the local community and perform rituals for good harvest. People burn dry grass on the edges of paddy fields. For more information, please click here 7

CHUSEOK Chuseok, which is held on the fifteenth day of the eighth Thanksgiving lunar month, consists of thanksgiving services in which newly harvested crops and fruits are offered to the ancestral spirits. Generally held to be as important as the Lunar New Year’s Day, Chuseok is also one of the two annuals occasions when all the family members gather together. For more information, please click here TRADITIONAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

Korean music is a mélange of classical, folk and contemporary music. Traditional Korean music has different types: the jeongak or jeongga- enjoyed by the royalty and aristocracy of ; folk music including , sanjo and japga; jeongjae (court music and dance) performed for the King at celebratory state events; music and dance connected with shamanic and Buddhist traditions such as salpuri, seungmu, and beompae and poetic songs adored by the elites such as gagok and .

Korea has a wide range of musical instruments. These traditional musical instruments are generally divided into three categories: wind instruments such as the piri, daegeum, danso and taepyeongso; stringed instruments such as the gayageum, geomungo, haegeum, ajaeng and bipa; and percussion instruments such as the buk, janggu, pyeonjong, pyeongyeong, kkwaenggwari and jing. Your guests can purchase one or two musical instruments as a souvenir from one of the many traditional markets in South Korea.

For more information, please click here FOLK DANCE 9 Korean culture is adorned with a great variety of colourful and alluring folk dances such as salpurichum (spiritual purification dance), Buchaechum (Fan Dance), nori (play with musical instruments), gutchum (shamanic ritual dance), taepyeongmu (dance of peace), hallyangchum (idler’s dance), geommu (sword dance), talchum (mask dance), anseungmu (monk’s dance)d . Of these, talchum (mask dance) and pungmul nori (play with musical instruments) are known for their satirical streak towards the corrupt aristocracy of Joseon dynasty and their close connection with rural communities, which had long been the bedrock of Korean culture and tradition. Most performances are presented in a marketplace or on the fields and involve drumming, dancing and singing.

Where to see? The Korea House (Folk Performance) 10 TOURIST FESTIVALS OF SOUTH KOREA

Boryeong Mud Festival Andong Mask Dance Festival Jinju Namgang Yudeung (Lantern) Festival

Boryeong Mud Festival is one of the most popular As the name suggests Andong Mask Dance The highlights of the festival are the floating of festivals in the world and it attracts the maxima lot Festival is held with the theme of mask and mask lanterns carrying wishes of the people along the of international tourists. Fully immersed in both dance. Andong’s culture and religions have great Namgang River and the parade of lanterns created the mud and the festival’s vibrant atmosphere, value for remaining over the years with the various by the students. In addition, the festival features visitors enjoy mud wrestling, mud sliding and even cultures intact and is considered the capital of gaejesik (lighting of lanterns in remembrance of swimming in the giant mud bath. The adrenaline Korean traditional culture. The Mask Dance Festival the Jinjuseong Fortress Battle veterans), an junkies can try the marine mud-training course, has over 50 events and hands-on experience exhibition of the world’s traditional lanterns, while those looking for something more relaxing programs including the National & International Lighting ceremony, floating lanterns on the river, can chill in the mud massage zone. In the evening, Mask Dance Performance, World Mask Korean lantern exhibition, World traditional lantern music and fireworks continue to have the party Competition, original mask performances, mask exhibition, traditional crafted lantern exhibition, going at the beach. dance learning, madang play, original puppet hanging wish-lantern, Lantern Exhibition etc. plays, a world mask exhibit, mask making and more. For more information, please click here :For more information, please click here For more information, please click here 11

Painting has always been a major genre of since ancient times. The ancient artists preferred depicting symbolic interpretation of plants and animals and later the day to day activities of ordinary people. Replicas of famous Korean paintings like (South Korean Wrestling) by Kim Hong-do can be an attractive souvenir for your guests. POTTERY 12

Korean pottery, admired by the international collectors, is classified into three groups: Cheongja (blue-green celadon), Buncheong (slip-coated stoneware) and Baekja (white porcelain). Celadon pottery is manifested by a gorgeous jade blue surface and decorated by the unique Korean engrave technique. While some of the porcelain wares display a milky white surface, many are decorated with a great variety of designs painted in oxidized iron, copper or the priceless cobalt blue dye imported from Persia via China. Where to see? The National Museum of Korea

BUNCHEONG CHEONGJA BAEKJA (SLIP-COATED STONEWARE) (BLUE-GREEN CELADON) (WHITE PORCELAIN) 13 KOREAN HANDICRAFTS

The contemporary Korean handicrafts are the result of the wide range of techniques used by ancient Korean craftsmen and women to produce the items they needed at home. The crafts of Korea exhibit a selection such as wooden furniture such as wardrobes, cabinets and tables, beautifully woven baskets, boxes and mats with bamboo, wisteria or lespedeza, masks, dolls and ceremonial ornaments created using Korean mulberry paper etc. Embroidery, decorative knot making and natural dyeing are also important elements of traditional Korean arts and crafts, which were widely wielded to make attractive garments, household objects and fashion accessories. These traditional crafts of Korea can be a very attractive and important part of your guests shopping.

Where to buy? Insadong Street, Seoul 14

Thus South Korea strikes a fine balance between modern and traditional way of living and hence attracts millions of foreign tourists to explore this country with such mystical and rich cultural and natural heritage. THANK YOU END OF MODULE 4.

Content Partner: Korea Tourism Contacts

Sandeep Dutta Vanshika Kapoor Rekhi Marketing Manager Manager Trade and Public Relations Korea Tourism Organization, New Delhi Korea Tourism organization, New Delhi Email id: [email protected] Email id: [email protected]