Culture in South Korea Korean Culture K-Festivals K-Wave Traditional Arts Modern Arts Korean Culture Korean culture has been constructed by harmonious coexistence of traditional styles of thousands of years and of modern life. For this reason, on the one hand art & craft works, festivals and architecture that have been experienced for generations, on the other hand lifestyles and modern art forms based on high technology can rise together. Language In Korea, the official and spoken language is Korean. The discussions on whether it is a part of Ural-Altaic languages (in which Turkish also takes place) and whether it has a relevance to Japanese still continues. Nevertheless, Korean is accepted as an isolated language that owns its own language family. While Chinese alphabet Hanja had been used to write in Korean until 15th century, after King Sejong (1418-1450) it has been revised an alphabet called Hangeul to make reading & writing easier. Today, both alphabets are taught at schools.
Religion All religions in Korea are under the constitutional protection. According to the research held in the country, where diverse religions are practiced in peace and mutual respect, in 2007*; 46% of the total population has no religional affiliation. For the rest, 29% is Christian (18% Protestant), 23% is Buddhist, and 1% is Shamanist. And also there is a small amount of people practicing Islam. Sanctuaries of every religion, fused in Korean traditions, are appealing touristic places with their highly aesthetic architectures. Traditional Housing 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 Koreans 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 Korea.
Traditional Outfit 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.Hanbok is now only worn during national holidays or weddings. The beauty of hanbok is in its clean, artistic lines and its vibrant colors. Hanbok was not considered complete unless worn in the appropriate traditional manner. However, in recent years, the wearing of hanbok has become greatly simplified and modernized. The designs are endless but are divided into a few major styles; formal and lifestyle, adults and children, female and male, as well as seasonal. The price normally falls in the range between 100,000 and 300,000 won, although the fabric and accessories used will make a huge difference in the price tag. In addition, hanbok has been gaining a lot of attention from international consumers thanks to many hallyu dramas and films portraying the costumes. Famous shops frequented by visitors are located near Insa- dong and Samcheong-dong, all close to major tourist attractions. Traditional Music Koreans have the unique characteristic of lyrical sensibility, using music to express their emotions. Traditional Korean music can be divided into music listened to by the royal family and by the commoners, each differing greatly in style. Jongmyo Jeryeak, royal ancestral ritual music, the representative royal court music played during ancestral rites, was solumn and splendid. In contrast, the commoners who wished to overcome the difficulties of the working class usually sang folk songs and pansori, a traditional Korean music that narrates a themed story. With a distinct, inimitable sound, rhythm, and singing technique, pansori was designated as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by the UNESCO.
Folk Dances Korean people have inherited a great variety of folk dances such as salpurichum (spiritual purification dance), gutchum (shamanic ritual dance), taepyeongmu (dance of peace), hallyangchum (idler’s dance), buchaechum (fan dance), geommu (sword dance), and seungmu (monk’s dance). Of these, talchum (mask dance) and pungmul nori(play with musical instruments) are known for their satirical targeting of the corrupt aristocracy of Joseon 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. K-Festivals
Festivals have utmost importance in Korea, where hundreds of special events take place in whole year, involving cooking, dance, music, theatre. The Ministry of Culture, Sports & Tourism has selected 41 representative festivals as the most prominent Korean cultural tourism festivals: 3 Premier Festivals, 7 Best Festivals, 10 Excellent Festivals, and 21 Up- and-coming Festivals. These festivals are attracting more international visitors year by year. For detailed info on festivals in Korea, please click here.
Global Festivals
Boryeung Mud Festival The Boryeong Mud Festival, which is organized continuously since 1997, is one of the most attractive festivals that accommodate the largest number of international visitors. During the ten-day festival period, tourists enjoy mud wrestling, mud sliding and even swimming in the mud mega tub. In the evening, music and fireworks continue the party on the beach.
Andang Mask Dance Festival Traditional Korean masks named “tal” and traditional dances… The Andong Mask Dance Festival, which takes place in the bulletins and reports of international news network like CNN and BBC, is held between well-preserved Andong Hahoe Folk Village and Mask Dance Park. These dances are an important part of Korea’s heritage, in particular the byeolsingut talnori dance, which has been designated an Important Intangible Cultural Asset of Korea. Jinju Namgang Lantern Festival Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival has a very historic background. Koreans soldiers lighted some lanterns in the Jinjuseong Fortress Battle during Japanese invasion in 1592, as a military strategy to prevent Japanese troops progression on Namgang River. Floating lanterns, the parade of lanterns, gaejesik (lighting of lanterns in remembrance of the Jinjuseong Fortress Battle veterans), an exhibition of the world’s traditional lanterns are major attractions.
Premier Festivals Gimje Horizon Festival Gimje Horizon Festival is held since 1999 in the very heart of the Honam rice bowl. The festival aims to show the importance of Korea’s farming culture, which is a foundation of the nation, with the theme of sky and land meeting at the horizon. During the festival, visitors can attend to kite-flying, rice-farming, catching grasshoppers, Korea Straw and Plants handicraft, making rice over an open fire.
Hwacheon Sancheon Ice Festival Trout, ice, and snow… The Ice festival, Hwacheon Sancheoneo (Mountain Trout), can be told in these three words. The region, known as the first area in Korea that freezes over in winter, attracts 1 million visitors during this festival. Ice fishing, exhibition of ice sculptures, ice football, and skiing are among the activities of this popular ice festival Mungyeong Traditional Chasabal Festival Mungyeong Traditional Chasabal Festival takes place at Mungyeongsaejae Open Set in Gyeongsangbuk-do, an area famous for traditional ceramics. Chasabal in Korean means “tea cup”. Your visitors may be able to join in traditional tea ceremony and pottery-making programs, operated by local artisans.
Best Festivaller
Gangjin Celadon Festival Gangjin area had risen as a celadon production site between the 10th and 14th centuries. Today, 16 kilns that remain active produce the most precious celadon in Korea. The Gangjin Celadon Festival is an extraordinary event to experience the celadon production
Damyang Bamboo Festival Located within a forest of 2.4 kilometers of bamboo, this festival is full of activities celebrating the beauty and function of the bamboo plant. More active visitors can test their skills during some of the festival’s scheduled river sports, such as ‘Log Rafting’ and ‘Water Bicycling’. After working up an appetite, visitors can please their palate with some of Damyang’s famous cuisines and other world foods featured at the Cultural Experience Center.
Muju Firefly Festival Muju, a natural habitat for fireflies and the marsh snails the fireflies feed on. The Muju Firefly Festival takes place in this pure environment and offers many attractions and activities but the highlight of the festival starts after 8:00 pm when the fireflies begin to light up the night sky. Sancheong Medicinal Herb Festival Sancheong Medicinal Herb Festival attracts people from all over the world, especially the ones who are those interested in healing properties of plants. In the fall, Jirisan (one of the South Korea's most famous mountains) hosts hundreds thousands of people who come to harvest the medicinal herbs of the region. Visitors may taste medicinal foods, and may choose plant species and experience traditional remedies as well. The festival is also a celebration of Fareast medicine by artistic performances.
Icheon Rice Festival Icheon is famous for producing the best rice in Korea. In fact Icheon rice is so good that it used to be served to the kings of Korea in the past, and is still highly thought of today. The Icheon Rice Culture Festival celebrates its famous rice and also the local agricultural practices.
Jarasum International Jazz Festival Jarasum International Jazz Festival takes place in breathtaking Jaraseom Island. During the festival world-famous jazz artists come together to delight approximately 100 thousands of audiences with the smooth vibes of live jazz. The attraction of this festival, as well as nice music presented, is the exquisite ambiance of Jaraseom Island and the river on which the event realized.
Jindo Miracle Sea Parting Festival Once a year at Jindo Island in Jeollanam-do, the sea mysteriously parts and visitors can walk through the sea from the main island to a smaller nearby island. This phenomenon is due to the buildup of pebbles and sand created over time with the tide, creating a 2.8- kilometer-long road measuring 40-60 meters in width that appears at extreme low-tide. The Jindo Miracle Sea Road Festival takes place at the same time as this phenomenon. Your visitors can enjoy walking along the sea road, gathering abalone and various other fun activities that make up the festival program. K-Wave Thanks to the major breakthroughs in last 20 years, Korean entertainment industry became popular in international culture arena. A consistent rise called Hallyu or K- Wave (Korean wave), which started in the beginning of 21st century and first affected Asia and then whole world, made Korea one of the prominent countries in popular culture and entertainment; while contributing to Korean economy. Hallyu, denoting Korean TV series, films, and music, has been so effective that now there are almost 1000 fan clubs and 10 million active followers around the world*. As to 2013 reports, even in Turkey there are 150.000 devoted fans.**
K- Drama (Korean TV Series) Korean series of Hallyu has an important effect on Asian popular culture. These series, also known as K-Drama, are produced generally in romantic comedy, drama or science fiction genres; and distributed to every corner of the world. The great overseas success of What Is Love? and Winter Sonata in China and Japan played an important role in boosting the craze for Korean TV dramas across Asia and beyond. These hits were followed by Dae Jang Geum , an epic TV series about an orphaned kitchen cook who went on to become the King's first female physician. Originally aired between 2003 and 2004, the drama became one of the highest-rated TV dramas in Korea before being exported to 87 countries around the world — including the Islamic states like Iran where it received as much as 80% of the viewers—to fascinate viewers with its portrayal of traditional Korean culture such as Korean Royal Court cuisine and traditional costumes and medicinal knowledge. The remarkable success story of Korean TV dramas continued in the 2011 with Big Thing, Giant, Secret Garden, Love Rain and That Winter, The Wind Blows (SBS, 2013). Of these, Love Rain was exported to Japan for KRW 9 billion and That Winter, the Wind Blows to some local broadcasters in North America as well as 10 Asian countries including China and Japan.
Film Korea, hosting international events such as Busan International Film Festival, Bucheon International Fantastic Films Festival, Jeonju International Film Festival, is attracting attention by feature films produced in the country. One of the best indicators of this interest is Hollywood’s attempts to remake Korean movies, which has been highly praised thanks to their original and striking stories and plots.
Busan International Film Festival Quickly becoming a top Asian film festival after its launch in 1996, the BIFF provides the Asian movie community with an opportunity to present, watch, discuss and trade new films, documentaries, commercials, and independent films, both digital and analogue, amid worldwide media coverage.
Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival Held every July in Bucheon, Gyeonggi-do since 1997, PiFan presents Korean movie lovers with horror films, thrillers, mystery and fantasy movies produced in Korea and other Asian countries.
Jeonju International Film Festival Launched in 2000 and held annually in Jeonju, the home of traditional Korean culture, the JIFF focuses upon films that are marked by their artistic creativity whilst challenging existing conventions. K-Pop (Korean Pop Music)
K-Pop is probably the most known and the most powerful field of Hallyu. It is a combination of dance, ballad, electronic, R&B, and hiphop genres with or without Korean lyrics. K-Pop is accepted as a subculture in which visuality is also in the foreground as much as music. Traditional Arts
Painting and Calligraphy Painting has always been a major genre of Korean art since ancient times. The art of ancient Korea is represented by the tomb murals of Goguryeo (37 B.C. - 668 A.D.) which contain valuable clues to the beliefs of the early Korean people about humanity and the universe as well as to their artistic sensibilities and techniques. The artists of Goryeo (918-1392) were interested in capturing Buddhist icons and bequeathed some great masterpieces, while the literati elite of Joseon was more attracted to the symbolism of plants and animals, such as the Four Noble Lords (Sagunja, namely, the orchid, chrysanthemum, bamboo, and plum tree) and the Ten Creatures of Longevity (Sipjangsaeng), as well as idealized landscapes.
Calligraphy, which developed in Korea under the influence of China, is the art of handwriting in which the beauty of the lines and forms of characters and the energy contained in brush strokes and subtle shades of ink are appreciated. While calligraphy is an independent genre of art, it has been closely related with ink and wash painting since these forms use similar techniques and the tools commonly called the “four friends of the study” (i.e. paper, brush, ink stick and ink stone).
Pottery Korean pottery, which nowadays attracts the highest praise from international collectors, is typically divided into three groups: Cheongja (blue-green celadon), Buncheong (slip-coated stoneware), and Baekja (white porcelain). Celadon refers to Korean stoneware which underwent major development in the hands of Goryeo potters some 700 to 1,000 years ago. Celadon pottery is marked by an attractive jade blue surface and the unique Korean inlay technique used to decorate it. Gangjin of Jeollanam-do and Buan of Jeollabuk-do were its two main producers during the Goryeo Period (918-1392). White porcelain ware represents the ceramic art of the Joseon Period (1392-1910). While some of these 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 pigment imported from Persia via China.
The third main group of Korean pottery, Buncheong, was made by Goryeo potters after the fall of their Kingdom in 1392. This type of pottery is characterized by its slip-coated surface and delightfully simple decorative designs created using several different techniques. Art galleries and antique shops in Insadong (Seoul) sell various traditional art pieces such as paintings, calligraphical works, and pottery by auctioning. Traditional Handicrafts In the past Korean craftsmen and women developed a wide range of techniques to produce the items they needed at home. They made pieces of wooden furniture such as wardrobes, cabinets and tables marked by a keen eye for balance and symmetry, and wove beautiful baskets, boxes and mats with bamboo, wisteria or lespedeza. They used Korean mulberry paper to make masks, dolls and ceremonial ornaments, and decorated diverse household objects with black and red lacquer harvested from nature.
Later they developed the art of using beautifully dyed oxhorn strips, and iridescent mother-of-pearl and abalone shell to decorate furniture. Embroidery, decorative knot making (maedeup) and natural dyeing were also important elements of traditional Korean arts and crafts, which were widely exploited to make attractive garments, household objects and personal fashion ornaments. Modern Arts Music The Korean classical music community has continued to produce artists of the highest international standard in both vocal and instrumental music. For instance, five young Korean artists won five prizes in the disciplines of piano, solo vocal and violin at the International Tchaikovsky Competition held in 2011, one of the top three international music competitions.
Korea has continued to produce distinguished vocalists of whom Sumi Jo (soprano), Hong Hei-kyung (soprano), Shin Youngok (soprano), Kwangchul Youn (bass) and Samuel Yun (bass baritone) are eagerly sought after by classical music lovers in many parts of the world. Regarding instrumental music, Yeol Eum Son (piano), Dong-hyek Lim (piano), Sarah Chang (violin) and Zia Hyunsu Shin (violin) regularly perform for their fans - mostly in Korea, the USA, and various European countries. Lee Hee-ah, a four-fingered pianist, is also a widely acclaimed pianist not only for her great performances but also for her heroic fight against a challenging physical condition.
They were preceded by Korea’s first generation of classical musicians, including two pianists, Han Tong-il and Kun-woo Paik, who fascinated international audiences between the 1950s and the 1970s and who still play to many enthusiastic fans. Myungwhun Chung, the current maestro of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, started his career in the world of classical music as a pianist, regularly playing as a member of the Chung Trio with his two sisters, Chung Kyung-wha, who won worldwide recognition as a violinist, and Chung Myung-wha, who plays cello. Later he turned to conductorship and has conducted some of the world’s most prestigious orchestras including the Berlin Philharmonic, London Philharmonic, and Paris Orchestra, before going on to serve as music director and resident conductor of the Opéra de la Bastille in Paris. Musical Theater Korean theater goers have recently begun to pay more attention to musical comedies presented on theater stages. The increased demand for good-quality musicals has resulted in the performance of world-famous musicals such as Jekyll & Hyde, Chicago and Cats either by the original or Korean teams, and the production of new musicals written and directed by Korean talents. Some of these Korean productions have been invited to perform in Japan and Southeast Asia. Korea’s thriving musical theater scene has resulted in the creation of a group of stars such as Choi Jung-won, Nam Kyung-joo and Jo Seung-woo, whose reputation has grown with stage musicals, and Yoon Bok-hee, Insooni and Ock Joo- hyun who have become great musical actresses based on their success on the K-Pop stage. Modern Dance and Ballet The launch of the National Dance Company of Korea in 1962 provided the momentum for a surge of interest in modern dance in Korea. The changed environment eventually led to the birth of a great dancer, Sin Cha Hong (or Hong Sin-ja, born in 1943), who is now credited as Korea's first avant-garde dancer and premier performance artist. She learned dance from Alwin Nikolais in the United States and worked there until 1990, and then returned to Korea to involve herself in various activities related with modern dance. Korea in the 1980s saw the foundation of two ballet companies, Universal Ballet (1984) and Seoul Ballet (1986), which are still actively producing classical ballet performances in Korea and abroad. The increased popularity of ballet resulted in the arrival of distinguished ballet dancers including Kang Sue-jin, who became the first Asian to be a member of the Stuttgart Ballet in 1986, where she is now a principal dancer. Other successful ballet dancers include Seo Hee who joined the ABT Studio Company in 2004 and became a principal dancer at the ABT in 2012, and Kim Ki-min who became the first Asian ballerina to join and become First Soloist at the Mariinsky Ballet in 2012.
Modern Painting and Sculpture
The first generation of Korean modern artists represented by Nam June Paik (1932-2006), who is considered to be the founder of video art, was followed by a new generation of distinguished artists such as Chang Ree-seok, Chang Doo-kun, Paek Young-su, Chun Kyung Ja, Tchang-Yeul Kim and Suh Se-ok.
More recently, the Korean art world is represented by a group of painters and sculptors such as Chun Kwang Young, Park Seo-bo, Lee Jongsang, Song Soo-nam, Lee Doo-shik, Lee Wal-jong, Youn Myeungro, Lee Il, Kang Ik-joong, Lim Ok-sang, Kim Young-won and Choi Jong-tae, all of whom have gained international fans.
Korea’s rapid economic growth in the 1970s resulted in the establishment of numerous public and private art institutions of which about 60 are located in downtown Seoul, Insa- dong and Samcheong-dong in particular, such as Gana Art Space, Seoul Art Center Gongpyeong Gallery and Kyung-in Museum of Fine Art. More recently, Cheongdam-dong in Gangnam-gu south of the Hangang River has emerged as a hub of Korean fine art. As for international art events, the Gwangju Biennale launched in 1995 has grown to be a major contemporary art exhibition in Asia.