Friday Fives: Five Ways South Korean Culture and "Southern Culture" are Alike

It seems like a bit of stretch, but there are a lot of ways that my "new" Korean culture and my "old" southern culture are alike.  True...the language barrier can be crippling sometimes, but day to day getting along hasn't been so difficult for me.  I think a lot of it has to do with the fact the there are several similarities between the cultures.  So, this week's Friday Fives is dedicated to my opinion on that:

1) Speak Politely to Strangers
There are several ways to speak to people in Korean: informal, formal, polite, honorific...it can be confusing.  Most books for learning Korean start with the formal and polite tones.  And honestly, most strangers respond positively to this and will typically use it to address you.  And be sure to bow (it is a sign of respect/acknowledgement)...a little bow goes a long way.



2) Hold the Door
Southerners are expected to hold the door.  Guys for girls, young people for old people, etc.  Here too.  It's nice...plus the doors here seem really heavy (to me) so it's extra polite that you don't let the door go and knock that poor ahjuma to the ground.

3) Defer to Elders
When I was little and went on family vacations, if we took public transportation (for a tour or even just to get around) or had to sit and wait for something, and an older person came up, my parents would make me either stand or move to one of their laps.  Little children don't do it so much, but young adults are often seen yielding their seats on the bus or subway to older people.  Centuries of Confucian tradition are to thank for that.  One time I watched a young man yield his seat twice to two older women on the bus.

4) It's  Group Culture
There is a reason that fraternities and sororities are so popular in the South....and all sports have "ride or die fans"...its about being part of the group dynamic.  That's huge here.  So huge I can't begin to explain it.  But everything from having a million friends to being half of a couple is important here.  Even if you are not with another person you are probably wired in via Facebook or KakaoTalk or one of the other million of social networking apps that are out there.  And don't even think about eating Korean barbecue by yourself.  That is a cultural no-no.  Street food, snacks, even light meals are fine to eat alone, but barbecue is meant for sharing.  Almost any social gathering that involves a ton of people will be barbecue based.

Which brings us to Number 5:

5) Food is Everything!
Southerners love a good event...and no event is an event without copious amounts of food.  From tailgating to dinner parties, the food is what makes the event.  True here in Korea, too.  In fact, an informal school dinner can take hours over several courses.  My first proper school dinner took over 4 hours...and some teachers were preparing to "after party" when we finally wrapped up at the restaurant.